CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 
 Arthur H. and 
 Mary Marden Dean 
 
 Book Fund 
 
Cornell University Library 
 
 BX 4930.B84 1668a 
 
 The rise, spring and foundation of the A 
 
 3 1924 009 422 423 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924009422423 
 
THE 
 
 IRISE. SPRING 
 
 AND 
 
 1 FOUNPATION i 
 
 M O F T HE 
 
 3 Anabaptifts, 
 
 ^ Or Re-baptized of our Time, p 
 
 Written in Frencbhy (juy de 'Brei^, 15^5. 
 
 Mini(ter of the Word, 4»i M A R T Y R. 
 And Trflttfljttc<l for the ufc of his Countrymen, by ^.S. • 
 
 Ecclef. 1.9. 
 
 \»\)kh jbaU be dont : and tbtn ii u new thhf, nndcr th: Sm. 
 
 C AMBRIDGE: 
 '^ "Printed, and to be Sold by >W4r»4</«^f/o/;»/o». i668r 
 
To ttic Reader. 
 
 S the rti'iving efthu Rott pf Siiterne/i in the 
 Siuaker^ after its htiHf Jtid ibove an hiniJrid 
 years, cMnjed the Trat>jfjii0>t and fir fl Jmfrefitm 
 ' efthu jmtdl Book mtdtr another JitU; ft the 
 ffroHtin^Jorthef its fruits ofgtU and Wfirmrvocd, and the 
 ijfutngs from this ccrrnft fountain of thefe fiream vhifh 
 make fad ihe City cf God, hive occafioned its fecMd Jm- 
 j>re/ton, under tht Name and Title put ufon it by its Author 
 GuydcBicz: wAo/rr praifein the Churches hy hitlabe- 
 rioHs plantings and faithful watering of them by hit blood, 
 it largely fetfrrtbin the famone Botk/f Martyrs, the third 
 Volume, f» the Continuauon of thcHiftory by Dr. Ed- 
 ward Culkly, pag. 37,38h»»4'»43' ifbere he it defcribed 
 to he net onelj an eminent Witnefs of Chrifis Truth nntotJk 
 death J but his Labours^ Prayers and Sufferings are tRert rt- 
 corded te pofierity •, hit rejoycing in Cedy m^ben hands and 
 feet were f> laden with Iron Chains, m thf^ tat through hit 
 flefh to the very bones -, hit glorying in their ratlings nmt 
 then if they had been Chains of Cold ^ hit pUntff of Cod, 
 when f\)ut up in the Dungeon, which for its darknafi <mai 
 C4//f(/ Brunain, where he had no more air but at one tittle 
 hole, where drunkards venttd their urine ; even then hit 
 heart leaped for joy, provokiftg hit wife to comfort^ in that 
 God had not ontly given her a Husband who was a Minifter 
 of Chrifis Cofpel, but to be honoured with Martyrdomt; A 
 Djgnity {fatd he) which the Angels of Heaven are not 
 
 A a capable 
 
To the Reader. 
 capibleoR Ail whith declare him a mere thencrdindry 
 MtntfCtdy and bttp worthy $f credence thfe KeUtitns by 
 him held forth are. There atfo it tnemionmade oftbit Steh^ 
 he being engaged in an holy Conflidk {ai the Author calUtb 
 it) againft the peftilent Se^ of the Anabaptifts, whid) 
 as Cockle mingle themfclves among the good Corn. 
 
 T*«rTrannation«f <i )J»i// fartoftheBookj, the rtfi is 
 Dtffrinal, and a [olid Convillioa of their Tentnts : which 
 prhofiever fhall intelligently readt, tnd compare hit Ee>i- 
 fint with thofe of our Worthies in thefeonr dayes, he will 
 fndethat M Satan is the old Serpent, /fl Chrift Jcfus is 
 the fame yefterday, and to day, and for ever. A three- 
 fold Charalfer be giveth of them in hit Efifile to hit Boek^ : 
 I . That they multiplied quotations of Scripture again fi their 
 true fenfe and meaning, to gain applaufe of the weak, and 
 nnftable, 2. That they gloried in their fpeciont Holinefs 
 efConverfation. 3. 7 hat they frfftffed their readinefs to 
 fuffer unto death. Of thefe he warntih Chri/ls Flock, fi't- 
 ttred in Flanders, Brabant, &c. being hit own Country, 
 jfbj any thing the faithful then might be preferved from 
 the fcandal which hereby itcaft upon the Gofpel, and that 
 they might be provol^d to a more afeifionate inquiry, and 
 cordiai cUfingwith the truth of Faith, and order of the 
 Gofpel; which as then wnf his, fo nowis theweai^defire of 
 him»^*f _ ^ 
 
 Thine in Chriftian duty. 
 
 THE 
 
( I ) 
 
 7 be %ife. Spring and Foundation 
 
 o r T H E 
 
 ANABAPTISTS. 
 
 ^N the year 1521 and the year infuing, there aroTea 
 certain number of mutinous and fMicious perfons, 
 who fccrctlv made FaAions : they chiefly dwelt in the 
 quarters ot Sax$Hi, which bordered upon the River 
 ^ Salah i among whom their chief was JfichtUs Snrk. 
 They dreamed dreams, and faid, That tiiey fpake familiarly NicUoiw'* 
 with God by Vifions, they preached their dreams for truths '''"'^''''"'' *>* 
 and Divine Oracles -, and becaufe tliat there ftould come a new ^fc"?S% 
 irorU, VFheretH (kould dwell right coufnefs : Therefore they ought Artims, 
 to extcrminateall the wicked, with all the Princes , and unoe- , . 
 lievingMagiftrates, from off the earth Cthey called; jiUthofcJfX 
 wff^r/iM'fr/ which were not of their Scft and FadiorkJ From 
 out of this School came Zib«fMM yi/«M«fr, Dr. fo/ri^«4r H/vi^- 
 morty Milehier Rink^^ John Hutt, John Dtutcr^ Lodovikf Htt- 
 «;r,&c.All thefe boafted that they familiarly conferred with the 
 Lord. In their teachings, they with heat of affeAion did de- 
 fame and detrad from the Miniders of the Gofpel : aftenvard and M/iJtru 
 with the like violence fell upon the Magidrate, thinking that if 
 they could make void thefe two Orders unto the Church, the 
 wolves might fafely fall upon and difmember the Flocks-where- 
 fore thefe wolves, 1 i. e. ) thefe falfc Teachers, have alwayes 
 principally fctthemfclvesagainft the Minifters of the Church, 
 and the Magidratcs, to fee if they could drive chem out from 
 
 A } the 
 
-1- The Rife^ Spring *nd Ftu»d4tio0 
 
 II tlicFlock.oratleaft difguft fome of the flieep againft ihdr 
 Puftors -, that iia hanging them front <hcm > tbey flugbc 
 uniotbem. 
 Tfvif Dhlrint ThetrDoArme-faildertlyfpcetdthriOBghBacaJlAeCouBtry, 
 frruis, and in a little fpace they gathered much people afcer them, and 
 Xet mhe Rebaptized many thouiands •, infomuch as many Cmple people 
 tb».ifMdi. were led by a zeal without knowledge, being by their fair ap- 
 pearance infnared. They tyed rfienifcl ves unto tlie only fimplc 
 '**■* V-r I and naked Letter of the Scnpture, without regard to the fence 
 UnJt^'/i'itUiKrcof', they carried it very fairly before al men: for they 
 hir prciKCit. had alwayes in tndr moutbs,the lave, fiii/ifr,and the fan- of God, 
 
 garnifh wherewith c that they might be of value to the fimple) 
 tliey painted and adorned theinfelves : but inafmuch as nich 
 colours werefaMe, they hfted not long, but they foon btpa 
 to fade, and iviihouc firaud to appear mux they were. 
 
 ThomduAhmtwr C^»f whom we formei^ly fpake ) faid,niutf 
 M.wzeri ^^i^^j^UitfimedmMfijirfiljfiyiMmNmiftJi w*/, Jf/w- 
 Jir/fSitfJfhtmtn^ainfi the Name tf Ged : that he muji ^la/Uft 
 imdm4eerdteJtitUi^^fiifiingtMidm*n npfuni; ihtt ht mufi 
 hMfurthanMifltre vtfagtjfeakjittle, &c. he called thefc things 
 i^Croft^xhtMtrt^timtf th Flcjh, and Difci^inc after 
 that 4ie liad fo fdhioned his people, hcfaid. That thif mitfi 
 WuhdrMPrfrtmthtiineltt»/de,aiidtoHverfMHtn tf -mm ; and^ttm 
 n thikk nWM Gnl, Vrht he it, aud whether he hath tare of ttt ; "^he- 
 
 ttiuktJirnfrvmGvd^toie tffitred Xphether he hmh curt of w, 
 ntii-wlieiher we wwnedthe true Metigim : if infiMtly he gave mt rf 
 fign,fhatwet0^ttoperJifi imd fiirfite h frujers, ye*., lively to 
 tomfUi»«f iim^nt tf ontthttdtthmtwrting j ferfeeingiheScrir 
 ftntefrtmfet that Godwin frmn what hi it Mtkfd for, he -doti 
 not ttellin not giving MJtgn to themm who dtfireth hii hfuwledge. 
 Ke'bidf'ViinthitMgertindrefroMhwnt very fien^rnnto God, 
 ^eeM^eihmhttherityfittnht intHnmion tmd hetirt of our Jpirit, 
 
^ tht And4ftifls. 
 
 anltoa rtiiUut duh ktiHgthmmrgei^he\vutildd(clM't kimftlf bj 
 fime tviAmfigw, tjimulUnT thtthnji tjf tht fpirit^ mtddomg mm» 
 itt Mfftrmtrlj KHHthi pAtkerr. Helaii moreover. That GtJi 
 W'iS n^t dteiartdk} irtmu^ and t litre UU tit fotuiiatitns of kit 
 cklfrbtt J infommh tint if the dtttm ef 4rj might be imterprfttJ, 
 htfrAtfnikimgwtdtlj tnkijStrmo»s. 
 
 After tlnr by tha means he [ud by little and liale goiitfi 
 fome, he difcovered what be had long before pbtced m the Cky 
 of AlJteA, which is in the Marches of Titrimr : He began to 
 enroJI the wmes of ihofe that ivere enrred into fcague with J;J^^'^/- '^'-^ 
 him, and by folemn Oath they promifixtatidioce, to ^fpatch ^.^^^i^^ ^li 
 the wicked Princes and Mttgiftrates (for they generally account- fwc'm rte w 
 ed all Supcriours wicitcd) and to fabftitate new oiks : he faid.'^/^i'i'n.iD^t 
 That it was eiTcn him in chvgv from God fo to do : fo did he »# "> - «».'*^'''- 
 fpcal^ of his dreamland AKhfikethi^gs. -.;.£M.^/?r./^' 
 
 Frederick, Prince of Ssxowj did ac Hrft bear with him, and r.iuhcr hut- 
 that at the requeft of Z*r4w. But in the year 1 5 2 3 . he f« him- t^^i /»> '"«» 
 feff feditionny to preach, and puWickJy 10 faften not only upon »;'"' f.^^' 
 Minrftcrs of the Word, Hnt aifo upon the Magiftrates ^ and fu- "^ ^^ '^' 
 I roufly declared that their Liberty was violated, and that the»jf.»vW;ft/i- 
 poor and miferable were tyrannized over, and opprefftd by \vt- *??']> f'f*"' 
 fiipportabfc Charges, and tliat their goods and hbours ^^^'^Zi*fijl^'^^i. 
 devoured by the Prinzes : He faw then, That it was time to be-5i;, .^ 1/ ai- 
 think him - and ilien he was driven out of the Giy of Aljied ^ iki. 
 who after he had been fomemoneths hidden, lie came to iV^^»«M»»No- 
 rimicrg, and to a City of Tming called MulltH^. Now in as '^^^^^^^ "^ 
 nlJchaswhen lie wasac rifled, !»e had gained to bisGTdlc„.j,.j(,/^',_ 
 fome of the Ciriwns of Afkli»iv, by means whereof be re- co-iics ap,:a. 
 ceivcd the dr.wge of PrcacMng : And now being but in fmalUfr.v. 
 favour v.ith the Senate, he fo wrought upon the Commonaky 
 by Mutinies, that thej' c!w>fc a new Senate j which was Athe-Vrh^i mttbt 
 ginning of the future ftirs : afterwards tl)e Citizens drare out *'*' * ■^'> 
 the Friers, and feixod upon their MooaAer ies : with one of the '*'"^-'* "*• 
 principalleft and moft rich of them, MkntK^r furniftiedhim- F«r''»>« W«- 
 Iclfi an.i for the future carried it not onely as a Preacher, l«t^(.""'''^ 
 alfo as a Senator and Counfcllor-, for belaid, that he mtifibj'^^J' ' 
 
I The Xife, Sfrii^ dtid Feindtum 
 
 Jnim tf tht bit Diviiit Riviltititnjin^t »f tk ^'Mt j Aid gave fcnt«nce pp- 
 '^'- ' M «U a0C<MrdMg,co hb wiirand Ancy ^ Md dfibii W4i receiv^ 
 
 ' iM* W 1 1[-# i| VVjuh -• M'l YH»^B'»M"/-i«-MI' -iH ' !f'.*i -.•■'} i 
 
 'j»iMif bim. In the oiMn while, he wrote here and there to the Sub- 
 
 ''^"">'' je^ to tike up Arnf agaiaft their Princei, to th; recovery 
 
 both of their Spirltaal and Temporal Liberrifit thif loeejch was 
 
 fd acceptable iuio thii peOpte, that in the mowtbcf or nuny lie 
 
 waathetriieCroidiet. :. r i 1 '. . . ,, 
 
 < Hevih^thencfaaaeed the Magiftrates of A//v/iS'«V; andha- 
 
 . jHuigputinAnabapiifta, (here arofe many; troubles as we have 
 
 this WM iRvinclj revealed mitt him •,' and th«t Princttuni grtAt 
 tmtmBJtttrtjt&idi and tb:tt thtft^fri »f Gideon «r« givtu 
 
 
 ^'^^<r■^^l^1<■^l:»■^'^M^ 
 
 '9fthii,ft»!>le lift from chdr ordinary labourV and when they had need of 
 demfnmtb:'u[iay thing, thcy tooJi it fir am thofc that had, whether they 
 ***""'• . wonULoroot. . . 
 
