1607.  
A true report of certain wonderful overflowings of Waters, now lately in Summersetshire, Norfolk, and other places of England: destroying many thousands of men, women, and children, overthrowing and bearing down whole towns and villages, and d●owning infinite numbers of sheep and other Cattle.  
〈…〉 London by 〈◊〉 for Edward White and are to be sold 〈…〉   

To the Reader.  
REader I have to these late accidents (whereby some parts of this our kingdom have been punished) added some other, that happened in the year 1570. to the intent that by comparing the one with the other, God's justice and mercy may both be seen: If those Waters of his wrath (powered down then,) we are more cruel than these. It is a sign (and a comfort let it be unto us) that he doth but still threaten & shake the rod, for no doubt but our faults at this time are as great as in those days: If this affliction laid upon our Country now, be sharper than that before, make use of it: tremble, before warned, Amend▪ lest a more fearful punishment, and a longer whip of correction draw blood of us. Farewell.   


News out of Summerset shire. (⸫)  
ALbeit that these swelings up and overflowings of waters proceed from natural causes, yet are they the very diseases and monstrous births of nature, sent into the world to terrify it, and to put it in mind, that the great God, (who holdeth storms in the prison of the Clouds at his pleasure, and can enlarge them to breed disorder on the Earth when he grows angry) can aswell now drown all mankind as he did at the first: But that by these gentle warnings, he would rather have us come unto him, and fly from the points of more deadly Arrows of vengeance, than utterly to perish. He fills out the measures of his chastisement according to the quality and proportion of our offences: for as the Waters transgress and break their bounds, to the destruction of the fruits of the earth and to the taking away of the lives of man and beast.  
So have we that should be subjects to the Almighty King, and (by our oath of Christianity) ought and are bound to pay fealty & allegiance to our Lord and Master, gone beyond the banks and limits of all obedience, to the taking away of his love, without which we cannot live, and to the unrecoverable undoing of our own selves.  
Sin overflows our souls: the Seas of all strange impieties have rushed in upon us: we are covered with the waves of abomination and uncleanness: we are drowned in the black puddles of hellish iniquity: we swim up to the throats, nay even above the chins in Covetousness, in extortion, in sensuality, in envy one against the other, in contempt of our Magistrates, in neglect of our laws, and in violation of those divine statutes, the breach of which is a condemnation to death and that Death, and everlasting living in Hell's fire.  
Many a time have we been summoned to an account for these riotous abuses & misse-spending the talents put into our hands, we have shifted it off with counterfeit sorrow for what we have done, and with promises to become faithful servants, and new men; yet grow we worse at noon, than we were at the suns rising, and at his going down he blusheth to behold us in our nautines. To a strict & strange audite therefore doth God not only call some of our countrymen now on the sudden) but also to affright us the more to make us look about, doth he strike our Cattle with diseases: he takes away the lives of our beasts fit for labour: he destroys the cornfields, & threatens us with famine: he undermines our houses with tempests, to make us fear a desolation. Read therefore, and read with trembling these his late dreadful judgements, mock not ourselves with vain hopes, but know that if earthly fathers may be drawn away to forget their own children, our heavenly father may by the vileness of our souls be drawn to shake off his own people. Listen then how he menaceth, and stand amazed at the wonders of his wrath.  
In january last (towards the end of the month,) the sea at a flowing water meeting with Landfloudes, strove so violently together, that bearing down all things that were builded to withstand and hinder the force of them, the banks were eaten through and a rupture made into Somerset-shire. No sooner was this furious invader entered, but he got up high into the Land, and encountering with the river Severn, they both boiled in such pride that many Miles, (to the quantity of xx. in length, and 4. or 5. at least in breadth) were in a short time swallowed up in this torrent. This Inundation began in the morning, & within few hours after, covered the face of the earth thereabouts (that lay within the distance before named) to the depth of xi. or xii. foot in some places, in others more. The danger that this terrible tempest brought with it▪ wrought much feat in the hearts of all that stood within the reach of it, but the sudden and strange cruelty of it, bred the greater terror and amazement. Men that were going to their labours were compelled (seeing so dreadful an enemy approaching) to fly back to their houses, yet before they could enter, death stood at the doors ready to receive them. In a short time did whole villages stand like Islands (compassed round with Waters) and in a more short time were those Islands undiscoverable, and no where to be found. The tops of trees and houses only appeared (especially there where the Country lay low,) as if at the beginning of the world towns had been built in the bottom of the Sea, and that people had played the husbandmen under the Waters.  
