¶ The form and shape of a Monstrous Child/ born at Maydstone in Kent, the xxiiij of October. 1568.  

1568   ventral and dorsal view of deformed infant 

As ye this shape abhor  
In body for to have:  
So flee such Vices far  
As might the soul deprave  
In God's power 
 all fleshstands,  
As the clay to the 
 Potter's hands.  
To fashion even 
 as he will  
In good shape 
 or in ill.    
AT Maydstone in Kent there was one Margot Mere, Daughter to Richard Mere of the said Town of Maydstone, who being unmarried, played the naughty pack, and was gotten with child, being delivered of the same child the xxiiij day of October last passed, in the year of our Lord. 1568. at vij of the clock in the after noon of the same day being Sunday. Which child being a man child, had first the mouth slitted on the right side like a Libardes' mouth, terrible to behold, the left arm lying upon the breast, fast thereto joined, having as it were stumps on the hands, the left leg growing upward toward the head, and the right leg bending toward the left leg, the foot thereof growing into the buttock of the said left leg. In the midst of the back there was a broad lump of flesh in fashion like a Rose, in the midst whereof was a hole, which voided like an Issue. This said Child was borne alive, and lived xxiiij hours, and then departed this life. Which may be a terror aswell to all such workers of filthiness & iniquity, as to those ungodly livers. Who (if in them any fear of God be) may move them to repentance and amendment of life, which God for Christ's sake grant both to them and us. Amen. Witnesses hereof were these, William Plomer, john squire Glazier, john Sadler Goldsmith, besides divers other credible persons both men and women.  

❧ A warning to England.  

THis monstrous shape to thee England  
Plain shows thy monstrous vice.  
If thou each part wilt understand,  
And take thereby advice.   

For weighing first the gasping mouth,  
It doth full well declare:  
What ravin and oppression both  
Is used with greedy care.   

For, for the back, and gorging paunch,  
To live in wealth and ease:  
Such toil men take that none may staunch  
Their greedy mind, nor please.   

For in such sort, their mouths they infect,  
With lying oaths, and slaightes:  
Blaspheming God, and Prince reject,  
As they were brutish beasts.   

Their filthy talk, and poisoned speech,  
Disfigures so the mouth:  
That some would think there stood the breech  
Such filth it breatheth forth.   

The hands which have no fingers right  
But stumps fit for no use:  
Doth well set forth the idle plight,  
Which we in these days choose.   

For rich and poor, for age and youth,  
Each one would labour fly:  
Few seeks to do the deeds of truth,  
To help others thereby.   

The leg so climbing to the head,  
What meaneth it but this?  
That some do seek not to be lead,  
But for to lead amiss.   

And as this makes it most monstrous,  
For Foot to climb to head:  
So those Subjects be most vicious,  
That refuse to be lead.   

The hinder part doth show us plain,  
Our close and hidden vice,  
Which doth behind us run amain,  
In vile and shameful wise.   

Wherefore to each in England now,  
Let this Monster them teach:  
To mend the monstrous life they show,  
Lest endless death them reach.     

¶ Imprinted at London by john Awdeley, dwelling in little Britain's street without Aldersgate. The xxiij of December.