a Alarm FROM HEAVEN: OR A Warning to Sinners, By the Just Hand of God; Pursuing Adultery and Drunkenness in the Person of William, Dennis late of Lamb yard near the Hermitage in Wapping, for wickedly and considerately Murdering the Person of Thomas Gately.  
For which he was Apprehended; and after his Examination before the Justice, was Committed to Newgate; there to remain till the next Sessions.  
With Allowance.  
London: Printed for Benjamin Harris near the Royal Exchange. 1677.   

AN ALARM FROM HEAVEN; OR, A Warning to Sinners, etc.  
WHat Reason poor Mankind hath to take care of himself, let any Judge, since he hath Three such Potent Enemies to Encounter, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, they being so considerable, that our Divines have thought it in all Ages their principal Care and Endeavours to prompt all people to a serious and strict consideration of them, and departing from Evil, the conquest of them being of more esteem and value then that of Kingdoms.  
But since we find by sad and woeful Experience, by the unhappy mistake of our first Parents and Original, that without the assistance and Protection of Almighty God, and Merits of his Blessed Son, we are liable to all the inconveniences of their unhappy miscarriage, (let us beg his Assistance to prevent) to take warning by the sad Examples of others (not only their Punishment but Actions) of which by a most sad and dreadful Relation I shall give you an Account from the Spectators of this Bloody Tragedy begot by Drunkenness and Adultery.  
The wife of this William Dennis the Murderer, (who was a Literman) from what Reason I cannot certainly Learn, but supposed from the true cause of Jealousy, found him in Bed with a lewd woman on May day, she was one that used to cry Strong-water about the Streets, (the common first occasion) of the succeeding Sin.  
From whence (as justly it might) begot great discontent and strife between them, which procured the poor woman several severe Bastinadoes, which grew to such a degree, that the Neighbourhood took notice of it.  
But more particularly on this Fatal day, the fifteenth Instant, when he going abroad, and returning home drunk, and abusing his wife as formerly, occasined not only the whole Neighbourhood, but Passengers, who came to hinder the mischief designed his wife, but he being as full of mischief as drink, without any consideration or occasion, wickedly Swore he would Kill the next Man, which he villainously performed upon the body of one Thomas Gately a Tubman, an Innocent Spectator, by wounding him in the Groin with a half pike, of which he immediately died.  
Which being done as if he had been Infatuated or stupid, returns to his own House, and throws in the aforesaid half pike, after which he endeavoured a seeming escape, but Vengeance pursuing him, he was soon stopped to give an account of his prodigious Murder, to which purpose he was carried before Justice Wood, who being not at home, was transmitted to Justice Rycrofts, but no body being there at present, who were Spectators of the Murder, and the great disorder he was in by drinking, he was respited for some time.  
But afterwards upon a stict examination the Horridness of the fact which was highly aggravated by his wilfulness and stubbornness being proved by the strength of the Evidence, He was by the Common Guard of the Constable and his assistance easily conveyed to Newgate, from whence he must expect the Just reward of his Error.  
But 'tis feared this sad Tragedy will not end in this one person, for besides his Wife who is cruelly maimed by him, and whose Life is much suspected, the Daughter of the Murdered Party, who having been lately brought to Bed, hearing of the untimely and unexpected loss of her dear Father, being Transported into a passion begot by affection and Nature, forgetting all care of herself, and contrary to the use of Women in that condition, runs out of her Chamber, Embraces the Corpse of her Dead Father from which she could not be disengaged by any entreaties or persuasions till such time as 'tis feared the danger she ran hath destroyed her, I hope this sad warning will be a Just occasion to deter all People from committing such evils, and make them stand upon their Guards, and make them oppose that great Enemy of Man the Devil who goes about seeking whom he can devour.  
He's a subtle Vigilant Enemy, he doe● not only take advantage from our inclinations, but humours and minds. To prevent which. Let us beg the assistance and Guardianship of Almighty God, who is able to subdue all things under his feet, to whom as his just due, be Honour and Glory for Evermore.  
FINIS.