The Shape of ,ii, Monsters. M.D.Lxii
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THis present yere of oure Lord God a thousande five hundred thre score and
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two, one Marke Finkle a Joiner dwelling beside Charing crosse by West-
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minster had a Sow that brought forth one Pigge onely, upon the seventh
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of Maye beinge Ascention daye, the whiche Pigge had a head muche lyke
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unto a Dolphines head with the left eare standing up forked like as ye see
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in this picture above, and the right eare being like as it were halfe a litle leafe being
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devided in the middes sharpe toward thend lying downward flat to the head without
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any holes into the headward. The two forefeet, like unto handes, eche hande havinge
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thre long fingers and a thumbe, bothe the thumbes growinge on the outsides of the
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handes, the hinder legges growing very much backwarde otherwise then the common
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natural forme hath ben seen, beeing of no good shape, but smaller from the body to the
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middle Joint then they be from the same Joint toward the foot. And the taile grow-
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ing an Inche neare unto the back then it doth of any that is of right shape.
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These straunge sights, the Allmighty God sendeth unto us that we should not be for-
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getfull of his mighty power: nor unthankful for his so great mercies. The which hee
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sheweth specially by geving unto us his holy word wherby our lives ought to be guided
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and also his wonderful tokens wherby we are most gentilly warned.
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But if we will not be warned, neither by his word, nor yet by his wonderful workes:
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then let us be assured that these straunge monstruous sightes doe premonstrate unto
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us that his heavy indignacion wyl shortly come upon us for our monstruous lyvinge.
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Wherefore let us earnestly pray unto God that he wyl geve us grace earnestly to repent
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our wickednes, faithfully to beleve his word: and sincerely to frame our lives after the
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doctrine of the same.
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An Admonition unto the Reader:
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LEt us knowe by these ugly sights,
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and eke consider well:
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That our God is the Lord of mights,
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who rules both heaven and hell.
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By whose strong hand these monsters here,
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were formed as ye see:
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That it mighte to the world appere,
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almightie him to bee.
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Who might also us men have formde,
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after a straunge devise:
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As by the Childe of late deformde,
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appeareth in plaine wise.
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what might these monsters to us teache?
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which now are sent so rife:
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But that we have Goddes wurd well preacht,
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and will not mend our life.
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At which straunge sightes we mervel muche,
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when that we doe them see:
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Yet can there not be found one suche,
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that so will warned bee.
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And loke what great deformitie,
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In bodies ye beholde:
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Much more is in our mindes truly,
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an hundreth thousand folde.
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So that we have great cause indeede,
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Our sinnes for to confesse:
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And eke to call to God with speede,
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The same for to redresse.
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Which if we wyl not fayle to doo,
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and purely to repent:
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He wyl no doubt, us comfort so,
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as shal our soules contente.
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Now sith our God so loving is,
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and ready to forgeve:
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Why doe we not abhorre all vice,
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and only to him cleave.
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Sith he also his hande can shake,
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And sone destroy us all,
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Why doe we not then feare and quake,
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And downe before him fall.
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Why doe we not amend I saye,
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Either for love or feare:
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why drive we of from day to daye;
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And sinning not forbeare.
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Good lawes of late renewde wee see,
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Much sinne for to suppresse:
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God graunt that they fulfilde maye bee,
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To overthrow excesse.
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O Lord graunt us also thy grace,
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That by repentance pure:
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In heaven to have a dwelling place;
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Forever to endure.
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in the Pultry by John Alde
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