The Fiery Trial No Strange Thing, To the reader
FRIENDLY READER.
THe deſolating Judgements by Water and Fire, with which God hath, and intends to cleanſe the World; are in Scripture brought together, and made to illuſtrate each other. Wherefore be not offended at the remaining Page, as if its ſervice were unſeaſonable, and out of place, whenas it relates (as well as it can) what the Gazetts report concerning the terrible INƲNDATION that the Low-Countryes lately ſmarted under; and which was looked upon as one awful conſequent of the late formidable Blazing Star.
Toward the latter end of January laſt, there having been for many dayes much Rain, and a violent Storm, ſundry of the United Provinces, viz. Holland, Zealand, Brabant, Flanders, felt the direful effects thereof: For the Sea with wonderful impetuoſity broke through and over the Banks▪ which th…ſe Low-Countries are defended with, unto the unexpreſſible Diſtreſs and Amazement of the Inhabitants. Many Villages were reduced to b… wholly under water: even in great Cities the Waters ore flowed thei… Streets, and were divers foot higher than has been fo…merly known; ſo that Boats paſſed to and fro, where men were wont to walk. Perſons were forced to Barricado their Houſes, and ge… into their upper Rooms; yea (in ſome places) to the tops of their Houſes, where (tis ſaid) ſome were famiſhed to death. In ſome Churches the Water was above eight foot high; and Corps were taken out of their Graves, and car…ied away therewith. Hundreds of dead bodies were ſeen daily floating down the River, to Antwerp. Many ſtately Fortifications were ſpoiled, and ſtrong Walls beaten down. Sundry Places now over thrown, cannot in many years be recovered; and ſome never. The leſſe▪ of one City have …en judged to amount to ſome Millions. The ſufferings of Merchants cannot be related. Innumerable Cattel were deſtroyed. Some great Mens Eſtates were laid wholly under water: Noble and W…althy Families are brought to Poverty. If we are not misinformed, above fourſcore Lands and Polders have been overwhelmed. And the Dutch have loſt more by this Flood, than by all their late grievouſly expenſive Wars. And (which is more tremendous) a vaſt number of People have loſt their lives. In ſome Iſlands, moſt of the Inhabitants; and in one Polder no leſs than a thouſand have been drowned. In one Land where about a thouſand dwelt; but one (like a Job's Meſſenger) eſcaped Death. Yea 'tis generally ſaid, that near twenty thouſand periſhed by this overflowing Scourge.
End of the text · Samuel Willard, The Fiery Trial No Strange Thing (1682)