A declararation of such tempestuous, and outrageous Floods, as hath been in divers places of England. 1570.   

To such as have been touched with these Calamities of water, by the great Floods in this present year 1570.  
DAVID the Prophet, in the .107. Psalm, speaking of the marvelous works & wounders that god doth by his power show before the sons of men: stirreth up the Godly to praise and extol his majesty, and moveth the wicked and stubborn, to the fear and dread of his horrible vengeance. He turneth (says he) the Floods into a wilderness, and the springs of water into dry ground, 
Psal. 10 33.  & a fruitful land into barrenness, for ●●e wickedness of them that dwell therein. Which notable sentence, may be well considered, more aptly applied, but chiefly of us well examined: weighing how fearfully the Lord hath bestowed upon us his, marvelous judgements, in that he hath turned many of our fruitful Fields and Marshes, Pastures and Meadows into unmerciful Floods and streams, unlooked for, by changing as he did in the old world, the moderate course of the upper Fountains; which were ordained to water the earth, and so to make it fruitful, into immoderate, and unseasonable Floods, which in steed of making fruitful, hath made barren many places of the Earth in this our country by destruction of the Creatures, as Pastures, Corn, cattle, Sheep, Neat, Horse, Beasts, Oxen, Cows, and such like, with some of the bodies of men, though not so generally, as in the first Flood, neither half so extremely, as our sins do deserve, which crave not so light a scourge as moist and cooling plashes of water, but hot and burning flakes of Fire and Brimstone, which for less offences God poured upon Sodom & Gomorrah. The cause of which barrenness (as David says) in this our fruitful country, is our wickedness, which are the inhabitants of the same, as is to be approved by marking the fruits, and operation of two kinds of people within this land: especially upon whom these calamities have fallen, to weet, the Rich and the Poor. As concerning the one, namely the Rich men, 
Esay. 3.  if ever the Prophet Esayes woe, against them that ioygne house to house and land to land (till there be no more place left for the poor) could ever be applied it may be applied unto them, which as Amos the Prophet saith, 
Amos. 4.  are the fat Cows of Basin in the Mountains of Samaria, which oppress the poor and destroy the needy. To whom Abacuk says, That their covetousness is an evil covetousness to their houses, whereby they seek to set their nest on high, and to escape from the power of evil. Thou hast (saith the Prophet) conseled shame to thy own house, and by destroying many people, and hast sinned against thy own soul. For the Stone shall cry out of the brickwall, and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it, as now the Seals of the War & Parchment of the Leaces' hath cried vengeance and destruction to the Leasemongers of England: and the conditions have cried out of the Leases, which have been enhanced and raised, answering, woe worth such covetous caytifs, as have caused the care full cries of so many poor. Thou righteous God, plague these covetous Leasemongers, these greedy graziers, which have converted the Tillage, of much arable ground, to the grazing of Sheep, and Northern Oxen, whereby they enrich themselves with the ruin and decay of thousands, round about them. Thou God that seest this their unmerciful dealing, open the clouds, water their pastures sown with sheep, in steed of men and Corn of all grains, give their flock moisture, that they may see them by thousands swim above the ground, and at the fall of the waters, to lie dead upon their watered land. Which cry God hath herded, and this is the cause of such ruin and destruction. The Rich are so wealthy, that they are without judgement, without mercy, and that hath caused their Herds to be wasted, their Flocks to be deminished, their Granges made pasturelesse, with the pitiful floods passed, whereby much of their substance hath perished. For whose sakes also the Poor are made partakers of these great losses. Those rich landlords, yet adding to their troubles, whom the Lord hath smitten, by exacting still their outrageous Rents, aswell for the half year past, wherein these perils have happened: as before, not considering that the Lord did it to plague them withal, because of their covetousness. God give them repentance, before the Lord be too to much stirred, and provoked to anger, by their wickedness: Lest that if these favourable thretnynges be despised, the Just and righteous God, do in steed of water, reign down Fire & Brimstone upon them, and in steed of the overflowing of their pastures, with watery streams: overflow the careless consciences, with cruel flames of Hell fire, & everlasting damnation: and in steed of the loss and wrack of sheep and cattle, Shipwreck and Landwracke, of both their bodies and souls, which all their rusty Gold and Silver shall never be able to recover again. And the Poor, God give them patience to bear this the lords visitation thankfully: knowing that the poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him, and that the Lord is the refuge and strong hold of the poor, in time of necessity, who hath his ears open, to hear their complaints, and is ready at hand to help them and receive their prayers. God grant that they murmur not at God handiwork, in striking the little they had, but that they may say, with blessed job, the Lord gave it, the Lord hath taken his own again, blessed be his name for ever and ever. So shall we be Gods humble Children, both rich and poor, embracing his Rods of correction, as means to amend our lives. The rich forsaking their former covetous unmerciful greediness: The poor learning to be more thankful and faithful in staying upon God's providence that God may restore us from the hand of strangers, 
Psal. 144.  whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: That our Sons may be as the Plants growing up in their youth: and our daughters as the polished corners of the Temple: That our countries may be full and abundant with divers sorts, and that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets: That our Oxen may be strong to labour, and that there be no invasion, nor going out, nor decaying in our streets, which blessings God will multiply upon us, if we all will once begin to fear him, blessed are the people that are in such a case, yea blessed are we if the Lord be our God, his wonders make us fear and obey him, his mercy make us all to love and serve him, through his Son, jesus Christ, our only saviour. AMEN.   Math. 22. give unto Caesar that which belongeth unto Caesar, and unto God, that belongeth unto God. 1. Peter. 2. Submit yourself to all manner ordinance of man for the lords sake: whether it be unto the King, as to the chief head, either unto Rulers as unto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of evil doers, but for the praise of them that do well. Deutro. 11. He that obeyeth the voice of God, is blessed, and he that obeyeth not is cast of. 
A declaration or discourse of the great wonderful overflowyngs of waters within this Realm of England, whereby hath been much loss of ground cattle, Houses, and goods, to the utter vndooynge of a great numbered of men, beside the loss of the lives of many men Women and Children, most lamentable to hear. Which was in the year of our Lord M.D.LXX  

