of Gods worde and see how it agreeth alas it makes the godly to grone although the vngracious feele no greefe Leaue this and looke vppon our couetousnesse what pittie is there of the poore and what releefe of many needie how are rentes raised Incombes leueyed Leases corrupted Bonds and their forfeites sued poore needie soules imprisoned lawes wrested and truthe little regarded maie it not be said of our daies as Petronius said of his Quid faciunt leges vbi sola pecunia regnat Aut vbi paupertas viuere nulla potest Iam non iudicium est nihil est nisi public amerces Nullaque iustitia est fraus vbi iura regit Venalis populus venalis curia primum Ipsaque maiestas aere sepulta iacet What good do lawes where money rainges alone Or where the poore can not obtaine his right Our iudgement now to common gaine is growne No iustice is where fraude puts lawe to flight Men set to sale the iudgement seate likewise Honor her self in money buried lyes But omittyng this with our Vsurie Blasphemie Adulterie Enuie Subteltie Oppression Extortion and Briberie seyng we are all corrupte euen from the sole of the foote vnto the hedde Seeyng there is nothyng whole in vs but all wounds and swellyngs and sores full of corruption Lette vs desire the Lorde to wrappe vs vp to binde vp our woundes and to mollifie vs with the Oile of his grace for wee are the vnfruitfull Vineyard euen this little realme of England whiche albeit our lande hath been plentifull yet haue our liues been barren and vnthanckfull the Lorde hath hedged vs in with his graces he hath gathered out the stones of Poperie and errors he hath planted vs with the beste plantes namely of sounde Religion and the truthe of his Gospell he hath builte a Tower in the middest of vs whiche is his Churche Wee haue a wine presse the house of prayer the Lorde hath looked that we should bryng forthe grapes of good life but we haue brought forthe the wilde grapes of wickednesse and now our owne consciences can be witnesse that the lorde hath doen so muche for vs as more he could not doe for any Nation he will therefore take awaie our hedge of defence namely his mercies and so shall wee bee troden doune of our enemies The Lorde hath looued vs with an euerlastyng loue he hath chosen vs to hym self in mercie he hath fedde vs with the fatnesse of the yearth and giuen vnto vs the dewe of heauen he hath caste a bancke about vs for our defence and closed vs in with a wall of strength he hath with peace sent vs plentie and with aboundance giuen vs tranquilitie Wee haue a gracious and mercifull Queene to guide vs indued with wisedome learnyng and vertue that laboureth daiely the increase of the Gospell God hath giuen wise and graue Counsailers in the middest of trouble to determine our causes who care and carke for the defence of our Countrie and applie their studie for our common weales commoditie the Lorde hath endewed vs with learned Bishoppes Pastors and teachers who ring daiely in our eares the golden belles of the Lawe and Gospell who sounde out of a sweete golden Trompet the cherefull allarum against our enemies Thei feede vs with Manna beyng Aungelles foode and giue vs cleare water out of the pure Fountaine Thei haue stopped vp the muddie puddelles of Popery and giuen vs to drincke of the cleare Siluer streames of the Gospell Lett vs not bee vnthanckfull to GOD for them for thei stande in the gappe to tourne awaie the wrathe of the Lorde it is the praiers of these that holdeth backe the angrie hand of the Lorde Ouid saieth that Arturus is a Starre placed nere the Pole Artick whiche neuer falleth but riseth and compasseth continually about the Pole if this starre should fall the Pole would by and by faile and so the whole frame of the worlde should perishe Euen so these holie and godly men as no doubte there are some though the number bee few in this Citie thei are those that daie and night doe compasse the Pole of this worlde who continually beate in the eares of the lorde with their praiers and like this Starre thei are continuall in risyng and neuer fall were it not for whom the frame of this worlde had long since been dissolued but assuredly there being is not long for these wonderfull tokens and prodigious signes dooe manifestly tell vs of the worldes consumation let vs therefore watche for the time is at hande Lette vs bee wise Virgines with our Oile in our Lampes that wee maie enter into the weddyng Chamber whē our spouse Christe Iesus shall come to Iudgement let vs continue to th ende that we maie eate of the hidden Manna let vs striue valiauntly that we maie obtain the Croune and gaine the kyngdome we haue long hopes for and heare the sweete and cōfortable saiyng Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the beginnyng of the worlde and that this maie speedely come Lett vs continually crie Come lorde Iesus come quickly bryng vs to the fruition of thy ioyes and shorten these our miserable daies that wee maie all with one voyce glorifie thee in thy heauenly kyngdome and sing that swete song holie holie holie Lorde God almightie Graunt this O Father for Christes sake to whom with thee and the holie spirite be all honor and praise bothe now and for euer Amen VVitnesse hereunto these men whose names doe followe Maister VVillyam Geffreyes dwellyng in Jpswhich John Bull seruaunt to Justice Germaye Richard Boothe of Jpswhich dwellyng with Olyuer Boothe Richard Kaye with diuers others FINIS
