A new Ballad intituled, A Bell-man for England, which night and day doth sta.
ring in all mens hearing, Gods vengeance is at hand. To the tune of, O man in desperation.
|
A Wake, awake, oh England,
|
sweet England now awake,
|
And to thy prayers speedily,
|
doe thou thy selfe betake:
|
The Lord thy God is comming,
|
within the skie so cleare:
|
Repent with speed thy wickednesse,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The dreadfull day of vengeance
|
is shortly now at hand,
|
When fearefull burning fire
|
shall waste both Sea and Land:
|
And all mens hearts shall faile them
|
to see such things appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The worldly wise and prudent
|
shall fall besides their wits,
|
And wish the hils to cover them,
|
in these their franticke fits:
|
No succour, helpe, nor comfort,
|
for them shall then appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The Seas and Rivers running,
|
shall roare in grievous wise,
|
The beasts in pasture feeding,
|
shall straine forth grievous cryes:
|
The skies shall fume with fire,
|
the earth shall burne so cleere:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The glorious holy Angels
|
shall then their Trumpets sound,
|
The dead shall heare their voyces,
|
as they lye in the ground:
|
Then all the graves shall open,
|
and dead men shall appeare
|
Before the Lord in judgement,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The Devill will then be ready,
|
each creature to accuse,
|
And shew how in their life time,
|
they did themselves abuse:
|
And every mans owne conscience,
|
for witnesse shall appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
The workes of every creature;
|
their thoughts and deeds, I say,
|
Shall follow them together,
|
in that most dreadfull day:
|
And no respect of persons,
|
shall at that time appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
But such as have done justly,
|
shall weare the Crowne of life,
|
The wicked shall be damned
|
to sorrow, paine, and griefe,
|
In boyling brands of brimstone,
|
with dolefull heavy cheare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
But woe unto the women,
|
that then with child shall goe,
|
And to the silly nurses,
|
which doe give sucke also:
|
When as the day of judgement
|
so grievous shall appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
And pray with hearts most constant,
|
unto the Lord of might,
|
That in the frozen Winter,
|
you doe not take your flight:
|
Nor that upon the Sabbath
|
that perill doe appeare:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
Let all good Christian people
|
repent therefore in time,
|
And from their hearts lamenting
|
each former grievous crime,
|
Prepare themselves with gladnesse
|
to match when Christ shall come;
|
The Trumpe shall sound on sudden,
|
and no man knowes how soone.
|
For all things be fulfilled,
|
which Christ before had told,
|
Small faith is now remaining,
|
and charity is growne cold:
|
Great signes and wonders we have seene
|
both in the earth and skie:
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the Judgement day is nie.
|
Why doest thou put thy confidence
|
in strong and stately towres?
|
Why takest thou such pleasure,
|
in building sumptuous bowres,
|
Rejoycing in thy Pastures,
|
and Parkes of fallow Deere?
|
Repent therefore oh England,
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
Why seekest thou deceitfully
|
to purchase treasure great?
|
And why dost thou, through usury
|
the blood of poore men eate?
|
Why doth thy life and living,
|
so filthily appeare?
|
Repent with speed thy wickednesse:
|
the day it draweth neere.
|
Wherefore let all good people
|
upon their knees proceed,
|
In making earnest prayer:
|
(for never was more need)
|
That God may spare these punishments
|
even for his mercy meere,
|
And give us grace to beare in mind
|
the Judgement-day is neere.
|
|
|
|
|
|