A wonderful and strange news, which happened in the county of Suffolk, and Essex, the first of February, being Friday, where it rained Wheat, the space of vi. or seven. mile's compass: a notable example to put us in remembrance of the judgements of God, and a preparative, sent to move us to speedy repentance. Written by William Auerell, student in Divinity.  Ecclesiasticus. 11. 
The works of the Lord are wonderful and glorious, secret and unknown are his works among men.  
Imprinted at London, for Edward White, dwelling at the little North door of Paul's church, at the sign of the Gun. 1583.   

Strange news out of Suffolk.  
IT hath seemed good in the eyes of our God (Christian Reader, no cause compelling but his mercy,) always to admonish and warn before hand, by some extraordinary event, of the punishments and plagues that he will send for sin, and so great is his love towards mankind, whom he hath made, that when he perceiveth his image to be defaced in man's soul, he will not yet strike generally, till he have warned us universally, so that before the stroke of his judgements, he always sends the messengers of his mercies, which bursting out through vehemency of his love, doth put us in mind of the weight of his wrath, & albeit that the hearts of the wicked are hardened, so that no judgement will make them quake, no marvels amaze them, no wonders wine them, no miracles move them, nor mercies amend them, for that they are of the nature of the stone, which albeit it be wet without and seemeth never so moist, yet is it within nothing less than hard and dry, therefore the Lord giveth them over to their lusts, so that they are brambles of the desert, tars of the field, chaff of the Corn, and stubble for the fire, who while they heap sin upon sin, and draw sin together with cartropes, who while they multiply one mischief on another grieve the spirit of God, tread down the blood of his Testament, and drink up iniquity like water, who while they eat up the poor, oppress the needy, defraud the simple, and gnaw in sunder the hearts of the innocent, treasure up vengeance for themselves against the day of wrath, to these therefore are the judgements of God sent to make them without excuse, but to the godly are they given for their better amendment, who while they behold the works of the Lord wrought only to this end, that they should cast off the works of darkness, and  themselves with the lovely garments of light, that they should mortify the deeds of the flesh, and live again to the liberty of the spirit, that they should put of the old man with his concupiscences, and put on the new man Christ jesus with his virtues, their conversion should tend to his glory and their salvation to his endless mercy.  
Philip Melancthon recordeth in his Latin Chronicle, that before the devastation of Italy there were seen many prodigious and wonderful things, as armed men fight in the air, blood to flow out of the earth and to break out of the hard walls, with many other wonders which threatened great calamities.  
Before King Philip invaded Greece the heavens appeared all bloody.  
And if we may credit probable Authors, when Marcus Acilius and C. Portius were Consuls, the Elements rained milk, with blood, and L. Volumnius and Ser. Sulpitius being Consuls, of Rome, it rained flesh. Also in Lucania a Country belonging to Naples, between Fuel, and Calaber, before Lucicius Crassus was slain of the Parthians, it rained corn, L. Paulus and C. Marcellus being Consuls, it rained Wool, and at that time also hard burned Tile stones fell down from heaven.  
Before the Wars in Denmark, were heard the noise and sound of trumpets from the skies.  
The year wherein Vespasian destroyed jerusalem, a star appeared in heaven in the figure of a sword, hanging over the City, Wagons appeared wandering and running through the regions of heaven, and armed men were seen fight in the Clouds.  
Pope Leo the seventh, being Bishop of Rome, the Sun for certain days seemed all bloody, after which there followed a grievous pestilence.  
In the year of our Lord 1348. Charles the fourth being Emperor, certain Feasts, fell from heaven, the corruption and stink whereof brought a sorrowful plague.  
In the year of our Lord 1356 Calixtus the 3 being Bishop of Rome, among the sabines, was brought forth a calf having but two feet, at which time in Rome over the gate of Venus It rained blood, and the same time did it rain flesh in Lyguria.  
Henry the first being Emperor, in the fields of Hemilianus and Flaminius in Italy, It reigned blood in the Ideses of june.  
Innumerable examples, and most strange wonders could I recite which have happened in times passed among our elders, which would ask a large scope, and open too wide afeelde for me to wander in, which albeit they are reported of credible Authors, yet for that they would seem rather incredible then probable to the common sort, I omit them, and will draw to those which we all do steadfastly believe, and yet in their effects are far more strange.  