bedford.  
THE fift of October about midnight, the Water overflowed so much, that men were fain to forsake their Beds, and one woman drowned. Where also were lost a great number of Sheep, Oxen, Cows, Horse and other cattle. Among other there, one master Cartwrite Gentleman, having his House enclosed round about, the water came in so much, that a Cart being laden with thorns did swim about the ground. He lost by the same Flood, Sheep and other cattle, to the value of an HUNDRED pounds. The same Gentleman had a close gate by the high ways side, where the water ran over so extremely, that at the fall thereof it made such an hole, that it was xl foot deep, so that no man could pass that way without great danger. To the filling up of the said Hole, or Pit, was cast in by the men of the said Town twenty-five. loads of Faggots, and twenty load of Horse Dung, which said Faggots and Horse dung, filled not the hole.  
Also one master Lee at the Freers' in bedford, having a fair yard wherein was great store of Elm trees, whereof lx were blown down with the roots pulled clean out of the ground. Also he had a close of Coneys that were clean destroyed.   

In the County of Norfolk.  
THE Sea broke in between Wisbich, and Walsockenne, and at the Cross keys, drowning Tilney, and old Linne, Saint Mary Teding, S. Mary Tid, S. john's, Wawple, Walton, and Walsocken, Einney, jarmans', and Stowe brinck all being within the space of ten Miles. At the Cross keys the goodman of the Inn had built an house, with a strong Foundation joining unto an other House being old and not so strong, wherein were certain Guests and when the water came in so violently the goodman of the house being in the stronger House, called the men out of the old House, and they would have gone down the stairs, but the water was so high that they could not come down, wherefore they went back again, and broke an hole into the other House, where they went thorough, and the last man was no sooner in: But the old house fallen down. The Walls of the houses were broken down, and the Horses that were tied at the Manger, (which was made fast in the ground) did swim in the water, when the Stable was clean carried away, until the waters were assuaged, and were saved a live, and the people were constrained to get up to the highest parts of the house, and to be carried away in Boates.  
At Yermouth a great part of the Bridge was carried away.  
The house upon the Haven, called the Haven house, wherein was one Nicholas josselin, the Haven man, and his son, with all their tools was carried into the Marshes vi miles from the Haven where it stood upright where they continued long time without meat or drink.  
Item at jermans' brig street, was very much hurt done, by extreme Floods that were there.  
Item one Thomas Smith of Yarmouth lost a Ship, and vii men and a Boy in it.  
Item, at Newarke by Yarmouth were lost xii sail.  
Item, a great Hulk laden with Oil and Pitch, was lost at Worry Sand, and about twenty men lost therein and xxx saved by the Hulk boat.   