Who would not have thought this had been a second Deluge! for (at one time these inhabited places were sunk clean out of sight. Hunsfielde (a Market Town in the said Shire) was quite drowned. Grantham a village utterly overflown. Kenhouse another village covered all over. Kingson a third village likewise lies buried in salt Water. So (besides other small cottages standing in valies) is Brian Down a Village quite consumed. Add unto these peopled places, the loss of Marshes, cornfields, Pastures, Meadows, and so forth, more than can he numbered: the misery of it no man can Express.  
In this civil Wars between the Land and the Sea, many Men, women, and Children, lost their lives: to save which, some climbed up to the tops of the houses, but the rage of the merciless tide grew so strong, that in many, yea most of the Villages aforenamed, the Foundations of the buildlngs being washed away, the whole frame fell down, and they died in the waters: Others got up into trees, but the trees had their roots unfastened by the self-same destroyer, that disjointed barns and houses, and their last refuge was patiently to die.  
A lamentable spectacle was it, to behold whole herds of Cattle, struggling for life with the floods, Oxen in great numbers were earyed away with the stream, and looked like so many Whales in the Sea: their bellowing made a noise in the water as if it had been a tempest, and that the Sea had roared. The flocks of Sheep that are utterly destroyed by this Landwracke are innumerable, none knows the loss for the present but the owners of them: But the whole land will I fear feel the smart.  
A number of most strange shapes of danger did this monstrous birth of waters bring forth: of which (for the rareness) I will set down some, and none but those that are true. There was a poor Man (a Housholder) dwelling in one of the Villages aforenamed, heaing seven Children: who (in this general peril) not knowing how to bestir himself, was desirous to save so much of his goods as possibly he could: But the violence of the stream multiplying more and more upon him: It came into his mind to provide rather for his Children: his goods therefore he left to the mercy of that which hath no mercy, and loving one of his Children above all the rest, his fear drove him to run about for the safety of that only. At last the danger that had round about (and within doors) set upon him and his family, was so great, that he could neither defend that his dearest Child, nor the rest, but having much ado to get life for himself, he left them and his whole household perishing in the torrent, he getting up to the top of the house, and so escaping. An infant likewise was found swimming in a Cradle, some mile or two from the place where it was known to be kept, and so was preserved, for the Cradle was not of wicker as ours are here, but of strong thick boards, closely jointed together, & that saved the infant's life. The ricks of pease in divers places being undermined at the bottoms, were lifted up mainly from the ground, and swum up & down in the whole bulk, amongst which a company of Hogs, and Pigs, being feeding upon one of the ricks, and perceiving it to go away more & more from than, they got up to the top, and there maintained them in eating. Nay which is more strange, coneys in great numbers being driven out of their boroughs by the tide, were seen to sit for safety on the backs of sheep, as they swom up & down and at last were drowned with them.  
A poor shepherd likewise being in the field, some of his sheep were strayed from the rest, when the waters began to come in upon the Country, which he perceiving, ran with all speed to fetch them in, hoping to save all: but before he had done, having much ado to save himself, he was fain to leave them, and with his bag & bolt, to climb up into a tree: there he saw the confusion of his whole flock: they swom too and fro bleating for help, he sat tearing his hair and beating his breasts; crying mainly out but could not save them: when they were all slain before his eyes, he wept then more bitterly to think upon his own tragedy which he saw was now to be acted: he feared drowning, yet he feared starving more than drowning: he had some victuals with him in the tree: but he knew not how long this siege of waters would keep him in that rotten bulwark. At length (when he was almost pinched to Death with cold) he espied a boat which the Country had sent out to save others, to that he called, and in that recovered life.   