Do we not read how Aaron's rod changed into a Serpent, 
Exodus. 7.  which devoured up all the rods of the charmers of Egypt, and of the 10. wonderful plagues that God sent upon Pharo & his people.  
The Children of Israel murmured against God, 
Exodus. 16. Numbers. 11  and he fed them with quails from heaven at even, and filled them with bread of Man in the morning, they grudged for water, and the Lord burst the rocks to give them drink, so he fed their hunger with flesh., and quenched their thirst with water, he divided the red Sea so that they went through as on dry land, and closed the waters upon their enemies like a wall.  
Corah, Dathan & Abiram, murmured against Moses, and the Lord sent a wonderful miracle upon them, the fast and solid earth opened her bowels, and swallowed them up, with their families their goods and all the men that were with Corah, so they went down into the pit alive, the earth covered them, and they perished from the congregation.  
In the days of josuah 
josua. 4.  the Lord, showed wonders unto Israel for he led them through the waters of jordan as he did in the days of Moses through the red & salt Sea, so that when the feet of the Priests that bore the Ark of the covenant stayed in the waters of jordane, they wear cut of, and stood still on a heap, and as soon as the Priests feet wear set on the dry land, the waters of jordane returned unto their place, and flowed over all the banks thereof as they did before.  
Sundry and manifold are the examples of wonders set down or our view in the holy scriptures, in the same book 
josua. 10  of josuah we read that when the five King, Adoni, Zedek, Hoham, Piram, japia and Debir, made war upon Gibeon, the Lord discomfited them and threw down great stones from heaven, upon them, so that more died with the hail stones then died by the swords of the children of Israel, the Sun stood still in Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Aialon, till the children of Israel wear avenged of their enemies, a hole day stood the son still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down.  
The like we read of, in the History of Hezekiah, and in brief the whole book of God is a spectacle of his wonders, a glass of examples, and a mirror of his miracles, set down by his spirit for our instructiones, look through the old Testament, and turn over the new, see if they be not both farced with wonders, and stored with Miracles, wherefore are they written but for our learning? Wherefore wear they done but for our comfort, Quaecunque scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt, they wear not only wrought for old Israel, but also for us the redeemed and chosen people, to teach us to beware by their dangers, who not regarding the works of the Lord, did harden their hearts against his judgements: who contemning the mercies of God in their deliverance, were paid home with the terror of his vengeance, but are there not some Epicures among us that living at their lust, think these things to be shadows: are there not some Libertines among us, that persuade themselves that these things being past, pertain not to them, and are there not some hard hearted Nullafideans, that: scarcely believe these things, for that they say they are, Obliterata vetusttate: therefore that they might be without excuse, behold the arm of the Lord is not shortened, nor his power is not abated, but being. Semper et ubique idem, he leaves the wonders past, and pricks us forward with things present, he leaveth foreign reports, and shows his works at home, he comes now to our towns, and knocks at the gates of our Cities. O happy we, if we take him, O cursed we, if we forsake him: the Lord hath heard the cries of his ministers, sounding his Gospel, long time among us, but their voices are not hard, nor his word wins no regard: and therefore seeing our stony hearts will not wax soft with the sound of his Gospel, he proves if they will melt with the fire of his miracles.  
It is not long sithence God shaked the earth in his anger, when he was moved, the earth quaked, and the very foundations thereof tottered, things senseless can tremble at God's judgements, but sinful men fear not his furies, for a short time hath worn out the remembrance of so great a wonder: and as that, so all others do last with us but nine days.  
That Godly exhortation of Master Field, to the observations of the Sabbath, is almost already forgotten, and that heavy judgement of Paris garden, begins to flyppe out of remembrance, for men begin to flock theither again, accounting the special warning of our GOD, to be some sudden accident, that happened rather by chance then by choice, and because they will be assured to scape the danger of falling, they make account to set fast footing on the ground as though the earth were not the Lords and all that is therein, and as though the Lord can not open the earth to swallow the despisers of his word.  
