NEWS FROM SPAIN   catastrophic flood in Span 
LONDON: Printed for WILLIAM BLACKWALL, and are to be sold his shop over against Guildhall gate. 1618.   

A TRUE RELATION OF THE LAMENTABLE Accidents, caused by the Inundation and rising of Ebro, Lobregat, Cinca and Segre, Rivers of SPAIN.  
Together with A Narration of a fearful Storm, which happened the third of November, in the year 1617. in the Haven and Port of BARCELONA.  
Written originally in Spanish by V Rejaule the King's Advocate.  
Printed by Authority at Valentia, and now Translated into English.  
LONDON: Printed for WILLIAM BLACKWALL. 1618.   

NEWS FROM SPAIN.  
IF it be true (as it is infallible) that the Lord our God, before he chastiseth us rigorously, only for his infinite mercy's sake, useth to admonish us, and give us many warnings, that so we might cease to offend and provoke him: it is then a most certain sign, that when the warnings (which God gives) are great and fearful, that then our sins are very great and heinous, and consequently the chastisement which we deserve for them, must needs be great and terrible. Among many other warnings in this latter age, one of the greatest hath been the strange inundations which of late have happened in the Rivers of Ebro, Lobregat, Segre, Cinca, and other Streams issuing and branching from them; the discourse whereof, though it be short, and would affect more being seen then related, yet the rising and swelling of these waters, being so strange and notable, the particulars so certain, and the losses proceeding thence so lamentable, I have thought it not amiss to set them down in writing.   catastrophic flood in Span 
But that which affrighted most, and caused the greatest terror to all men, was, when the River of Ebro began to rise, in such sort, that the Inhabitants of Tortosa began to fear that it would carry away their City. For now at the beginning of its rising, (which was about the shutting in of the day) that which the River had already set afloat, as chests, doors, beds, tables, stools, and infinite other things, did evidently show the lamentable spoil it had made upon the banks where the River had passed.  
Which they of Tortosa seeing, after many Processions, Prayers, Litanies, 
a Rather should you have fixed the eye of your Faith & Hope upon Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father.  at last they opened the most holy Sacrament in their Churches, crying all for mercy to the divine Majesty, desiring that he would be pleased to pardon them, and to deliver them from so evident and certain a danger. The rising of this River continued two whole days, carrying away the Bridge of Tortosa, and gushing into the City, cast down and carried away more than an hundred houses. It is impossible to relate the particular damages and spoil of houses, gardens, and other grounds which stood on the banks, besides the death of cattle innumerable.  
Moreover, there was one Countryman which had his house and three hundred Olive trees, together with many other trees of sundry other kinds carried away with this violent and merciless stream: neither was there one tree left standing on the rivers side.  
About some three leagues from the City of Tortosa was a small village called Benifallet, whereafter that the flood had drowned many of the Country people, which to save their goods did hazard their lives, at last it carried away the whole Town, so that of two hundred houses there were left but only sixteen.  
In another little village called Gerta, about two leagues from Tortosa, of two hundred and fifty houses there remained but only seven.  
At Ginestar also, which stands about five leagues from Tortosa, have happened many notable and lamentable losses, both in the houses and in the fields. In brief, so many and so great have been the overthrows all about the River, that in all the places near adjoining unto it, not a stone hath been left upon a stone, but the poor Inhabitants and dwellers thereabout, are utterly undone, being deprived of all their substance.  
Praised be the divine Majesty for ever, and mought he be pleased to appease his anger, that so this punishment may serve for a warning to all sinners, and so procure unto us the amendment of our lives.   catastrophic flood in Span 
In the City of Barcelona the third day of the Month of November, in the sea, and port of the City, happened such a storm and tempest, that the like hath not been seen in the memory of man. Scarce remained there a Vessel on the water, which was not at least leaky and sorely beaten: the shrieks and cries of the afflicted Mariners, made the most doleful noise in the world, and might have softened and moved to compassion the most hardened flinty heart. For so high and furious was the wind from the Levant, that never was there seen so terrible and dreadful a storm; the prayers and supplications of the distressed Mariners and other devout people (for now all Barcelona was come together) caused a great terror to all. Some cried out and called for mercy upon our Lord God Christ Jesus, and invocated 
b Why is not Christ sufficient, as for the rest you rob him of his honour so that it may justly be demanded of you, Who required these things at your hands?  his most pitiful Mother the holy Virgin of Montserrat, all prayed and called upon Saint Telmo, and the glorious Saint Eulalia, and Saint Matrona, the Patronesses of Barcelona. All the Clergy of the said City came out in Procession, bringing forth the most holy Sacrament with them, which they held two and twenty hours upon the Bulwark. All the convents also in the Town came forth with very devout Processions, 
Lo here the refuge of superstitious and Idolatrous people.  and carried many Relics of Saints, which caused a wonderful great devotion in all the people. They brought also the most holy 
c As you superstitiously do believe.  true Cross to the Sea side, which they dipped three times in the water, until it pleased the divine Majesty to be appeased, which was about midnight, this fearful storm having now endured six and twenty hours, and that in such extremity, that it cast a great fe●re upon all the people of Barcelona: for it had now continually reigned for the space of more than thirty days together without intermission, whereupon there succeeded such a flood from the River Lobregat, and that with such excess and fury, that it carried away the greatest part of the houses and mansions, with two and twenty turrets or small houses which stood on the rivers side, and four thousand head of cattle were drowned in this flood, which were found in the valleys and lower grounds, but the greatest loss which this flood caused was in Sheep.  
In Lerida also the fresh or land-flood which came from the River Segre, was as violent as the rest, not to speak of the infinite harm which it wrought upon the lands and houses of such as lived near the banks of this River, that which is most 
d Think upon it seriously, and you shall find that all this was not without cause  remarkable was, how in the City of Lerida these waters swept quite away a whole Convent of Trinitarian Friars, not leaving any the least sign of it behind: they carried away also the greatest part of another Convent of Augustine Friars, and almost all the houses of the Suburbs. To be short, so many have been the harms also which these floods and extraordinary rise of the water have done in the kingdom of Catalumna, that the understanding of man cannot imagine them. Moreover, besides those many houses which these Rivers have carried away, a great number more of houses have been overthrown and cast to the ground by the violence and extremity of those thirty days continual tempests, and uncessant great rain.  
The River of Cinca also hath done mighty harm in the fields and towns thereabout by its extraordinary swelling and flowing over the banks.  
God grant that these chastisements and warnings which he gives us, may cause us to cast from us all vices, that from henceforward we may serve him with more truth and sincerity, that so his holy name may be praised for ever. Amen.  
FINIS.   

 catastrophic flood in Span