The Lords Loud Call to England, Narrative account 1
A RELATION OF THE Lords wonderful works of late by an Earthquake, Lightning and …, by Toads; and by smiting of divers vvith sudden death, upon Health-drinking, Stage-play, &c.
Of the Lords … hand at Oxford, by sudden death of several persons, Actors in … Play against Puritans; and others.
I Shall now acquaint you with … things fallen out here with us. As first, The first man that read prayers in this University since this change, the Lord hath cut him off, and also he was the last that read prayers in the University, in the time of war. The … man also that … Prayers at Wadham Colledge is also cut off, a very notorious man.
Also there was a Play acted by Schollars, wherein one acted the … Puritan, he that acted that part, came in with a narrow band, short hair, and a broad hat; a … comes after him, and trips up his heels, calling him … Rogue; at which …, the Old Puritan shook off the dirt of his feet against him. Two of these Actors are also cut off; and he that acted the Old Puritan broke a vein, and vomited so much blood in the place, that they thought he would have died in the room, but he now lieth desperately sick. This is all very true.
Also a Woman that joyned with them in their Play is also dead.
Also a Schollar of Pembrook Colledge who said he came purposely to Town to see Dr. Langly outed, and then he would give a plate to the Colledg. He was invited to dinner by a Schollar, and never went out of the room more, but died there.
Here is also a great rout in Oxford of the godly people; 19 Heads of Houses and Canons of Christs Church are put out, and this day we think will be outing many godly Fellows.
Truly I think, there was scarce such a place in the world, where such a multitude held forth the power of godliness, and purity of Gods worship; even an Eden it was, but now a barren wilderness.
Also from another in Oxford, it was thus written, Iuly, 30. We had a Play acted in the University, against the Puritans, the cheif Actors therein were, Mr. Ball of Wadham, who died yesternight; and one Glendal of Brazen. Nose, who also is not like to live.
Also … Relation was from another Oxford Schollar; Two of Mertons Colledge in Oxford that were turned out upon the former Reformation, and now having hopes of coming in again upon this late change, came down and with much confidence demanded their places. And one of them in a more especial manner was very high in his demands and …. And he was the … man (as we hear) that … forward the reading the Common … in the … Colledge; who notwithstanding before his Admission, as also the other before his admission, were both dismissed hence by the Lords hand, and by his Messenger, DEATH, though their restoring into their places was near effected.
The … of the abovesaid, being a Schollar of Oxford is certified by the Oxford Carrier, That Mr. Glendal also, one of the chief Actors in the Play is since dead.
Of the sudden dreadful Death of the Clerks Daughter at … in Glocester-shire, … the third, just a neek before Whitsunday, 1660.
AT a meeting there on that day, were many met; B. Collet, and B. Collings, gifted brethren, from Burton on the water, and divers others thence, and from Stow, and other places: It was … about, that some of the County Troop would then come and seize upon them, and Imprison some, and rout them all.
The Clerks Daughter came, with her Mother, who had opposed and reviled them, uttering hard … against them and their meetings, and ways, and these two stood by in a corner.
When they came, B. Collet was in exercise, speaking upon Iude 14, and 15. verses, with much affection, (being a …, humble, tender hearted man:) upon these words.
Behold the Lord cammeth with ten thousand of his Saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them, of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Whilst he was preaching upon these words, the hand of the LORD of HOSTS went out against that Daughter as it appeared, for she gave a sudden great Schrich. and fell down dead before them all. Those that were about her, rubbed and chafed her for her restoring, but there was no appearance of Life at all.
B. Collet was much affected with this hand of the Lord, and looked pale, being of a very tender spirit.
B. Collins seeing it, was about to seek the Lord, for raising her up again, but her Mother being much out of …, hindred their prayers for her, and she never ….
As some were carrying her corps out, in the passage out, Mr. H. met them, who led that party of the Troop; and … came in, and would have them away Prisoners. And he charged … with the death of the Maid, that they had killed her.