A wonderfull and straunge newes which happened in the Countye of Suffolke and Essex the first of February beeing Fryday where it rayned Wheat the space of vi or vii miles compas a notable example to put vs in remembraunce of the iudgements of God and a preparatiue sent to moue vs to speedy repentance Written by William Auerell student in Diuinitie Ecclesiasticus 11. The workes of the Lord are wonderfull and glorious secrete and vnknowne are his woorkes among men Jmprinted at London for Edwarde White dwelling at the little North doore of Paules church at the signe of the Gunne 1583. Straunge nevves out of Suffolke IT hath séemed good in the eyes of our God Christian Reader no cause compelling but his mercie alwayes to admonishe and warne before hande by some extraordinarie euent of the punishmentes and plagues that he will send for sinne and so great is his loue towardes mankind whom he hath made that when he perceiueth his image to be defaced in mans soule he will not yet strike generally till he haue warned vs vniuersally so that before the stroke of his iudgements he alwaies sendes the messengers of his mercies which bursting out through vehemencie of his looue doth put vs in mind of the waight of his wrath albeit that the heartes of the wicked are hardened so that no iudgement will make them quake no maruailes amaze them no wonders wine them no myracles mooue them nor mercyes amende them for that they are of the nature of the stone which albeit it be wet without and séemeth neuer so moyst yet is it within nothing lesse then harde and drie therefore the Lorde giueth them ouer to their lustes so that they are brambles of the desert tares of the fielde chaffe of the Corne and stubble for the fire who whyle they heape sinne vpon sinne and draw sinne together with cart-ropes who while they multiplie one mischiefe on another gréeue the spirit of God treade downe the bloud of his Testament and drinke vp iniquitie like water who while they eate vp the poore oppresse the néedie defraude the simple and gnawe in sunder the heartes of the innocent treasure vp vengeaunce for themselues against the day of wrath to these therefore are the iudgements of God sent to make them without excuse but to the godly are they giuen for their better amendment who while they beholde the woorkes of the Lorde wrought onely to this ende that they should cast off the workes of darknesse and cloath themselues with the louely garments of light that they shoulde mortifie the déedes of the flesh and liue againe to the libertie of the spirit that they should put of the olde man with his concupiscences and put on the new man Christ Iesus with his vertues their conuersion should tend to his glorie and their saluation to his endlesse mercye Philip Melancthon recordeth in his Latine Chronicle that before the deuastation of Italie there were séene manye prodigious and woonderfull things as armed men fighting in the ayre bloud to flowe out of the earth and to breake out of the harde walles with manye other wunders which threatened great calamities Before King Philip inuaded Greece the heauens appeared all bloudie And if we may credite probable Authors when Marcus Acilius and C. Portius were Consuls the Elements rayned mylke with bloud and L. Volumnius and Ser. Sulpitius being Consuls of Rome it rayned fleshe Also in Lucania a Countrie belonging to Naples betwéene Fuel and Calaber before Lucicius Crassus was slaine of the Parthians it rayned corne L. Paulus and C. Marcellus beyng Consuls it rayned Wooll and at that time also hard burned Tyle stones fell downe from heauen Before the Warres in Denmarke were heard the noise and sound of trumpets from the skies The yéere wherein Vespasian destroyed Ierusalem a starre appeared in heauen in the figure of a sworde hanging ouer the Citie Wagons appeared wandring and running through the regions of heauen and armed men were séene fighting in the Cloudes Pope Leo the seuenth being Byshop of Rome the Sunne for certayne dayes séemed al bloody after which ther followed a greeuous pestilence In the yeare of our Lorde 1348. Charles the fourth béeing Emperour certaine Feastes fell from heauen the corruption and stinke whereof brought a sorrowfull plague In the yeare of our Lorde 1356 Calixtus the 3 béeing Bishop of Rome among the Sabynes was brought foorth a calfe hauing but two féete at which tyme in Rome ouer the gate of Venus It rayned bloode and the same tyme did it raine flesh in Lyguria Henrie the first béeing Emperour in the fieldes of Hemilianus and Flaminius in Italie It rained bloode in the Ides of Iune Innumerable examples and most straunge wonders could I recite which haue happened in times past among our elders which