NEWS from SEA: Or, a true RELATION Brought from DOVER Of a terrible Tempest of THUNDER and LIGHTNING; Which on the 26 of July last killed outright one William eton of Dover, on board a Ship called the Henry and Mary, David Huggett Master, bound for Newcastle, and lying off of the Kentish Knock, and with its violence struck down a Boy, so that he lay as dead for a considerable time.  
As likewise how the said Ships Top-mast was burnt with the Lightning, and her Main-mast strangely split with the Thunder, and rendered utterly unserviceable, &c.  
The truth whereof is well known to most Inhabitants of Dover, there being many Eye-witnesses that saw the Tackling spoiled and the said dead Corps, when the Vessel( disabled to pursue its Voyage) put in there again.  

licenced  
Aug. 22. 1676. Ro. L'Estrange.   
London: Printed for D. M.   

Strange and wonderful News from Dover, &c.  
AMongst all the familiar Wonders which Almighty God performs and brings to pass in the world by the ministry of his Handmaid Nature, there is scarce any more remarkable than that of Thunder and Lightning: How confounded are the Learned in their searches after the cause? and how blinded when they go about to give a rational account of its effects? The proud Heathen Emperor whom his own vanity and others flatteries had puffed up with a conceit of his being little less than a Deity, when once he heard a Volley of Heavens Artillery discharged in a Thunder clap, confessed him●el● less than man, and in a ridiculous cowardice endeavoured to hid himself under a bed: Nor can the most steeled Atheist or mocker of Religion weather a Tempest without betraying his guilty fears with the trembling of his joints& the paleness of his Countenance.— The voice of thy thunder maketh them afraid, saith the Psalmist: and well it may, if we consider either the astonishing horror it carries with it in its manner, or the lamentable Disasters frequently occasioned thereby. Of both these the present Relation is a sad and sufficient Testimony.  
On Wednesday the 26th of July last, a Ship called the Henry and Mary belonging to Dover, Mr. D. H. Master, being outward bound for Newcastle( the Northern Indies of our little British world) lying at an Anchor off of the Kentish Knock, a mighty Tempest of Thunder and Lightning arose; the whole Hemisphere from the Zenith to the Horizon was overspread with thick pitchy Clouds, which permitted little more light than what proceeded from terrible and frequent Flashes. The roaring seemed so great, as if the whole frame of the World had been about to be dissolved, and every Star hurled from its Sphere, to be violently bandied against the rest. In the midst of this amazing Conflict of the Elements, a Thunder-bolt( or what is usually so called) happened to light upon the aforesaid Ship, and in a moment struck one of the Ships Crew, name William eton, stone-dead upon the Deck, and yet not the least appearance of a wound to be discovered about his whole body, but some parts of it turned very black, or of an unusual Livid colour; and at the same time a Boy belonging to the Master, was likewise stauck down and lay for dead a considerable time without breathing sensibly, or giving any symptoms of Life, save only his continuing warm; which encouraged them, as soon as they hide leisure, to use means for his Recovery, which at last they obtained, bringing him again to life, and he is like to do well; but for ●he present was miserable bruised in all parts of his Body, and yet nothing did touch him but the lightning, nor was his Skin any way broken: But as for the other man, he was absolutely struck dead in an instant, no Art or Means being able to recover him.  
But besides this particular personal Damage, the whole Ship was in no little danger; For their Top mast was set on fire by the Lightning, and burning furiously was very like to have destroyed them; but bestirring themselves with that diligence which became them in such an exigence, they prevented that disaster, though the said Mast( as they report) continued burning all Night.  
Nor did their Main Mast escape much better, for it was split in two above half way, and each part wrythed and twisted round like a with, very strange and wonderful to behold, so that it was rendered utterly unserviceable: And that which makes this Accident more remarkable is, that there lay another Ship just by, who received not the least damage or prejudice in her Men or Tackling.  
We have it lately asserted in Print from good Authority, that Two Ships sailing to the West-Indies, about the Latitude of Bermudas, a tempest of Thunder setting part of one of their Rigging on fire, with other damage, caused this worder too, That the Needle or their Compass shifted its Points clean contrary, stand ng to the South instead of the North, which misled the mariners, so that they shaped their Course directly back again; and yet did not dream but they had been very orderly pursuing their Voyage, till the other Ship admiring at it tacked, and coming up to them found out the mistake, and lent them a pair of Compasses, for all the Compasses the other had on board were changed as aforesaid; and if they turned the Needle with their finger to the North, it would not fix, but presently return to the South Point: Whether any such thing were observed in the present Case, I cannot affirm; but this is certain, that they were forced to put in again at Dover, where they Refl●ted, and the dead body being there brought ashore, was butted, having been first viewed by divers people.  
What remains, but that all Persons that shall red or hear this sad and most true Relation, be entreated and seriously admonished to consider and lay to heart, the great uncertainty of Life; How strangely, how unexpectedly, how suddenly, in a moment, may we be snatched away: And then what manner of persons ought we to be in all Godliness and holy Conversation, lest that Day, that terrible m●m●nt of Death, come upon us not only unawares, but take us unprepared without an Interest in Christ, or any assurance obtained of Reconciliation and Peace with God, or of his Love and Pardon to our poor immortal Souls; let us not defer Repentance, let us not put off Amendment of Life( as too many do) until to morrow, for who knows but this Hour, this Minute may be our last?  
Nor may this less stir us up to a constant and conscientious performance of the Duty of Prayer, which as it is ever profitable, and at all times commendable, so it is daily needful; at Night it is our Covering, in the Morning 'tis our armor: Nor can we at any time promise ourselves the least Safety or Security, but what we obtain from the Almighties protective providence. I was credibly informed, that about two Months ago, a Minister of an eminent Town in the West of England, upon a great Tempest of Thunder and lightning happening in the Night, having called up his whole Family to wait upon the Lord in Prayer, as they were on their knees in a Parlour, a Thunder-bolt( or what you please to call it) came in at the top of the house, and so down through several Chambers, tearing the Timber and Walls, and making great havoc as it passed, till it came to the said Parlour, which it went clear through, and struck out the Candle, with so much terror, that each person thought all the rest were destroyed. But the gracious God they were calling upon, preserved them all safe, so that not a Hair of any persons Head present was hurt thereby.  
So good it is in all our dangers and distresses to cast ourselves in Faith upon the God of our Salvation, who never deceiveth those that trust in him: Let us all therefore, warned by such frequent Examples, labour while it is called to day, to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling: Let us daily live as if every day we expected to die: Let us walk soberly and righteously in this present evil world; and in all our out goings, undertakings, and perils, commit ourselves to the Mercies of God as unto a faithful Creator, and then no evil shall happen unto us.  
FINIS.