GOD'S WARning to his people of England. BY THE GREAT OVERflowing of the Waters or Floods lately happened in South-wales and many other places.  
WHEREIN IS DESCRIBED the great losses, and Wonderful damages, that happened thereby: by the drowning of many Towns and Villages, to the utter undoing of many thousands of People.  
At London printed for W. Barley, and Io. Bayly, and are to besolde in Gracious street. 1607.   

God's Warning to his people of England.  
MANY are the dumb warnings of Destruction, which the Almighty God hath lately scourged this our Kingdom with; And many more are the threatening Tokens, of his heavy wrath extended toward us: All which in bleeding hearts, may enforce us to put on the true garment of Repentance, and like unto the Niniuits, unfeignedly solicit the sweet mercies of our most loving God: Therefore let us now call to remembrance the late grievous and most lamentable Plague of Pestilence, wherein the wrath of God took from us so many thousands of our friends, kindred and acquaintance: let us also call to remembrance the most wicked and pretended malice, of the late Papistical Conspiracy of Traitors, that with powder practised the subversion of this beautiful Kingdom: And lastly let us fir our eyes upon these late swellings of the outrageous Waters, which of late now happened in divers parts of this Realm, together with the overflowing of the Seas in divers and sundry places thereof: whose fruitful valleys, being now overwhelmed and drowned with these most unfortunate and unseasonable salt waters, do foreshew great Barrenness, and Famine to ensue after it,( unless the Almighty God of 'tis great infinite mercy and goodness do prevent it.) But now oh England, be not overcome with thine own fully: Be not blinded with the overmuch security of thyself, neither sink thou thyself in thine own sin: 〈…〉 the general dissolution of the whole world by 〈◊〉 in the time of Nov, never the like Inundation or watery punishment than happened now here related to the great griete of all Christian hearers, as by this 〈◊〉 shall hear appear.  
Upon Tuesday being the 20. of january last passed, 1607 in divers places aswell in the Western parts of England, as also in 〈…〉 places of this Realm: there happened such an overflowing of Waters, such a violent swelling of the Seas, and such forcible breathes made into the firm Land: namely into the bosoms of these countri●e following. That is to say, in the Counties of Gloucester, summer et, together with the Countries of Monmoth, Glamorgan, Carmarthen, and divers and sundry other places of South-wales: the like never in the memory of man, hath ever been soeve or beard of: The sudden terror whereof struck such an amazed fear into the hearts of all the inhabitants, of those parts, that every one prepared himself ready to entertain the last Period of his lives Destruction: Doeming it altogether to be a second deluge: or an universal, punishment by Water.  
For upon the Tuesday being the 20 of january last, as atoresaid, about nine of the clock in the morning, the Sun being most fairly and brightly spread, many of the Inhabitants of those countries before mentioned, prepared themselves to their affairs, some to one business, some to an other: every man according to his calling. As the Plowmen setting forth their Cattle to their labours, the shepherds feeding of their flocks, the Farmers over▪ seeing of their grounds, and looking so their cattle finding therein, and so every one employed in his business as occasion required. Then they might see & perceive a far of, as it were in the Element, huge and mighty Hills of water, tumbling one over another, in such sort as if the greatest mountains, in the world, had overwhelmed the low Ualeyes or Marshy grounds. Sometimes it so dazzled the eyes of many of the Spectators, that they imagined it had been some fog or mist, coming with great swiftness towards them: and with such a smoke, as if Mountains were all on fire: and to the view of some, it seemed as it: 〈◊〉 of thousands of Arrows had been shot forth all at one time, which came in such swiftness, as it was verify thought, that the Fowls of the air could scarce fly so fast, such was the threatening furies thereof.  
But assoon as the people of those Countries, perceived that it was the violence of the Waters of the raging Seas, and that they began to exceed the compass of their accustomed bounds, and making so furiously towards them. happy were they that could make the best, and most speed away, many of them, leaving all their goods and substance, to the merciless Waters, being glad to escape away with life themselves: But so violent and swift were the outragiove waves, that pursued one an other, with such vehemency, and the Waters multiplying so much in so short a time, that in less than five hours space▪ most part of those countries( and especially the places which lay low,) were all over flown, and many hundreds of people both men women, and children were then quite devoured, by these outrageous waters, such was the fury of the waves, of the Seas, the one of them driving the other forwards with such force and swiftness, that it is almost incredible for any to believe the same, except such as tasted of the smart thereof, and such as beheld the same, with their eyes: Nay more, the Farmers, Husbandmen, and Shepherds, might behold their goodly flocks of Sheep, swimming upon the Waters dead, which could by no means be recovered.  
