It moues my heart with remorse , to think how many people are vndone hereby , and how that some few particular men should suffer ship-wrack , and by one robustious tempest bee depriued of that which might haue benefitted thousands , therfore he that will enter rightly into consideration hereof must needes acknowledge the case lamentable and the sorrow vnspeakable .

By certification from men of good accompt and calling , it is reported and knowne for truth , that in the month of October last , a fleet of foureteene sayle of ships making from New-Castle towards London , laden with sea-coale and other commodities of those parts , had their passage by the tyranny of the windes most vntimely stopt , and violently cast into the Oceans wombe : in which ships there perished to the number of a hundred and fortie sea-faring men , besides other passengers , both of men and women , which at that time made their watery graues in the déepe sea : This , First strooke feare into the hearts of people , which hath been since seconded with many more calamities , which lieth heauie vpon the heart of the reporter .

The narrow seas betwixt Douer and Calice can witnes many like mishaps , for by letters sent vnto diuers great personages of the land , it is aproued that vpon the coast of France , there hath been found floating , vpon the waters , in one weeke of fowle weather , aboue seauen hundred drowned persons of diuers nations , as of English , Dutch , French , and Spanish , with parts and parcels of many splitted ships , with great store of goods by the fury of the windes beat vpon the shoare , a sight of sorrow , and most lamentable to behold ; it is not as yet nearely knowne what riches the sea hath swallowed in these three aforesayd monthes , nor what losses other Countries haue sustained , I feare me , the tenth part is not discouered , for God in his high displeasure , still threatens vs with these long lasting tempests , day by day sending vs sorrow vpon sorrow , with hourely newes of shipwrackes and losses at sea , the scattering of fléets by contrary winds and violent tempests , in one place ships cast away laden with cloath , in another , vessels of salt , some with one thing , some with another , all rich , and of too great a price to be thus sodainly wasted to the benefit of no creature .

Likewise vpon our English coasts , more néere the West parts hath béene cast away , diuers other ships , comming from Spaine , where in one of them were knowne to be seuentéene passengers of good reconing and calling , and some of them cittizens of London , which were found dead floating on the waters , some vpon plankes of wood , péeces of mastes and such like , which the fury of the winde and weather had splitted and torne in sunder , amongst this drowned number ( being a fight of great griefe ) there was taken vp a woman , with a child closed to her brest , as it were sucking , also two other women , clasped together arme in arme , as it séemed , dying in each others bosoms .

It is also credibly reported , by the eye witnesses of this woful accident , that vpon the Westerne seas , néere to the coast of Corne-wal , a certaine shippe was discouered , euen suncke to the top of her maine mast , with some fiue or sixe saylers , remayning in the top eradle to saue their liues , but there escaping drowning by water , they were starued to death with cold and want of food , and so found in a calme day by another ship aduenturing to preserue them , oh pittiful report and full of heauinesse .

A number more of the like miseries , hath lately happened by reason of these tempestious winds , but espetially to the sea-men , & such as haue committed themselues , their liues , & estates to the mercies of wind & weather , from whom almost no other newes come , but reports of most dangerous escapes , terrible shipwracks , with losse of life & goods , the impouerishing of marchants , the sinking of ships and such like : of which woful losses , many of our inhansing extorsioners , makes profit , raysing their merchant-like commodities , with other wares to high rates and prises , working a recouerable substance out of poore mens purses , carelesse of passed calamities , ob couetous desiers , oh lamentable hearing , when the hearts of people are thus hardned . God in his high power , preuent their purposes , & alay these great winds , the call my weather may comfort vs , and ad a forward willingnesse to al sea aduenturers , to continue their wonted profession , euen now ( many of them ) discouraged from countries benefits , by reason of these long continuing tempests . Many more subiects of sorrow present themselues before vs , and fils our eares with losse vpon losse , to the heart griefes of all good minds , for this watery kingdome , this vnsatisfied gulfe , hath clasped into her bosom , to the vndoing of many thousands , a number of hoies , barks & vessels , such as aduentured out for fish , herrings , oysters & such sea victual , into the North seas , and haue there suffered shipwrack , and diued the Oceans bottome past the recouery of man & helpe of the world .