…. … answered to this effect. Nay, we have not killed her, but the Most High hath done it, in whose hand is both your …, and ours.
After he had pulled the speakers towards the door, and spake more to them: He, and the … left them.
Since this time the Clerk hath spoke well of that people; saying, these are the people of God.
And since this so remarkable hand of the Lord, there hath been much peace and freedom from molestation in their Meetings in those parts, to hear Iohn … in … Market place, and other places.
The Maids sudden death having been but two days before his going down to preach in those parts.
Of the great number of … in Glocestershire, … Midsummerday, 1660.
A Company of Christians going to a meeting, and at their private meeting at Fairford in Glocestershire, which is about four miles on this side Cirencester, (called Ciceter) on the 24. of Iune 1660. Being the first day of the week, they were much abused by some of that Town, in a rude manner.
The Lord of the Manor there stood looking on, and did not in the least suppress the rude multitude, but appeared rather to countenance them.
In the Evening of that same 24 day, there was seen coming up from the Mill-lane great multitudes of small Toads, they that saw them said, that there might have been taken up many Cowls full of them. And as they were going they divided themselves into two bodies. First, one Body, or Division of them, went to the Lord of the Mannors house, (which was about one Acers Length, from the place where they were first seen) They come up through his Orchard, and went under … Gate into the inward court, and some did indeavour to prevent their coming into his house, but could not, though they killed many of them. They … into his Kithin, and Cellar: and the next morning there went an honest man to the house, about business, and did see the servants looking on them, and took notice of them, that they lay thick on the ground, and being smal, judged they were many thousands of them.
And Secondly, The other Body or Division of the Toads, went to a Iustice of the peace his house, a little way off; and went into his Barn, to his amazement, there being by providence also an honest man the next morning, who saw the Toads in great abundance, and heard the Iustice say, that it was a judgment upon them for suffering the boyes to abuse those honest men in the Town, and no man can tell whence these Toads came.
About a Fortnight after in the same Town, these Christians were again sorely abused, and the next Friday fortnight after, there appeared in the Lord of the Manors Orchard, a great swarme of Flyes, about the bigness of Caddus Flies, with long wings; they that saw them said they might have taken up baskets of them, and the same day also, an honest Christian man saw the Lord of the Mannors Garden covered with these Flies, in heaps like unto swarms of Bees
After there had been, in many about …, Reading, and …, great noyse of these Toads or Frogs, some went from London purposely, to inquire at Fairford, the truth hereof. And some that came to Fairford found some that knew thereof, very backward to speak of it, it seemed, lest these great men there should be offended, some saying they saw then not, but some being urged that they ought to prefer the glory of God above all, and being asked and urged, about it, there was at last … as much in effect as is above recited.
Some went to see the place where they had met that were so disturbed by the rude boyes and other people, and they found how all the windows were battered down.
Also some of those that went to inquire at Fairford, were credibly informed, that a Minister of a place within about a mile or two of that place, that by his inveiyng against these people that met at Fairford, stird … some of the people against them, that so abused them, dyed suddenly after ….
The truth of the substance of the relation about the …, and those Flyes, is credibly certified by … persons. Though some would obscure the works … the Lord.
Of the Earth-quake in France, on Munday Iune … 1660. Part of a Letter to a Merchant in London, dated at Bourdeaux in France, at his house there, Iune 14/4 1660. Translated from French into English, for H. I.
SIR.
ON Munday the … of this present month, Iune, at three a clock in the Morning, God brought it so about that the Earth quaked some twelve or thirteen Leagues round about this City. And this very City was attached therewith, by two shakings, as if it would Elevate it into the Skye.
The Bells of St. Sirrir, by it sounded, did dering with full voice. The Castle of Cadillac que (where was the Duke of … their Governor) shaked in a strange fashion, and Baxat's City also, where the King was.