Bristol.  
NOw bend your eyes upon the City of Bristol, and there behold as much cause of lamentation as in any place of this realm, that hath tasted of the like misery. In the self same month of january, and much about the very day, did an arm of the North seas break in (at a spring tide) which overflowed not only the banks, but almost all the whole Country round about.  
All Brentmarsh is covered over: between Barstable and Bristol the Sea swollen up as high as Bridgewater. All the low grounds are not only hidden with this strange deluge, but in danger (by the opinion of men) to be utterly last. Whole houses were removed from the ground where they stood, and sloat up and down like ships (half sunk.)  
Their Corne-mowes and hay-mowes are carried away with the stream and can never be recovered. All their fat Oxen that could not swim are drowned: with such a forcible assault did the Waters set upon the inhabitants, that they who were in their houses, and thought themselves safest, could hardly make way for their owns lives: by which means a number both of men, women, and children perished: their dead bodies float hourly above-water, and are continuallies taken up: It cannot yet be known, how many have fell in this Tempest of God's fearful judgement.  
Most of the goods both of Citizens here in London that were sent thither, and of the inhabitants dwelling there, as also the Rugs & such other commodity which came from Ireland, to the fair of Saint Paul, which was now to be kept there, are (to an infinite value, and to the danger of many a man's undoing) utterly spoiled and cast away. Goods in dry-fats, and whole packs of Wares are daily taken up, but past all recovery ever to be good again. This deluge hath covered this part of the country by the space of ten miles over in length, at lest up towards Bridgewater, Many thousands of pounds cannot make good the loss which the Country only hath hereby received. God grant there ensue no second misery upon this, worse to our kingdom, than this Plague of Waters.  

The miraculous delivery of a Gentleman from death when it had round beset him in the midst of the waters.  
A Gentleman dwelling within four miles of the sea (betwixt Barstable & Bristol) walking forth one morning to view his grounds, cast up his eyes toward the Sea-coast, and on the sudden was struck into a strange amazement, for he beheld an extraordinary swallowing up of all the earth, that had wont to lie visible and level to his sight: he could scarce tell certainly whether he stood upon the ground which he was sure the day before was his own: Hills, and valies, Woods, and Meadows seemed all to be either removed, or to be buried in the Sea: for the Waters a far off stood to his judgement many yards above the earth: he took them at first for Mountains and heaps of clouds, but fear being driven baeke (with a courage and desire in him to save himself from this imminent danger) home comes he with all speed that he could to his own dwelling: relates to his wife what he had seen, and the assured peril that was preparing to set upon them, and (with all) Counsels her and his whole Family to bestir themselves, and to get (with such provision and Goods as they could easily convey away) higher up into the Country, to some one of his friends. All hands presently laid about them, (as if that enemies had been marching to besieged the Town) to truss up whai they could and be gone.  
And behold, how swift is mischief when God drives it before him to the punishment of the World? All were labouring to bear away some of the goods, but before their burdens could be taken up, they were compelled to leave them, and to look about for their lives. The farthels which they had bound up to save from drowning, some of them were glad to leap upon to escape drowning themselves.  
The Gentleman with his Wife and Children got up to the highest building of the house: there sat he and they upon two rafters, comforting one another in this misery, when their hearts within them were even dead to themselves from all comfort: they now cared not for their wealth, so they might but go away with their lives: and yet even that very desire of life, put him in mind to preserve something, by which afterward they might live, and that was a Box of writings, wherein were certain bonds, and all the evidences of his Lands: this Box he got, with the hard adventure of much danger: he tied it with cords fast to 〈◊〉 ●after, hoping what wrack soever should over brow the rest of his substance, his main estate should be found safe, and come to shore in that haven.  