Many Gentlemen, Yeomen and others, had great losses, of cattle, as Oxen, Kine, Bullocks, Horses, Colts, Sheep, Swine, Nay not so much as their poultry about their houses, but all were over whelmed and drowned, by these merciless Waters: Many men that were rich in the morning when they rose out of their beds, were made poor before noon the sane day: such are the Judgements of the Almighty God, who is the giver of all good things, who can and will dispose of them again at all times, according to his good will and pleasure, whensoever it shall seem best unto him. Many others like wise, had their habitations or dwelling houses all carried away in a short time, and had not a place left them, so much as to shroud themselves in.  
Moreover, many that had great store of Corn and Grain, in their Barns and Garners in the morning had not within five bowers space afterwards, so much as one Grain to make them bread withal: Neither had they so much left as a lock of Hay or Straw to seed their cattle which were left: Such was the great misery they susseyned by the fury of this watery Element, from which like, good Lord I beseech him of his influ e mercy and goodness to deliver us all.  
The names of some of the Towns and villages which suffered great harms and losses hereby were these, ( Viz.)  
Bristol and Aust this Aust is a village or town some 8. miles distant from Bristol upon the Seauerne side where all people are Ferried over, that come out of Wales, into those parts of Gloucester and Sommersect-shire.  
All the countries along on both the sides of the river of Seauerne, from Gloucester to Bristol, which is about some 20. miles was all over flown, in some places 6. miles over, in some places more, in some less.  
Moreover, all or the most part, of the Bridges, between Gloucester and Bristol, were all forcibly carried away with the Waters: besides many goodly buildings there about much defaced, and many of them carried quite away: besides many other great losses of all kinds of Corn and Grain, and cattle that were then lost.  
At Aust, many passengers that are Ferried over there now, are sane to be guided by guides, all along the Can●●es, where the water still remaineth for the space of 3 or 4 miles, or else they willbe, in great danger of Drowning, the Water lieth as yet so deep there.  
Many dead Carcases, both there, and in many other places, of the country, are daily found floating upon the Waters, and as yet cannot be known who they are, or what number of persons are drowned, by reason of the same Waters, which as yet in many places remain very deep: so great was the spoil that these merciless Elements there wrought and made.  
In Bristol was much harm done, by the overflowing of the Waters, but not so much as in other places, many Cellars and Warehouses, where great store of Merchandise was in,( as Wine, Salt, hops, Spices, and other such like Ware) were all spoiled. And the people of the Town were enforced to be carried in Boats, up and down the said City about their business in the Fair time there.  
Upon the other side of the River of Seauerne, towards a Town called Chepstow, upon the lower grounds, was much harm done, by the violence of the Water.  
There was in Chepstow a woman drowned in her bed: and also a Girl, by the like misfortune.  
Also, all along the same coasts. up to Gold-clift, Matherne, Calicot-Moores, Redrift, Newport, Cardiff, Cowbridge, Swansey, Laug●erne, Llanstephan, and divers other places, of Glamorgan-shire, Munmoth-shire, Carmarthen-shire, and Cardigan▪ shire: many great harms were there done, and the waters raged so furiously▪ and with such great vehemency, that it to supposed that in those parts, there cannot be so few persons drowned as 500: both Men. Women, and Children, besides the loss of abundance of all kind of Corno and Graine: together with their Hay, and other provision which they had made for their Cattle.  
Moreover, there were in the places afore mentioned, many thousands of Cattle, which were ●●eeding in the Low Ualeys, drowned and overwhelmed with the violence of the furious waters: as Oren kine, young beasts, horses, Sheep, Swine, and such like, the number is deemed infinite: yea, and not so much as Turkeys, Hens, Geese, Ducks, and other Poultry about their houses could once escape away, the Waves of the Sea so overwhelmed them.  
And that which is more strange: There are not now found only floating upon the Waters still remaining, the dead Carcases of many men women and children: But also an abundance of all kind of wild Beasts, as Foxes, Hares, Coneys, Rats, Moules and such like: some of them swimming one upon an others Beck▪ thinking to have saved themselves thereby▪ but all was in vain, such was the force of the Waters that over▪ pressed them.  