We have yet fresh in our remembrance, the grievous punishment of M. Brustar, but why do I call him master that being old was a filthy slave to his lusts, & the horrible death of his minion lovely Lais, that loathing labour, lived by luring, but even as Alcibiades the Athenian was slain in the filthy act of his pleasure with his harlot Tymandra, and as plutarch and Valerius maketh mention uncertain how: even so the Lord struck this old Lecher with his fine Flora, that both of them were stubble for the fire, leaving the manner of the judgement, to judge by the matter that remained, and surely as wonderful a judgement as ever hath happened and as hard to be scanned by the devise of man's wit, that so small a fire as a little pan of coals half wasted, should consume almost the one, and also burn the other to death, but sure a right and just judgement that one fiery element being visible, should consume another unvisible as the burning fire to consume the flaming lust, for such is the nature of lust, & rightly and fitly may the heart of a lustful lecher be compared to the stone Albestes, that being once on fire, is never quenched, nor the lustful heart of an old crooked and consumed adulterer till death never wasted, but they had their judgement, for our ensample, and we may by there peril make our present profit. GOD grant we may, lest a speedy threatened punishment come upon us.  
This warning was not given when the Lord by a wonderful work, did show his omnipotency in other places for on Friday the first of this present month of February, in the county of Suffolk at Ipswich, Storcknayland, Hadley, and many other places: the Lord showed the power of his hand in this strange and wonderful effect. Men riding by the way, as it is credibly reported, felt in a Snow as it were in a small drizzling, a heavier fall of matter then in snowing is accustomed to be, and feeling the same to pat somewhat hardly upon them, by better advisement perceived it to be a contrary matter, and therefore taking of it up in their hands, they found that it was Wheat, the strangeness hereof, did amaze many, who doubting it was some deceit & coloured devise, did not greatly believe the same, till coming into the towns and villages, and bruiting the report thereof, it caused the townsmen and dwellers, to make search in their Gardens, for as much as they knew that if any such thing fell, it would there be presently found, neither could it be seen in the high ways, forasmuch as it rained in so thine & small an order, that the moisture & wet, with the slabbinesse of the way, did take away the knowledge thereof. But in Gardens and Closes and by yards was found great abundance thereof: there was (at the writing hereof) in Town, one Master William Geffreys Clothier, acredible man and dwelling in Ipswhich, who found of the same in his Garden, and brought thereof to London: and lying at the George in Lumbardstreate, gave thereof to the Host named Master Ginue, and to other Gentlemen that desired the same of him, besides divers other honest and credible persons dwelling in that County, which lodged at the same place, and faithfully reported the same. Now, as touching the manner and likeness thereof, it did rightly resemble our common Wheat, saving that it was of a softer substance, and looked somewhat greener, otherwise like unto our Wheat in all respects: There are that did bite and eat thereof, who do affirm that it hath a more mealier inward substance than our Wheat hath, and whiter also with in: and it is reported, that some have baked thereof, but whether that be so or no, it is not greatly material, only the thing is strange, that any such substance should rain from the Heavens: but least some should object that it might be scattered by the hands of some, in some certain places. It is assuredly said that it reigned not only in some one particular Town, but six or seven mile's compass: nay some say that it was found also in Essex and other places: neither could it be scattered by men, either by negligence or pretended purpose, for as much as it was found in many men's Gardens and Backsides, whereas none could come to play any such pageant. This gentle Reader have I heard told of those men themselves inhabiting that Country, whereof some substantial and credible have gathered and brought to this town (for trial thereof) of the grain: Let us not therefore be to curious in searching out the natural cause hereof, for were Arictottle alive with all the Philosophers of the world, they could not search out the cause thereof, neither is there any cause to be found, but the infringible, will and power of our God, who is Causa causarum, and causa sine qua non, he it is that is the efficient cause thereof, the final cause and end wherefore he sendeth the same is our repentance, that we beholding his Omnipotency, might turn from sin speedily, convert to him hastily, lay hold of his mercy, and by our godly life set forth his glory: for God, seeing his word daily preached, his benefits and graces received: our peace, wealth, and quiett increased, and yet our lives no whit amended, beginneth to shoot out the arrows of his anger, out of the bow of his judgement and displeasure: and seeing we regard not his word, he will teach us by wonders: Sith we despise the