IF beloued , the sundrie and manifold examples of Gods indignation powred vpon vs , which we through our intollerable heapes of iniquities haue deserued be extinct , and that through his owne intyre mercy and vnspeakeable clemencie withdrawing his heauie displeasure , from our heads , we become forgetful of his goodnes sleeping in sinne , drencht in the depth of our desires , and wallowing in iniquities . Let this rare and wonderfull spectacle of our vtter decaie , and ruinous subuersion be an admonition , a caueat , yea and an alarum to awake vs from our sinful and sluggish sléeping , least the condigne wrath of our Lord and sauiour come vpon vs before we bée aware , but vnwares we cannot account it , in somuch as he sendeth , giueth , and sheweth innumerable signes of his heauie displeasure euen in a moment to fall vpon vs , aswell in other signes as in this sight , the very report wherof but little read , and lightly regarded , may be sufficient to reclaime the most sinnefull , and hard harted creature .

On Saterday being the 25. of September , last past , at the Hay in Herefordshier was sene so rare a sight as neither our forefathers haue knowne , nor we our selues heard of . For there arose sodenlye a most wonderfull and cruell tempest , with such aboundant high waters , that the whole countrie was not onely greatly amazed therwith , but also in danger of drowning : besides the losse of great and plenteous store of Corne and Cattell , wherewith they were indued : at which instant there appeared also a most wonderfull and dreadfull sight of two great cloudes , the one being blacke , which arising , issued from the North the other being white , came from the South part , which meeting together seemed , to rend the Skie with their ratling , in such vnusuall sort , that it brought a most rare and terrible terrour to the beholders . In the middest of which cloudes , opposite with the earth did visibly appeare , there situated a faire greene Field , as it had beene of feirne , in which field dispersed was seene flying an innumerable companie of blacke Crowes , and other Foules which continuing a certaine time , sent foorth moste dreadfull straunge and wonderful cryes , no lesse rare to be recited then lamentable to regard : being in altitude to the iudgement of the beholders not aboue 30. fadomes from the earth : with a verye obscure and darke continuance : and not long before the vanishing of these cloudes , was heard so rare and horrible roaring ( as if it had beene ) the cryes of beares and lyons : yea and that so terrible that it was rather iudged to haue beene the skritching of some maleuolent hellish and furious fiends : these presupposed Crowes were of diuers credible persons visiblye seene to rent and teare whole houses , barnes , and stables , yea and to pull out whole and huge trees by the rootes , in a most rare and wonderfull manner ransacked and dispersed into diuerse places , yea and after a moste dreadfull sight some of the rafters and peeces therof , were carried vp into the aire , and after that neuer sithens seene , with great store of corne which at that time was carried away : Likewise such hauoke made , of trees that had stood a long time , as woulde almost exceede a truth to be spoken of , some were pulled vp by the rootes and cast a bow shot from the place , other some cut as it had beene with an axe or saw , and other some so straungely writhen as the like hath not beene seene of our forefathers nor hard of our selues . Moreouer , and besides al this , was sene a most rare and terrible stratagem and perfect paterne of our impietie , for the which vnlesse spéedie and suppliant prayers be lifted vp vnto our Lord , that it may please him of his infinite goodnes and mercie , to bee fauourable vnto vs , we are and shall be in daunger of his heauie displeasure : from the which God for his infinite goodnes and mercies sake deliuer vs : At that instant I say beloued , there was seene of diuerse credible persons a most huge , great and vgly black dogg , who running along in the presence of manye beholders , rent , toare , and pulled vp whole trees by the rootes , most wonderfull to looke vpon , which did so amaze and terrifie the inhabitants there about , that they expected nothing els , but that dolefull and dismall day of Doome , I meane the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ , which no doubt nether is nor can be far off . Many other rare and great tempests about that time were seene in Deuonshier and diuers other places : the verie rumour whereof may of it selfe without further witnes , bee sufficient to withdraw vs from our most obstinate , sinfull , and wicked lustes and determinations , wherby we heape vpon our heads the heauie wrath and indignation of our Sauiour Christ , who I say ( beloued ) except wee spéedily repent and cal for grace , the multitude of our sinnes dayly increasing more and more , will suffer his wrath to fall vpon vs . Looke how farre the East is from the West , so far hath he set our sinnes from vs , to th end we might repent and sinne no more , yea euen as a father pittieth his owne children , so hath he compassion on vs , and fauourably admonisheth vs by diuerse examples of his indignation , to abolish these our manifold sinnes : In somuch as with Ierusalem by diuerse and sundry tokens he hath manifested his fatherly clemencie vnto vs : yea euen as a hen gathereth her Chickins vnder her winges , so woulde he haue called vs and we would not : Verily beloued , the men of Niniuie repented at the preaching of Ionas with ashes and sackcloth , and turned vnto the Lord , who had pittie and compassion on them : The Queene of the South shall arise against vs in iudgement , for she came to heare the wisedome of Salomon , and we haue greater then Salomon , or Ionas , when the Lord himselfe admonisheth vs by earth quakes , comets , and signes in the ayre : the verye Turkes , Panims , and Infidels , will arise in iudgement against vs , who no doubt , had they known the Lord God , or the multitude of examples that we haue sene , would haue bin conuerted . Let vs I say repent , be watchfull , and vigilant that our Lord and sauiour comming ( like good stewards ) we may make account of our liues , and be readie for the comming of our father , when he shall discend in his glorious maiestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead : and when hee shall say come ye blessed of my father , inherite the kingdome which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world , that then I say we may appeare al righteous before him to ascend with him into his glorious maiestie , there to liue and remaine with him & the father in glorie world without end .