MAN at the first losing of his Innocencie , lost also his place , and contracted a heauy curse both to himselfe , and to his posteritie . The Earth it selfe innocent of his crime was accurst for his sake , for whome it was created , and brought forth thornes , bryers , and stinking weedes , where before it was full of pleasure , and delight , and so had continued , if man had continued in his first creation : Now the Earth brought forth Monsters and ougly shapes , strange , and full of terror : The heauens them selues changed the frame of their beautie , putting forth fiery meteors , blazing comets , and other prodigious sights , breeding wonder and amazement : Nature suffering violence by sinne peruerted her order , producing strange birthes in preposterous shapes , and all grew out of frame , and sinne being the cause of all , brought forth the effects of all : which seruing as punishments betwixt the Iustice of God , and the vnrighteousnesse of Man hath neuerthelesse but corrected , not rectified Man , that continuing in sinne , findes the continuance of punishment , and yet with obdurate heart , growes from bad to worse , getting by ●ustome an incorrigible habit of sinning .

All Creatures but Man , haue continued in the kinde and nature of the first Creation ; The Sunne , the Moone , the Starres , and euery Planet in his seuerall orbe or Sphere , haue continued their order to the glory of their Creator , euer since the day of their first Creation . The fowles , beasts , and fishes in the Ayre , Earth , and Sea , and euery other vnsensible Creature haue continued in their kinde , to the glory of their great Maker ; Only Man , miserable Man , wretched Man , whom God hath made according to his owne Image , and hath indued with reason and vnderstanding , onely he degenerates , committing sinnes , haynous , and detestable in the sight of his Creator , which doth many times so incense the wrath of the most high God against vs , that Ayre , Earth , and Sea , doe many times produce Monsters of ougly and most horrid shapes , to signifie vnto vs the ouglinesse of sinne in the eyes of that pure essence . Neuer was the world so wicked as it is now ; for it thriues in ill , as it decayes in Age. It is the worst world ( saith an old Man ) that euer was , and the best that euer will be . No maruell if Nature grow out of kinde in the procreation of children , when men vnnaturally goe out of kynde in the Actes of sinning . Forbidden sinnes are most of all practised , and sinnes committed that are not to be named : So deepe hath Mans iniquity descended , that it hath brought mishapen formes and deuises out of hell , and it hath againe soared so high , that it hath brought downe vengeance from heauen .

This causeth the Earth to bring forth prodigious Monsters , so farre from the faire frame of Nature , that they make Nature her selfe afraid to looke vpon them , in whom shee findes her lawes and order to haue beene violated . Neuer Countrey hath brought forth more , then this of England , and that of late yeeres , which haue beene so prodigious , that they haue brought horror to the looker on , and haue also proued certaine predictions , foregoing many notable euents . The Sea cast forth and horrid Monster of a strange shape and bignesse , vpon the Coast of Cornewall , in the beginning of that fatall yeere Eighty Eight , when the Spanish fleete soone after frighted England with a dangerous Inuasion , euen to the vtter extirpation of the English name out of this Land , had not Almighty God with his high hand of grace and glory made preuention , returning the Spanish purposes vpon them selues . The Island of Lecale in Ireland within the County of Downe , produced an hidious Monster , bearing the shape both of a Man and a beast , whose eyes sparkling like fyer , and his voyce sounding harsh and shrill , farre from the common strayne , gaue certaine foresignifications of those troubles that the yeere following beganne to vexe both the kingdomes of England and Ireland , in that fearefull yet memorable warre of Tyrone , that in few yeeres after prooued so fatall to both Nations , that it brought wretchednesse not onely to the people then liuing , but hath also prepared misery for the Child yet vnborne , as is too well knowne by the miserable death and slaughter , not onely of the common sort of people , but also by the lamentable ouerthrowes and slaughters of many great , and honorable Personages , famous in blood and quality , that by that vnlucky warre , and other fatall accidents depending thereupon , found vtter ruyne , and destruction , not onely to the incessant griefe of their owne particular families , and dependancies , but also to the generall losse & sorrow of all the English Nation : which warre , monstrous warre , ( for so I may call it ) when the body against the head , the subiect against the Prince shall rebelliously conspire , God neuer gaue vnto the world a more memorable example , either in what vnsurety stands the state of any Name , or Nation , or what vnhappy successe followes such vnnaturall attempts , or finally what end followes such bloody , and despiteous cruelly , as both the head and principall members of that Irish faction , that bloody , and horrid warre , doe at this day endure , as appeareth in the present state , and condition of the Originall of that monstrous warre , bloody Tyrone himselfe , and other his Associates , who hauing made by their Attaynders , forfeitures , and confiscations both of lands and goods , doe now wander vp and downe Spayne , Italy , and other Countryes , poore , forsaken , wretched , miserable , and hated of all the world .

