A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London.

A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London.

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A MOST TRVE Relation of a very dreadfull Earth-quake, with the lamentable effects thereof, which began vpon the eight of December this present yeare 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie.

The Earth-quake in Munster, with other fearefull Prodigies seene in the Ayre.

Other fearefull Examples, vpon some swallowed (in their Cups) within the bowels of the Earth: with other terrible and ashonishing Accidents.

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A Most true Relation of a very dreadfull Earth-quake, with the Lamentable effectes thereof, Which began vpon the 8. of DECEMBER 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie.

READE AND TREMBLE.

Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, Publike Notarie in London. And Printed at Rotterdame in Holland, at the Signe of the White Gray-hound.

[depiction of comet sighting]

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A MOST TRVE Relation of a very dreadfull Earth-quake, with the lamentable effects thereof, which began vpon the eight of December this present yeare 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie.

HOw happie was Adam (our Father) to haue the world (then vnspotted) his Kingdome, Paradise his Pallace, all creatures vpon Earth his Subiects, God himselfe his Protector, good Angels his councellors, Sunne, Moone and Starres his Bookes of contemplation, and Eden his Garden of plentie and pleasure, where hee had all things that were [Page] good, and was in daunger of nothing that was euill. But how wretched was hee for disobeying his Creators commandement, to loose all this happinesse, and in that Treason of his to condemne all his posteritie? How miserable are the Sonnes become by the Fathers fall? How blessed had they beene, if hee had stood? For reckon vp their losses: the World that should haue beene their Paradi [...]e is now their Prison. Mans protector (God) hath giuen him ouer: Angels (that then were his equals) are now farre aboue him, All creatures that were his Subiects, rebell at their Lord and Master▪ a little Bee dares sting him, the smallest Gnatte is ready to choake him: The earth brings foorth Bryers and Brambles to scratch him, poysons to kill him, Serpents to deuour him, yea the heauens themselues emptie their ful Quiuers of dreadful vengeance, shooting tempests of Hayle, Ice, Snowe, Waters, Windes, Thunder and Lightning, vpon his miserable and sinfull head. That which hath a Sunne placed in it to giue him heate, foode and life, powres vppon him her Vyols of wrath: That which was made firme for his footing, and to beare vp Kingdomes, Cities, and all the creatures in the World, now shakes, and opens her entrailes to swallow him in that wombe, where first hee was begotten.

[Page]Shall I drawe before your eyes a liuely Picture, to make you see these things? Alacke! we write our passed punishments vpon the brest of Time, and when his backe is turned, it is like Childrens bookes clasped vp, wee forget what lessons we reade there. We are all like Zenophantus, that could doe nothing but laugh: yea, our escaped miseries are but our mockeries; for (as dull beasts doe) we feele stripes to day, but forget the smarting to morrow; growing fat with afflictions as Asses doe with blowes, and the more beaten, the harder our hearts are, like yron, lying vnder the hammer.

Since then we neuer feare Ship wracke, but when we see our Vessels ready to Split vpon Rockes, and that wee thinke neuer to fall, but when the Axe is laide to the roote; Since no rodde can terrifie but what is presently held ouer vs; O yee Worldlings, (vnlesse your bosomes bee as cold as your Charitie is) I shall melt you all into Water, and startle your Soules out of their deadly slumbers, vnlesse they bee as dull and heauie as your sinnes are, by ratling in your eares the Thunder of Diuine vengeance, whose noyse doth now at this very instant terrifie vs your disconsolate Neighbours.

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The Earth-quake in Munster, with other fearefull Prodigies seene in the Ayre.

MVnster is a Citie, situate in Westphalia, a part of the lower Germany: It stands vpon a hill, fauoured by Heauen for sweete and wholesome ayre, and wanting nothing which the Prouinces, adioyning to it, doe plentifully enioy. It is rich in people, and the people rich in pleasures, and therefore in sinne, no windes being able to wey downe the full eares of their pride, but the breath of his nosethrils which can make Princes to bow beneath his foot stoole.