But alas in the midst of this sorrowful gladness, the Sea fell with such violence upon the house, it bore away the whole building, rend it in the middle from top to bottom, they that could not get up to the highest rooms, were put to a double death, drowning and braining. In this storm the Husband and Wife lost one another: the Children and Parents were parted: the Gentleman in this whirlwind of Waves, being forced from his hold, got to a beam, sat upon that, and against his will road post some three or four Miles, till at length encountering with the side of a hill, (of which lighting place he was joyful) there he crept up, and holding notwithstanding his safety still in his hand: there sat he environed with death, miserably pouring out tears to increase the waters, which were already too abundant: and to make him desperate in his sorrows, the tyrannous stream presented unto him the Tragedy of his dear Wife, and dearest children, She, they, and his Servants were whorried to their deaths by the torrent before his face, & drowned doubly, in his tears, and in the waves. Yet because he should not be altogether the only slave of misfortune in this Sea-fight, nor be more tryumphed-over than others that fell in the battle. At length (a little to fetch life into him which was upon departing) he spied his Box of writings (bound as they were to the rafter) come floating towards him: that he ventured once again to save, and did so, and in the end most miraculously came off likewise with his own life.   

Of another Gentleman, that having a voyage to make on horseback, ended it riding after a strange manner.  
THere was another gentleman in the same Country likewise, who being newly married, determined one morning to take his Gelding, and to ride forth to a Town not many miles distant from his own dwelling, there to be merry: his horse for that purpose stood ready saddled and bridled, he himself had drawn on one of his Boats, but before he could fit his Leg to the other, the wind came about, the point of his compass was changed, his voyage by Land was to be made by Water, or else not at al. For the Sea had so béegyrt the house, broken in, lifted of the doors from their hingings, ran up into all the Chambers, and with so dreadful a noise took possession of every Room, that he that was all this while but half a horseman, trusted more to his own legs than to the swiftness of his Gelding.  
Up therefore he mounts to the very top of all the house, the waters pursued him thither, which he perceiving, got astride over the Ridge and there resolved to save his life, but Neptune belike purposing to try how well he could ride, cut of the main building by the middle, leaving the upper part swimming like a Flemish Hoy in fowl weather.  
The Gentleman being driven to go what pace that would carry him which he sat upon, held fast by the Tiles, and such things as he could best lay hold on, and in this foul weather, came he at length (neither on Horseback, nor on foot, nor in a Vessel fit for the Water) to the very Town, where in the morning he meant to take up his Inn.  
A number of these strange Tragicomical Scenes have been acted upon this large Stage of waters: It would swell into a Massy Volume to Chronicle them all: let these therefore which I have delivered unto you, be sufficient, as a cast of God's judgements: these are enough to make you know he is angry, let them likewise be enough to make us study how to allay his anger.  
Add unto these, the overflowings in Herefordshire, Gloucester Shire, and in divers Shires in Wales, bordering upon the Sea, where many lives have been lost, both of Man and Beast: of all which when the particulars are truly known, they shall be truly published to our Country: till then make use of these.    

Norfolk.  
NOr let other countries insult over this: as if their robes of seeming purity (invented by the Devil and his journeymen) were a defence or Armour of proof against the judgements of Heaven: they stand all within distance, this late and fearful Inundation of water makes it apparent.  
For just the same month of the year, week of the month, and almost day of the same week, In the Country of Norfolk, not far from Kings Lyn, in a place called Marchland, happened accidents, though not altogether so violent and mortal as those in Summersetshire, yet accompanied with much damage, and no little danger. About the xx. of this present month of januarie Anno. Dom. 1607. The chief violence of winter, being (as they by many rural observations had quoted) almost spent: The Marshes, & Fens, by reason of the years temperature, somewhat dry, and more forward than in other years, every man to his ability, laid out what money he could spare upon Heiffors, and such other young ware, emptying their purses of Crowns to cram the Fens with cattle, little thinking the water would have made one, and like a new Broome have sweeped all clean, as shortly it did.  
The Fens thus stored with cattle, Horse, and Bullocks, for it is not unknown what hanocke the rot had made with sheep in the beginning of Winter, which died in such abundance, that even Dogs grew weary of them.  