In the Bishopric of Ely:  
THese towns and villages were overflowed, that is to say, Wisbich, Guyhorn, Parson, drove, and Hobshouse. This Hobshouse being an alms house (and the water breaking down the Walls of it) the wound blew the clotheses of from the bed of a poor man and his wife, they being a cold, a waked and suddenly stepped out of his Bed to reach up his Clotheses, and stepped up to the Belly in Water, and then he thinking himself to be in danger (as he was indeed) and he knowing the best way to escape the danger of the Water, took his wife in his neck and carried her away and so were both saved.  
Item in Wisbich was a Garden, a Tennis play and a Bowlinge Alley walled about with brick (which was worth. xx.li. by year to the owner) quite destroyed by the water.   

Lincoln Shire.  
MUmby Chapel the whole town was lost except three houses. A Ship was driven upon an house the Sailors thinking they had been upon a Rock committed themselves to God, and three of the Mariners leapt out of the ship and chanced to to take hold on the house top and so saved themselves: and the wife of the same lying in child bed did climb up into the top of the house, was also saved by the Mariners, her Husband & child being both drowned.  
Item the church was wholly overthrown except the steeple.  
Between Boston and Newcastle were lx Sea vessailes, as small ships Craires, and such like, lost upon the Coasts of Boston, Hummerston, Marshchappell, Tetney, Stepney, Nercots, Kelby, and Grimsby, where no ship can come in without a Pilate, which were all lost with goods, corn, and cattle, with all the Salt coats, where the chief and finest Salt was made, were utterly destroyed, to the utter undoing of many a man and great lamentation both of old and young.  
Wentford Bridge being very strong of viii Arches in length, had iii of the Arches broken, and clean carried away.  
Master Smith, at the Swan, there had his house (being iii stories high,) overflowed unto the third story, and the walls of the stable were broken down, and the horses tied to the Manger, were all drowned.  
Many men had great loss, aswell of sheep, Cows, Oxen, great Mares, Colts, of the breed of the great horses, and other cattle innumerable, of which, the names of many of them shall here follow.  
Master Pellam lost xi C. sheep at Mumby chapel.  
In Sommercote were lost. u.c. sheep that were of the inhabitance there.  
Item between Hummerston, and Grimsby were lost xi c. sheep, of one master Speneers, whose shepherd about midday coming to his wife, and asked his Dinner, and she being more bold than mannerly, said he should have none of her, than he chanced to look toward the Marshes, where the sheep were, and see the water break in so fiercely that the sheep would be lost, if they were not brought from thence, said that he was not a good shepherd, that would not venture his life for his sheep, and so went strait to drive them from thence: both he and his sheep were drowned, and after the water being gone: he was found dead, standing upright in a ditch.  
Master Thimbleby, lost. Cc.xx sheep.  
M. Dimock, lost. cccc. sheep.  
M. Marsh▪ lost. ccccc. sheep.  
M. Madison, lost a ship.  
M. William Askugh of Kelsey, sir Hugh Askugh. M. Merin. M. Fitz Williams of Maplethorp, lost by estimation twenty M. of cattle one & other.  
Borne was overflowed to the midway of the height of the church.  
Steeping, was wholly carried away, where was a wain load of Willow tops, the body of the Wain, with the Willows, carried one way, and the Axletree and Wheels, an other way.   