would aske 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 séeme rather incredible then probable to the common sorte I omitte them and will drawe to those which we all doe stedfastlie beléeue and yet in their effectes are farre more strange Doe we not reade how Arons rodde changed into a Serpent Exodus 7. which deuoured vp all the roddes of the charmers of Egypt and of the 10. wonderfull plagues that God sent vpon Pharo his people The Children of Israell murmured against God Exodus 16. Nombers 11 and he fedde them with quailes from heauen at euen and filled them with bread of Man in the morning they grudged for water and the Lorde burst the rockes to giue them drinke so he fedde their hunger with flesh and quenched their thyrst with water hée deuided the redde Sea so that they went through as on drye lande and closed the waters vpon their enimies like a wall Corah Dathan Abiram murmured against Moses and the Lord sent a wonderfull miracle vpon them the fast and solid earth opened her bowels and swallowed them vp with their families their goodes and all the men that were with Corah so they went downe into the pit aliue the earth couered them and they perished from the congregation In the dayes of Iosuah Iosua 4. the Lorde shewed wonders vnto Israell for he led them through the waters of Iordan as he dyd in the dayes of Moses through the red salte Sea so that when the feete of the Préestes that bare the Arke of the couenaunt stayed in the waters of Iordane they weare cut of and stoode still on a heape and as soone as the Préests féete weare set on the drie lande the waters of Iordane returned vnto their place and flowed ouer all the banckes thereof as they did before Sundry and manifolde are the examples of wonders set down or our view in the holy scriptures in the same booke Iosua 10 of Iosuah wée reade that when the fiue King Adoni Zedek Hoham Piram Iapia and Debir made warre vpon Gibeon the Lorde discomfited them and threwe downe
great stones from heauen vpon them so that more dyed with the haile stones then dyed by the swords of the children of Israell the Sunne stood still in Gibeon and the moone in the valley of Aialon tyll the children of Israell weare auenged of their enimies a hole day stoode the sonne still in the middest of heauen and hasted not to goe downe The lyke we reade of in the Historie of Hezekiah and in bréefe the whole booke of God is a spectacle of his wonders a glasse of examples and a mirror of hys miracles set downe by his spirite for our instructiones looke through the old Testament and turne ouer the new sée if they bée not bothe farsed with wonders and stored with Miracles wherefore are they written but for our learninge Wherefore weare they don but for our comfort Quaecunque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt they weare not onely wrought for olde Israell but also for vs the redéemed and chosen people to teache vs to beware by their daungers who not regarding the workes of the Lord did harden their hearts against his iudgments who contemninge the mercies of God in their deliueraūce were payed home with the terror of his vengaunce but are there not some Epicures amonge vs that liuinge at their luste thinke these thinges to bée shaddowes are there not some Libertines amonge vs that perswade themselues that these thinges being past pertaine not to them and are there not some hard harted Nullafideans that scarsly beléeue these thinges for that they saye they are Obliterata vetusttate therefore that they might be without excuse beholde the arme of the Lord is not shortned nor his power is not abated but beinge Semper et vbique idem he leaues the wonders past and prickes vs forward with thinges present he leaueth forraine reportes and shewes his workes at home he comes now to our townes and knockes at the gates of our Citties O happy wée if wée take him O cursed wée if wée forsake him the Lorde hath heard the cryes of hys ministers soundinge his Gospell long time amonge vs but their voices are not harde nor hys woorde winnes no regarde and therefore séeinge our stonye hartes wyll not waxe softe with the sounde of his Gospell he prooues if they will melt with the fire of his miracles It is not longe sythence God shaked the earth in hys anger when hee was mooued the earth quaked and the very foundacions thereof tottered thinges sencelesse can tremble at Gods iudgementes but sinful men feare not his furies for a short tyme hath worne out the remembraunce of so great a wonder and as that so all others doo laste wyth vs but nine dayes That Godlye exhortation of Maister Fielde to the obseruations of the Sabboth is almoste alreadye forgotten and that heauie iudgement of Parris garden béeginnes to flyppe out of remembraunce for men beginne to flocke theither agayne accounting the speciall warning of our GOD to bée some sodayne accident that happened rather by chaunce then by choyse and because they will be assured to scape the daunger of falling they make account to set fast footing on the grounde as though the earth were not the