STRANGE and DREADFUL
News from Holland;
OR,
The Sad and Lamentable Account of a Fearful STORM ,
that continued for the space of two Days, by which the Seas were inraged to
that degree, that overflowing the Dykes, they broke the Banks, and layed all
the Country of 20 miles, under Water, to the ruine of many hundred Familys;
Drowning divers Islands in the River Elbe ; together with the villages of Batten-
Rug and Groverot: As likewise, many Houses, Stacks of corn, Trees, People,
and a great number of Cattle; overthrowing the Chimneys and the tops of the
Houses, the like never heard of before.
Tune of, Russels Farewel. This may be Printed, R.P.
HAMBURG .
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G Ive ear good people, whilst I tell
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a Story sad to hear,
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How late the Raging Seas did swell,
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as I shall make appear:
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To such a heighth, as breaking Bound,
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it fearfully did Rage,
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and all before it did confound,
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no force could it asswage.
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Driven by Storms o're Villages,
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o're Woods and Banks it roul'd,
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There's none cou'd stand before those Seas
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that wou'd not be controul'd;
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The flying People e'ry where,
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their Houses did forsake,
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And though they swifter were through fear,
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the floods them overtake.
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And wrapt them in their watery Tomb,
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in vain they strove to climb,
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The Trees with them the waves Entomb,
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and Drown them e're their time;
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The Cattle strugle 'gainst the Stream,
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by hundreds, but in vain,
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For why the Waves soon smothered them,
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and drove them back again.
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Here Houses float, their Stacks of Corn,
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the furious Torent drove,
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Which Villages did overturn,
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and roated up each Grove;
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The stubborn Oak was forc'd to yield,
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to furious Winds and Floods,
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Which hurry'd o're the watery Field,
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the People and their Goods.
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Their Banks & Dykes were broken down
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and where the Cattle fed,
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Salt water did inall parts Drown,
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and far and wide it spread;
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In Elbes River Isles were lost,
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by the insulting Waves,
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The Houses overturn'd and tost,
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the people found their Graves.
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The angry Skies and Seas contend,
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which shou'd their ruine prove,
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Nor could the Hills their lives defend,
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so furious did they move;
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The scatter'd Houses not to name,
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of Peasants , be it known,
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A pleasant town of antient Fame,
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and many more o'rethrown.
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Fair Stadens Territory lies
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beneath the watery Brine,
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Nor could that ruine yet suffice,
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but Waves do undermine
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The mighty Fortresses, and swell'd,
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o're all the Neighbouring Plain;
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That which the Country people held,
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possest is by the Main.
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Where Cattle Graz'd, the Fish now play,
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so dreadful was the Flood,
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That ne'r the like in any day,
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has yet been understood;
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Nor was the Trading Hamburg free,
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the fearul Winds o'rethrew,
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The Chimneys that few safe cou'd be,
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and Houses tops off blew.
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In Ware-houses the Merchandize
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were by the water spoil'd,
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In vain 'gainst it they did devise,
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untill the Flood recoil'd;
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Such fury it continued long,
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it lay'd the Country waste,
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And overwelm'd the flying throng,
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that from its rage made haste.
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By which we plain may see that God,
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which sets the Sea a Bound,
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Commands the Billows with a Nod,
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or else they all wou'd Drown;
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Merciless waves would all destroy,
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and Deluge us once more,
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Then let us praise him, who enjoy
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our Safety on the Shore.
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