THE Drunkard Forewarned, AND THE SWEARER CAUTIONED, IN A LATE JUDGEMENT On the Body of Dowee Sitses: Sent in a LETTER from Theodorus Paludamus Public Preacher at Lewarden in Frizeland, to the Lady Habuerin.  
Published for the Information of some, and Premonition to others, to Led a more Pious Life.  
LONDON, Printed for William Sceates in Three-Diamond-Court in Hosier▪ Lane. 1682.   

A True Copy of a Letter from Theodorus Paludamus, Public Preacher at Lewarden in Frizeland, to the Lady Habuerin.  
THe business of Dowee Sitses Mason of Bolsworth, was after this manner: I and others at Lewarden hearing the Reports mixed with many Fabulous things, gave little Credit to it: Whereupon the other day the Lord Procuror-general (to whom I am Uncle) came to me, and told me, he had an Order from the Lords of the Provincial-Court, to go and take an Information of the matter; and desired me for the Strangeness thereof to go along with him, that we might be Eye Witnesses thereof: I did willingly take hold of the opportunity offered me; we came there in the Evening, and in the Morning, when the Patient was to be Dressed, we went to him, where we found two Master Chirurgeons, and their two Servants, busy in making Plasters and Dressing the Patient, and he in such a Lamentable Condition, as we could not behold but with Amazement; his Hair Burnt off his Head to his Ears; his whole Face Burnt except his Eyes, which were scarce hurt; his Arms Burnt in several places; his Hands to t●e very end of his Fingers, were like a Foot of a Roasted Fowl, but could move all his Fingers; his Breast Burnt in several places, and also his Back, but one side more than the other, though the Chirurgeons declared that his Shirt was whole; His Belly under the Navel, for about the breadth of a Hand, was as Black as a Stock in which place the Chirurgeons made several Incisions, and he felt it not; his Privities were in like manner: My Lady, you must forgive me, that I Writ thus Homely; only am minded to give your Ladyship a perfect Account of the matter. Further, his Hips, Thighs and Legs were Lamentably Burnt, although his Stockings were on and Tied; when the Chirurgeons came to him, and one Stocking was whole, except a little Hole in the Calf, but that Leg was most Burnt; the Chirurgeons declared also that his Shirt Sleeves were whole; his Feet also were Burnt. And in short, I know not one part of him that was free; I looked narrowly into all, and a Loathsome and Lamentable sight it was. I went to the Woman Hoyck Ankies, who gave me a substantial Account of all the circumstances, and also her Husband; the Patient also after he was Dressed, and had layna while and got a little Breath, gave us a full Account of the Passages, with whom I willingly spoke, partly for the stirring up of his Soul, and partly to have a certain Testimony of things concerning him, though it was hard for him to speak by reason of his weakness; all which Information the Lord Procuror-general took upon Oath from the Patient himself, from his Wife, and the Chirurgeons, and all agreed as one person in the Relation.  
The thing was thus, upon the 15/25 of June last at Evening, this Dowee Sitses came Drunk into the House of Ruward Ipes Wigersure, a Tavern-keeper, where he with the man of the House, and one Albert Roloofes, Drank 3 Quarts of Wine: And about half an Hour past Ten, his Daughter-in-Law came to call him, and he went home with her; and his Wife and he having been several days fallen out, he went into the Kitchen and lay down to Sleep upon the Cushions, and fell in a Dream about a Story he had Read in a Book of Simon De Vries, of a certain Company that had Danced in Masquerade, with every one a Lighted Torch in their Hand, wherewith they Burnt one another; whereupon he waked and stood up, thinking to go into the Yard to make Water, and of a sudden he found himself of a Light-flame in the midst of the Room, which Burnt him and a great part of his  so Lamentably, without seeing or hearing any thing but the Flame: While this Burning lasted he cried out for help, but none came; then he began to Faint, and in his Distress cried out, Oh! God be Gracious unto me a poor Sinner, and thereupon the Flame ceased in the twinkling of an Eye; but he grew Fainter and Fainter, and laid his Head upon a Cushion in a Corner of the Kitchin.  
About Two in the Morning his Wife looked through a Glass-Window to see for her Husband, but being dark she could not see him; she opened the Door and went into the Kitchen, where she found him in this miserable Condition, and as she went, she felt something under her Feet, which after she got a Light, she found to be a Parcel of Red-ashes, and Burnt-Rags, and Steping to her Husband, she took hold of his Sleeve, and had only a  piece thereof in her hand; whereupon she cries out, Oh Lord! Dowee, Thou art grievously Burnt: He Answered, The Devil hath brought me into this Case: She being amazed, called in the Neighbours, who were all astonished, and brought the Chirurgeons, etc.  
He had a Bombazine-Coat with Brass-Buttons, which is quite Burnt up, Buttons and all, and nothing of it can be found; the Tin Buttons of his Waistcoat are Melted, and lay there in little crooked bits and pieces upon the Floor: I had four or five pieces of them, I preserved two of them, and gave the Lord Procuror-general the other. I was in the Kitchen, and in the midst of the Floor where he stood; there are several of the Pavements as black as a Hearth that had Fire kept a good while upon it; but though the Kitchen was very Low, there was nothing to be seen of the Fire, one Cushion where he had lain, had a little Hole Burnt in it; the Neighbours found the Fire on the Hearth well covered up, and lay with White Ashes on it; the Ashes that lay on the Floor were Red, which might come off of his Coat that was Burnt. One of the Chirurgeons finding him thus Burnt, and that in an Unburnt Shirt and Stockings; said to him, This is no Natural Fire; to which he Answered, Without doubt it was not.  
His Wife said, she had caused their Ministers to reprove him for his Drunkenness, but it had been in vain; so that the saying of Solomon is made true in him, A man that is often Reproved and hardens his Neck, shall suddenly be broken, and there shall be no Healing. His Wife said also, that he had been very much given to Drink Brandy and other Strong Liquor, and that he had often with Oaths bound himself from it, yet fell into it again; his manner of words were, That if he were Drunk again with it, he wished the Devil might Tear him Limb from Limb: So that God hath made use of the Devil as an Executioner of his Judgement to bring the miserable man's own Curse upon him, not one Limb or Member is left whole upon him.  
Surely it is a fearful Judgement of God, by which all Drunkards, Cursers, and all Ungodly men may see much: What it was that did it I cannot tell, for the Fire on the Hearth was safe covered; Lightning there was none in the Country that night; Brandy could not burn his , so God knows how it came, we may wonder at it, but cannot find any Natural Cause. So I have given your Ladyship an Account of the Circumstances in Answer to your desire, according to my Ability, and commit you to God's Grace, wishing you all manner of Health and Blessings, and am your Servant in the Lord,  
Theodorus Paludamus Eccles. Lewarden.