In a place in Munmoth shire, there was a maid went to milk her kine in the morning, but before she had fully ended her business, the vehemency of the Waters increased, and so suddenly environed her about, that she could not escape thence, but was enforced to make shift up to the top of an ● Bank to save herself, which she did with much ado, where she was constrained to abide all that day and night, until 8 of the clock in the next morning in great distress, what with the coldness of the air and waters: and what with other Accidents that there happened unto her, she had been like there to have perished: had not the Almighty God of his infinite mercy and goodness, preserved her, from such great perils and dangers, which were likely there to ensue unto her.  
But there placing herself for saveguard of her life as aforesaid, having none other refuge to fly unto: the Waters in such violent sort had so pursued her, that there was but a small distance of ground left uncovered with Waters, for her to abide upon: There she remained most pitifully lamenting the great danger of life that she was then in, expecting every minute of an hour, to be overwhelmed with those merciless Waters: But the Almighty God, who is the Creator of all good things, when he thought meet, sent his holy Angel to command the Waters to cease their fury: and so return into their accustomed bonuds again, whereby according to his most blessed will and pleasure she was then preserved.  
In the mean space, during the continuance of her abode there, divers of her friends practised all the means they could to recover her, but could not, the Waters were of such a deepness about her, and Boats they had none, in all those parts to succour her, such was their want in this distress, that many perished through the want thereof.  
There was a Gentleman of worth, dwelling near unto the place where she was, who caused a goodly Gelding to be saddled, and set a man upon the back of him, thinking to have fetched her away, but such were the deepness of the waters, that he durst not adventure the same, but retired.  
At last some of her friends, devised a devise, and tied two broad troughs the one to the other,( such as in those countries they use to salt Bacon in) and put therein two lusty strong men, who with long Paul's( stirring these troughs)( as if they had been boats) made great shift to come to her, & so by this means, through God's good help she was then saved.  
But now( gentle Reader) mark what befell, at this time, of the strangeness of other creatures: whom the Waters had violently oppressed: for the two men which took upon them to fetch away the maid from the top of the Bank, can truly witness the same as well as herself to be true, for they beheld the same with their Eyes.  
The Hill or Bank where the maid abode all that space▪ was all so covered over, with wild beasts and vermin, that came thither to seek for succour) that she had much ado to save herself, from taking of hurt by them: and much ado she had to keep them from creeping upon and about her, she was not so much in danger of the Water on the one side: as she was troubled with these Uermin on the other side.  
The beasts and Uermin that were there were these. ( Viz)  
Dog's Cats, Moules, Foxes, Hares, conies, yea and not so much, as Mice and Rats: but were there in abundance and that which is more strange: The one of them never once offered to annoy the other: although they were deadly enemies by Nature the one to an other: Yet in this danger of life, they not once offered to express their natural envy: But in a gentle sort, they freely enjoyed the liberty of life, which in mine opinion, was a most wonderful work in Nature.  
But now let us leave this matter touching this maid, besides the other accidents before rehearsed and let us return again to these watery miseries: The counties of Glamorgan. Carmarthen, and Cardigan, and many other places in South-wales, have likewise borne the heavy burden, of God's wrath herein: And many were the lives of them that were lost through this watery destruction.  
Many there were which fled into the toys of high trees, and there were enforced to abide some three days, some more, and some less▪ without any victuals at all, there suffering much cold besides many other calamities, and some of them in such sort, that through evermuch hunger and cold, some of them fell down again out of the Trees, and so were like to perish for want of succour. Othersame, sat in the toys of high Trees as aforesaid, beholding their wives, children, and servants, swimming( remediless of all succour) in the Waters.  
Other some sitting in the tops of Trees might behold their houses overflown with the waters. some their houses carried quite away: and no sign or token left there of them.  
Many of them might see, as they stood upon the toys of high Hills, their cattle pe●●●●, and could not tell how to succour them, and their Barns, with all their store of Corn and Graine quite consumed, which was no small grief unto them.  
Many people and Cattle in divers places of these countries, might have been saved in time, if that the countries had been any thing like furnished with boots, or other provision fit for such a sudden Accident, as this was, which as God himself knoweth▪ was little expected of them to have fallen so suddenly upon them.  
But seeing the countries were so unfurnished with Boats much harm was done, to the utter undoing of many thousands.  
Some fled into the tops of churches and Stéeples, to save themselves, from whence they might behold, themselves deprived aswell of all their substance, as also of all their joys▪ which they had before received in their wives and children, beware, whole Rakes of Pease, beans, Dates, and other grain were seen a far of, to float upon the Water too and fro, in the Countries as if they had been ships upon the Seas.  
