A vvonderfull vvonder,
Being a most strange and true relation of the resolute life, and miserable death of Thomas Miles, who did forsweare himselfe, and wished that God might shew some heavie example upon him, and so it came to passe for as hee sate at his Meate hee choked himselfe, and died in short space after, which hapned the 8. of August last, 1635. and being ript up by the Chirurgions of S. Bartholomewes Hospitall, was found to have a gub of meate sticking fast in his throate, which was the cause of his death. Written to warne all rash Swearers to forsake their evill wayes, which God grant we may.
To the tune of, Aime not too high, &c.
LOoke downe O Lord upon this sinfull Land,
Guyde, and defend us with thy mighty hand,
Against the fiery Darts of Satans power,
Which seekes our Soules and Bodies to devoure.
This World is full of envy and debate,
Neighbour to neighbour beares a deadly hate:
Brother 'gainst Sister, friend against each friend,
Which shewes the World is very neare an end.
Vile blasphemie is us'd against the Lord,
By old and young at every trifling word:
Some in their angry moode will Curse & Sweare,
As if they would their God in pieces teare.
But let them know that doe the Lord provoke
By cursed oathes, on them to strike the stroke:
Know that all though he suffers them a space,
He will at last confound their wicked race.
As for example▪ here I meane to tell
A strange relation which of late befell,
Of one a forsworne wretch as is well knowne,
On whom the Lord a wonder great hath showne.
This wretched man of whom these lines are pend,
Deni'd a truth, a bad cause to defend:
And rashly wish'd in place whereas he stood,
That he might never eate meate to doe him good.
Now marke Gods Iudgements how they strangly fell,
A short time after, griefe it is to tell:
Hée with some others more to Dinner went,
To give their hungry stomackes some content.
But as they sate at Table with their meate,
Having made bargaine for't they fell to eate:
This forsworne wretch Tom Miles call'd by name,
Fed very greedily upon the same.
And thrusting in a bit that would not passe
Quite downe his throate, his lucklesse hap it was
To choke himselfe, the very truth was so,
While all the rest behel'd him with great woe.
Vnto a Surgent then he ranne with spéede,
Desiring him to helpe him in his néede:
But all in vaine, no helpe for him could be.
His breath was stopt, and he dy'd presently.
The second part,
To the same tune.
ANd being dead the Surgeons tooke in hand,
To rip him up, that they might understand
The truth and reason how he lost his breath,
And how he came by his untimely death.
Which having done they found with woe at last,
The gub of meate sticke in his throate so fast,
Which was the cause of this his lives decay,
Because it could not thence be put away.
Within the Hospitall his corpes doth lye,
Men of good credit can it testifie,
His body buried was without controule,
But God grant mercy to his soule.
Let this example warne us to amend,
That we by oathes may not our God offend:
O let each Man and Woman now refraine
From taking of Gods holy name in vaine.
He that delights in Oathes and Curses vild,
And hath therewith his spotted Soule defild:
May now bewaile the time that he was borne,
Sinne is the cause that makes a Land to mourne.
Hie time it is for us to watch and pray
Vpon our bended knées both night and day,
Vnto our God, that he will mercie take
On us poore soules for Iesus Christ his sake.
For surely this we well may understand
The Lord is angry with this sinfull Land:
His judgements hath so many wayes bin showne
Throughout our coasts as is to many known.
What visions in the Ayre, and fearefull sights
Have bin of late which wonder may affrights,
Thunder, and Lightnings, to procure our feares,
Enough to make each flintie heart shed teares.
All those are signes to warne us to repent,
Which God as messengers hath to us sent
For to reclaime us from our former sinne,
Which we so long have slept and wallowed in.
But to conclude, swéet Iesus give us grace,
That we on earth may runne a godly race:
That when by death our life is taken away,
We may through thée eternall life enjoy.
L. P.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Iohn Wright junior, dwelling at the upper end of the Old Baily.