The rot having begun, and in a manner made an end of Sheep, in comes the water as a second and more violent invader, and sweeps away what the rot had left behind.  
It happened upon a night, for when is danger more wakeful than when prevention sleeps, and not so much as dreams of his Fury, A couple of Horscoursers, or to attire them in a courser litter, Horse-stealers, knowing the night, a gown to cloak their villainy, came sneaking into the marish with an intent to make a Market of what was none of their own. And drove so many of the cattle as they thought sit up into the higher grounds: but in the mean time they were hotly pursued with a fearful Hu and cry, not of Constables, but swifter followers (Viz:) the water, which having broken out at an old breach, in a quarter of an hour, or a very little portion of time, overflowed the Marsh, and that with such unresisted violence, that they were enforced to leave their pray (which such fellows seldom use to do) fall to prayer, and to take them to their heels, and of all the cattle in that Marish, (being very many in number) few or none were preserved, but those which they had fetched up with an intent to steal: for being overtaken, or rather overrun by the swiftness of the Water, they were driven some into Creeks, some into Bushes, and some upon little Hillocks, and so either lost, driven away with the Water, or in conclusion drowned.  
Theiwoo good fellows (against their wills made good) Seeing what present danger, the water brought in with it, posted to the Town whether the Water (had they not made the more haste) had brought the men before them: Raised the Sexton, got the Keys of the Church door, and (as the custom in such dangers) jangled the Bells, and with a fearful outcry, raised the secure Inhabitants: who imagining some House to be on fire, rose up distractedly in their Shirts, crying out Water, Water: of which Element (they were no sooner up,) but they perceived they had too much: Yet were they still various in their opinions, all fearing, yet none knowing truly what to fear: some got up to the steeple, many thinking their had been thiefs got into the upper rooms of their Houses, shutting their safeties out, by locking themselves in. Some thinking it had been but a slight overflowing of a spring tide, laughed at the rest.  
The truth once known, it was no need to bid them make haste: to express how amazedly Men ran up and down, betwixt sleep and wake, ask what news, and receiving no other answer but what news, was strange. In a word, in this danger, every man laid first hands of what he loved best, some made away with his Wife, some his Children, some careless both of Wife and Children, hurried away his goods. He that had seen this troublesome night's work, would have thought upon the miserable night of Troy. Here waded one up to the middle loaded with wealth, when noting how the water increased, and calling to mind his helpless Children, with a sigh as loath to part from what he so dearly had loved, he throws it down, runs to Bed, wakens his Wife, and from her sides snatches the sleeping infants. Here comes a Husband with his wife on his back, and under either arm an Infant. The Son carries the Father, the Brother the Sister, the Daughter the Mother, whilst the unmerciful conqueror breaks down the Walls of the Houses, taking pity neither of aged nor Sex, finds some at play, some a sleep in chairs, many in their beds, that never dreamt of misfortune till the Water waked them.  
Not to stand long, the Water gave them but very short warning, yet like a merciful Conqueror, having taken the town, it gave them their lives, at least all such as were willing to leave their goods. Some covetous to have all, lost all, for striving to save their goods, they lost their lives.  
In this night-massacre some few were drowned but their true names and certain number, is not yet directly known. Up to a hill some half mile from the Town they hasted, where that night, or rather piece of a morning, they reposed themselves.  
The next day they might behold their houses wading up to the middles in Water, some calling for Boats out at Windows, and from the steeples top, some swimming upon planks, some upon Fetherheds, whom as they possibly could, they relieved. Horses that were tied to the Mangers, at the Mangers were all drowned, such as were loose swimming up and down, some recovered the land, some drowned in striving to recover it, whole Barns of Corn, which the covetous owners hoarded up in hope of a dearth, the Water discovered and brought forth, household-stuff which the night before they packed out of the Houses in hope to have saved, swam up and down, with drowned people so confusedly mingled, as men could scarce distinguish their goods, nor know their friends.  