 .. ^ :: i)ivecs monechs he thus led on the train, fo as in tht; year 
 ntyifituf ' 1^x5. the Husbandmen and Labourers took up Arras in J^ii^f 
 ^rm'i and FrMconj, to the number of four ty choufand, who fle^ the 
 
 1{jlf the h-ebi- greateft part of the Nobility, fackt and burnt their Caftles and 
 lifj. Fortrefles ; he went on to profecute his .Game, thinking the 
 
 time noW'to he come; to bring into adionwhat he had for- 
 merjy deliberated : he after uufed them to found fomc Artil- 
 lery in the Cprdiliers Church j he called much people from the 
 fields out of hopes of pillage, and to make themfelves rich. 
 He in-all his affairs confulted with a bold fnolifli fellow called 
 mien dream. phifer,. who had dreams andvifions in highcftcem -, and a- 
 
 l I Mffi g Miig 
 
 , whfch he had made to fly: 
 
 ' whichJie interpreted fo as he bad command from God to take 
 
 vKT^iIIjnRIi 
 
 Mnntzer 
 
cf the Attihptifis. 
 Muntzer was fomcwhat more cool ; tliougli lie preaclied 
 wich great violence, yet he would not run any hazard untill that 
 the >^ighbourhood had taken up Arms : and the moreeafily 
 to bring about his enterprize, he wrote unto the Labourers in 
 the Mynes of the Territories of A^mfield, admonifliing them 
 to fall upon the Princes without any refped or confideration ; 
 for ihefe that were ready in Franconj drew near unto Turing, 
 Thereupon Phifer. who could not forbear, took the field with 
 
 taking others Prifoners : which having done , he returned 
 bdea with plunder J and having fowell fped, the popularity 
 were encouraged : in the mean time thc^' skirmiflied and ra- 
 vined in the Country of AfMsfidd., wherefore MHntt.cr 
 thinking that there was a revolt in all parts, came forth from 
 Mhlhux^ with .300 feditious men. Upon thefe Airs Alktrt 
 Count of MMjfteld at an inftant affembled fnme Troops of 
 Horfe, and fought Mnntvr, (o as 200 were left dead upon the 
 place ^ the reft being ailonifhed, withdrew, and fled towai d 
 FrancHfe, and fojourning there, waited for the recruit of their 
 Army ^ which was the caule of retarding their flirs. 
 
 In the mean time the Princes gathered together, to the nurn* 
 ber of 1 500 Horfe, ivith fome Foot : the Peafants being en- 
 cimped in a Mount near FrdncKft, they eould not eaiiiy be af- 
 failed, by reafon of the Carts thry had furniAied themfelves 
 wi hall. The poor people being unprovided either of Arms or 
 Artillery, and for the moft part not acquainted with Souldicry j 
 the Princes being moved with compaflion, admoniflied theni 
 by meffages, that they would deliver up the Authors of tliis 
 Sedition •, and that laying down tl)^r arms, every one might 
 with alTurance, and withost fear of punifliment return unto 
 their houfes. MnntKjr then fearing his skin, advanced into 
 the midd of the Troops, and wich a ftern countenance made 
 his Qracioa 
 
Iht mfe, Spring and Fenndation 
 
 r«j' ;, ffUtw^Snldiers titd trttbnn, fciiv th:f! T, r.vi'.i near .mt» yui hr.t 
 cniurcd to fat }iiJi -ll It dcdthy and y.tlh:»iirt /u fmt-hcurud, /uthittbcy 
 dart not fixbt-ut-; tbey mtliC fo»lih am aivmihy Tcml^rs £j mal^! >ov Ly 
 ivwn ytur'Ams : ro:. t^w /iu; / .m the Author and M.-^cr of this En: iprh,':, 
 hut i$t iip«» milt im» A^honty n piut\thr fiincy (fir i: k not tf mUe enr* 
 head) bnt hthi Ctmrntni 4 Goi : 'Ihfl tbiiigt btug thi» ltd »», m lud t 
 mftoty, tvdiiot aiMd»'tth< flit! .«« r*«<i irb re <Wi.ifi A 1 «* Htrttoftye 
 ht commttAcd Ahiiliam tt facifice his Swi ; rrjjt »tt i^/wwiaj th: iffiic, vpit'n- 
 »n diglculty ibcyti th: Divim Cemirard : vhenfore Gtd prela-^cd bis So3, and 
 fldencdhfi F.iitkrntbgrtat bimfits. in th:n who ..rt in the fame eft iti, o-'iht 
 teptrftvtre Itainntth; ntntof thi»gs uJit» Gtd : bivfover there it n»doibt, 
 but aUwiHfitioit Mctrdim " w ^'l^^ ""'j" IhtUttith your tya Itthtld tht 
 lard, rticf ; for vrt JIiaU ififoy tu mry «s (fcff. he ew.min. lit man ; flues 
 »f the Serif t lire God hath prmiftd ts b:lp the pofrard »etdy, nhicb doth truly 
 bitoai unu ut ; f*r ve ere poor tad miinablt : and inafmci as we defire to 
 ntitrii and increafi in the l^norrlcdie of Gr'd, none fhOMld drM of the l^iHtry, or 
 *f in hippy ilfu. thild on tht mtr-iry the ctndition »/ #ir E'tmits, they call 
 thtmfdves trinces, buitbtd th-y an viry Tyntts, far tiny tali' no ctrc if any 
 of )»u, iut tkjffqut^e out all mr Elites, ani [wdliim thett iow* nith all 
 
 Mtftntii Itmtdei* the Brot »/ fb: Lnos which ht bud co'jlitutti: b.,t what 
 ^thi'e Tyrant snti*? and hf» do-they jfcndthoir tim*: tht,^k that thy 
 are not eouentd it the Ctmrnon^wtaltb, ntir doabey inform tbimftlvu bm it 
 ftretbwiib tie poor and mifmble : Tity ftejui to Jnfiiu, hut fi4ct Robhtrs 
 iitonthcH'i^.pajts ; th-j fmi^ nH Thievit, nor do tbcf i.<M.e ord.r aiwfl 
 i\it-d(if!g' t1>iyi*mitvtfeco!*firtt6efath-rlcfj, nor thi rrido* ; nordithcy 
 talp eirt ftrthe iifriiHM'of Tintlr: thtyoaty d* nt ofhra'ct Giis hnm, 
 ht thty binder tkt iame ; ncr bwe they any thonf^., but fcJm ttpt oth r ntcnt 
 E,«Li»« uito tbimftHtf : urbrfore thy dotty fi^ie *i>t nn» wvt*»ns to raife 
 nmy; nor dot tber tart to pfocurtor m.untain ptact (ivphr miny the Iikc 
 Vfttch'sJi.AnAibeT.virAihe cxh .nod tht«i, fa^irg. B< then nurayous^ 
 tvirii-^UmatKnpfiiftdh rriop ont of them) -, ^mtiitrnxt it Jo d'Aig 
 i» / ^aUfdl^ tbi po^plcafnre tf' GU. I p/rceuve no mam eitk xtf fmor 
 Ofe comptfition ; for thty will nt^r be otkrwift mixiied,, tbiy n:vbermU 
 trant lu. m Ithertioi, ntr <Ik triti ServiiK of God. »btrefore wf Oigbf rather 
 to dye. then toaffreve of their mcitdiie[s, or to let them fnatcb the Bofkite of 
 the GoffTtl from us. U [urn, I do /r/Twf you that God wiB help, lu, and that 
 the day fhallbeoiin ; fir hfbimfflfbHth ptmfodm it openly ; be-himf(l;,_ I 
 fan n ho can neither lye nor deceive, batfc commanded me tbiu to prftted to-f/nilh 
 the Hafiflrate. Bbold, how Gods pover appeauth! whin- as a fmaU bandjitU 
 if fttfle overcomttb a great numb r ; u for example, you ^xw *fcJt OiH^in 
 m with hit f mall mpany, and Jona-han v/ith bit Armwr-heartr;whit 
 
 Uxy\A 
 
Div\i\did ill-:; t^mfi ihtt mo fin Goliali ; i pui i: <>:>! «/ atut ti/..'. :„.> j- 
 fhiU iic mi d i>y !h: lilic yiHory, and tbit fifio it trull ula-aycs hiv: it U tv- 
 intmbvtJKC ; fjr t'lmfh wc k in bad eifjpjg!, iot vciU j,iyxijljci ni'h Arni<, and 
 thi'gs ittcdfJJ,we fljiiU mt fM ttworjl th.-n; ard this fumi of -h-tivan a^d 
 tmb will fmn- f/il , then wt (h.iU bt forfilin of Cti. r<t« heed l.fl Rmfru 
 judf-mcnt mal(^c yot jhalie, tribe aifearMCief d.iKge,; that prtfftts, mil^e yn 
 fratd; but iiv.ly fill »n the tnemih ■ betat duuntedwiihth ir Cms tr Artil- 
 lery, for I will rictivi tU tfi^ir b:iUcts tnu mi Gturn. BthAd, fee bo " »'r Gix* 
 is far «< .' commfhte, I prav jt <, the witni:s aid f,gi of his good vtitt totrtM 
 M , ///( up )* i- eyes, and klitld tit hcavctly Baw: : i mM wilh tbittn our 
 E.figii th: fam: Rii-bowmirc pourtra.ed. God evtdml, fhewttb by this Jiy* 
 nhich appeatith a^iitf?, ih.it h: vtiJlii th: B.ittcl ajflfl m, deeomci-g ruin: xM 
 pirditio'i Unto the lytlits our enemies : B; f o .rations ihea ; a>d iJ-j »f>->:d of 
 hi< f.iour, f allot, lor Cod niU vet lb.:t yon fl^o )i «.;^: a,: a^.:cm:nt ^i:h yt tr 
 Ethinies. 
 
 Hb Oracion being fini(hed,tlie gr«atcft part of his company, 
 •by rcafon of ihcir prcfcnt peril, ceafed not to be much afraid, 
 all being in difordcr, and without any conduft. Yet there were 
 in the band fome bold and defperate ones bent to do mifchief : 
 -they being over-forward, and ready to do evil, were inflamed 
 .the more^yreafon of his Speech, rfpcciaily the Rainbow be- 
 fore fpolien of dtd cncoiurgc ihetn ^ and they judged it as a 
 -moft furc fign of Vi&ory : there was this further to their ad- 
 vantaee, tliatthdr Army was great (it bdng about 8000 roen^ 
 and the place advantagious tor their defence-. thefeVarlets 
 cried out, that all (hould take up their Arms, and' with courage 
 they came to clofe with the enemy, Hnging an Hymn, whereby 
 they did implore the aid of the Holy Ghoft, There was fent 
 unto them to parly a young man of a Noble Family, whom 
 Mtf»t=ztr againft the Law of Arms had (lain; herewith the 
 Princes being provoked, caufed the Alarm to be founded, and 
 ordered their Battel in array. 
 