There was another Monster produced in Antwerpe with foure hands and Armes , two heads , and two bodies , ioynd in one backe , not much vnlike to this Monster , wee are now to write of ; and this happened in the yeare foregoing the beginning of those troubles of the low Countryes , which the matchlesse cruelty of Rome and Spayne , hath plagued with vnspeakeable miseries . But aboue all , that hideous monster bred in Russia not aboue fiue yeeres since with three paire of hands , foresignifying that miserable warre that since hath happened , betwixt the three kingdomes , Russia ( otherwise called Muscouia ) Poland , and Swethland , vnder the Raignes of Demetrius , Emperor of Russia , Sigismond King of Poland , and Charles King of Swethland , the fame whereof will neuer dye , so long as the memory of those kingdomes states endure .

It is credibly reported that neere Lirpoole in Lancashire , about a Tweluemoneth since a childe was borne , both monstrous in shape , and strange in accident ; It is fresh in memory , though it liued not aboue three dayes . But I stay too long in matters , though extrauagant yet not impertinent to our present discourse , where I am to deliuer as strange a producement of a prodigious birth , as was euer knowne in this part of the world ; and this happened but of late , at a Towne called Adlington in the Parish of Standish neere Wigon in the County of Lancaster ; where there was a childe borne of a strange and wonderfull shape , with foure legges foure Armes , two bellyes , proportionably ioyned to one back , one head two faces , like double faced Ianus , the one before , the other behinde , foure eyes , and two noses . It behoues vs to looke about , when such examples beyond the order of Nature are brought forth to put vs in minde of our iniquities , especially the sinnes of Adultery and fornication , which are euer iustly punished by the righteous lawe and iustice of God , euen vpon the Childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him , who also shewes mercy vnto thousands , in them that loue him , and keepe his commandements , which is well proued in the grace , and blessing that Almighty God secretly infundeth in right generation , the contrary whereof is knowne in the curse that he denounceth against Bastardy , which the Prophet vtters in these wordes , Spuria vitulamina non agent radices altas . Bastard slippes shall neuer take deepe roote : which was showne in the example of this Monster , the father and mother whereof were both branded , shee with the marke of Basterdy , and from her Parents crimes in Adultery , indured this punishment : he of very lewde carriage and conditions : neither was this monster borne in the night time , but towards the day , when the morning Sunne beganne to glad the earth with his brightnesse , to this end , that the blacke mantle of the night should not couer this childe of darkenesse , but that the day might plainely discouer to all eyes this wonderfull example of his Iustice .

Certaine Gentlemen , and many of the common people , that were then at Cockepit , when the newes came of this prodigious birth , left their sports and went to behold it with wonder and amazement . Many people came flocking from all places thereunto adioyning , who beheld it with astonishment . The most impious of all could not but confesse , that it was a notable example of Gods fearefull wrath , which God for his mercy sake turne from vs . This happened a little before Easter Terme last vpon relation of some of the Inhabitants there , Master William Leigh Bachelour of Diuinity , a very worthy and Reuerend gentleman , Preacher of the Parish of Standish aforesaid , being also an eye witnesse of the same .

Thus haue you a true relation of this prodigious birth , testified by the generall report , ( besides the particular mentions ) of that Countrey . The consideration whereof I leaue to the godly disposed , whether as a punishment of sinnes and offences past , or as a true foresignification of some notable euent to follow in succeeding times , or both ; Onely thus much , when Nature is thus violated through the Corruption , there commonly fall out many strange and vnheard of actions , either for the time present , or to come , such as hath amazed the world to looke vpon , as in that memorable and euer to be adored Passion of our Sauiour , where after his bloody sufferings in his body , and the heauy expiration of his Soule , the vaile of the Temple rent in sunder from the top to the bottome , the Sunne without any natural cause lost his light , and there was a sodayne darkenesse ouer all the Land , the graues opened and rendered forth their dead , who appeared in the holy City vnto many . In the same day and yeare the Panthaeon in Rome , which was the Temple of the Romane Gods , sodaynely fell , and one cryed out in a Propheticall manner , that either the frame of the world was at that time to be broken , or the God of Nature suffered violence .

