The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and ProgressJackson, Mason
History
The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and Progress
Jackson, Mason
Illustration of books; Newspapers -- Illustrations
A curious black-letter tract of 1616, which is illustrated with a
fearful apparition of three skeletons, is entitled, '_Miraculous Newes
from the cittie of Holdt, in the Lordship of Munster (in Germany), the
twentieth of September last past 1616, wherein there were plainly beheld
three dead bodyes rise out of their Graves, admonishing the people of
Judgements to come_.' The truth of this miraculous news is vouched for
by 'divers worthy Persons and Burgimasters of the same citty,' whose
names are given. This miraculous appearance was preceded by a fearful
tempest of thunder and lightning. 'When this great tempest of thunder
and lightning was ceased, there was heard throughout all the parts and
places of the citty a most hideous and dolefull clamour or outcry,
striking terror into all the people, yet no man could perceive whence it
came, or where this clamour should bee. The people came over all the
citty after the noise, but could not finde it; for when they were at one
corner of the citty they then heard it at another; and when they were
come to that other corner there it seemed to them to be in the middle of
the citty; and to them that were in the middest it seemed farther off.
So that all heard it, but none could find where it was, or from whence
it came.
'At length the people assembling in the churchyard behelde there so
strange and incredible judgements sent by the Lord, that for the most
part the beholders fell flatt on their faces to the ground, crying loude
unto the Lord for mercy. For there they beheld coming out of their
graves three most ghostly and fearfull dead bodyes.
1.
'Whereof the first that was seen to arise out of the earth, seemed very
white, cleane, and cleere, who opening his mouth and beating his handes
together spake thus: "Blessed be God in the highest Heaven, that our
releasement is come, for we have wayted many a hundred yeare for this
time." The people hearing this fell upon their knees and prayed unto the
Lord with weeping and great lamentation, saying: O Lord beholde us with
thy merciful eyes, and let us not be overwhelmed or smothered in our
sinnes.
2.
'The second dead man that arose out of the earth caused farre greater
feare and trembling then the former, for the beholders saw him
altogether from the toppe to the toe, like unto a burning fire; he
likewise opened his mouth, and wringing his handes, and tearing his
haire, cryed with a loude voyce: Repent yee, Repent yee; Almighty God
hath taken his chastising rodde in hand, to punish the people for their
sinnes, for their great wealth, for their great talke or presumptious
wordes, for their pompe, and for their pride: The which the Lord will no
longer suffer nor endure, for the cry and complaint of these sinnes is
asended up into his eares; Wherefore hee will destroy you with a
suddaine sicknesse, and fiery Pestilence, so that you shall not have so
much time as one houre, to utter one worde, to call upon God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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