invisible grace of his Sacraments, he will send us the visible signs of his plagues and punishments: I can not, neither we may not enter into the counsels of the Lord, to say that this or that will happen or succeed thereof: But surely Marcellus the Heathen man could say: Prodigia esse deorum iras vel minas: that strange events are either the anger or threatenings of the Gods. And it hath been approved in all ages, that after such extraordinary and portentous tokens, have followed strange and terrible accidents, as is plainly to be proved by many and sundry Histories: for they have been the forerunners of plagues, of Wars, of Famines, of the death of Princes, of the alteration of states, and of innumerable mischiefs, all which let us leave to the Lord at his pleasure, and seek to prevent them by repentance and prayer: Let us leave the secret understanding thereof to him, who maketh no man of his counsel: and for so much as we can not comprehend the same, within the compass of our capacities. As Saint Augustine saith: 
Augustin.  Dicamus deum aliquid posse, quod nos fateamur investigare non posse, in rebus enim mirabilibus tota ratio faciendi, est potentia facientis: Let us grant that God can do something, which we confess we can not search out: For in things that are wonderful, the whole manner to do the same, is the power of the doing thereof. For as Gregory saith: 
Gregory in hom. 1.  Rationem de occulto dei consilio quaerere, nihil aliud est, quam contra eius confilium superbire: To seek a reason of the secret counsel of God, is no other thing then to resist his counsel: And as the same Father saith in the same book: The miracles of God, they may be considered by study, but not searched by understanding: And therefore we must say with the Prophett David. This is the Lords doing and it is wonderful in our eyes. For which cause Christian Brethren, seeing the Lord hath by his great wisdom and power, declared himself in this wonderful sort unto us, and hath as it were, shaken the sword in his displeasure, to signify unto us the weight of his anger. Seeing also we know the cause thereof to be our sins, which because they are outrageous, have therefore incensed the wrath of our GOD: and considering likewise, that we know the means and ways to prevent the wrath and indignation of God: namely by our repentance, by a sorrow unfeigned, a faith assured, with a full purpose of a life amenmended: Let us not slack to turn to the Lord, while he now turneth unto us: let us not be slow to seek him while he may be found, for if we know our masters will and do it not, we shall be beaten with many stripes. Let it not be said of us as it hath been of the Athenians: among whom when a certain old man came in to their Theatre, and none of the Citizens would rise and give him honour, (albeit, the reverence of age was confirmed among them by law) he came by chance by the Ambassadors of Lacedaemon, who also came thither to behold, who perceiving the old man because of his grey hears, rose up and gave him room: which when the Athanians beheld, with a great shoot they praised the deed, to whom one of the Lacedæmonians said: Athenienses quid fit rectum sciunt at illud facere ex toto negligunt: The Athenians know what is meet to do, but they wholly neglect to do the same. Even so Mutato nomine de nobis fabula naratur: Christians know what is meet to do, but they wholly neglect to do the same. Albertus telleth of certain Birds that albeit, they have wings yet they can not fly; because they want eyes, and therefore they rather creep and hopp upon the earth then fly any whit at all: and to such may we be compared: For albeit we have the wings of knowledge, yet we lack the eyes of faith: and therefore when we should fly with our minds and thoughts to heaven, for want of faith, our hearts creep upon the yearth, and are settled on earthly things: But as Jerome saith: 
Hie. ad demetriadem.  Non sufficit mandata dei memoriter scire, & opere oblivisci. It is not sufficient to know perfectly the Commandments of GOD, and by our works to show we have forgotten them: which whether we have or not, is manifest by the woeful spectacle of our sorrowful days: in which sin is so settled, and grown to such ripeness, that it waiteth but for the sickle of the Lords judgements. Look on our pride? are not our men tricked like Monsters, and our women pricked like Players? Be not the bellies of men like bolsters, and their buttocks made like Butterflies? Are not our women changed into the shape of men? how are their hear curled like Ruffianes, and their garments made like Maskers? what jetting and jogging, what shoveing & shouldering, what niceness in treading, what gestures in going, what coiing in countenance, what trifling in talking: and to be short, how are manners corrupted, and all good orders subverted: Lay this to the touchstone of God's word, and see how it agreeth: alas it makes the godly to groan, although the ungracious feel no grief. Leave this and look upon our covetousness, what pity is there of the poor, and what relief of many needy: how are rents raised, Incombes levied, Leases corrupted, Bonds and their forfeits sued, poor needy souls imprisoned, laws wrested, and truth little regarded: may it not be said of our days as Petronius said of his. 