In this Citie (swelling with the abundance which her owne wombe beares and brings forth:) when her head lay in the soft lappe of [Page] ease, when Peace sate at her Gates, Freedome walked in her Streetes, and when securitie laide all the Inhabitants vpon their wanton Pillowes. Behold, the Reuealer and Reuenger of all close and hidden impietie suddenly snatched out his Sword, and (smiting at them) made their loftiest Pinnacles to tremble. For vpon the eight day of December (now last) a vniuersall Earth-quake shooke the deepest foundations of the strongest buildings; Churches and Steeples reeled in the Ayre like Shippes (in stormes) beaten vpon the Waues, and in a moment, their highest Battlements came tumbling to the Earth. Towers of Flint & Marble cannot resist this batterie. The wrath of ten thousand Canons cannot confound so quickly, for whole streetes of Houses stand tottering▪ and whole streetes of Houses fall. Safetie hath no Walles to dwell in, no corner to flie to. Men, Women and Children are with the terror throwne to the Earth, and as there they lie, their owne Buildings fall on them, and grinde them into dust. If any haue so much heart left, as to lift vp his hands to Heauen, he is presently struck dead by Thunder and Lightning, which rage with such terrible furie, ouer all the poore desolately ruined Citie▪ As if GOD in anger had swore to make this an example to other places of his Judgement, as hee did his holy Citie Jerusalem, not to leaue one stone standing vpon another.

[Page]Armies of fiery clouds thus fight against these wretched people in the Ayre: thunder frights their soules, and astonisheth their hearing, the ground trembles vnder them, and because euery Sence should be punished, according to his offences, the eye that once scorned to looke vp so high as heauen, is now forced full of teares, from thence to begge one droppe of mercy, but in stead of that, it beholdeth a blazing & direfull Comet: The Stars that are the glorious Scutcheons of the Creator, and stucke as candles in heauen to light man in the night, becaus [...] he should worke no wickednesse in darknesse, are now changed into prodigious, dreadfull, and fiery Meteors. They are out of that celestiall order which the Great Generall aboue placed them in: And like a Kingdome in ciuill vprores threaten nothing but plagues, mischiefe to the world and confusion. Misery is euer borne with a twinne. These prodigies come not alone, but other strange and horrid apparitions flie vp and downe the Ayre: No time being free, as if night and day contended together, which of them should afflict and insult ouer a wretched downe-trodden Citie, with sharpest tyrannie: For the Earthquake, with Thunder and lightning doth twice euery day (at distinct times) shake, disioynt, and beate to the ground the howses, and kill the people, and when night should lend them rest to their calamities, they [Page] are kept waking by these second allarms in the Element. Not farre from Munster standeth a Castell called Bileuelt, strongly built vpon a mightie rocke, and this Fort (for all it seemed to be impregnable) hath beene shaken by the battry of this Earthquake, and such a breach made into the very Rocke it selfe, that the Castell is sunke beneath his setled and first foundation more than the depth of two mens height: That which remaineth vndeuoured in this stony and craggy Gulfe, aboue ground, [...]eeling, wauing, and tottering too and fro, as easily (when the blow is giuen) as you see standing corne shaken by some mightie wind. Thus the poore people liue in this citie, thus they perish: but leauing them a while.

Into whose bosome shall I poure the riuer of my teares? Into my countries? she is ouerwhelmed already in the torrent of her owne sorrowes: Shall I sigh my lamentations vp into Ayre? She is frighted with the vnusuall prodigies which the wrath of her Maker stickes vpon her beauty: will men heare me? Sinne hardens their hearts, and they are more senselesse than Rockes: to the Rockes, Mountaines, and Hilles then breath I out my Tragicall condolements: Alas, they tremble too, as readie to feele the generall dissolution: Let me open therefore the mangled booke of thy Ruines onely (O thou my inexpressibly dilacerated countrey) because in these [Page] leaues are written the blotted Stories of thy downefall.