 Philip 7-rinct #/ H«flw, trhtnei the Soulditrs t» carry ihtmfetves court- -YlnLjittrr- 
 gioiijly, and to perform thoirduty ; lhtwi»gtijmy ti).tt alihouththe dCcufM'uA q^^^^^'^^'' "^ 
 charjed o» ttxm oy the Enemy (hould bt trt:, yet it wu mUnluU fw the Cmm- 
 nonrdtyto ta\i up xims iftinfl th Magiflrate; rvhich mi/Jit be proved by Tifii- j Per. ■. ., 
 many if the Scripture ; tnii that yet he iro:iU neither excufe himfelf nor tlie other 
 rri<iics from tliiir fniiti. ney (tvtr themfelvts Wl4t thi h'imt of the Gofftl, 
 
The Rifcy spring And Foundation 
 
 iut t» trith thy ftrf^enttbiiib'UTktfts, Robbciiei^tv.d th; lUie n:ifdi:fs Mh It 
 cndtavt,r u totdiie (umtth-.n, toitbtli)) M-'gijlr.icy, to of r violence to o'.bi/ 
 mens ivivts and chitdrm, ai:d ti co limit ill Crl'iteitvitbo it p.iiiihment : and jcc- 
 inf uitdjr th: fair a,:d half Saiie tf Gnd, tb:y clolit fucbziiuiits, aeitxicrjile 
 mijdtcds, there rvM m doibt bnt G.iA wouli avtAge lhofci>ii'itics : whrtfort 
 cjcry tiu tujjjt to fi^ht .i^alf thyn, m aiaiiijl Rubbci, dfd fo to m-Uft.tin th: 
 VHbiu\Pciic ., uitd to d:fikit-j'.ryn's'f.jlatc, withthir iiivts andcbiLWe,!. 
 n Ciiift of the il'ar is moll jiifl ; and had bi not icn alfurcd, th tt th: vco\ 
 
 Itoin. -.'ytti, ^^i>»»f:(-ftibUudto(jod,r*hthalbp:itth: Svihd i,i:o th: h.uu'.of the M r;- 
 
 t, - firati, b:woMnttbivi ii;:r. th:yt. 
 
 This Oration being finiftred, tliey came to dole ^ and no 
 fooncT were the Artillery and fmaJIfhoc difcliarged, butthefc 
 poor people, as men amazed, and deprived of underftanding, 
 neither defend themfelves, nor fet thcmfelves to flight for 
 
 ret /• 1 . . ' ^ - 9 . . 
 
 Ghoft ; fome truftiiig.in the promifcs of Aiiint^r, waited for 
 fuccour from Heaven, Th« Harquebiiffes being difcharged, 
 they began to re-inforce tlie battei,and to flay them right dowr>, 
 then they betooli themfelves to flight all in a rout toward Fran- 
 cuff, fomeofchem drew off" to the other part of the Moun- 
 tain, and Tome the while bare the brunt of the battel in the Val- 
 ley againft the Holrfe ; of whom there fell one or two : but fo 
 ,-coo S/«i«- hotly were they purfued,that there were 5000 left in the place: 
 foon after this flaughtcr the City of Francnfevizs taken, and 
 ^ooPrifims. near 300 prifoners, which were beheaded. Mutitf.fr hi\ing 
 gained the City by flight, bid himfelf in an houfe near unto the 
 Gate; whither by accident there came a Gentleman, whofe 
 Waiting-man going up to fee the rooms, he found a man laid 
 upon the bed -, who asked him who he was, and whether he was 
 »ot fled from the Battel, and whather he was not one of the fe- 
 dirious f By accident there lay a purfeiiear unto the bed • the 
 other taketh up the booty, and having opened it, he round 
 therein Letters, whereby Aiberf of Mansfield did admonifli 
 Munt^jir to defift from his enterprize,and not to caule the poor 
 icople to mutiny : thefe Letters when he had read, he asked 
 lim, if the Letters were not dirtElcdto hint ? which he denied very 
 flifly, iincill being (harpiythrcatncd, craving pardon, bccon- 
 
 fcffed 
 
cf the Anahaptt(ls. 
 relied tliat he was MnmK.tr -. being taken, lie was brought be- ^lJn„^,. t.,^,„ 
 fore Gtorge Duke of Saxouj, and the Lams^ravt ; being asked 
 of them, what had moved him fo to abufe the poor people ? he 
 replied, that he had done but his duty -, and tiiat thofc Magi- 
 iirates that would not receive the Gofpel, were fo to be dealt 
 withall. The Lantgrave ^m\t:A h\m, proving bvTeftimonyof 
 Scripture, that the Magiltrates ought to be had in reverence -, 
 andtlwtall feditions were forbidden by God j and that it was 
 not lawful for a Chriftian to avenge his private quarrel: where- 
 unto^*«vrhadnottoanfwer. Afterwards he was put unto 
 grievous torture -, and as by greatnefs of the pain he cried out, Tutir . ■• 
 Ctorgt Duke oi Saxony faid unto him, Truly Muntzer/ow endnrc 
 tttprefent, hut thinks Mlfo ufcn the rMint of ja maitj ptop/r, Which 
 this dAj tj occdfion of thy ftdition are /lain : He anfwered, much 
 laughing,that they "ifotildfo have it. He was afterwards brought 
 to H-'dtierung a City of the Signory of Mansfield, where he was 
 fharply drawn and put to torture, andconfeffed what was his 
 deliberated purpofe, and who were the Complices of his Con- 
 juration. 
 
 The Princes being come to rrelderiing znd Mtr/htizf, they 
 caufed many of thefc feditious perfons to be beheaded ^ and a- 
 mong the re(>,that bold fool Phifer, of whom there hath men- 
 tion formerly bin made: then afterward y»/*»»r«r was brought 
 into the held, who found higifelf very much difcouraged, and 
 overwhelmed in this extremity ; fo as without help he could 
 not give account of his faith, as it commonly foils out with fucb 
 in the like cafe : Henry oi Bmnftvickj to help him,caufed him to 
 fay after him : when ne was ready to die,hc confefTed clearly & 
 loudly his fault and errour ^ and being furrounded with Sou!- 
 diers, he exhorted the Princes to ufe greater pity towards the 
 
 S)Oor people, and that by this means they fliould not need to 
 ear • he admoniftied them alfo to reade diligently the Book of 
 A' /«^/, which are in the holy Scripture: his difcourfe being 
 ended, they cut off his Head. From this marvellous defeat and Exr.nu 
 difcomfiture feveral efcaped, who feeing their fedition profited 
 them not, and that the Prophets were finin with their bretbrca 
 
 B 3 and 
 
lo The RiJ(, Spring And Founduiicn 
 
 and companions, inftcad of repenting, and acknowledying tlic 
 
 pcftilcntial venome that lay hid in their Seft, they aflcnible at 
 
 -^KfcujAK- Jlfnnficrthcc\aei Qicj oi iveftphalia, and at firll made fem- 
 
 M? 'iter' '" '*'^""**^ humility, holding forth nothing in them that was 
 
 •PrttcnA hw.l- fpl^n^Jcnt Of magnificent ; yea, they reproved and cried oiit a- 
 
 /;?/, fi7 tf.f j-g'"nft all excellency, grcatncft and magnificency •• they held 
 
 l.xU'l thf ill- torth outfide-holinefs, and cried out againft the fword and 
 
 {.■,7i .,.- vftiiiM. power of the Magiftrate : Riches and honour were rcjefted by 
 
 them as loathfomc vomit (at leart, as they made (hew of;) they 
 
 fpake of nothing, but of the mortification of the old man, and 
 
 of the renewing of the Spirit, and of a life wholly dedicated 
 
 unto God: above all, theydofpifed the world and the things 
 
 that are ih«rcin,but it was becaufc tliey could not yet play their 
 
 pranks, nor themfelves have dominion, nor make a new world 
 
 according to their model, asrhey afterwards [ftiewed unto all. 
 
 Bern. Rotmatu In the year 1 5 j z Bernard Rotmdft began to preach the Go- 
 
 'n,T''"i''r^'' ^P*'' *'*°"' '^^ C'^ oiAlHtifttr, in the Temple oiS.Manrice, 
 fp:l with[:tc. jjj^ ji^j ^Qj without ^reat dfcA -, iiifomuch as that there being 
 
 H: au:i oth-r certain Miniftcrs, they prefented thirty Articles unto the Ma- 
 
 MrdHi rs pre- giftrates, wherein all therrrours of the Papacy were contained; 
 
 fcrt Aniclts .1- fubmitting themfelves unto all puniihment,if they did not prove 
 
 gahjlTtpilh all ihefe Articles to be falfe, and repugnant to the Word of 
 
 aroia. q^j f he Senate fent fotihc Papifts, and propofcd unto them 
 
 thofe Erronrs : and becaufc they Jiad alway given them to un- 
 
 v.vi[ts m dcrftand their Doftrine was pure, and founded upon the Word 
 
 cK-.lucd, of God (which thefe Preachers denied, and upon their lives 
 
 would evince the contrary) the Magiflrates asked them, if they 
 
 would by holy Writ confute what was faid unto them : being 
 
 thus qucftioned, and feeing the Senate laid the matter much to 
 
 heart ■ in brief they anfwered, that they had not wherewith to 
 
 defend their DoArine \, and as for what they had faid of their 
 
 Ordinances.and manner of doing to be good.it was but upon 0- 
 
 .4 li ff> u'. S:- pinion & ignorance : whereupon the Senate forbade them from 
 
 '''no 'rb- iv/i- ^"^ convinced of Errours and falfe noArincs,and command- 
 ti^crs. " -cd them to refign their places unto thofe Teachers which had 
 
 dif- 
 
cf the Analnptijh. 1 1 
 
 iiri.ntiediliciienoursandabufcs. Soon after there was af- 
 l.gned to each his Temple to preach in, by checonfcntof the 
 Senate -, and all the City was in peace and tranquillity. 
 
 But Satan tlie enemy of peace and truth, coitld not long en- sm-injihs ni 
 
 had already done in other places, with might and main he la- ,;,jj^^,^f,, 
 boured to hinder and overthrow the Gofpel ^ and in its place 
 to fct up thcfc fedicious Anabaptifts : fo he did the fame at 
 A/kfjJfer, to the great damage of the faithful, the dellruAion 
 and mfamy of the Gofpel. 
 
 For in the year 1 5 j 3 . there came to Afxrifler an Hollander «., h^n te~ 
 mmed fohrtB(C»Uo( Ltjien, by Trade a Taylor or Sewer of "''\\^;^i', 
 Garments ^ but rather a Ravcller or tearer in pieces : he was a "* • '"'"^ ' 
 witty fellow, eloquent, cautelous, and very audacious, having a 
 little read the Scripture, he could fully diflemble matters : in 
 film, he was a true and perfeft Anabaptift ^ in the beginning of . 
 which familiarity, heinfinuated himfcif into the company of xhei'-fi,:-!.: s kin- 
 
 it was wdl done to baptize little children ? they anfwered.Yes ; " ^!^^^^^ °' ' " 
 and then he began to deride and jeer with difdain : he thus car- ''- ' 
 ried matters near nine monechs -, often difputing againft, and 
 deb;nfng with the Minifters concerning Baptifm -, notwithftand- 
 ing in tlve mean while, wherefoever he could, he fecretly fowed 
 theDoftrine of the Anabapcirts. Then 3ernarii Rttman, ofi'otman «>m- 
 whom we fpake before, feeing the drift of the Anabaptifts, in /''^ •'''"*> 
 his Sermon exhorted the people to pray unto God for his 
 
 peciaJly from the 
 Anabaptifts, who fecretly crept in among tnem, an^flidinto' 
 their companies : for if their opinion Drevailed,the ftateof the 
 Commonwealth and Religion w«iild be poor andmifcrable.i.,,^^,,^^^^,. 
 At that very time there came wMnnftn one HrrmM StMxrtde, ctd bj hn Ca- 
 whowas J?9fi>iM/ Coadjutor, whofeduced him,andcaufed himi/^^KmHcr. 
 to torn Anabaptift,againft whom he had fo much combned and '"»" Stixi edc 
 cried down. This HrrmMn had been the DJfciple of Htm-y <fr"*";>R«"r» 
 i{»*f/, whom they of ^^rrr^rhad lately executed, becaufehe',,^"^! 
 