The Steeple of St. Michaels yield's tokens of it, by the Rupture of its Top, and the fall of some of the highest stones: Also the fall of some parts of the walls, and of half a Tower, will continue the memory hereof.
That which is most astonishing, is, that some houses, and some persons being not far from each other, some of them were free from this shaking, and the hearing of the noyse therewith; when others heard and felt it: Even in your very house, Madam your Wife and Pitter heard it; but the Maid and I heard nothing of it, although then I was awake. Thus much for that Letter.
Others write, that at Tholouse, and some other places in France, was the same Earth-Quake.
ITs also testified, that a great part of the Forrest of Bleau, (where is one of the Kings stately houses) was … by fire from heaven. Its about sixteen Leagues from Paris.
Also, that in some parts of France, it hath rained blood, and great Hail-stones, of a pound and a half weight, and great store of Frogs, in some places, half a foot deep; and strange vermine, that eat up the Corne.
Of the strange Whirlwind on Iune 2. 1660. in Leicestershire, … be effects thereof.
MR. A. Palmer, Esq late High Sheriff of that shire, spake with some of those parts where the Whirlewind was so dreadful, and that suffered by it. About three or four of the clock afternoon it began to be very dark with clouds, as if some very great storm were ready to come; which occasioned many People about Worthington, to repair from the fields into their houses, and suddenly there arose a mighty Whirlwind, which untiled and unthatched many of the houses in Whorthington: and thence it went to Worthington-hall, where the effects were as great or greater.
It took away, or cast down several Bays of a Building there bringing down the great Barn.
Also it took up a great Logg of wood from a Mill-pond, whirling it out.
And so it passed on to a Wood called Springwood, where the place that it passed through, may yet be discerned, by the great trees blown down, and arms of trees, and unbarking of many trees, &c.
Also thence it passed along to Tongue, which is a village near it, where also it blew down many trees, tearing some up by the roots. Amongst other things there, Major Beniskin told Mr. A. Palmer beforesaid that it took away a Hive of Bees of his, of which he could never hear since.
And though there was harm to dogs, by the fall of tiles, &c. The Lord wonderfully preserved men, women and children.
This Relation may occasion all to fear the Lord, that causeth the Earth and the great wood Lebanon to tremble at his presence, Psal. 114. at end. And can send destruction on the wicked as a whirlwind, when he spareth his children that … him, Prov. 1. 27. Mal. 3. 17, 18. And can make the wicked like a rolling thing before the whirlwind, Isa. 17. 13. And can make his whirlwind scattor them, Isa 41. 16. See …. 9. ….
One writes of Capt. Andersons hard words that he spake against people of tender consciences, to the grief of many, yea even some of his neer Relations.
He said, He would have them live no otherwise, then that they among whom they live, might set their feet upon them, that so they may be kept under. … a little while after the Lords hand was on him, and he was under the power of death.
It is written and also certified that at (or about) Barwick. Mr. O. a … in his Sermon using many hard speeches against those peaceable people there that he called Anabaptists, there being many such there at that time; that even whilst he was preaching in th t manner, he fell into a swound, and was speechless, as one dead for about two hours, and it was feared he would never have recovered out of it.
About the beginning of May 1660. when some in VVapping (neer London) had kept a day of Fasting and Prayer together: The same day a Vintner their Neighbor came where some of them were; and he said to this effect; Do you see what you have gained by your fasting and Praying? even give … for the King is coming now, to hang you all up.
The same Vintner, the next day after the King came into London, took a halter, and put about the neck of one of his Consorts, and as it were hauled him along. and said to this effect, So must the Fanaticks be hanged up. But since the Kings Proclamation he is much daunted.
A woman of that town when she heard what havock was made of that Assembling house, where Mr … Friends used to meet, she said, It did her more good, then if two hundred pounds had been flung in her lap.: Within a few daies after she heard of the casting away of a ship, returning, being neer England, wherein her Husband had a great share; it is said the value of six hundred pounds.