A wonderful wonder,  
Being a most strange and true relation of the resolute life, and miserable death of Thomas Miles, who did forswear himself, and wished that God might show some heavy example upon him, and so it came to pass for as he sat at his Meat he choked himself, and died in short space after, which happened the 8. of August last, 1635. and being ripped up by the Surgeons of S. Bartholomewes' Hospital, was found to have a gub of meat sticking fast in his throat, which was the cause of his death. Written to warn all rash Swearers to forsake their evil ways, which God grant we may.  
To the tune of, Aim not too high, etc.  

 
 

Look down O Lord upon this sinful Land,  
Guide, and defend us with thy mighty hand,  
Against the fiery Darts of Satan's power,  
Which seeks our Souls and Bodies to devour.   

This World is full of envy and debate,  
Neighbour to neighbour bears a deadly hate:  
Brother 'gainst Sister, friend against each friend,  
Which shows the World is very near an end.   

Vile blasphemy is used against the Lord,  
By old and young at every trifling word:  
Some in their angry mood will Curse & Swear,  
As if they would their God in pieces tear.   

But let them know that do the Lord provoke  
By cursed oaths, on them to strike the stroke:  
Know that all though he suffers them a space,  
He will at last confound their wicked race.   

As for example▪ here I mean to tell  
A strange relation which of late befell,  
Of one a forsworn wretch as is well known,  
On whom the Lord a wonder great hath shown.   

This wretched man of whom these lines are penned,  
Denied a truth, a bad cause to defend:  
And rashly wished in place whereas he stood,  
That he might never eat meat to do him good.   

Now mark Gods judgements how they strangely fell,  
A short time after, grief it is to tell:  
He with some others more to Dinner went,  
To give their hungry stomaches some content.   

But as they sat at Table with their meat,  
Having made bargain for't they fell to eat:  
This forsworn wretch Tom Miles called by name,  
Fed very greedily upon the same.   

And thrusting in a bit that would not pass  
Quite down his throat, his luckless hap it was  
To choke himself, the very truth was so,  
While all the rest beheld him with great woe.   

Unto a Surgent than he ran with speed,  
Desiring him to help him in his need:  
But all in vain, no help for him could be.  
His breath was stopped, and he died presently.    

The second part,  
To the same tune.  
 

ANd being dead the Surgeons took in hand,  
To rip him up, that they might understand  
The truth and reason how he lost his breath,  
And how he came by his untimely death.   

Which having done they found with woe at last,  
The gub of meat stick in his throat so fast,  
Which was the cause of this his lives decay,  
Because it could not thence be put away.   

Within the Hospital his corpses doth lie,  
Men of good credit can it testify,  
His body buried was without control,  
But God grant mercy to his soul.   

Let this example warn us to amend,  
That we by oaths may not our God offend:  
O let each Man and Woman now refrain  
From taking of God's holy name in vain.   

He that delights in Oaths and Curses vild,  
And hath therewith his spotted Soul defiled:  
May now bewail the time that he was borne,  
Sin is the cause that makes a Land to mourn.   

High time it is for us to watch and pray  
Upon our bended knees both night and day,  
Unto our God, that he will mercy take  
On us poor souls for jesus Christ his sake.   

For surely this we well may understand  
The Lord is angry with this sinful Land:  
His judgements hath so many ways been shown  
Throughout our coasts as is to many known.   

What visions in the Air, and fearful sights  
Have been of late which wonder may affrights,  
Thunder, and Lightnings, to procure our fears,  
Enough to make each flinty heart shed tears.   

All those are signs to warn us to repent,  
Which God as messengers hath to us sent  
For to reclaim us from our former sin,  
Which we so long have slept and wallowed in.   

But to conclude, sweet jesus give us grace,  
That we on earth may run a godly race:  
That when by death our life is taken away,  
We may through thee eternal life enjoy.    
L. P.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for john Wright junior, dwelling at the upper end of the Old Bailie.