It hath béen certified for a truth , to some of the greatest statesmen of the Land , that betwixt Michelmas & Christmas last , the seas haue bereaued 7000. and od people of their liues and that at London , and in the coast townes of England , néere the sea side there are knowne to be fouretéene hundred sea-faring mens widdowes , beside fatherlesse children , & children fatherlesse . Therefore let al tender hearted people say , with me , that these thrée months haue bin times of heauinesse , yea times of greatest grief , when the owners of ships and the goods therin , for which they haue labored many a long yéere , & trauelled for in many a weary winter , to be thus in one tempest cast away and lost , and themselues ( though escaping life ) with their wiues and children brought to pouerty : how can we chose , but with eies of pitty , & with teare-bestained chéekes , being men , much more Christians , but relent at our neighbors losses , and perticipate with them in mone .

Let vs ( oh my déere countrimen of England ) make our petition to God , that he would alay this windy instrument of his wrath , & al other his angers opposed against vs for our sinnes , and confesse that our transgressions euen stink in the nostrels of his diuine Maiesty : he is merciful , and sends vs dayly ( as we see ) examples both by Sea and Land to win vs from wickednesse .

If we cast but our eies , vpon the City of London and the townes and villages neere vnto the same , we may behold the fury of his high offended power in witnessing the spoiles of stately houses , and the high turrets of great personages , by these vnruly winds defaced , and as it were , in their greatest pride torne in sunder .

Looke vpon the dwellings of many worthy Cittizens of this City , & we shal see that God is angry , by the vnloosing of these powerfull windes , and by suffering them terribly , is vncouer their stately Archytectures , vntopping their peiring pinickles , blowing downe whole sides of houses , yet for all this many of them are merciles , regarding nothing at all the strangenesse of these accidents , nor the fearefulnesse of these times and seasons , but accounts them natural , common , and vsuall , more like vnto Atheists , then Christians , but , oh you temporizing naturallists except you repent , full vials of Gods wrath wil be powred downe vpon your heads , and all your temporal purposes brought to nothing .

Likewise , let vs settle , before our eyes , and in our present remembrance , these following examples of Gods power , which with the breath of his mouth workes wonders , these following examples , I say , by these late tempestious winds done in diuers thiers of England , & we shal think them marueilous : was it not a strang accident that a flock of shéepe , belonging to a Farmer in Lincoln-shire , néere vnto the town of Boston , named George Kidman , should by the aforesaid winds in one night , be driuen twenty miles and more , and then blown into a part of the sea and there drowned , herein was not the winde powerful ? yes , yes , so powerful , and strong , that it euen confunds humain reason to consider of .

It is also reported by letters , directed to diuers Citizens of London , that in the same County of Lincolne , a heard of beasts by violence of the wind and weather , this very last month of December , were driuen into a Fenny Marsh , and there most strangely stifeled with durt and water , the owners of these beasts , are certaine substancial yeomen , whose names , to cut off tedious discriptions , for this time I omit .

The wind as we may wel vnderstand is strong & vnresistable , by som supposed to be a spirit , compassing the world ( by Gods sufferance ) to work wonders , but in my opinion it is an ayery instrument of vncertainty , apointed by heauen for the vse of Gods creatures , which brings vs many times much blessednesse , and purifies the earth from diuers corruptions , but at this time for our selues we haue been therewith much annoyed , as it hath here been described both by sea and land ; the violence thereof hath caused much hurt in diuers countries , by raising of waters , and beating in of the floods , and such like ; by which meanes Trauellers are hindred of their iourneies , and many thereby drowned by aduenturing .

As for example , vpon the Wednesday before Christmas last , a man & his wife riding ouer Maiden-head bridge both vpon one horse , by the fiercenes of the wind were blowne beside , and there drowned both horse and all , God be merciful vnto vs , and preserue vs from all such like mischances .