Let vs once more cast backe our eyes vpon the wounders of this mishapen monster ( the cause of this Treatise ) the report whereof not giuing full satisfaction to some people that were incredulous of it , vnles they might be made also eye witnesses of such an vnheard of accident : the graue was opened againe wherein it had been buryed , and the body layde to the view of a great number of beholders : which were at the least fiue hundreth , that not onely beare a bare report , but can also giue true Testimony of this occurrent to their much wonder , and admiration .

Yet these monstrous and prodigious birthes aswell of other Countreyes as our owne , are not great●y to be maruelled at , if we look but only into the causes of them , which for the most part are our sinnes , and carelesse negligences : And they are not slightly to be accounted off , because they seldome fall out alone , without some other strange euent , but are ominous foregoers of some worse euils to follow . The Circle of misery which hath for many years been drawne about vs , is large , the lynes of it are not yet closed , the perfect content thereof cannot be ful●y knowne , till it please that hand ( that first moulded the globe of the world , and which setteth downe in numbers , and proportion , the state of kingdomes ) to throw away the rod , that it hath so long held ouer vs , to correct , nay rather to draw blood of vs . Yet all these worke not in vs the effects of our amendment , but that we still wallow in the myre of our wonted wickednesse . The foure Elements of Earth , Water , Ayre , and Fyre , haue seuerally commenced their warres against vs : Ayre hath breathed forth pestiferous fumes to choake vs , shee hath burst open the Cloudes of Infection , and hath powred sicknesse vpon our heads . Water ( like Aegyptian Grashoppers ) hath often couered our Cornefields , and eaten vp the fruites of the Earth ; whilst the Earth by that misery hath closed vp her wombe , nothing being promised by her ( that hath alwayes beene so plentifull to her Children ) but barrennesse . Fire hath also had his seuerall dayes of triumph to increase in vs our sorrowes , and to shew vnto vs Gods wrath and displeasure against vs for our iniquities . So that all that is aboue vs , and all that is vnder our feete , haue conspired to worke our ouerthrow , or to cause our amendment . Those Creatures , which in the first , and great Parliament of our Creation , were appointed to be our Comforters , haue beene many times sent forth and armed with Celestiall weapons to be our destroyers .

Besides these inflictions , which Tyme ( occasioning mens sorrowes and great losses ) hath brought forth , there haue beene also many misfortunes in the prodigious portraytures of the like misshapen Creatures : which who can behold without trembling ? or if hee behold , not shed teares in abundance to thinke vpon Gods heauy indignation against vs ? The causes of his iust quarrell with vs , are writ vpon euery mans forehead , the defiance is in our lips , the maintenance of it in our hearts , the end of it ( vnlesse we suddenly repent , and amend , ) wil bee dangerous wounds in our soules .

There is yet a meanes to be made for reconciliation , the first borne of the great King of heauen and earth , goes betweene his father and vs as mediator to worke our peace and attonement : It may easily be brought to passe and take effect , if we would but vtterly shake of a bad and base company of vgly and detestable sinnes , that hang vpon euery one of vs : If we doe not , let vs bee well assured , that these fatherly menaces , will bee turned into causes of greater mournings , and these friendly chastisments and beatings , will be changed into blowes not to be indured , to the taking away of our liues for euer .

The Earth that hath yet but begunne to shrinke vp her nerues , and to hide a handfull of her blessings , will open her veynes to swallow vp the memory of them . The water that hath gone about but to drowne a few , will be instrument of generall shipwrackes . The Ayre will in surphureous flakes drop downe all on fire , and that Fyre bring the world to a consumption not to be restored . Yea and these Monstrous birthes which as yet the Earth containes in hir wombe , shall at length be deliuered by her , and produced as witnesses against vs of our hardnesse of heart , and obduracy , and of our carelesse negligence and slacknesse of amendment . The Nature therefore of the disease being knowne , and the Phisicall remedy heard , be Councelled , take what is ministred ( so long as you finde it wholesome ) and grow strong both to your body , and your soules comfort .