A most wonderful and sad judgement of God upon one Dorothy Mattley late of Ashover in the County of Derby,  
within fourteen miles of the said Town of Derby; who for so small a thing as two single pennies which she was charged with the taking of from a boy, did most presumptuously with sad imprecations wish and desire, that if she had taken or stole the same, that the ground might open and she sink therein, which by her neighbour's relation was an expression very common with her, but so it pleased God to deal, that upon the same words the ground did open, and she with a Tub which she was washing Lead-Oare in sunk into the ground, to the amazement of the beholders, and the ground closed again upon her, as here underneath it is more fully declared; and this was done upon the 23 of March 1660. All which may well serve for an example to all wretches of this age whatsoever, who to advance themselves by falsehood, or for the trifles of this world, take to themselves assumptions, and imprecations, nay will not at all stand to forswear themselves to compass their own ends, as if there was no God or judgement to be expected; but they may hereby take notice that some time God will punish such creatures even in this life for example sake; yet if not here, their reward will be according to their works hereafter, and none shall be able to let it.  
The tune is, Fortune my Foe:  
 

LIsten a while dear friends I do you pray,  
And mark the words that I to you shall say  
A wonder strange I mean for to declare,  
In this our time, I think without compare.   

it'h month of March, the three & twentieth day  
As we in England do compute and say:  
it'h year above expressed, this thing was done,  
To many people's admiration.   

Ashover parish in fair Derbyshire,  
There God did manifest his dreadful Ire,  
Upon one Dorothy Matley called by name,  
As many neighbours can attest the same.   

This wicked wretch it seems did think to get  
Two single pennies from a boy by cheat  
And when they asked her for them, still the more  
They were demanded, she the faster swore:   

She had them not, but would full sadly scold,  
And with sad imprecations be so bold:  
As to desire from God, if ●ter She  
The same ere had, she might example be.   

Unto the world, if she such things had done,  
Although there was more than suspicion  
To prove the same, yet she did it deny,  
And to her neighbours still would say and cry.   
 

IF I this money stole, or it be found  
With me, then let me sink into the ground,  
Ith' place whereas I stand and let me be  
Example to you all that do me see.   

Her neighbours present wishes that she would  
Cease imprecations, and not be so bold  
As to provoke her Maker, but still she  
Did use the same, and never would it flee.   

But here my pen methinks is at a stand,  
To think how God by his revenging hand,  
Most justly did this wicked wretch confound,  
And she alive forthwith into the ground.   

Begins to sink, a thing it is full sad,  
She scrieched & cried for help, but none she had  
One foot she something moved, but suddenly  
Strait down she went with a most hideous cry   

When she was sunk the ground forthwith did close  
And did return unto the first repose.  
Which made all for to muse that did it see  
And much admire that such a thing should be.   

Her neighbours some of them would dig to find;  
This woeful wretch, to satisfy their mind  
They found her buried in the ground so deep,  
Which would have made the hardest heart to weep   

As for the Tub not yet spoke of before  
Wherein the wretched woman washed her Oar  
It clear was gone, not yet found out by man,  
As many of her neighbour's witness can.   

This than may serve to persons of this age,  
To warn them from provoking God to rage  
By Oaths, Assumptions, and false imprecations,  
Lest they pull down his vengeance on these Nations.   

For he it is that can discern aright,  
The meanest Subject and the greatest Might.  
Each one according to his works shall have  
From the just one, he needs it not to crave,   

Thus have I done what here I did intend  
Nothing but love unto my Country friend,  
God's wonders to declare, I think 'tis just  
That they may not lie buried in the dust.   
FINIS.   

Printed for VV. Gilbertson.