Nor did the Water thus confine his tyranny, but joining with land Waters that fell from the high grounds, It invaded two Villages more, but they having warning of the Approach, though not power to withstand it, had time to prevent it, by conveying all or most part of their goods and cattle, to the upland Villages, leaving only the empty houses to the mercy of (that which is said to have no mercy) the water.  
Three Towns thus overflowed with water, could not but bring much loss to the poor inhabitants, yet to increase it, their corn fields (and not only these) but all alongst the coast and low Marshes of that country, to the number of many thousand Acars in several places and fields are toombd and buried in the huge grave of waters, that like a devouring gulf is never satisfied.  
To this there is for the space of ten or twelve miles' compass Marshes and fens clean under water. The cattle fed in those Marshes so suddenly taken, that had they not fled to an Hill, some half mile in compass called Thruehill, few or none of them could have scaped with life: yet being there, their safety is very dangerous: for this hill being very high and narrow in the top, is like a Rock in the Sea, girdled about with Water, so deep, that on foot neither Man nor Beast can pass it, and yet not deep enough to bear a Boat, by reason of muddy and old shrubs that grow in it: by reason whereof the poor beasts have fed the Hill so bare, as it affords neither grass nor wood, and so do their hunger increase, and sustenance decrease, as they do eat the tops of Molehills, and the very earth itself, and with lamentable bellowing complain, and as it were make moan to their owners, who being willing can by no means relieve them. He that should see this pitiful famine of Beasts, could not (except he were too leasiall himself) but pity it.  
At last they made shift by cutting away through the Shrubs & Bushes, to bring abroad a Ferry Boat to the hill, to which the cattle would swim so thick, that they had much a do to keep it from sinking, others seeing their fellows in the Boat, would throw themselves into the water, and like people at a shipwreck, swarm so thick about them, and offer such mournful noises, that pitied the fellows to hear, the Boat being full, other striving to swim after them, being weak, for want of sustenance, were drowned at the Boats side.  
In pity whereof, they concluded to fetch no more of, but in those Boats convey Hay, and such like fodder, to the Hill, and there feed them: such are not too far spent and gone, by this means they hope to recover, (notwithstanding the best help they can apply) they die in great numbers: the fight is to be pitied, the loss grieved at, and the judgement to be trembled at. For with it, it brings this fearful expect of a hard and sharp dearth. For Corn and cattle, the two chief hopes of bounty taken away, what else can we expect, but a fearful Ruin, and an inevitable desolation, which God for his mercy's sake avert.  
YOu have all this while been Spectators of others sad and tragical events which now (even by our friends, kinsfolks, and Countrymen) have been presented on the Theatre of the world: It shall not be amiss to turn your faces, and to look back upon the head of time that is gone from us: weigh therefore those miseries that were measured out in the last Queen's reign in the year 1570. with these in 1607. and you shall see our punishment greater, because our treason against God is more horrible.   

Bedford  
THe fifth 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, Kine, Horse, and other cattle. Amongst 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 pound. 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 forty 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 25. loads of Faggots, and 20 load of Horse-dung, which said Faggots and Horse-dung filled not up the hole.  
Also one master Lee, at the Freers in Bedford having a fair yard, wherein was great store of Elme-trees, whereof threescore were blown down, with the roots pulled clean out of the ground. Also he had a close of Contes that were clean destroyed.   

In the County of Norfolk.  
THe Sea broke in between Wisbich and Walsockenne, & at the Crossekeies drowning Tilny, and old Linne, Saint Mary Teding, Saint Mary Tid, S. john's, Wawple, Walton, & Walsocken, Emney, Iarmans, and Stowe brink, all being within the space of ten Miles. At the Crosskeys the good man of the june had built an house, with a strong Foundation joining unto another House being old and not so strong, wherein were certain Guests, and when the water came in so violently, the good man 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 get 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 fell 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 alive, and the people were constrained to get up to the highest parts of the house, and to be carried away in Boates.  
At Yermoth 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 jerman's brig street, was very much hurt done by extreme floods that were there.  
Item one Thomas Smith of Yermoth lost a ship, and seven men and a Boy in it.  