The Riftt Spring md Fmidatien 
 
 wasanAnabaptift^ he publickly reproved Childreivs B'«P''f'.". 
 faying, Th^ it ^m mh AbmiMtioH hifort God. Bccaufe ot this, 
 tlicrtarofe great llirs among the people i and thole who for- 
 Uoo\M :!ifci- merly were fecretly feduced by Jehn Bfcoldo(Lejdt»,novt vent- 
 tV'1! IHa «i their Opinioiu,and almoft throughout the whole Oty often- 
 Th'hmi^u ""« held Contenticles, and fecretly affembled in private hou- 
 * fci s and ibrir Minifters taught one y by nighc, when as others 
 
 took their reft v which was the fitted time for the working of 
 their myfteries. Tlirle things much provoked the Senate , and 
 B thfSc)i.u; bccaufe the nightly meetings and Sermons ot rhe Anabaptilh 
 frohiH:clco„u ^„g jii refented, they were prohibiced and forbidden,and com- 
 mt*nhUb °'^"'* ^^^^^ *'o"h to all the lovers of that Sca,to avoid the City. 
 n't) 'rcf'ift. but they cared not for this command.and were no fooner gone 
 out at one Gace,buc they came in at another,and hid themfclves 
 in the City with their SeAaries ; and boaftcd that they had com- 
 mand from God not to liir, but fully and gravely to pi ofccute 
 their CommiflSon. This troubled the Senate, and they were 
 fomewhat aftoniflied at it. Wherefore to prevent further trou- 
 ble, it was commanded,That both Anabaptills and Preachers of 
 the Gofpel, fhould repair to the Town-houfe wjth the learned 
 A Dt^ittt'm, men. In this Difputation Rotmati, who had for feme time co- 
 whcnij, R <f- ygrej matters, openly declared bimfclf an Anabapcift, and con- 
 7m}af1»cv. <le"»ned Cbildrens Bapdfm, as wicked and detellable : but Htr- 
 
 the Publick Notary. This being done, the Senate commanded 
 
 the Anabaptifts to depart the City ; yea,and that forthwith : but 
 
 again they hid themfelves according to their cuHom, untill fair 
 
 opportunity prefented, that they might come in fight -, and then 
 
 Tnci fall ::pon a upiin a deliberated rage, they fell upon a Minifter named Peter 
 
 N'millt/ *"««» lyirtem, as he preach^ in a Temple or a Church by the autho- 
 
 winem. rity of the Senate.and they turned him ouc. Then many of them 
 
 cln\'riJ%. ran "bout the Gty, as if they had been divinely tranfported in 
 
 pent'Md icKe'- th«r fpirit, crying with a loud voice, Rtfent aHdie Re-iiftizea, 
 
 bntixfi. othtrvfifithtrrrMhef God'ifiUfallHpenjoM. Many good people 
 
 fearing the wrath of God (whereof ihcy fo much talked) and 
 
of th€ Ambaftijls. 
 
 . . . : for after the AnabaptiAs had got 
 
 the upper hand of tlicir adrerfaries, they turned them our, and 
 deprived them of their eftatcs. . Thefe things were done in tfie '^f^ f'> 
 year 1533 ,and in the beginning of 34. and when they had been '"" ''' "■ 
 liidden, they came forth out of tlicir dens and caves, and they 
 went all together unto the Market place with great cries and 
 howlings, and commanded, Thar all that "A'ere not Rt-tattUjed commsad aS 
 
 fcized upon the Artillcry,Arms,Amniunitioii and Town-houfe ■ *^^' '» '*''''•'''' 
 the reft, namely, the Proreftants and Papirts, began to run, and i',«/l.?'L 
 to betake themfclves to a place of the City, which was natural- mmtm. ' 
 ly ftrong, for defence both of themfelves and the people ^ and 
 lliey took fundry Anabaptilh Prifoners : this laftcd until! they 
 came unto Compontion,and Holtagcs on both fides were given^ O'corrrf, ct r,t 
 and it was agreed that Everyone fljould hold h^ ovm Religion]" '^""P'f"''- 
 Mtd return ant* hie own htufe, and lift in peace. 
 
 The principal Anabaptills then were Rotman, fchn Becold of 
 Leyden, Bernard Knipferdoling , Gerard Cipperhok^, Bernard 
 Crechting. 
 
 In the mean time Rttnun and Knipperdo/inr (the Superlatives Bit i»t 'i,- nx 
 of this fa<ftioa) though they had approved of this Compoficion, " "'■ "-'i^^'"-' ■ 
 yet thej' fent unto the neighbouring Towns •, whereby they "^ '^''""'' 
 gave notice unto thofe of their Sed, to leave all their goods, 
 and repair unto them, and tliat they ftwuld not fail to receive v'tm^': an 
 ten times more then they left behinde them. Great multitudes ">'-'i "o^^ th:: 
 boih of men and women hearkning unto thefe magnificent pro- ''^' ' '"/^ ^ 
 
 mifes, came in unto them, and upon hopes of preferment, re- ^tt 1,11,,^% 
 paired unto^A'j«/?fr ■ chiefly the poorer fort, who knew not M/;4r!'J-p 
 how to fubfift. The Citizens and more wealthy among them, f'.rm'ut rcpn 
 
 paired unto Munfler ■ chiefly the poorer fort, who knew not m/^.m o^'fu. 
 how to fubfift. The Citizens and more wealthy among them, f'.rm'ut rcptn 
 feeing the City to fwarm with ftrangers, withdrew as fairly as " ''"'« 
 
 they could, abandoning their place unto the Anabapcifts : this V'[ ^"' '« 
 was about Zr»r, in the Moncch of fe^ri^ary 1534. By this ^^i,J,;,^''^^ 
 means the Anabapcifts becanie Matters, and chofe a new Senate ,v/i/»i).., j;,^ 
 of tlieir own party, with Confuls i among whom wnc Kmp-K.l: aU. 
 fcrdoli»g and Cipptr^rok,; foon after they fell upon the Temple 
 
 C of 
 
!■ 7he Rift, Sfring dud Feundaiion 
 
 " i ..• •' c : ■ of S. yiy^«r;'ff,which was near unto the City, and burnt it with 
 S MaiHKc. t!ie neighbouring Edifices-, and pillaged all the Temples, ^nd 
 fppiled the chief remnle. Within a few dayes after they (locliinj 
 together ran about the ftrccts, and in a dreadful manner cri 
 
 ^'"''^j';"''/-' out, jr^pf»f,r<^pri»r., and fuddenly changed their turic, faying, 
 
 u'wiuZfl'^ ^"'^^'j "^'f^f V *« W, '/ y W"'-* «f <<'' : and at that inftant 
 nhtfi'.d in arms ran to and again, and dravc out of thcGtyall that 
 t'l: C'th'-f were hot of their Sea, without having regard either to Age 
 /.''.r;ii.fn-x»t«/or Scx; foas many women mifcarriwi iii tbefe troubles and • 
 'i"Jh.''' confufed flight. Thefe being driven out,they fall upon pillaging 
 mjnrvn^n '*"** Eftates -. by this every one may know by what fpirit thefr 
 ivitfc fWW »//. Anabaptiftical Hypocrites were led : there is no aft fo fcllo- 
 cany. nious, horrible^ cruel and wicked, that ever was done, which 
 
 '->>:y Pillige. thcy did not commit. In the beginning the^- talked of nothing 
 but the Spirit and Holinefs ^ they faid, it was not lawful for a 
 Chriftian to be a Magiftratc, and that it was not lawful to bear 
 Arms ; but after they had brouglit all under their paw, and in 
 their power, then it was lawful to take the Publick Arms, with 
 the Town-honfe, and to chufe a Magiftratc to their minde, yea, 
 ~^ with rejeftion of him that was ordained of God ■, and thruft 
 , ^'^Ij thcmfelves into his place, and to make themfelves Confuls and 
 *"' Senators as they have done : there is not need of much fpeak- 
 ing, for the world knoweth it. Where now are the fair fpce- 
 ctes of thofe Anabaptifts? Do not rififi evil: He that \tiU 
 takf 4tW0j thj coAt, give him thy clodl^ alfo. Thefe have not 
 only pillaged and ftript honeft men of their clothes, but of all 
 that they had, and nave driven them miferable out of their 
 - { houfes, with their wives and little ones, and have expofcd them 
 "? to death by the Befieyers of the Gty. 
 =..• At that time there arofein the City of Munfter a great 
 
 number of Prophets (for they ufurped that name) the prin- 
 cipal of whom were fohn Matthews of Harlinr , and one 
 Totir Pmkt Pifior, who were both audacious, and prating fellows -, they 
 joh. M*"*"?** boafted of Vifions , and of the Spirit of Prophecie. By Pro- 
 ^thtil^mLu pfctti"! Authority, this holy Prophet commanded all the City 
 'h itmw. to In^iog >n aU their Gold, Silver, and och^ inoveable goods 
 
 -V3*^ 
 
«/ the Amhaftifis. 
 to be common, and that none upon pain of death, fliould te- 
 ferve any thing for his own private ufe : and to thiiend, there 
 was a PublickHoufe appointed. The people were very mucli 
 alloninicd at the rigour of this Edid, yet notwithllanding o- 
 
 for there were two V.aides Diviner cfles, \ 
 
 Prophets commanded that none ftiould keep any books except ^,,rf ^u Uk. 
 the Holy Bible ■ and that all others (hould publickly be brought kf,de^ th: U'.-. 
 forth and abolifhed: he faid, that he received this Command '•«'". r--'- 
 frofli God -.wlicrefore great numbers of b«oks were brought 
 
 togahcr and confumccTby fire, . ,, , ^ 
 
 Ji came to pafc that an Artificer named Hubert Tmtihn, whp "" ><" Tr utc 
 being difpleafed with the ading of thefc Prophets reproached ^';^f;^«; .^ 
 them, calling them Prophets it Mrrii : he was acciifed, and all ^_^.^ „,; 
 the people were caufed to come together m their Arms: they 
 fenicnced the poor man to death •, whereat the people were 
 
 hands upon the poor nun, and when as he was thrown down, 
 gave him a llab with a Pike, without wounding hion mortally, 
 whatfoever his endeafours were -, then he commanded him to 
 be taken from thence, and that he (hould be carried to another 
 place; and taking the Musket of another youn« man that was 
 reer liim, he (hot him through with a bullet : wTien he was fal- 
 ling to the ground, the Prophet faid. That it was revealed unto 
 him from heaven, that the time of his death was not yet come , 
 and that God had accepted him to favour,though he died a few 
 dayes after • whereof when the Prophet had notice, he took a 
 long Pike, and violently ran through the City, crying out, th^t 
 God the Father had givtM him in ctmtMndto refiilft the Enetme 
 from the Citj. As he drew neer unto the Camp, a Souldier called y ;,p. Mmheivs 
 Mejtticm faced him, andfhot him quite through the belly ./i.i •. 
 This was the woful end of this mad Prophet : and although 
 the fraud of thefe Prophets was well known, yet the people 
 wercfo bewitched by them, and fodeorived of their rcafon, 
 that they much bewailed this their goodly Prophet, faying,Thar 
 
J;- The Rife, Spring snd Foundation 
 
 i^rc would fomeinifcliicf bcfal them, hccaufcfuch a Proplict 
 was uken from them. 
 
 John Secaidof Liiden commanded the fccond Prophet after 
 
 fore, it lud been revealed unto him,that he fliould come to fucli 
 an end, and that he ftiould marry his widow. Two dayes after 
 Eafltr, they ran to the Churches, and rang all the Bells toge» 
 'f"*'P»*'."'"-: . ther : fome dayes after, Knifferdiling prophecied, that all lofty 
 "*''"^ things muft be laid low, and the poor, and the mran, and the 
 low things muft be exalted-, and forthwith commanded, that 
 all the Churches fliould be demoliftied •, with a very great gra- 
 vity affuring them, that this command came from God : where- 
 fore he was without delay obeyed, and the heavenly command 
 (as he called it ) put in execution. At the fame tinle John Secold 
 BtcoKl hiiits gave the fword unto Kiiipperdolinr, and appointed him to be 
 Knipperdo. exenitioner, becaufeit fofcll out tnat hc was the Conful, and 
 img mugniM, JujI adminiftred the chief Magiftrates place. Being no^v made 
 Hangman, he is put in a lower rank. Knifftrd$U»g made no 
 
 ati mtt^t a whcreas the Caiftp had now been fome months before the City, 
 irctt jiAicibftr they ftormed it ■, and of the chief Noblnt^, and beft Captains 
 tt tb: r..',micr »/and SoulditTS there were flain before the City about four thou- 
 ■40C0. fgnd : then all hopes of taking them by force failed. A few 
 
 Bfcol.l -or ***V« 2^"^ fvhitfotitide John Beculd df LejfdfM, after that afTtuits 
 rhrte djji's had been given without efTed, he went to fleep, and laid and 
 inms, tvi dreamed three entire dayes tocether •, and when he awaked,hc 
 /""£? htm[af fpajje to naman ^ but as ZachariM, John the Psptiflj father,fo 
 I v"' li^writfi ^ "^^' ''8"' ^^ ^^'y ftieuld bring him paper •, wherein he 
 the iiimxs 0/ u Wrote the names of twelve men, and among them of fome of 
 t./f/ ^»«»:.«rf- the beft rank, who were to have the Supreme charge, and to 
 ifs. have the whole Government as it was in IfracI j for he faid, it 
 
 was the will of the Heavenly Father, that Munfier (hould be 
 governed as the heavenly Jerufalm. By this means jhis wicked 
 ^ ,, one made way that he might be King : afterwards he propofcd 
 
 ^^'w^iii/.' ^^^ articles unto their Preachers, and required them to con- 
 firm thcm,by leftimony of ScripturejOtherwife hc would bring 
 
 them 
 
ff the Andbdpti(ls. 
 
 tliem untn the people, that they mighc ratific and approve them. 
 The fum of thefe Articles was, that a man was not bound 
 to have but one Wife, and that it was lawful to efpoufe as ma- ^;,/,^'-{,."^ 
 ny as he pleafed : but as their Preachers did confute this fen- '/J'^'lf-il's'," '' 
 tcnce, he affcmblcd them at the Council-houfc with the twelve ■ ' 
 where in the prefence of them all he pull'd off his cloak, and 
 caft it upon the ground with the New-Teftament, and fwarc by 
 thefe marks and figns, that thefe Articles by him propofed sm.hs it wxi 
 were revealed to him from Heaven ^ wherefore he threatned/' rtvcil-.d t^ 
 them, that if they confented not unto them, God would never '"" ■'•<"' ^'^' 
 be merciful unto them. Finally, they agreed, and were of his 
 Opinion, and the Preachers for three dayes fpace fpakc of no- 
 thing but of the point of Marriage. Without delay fohnBe- 
 ciili married three wives, one of whom was the widow of the m K.i>ri:s 
 crcat Prophet fokn A/atthext-t : others like lewd men followed tfyntrrrjcs. 
 lis example, fo as it was a ptaifc-worihy thing to have many 
 wives. Some of the honelt Citizens were forely difpleafcd 
 to fcc Marriage thus prophaned, and they gave a llgn to gather .^^^ ^ 
 
 all thofe together into the Market place, who loved the T^o-^jL!'Jrf/jji'c 
 dune of thcGofpcl -, and thin they ran into the Market place, •;,: Prophi'a. '' 
 and laid hands upon the Prophecs, and took Knipperdolinr, and Th^ commn fo- 
 all the reft of the Prophets; But the common people haAing^'-f"^ "''""> 
 notice hereof,took arms-, and having refcued the Captivcs,kil.*J J')J.'/J^'/i -^J" j 
 about rifcy with great torments , tying them to trees and 
 pofts,difchargcd Muskets at them : in the mean while the great 
 Prophet cryed out, that he that rpould do God fervictJhokLdfirt 
 firji. They killed with another fort of death. 
 
