after the matter fell not out to his purpose, and being returned to Walker's House, he rebuked Arthington's over-much forwardness, for calling him there (openly before others) the King of the Earth, and excused this in him, by his great Zeal. That he flily avoided the questions which the Minister of that Parifh did ask him, touching those things which Arthington attributed unto him. That he used at his Examinations many crafty Evafions, when any queftion of capital danger to him was asked. That he constantly at all his Examinations perfifted in denying, and faid he did not remember that Action which feemed moft odiously Traiterous touching the piercing that part of the Picture which reprefented her Majefty's Royal Heart. That he denied alfo to have fent them to publish as they did. That he did anfwer fo doggedly and (in truth) knavishly, to the queftion of defacing the Lion and Dragon in her Majesty's Arms. That to a queftion (of moft importance) whether her Majesty were lawful Queen of England? he refused to anfwer. That he fubtilly anfwered (albeit not to the Lawfulness of her being Queen) yet fhe was (in fact) Queen as yet, if he had not forfeited it. That when he was tortured, he revoked his Treafons, and forrowfully fubmitted himself; a course which by the extremity of Pain (at the firft affaying of it) doth drive a man (being indeed mad) into a far greater rage and impatience than he was afore. That till he

was

was tortured, he would not appeach any other his Complices in the Treafons. That being not willing to plead directly to his fecond Indictment, hedrave off the time with cunning Answers, indeed importing nothing less than madness. That being in good Temper, and (as feemed) well difpofed in mind both the Night before, and the Wednefday morning, until he faw no remedy, but that he was prefently to be executed, he burst not forth into his horrible Blafphemies. And that at the very Execution, in his greateft impatience pretended, (albeit his Speeches were moft villanous againft the Queen, and blafphemous towards God) yet he underftood what was faid and done; his Words had Sense, and his Prayer was coherent together, one part with another. None of all which things premifed, can happen or be found in him that is indeed furious and diftracted of his Wits; fuch as the Laws not only do pity, but also spare and protect from all Punishment.

7

If any man now fhall marvel how fuch vain and foolish Conceits could fo deeply poffefs men of any confideration, let him remember what Luther writ against certain like Phanatical Perfons, the Anabaptifts in Germany; who pretended like Purity and intended alfo a dangerous Reformation: There is (faith he) none Error fo abfurd, but (when God's Wrath is once kindled) the Devil is able to perfuade it.

、

But

4.

Luther calls this Sedition a Stratagem of

Satan.

burdened of paying any Tithes_to_Ecclefiaftical Perfons, but only Corn. And a Fourth, That they might also prefcribe how thefe Tithes Should be better employed. Luther in an Anfwer that he made to that Book of theirs, faith, he conceived that this Sedition was a very Stratagem of Satan; to the intent that the Devil might deftroy and kill him, and other true and found Preachers of the Gospel, by men making outward fhew and profeffion of the fame Religion, becaufe he saw he could not effect it, nor fo far prévail by open Adverfaries, such as the Pope was and his Adherents. For thefe Rebels called thenfelves a Chriftian Congregation, and bragged much that they would (in all their actions) follow the precife Rule of God's Word. pretend to fol And whereas (under the pretence of detelow the precife ftation of fin, and of theirown great finceRule of God's rity and good lives) thefe Traiterous Rebels noted many Faults in all other forts and ftates of men, and protefted alfo great Loyalty and Fidelity to the Perfons of their Princes, fo they might but have things amifs Luther minds reformed; he freely and truly putteth them them of their in mind, That whiles they pried thus narPride and Hy-rowly into other mens faults, the Devil had pocrify.

They call them

felves a Chriftian Congre gation, and

Word.

fo blinded them (through Pride and Hypocrify) that they could not fee their own deteftable Treafons, with other their Sins and Impieties: Adding alfo, That fuch as wrest away or abate Princes Swords and Jurifdictions, will (upon any fit opportunity offered) no doubt take away their Lives also;

which is chiefly maintained by their Sovereign Jurifdiction, and by Power of the Sword.

Amongst others, Carolaftadius a Preacher, Carolaftadius profeffing the Gofpel, but fallen into difcon one of their tentments and emulous oppofitions against Encouragers. Luther, gave no fmall advancement to this fearful Commotion. This man attributed much to Cabinet Teachers in private Conventicles, and unto Vifions, and pretended Conferences with God. But of all other Preachers that pretended Enmity both to

He exhorts

the Pope and unto Luther, one Thomas Mun- Muncer the cer was the hottest and chiefeft Boutifeu and hottest and Bellows of this Sedition. At first he urged chiefeft Leader! and exhorted men (in his teaching by a good them to great fpace together) and that with great vehe- ftrictness of mency, unto a fingular, ftrait, precife, and Life. holy courfe of life; namely, to fly all, even the leaft fhew of actual fin; to faft much, to array themselves with mean and base Rayment, to retain a fettled Aufterity in Countenance, to fpeak feldom, and fuch like; which he called the bearing of the Cross, Mortification, and Difcipline. Now when as hereby he had procured unto himself a great Opinion of Holinefs, and Reputation with the common People, he proceeded further unto ftrange and very dangerous Opi- dangerous OpiHe broacbeth nions: For then he began to teach men, in ions. their Prayers to ask a Sign of God, Whe- Teacheth men ther they held the Truth in Religion, or not? to pray for That if he gave not a Sign, they might im- Signs, and en pect Visions portune him, and expoftulate with him, that from God.

he dealt not well with them in not giving a Sign to them who in this fort) begged but true knowledge of him; faying, that to fhew fuch Anger in Prayer, was acceptable unto God, for that hereby men did fhew their fervency in Zeal. He taught also, that God (even in thefe days) did reveal his Will by Dreams and Visions: That all Judgments civil muft be by the Bible, or Revelation from God: That all in dignity must be Rails at Prin- equal. He railed against Princes, and impu

ces,

They enter into Leagues to root out wicked Magiftrates.

ted many faults unto them, and namely this, That they fuffered the Ecclefiaftical State with great Impiety. This Opinion of Equality of Authority and Dignity, made the common people fall from their Work, and beginning to gad idly up and down, they took away (by violence) fuch things as they had need of, from thofe that were more wealthy.

Muncer (in this fort) winning many unto him, they entred from time to time into fecret Leagues together, upon mutual Oaths given, to help to root out and kill all wicked Magiftrates, to the intent new that were more godly, might be fet in their places; for fo. (he faid) God had given in commandment unto him. According to which Plots (by a Tumult of the People) at Mulbufin, he procured the old Officer to be depofed, and a new Magiftrate to be set up in his place, and himself to be chosen a Senator of that City,albeit he was still a Preachher, and feemed to miflike this courfe in other સ્કુલ ન

men