Why art thou (aboue all thy fellowes) marked out and drawne to the slaughter? Is it because thy iniquities exceede the rest, as thy punishments do? Or is it because God is but angrie as a father, (chastising any one yt is next his hand) not in a particular quarrell to yt one, but to make these stripes giuen to him, startle all the rest, and so to keepe them in feare of correctiō. Or shal I let flie none of these arrowes but shooting at Rouers in another bow, shal I with the Naturalist & searcher of secrets, conclude that these Earth frauers haue their shakings from the ordinarie distemperature of Winds, stealing into the bowels of the earth, and there (with rombling, tossing & stragling to acquire vent & passage) they open yt Cauernes of the massie foundation, and so tumble down all waightie matter yt compresseth their violence? Shall these Crutches serue for my beliefe to leane vpon? No, let the Lame & halting Heathen (that neuer trode in y• right path of his Creation) hold vp his knowledge by that weak staffe. Let him suppose that the wheeles of this great Vniuerse are set a going by the subtile workemanship of Nature, & that their motions shall grow flow, and weaken according as she her selfe waxeth old and decaying.

But if I (that am a Christian) can read that there is a God (who controlles Nature,) [Page] a God that made the Sunne to shine by day, a Moone by night, with Starres in the firmament not so much to beautify that Roofe, as to serue the vse of man. And that those officers of light, (those celestial torchbearers) are appointed to keep a decent, setled & vnchangeable orderly course, if I can also read that the same Omni-sufficiently-skilfull Enginer, is at all times furnished with Thunder, Lightning & Tempest, (the Artillerie of his vengeance:) The naturall Philosopher shall pardon me, if I thinke (and so wish all Christians to bee of this opinion) that as in our Earthly or Lunarie bodies, accidentall violent diseases are fore-runners of languishing Sicknes, or Imminent Death, So when those heauenly bodies are out of tune, distempered, & distracted, they are predictions of some fatall, fearefull, & portentious calamities, assuredly threatning some particular Nation, not shot from an ordinarie, but a supernaturall hand. And I doe farther thinke that if the omnipotent Thunderer could locke vp sufficient store of Waters to drowne all the world, as by his word (giuen since) he hath sworn to destroy it with fire, sure it is that his opening of the same Sluces now (which ouer-flow and swallow vp our corne fields in their mercilesse inundations) are but to shewe vs the old whip which hee then held in his hands, when first he gaue correction, as these tearings of the Element, with fires darted [Page] from his lightning vpon one especiall citie, are meere Items to put vs in minde of that dreadfull last blow, which shall pash the world in pieces in her vniuersall consummation.

No no, It is an extraordinarie Finger, that points out where such Tempests shall fall. The Lord of Hostes hath some great Battle to bee fought, and hée doeth now but leuie his forces: The Judge of all Kingdomes is to arraigne the sinnes of some one people, and these are now but the summons sent from his court to warne their appearance. You neuer shall see these gentle Lashes vppon the outward flesh of a few, but bee assured they are Flagella Dei, his Rods which hee ties vp in bundels against some more terrible execution.

I should here weepe mine eyes into Inke, to set downe the deplorable condition of my countrey, if I saw her onely tyed to the Stake of these afflictions? But is Germanie in a flame, and doe other Nations stand a loofe off, warming their handes by her fires? Not so, Denmarke our next neighbour, with France, England, Scotland, Ireland, and many other Maritime Kingdoms, haue eaten of this sowre Grape as well as Germanie: they (as we) sit still on the weather beaten shores, increasing the wrathfull Seas with Waters showring from their eyes, for their fresh bleeding and neuer to be forgotten Irrecuperable losses.

[Page]Awaken therfore (O you seuenteene daughters of Belgial) you that are rich in Possessions, glorious in beautie, princely in ornaments, leaue listning to the charms of your light and wanton instruments, and let the cries of vs your poore Neighbors force you to lift vp your eyes to heauen. Thinke not, though you stand higher than vs, that you stand snrer, for the same Arme that hath shooke our strong Battlements, can as suddenly crumble yours into dust, your amendement may sue out our generall Pardon. Looke vpon your feete then and blush (for all your gay Fethers) at your deformitie. Your ancient and noblest vertues haue you turned into Sordid and most ugly abhominations, Peace hath made you proude, pride hath made you ambitious, ambitiō warlike, and Warre bloudie and insolent. Your industrie so admired throughout the World, and so commendable at home, is now like a Spiders Loome, curiously wrought but to no good purpose.