The Foundations of many Churches and houses, were in a manner decayed, and some carried quite away, as in Cardisse, in the county of Glamorgan there was a great part of the Church next the Water side eaten down, with the Water, many houses and Gardens there, which were near the water side, were all overflown, and much harm bone.  
divers other Churches lie hidden in the Waters, and some of them the tops are to be seen: and other some, nothing at all to be seen, but the very tops of the Steeples, and of some of them nothing at all, neither steeple nor nothing else. Also many schools of young scholars, in many places of those countries, stood in great perplexitle, some of them adventuring home to their parents were drowned by the way: Other some staying behind in in Churches, did climb up to the tops of Steeples, where they were very near starved to death for want of food and fire: many by the help of boards and planks of Wood, swum to dryland and so were preserved from untimely Death, Many had Boats brought them, some 10 miles, some 15. some 20. where there was never seen any Boats before.  
Thus God suffered many of them to escape his ireful wrath, in hope of their amendment of life: Some men that were riding on the high ways were overtaken with these merciless Waters, and were drowned.  
And again many have been most strangely preserved.  
As for example, there was in the County of Glamorgan▪ a man both blind and did ride and one which had not been able to stand upon his legs in ten years before, he had his poor cottage broken down by the force of the Waters, and himself, Bed and all carried into the open fields, where being ready to sink, and at the point to seek a resting place, two fathoms deep under the Waters: his hand by chance catched hold of the Raster of an house swimming by the fierceness of the Winds, then blowing Easternely he was driven safely to the Land, and so escaped.  
Also in an other place, there was a man Child of the age, of 5. or 6. years, which was kept swimming for the space of two hours, above the Waters, by reason that his long Coats lay spread upon the tops of the waters, and being at last, at the very point to sink: there came by chance by,( floating upon the tops of the Waters,) a fat Wether that was dead, very full of Wool: The poor distressed Child perceiving this good means of recovery, caught fast hold on the Weathers Wool, and likewise with the wind he was driven to dry land, and so saved.  
There wes also in the County of Carmarthen, a yaung Woman, who had four small Children, and not one of them able to help itself: And the Mother then seeing the su●●es of the Waters to be so violent to cease upon her threatening the Destruction of herself and her small Children,( and as a Woman's will is ever ready in extremities) The took along Trough, wherein she was wont to make her bread in, and therein placed herself, and her four Children: And so putting themselves to the mercies of the Waters, they were all by that means driven to the dry land, and by God's good providence there by they were all saved.  
Many more there were that through the handy-workes of God were preserved from this violent death o● Drowning, some on the backs of dead Cattles some upon Wooden planks: some by climbing of Trees▪ some by remaining in the tops of high Stéeples and Churches, other some by making of speed away with swift horses, and some by the means of Boats, sent out by their friends to succour them: but there were not so many so strangely saved, but their were as many in number as strangely drowned.  
The low Marshes and Fenny grounds, near Barstable in the County of Devon were overflown, so far out, and in such outrageous sort, that the country all along to Bridge-water was greatly distressed thereby, and much hurt there done it is a most pitiful sight to behold what numbers of fat Oxen, were there Drawned: what flocks of Sheep, what heads of kine, have their been lost, and Drowned in in these outrageous Waters: there is little now remaining there, to be seen, but huge Waters like to the main Ocean: The tops of Churches and Stéeples like to the tops of Rocks in the Sea. Great Reeks of Fodder for Cattle, are floating like Ships upon the Waters, and dead Beasts swimming thereon: Now past feeding on the same, through the rigour of this Element of Water: The tops of Tréees, a man may behold remaining above the Waters, Upon whose branches, multitudes of all kind of Turkeys, Hens, and other such like Poultry were fain to sly up into the Trees to save their lives, where many of them perished to death, for want of relief, not being able to fly to dry land for succour, by reason of their weakness.  
This merciless Water breaking into the Bosom of the firm Land, hath proved a fearful punishment, as well to all other living Creatures: as also to all Mankind: Which if it had not been for the merciful promise of God, at the last dissolution of the World, by Water, by the sign of the Rainbow, which is still showed us: we might have verily believed, this time had been the very hour of Christ his coming: From which Element of Water, extended towards us in this fearful manner, good Lord deliver us all. Amen.  
FINIS.