Strange and Terrible News, from HOLLAND, AND YARMOUTH. BEING, A Perfect Relation, concerning the Inundation of the South Sea; And of its drowning the rich and populous City of Amsterdam; with divers other places in Friesland, Holland, Brabant, and Flanders, and the names of them.  
ALSO, The Overflowing of the River of Rhine, and sinking 60 Parish Churches, and drowning 100000 men, women and children; and how they row in Boats near Amsterdam, over the tops of houses.  
TOGETHER, With the Breaking in of the Sea at Sole (near Yarmouth) drowning a great part of the Country and many Cattle; Also casting many Ships upon the Land, and forcing others to Sea in that storm.  
LONDON, Printed by Robert Wood 1651.   

A Perfect Relation, concerning the In-undation of the South Sea; and the drowning of the rich and populous City of Amsterdam; with divers other places in Holland, Brabant, and Flanders.  
SIR,  
MAn, though he be absolute in himself, and stands upon his own Bottom, yet may be wrought upon by examples and comparisons with others; for by that means he may see what he is, or what he may be; For events are not so confined to any one special subject or Country, but that they may be as incident to another; and none can plead a freedom to be exempted, whiles our infirmities lay us all open to the Rod of Divine Justice; therefore, since mitigations of punishments are new mercies, let our afflictions heighten your thankfulness. Sir, on the 5 of March (new stile) there happened a marvelous in-undation of waters in this City and in several other parts of Holland and Friesland, occasioned by the overflowing of the South-Sea, that (to the remembrance of the oldest man living) the like hath not been known of in these Provinces; I am persuaded you will have it severally related in London, and perhaps some will make our miseries appear greater than they are to the eye of the world; therefore for your satisfaction, and the rest of my good friends, I have endeavoured to send you a brief, but true account of the state of that business.  
The wind blowing hard Northwest, caused an extraordinary Flood, which at first we regarded not, but the Wind keeping in that corner, drove the water so excessively into the City, that it overflowed the Bourgwals, and broke into Cellars and Warehouses to the utter ruin of divers people (especially on the Southside of the City) who were forced to take to their chambers for refuge; but by the mercy of God, the water breaking through St. Anthony's Dike, preserved the City, drowning the Diemermeer, Bildmer-meer, and several other places, destroying men, women, and children, beasts and Cattle; and had the Wind continued Northwest 3 hours longer, this City had not suffered alone, for Haerlem would have been destroyed and washed away, and Leyden, Delf, and the Hague, had been also endangered; but the wind turning South-west they are preserved, and we hope by God's blessings and our own endeavours, to be suddenly freed. In Brabant the Sea hath likewise exceeded his bounds, and destroyed two Pouldres or In-lands, the one called Ousterweel, and the other Calou: Also Flanders is not free from suffering in this kind, for Albertus' Powder lies quite under water; And in Friesland there are several places destroyed, whose names we are not yet acquainted with. There are many reported to have lost their lives in (and about Amsterdam, in) this in-undation, but the certainty of this being not yet known, I have forborn to insert it; resolving in my next to give you ample satisfaction: Entreating you to accept of this, from the hand of him, who assuredly is;  
Amsterdam, March. 10. 1651. still. nov.. SIR, Your faithful honourer, G. T.   

The true Copy of a Letter, sent by a Gentleman now resident in Amsterdam, to an Uncle of his dwelling in London.  
SIR,  
MY respects remembered, etc. These few lines are to let you understand the great judgement of the Lord against this Nation; About a Month since, the River of Rhine breaking down its banks, the water over-flowed with such violence, that it sunk 60 Parish Churches. And his anger being not altogether appeased, on the 23 of this month, there happened such an extraordinary springtide in Amsterdam, that housekeepers were driven to betake themselves to their chambers, by reason of the deepness of the waters; but it pleased God, that the water forcing its passage through a bank, conveyed the water through the City into parts adjacent, by which means we were preserved, otherwise we had undoubtedly perished; but the country by that means is so over-flowed, that they row with their boats over the tops of houses; Also the water ran into Friesland, insomuch, that it is supposed there cannot be less than one hundred thousand people drowned; Thus desiring to make an end of these my sad lines, which are neither delightful to write, nor pleasant to read; I rest,  
SIR, Yours to command till death: Peter Malbone. Amsterdam, Feb. 28. still. vet. 1651.   

The Copy of a Letter from Yarmouth, touching the Breaking in of the Sea, at Soal-Marsh, and drowning part of the Country.  
SIR,  
SInce my last of the 3d instant, here hath happened a great and sudden change, to the great amazement of the inhabitants in these parts, and the impoverishing of many; the Almighty having been pleased once more to chastise us (as we may justly attribute it) for our stubborness and disobedience in walking contrary to his Laws and Ordinances, and refusing to be humbled for our sins, and to return praise and thanks to him for his former mercies, and deliverances, vouchsafed to us the last year, when the Sea made inundations in divers places, and yet did not much harm: But (about the 5 instant) the Sea broke into the Marshes at Sole (a place not far from this Town) with such violence, that it hath drowned a great part of the Country, and many Cattle; But the Ships that lay at Anchor in the River of Sole, were by this means greatly endangered, some breaking their Cables, others (having not time to weigh Anchor) cut them, putting out to Sea, yet notwithstanding there were some driven ashore, but we are using all means possible to free those Ships, and drain the Marshes.  
Yarmouth, March the 6. 1651.  
FINIS.