The like mishap befell in Nouember last , vnto two York-shire men , as it is verified by some Gentlemen of the Innes of Court , and Chancery which knew the parties , the one of them a Tanner , named Francis Browne , the other a Clothier , called Richard Smith , both dwelling in a Towne neere Wakefield side , called Therby ; which two Countrie-men falling out vpon small occasions , wilfully purposed to come vp to London , and there put their Causes of themselues to the Lawes tryall : yet notwithstanding came they vp together , where , in riding ouer a Bridge about Bedford-shire , and conferring of their inward grudges , they were blowne both beside into the Riuer ; where , by the fiercenes of the windes they were most lamentably drowned , both horse and men : and thus by sodaine death ended their malice , to the feare and amazement of all such as wel could witnes their enuious procedings ; these , and such like accidents may be feareful examples for the world to behold , especially for rich-men , shewing to them the certaintie of life and goods subiect to the chaunces of death and fortune : according to the saying of a worthy Philosopher .

Therefore , let vs pray for good successe in all our businesses , guided and accompanied with the blessings of heauen , and then no doubt but better chance will betide vs then these two malitious country-men had in their iourney .

We haue yet more notice , ( gentle Reader ) of other sorrowfull discourses to relate of , which well may beget your sad entertainment , and possesse your hearts with remorse , for they be strange and fearefull , and in the eare of the hearer full of dole .

Let vs now passe into the middle parts or shires of England , and tel what mischances there hapned , the three shires of Warwick , Lecester , and Northhampton ( I meane ) where the Inhabitants thereof , with stacks and ricks of hey , peaze , and beanes do vsually ( in winter times ) feed and fatten shéep , and swine , those country-men ( the more is my griefe to report ) by these aforesayd tempests haue endured much losse , for many of their shéep and swine haue béen smothered vnder the ricks and stackes blowne down by the winds , besides barns and stables with many husbandly houses torne and vncouered of thatch by the same : Likewise the dwellings of yomen , farmers , & laboring plow-men in those countries , haue bin ouerturned with the rage of this tempestuous commander , wel may we therfore ( if we consider al these things arightly ) call this the blacke fatall winter of mishaps , in which time many burthens of sorrow be laid vpon our contry , God be our comfort : for alas , alas , the aforesaid raging windes in diuers other shires of England haue beaten down a number of houses , dispearcing the substance of the poore owners , where many of them perished in preseruing their substance from the fal of their houses .

Yet let vs make no question but that God is merciful , and hath plauged som few with the losse of life and goods , ( if it be possible ) to call others to amendment of life : Therefore aboue all things let vs take héed , that long escapes of punishment , or the vaine hopes of long life do not delude vs , and make vs still run into our sins without hope of returne .

But to our lamentable narration againe , many the like strange euents , fell out in other countries and parts of the kingdome ; as for example , 2. or 3. shéep-kéepers in a part of Salisbury Plaine , in the west of England can witnes , who in a most tempestious day , as it is wel knowne in the beginning of December , betook themselues to a Cabin or Caue in the ground for shelter ( as there be many in those places ) where , by the furiousnes of the tempestious winds then blowing in greatest extreamity , the earth riued , and was torne vp by reason of the hollownes therof , vnder the which they were inclosed & smothered to death , from the like sodaine end good Lord kéepe vs .

It is also known for certainty , that néere vnto the Towne of Causeby in Oxford-shire , a little before Christmas last , two young schollars comming from schoole the sonnes of a wealthy Yeoman there dwelling , were by these terrible tempests both blown into a saw-pit , ( by reason of this wet winter filled vp with durt and water ) and there most lamentably drowned and choaked to death : oh wofull and pitifull hearing ! especially for the Parents of children , and such as haue the tender féeling of loue and nature , that two sweet boies brought vp by cost and care , should be thus and in this manner cast away .

Another sorrowfull relation , must I here present vnto your hearing , which hapned in the Easterne parts of Northhampton-shire , of a wind-mil , which as well by the negligence of the Miller , as the violent force of the wind , causing the mill sayles to exceede their vsuall swiftnes , was thereby ( wanting graine to grind ) by the Mil-stones set on fire , being in the night , the flakes and sparkles thereof by the fierce windes were blowne a long mile off , ( as it pleased God ) quight ouer a Village vnto a ricke of pease , where fetting the same on fire it was sodainly consumed , with fifty fat Weathers feeding thereat ; the rage and extreamity of these two great oppressors , the Fire and the Winde , so preuailed , that not one man durst aduenture the sauing therof ; and I haue heard it reported by diuers in that Countrey that the consumed Rick and shéep , belonged to an extorting rent-racker , a raiser of cheape markets , and a hoarder vp of corne from poore people : here was the powerfull hand of God showne , Heauen herein was iust , which would not let such wicked déeds go vnpunished ; God grant that hereby all the like doers may take example , and turne their hearts , that they may bee mercifull to them that stand in neede .