Sloth sits in your gates, and wantonnesse lies dallying in your chambers: temperance in diet is growne to surfeting, and those surfets breed oathes and quarrels. All your good deeds may be ingrauen within a ring of gold, but your bad-ones stretch beyond all dimension. These are the trees of your glories: but note I pray how the fruits haue beene blasted. The Spaniard hath marched with swords of [Page] fire, vpō the harts of your proudest cities, your marriage-beds haue suffered deturpation, and felt the hot lust of strangers, your fairest Froes haue beene rauished of their honours by the mercenary souldier: yea the Dutch themselues haue (like Vipers) eaten out the belly that brought them forth, Inhabitants of cities haue made their owne cities desolate, and beaten downe those walles that should haue defended their families: Fathers haue murdered sons, sonnes fathers, and kinred made triumphes at the deflowring of their Neeces. Your goodly streets (O you Belgians) haue beene turned into Church-yards, and your sumptuous State-Houses into shambles and graues, yet these Drummes cannot wake you.

O would to God therefore (you my countrimen the Dutch Nation,▪ as you are now held valiant & warlike both by seas & land that you had in you lesse courage, for it is only boldnesse that makes man wicked. Or would to God that as you haue drawne your swords against the bosome of your country, you had likewise vnsheathed them against the sins of your country, thē happily had not we drunk of this bitter cup of calamities, then happily (which heauen auert) God will not phisicke you with the same strong potion. But because our fals may make you looke to your footing, Behold how your country lies once more bleeding, strucke by the same hand of heauen.

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Other fearefull Examples, vpon some swallowed (in their Cups) within the bowels of the Earth: with other terrible and ashonishing Accidents.

THE first part of this Germaine-Tragedie is acted, the second (full of Bloud and Horror) shall now be plainly shewed. It beginnes with a Marriage, but ends in Murder: Banquets, and full Cuppes of Wine lay the Cloath, but shrikes and dismall crying take away the Table.

Know therefore, that in a Towne of Germany called Sybellen, a rich young man, (of the age of two and twenty yeares) called by the name of Antiochus, hapned to be marryed to a Gentlemans Daughter of the same towne. The Nuptiall being (according to the custome of the Country) orderly celebrated in the Church, home the marryed couple come, accompanyed with kinsfolke, friends, and acquaintance, who are all inuited to the solemnization of so happy a day.

[Page]The knot being now tyed, which to Louers is so welcome, Musicke is called for, to stirre vp their bloud and youthfull Spirits. Daunces hauing wearyed them, they all sit downe at the Bridall-Table, where Plentie her selfe could not haue inuented one dish more to furnish out the feast.

At the table (after the Dutch fashion) they sit long, and drinke hard, and being cloyed with Glasses of Sugar and Rhenish, whose poyson goes downe smoothly, they fall againe to their Lauoltaes: and in ths manner doe they for three or foure dayes together, renew good cheere, their carowsing, and their dauncing.

And (as it commonly happens at such meetings) it being famed abroad that two wealthy persons were marryed, a number of poore and aged people swarmed about the gates of the Bride-house: But whether it were the couetousnesse of the Parents, the pride of the Bridegroome and Bride, or the neglect of Seruants, or whether it was Gods will to harden all their hearts, onely to shew some punishment on such as are vncharitable, to expresse his detestation of that sinne: or else whether hee suffered them to drowne themselues in Wine, Belly-cheere and Pleasures, of purpose to lay his iudgement vpon sensuall [Page] and luxurious Diues, whilst he suffered poore Lazarus to begge crummes at his Gate▪ yet to haue none: but sure it is, that commandement was giuen, that no meates which came from the Wedding-Table, should not onely not be giuen to the Beggars, but that rather they should be all beaten with cudgels from the gates, which was done accordingly. And so the Beggars being as vncharitable in their prayers, as the other were cold in their almes, went away with hungry Bellyes, but their mouthes full of curses, which they sp [...]tefully spit forth against the House, the Owners, the Bridegroome, Bride, Seruants, and Guests.