 This great Prophet John Btcold of Lijien having by Jiis BfcoKi ij//. ,5, 
 vifion gained this point,that it was lawful for a man to take to- '"''" "' *^" 
 ^ether as many wives as he pleafed, played his pranks j for 
 le married but fifteen, and had them all at once •, and it was 
 lawful for any one to have fix or feven : for ibey muft thus re- 
 new their Marriage, as they had done their Bapcifm. And 
 that none might take ill what they did, they merrily coloured 
 over their villany with tertimonies out of Gods word • they 
 brought the examples of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Jttcsi, D<t- 
 
 C 3 v\i 
 
' ihe Rife^ Spring SifJ Founiitlon 
 
 vU and Solomon, and divers others, and faid tliac the Word of 
 
 G.-». 1. 18. God commanded it, faying Incrtafe, multiflf, tnd fill the earth. 
 When tli.it fencence was brought, i Tim. 3 . Thut a Bijiop mult 
 teuulilMuable^thehujiAiid of one wife, they anfwcrcd, that it 
 was clear from the text, Tliat the Apoftljf required that of none 
 but the Biihops, and that for feveral reafons •, that he might 
 not burthen the Church, and that he might the better attend 
 upon his Office -, but this was not forbidden to any other. 
 Upon the 24 of /*« 1534, thcrearofeancw Prophcr,by 
 
 Atrw Trofh'.t Tradea Gold-fmith named John Twifcofcgr -, he having affem- 
 
 ^thdt God 4^ **" and command of the heavenly Father was, that John Becold 
 pointed If.hn of Lfjdtn fliould be made cmperour of all the earth ; and that 
 BecoM £«^r. be fliould march into the Field with a mighty Army, and that 
 ^*T \ ** '** *"* flwuld without maldng any difference deftroy all Kings and 
 tiftH. Princes, pardoning only the people; that is to fay, thofe which 
 
 loved righteoufnels -, that he might hold the throne of his fa- 
 ther Z>4vm/, until that the Father did deliver up the Kingdom 
 unto him J for EheSaintsflwuldraigninthisWorld, after that 
 they had dellroyed all the wicked. Thefe things were brought 
 j; ha tccepts it, t© John Beccld of Liydtm,vtho fiiHinfi down upon both his knees, 
 and lifting up his hands to heaven, bid. It is ieveral dayes fince 
 I knew this. Brethren, yet I would not divulge it -, bin now the 
 Father hath made ufe of another Minifter to perfwade it. Fk 
 made femblance as if he received the Kingdom agiinll fcis will -, 
 
 Kt he laid hold on it with both hands, and had long before 
 ibed for it, and plotted it. 
 't'-.i ctlhi:rs the Being now King, he who before, was but a Taylor, at that 
 twelve Con- ipflanc cafliicrcth the Twelve -, and on the fudden attireth him- 
 maxderi. f^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^1^^ Royal Pomp and Magnificence : he chofe 
 Jityeflt him[ttf%^^^ Lords, and commanded that they (hould make two 
 ivirJIi fC'ff// Crowns of pure Gold : be bore a Scepter with a Chain of 
 ^t' Gold ; and Ukewife his Spurs with Rowels of Gold : in brief, 
 
 be was not clad but with Silk, Velvet and Gold, which they had 
 ftollen oiit of the Churches : his Horfes were accordingly ac- 
 coutred : he appointed certain dayes co give audience to all 
 
 ■ fuch 
 
tf the Jnahfili(ls. i! 
 
 futli as addrcffed themfelves unto him for any bufintfs ; and 
 when he went abroad, he was attended upon by his Servants, Hi ptufons 
 and Gentlemen of his Court: next unco him there went two |^;y^^^'^'| •'^' 
 young men on Horfc-back magnificently clad ^ he tliat went 
 on the right hand bare the Crown and the Bible, the oilier on 
 the left hand bare a naked Sword, the Pommel whereof was 
 of pure Gold, and richly adorned with precious Stones : the 
 King had his Chain of Gold about his neck, and he was alt glit- 
 tering n-iih Gold and precious Stones : he bare in his hand a 
 Globe of Gold. His waiting-Gentlemen were twenty eight, 
 clad like Courtiers, with garments of mixed colour of green 
 and blew, to fignifie his Heavenly and Earthly Power. Upon 
 the Kings Girdle was written, Thr j>»iver of God is mjftrenph • 
 thus was the Name of God propluned and blafphemed, to 
 cloak this Villains (linking infamy. ?urthermore,his Title was, 
 Tht King of tht Ntw fcrttfalcm. King of Righttonfntfs.throKfh- 
 out all the world. The pomp of liis chief Wife (tor he had 
 many together) was equal to his own: his Servants were clad 
 in green , and bordered with a brown colour ; and upon 
 their Qecve there was a World with a little Crofs about it, and 
 two Swords thxvarted a- crofs. He had his Throne fet up aloft, 
 whcrcuntoheafccndedbythree fteps, and all was btfet with 
 Gold and Jewels. The Law-fuits which ordinarily came before _ 
 him were for the moft part about Women and Divorces, info- 
 much as fome who had lived almoft all their life long together, 
 now feparated one from another. It came to pafs one day, 
 that when the people were in the Market-place, dofe crouding, 
 and in a throng to hear, that Kniffrrdoling leaped on their 
 heads and fcrambling with his hands and feet being now above 
 them,'hebre«hed upon the men one after another into their ^^^ 
 
 ■ do vith mj Wh 
 
 it oo lone, and would not make an end, the King was angry, m^,.. 
 andwc«feway. He fuddcniy mounted into the Throne, 
 
7he Rife, Sfring and Fdu»dntm 
 but the King furprizing him, threw him down, and three daycs 
 kept him in Prifon. 
 
 Is there not here to be feen a wondcrfull rage and mad- 
 nefs? Who could have believed that any bearing humane ftiape, 
 fliould have been left to commit thines fo foolifh, abfurd, vil- 
 lanous and execrable ? but it cannot be otherwife with fuchas 
 violate, trample upon, and rejed the Word of God -, they arc 
 by Divine judgement fmitten, fo as to be an example to the 
 Eleft, But lee us behold their goodly glorious King, now 
 moimted with more then Royal Pomp : where is the fpirit of 
 thefc Anabaptifls, who were fo ready to reprove and rejcd: 
 others? At fir ft they cried out againft all; if they fawany 
 Matron wear filk, or any man of faftiion to wear a gold Ring, 
 they cried down all .- but now their glorious Kmg Taylor omic- 
 teth nothing, that may fet forth his Pomp and State. In the 
 beginning they would not bear to hear, that any honeft man 
 Ihould be a Bailiff, or Governour of a Village ^ but foon the 
 wind is changed, and now by command from tJie Father, their 
 King is not King of a Village, but of the whole World -, for 
 fo he caufed himfelf to be ftylcd. During this Siege,- the Pro- 
 
 RiflitHtion ■ wherein they maintained MMntK^rs damnable Do- 
 drine, and an infinite of Errours. 
 
 Afterwards in the Moneth of ^ttgnjl, on the day which is 
 called S. Bdrthv/omews, the new Prophet called John Twifiofcir 
 founded the Trumpet through the ftreets, and cried out, that 
 yill [hould mett in Arms about the Waj to the great Church ; for 
 they thmJI give a rtpulfe t$ the Enemies $f the City : being thi- 
 ther come, they finde a Supper ready, which the King liad pro- 
 
 vided ; and by command the people did fit down, to the num- 
 ber of four tnoufand : the King, Queen, and Courtiers wait- 
 ed at the Table. Supper almolt being finiflied, the King gave 
 
 Becolils miic\- unleavened bread to all, faying, Tak^, tat, declare the death of 
 
 Lirdj Sjijp.r. the Lord : then the Queen prcfentcd the Cup, faying, DriKl^, 
 
 declare the death of the Lord. Behold the brave Supper of thefe 
 
 Anabaptifls, which was rather a voluptuous Banquet, the Table 
 
 of 
 
of the AnaLiptif.s, 
 of Devils, then the Tabic of our Lord Jcfus Cluift, Now 
 when the Supper was ended, the new Prophet gat him up into 
 the Pulpit, and asked them whether tlicy would obey the Word 
 of God? they all faid, Yes : he told themihcn that the com- T^^'fcnfar 
 mandof the Father was, that theymuft Tend Twenty eight '^J/;),'.;^,^ 
 Teachers of the Word. Then he named them in order, de- be fcnt fo>-th. 
 daring the place whither each ftiould go: Six were fent to 
 Ofemierf, as many to ffarrendort -, eight to Sufdr, and as many 
 to Corsfiild, 
 
 The King and the Qneen with thofc tiiat fcrved at theTa-T^'K^'.CM'f^ 
 ble, fuppcd afterwards, and thofe which were appointed to be ^^f^"^f%i 
 fcnt forth. As thty were at Supper, the King rofe up, and faid, jf,,;"r. ' ' ' 
 Thdt he h4d rtceived a Commijfion from the Father : whereas " 
 upon an adventure there was a Souldier which had been taken, 
 the King accufed him that he was a Traitor as JuJdf, and with 
 his own hands cut off his head. This being done, he returned 
 to fit down at Table, and by way of merriment recited what 
 he had done. After Supper within night, they caufed the 
 twenty eight above-mentioned, to depart out ot the Gty ; 
 and over and above their expences, they gave to every one of 
 them certain pieces of Gold, to leave in fuch places where their 
 DoArine fliould not be received, in witnefs of their perdition, 
 and eternal damnation, for their refufal of the peace and do- 
 ftrine of Salvation. 
 
 And when they were arrived at the places afligned unto 
 them, they began to run through the City with horrible cries, 
 crying , Repent, repent, ethervife je WiV/ fuddtnly perifh .- then 
 they caft their garments upon the ground, and threw their 
 pitces of Gold which were given unto them upon their gar- 
 ments, afluring them that tncy were fent by the Father, to 
 bring peace unto them if they would receive it : they com- 
 manded thern to put all their goods in common ■, if they did 
 refufc ir, by this fign, and as by a mark, they did bear witnefs 
 againd their ingratitude, and evil deeds : for behold the time 
 now is come, which was foretold by the Prophets, wherein 
 the Lord Cod would, that Righteoufnefs (hould reign through 
 
 D all 
 
7 he Rife, Sfrin^ ^i Fmiltihtt 
 »1I the ejrth : and aftto that the K<ng rtiall luve difthargcd Iiis 
 triift, and ftall have fo done, that Righteoiifiwfs (ball reign 
 every where ; Then Chrht (hall deliver up the Kingdome to 
 the Father. 
 
 tlpon thcfc words pbey w«ie apprcliended, and iiitliebc- 
 ginningfairly dcmaitded, tbeh bf^i le Radc^xamined'of tlwir 
 faith, «tc, and AmniiJnitioii«rf the'Cirj?. they anfwer ed, that 
 ttt<y alone had the true t)«>ftrifie, which they woiiid unto the 
 death maintain : for fince the Apollles time the Gofpel was 
 not truly preached, and that there was no righteoufnefs, that 
 there were four Prophets, two of which were true, namely, 
 Z)<i»/V George , and John Secold of Lijien -, two were falfe, 
 namely, the Pope, and ^«^Ji»fr worfe then the Pope. Being 
 asked why they drave the honeft people out of the City, a- 
 gainft their faith and promife, and detained their Goods, Wives 
 and Children •, and by what Text of Scripture they could war- 
 rant that unrighteoufnefs ? . They anfwered, That the time was 
 now come, wherein the Word of Chrift (hould be fulhlled, 
 thAtthe me^.JhoKld foffefs the e*rth •, and that God in this man- 
 ner gave the goods of the Egyptians unto the Ifraelites : Af- 
 ter, they declared their Ammunition and Viftuals that was in 
 the City, with their Garrifon, fome of whom had above five 
 Wives. Moreover, that they looked for Souldiers from Frife- 
 UndinA Holland, who being arrived, the King would take the 
 Field with all his Army, to reduce the whole World under his 
 power and fubjeftion, after he had (lain their Kings which did 
 not righteoofnefs. After they were queftioned, and Itill per- 
 fi(ted in their opinions, they were all beheaded, except one 
 who cfcapcd. 
 
