The forme and shape of a Monstrous Child / borne
at Maydstone in Kent, the .xxiiii. of October. 1568.
As ye this shape abhorre
In body for to have:
So flee such Vices farre
As might the soule deprave
In Gods power
all flesh stands,
As the clay in the
Potters hands.
To fashion even
as he wyll,
In good shape
or in yll
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AT Maydstone in Kent there was one Marget Mere, Daughter to Richard Mere of the sayd
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Towne of Maydstone, who being unmaryed, played the naughty packe, and was gotten with
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childe, being delivered of the same childe the .xxiiii. daye of October last past, in the yeare of our
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Lord, 1568. at .vii. of the clocke in the afternoone of the same day being Sonday. Which child
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being a man child, had first the mouth slitted on the right side like a Libardes mouth, terrible to beholde,
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the left arme lying upon the brest, fast therto joyned, having as it were stumps on the handes, the left leg
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growing upward toward the head, and the ryght leg bending toward the left leg, the foote therof grow-
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ing into the buttocke of the sayd left leg. In the middest of the backe there was a broade lump of flesh in
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fashion lyke a Rose, in the myddest whereof was a hole, which voyded like an Issue. Thys sayd Childe
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was borne alyve, and lyved .xxiiii. houres, and then departed this lyfe. Which may be a terrour as well to
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all such workers of filthynes & iniquity, as to those ungodly livers. Who (if in them any feare of God be)
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may moove them to repentance and amendement of lyfe, which God for Christes sake graunt both to
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them and us. Amen. Witnesses hereof were these, William Plomer, John Squier Glasier, John
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Sadler Goldsmith, besides divers other credible persons both men and women.
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THis monstrous shape to thee England
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Playn shewes thy monstrous vice.
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If thou ech part wylt understand,
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And take thereby advice.
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For waying first the gaspyng mouth,
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It doth full well declare:
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What ravine and oppression both
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Is used wyth greedy care.
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For, for the backe, and gorging paunch,
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To lyve in wealth and ease:
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Such toylmen take that none may staunch
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Their greedy minde, nor please.
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For in such sort, their mouthes they infect,
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With lying othes, and slaightes:
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Blaspheming God, and Prince reject,
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As they were brutish beastes.
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Their filthy talke, and poysoned speech,
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Disfigures so the mouth:
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That som wold think ther stood the breech
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Such filth it breatheth forth.
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The hands which have no fingers right
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But stumps fit for no use:
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Doth well set forth the idle plight,
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Which we in these daies chuse.
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For rich and poore, for age and youth,
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Eche one would labour flye:
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Few seekes to do the deedes of truth,
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To helpe others thereby.
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The leg so clyming to the head,
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What meaneth it but this?
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That some do seeke not to be lead,
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But for to leade amis.
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And as this makes it most monstrous,
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For Foote to clyme to head:
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So those Subjects be most vicious,
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That refuse to be lead.
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The hinder part doth shew us playne,
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Our close and hidden vice,
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Which doth behind us run amayne,
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In vyle and shameful wyse.
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Wherefore to ech in England now,
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Let this Monster them teach:
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To mend the monstrous life they show,
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Least endles death them reach.
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