But their▪breath had no power to hurt them, it was God that was to take the quarrell in hand, not for any loue to such wicked and licentious idle Caterpillers, against whom he often hardens peoples hearts, to punish their abhominable liuing, but to reuenge himselfe vpon them, who in their fulnesse despise those poore members that begge bread in the Name of his Sonne Jesus Christ. Yet he strikes them not presently, because they should haue time giuen them to bethinke themselues, and to remember the needy. But the hearts of them all being frozen vp, and pitty not enduring in so colde and comfortlesse a lodging: [Page] Behold, all at their plenteous and Epicurean voluptuous tables, fall to drinking, swilling, and carowsing deepe healths, which swimme from lip to lip in oaths, in cursing and in quarrels: the Wine (ordayned by God for mans nourishment) washing the ground, the earth being made drunken with her owne fruits: and the delicate meates (whose scraps the hungry beggar would haue beene glad of) were throwne in sinfull meriment, in one anothers faces, and then spitefully trodden in mockery vnder their feete.

At this impiety the fire of Gods indignation being kindled, he made the earth to cleaue, and to swallow those that deuoured the blessings of it: her wombe opened like an insatiable Graue, and in the same were they (All) buryed aliue.

The terror of this strucke them halfe dead with astonishment that escaped the blow: yet afterwards euen they accounted them happy that were so taken away, when they felt the sharpnesse of those miseries which presently Heauen threw vpon them. For sodainely, the Day lost his light, the Sunne hid his head, as ashamed, or rather detesting to looke vpon such wretches: and in stead of his comfortable brightnesse, a melancholy, pitchie, glutinous, and stincking, misty darknesse couered [Page] all the place: fearefull to behold, and yet the more fearefull, because nothing could be seene. And this blacke Image of Hell and Night stood before them by the space of fiue dayes. At whose end (albeit no man thought that God would euer haue said once more, Let there be Light) yet the Light appeared: but how? Not to cheere vp their afflicted Spirits, but as it did to Adam, to discouer both their Sinne, their Shame, and a further Punishment. For the Day was onely showne to them to vexe them the more with sight of so deare a losse, and to make them know how powerfull he was that could take it from them.

And againe, to manifest that power, he strucke the Heauens blinde againe, and in stead of light to glad them, rayned downe showres of Fire mixed with Bloud. And then to shake the World with beliefe and feare, that her last and most dismall day was come, an Earthquake (no lesse dreadfull then the former) both increased their miseries▪ and ended them: for God (according to his diuine promise and property) being neuer angry long, was satisfied with this their punishment, and restored vnto them that which they were in despaire neuer to haue seene, that is to say, light and life.

Onely let not this be vnremembred, that [Page] as the Land felt the strength of his arme and trembled, so did the waters, for the storme of his wrath powred downe it selfe vpon the neighbouring Seas, so that many▪ Shippes were vtterly cast away, the Goods lost, and the People in them drowned: No Pilot in the World (how skilfull soeuer) being able to ouercome a Tempest, when Hee who once made all this World an Ocean, commaunds the Waues to execute his displeasure.

Of which Tragicall fury of the Billowes this is one memorable and notorious proofe, (to be lamented in more wordes then I set it downe in letters) that amongst those numbers of dead carkases which the Sea (as vnwilling to beare such vnnaturall and ignoble Burdens) paide backe againe vpon the Shoare, a dead Woman was one, about whose body were found tyed (as it seemed in the heat and height of the Tempest) seauen Children, she her selfe being great with the eight.

Thus haue you heard a true report of the Almighties Anger and his Mercy, his Power both by Sea and Land: let vs therefore (whose liues and possessions he might haue confiscated in his iust indignation, yet hath spared them) fall vpon our knees with thanks for his deliuerance, and bringing vs safe [Page] through this Red▪Sea of troubles, in which (if it had pleased him) we might with the rest haue beene for euer confounded. For our hearts (made so by our sinnes) are hardened, (not onely one against another, but against him) as much as theirs were, or euer Pharaohs was. Open the Closet of euery mans conscience, and you shall finde a Booke there, all blotted, and written full of impieties, blacker then the incke: yet so marble-breasted are we, that (like fooles going laughing to the stockes) we are insensible of our owne harmes.