Turne now but our eyes more nearer London , & wée may behold the hand of Heauen lifted against vs many waies , yea manie waies by these last gusts of windy tempests for our wickednes , as by trees torne vp by the roots , standing before in all winds & weathers safe and found for these two hundred yéers past .

Also , the noble City of London it selfe can witnes much hurt that is come thereby , as diuers people sore bruised and maimed by falls of chimnies , corners and sides of houses , the blowing downe of tyles and such like .

The very Riuer of Thames , is also a president hereof , where by the rigorous strength of the windes the water ( with the tyde flowing ouer-fiercely ) made a most dangerous breach ouer the banks into the Medowes & Marshes by Stratford le bow , & Ham , where many thousand akers of faire grounds are quite ouer-flowne and drowned , to the great hurt and hindrance of many the Inhabitants of London , as those Townes therabouts , the recouery wherof , by men of such vnderstanding , wil cost much time , with inualuable sums of money , to the great griefe and care of many hundreds .

The like hindrance though not in that kinde , befell vnto diuers Citizens of London in October last , of whom I know some now dwelling in S. Sepulchers parish without New-gate , whose names for good cause I omit , who being at Sitting-borne faire in Kent , where dispatching their businesse , and sending their goods and wares vp towards London in a small Bark or Ship , were most lamentably sunke and cast away in the reach ouer against Barking in Essex .

In the same County of Essex , at Ilford where a Gentlemans house standeth brauely built with a high turret leaded ouer , had the log and leads theron blowne off , and by the windes turnd vp into a round role , which to all mens reason may seeme strange , that the windes should bee of so great a force to remoue so waighty a substance , as that mettle is knowne to be of .

From hence , if wee but hearken downe to the Sea side , and at most of our coast Townes , wee shall heare no other reports but of shipwracks and of drowned people in great numbers taken vp , and as it is verefied by some of great credit , that at one coast Towne of England , there hath beene at one certaine time a whole Cart-loade of drowned men carryed from the Sea side .

Oh wofull hearing ! oh heauy and sad spectacle ! it euen strikes my very soule with feare to tell it ; in many places where I haue béen I haue heard bitter complaints made , some by fathers for their lost children , some by children for their lost fathers , which the sea hath buried vp in watery granes , women for husbands , brother for brother , and friend for friend ; sorrow is on euery side , and all wrought by these late outragious tempests , neuer the like in this our sinfull age of the world .

But againe to our purpose , another accident comes to my mind , which is requisite and fit to bee reported for the strangenesse thereof , for it begets cause of heauines ; a certaine ship of London , laden with rich commodities of diuers Merchants of this honorable City , making for the East countries , and setting forth before Michalmas last , hath euer since ( by tempestuous and crosse windes ) béene tossed vp and downe the narrow seas , some time vpon one coast , somtime vpon another , still driuen from place to place in great danger , no way able ( by reason of contrarie gales ) to finish their intended voiage , but are now at last cast backe vpon our owne shoare , where the Owners are forced againe to re-victuall their ship , to their great losse and hindrance ; a charge lying too heauie vpon some mens backs , but God is mercifull , and sendeth these afflictions to try the patience of his seruants , whose losses no doubt but he will restore with a three folde increase of plentifull blessings .

Thus by degrees do we enter into wo , after wo , where the reports of one mishap , still prooues an induction to another , either of dangers by sea , or losses vpon land , which I am heare bound vpon occasion is intermingle , contrary to true method in writing , but not to be tedious , this must I certifie you of , that there is intelligeces vpon the exchange among Marchants , of the ouerflowing & drowning of townes in the Low-countries , where many hundreds haue perished in their owne houses , by the merciles seas , driuen in by these late windes , oh heart breaking newes : especially to that country people there borne , and here dwelling in London , in this sodaine manner to heare of the sad farwel of their friends and kindred , thus to loose their deare liues .