 At the fame time there arofe another Prophet, called f/M7 
 Hihers,a wicked man, fubtil and wary -, he came to declare un- 
 10 the King and the people, that the heavenly Father had re- 
 ▼eated unto him, that three rich Cities with all their goods 
 (hould be given unto them by Ood, namely, AmflirAtm, De- 
 vtntir, znS fvtfil. The King hearing this, fet himfclf to 'con- 
 fult with his Council, bv.what means they might bring thefe 
 
 three 
 
c[ the Anahaft'tfls. 
 
 rhrec Ciiics unto An.ib.iptifm • and to this cfftd they fcnt cei- 
 rain men unto thefc places. In the firft place he fent /rfwrt 
 C.mpfKfc to Amficnum, and commanded liim to be Prince in 
 thrft City, andoidered him John Aiatthixvj of Aliddhbtirg to 
 be his confer t : they Went into //o//W, and hid themfclves at 
 a Sectaries houfc, and therewith- their mifchicvous doftrinc 
 they impoyfoned many, rc-baptized their difciplcs, and fecretly 
 by night held Conventicles and Meetings ., yca,.aUo ihey fcat- 
 tercd their poyfon in the ntighbouring Cities : for in the City 
 of Zr;^f»,inthcmoneth ol J unnarj, in the year following, 
 153 J, many were put to death for Anabaptifm, and for their 
 feduious counfels and cnterprifcs. Moreover, in the end ot 
 tlic year 1 5 34 the King fent into Frifcland, John Gehrs, a fubril 
 man, and well vers'd in arms, he having formerly had charge 
 in the Array ; the King gave him good llore of gold out of the 
 fpoil of the Churches, and gave him in charge to raife an Army 
 in Frife ; and afted fo by certain men that aflifted him, tliat on 
 the 30 of M^rch 1535, he muftered up and raifed an Army, 
 and tooii a Monaftcry, and drave out the Friers, and there 
 quartered liis Camp, until his Army ftiould augment and be 
 complcatcd. George Seheuck who was then Govcrnour of Frife, 
 fpecdily affaulted them as feditious perfons : they vailiantly de- 
 fended thcmfelvcs,but he gained the Vi<5tory and defeated 
 ilicm; but not without great lofs : they were all cut off ex- 
 cept fixty, wlio Were brought to Le*nard, and after were pun- 
 ifticd according to their deferts. Their Captain John GeUn 
 efcaped and fled to y*w/?frd'rf»», to be the author of fome fiu- 
 ther fedicion •, where he found many Anabaptills, whom Jama 
 Camfcnfe had feduced ^ lie promifed them great matters, high- 
 ly exalting the glory and liberty at A^un/ter , magnificently 
 preaching the new raign of righteoufnefs upon earth. For 
 by this time the renown of Munfler was fprcad, which anima- 
 ted the courage of many- feeing fo great an Army had be- 
 fieged them, yea, and had ftormcd them often, with the lofs of 
 many •, and that they faw the Anabaptifts to perfift in their 
 purpoic: many who were dclirous to be freed from their debts, 
 
 D z and 
 
ihcEije^ Spring 4nd Foundation 
 and to triumph, did greatly dcfire to enjoy the liber- 
 ty of Alunfler Hnry Ge/Mi iOuzen of Amjferd^m, a 
 If out man, and of renown for Souldiery, was gained by theA- 
 
 drawn to their party by large promifes, much was wrought by 
 
 whom they intended and attempted to take AmJterdAm, to fet 
 upiheirnnv raign, as they had done at Mimjler: for upon 
 theio of^^y, thefirftandthe chiefeft of them, aflembled 
 
 and had according toa cuftom among them been at a Game. 
 About lo a cIock,the Anabaptifts ran together in the ftreets. 
 
 joHT lives 8u. whofoever will this night be rich and happy, let 
 
 encrcafed more and more, they fleiv part of them who had 
 charge of the watch, and the other part they took prifoners. 
 Now the Otizens alTembled themfelves, and affaulted the Ana- 
 baptifts; but they carried the matter fo ill, as that their Con- 
 ful was flain, and the reft put to flight ; but then they reinfor- 
 ced their ftrength, and gave barte unto the Anabaptifts, who 
 were tlien defeated, though with much blood which then was 
 «ied i among whom John Gtlen, and Henry GeskI were Oain. 
 
 Jamet Crngfenfe was taken, and executed bythe hand of 
 luftice. Afterwards in many parts of thofe places oiH$lUnd, 
 the Anabaptifts raifed tumults and feditions-, not without lofs 
 and great damage unto feveral honeft pcopltf, for they could 
 not keepthemfelyes quiet : for whe»they were defeated in one 
 T^an in another., making in fecret many difciplcs, 
 I for the reftering of the Kingdom unto Ifmel. 
 
 There was a certain man m the Town of Lijden, who being 
 forced unto it by torments, confcffcd that the King of thcA- 
 nabaptifts dwelt in t/rr/fZ-fi but that he was not yet crowned 
 but only defigned to be Prince in the Kingdom of Ifracl : this 
 
tf the Anaiaptifls. 
 ;old, which by evil praAifc he had ftoln -, but alfo guilty of 
 cveral crimes, for which he was executed : there is no doubt, 
 but that by this King they did intend David George. 
 
 In the mean while, although at Munfter their King and Pro- 
 phets had made imto the poor people moft great and magnin- 
 cent promifes ^ yet now every day they were oppreffed widi 
 great neceility, and chiefly through Famine, infomuch as many 
 were ftarved, and died for want of bread. 
 
 The Inhabitants fecretiy refolved to apprehend the King,and 
 to deliver him up unto the Bifliop, and by this means to pur- 
 thafe ^heir peace : the King making doubt hereof, and not 
 cruftingto tuffifelf; he ch<3e twelve men, whom he judged 
 would be moft feithful unto him, and appointed them to be 
 Captains of eich Quarter of the Gry, that he might be in the 
 better reft and afTuiance-, afterwards he promifcd the people, 
 that by Edfitr they (hould be freed and delivered from this 
 fiege, and all their poverty : for he hoped that the Legates 
 which he had fent into /•r/>? and HoUanl, and other Regions, 
 having raifed Soiildiers, would make fomc ftirs ^ and that by 
 this means tile Hege would be raifed before Mnnfter: but he 
 was deceived by his vain hopes, as we have heard ( for there 
 
 s to the Captains which he , 
 
 •Camp (hoold be raifed before the City, he would make tliem 
 great Lords and Princes i and particularly he yave unto fohn 
 Dents the Empire of Saxonj : whereby appeared the bruicini- 
 nefs and Diabolical rage of this pleafant and goodly King Tay- 
 lor , to promife to give that whic i was none of his own j and to 
 take it away from him, to whom God had given it. 
 
 In the Moneth of Febrnarj, the famine was fo great, that 
 many died through hunger and want. One of the Queens ( for 
 there were many) called J?/i/i, out of pity to the People, oc- 
 cafionally faid, Tlut flie did not believe that it was plealTng un- 
 to God, that the people ftiould thus perifh through famine : 
 The King, who had ftorc of good provifion in his houfc, no? 
 o.nly for nccellicy, but alfo to rruKe good cheer , withal know- 
 
 D 3 in 
 
■7 he Rife, Spring and Fontiddiioit 
 ing this, brought her into the Vlarkct place with all the other 
 Queens, and comm-mded them all to fall down upon their knees 
 about her j^and unfheathing his fword heftruclc off her head 
 irom off her (houldcrs ; and not being contented herewith, he 
 reproached her as a bawd : the other wives fell a Tinging after 
 this goodly deed, GUrj bt nuto God in the hl^kefi -, and gave 
 thanks unto the heavenly Father : and then they fell a dan- 
 cing-, the King led the Gailiard, and exhorted the poor people 
 to leap, dance, and to rejoyce alfo, who had nought left but a 
 little bread and fait. 
 
 When£^fr was come, and that there appeared no iign of 
 deliverance, the people were, and that not without caufe, much 
 grieved : The King who all along fed them with fair promifcs , 
 kII flck, and corttinucd fo flx dayes together, that he might 
 cover himfelf with fome excufe : after thofe fix dayes, he came 
 into the Market place, and there (hewing himfelf, ' 
 people, that he had promifed them deliverance .■ 
 fpiritually be underftood, and behold this was the deliverance ^ 
 he faid. That he had rode the blinde Afs, and that the Father 
 had laid upon him the fins of the multitude ^ and tha; he had 
 born them, and taken them away : and that now they were de- 
 livered from all their fins ; which was the deliverance that he 
 bad promifed unto them. Thus mud the poor and miferable 
 people content themfelves, to hear this execrable blafphemy. 
 The blind Afs of this Gallant, whereupon this deviilifh and 
 defperate man rode, was the poor people, that endured and did 
 bear the enormities of fuch a villain, whom they adored. 
 
 ]f we (hould reckon up the miferies, calamities, and other 
 evils which thofe of the City endured, it were a miferable thing 
 to hear : divers who would not bear the famine, fled to the ene- 
 my •, not fo much looking for mercy, as that their pain might 
 be expired by death -. many crawled upon their bellies in the 
 ftreets, and others dyed in the wayes : it was an horrible thing 
 to fee many walking quite ftrippcd of flefh, nothing left but 
 skin upon the bones. Their ears, lips, cheeks, and nofcs were 
 fo fhrunk up.as one might almoft fee day-light through them,as 
 
 throuj^Ir 
 
t>f the Ambaptifis. 
 through a piece of P>tper. Through fceblentfs, they could 
 rotcari7 their bodies: fome went to the enemy difirmsd, 
 naihngaftaff in their hands : whiles provifion laftcd, none 
 talked of going to the enemy • but now when this was fpent, 
 then began tlieir dcfolation and difcontcnt : y« they helpc 
 themfcJves as long as they could : They fowed in the 
 fides of rhe walls, and in all wafte places, rapes, peafe, 
 and fiich feeds, and with this they made fhift to pafs the Sum- 
 mer : But when this crop was fpent, then it was as Vcnifon to 
 them to feed on dogs, rats and mice •, and when the City was 
 taken, there were but two horfes left alive : many were fo pref- 
 fed with hunger, as that they did eat the flefh of dead carcaffes. 
 Finally, they boiled (hoes, old leather, and skins, and beat them 
 together, and put them into a pot, and mingled all forts of mat- 
 ter together, which they could finde : this was inftead of bread; 
 and yet this villain and wicked cheater deceived them, telling 
 them, God tried them, to fee whether they would be faithful 
 and conftani ^ and that certainly the Father would deliver.them 
 in a fliort time. Now they that would depart out of the City, 
 to be delivered from thcfe mifchiefs, were to prcfent themfelves 
 before the King : and there this Robber took from them all 
 that they had -, and when they were ranfacked, he faid. Now 
 get yon gone to the Hercdcks. 
 