The Vine (vntimely cut) weepes away her strength at the wound, but no misery that cuts vs (earely or late) can make vs weepe for our sinnes. Sinne and we are as inseparable as trechery is from the Soule of a Turke, or blackenes from the cheekes of an Ethiope. Wee feele the smarting paine of a slight blow, it angers vs: nay, the losse of a little bloud makes vs cry out, and almost starke mad for the feare of approaching death: but if our soules be buffeted, we laugh at it: if they be shattered in pieces, rent, and ruined, we stirre not at that: Her ill dayes we write downe in no Kalender, for we thinke there are not any can hurt her. Swallowes would not come within Thebes, because the wals were so often▪ besieged: but wretched man [Page] puts on wings to flye to those Cities, which are most shaken with vices. The more rotten the hart of this Worlds Kingdome is, by feeding on sweet and bewitching pleasures, the more we dote (like fond Louers) vpon it.

To set downe our sinnes, is as infinite a taske as to paint our thoughts: it is a chaine reaching downe as low beneath vs, as the glories of heauen are aboue vs. To set downe our sinnes at full, we had need to study a new Arithmeticke: to be as long-liude as the Hart when we sit to doe it: to turne the Sea into Incke when we write the Figures: to binde vp a Booke with as many Leaues as are rent by Autumne: and to haue the Sands of the Ocean for Compters, yet all these helpes are not able to cast vp the Summe. For we are still at difference with God, yet is he loath to fall out with vs: we owe him Millions, yet pay him not a Mite: He loues vs as the Apple of his Eye, yet we cast his loue at our feete: he sings sweet Notes of mercy in our Eares, and they make vs presume: he then shakes his Iron Mace of Justice at vs, and then wee despaire. So that his patience and our wickednesse, our prouocation and his tender-hartednesse, are no more tunable together then Lute-strings of a Wolfe and a Lambe, which neuer agree in Musicke.

[Page]If then the number of our bad deeds swels to a heape so great, how can wee at Gods hands but looke for as great, and as many punishments? If a debter owe vs money, we looke to haue all, we spare not him, we vexe him, we plucke out his throate for our owne: Why should not God (then) handle vs so? Yet he reckons seldome, and forgiues much: when he sees vs wasting the Talents he trusts vs with, and too too lauishly consuming them, then, then, we must be sure to pay for all.

Euery man hath by himselfe an accompt to make vp: euery Nation runnes in Arerages, yea, the World it selfe is behinde hand with his Lord and Maker. The Audit day is set downe in his euerlasting Reportary, (knowne to man that it must come, but knowne to the King of Heauen onely when it shall come:) for when eyther we (by our selues) personally, or any Nation particularly, or the world in generally is to be summoned to make his rest euen, lyes hid in a Booke which none can vnclaspe. All of vs therefore had neede to be in readines because the hower is vncertaine when he will call.

How vnspeakable then is the Mercy of our Sauiour? how indemensiue is his bounty? that our offences being as innumerable as the torments of hell, and our least deseruing them [Page] all, yet he whips vs but with silken rods, and giues vs fillops when he might dash vs in pieces? We are all his flocke, and all haue gone astray, yet he strikes but one to warne the rest. For the Diuell (like the Teumesian Foxe) ouer takes and teares all that he hunts, but he that saued the Prophet in the belly of the great Leuiathan of the sea, can and doth deliuer vs when we are held fast betweene his pawes.

O my deare Country of Germany, this is not the first warning that thou hast had from Heauen to amend thy wickednesse. Many a Trumpet haue the Angels from aboue sounded in thine Eare to awake thee: but seeing thou wilt not listen to the song of the Larke, thou art inforced to hearken to the hoarsnesse of the Screech-owle. Thou hast longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt, when thou feddest vpon Quailes and Manna: and that is the cause that thou art worthily afflicted, and compelled in stead of rich Wines, to drinke thine owne teares: and for thy full banquets, to eate the bread of thine owne, and thy childrens sorrow. Least therefore that this thy present calamity be but vnto thee as a fearefull dreame, and least thou shouldst write this fresh and bleeding misery in water, when it is most fit to be engrauen in leaues of Adamant, or rather printed in the palmes of thy hands to be euer in thine [Page] eyes, I intreate thee to looke backe vpon the woes which thou hast borne in ages past: Remember some sorrowes of thy younger dayes: though the wounds be closed vp, yet behold the scars, and in beholding them, weepe that thou shouldst so incense Heauen to strike, and yet reioyce that the punishment is so gentle. Amongst many therefore of the rods, with which thou hast beene beaten, I will onely shew thee three, and these are they.