Lordes and all that is therein and as though the Lorde can not open the earth to swallowe the despysers of his worde We haue yet freshe in our remembraunce the gréeuous punishment of M. Brustar but why do I call him master that being olde was a filthy slaue to his lustes the horrible death of his miniō louelie Lais that loathing labour liued by luring but euen as Alcibiades the Athenian was slaine in the filthie acte of his pleasure with his harlot Tymandra and as Plutarche and Valerius maketh mention vncertaine how euen so the Lorde strooke this old Lecher with his fine Flora that both of them were stubble for the fire leauing the maner of the iudgement to iudge by the matter that remained and surely as wonderfull a iudgement as euer hath hapned and as harde to be scanned by the deuise of mannes witte that so small a fyre as a lyttle panne of coales halfe wasted should consume almost the one and also burne the other to death but sure a right and iust iudgement that one fierie element beyng visible shoulde consume another vnuisible as the burning fire to consume the flaming luste for such is the nature of lust rightly and fitlye may the heart of a lustfull lecher bee compared to the stone Albestes that beeyng once on fire is neuer quenched nor the lustfull hearte of an olde crooked and consumed adulterer tyll death neuer wasted but they had their iudgement for our ensample and wee may by there perill make our present profite GOD graunt we may least a spéedie threatened punishment come vppon vs. This warning was not giuen when the Lorde by a wonderfull worke dyd shewe his omnipotencie in other places for on Friday the first of this present moneth of Februarie in the countie of Suffolke at Ipswich Storcknayland Hadley and manye other places the Lorde shewed the power of his hand in this straunge and woonderfull effect Men ryding by the way as it is credibly reported felte in a Snowe as it were in a small drizling a heauier fall of matter then in snowing is accustomed to be and féeling the same to pat somewhat hardly vpon them by better aduisment perceyued it to bee a contrarie matter and therefore taking of it vp in their handes they founde that it was Wheate the straungenesse hereof did amaze many who doubting it was some deceipt coloured deuise did not greatly beléeue the same till comming into the townes and villages and bruting the report thereof it caused the townsmen and dwellers to make searche in their Gardens for as much as they knew that if any such thing fell it wold there be presently found neyther could it bee séene in the highe waies forasmuch as it rayned in so thyn 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 Yardes was founde greate aboundance thereof there was at the writyng hereof in Toune one Maister Willyam Geffreies Clothier acredible man and dwellyng in Ipswhich who founde of the same in his Garden and brought thereof to London and liyng at the George in Lumbardstreate gaue therof to the Host named Maister Ginue and to other Gentlemen that desired the same of hym besides diuers other honest and credible persones dwellyng in that Countie which lodged at the same place and faithfully reported the same Now as touchyng the maner and likenesse thereof it did rightly resemble our common Wheate sauyng that it was of a softer substaunce and looked somewhat greener otherwise like vnto our Wheate in all respectes There are that did bite and eate thereof who doe affirme that it hath a more mealier inwarde substaunce then our Wheate hath and whiter also with in and it is reported that some
haue baked thereof but whether that be so or no it is not greatly material onely the thing is straunge that any suche substaunce should raine from the Heauens but least some should obiect that it might be scattered by the handes of some in some certaine places It is assuredly saied that it rained not onely in some one perticuler Toune but sixe or seuen miles compasse naie some saie that it was founde also in Essex and other places neither could it be scattered by men either by negligence or pretended purpose for as muche as it was founde in many mens Gardens and Backsides whereas none could come to plaie any suche pageaunt This gentle Reader haue I heard tolde of those men them selues inhabityng that Countrey whereof some substanciall and credible haue gathered and brought to this towne for triall thereof of the graine Lett vs not therefore bee to curious in searchyng out the naturall cause hereof for were Arictottle aliue with all the Philosophers of the world thei could not searche out the cause thereof neither is there any cause to bee founde 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 finall cause and ende wherefore he sendeth the same is our repentaunce that wee beholdyng his Omnipotencie might turne from sinne speedily conuert to hym hastely laie holde of his mercie and by our godly life set forth his glorie for God seyng his worde daiely preached his benefites and graces receiued our peace wealth and quiett encreased and yet our liues no whit amended