 The King had yet provifion of ViAuals in his Palace, for a- 
 bout two Moneths ^ but it was only for his Courtiers. They 
 confultcd how they might yidhial the City. Then there ftood 
 forth one named HMskm Vnndtr Langkffirdtt, he was one of 
 the Kings Secretaries, and one in whom he confided much : he 
 undertook to re-yidual the Gty, and to bring in three hundred 
 Souldiers to their afiiftance, and all in fifteen dayes. He de- 
 parted out of the City, and under this pretence went unto the 
 enemy •, and for a certain fum of money fold the Gty unto the 
 Biftiop, offering to lofe his life if be did not accomplifti it -. the 
 
 day, aptena clock in the night; and that he would open the 
 cite unto them, provided they came without noifc, to the Gate 
 
 of 
 
The Rife^ Sfring i»i Fmnddtion 
 of the Crofs. Then this Purveyour returned unto the City, 
 and comforted the I[ing, telline him. That he had well ordered 
 hfsbu(inefs} and that within ^teen dayes they (bouldhave a 
 recruit of Viduals and Souldiers. When the day was come, he 
 told the Watch, That this night their aid and visuals fliould 
 comci and therefore when they fdw them approach, that they 
 ihould uke heed that they made no noifc, but be very quiet. 
 At the very time appointol, at ten a clock in the night, the Gate 
 was openM, and the enemy entred. They kill'd tne Sentinels, 
 and the Ccrpj dn <7<r</,having got the Word. Being thus entred 
 into the Gty, the Trumpecs found an Alarm -, fuddenly the 
 King and his men put themfelves into a pofture to fight, and to 
 repulfc the enemy back again to the Gate, which was now fliut 
 byfomeof the Citizens. The enemies without broke up the 
 Gates J for they heard how they charged upon their people 
 within -and being now entred in, they difplay their Colours. 
 Thofeof theCicy abode the brunt a little at firft, and were 
 draw;i up in the Market place: the Battel was very great. The 
 King, K nipper doling iaaCrechtinf,.werctikai: xhenRotmjin 
 feeing no hope to efcape^thruil himfelf into the middle of the 
 enemies, and there was run through, becaufe he feared to be 
 taken alive. But when the Anabaptifts heard that their King 
 was taken, their courage failed them, and they hid themfelves 
 here and therein Cellars, holes and Shop-bulks ^ yea, if it had 
 beenpo/Iible, would have ran into moufe-holes. They were 
 ten dayes in pillaging the City, and they found in the Kings Pa- 
 lace provifion for 200 men for two Moneths : whereas the poor 
 people were for a long time ftarvcd. This was called. To have 
 thing! in common; when as fome had to eat, and others were 
 ilarved. This was like Ananm and Sapphires dealing before 
 the Apoftle Peter. 
 
 Thus was the Gty of Munfter taken, the 25 of June 1535. 
 The King was three days after,by a guard of Souldiers br«ught 
 to a Caffle three leagues from the City, called Dnlme. As foon 
 as the Bifhop perceived the King,he cried ouc,Oh thou wretch ! 
 how haft thou brought fpoil and wade to me, and tomypoor 
 
 pcoplc! 
 
of the Amhaptijis. 
 fteople! The King readily and proudly anfwcred, lifting up 
 himfclf anddefpilmgthcBifhop.faid, Pritfl, mh^vcn^tJ^m- 
 nifted thte one mite, but ^t have delivered a ftrong City into thine 
 hAnds, tthich is die to fiand out agAinfi all firength .- yet if fVt 
 h4ve done thee damttge, if thou vilt hearken unto m, ^e^illmake 
 
 ntthf tt,,. ri^L Xk~ o;/l I • _ -1 II ,- . ^ 
 
 laughing, and asked him, how he would do it? The King an- 
 Iwcrcd hira, Get B.ukcts m^de of Iron, and cover them over 7»ith 
 Leather, and pnt me in one of them, and caufe me to he carried 
 through the Coti»try, and let no man fee me, bnt he that {hall give 
 theeapeny; and by this means, thou Jhalt receive more money then 
 thoH hajt /pent in the Jfar. 
 
 The better and raoft holy Anabaptirts hung about their neck»- 
 ihe mark and enfign of their King engraven in Brafs, marked 
 
 fignificd, The tvord was made Flefh. The King had for his Title, 
 I John bj the grace of God, and by vertMe of the new Kingdome to 
 come in the Temple of God, Minifier of Right eoufnefs, &c. 
 
 Thus the King with his two Companions were carried Pri- 
 oncrs here and there unto the Princes, by which means the 
 Minifters of the Lantgrave had opportunity to confer with the 
 Kmg, and to difpute with him about the principal Points, vIk. 
 The Kingdome of Chrift, The Magiftrate, Baptifm, The Incar- 
 nation of our Lord, The Lords Supper, Marriage : and by 
 tdHmonics of Scripture unto them, fo afted, as though in all 
 thmgs they changed not : notwithflanding all the oppofitions 
 they made to defend their opinions, yet they yielded fomewhat ; 
 which the King did (as fome thought) in hope to fave his life : 
 for at the fccond time of tlieir return, he promifed them, if 
 they would grant him his liberty, to fiience the Anabaptift«, 
 which were in great numbers in Holland, Brabant, England^ 
 and Frifeland, and to bring them in fubjeftion to the Magi- 
 ftrate. 
 
 The 20 of Jan. ijj6. the King and his two Companions 
 were brought back to Mnnfler, and put in feveral Prifons •, the 
 two next daycs were fpent in holy Remonftranccs, to reduce 
 
 E thcra 
 
7he Sife^ Spring And FounJathn 
 thera r'lom their errours. The King acknowledged his fm, and 
 bad recourfe to Chrift by prayer : the other two acknowledged 
 not their faults, but flood out. The next day the King was 
 brought forth upon a Scaffold, and tied to a port ^ where were 
 two executioners with hot burning tongs : he indured the 
 
 11 upon the mercy of the Lord. 
 Tbas for a whole hour and more, was he torn and difmembred; 
 and to difpatch him out of the world, he was run through with 
 a fword : his two Companions had the like end* Their bodies 
 were put into iron Cages, and hung upon S. Ltimhtrts Tower, 
 for a perpetual memorial. Let hone think we recite (lories of 
 ^ Anabaptifts, w^ch are not to be believed, by adding there- 
 unto of oar own ; God forbid that we Hiould fo do : for there 
 are many yet living, who were eye-witnelTes of thefe things, 
 and prefent when they were done. I fpeak this, that none 
 night be hindred from getting profit by this HiAory, which is 
 true and certain, and brought to light for the inrtruAion of 
 thefttfltof G»d. 
 
 In the year 153-5. upon the 3 of Ftl>rHArj, in the City of 
 Amfteriam^ in the ftreet of the Satines, in the houfe of one 
 ^thn Si/erty who then yras far from home,there afTcmbled feven 
 men and five women, then called Anabaptifts, among whom 
 there was one called ThntUre Sorttr, who was there infpired ; 
 he lay ftretched out flat upon the ground, for fome fpace <^ 
 ume, before the other brethren and fillers : who in the end a- 
 wakened •, and prayer being made with great gravity, or rather 
 fair hypocrifir, he then faid, That he had feen God in his Ma je- 
 (ly -, alfo that he had a vifion of all things in heaven and in 
 hell -, and that the great day of Judgement was now come : 
 Afterwards he pulled off all his garments, not leaving fo much 
 as to cover his ftnmcful parts witnall. He commanded che cefl 
 of his brethren and fillers to follow his example, upon this pre- 
 tence, for faid he, Tke chlldnn of Gtd muftfiriy thmfilves, md 
 fut ejf ^ttlhtfiivtr ia mtide, <rW ^1$ tf the turth ( im/fmuch m 
 ttwm mmikii., tmd cmntt abide tt bt wr/ipptd tff in <mf thing : 
 
 thtrtfort. 
 
■ 9[ the Andiftifls. 
 t':n,fcyi, ta pjtw thmfdvts vtritdic and trMf,imi^ht tOHticlothf 
 I ■:!'vjilvrt. The poor people hearing this, put off their clothes , 
 and being no waycs afhamed, became quite naked. Tht$iierc 
 commjixJeJ them all to imitate him : he leapt out of doors in- 
 to the publick quite nailed, as alfo did the rdt of the men and 
 u'o.Tiai, who tollowed him, crying after an horriWe manner, 
 ff'c, Wo, \|(), Dhini vingettnce. Divine vengunct, &e. and in 
 tliis manner they ran furioufly through the City, like mad peo- 
 ple, crying out fo hidtoufly as never was known. 
 
 Tiien the Citizens ran to take arms (for they knew not whe- 
 ther the City were fiirprizcd by enemies, or wlutwoddbe- 
 tome ot" this l^r.^ Finally, thefe impudent people were taken 
 bang quitr naked ; and being queRioned upon the 5 o( March, 
 theft If vcn men were beaten and fcourgcd ; the firft of them 
 cried out, Pritift the Lord for evermore : another faid, Ltrdy 
 <t/«r/f the Hood of thine : the third. Open joter ejts^ &c. the 
 fourth faid, »D, Wo. Afterwards the women were brought to 
 puniftiment : when they were taken, they offered them gar- 
 ments, but they rejeAed them, faying. That the trtah mght to 
 ht xjk^d. What men ever heard of fuch impudency or fury f 
 In tlic ancient ftories we reade of Adamites, who alfo went na 
 icd i bur it ^'i^ only anwng themfelves, and at their Feftival 
 da) es : bur thefe far furpafs them. 
 
 When Aim faw himfelf naked, he fought for covering; and 
 /inding nothing more fit then leaves, he made ufe of thofe of 
 a f igtree : but thefe, when as garments were tendrcd unto 
 them, they refufed them ■ and like dogs ran without flume. 
 Behold what befallcth tnofethat leave the word of God, to 
 cleave unto dreams and Satanical illufions ! but bchoU their 
 madnefs, in that they dare attribute fo much villany unto the 
 holy Spif't of God, and to make him the author of their na- 
 kcdnefs .- they ought to have in remembrance, wiili what gra- 
 vitv the Apoftlc/''«/commandeth women to haw their l^ds 
 covered in the Church : what would he have faid if he had 
 fccn or known women to run without (ham* auite aaked like 
 Bicchcs who commanded that women apparel ihcmfelTCS in dc" 
 ' E 2 cent 
 
iheBife, Spring indFoupdaiicn 
 
 cent habit, with fhamcfac'dncfs and modeftv ? 
 
 The things which were done by thefe'Anabaptifts in the 
 Towns of St. G4ll'\a Switt-trUnd, are not Icfs hideous nor hor- 
 rible then thefe, whereof we have already heard. For in the 
 year 1526, two brethren which came out of the fame womb, 
 Thomas znd LeoH4rd Schiiker, inhabiting neer unto the town 
 called Mklltg J the 7. of FebrMurj, by night there affembled a 
 great nombn: of Anabaptiftsin their Fathers houfe, whofpent 
 all the night in preaching and doing marvelous deeds, and re- 
 ceiving of vifions : atSun-rifing, upontheSof f^^rKz/rj, 7"^o- 
 WMs took his brother Ltonari^ and let him in the midft of his 
 kindred, and of all the company, commanding him to fail down 
 upon his knees : now as the refl admoniflied him, to do no un* 
 befeeming thing unto his Brother, he anfwered them. That 
 they needed not to fear, for he (houlddo nothing there, but the 
 will of the Father : in the mean while unlheathing a Sword he 
 cut off his brothers head, who was upon his knees before them 
 all. As all the company were fmitten with great fear, and 
 made great and lamentable complaints, Thtmas who had com- 
 mitted this Murther, fuddenly flyeth out of the Town, ufing 
 horrible behaviours, as thecuftom of the Anabaptifts is to do. 
 
 This Enihufiaft at that time came before the Conful in the 
 town of St. Gall. Mr. fodchim Vadian^ an excellent man and re- 
 nowned for piety and laming, being prcfent, this Anabaptiit 
 cryed out fearfully before him, Thidaj of the Lord is at hand, 
 the inj if the Lord comtth : he added further, that at the break 
 of day, there had been fome great thing done, ( but that he 
 concealed the matter) and that the will of the Father was ac- 
 compli{hed,andthatithadbeenfteepedinGali and Vinegar.- 
 the Conful reproved him, and chid him (harply.becaufe ot his 
 fury and immoderate cry es, commanding him to cloach him- 
 felf,and to return to his houfe, and to behave himfelf peaceably. 
 
 an^ put to death, ^ Thiis poor Acabapcift had forgot the Do, 
 
 ftrine 
 
of the Anahfitifts. 
 :of chcApoftlc, 1 foh.i.\i, &c. butGodby hisrightc- 
 
 s judgement and providence, fuffercd fuch villanous and exe- 
 crable deeds to be committed by thefe perfons,that thefe wayes 
 may be abominated. -, 
 
 There was found at Apfafd in the Country of Svit^trUnd, * 1^^' ^'i^*^' 
 a woman, a fifter of this Sed, who taught and perfwaded many 
 of her brethren, that (he was Chrift the Meffiah of women, 
 and chofc twelve Apoftles. 
 
 That befalleth thefe pcrfons, which is common to fuch aj 
 once ftray, and turn afidc from the right path, and the good 
 old way : by how much further they arc off and diftant from 
 the right path, and the more progrefs they make •, fo much 
 the farther do they wander fifom the right way ; after that they 
 had built the Tower of Babtl^ God fo confounded their lan- 
 -•,uagc, that they underftood not one another ; and they are 
 ivided among themfelves, yea, they have damned and excom- 
 municated one another, and made divers Churches apart,with- 
 out familiarity or communion together. But not to weary the 
 Reader with fuch diverfity, ] flialT only name fifteen. 
 