In the yeare 1346. (vpon the Regall of S. Catharine) the Citie of Basill, being one of the noblest buildings in Germany, and for the brauery of it called Regnopoli (the Kingly Citie) was (as Munster is at this present) shaken with an Earth-quake: which was so violent, that by force thereof a great part of the Cathedrall Church (or Summum Templum) fell downe: and a magnificent Palace adioyning to that Temple drowned her loftiest Pynnacles in the Riuer Rhyne, vpon which that renowned City stands.

And againe in the yeare 1356. on the day of S. Luke, another Earth-quake did not onely shake and search the foundations of all Germany, but (for many times one after another) tossed the foresaid Citie of Basill, casting downe her Towers, Churches, Palaces, and Wals, and murdring in their ruines, aboue one hundred [Page] persons, and with the fall of stones and timber, striking infinite numbers lame. Yet the rage of it was not satisfied thus: for by the shaking in pieces of houses that had fires in them, a lamentable destruction fell vpon the whole Citie: insomuch (the flames being exceeding great, and not able any wayes to be quenched) men, women, and children stood afarre off, wringing their hands, to see their riches, their dowries, and patrimonies swallowed vp in flames, which burned day and night, and in their greedy and mercilesse fury consumed (besides the Citie of Basill) these places also: viz. Schouuenberg, Vuartenberg, Reichenstein, Angenstein, Berenfelss, Pleffingen, Scholberg, Froburg, and many others, as by a Letter sent to Sebastian Munster, (by Bonif: Amerbachius) is to be seene in his description of Germany.

The same Authour sets downe likewise, the sad remembrance of a misery which fell in August 1545. vpon Mechlyn in Brabant, where God thundred first so terribly on the buildings and the sinnes of the people, that Mechlyn shooke and trembled to her very foundations. That dreadfull voice of Thunder being quiet, a darknesse followed, with a most horrible stench of Brimstone, more terrifying the Inhabitants then the Thunder did. And that [Page] misery being likewise remoued from them, as bad or worse succeeded: for the Clouds opening their reuenging bosomes, threw downe such fearefull Lightning, that men expected when the whole frame of Heauen would haue melted. And (to increase that terror) the flashes brake into a Tower that was stored with eight hundred Barrels of Gun-powder, which taking fire, blew vp a great part of the Tower in a moment: Stones, Timber, and mens quarters flying vp into the Ayre, and many whole carkases found dead the next morning. No Church stood vndefaced, no house vnruined, no man but vndone by it.

At the same time three men sitting at Cards were strucke dead, whilst the woman that went into the Cellar to fetch them drinke escaped aliue: yet dismayed no doubt, but not so much terrified as he was, who in the heate of those diuine punishments, fled and hid himselfe in a caue by the space of three dayes: from whence being driuen out by Famine (for no force else could haue made him aduenture to the light) he with faint voyce, and trembling ioynts asked aloud, If the world stood still or not. Thus Munster.

And thus farre hauing led thee backe to looke vpon thy ancient ruines, I wish thee the full fruit of all those Prayers, which the [Page] Country round about, (terrified by thy miseries, and pittying them) doe daily poure out in their Churches, commanded thereunto by their Rulers. And with their Prayers doe I mingle mine, that it would please God to deliuer not onely this our Country from his heauie punishments laid vpon it for the sinnes of the people in it: but also that he would call home those angry messengers of his wrath, whose stormy rage hath afflicted England, France, and other neighbouring Nations, to the vndoing of thousands, in their goods, and leauing many Widowes and fatherlesse children, by losse of their husbands liues.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London.

Edition statement

1612

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A07913

ID [STC]

STC 18285

ID [STC]

ESTC S103115

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99838872

ID [PROQUEST]

99838872

ID [VID]

3262

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07913)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3262)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1211:11)

Source

— A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London., Demetrius, Charles..

Extent

[28] p.

[By T. Snodham] at the signe of the White gray-hound,. Printed at Rotterdame in Holland [i.e. London] :: [1612?]. (Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B-D⁴(-D4).) (Actual place of publication and printer's name from STC; Publication date conjectered by STC.) (With woodcut title vignette.) (Running title reads: Feareful newes, from Munster in Germany.) (An English translation, by Charles Demetrius, from the Dutch original.) (Title page cropped at foot.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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