Huntingdon Shire.  
IN the Town of S. Eeds, the water flowed into the Town in such abundance, that it ran thorough the town and the Church, being in the midst thereof, having about the Churchyard a Brick brickwall, of two yards hie, was so overflowed, that Boats were rowed over it without touching of the same.  
Item, a little from Huntingdon, were three men riding, upon the Causey being then overflowed (the water on the Causey being not deep, and thinking no danger therein) chanced to come into a place where the water had gulled away the Earth, and the Gravel, were carried away with the water: and Willows growing on both sides the way two of them caught hold on the Willows and left their Horses, and saved themselves, and the third chanced to catch a very little twig of a Willow, between his Fingers, having very little hold, and forsaking horse, which was carried a great way from him, had much pain to keep his hold on the twig, and hold his head above the water, and his Horse returning with force against the stream, came again unto him, and under him, by which means, he set his feet upon him and got better hold of the Willow and so saved himself, and the Horse was immediately carried away that he never see him after.  
Item, Holland, Leverington, Newton, chapel in the Sea, long Sutton, and Holbich, were overflowed. And in this Country also was great loss of cattle.   

Stafford Shire.  
IN the low parts in Moorland in a little town called Cliffeeld there was a man, his wife, and a sucking child in her arms, overwhelmed and slain, by the violence of the waters, and the boisterous winds.   

Warwick Shire.  
THE Water, called Haven, that passeth by the Town, called Stratford upon Haven, did run with such violence, that meeting with the Water called the Siverne, drove it back ten Miles, against the course overflowing much ground and drowning much cattle.   

Northampton Shire.  
IN Newport town, were two houses overthrown▪ and in one of them an old man, and an old woman were overwhelmed and slain, and in the same Town on the back side of the Saracens head, the water did spring out of the hard gravelly ground and flowed so fast that certain merchants (sitting there at dinner) were fain to rise and depart from thence to save themselves.   

Buckingham Shire.  
SIR Henry Ley, Knight, lost by the floods of water the number of iii M. sheep, besides horse and other cattle a great number.   

Sussex.  
IN the Wish at Rye, (a place so called,) the water came in so suddenly and flowed so high, that the people were feign to climb up, to the highest parts of their Houses, remaining there in great fear, until they were holpen by other men, which did fetch them, with Boats from their Windows, and highest parts of their houses, who were glad to escape with saving their lives, and losing their goods.  
The chief time, and spring of this Tide, was about midnight, whereby there was great loss of sheep, and other cattle with out number, to the utter undoing of many a poor man, and great loss of many other, whose piteous case, is to be lamented.  
At Rye, the water flowed so vehemently, that it broke into the Marshes, & made such a way that where of late years, a small Uessel could not pass in at half flood, now a great vessel may come in at low water, where also, is good Harbour for ships, not only to the great commodity of all Sailors, that have to do there: but also profitable to the most part of the inhabitants there.  
Of those marshes, one master Shepherd, was chief owner, who had many Poles, standing in the same place, very meet for the drying of their fyshing Nets, for the which he received money of them that dried their Nets there, and although he was paid for the same sufficiently enough, yet being not therewith contented, he gave them warning that they should pay more money, or else they should no more han● their nets there, the which (eue● 〈…〉 in the same 〈…〉 to pass by God's ordinance, that they were by the flood that night, carried all away, so that his denial, lost his Poles and saved their nets, to the great comfort of a great number, though it were contrary to the said owner's expectation and will.   

Kent.  
AT Broom hill, in Romney marsh, iiii. Miles from Rye, the water came in so outrageously, that it broke down the marsh walls, one master Bury, being owner thereof, who lost by the same a thousand one hundred threescore and two of his Sheep, and it is thought that the marsh is never like to be got again.  
Item, at Erith breach, a Mariner riding by the Marshes, seeing two maids in the marshes, & perceiving the waters breaking in so fast, that the Maids were not like to escape: road unto them, and one of them got up behind him, and the other took hold on the Horse tail, and by that were both saved from drowning.  
In the same marsh, were drowned a great number of sheep.  
Item, there in a Marsh land that was sown, were two boys keeping Crows, in the after noon, see the water breaking in so rashly, got them up into a cart, that was not far from them, where they were feign to tarry until the next tide, which came in so boisterously, that it had like to overthrow both the Cart and the boys, and the one of them being more stronger than the other, kept the other in his arms, where he with cold, wet, and fear died, so that he was feign to let him fall from him into the matter, when he perceived that he was past recovery.  
A little from that place, were also drowned. M. of Sheep, and many other cattle.   