It is certefied likewise that the famous City of Antwerpe that floure of Brabant for famous buildings hath had great spoiles by this wind and waters , and that part of that worthy city is ouerflowed thereby , to the impouerishing of diuers Marchants , whose factors be here resident in England , but because forraine reports doe not much concerne our discourses , we wil fil vp this our volume with our home bred casualties .

The towne of Douer here in Kent , can wel declare the powerful strength of these Winter winds , where from time to time , is vioiently cast out of the seas whole shelues and heapes of sand and stone , with many other things to the great wonder of the inhabitants : those that durst aduenture to stand vpon the shoare side , in the fulnesse of any of these tempests , did behold strange battles , betwixt the wind and waters , where as it séemed , waues like mountaines , danst in the skies , T. and the whole seas appeared like a fiery world , al sparkling red , such was it , and so terrible , that it euen frighted the carefull shipmen , to looke aboue hatches .

The county of Kent hath borne a pittiful share of these late wracked spoiles , and hath receiued as much losse as any one country beside : amongst many other hurts there happened , this one here following , wil I make knowne as a thing both strange and feareful . About some foure miles from Canterbury , at a towne called Great Chart , vpon Saint Iohns day last , being Sunday , in the time of Euening prayer , the Church being full of people , arose a most terrible tempest of lightning , wind , and thunder , raging extreamly , to the great affright of man , woman and child there remayning , in the middest of which feare , broake into the Church a most vgly shape out of the ayer like vnto a broad eyd bul , T. and dasht the Ministers booke out of his hand , with which blow the same arme and hand was stroken lame and black , whereupon the whole audience so fearefully pressed one vpon another to get forth that many were hurt and almost bruzed to death , amongst which number a Millor was quite slaine , by the fright of this mishapen spirit , for so was it thought to be , which without doing further hurte vanished away , taking with it a part of the Church wal , leauing the whole assembly lying almost smothered one vpon anothers back . It is not for vs mortals , to iudge the euent hereof , but this is reported of the same towne of Chart , the parishioners haue an euil custome among them , for continually , be it either in seruice or sermon time , they wil stand in troupes of foure or fiue in a company in diuers parts of the Church , conferring & talking of worldly affaiers , not regarding at al the words of the Minister , but rather behaue themselues as it were in a faier or market , to the great griefe of each well disposed Christian , preparing himself to the seruice of Almighty God , vnder whose shield we ought to make our defence against the temptations of the Prince of darkenesse . And now to draw nere vnto a conclusion , I thinke it not impertinent , nor vnfitting to ad vnto these our feareful discourses in like maner a terrible tempest of wind and thunder that happened néere vnto the towne of Nottingham as it is recorded by I. S. a Citizen of London , and knowne for a troth of the inhabitants there now . This marueilous tempest in great fury , the wind outragiously blowing , came thundering thorough two townes , and beate downe many houses with part of both the Churches , the one of them a vilage nere vnto the foresaid towne of Nottingham called Sueton adioyning to the Riuer of Trent , which had their bels cast to the out-side of the Church-yard , and some webs of lead foure hundred foote into the field writhen like vnto a paier of gloues : the Riuer of Trent running betwéene the two townes , had the water with the mud in the bottom carried a quarter of a mile , and cast against trees , and the trees torne vp by the rootes , and cast twelue score off : also a child was taken foorth of a mans hand two speares length high , carryed a hundred foote from him , and then let fall , and so died : also fiue or sixe men therabout dyed by this tempest : God be mercifull and grant vs patience in such like extremities , many other strange accidents there hapned as then , of the truth wherof let no man doubt , for of the same there is sufficient proofe , and will be verefied , if occasion serue , God with his out-stretched arme defend and keepe vs from the like death as many vnhappely haue here in our Country both by sea and land tasted , and grant that wee may seriously to our owne goods beare in remembraunce all these forepassed reports , that they may put vs in minde to shunne the wayes of the wicked , for all these related calamities haue béene laied vpon vs for our sinnes , we sée how our good Father is loath to chide vs too fircely , and vnwilling to strike vn to terribly , therefore let these passed warnings mooue vs to good life , which God for his chosen sake grant . Amen .