Item at Newarke by Yermouth were lost seven. Sail.  
Item a great Hulk laden with Oil and Pitch, was lost at Worry Sand, and about xx. men lost therein and thirty. saved by the Hulk boat.   

In the Bishopric of Ely.  
THese Towns & villages were overflowed that is to say, Wisbich, Guyhorn, Parson, drove, and Hobshouse. This Hobshouse being an alms house (& the water breaking down the Walls of it) the wind blew the clothes of from the bed of a poor man and his Wife, they being acold awaked, and suddenly stepped out of his Bed to reach up his clothes, 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 on his neck and carried her away, and so were both saved.  
Item in Wisbich was a Garden, a Tennis play, and a Bowling Ally, walled about with brick (which was worth twenty li. by year to the owner) quite destroyed by the water.   

Lincoln Shire.  
MVmby 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 take hold on the house top, and so saved themselves: and the wife of the same lying in childbed, did climb up into the top of the house, was also saved by the Mariners, her Husband and Child being both drowned.  
Item the Church was wholly overthrow except the steeple.  
Between Boston and Newcastle were Xl. Sea Vessailes, as small Ships, Craiers, and such like, lost upon the Coasts of Boston, Hummerston, Marshchappell, Tetney, Stepney, Nercots, Kelby, & Grimsby, where no ship can come in without a Pilate, which were all lost with goods, Corn, & 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 three of the Arches broken, and clean carried away.  
Master Smith, at the Swan, there had his house (being three stories high,) overflowed unto the third story, and the walls of the stable were broken down, and the horses ty●d to the Manger, were all drowned.  
Many men had great loss, aswell of Sheep, Kine, 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 Pellan lost xiC sheep at Mum chapel.  
In Summercote were lost v. C. sheep that were of the inhabitant there.  
Item between Hummerston, and Grimsby were lost xilc. Sheep, of one master Spencers, whose shepherd about mid day 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, & saw the water break in so ●●resly 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, & so went strait to drive them from thence: both he & 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 xx M. of cattle one and 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 away, & 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 throw the Town and the Church, being in the most thereof, having about the Churchyard a Briek wall, of 2. yards high, was so overflowed that boats were rowed over it without touching the same. Item a little from Huntingdon, were in 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 the 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, forsaking his horse, which was carried a great way 〈◊〉, had much pain to keep his hold on the twig, and hold his head above the water, & 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 saw him after.   

Kent.  
AT Broom Hill, in Romney Marsh, four 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, & it is thought that the Marsh is never like to be gotten 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, rode unto them, & 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 Cro●●s, in the afternoon, saw the water breaking into rashly, got them up into a cart, that was not far from them, where they were fain to tarry until the next ride, which came in so boystrous●● that it had like to overthrow both the Cart and the Boys, and the one of them being more stranger than the other, kept the other in hi● 〈◊〉, where he with cold, wet and fear, died so that he was fain to let him fall from him into the water, when he perceived that he 〈…〉.   

The 〈…〉 the Book.  
Thus 〈…〉 dost thou 〈…〉 bleeding Country: the sins of thy own soul have 〈◊〉 to the heart: there can be no better phys●●●●● 〈…〉 own amendment prepare thy receipts therefore, 〈◊〉 this mother of thine (and of many Millions more) fa●● sick to the death. It is to be feared that this swelling of Waters in the womb of this 〈◊〉 beautiful kingdom, will engender more strange and more incurable diseases, and infect the whole Nature. The earth by this 〈…〉 is likely to grow 〈…〉 in stead of fruit doth 〈…〉 must eat the bread of 〈◊〉, and drink our own tears in stea● of wine. Cast up thine eyes therefore, 〈…〉 to the ●●dgement 〈…〉, and 〈…〉 strive not 〈…〉 dry up these showers of the Divine 〈…〉 do now reign upon our heads 〈…〉 ●●eepe in the bosom of the cloude● 〈…〉 us in the depth of God's judgement 〈…〉 Farewell.