Essex.  
FRom a Town called Raynam, unto the town named Maldon, all along by the Water side, were the Marshes all overflown wherein were a great number of cattle drowned, to the great loss of many a man.   

Suffolk.  
IN Clay, were two Ships laden with Dansk Ware, came to shore with no man in them, nor any man can tell of whence they are.  
In Clay, the dwellers there lost a very great Parcel of Salt, and Herrings, Barelled, being housed in an house Walled with Brick, three foot thick, & yet the Wall was broken down.  
Also, there was lost much Saffron ground, with many other things more, to the great hindrance of many a man.  
Item, in Walderswick, Dunwich, and Blaybrooke, was great loss, of Board, plank, Timber, and Salt.   

Oxford.  
A Great part of the Bridge, by Magdalen College, was born clean away, and many Trees were turned up by the root.  
WE Read in the Sermons of jeremy the Prophet, the .44. Chapter that jeremy did labour to bring them from Idolatry which were fled into the Land of Egypt to Pathors, and declared what plagues and miseries God had laid upon them, and would lay upon them, till they were destroyed utterly, which council of the Prophet, they not only little set by, but were with malice and extreme impudent madness so incensed, that they gave a plain answer to the Prophet. The words which thou hast spoken in the name of the Lord unto us we will not hear them: But we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, as to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out Drink offerings unto her as we have done, both we and our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes, in the Cities of judah, and in the streets of jerusalem: for than had we plenty of Uitailes, and were well and felt no evil, but since we left of to burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out the drink offerings, before her, we have had scarcenesss of all things, & have been consumed by the sword, and by famine, which impudent answer, may be likened to the answer of our Egyptian Papists or Babylonical idolaters (Which in times past, sang Salue Regina, and Regina Coeli letare, to the virgin Mary, whom Idolatrously they call the Queen of Heaven) To the Preachers of the Gospel of jesus Christ, we hear your words that you speak in the name of the Lord, but as for us, we will never believe them, but will be as we have been. Though we cannot have our Peevish Idolatry, and Apish Religion openly, yet we will in hearts (unreformed) sacrifice to the Queen of Heaven, & say, Maria Mater gratia, Mater misericordia, tu nos ab host besiege, in hora mortis suscipe: that is. Marry thou mother of grace, and mother of mercy, in like case defend us from our Foes, we pray, and take us in our dying day. As all our blind generations have done before us, as our good holy Fathers, the Popes, have taught us from time to time, and as our Fathers, and good Cacolike Kinsfolks have done, in the countries of England, and the Cities of Britain, and in the streets of London, Caunterbury, York, Bristol, Sarisbury, Westchester & Norwiche and as our good brethren in Northumberlande, and Westmerlande, Ridsedale, and Tidsedale, and our friends of the rhetoric of Durham, and our false foolish favourers of Fables in Suffolk, and Norfolk, of late have done, Which we if their quarters, gracious Queen of Heaven, did not more fear us that hung on London gates, & divers Towers & Trees, in this country then either our obedience to God or Queen, doth move us) would even now do also, as our fathers have done before us, for then when the Mass was up, Images of blissed holy Saints, the holy Rood, and our Lady, saint Thomas of Canterbury, & Saint Frances, with his bloody side, and all the trimsy trash, and pelting paltry, of that holy, holy, Whore of Rome, our mother holy Church, than had we a merry world, allthings were plenty, we had Uictailes and all things in abundance, and felt no ill, but since this new fangled Religion, which they call the gospel, which our Fathers never knew, (and yet were led to the Devil well enough) was Preached: we have had scarcity of all things, and have been consumed by Sword and famine, with Fire and water, as now all men may see by these great Floods, which God hath sent to plague them for their Heresy, & because they have despised our old, ancient, & holy Church, & Religion that hath continued in worship this seven or viii hundredth year (& less) & have brought in, this new religion that began but in Paradise and was devised but the last day, (when God before the World was made, in his everlasting