Quid faciunt leges ubi sola pecunia regnat,  
Aut ubi paupertas vivere nulla potest  
jam non judicium est, nihil est nisi public amerces  
Nullaque justitia est fraus ubi iura regit,  
Venalis populus, venalis curia primum  
Ipsaque maiestas aere sepulta jacet.  
What good do laws where money rainges alone  
Or where the poor can not obtain his right,  
Our judgement now to common gain is grown:  
No justice is where fraud puts law to flight,  
Men set to sale, the judgement seat likewise,  
Honour herself in money buried lies.   
But omitting this with our Usury, Blasphemy, Adultery, Envy, Subtlety, Oppression, Extortion, and Bribery seeing we are all corrupt, even from the sole of the foot unto the head. Seeing there is nothing whole in us, but all wounds and swellings, and sores full of corruption: Let us desire the Lord to wrap us up, to bind up our wounds, and to mollify us with the Oil of his grace, for we are the unfruitful Vineyard, even this little realm of England which albeit our land hath been plentiful, yet have our lives been barren, and unthankful, the Lord hath hedged us in with his graces, he hath gathered out the stones of Popery and errors, he hath planted us with the best plants, namely of sound Religion, and the truth of his Gospel, he hath built a Tower in the midst of us which is his Church. We have a wine press the house of prayer, the Lord hath looked that we should bring forth grapes of good life, but we have brought forth the wild grapes of wickedness, and now our own consciences can be witness, that the lord hath done so much for us, as more he could not do for any Nation: he will therefore take away our hedge of defence, namely his mercies, and so shall we be trodden down of our enemies.  
The Lord hath loved us with an everlasting love, he hath chosen us to himself in mercy, he hath fed us with the fatness of the yearth, and given unto us the dew of heaven: he hath cast a bank about us for our defence, and closed us in with a wall of strength, he hath with peace sent us plenty, and with abundance given us tranquility. We have a gracious and merciful Queen to guide us, endued with wisdom; learning and virtue, that laboureth daily the increase of the Gospel. God hath given wise and grave Counsellors, in the midst of trouble to determine our causes, who care and cark for the defence of our Country, and apply their study for our common weals commodity, the Lord hath endued us with learned Bishops, Pastors and teachers, who ring daily in our ears, the golden bells of the Law and Gospel: who sound out of a sweet golden Trumpet, the cheerful alarum against our enemies. They feed us with Manna, being Angels food, and give us clear water out of the pure Fountain: They have stopped up the muddy puddelles of Popery, and given us to drink of the clear Silver streams of the Gospel. Let us not be unthankful to GOD for them for they stand in the gap, to turn away the wrath of the Lord, it is the prayers of these, that holdeth back the angry hand of the Lord. Ovid saith, that Arturus is a Star, placed near the Pole artic, which never falleth, but riseth and compasseth continually about the Pole, if this star should fall, the Pole would by and by fail, and so the whole frame of the world should perish: Even so these holy and godly men (as no doubt there are some, though the number be few in this City) they are those that day and night do compass the Pole of this world, who continually beat in the ears of the lord with their prayers, and like this Star, they are continual in rising, and never fall, were it not for whom, the frame of this world had long since been dissolved, but assuredly there being is not long, for these wonderful tokens and prodigious signs, do manifestly tell us of the worlds consummation, let us therefore watch, for the time is at hand. Let us be wise Virgins with our Oil in our Lamps, that we may enter into the wedding Chamber, when our spouse Christ jesus shall come to judgement, let us continue to th'end that we may eat of the hidden Manna, let us strive valiantly that we may obtain the Crown, and gain the kingdom we have long hopes for, and hear the sweet and comfortable saying: Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the beginning of the world, and that this may speedily come. Let us continually cry, Come lord jesus, come quickly, bring us to the fruition of thy joys, and shorten these our miserable days, that we may all with one voice glorify thee in thy heavenly kingdom, and sing that sweet song holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty: Grant this O Father for Christ's sake, to whom with thee and the holy spirit be all honour and praise both now and for ever. Amen.  
Witness hereunto, these men whose names do follow. 

Master William Geoffrey's, dwelling in Jpswhich.  
John Bull, servant to Justice Germaye.  
Richard Boothe of Jpswhich, dwelling with Oliver Boothe.  
Richard Kaye: with divers others    
FINIS.