beginneth to shoote out the arrowes of his anger out of the bowe of his iudgement and displeasure and seyng we regarde not his word he will teache vs by wonders Sith wee despise the inuisible grace of his Sacramentes he wil sende vs the visible signes of his plagues and punishmentes I can not neither wee maie not enter into the counselles of the Lorde to saie that this or that will happen or succeede thereof But surely Marcellus the Heathen man could saie Prodigia esse deorum iras vel minas that straunge euents are either the anger or threatnynges of the Gods And it hath beene approued in all ages that after suche extraordinarie and portentuous tokens haue followed straunge and terrible accidentes as is plainly to be proued by many and sundry Histories for thei haue been the forerunners of plagues of Warres of Famines of the death of Princes of the alteration of states and of innumerable mischeefes all whiche lett vs leaue to the Lorde at his pleasure and seeke to preuent them by repentaunce and prayer Let vs leaue the secrete vnderstandyng thereof to hym who maketh no man of his counsell and for so muche as we can not comprehende the same within the compasse of our capacities As Sainct Augustine saieth Augustin Dicamus deum aliquid posse quod nos fateamur inuestigare non posse in rebus enim mirabilibus tota ratio faciendi est potentia facientis Let vs graunt that God can doe somethyng whiche we confesse we can not searche out For in thynges that are wonderfull the whole maner to doe the same is the power of the doyng thereof For as Gregory saieth Gregory in hom 1. Rationem de occulto dei consilio quaerere nihil aliud est quam contra eius cōfilium superbire To seeke a reasone of the secrete counsell of God is no other thyng then to resist his counsell And as the same Father saith in the same booke The miracles of God thei maie be considered by studie but not searched by vnderstandyng And therefore we must saie with the Prophett Dauid This is the Lords doyng and it is wonderfull in our eyes For whiche cause Christian Brethren seyng the Lorde hath by his greate wisedome and power declared himself in this wonderful sorte vnto vs and hath as it were shaken the sworde in his displeasure to signifie vnto vs the waight of his anger Seyng also wee knowe the cause thereof to bee our sinnes whiche because thei are outragious haue therefore incensed the wrath of our GOD and considering likewise that wee knowe the meanes and waies to preuent the wrathe and indignation of God namely by our repentaunce by a sorrowe vnfained a faith assured with a full purpose of a life amenmended Let vs not slacke to turne to the Lorde while he now turneth vnto vs let vs not be slow to seeke him while he may be founde for if we knowe our Maisters will and dooe it not wee shall bee beaten with many stripes Let it not be saied of vs as it hath beene of the Athenians among whom when a certaine olde man came in to their Theater and none of the Citizens would rise and giue hym honour albeit the reuerence of age was confirmed among them by lawe he came by chaunce by the Ambassadors of Lacedemon who also came thether to beholde who perceiuyng the olde man because of his graie heares rose vp and gaue hym rome whiche when the Athanians behelde with a great shoote thei praised the deede to whō one of the Lacedemonians saied Athenienses quid fit rectum sciunt at illud facere ex toto negligunt The Athenians know what is meete to doe but thei wholy neglect to doe the same Euen so Mutato nomine de nobis fabula naratur Christians knowe what is meete to doe but thei wholy neglecte to dooe the same Albertus telleth of certaine Birdes that albeit thei haue wynges yet thei can not flye because thei want eyes and therfore thei rather creepe and hopp vpon the earth then flye any whit at all and to such maie wee bee compared For albeit wee haue the wynges of knowledge yet wee lacke the eyes of faith and therfore when wee shoulde flye with our myndes and thoughtes to heauen for want of faithe our hartes creepe vppon the yearth and are settled on yearthly thynges But as Hierome saieth Hie. ad demetriadem Non sufficit mandata dei memoriter scire opere obliuisci It is not sufficient to knowe perfectlie the Commaundementes of GOD and by our woorkes to showe wee haue forgotten them whiche whether we haue or not is manifest by the wofull spectakle of our sorrowfull daies in whiche sinne is so setled and growne to suche ripenesse that it waiteth but for the sickell of the Lords iudgements Looke on our pride are not our men trickt like Monsters and our women prickt like Players Bee not the bellies of men like bolsters and their buttockes made like Butterflyes Are not our women chaunged into the shape of men how are their heare curld like Ruffianes and their garmentes made like Maskers what iettyng and ioggyng what shoueyng shouldryng what nicenesse in treading what iestures in going what coiyng in countenaunce what trifelyng in talking and to be shorte how are maners corrupted and all good orders subuerted Laie this to the touchstone