wisdom, and good purpose, of mere knowledge thought it good.) Thus I say do blind Idolaters make arguments, esteeming Religion, by the belly, and in steed of acknowledging Gods works, (which sendeth both plenty and Dearth, Rain, and dry Wether, Floods, and dry land, Richeses, and poverty, sickness and health, attributing all to their doom Idols, which are cursed with their makers, and worshippers, but as jeremy said to the Egyptian Israelitish Idolaters: so I might sai to our Roman popistical Englishmen, the Lord see your peevish Idolatry and in steed of plagues, gave you much abundance of mercy, which might have moved you from Idolatry, to his true religion, but when he see your Impudency, and Whores Foreheads, that would not repent, and be ashamed of your brutish Idolatry he plagued you, and Scourged you, and that by many fearful Rods, from which your Queen of Heaven could not save, nor all your Idols deliver you, in the days of your said Sacrifice, when every Church had a Lady priest, & every Church a God locked in a Box, in the midst of your Idolatry, were there not as great, and greater shows of wrath felt as now there is laid upon us, that are in the light of the Gospel, I must needs confess, to punish, as I have said in my Epistle, the lewd livers under the Gospel? yes verily. For in the days of King Henry the, viii. I will not reap open what hath happened before in older monuments, when gilford Marsh in the county of Sussex near to Ry, was drowned with all the cattle & sheep, a mounting to marvelous number, with much of Chaynecourt Marsh, kite Marsh, and the marshes of the Isle of ●●●ene in Kent: when your queen of Heaven could not save them, but that they were feign to fetch Haystackes and Beanestackes, to stop up Damines, for fear of drowning all the Country about, which time also the country of Sealand was drowned, from Armew to Dort, where not only sheep and Oxen were lost, but all that ever inhabited, within xxx mile compass, yea wherein our Lady's Preestes, our Lady's Pictures, yea your Queen of heavens Temples, your Altars and Pixes, with your real Gods, which innumerable were all drowned, not being able to help themselves and their worshippers, but perished with bruit beasts, and the whole country, which shall never be recovered again. When also about xxxvii year agone, there was such a Hail, as slay both men and cattle and Corne-beaten down in the time of Harvest, that not withstanding Deruelgethrens the Welshimens' Idol God, all the Corn was destroyed being (ready to be reaped) in the ear on the ground, and in many places of England, notwithstanding your Queen of Heaven, whom you serve in all blindness of Popery. There came such Rain, by the space of u weeks, with such fearful Hail that all the Wheat, Barley, Beans, Oats, & other grain, with Apples, pears and other Fruits, were utterly lost, never reaped. Mown, nor gathered, but rotten in the Earth, and beaten to Mortar with the shower. About which time also, all Plumsted Marshes here by the Thames were drowned, which lie almost all waist till this day. Also in Queen Mary's days, when the Queen of heavens sacrifices were again erected, why did she not save Sandwich Marshes, & the cattle and Treasure therein.  
E●●ly marshes, and the marshes of the Isle of Hartly: the Marshes of Herne and Whitslable. Beside the miserable Famine that God sent over all this land, when Wheat was at a French crown a Bushel, and many that could get neither Wheat nor Barley, nor Beans, were glad to eat Acorn bread, and many to starve for lack of Beans and Acorns: when Spanish Mules and jades were fed with Wheat: beside the sword, and Robberies of strangers, that the Queen of Heaven suffered her worshippers to be plagued with all, that rightly they might accuse themselves of such vile sin as caused god to be angry, which also (and not our Religion) is the cause (as there's was) of our Floods & other Rods of God's correction to make holely to live in so holy a Religion, both upon the Papists and Christians, powered at this time by God's Almighty hand on the Papists for their blindness, on the loose lived professors of the Gospel for their lewd conversation. God give us all grace truly to repent and by jesus Christ, so to seek for Pardon, that for him and through him, all our ignorance, blasphemy & Idolatry, weakness, lewdness, and Hypocrisy, may be forgiven in this world, that in the world to come we may have life everlasting. Amen  
FINIS.  
(qd) T. Knel. Iu.   

Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet, by William▪ How: for john Allde, and William Pickering. 1571.