 1. In the fir ft place, there is Thomu Mnntw with his 
 rout. 
 
 2. There arc the Apoftolical ones, as they call themfelves, 
 
 3 . Tlic Spiritual ones, and feparated from the world. 
 
 4. The holy and finlcfs ones : thefe are the Prefeftifts. 
 
 5. TheSilcntiarics, 
 
 6. The Praying ones, and wholly trufting in God. 
 
 7. The Enthufiafts. 
 
 8. The great free Libertines. 
 
 9. The Brethren Huttikes. 
 * 10 The Auguftinians. 
 
 11. The Glorians, and Triumphant Aiiabaptifts oiMimfitr^ 
 
 12. Thofe of Melchior Hefm4i$. 
 
 13. The Mcherlandcrs. 
 
 14. The Mennonitcs, thedifciplcs of Minno Simons. 
 
 I J. The Franniques, which alfo within thefe fewdaycsarc 
 
 divided. 
 
 E } I-ct 
 
ihetii^iSfringsniFtundation 
 Let us now come to behold fome of their ftrance opinions; 
 
 We null begin with 7'&iiiM//fMt«r, of whom mention was 
 madeintheoeginningof the Hiftory. 
 
 Brftiy, He wrote and uught puWickly, that iheMinifters 
 and Preachers of the Gofpel, were not fent of God : and that 
 they preached not the true word of God, but were Scribes 
 andPharifees, preaching only the dead Letter of the Scri- 
 pture. 
 
 Moreover, he (aid. That the writing of the Old Teftamenr, 
 and the preaching of the eternal word, was not the word of 
 God, but was only the teftimony thereof: and that we mull 
 fcardi for the word in the internal part, i.i. in our hmrts, 
 ^ .. L .. L J ifertofcekit from 
 
 ^MiB f iiif^^i tti Jjav Mi^SiiS 
 
 .h by the Scriptures and preaching, but they are very f; 
 off: for ail the Scriptures lead us huher, that we rauft be 
 uught and learned of God, M6.45. //xi.54.1 j. Jer 3 1.34- 
 It was very needfiil for thefe Anabaptifts, to begin here to 
 fet up their Sed and FaAion : they muft fay and plainly affirm, 
 that the Minifters are not fent of God, that they might the 
 morevrithdraw the poor people from them. The Reafons 
 which move them fo to fpea*, as they pretend, are P*uls 
 
 by the Apoftle ftieweth it is needful for the Minifter to approve 
 his calling by purity of life, otherwife it will be vain andfalfc; 
 alfo the Bifliop muft be unblameable. Our new Mennonifts 
 and Franniques are of the fame opinion. But in the mean 
 
 I rTwi I TiTTTaJ irT*" •Tn'En* KTI'l'ij 
 
 iHiMiiiiiimu ' 
 
 fet up their own works and righteoufnefles, and pharifee-like 
 to judge & condemn all fuch as do not as many works as they ? 
 It is many times fo, that Harlots will boaft themfelves more of 
 their chaftity then honeft Matrons: fo it was with the falfeA- 
 
 uSi I J r+E4'C7L3.5liilHi 
 
 Cfariftintodifrepute-, tbeyfo 
 lowlinefs.as if theirueApoftleswercinnowifetobecompa- 
 
 red 
 
of tht Ambafti^s. 
 red with them. ButtlieApofile is in no wife aftoniflied at 
 their vain and foolift braggings ^ yea, he plainly derided them. 
 
 ^ith ftm who cmmtnd thimftlvts : ht thtj mttfuring themfdva 
 hthmftlvet, Mi comforinithemfilveJ with thmfclvesMrrnot 
 iiff as if the Apoftlclhould have faid, they fo pleafe them- 
 felves in themfdves, that they think and efteem, that there arc 
 noneintheWorld«iualortobe compared with themfelves: 
 they confidernot the gifts wherewith others are endued, but 
 their fight is fo fixed upon themfelves and thar own fair deeds, 
 as that they are perfwaded, that they are the only ones^ and the 
 None-fuch in the world. In the mean while, the Apoftle lively 
 
 ers, tUfguifing themfelves into Apoftlcs of Chrifti and no 
 marTtl, faith Se, for Satan transformethhimfelf into an Angel 
 of Mghti itisBO great matter then, if his Minifters trans- 
 form thnnfelves into theMinifters of righteoufnefs : whofe 
 end (hall be according to thar works Moreover, who know- 
 cth not well, that DoArine far furpaffcth works? foas if the 
 Doftrinebenot found, pure, and true j the works, how holy 
 and fair foever they may be, will never prove the calling of a 
 falfe Prophet, that he is fent from God. 
 
 If it were lawful for us to boaft, it rtiould not be in our fan- 
 
 he pur m«cy' of God through JefusChrift: if fobe that 
 Villty andhoneftyof life, were the true fign of thevocauon 
 To^Miniftry, it would follow, that all honefl and good pco- 
 
 tobefalfc,iC»r.7.io. nor can it be i --^ _ 
 
Tfce Rjj"«, S piflg dpi TtuniMm 
 not fpoken to give occafion to make Minifters negligent ^ (God 
 forbid:) but the exhortation of the ApoftlePW, isalwayes 
 necefljrvtr -'-*'■ '"' ^ • - /• • • 
 
 true am 
 
 It is well known bur Minifters arecallc 
 
 and calling upon the Name of God, according to Apoftolical 
 inftitiition, and are confirmed in their Office by impofition of 
 hands : what reafon is there for ihcfe SeAaries to fay. That 
 their Minifters are called of God, but ours onely by the world 
 and men? if their Minifters have a fpecial calling as the Apo- 
 ftJes had, let them prove it by figns, miracles, ^fts of tongues, 
 and Apoftolical Doarine, as they did : The Church hath no 
 need of your Minifters ^ for the Dodrine of Repentance, A- 
 mendment of life, and of Remi/Gon of fins in the Name of 
 Chrift, is abundantly declared in the Churchof Chrift : to teach 
 
 ftrine,tben you and your Dodrine is accurfcd, and not to be 
 heard. 
 
 I ihall fay no other thing, then what the Apoftle Paul before 
 Ibake to the like glorious Minifters as theirs be, (7*/. i . 1 8. If 
 their fpirit be fo ful^of knowledge and light, fo as they cannot 
 contain themfelves from preaching without calling • why do 
 they not preach where the Gofpcl was never yet declared ? they 
 infinuate themfelves into fuch places, where the Gofpe! hath 
 been preached to the people, with great labour and hazard of 
 life unto the poor Minifters.It is a marvel,liow they will vonch- 
 fafe to enjoy, and partake of the labours of thofc Minifters, 
 whom they fo much hate : they fecretly by fraud and deceit fe- 
 duCjp and difturb in fuch places the poor flieep of Jefus Chrift, 
 which ought not to be withdrawn from their true Paftors. I 
 pray all the Flock of Chrift, not to give heed to fuch ftrangers, 
 but rather hearken to the voice of the Apoftle, i Thrjf. 5. 12, 
 13. Hfb.iiwj. 
 
 ThcfeSedaries do defame and reproach the Minifters, and 
 fpcak all evil of them ; but it is becaufc thpy touch them at the 
 
 quick ■ 
 
4 the ArniAftijls. 
 quick i becaufe they cry out upon thefc Wolves, and pluck the 
 
 . -., , . link ftrange that the Salt bitctli 
 
 and pricketh, and maketh it felf to be Salt : the Salt biteth not 
 where there is no wound, but it is felt where there is a raw 
 place. It will appear then, that they have loft their fpiritual 
 ftnfes, who fay. That our Atinifien are not cMlltdof God : God 
 hath out fingular honour upon the Minifters -, yea,what greater 
 could he put upon them, then by faying, He that heareth yon, 
 hearethme-^ and he that rtjtaeth you, rtjtEltthnuf the Lord not 
 only by words , hath recommended the Minifters unto the 
 Church , but alfo by example, hath fliewn what honour and 
 reverence all ought to have them in. The holy Ghoft could 
 have taught the Ethiopian Eunuch without the Miniftry of man, aSs 8. 
 but he would maintain this order. 
 
 So Cornelim, God could have taught him by the Angel, but ^H^ lo ^ 
 he is bid» fend for Peter. When our Lord called PW, he 
 could have inftnided him himfelf, yet he is fent to a mortal 
 man, to receive the Dodlrine of Salvation, andBaptifm: be- 
 hold, a cafe which fell not out by raftinefs, that an Angel of 
 God ftiDuld withdraw from entring upon the Miniftry, and ^<^' 9 1 
 ftiould fend him to a man, a Minifter, to preach unto him. Who 
 wiih a good Confdence dare then defpife the true>liniftry, fo 
 ^ highly honoured of God -, and to difguft men from the fame, 
 and to caufe men to run after thofe which were not lawful Mi- 
 nifters, but thieves, robbers, and grievous Wolves, which fpare 
 not the flock of our Lord Jefus Chrift ? 
 
 Let us now come to the fecond Point : Mitnt^jr, after he 
 hadfpuedouthispoifon againft the poor Minifters of Chrift, 
 he falls upon the word of the eternal God i and there, that he 
 may leave nothing intire, with open throat he fpits out his 
 blaljphemies. It is no marvel if he fall upon the Minifters of 
 the Word, to fpeak evil of them, feeing he dareth fooutragi- 
 oufly tofet himfelf agaioft tlie very mouth of God : Behold 
 ins own words. 
 
JhiRife^ Sfmg dtii FoundAt'm 
 That toe Scrifttirts of the Old Mtd New Tefiamut, Md the ex- 
 ttrntlfreMhiHg «f the Vford, it not the »»ri of Ged ^ 'Mui thM m 
 mnfi ftmrch forthe^orl, in the internal p/trt in the heart •, and 
 that the Afinifiert art nmeh deceived, thinking that faith comtth 
 h reading ef the Serif tmres,or ij hearing them preached •, feeing all 
 the Scriptnre faith, that thej fiall he tanght of God. Thcfe are 
 his own woras. 
 
 We plainly confcfs, and are not fo ignorant (thanks be to 
 God) and who knoweth not, that the external word, i.r.that 
 the Letters written with ink upon paper, by the hand of the 
 Writer -, and that the voice founding out of the mouth, is not 
 the Word of God, iiiafmuch as it is written and fpoken by 
 nun } yet we do notwithftanding affirm, that the fenfe of thefe 
 words written, and fpokien by the mouth of the Minifter, is 
 thetrueandindubitabkWordof God: as it more plainly ap- 
 ,^,8. peareth, where the Prophet feremiah commandeth Saruch to 
 write from his mouth *'/ the words of the Lord. The words of 
 ferenriah written with ink in a Book, are called the Word fif 
 the Lord. 
 
 How often do we hear in the Prophets, Thiu fmth the Lord; 
 reade thefe Scriptures : ftr. 2$. 1 5. Jtr. 20. 33. i Pet. i, 23. 
 Ifa.40.6. xThcff. 2. 13. I>»tf.io.i8. Jtat4.iu AStt.z. 
 
 asijS, 14, ay. Jiatii.x. ARt 13.5.7.25- -^ff' 17-13. 
 
 ASit 18. II. Hek 13. 7- £fH- 1- 1 J. We ought rather to 
 give credit to fo many evident Teftimonies of Scripture, then 
 unto fuch Ravers, who do nothing but rave and dream. 
 
 Ainmztr careth not for that, but dareih give the Apoftle 
 iVfrthclye. Now they which leave the Scriptures, finding 
 out another means to come unto God, through pride, they are 
 deprived of their fenfes. They pretend onto Revelations of 
 the Spirit; and defpifing all reading, they mock atthefunple- 
 nefc of thofe, which yet follow the dead and killing Leaer (as 
 they call it.) By what fpirit is it, by infpiration whereof they 
 are fo highly rapt, as that they dare rejeft all the DoArmeof 
 the Scriptures, asababiftandchildiftjthing? They fey. It is 
 the Spirit of God •, but it is plain mockery fo to fpeak. For 
 - ' ' thev ■ 
 
eftht Atidhaptijis. 
 they muft needs grant us, that the Apoftles and the faithful in 
 the Fdhitive Church, wcreinfpired by the Spine of Chtiil j 
 yet none of ihemdurft contemn the Word of God^ and the 
 
 are furni(hed with many teftiraonies from the Old Tdtament : 
 and certainly thus was it promifcd by God, through the mouth 
 of the Prophet, 7/^. J9. 2 1 • where we fee, that the Lord joyn- 
 ed thefc two together, his tfird and his Sftrit : wherefore 
 (hould we feparate, what God hath by an iavwlable bond con- 
 
 ^° Moreover, PmI, who was rapt up into the third heaven,'- O^i^-^- 
 and there heard things unlawful for man to utter, notWKh- 
 ftanding, gave not over diligent reading, nor profetng by the 
 Books of the Old Teftament , Commanding Timth «> brmg 
 
 Yea, he exhorts Timothy, who though h> ^ '■ ■^tim.^.n- 
 
 Teacher, and well inftruftcd in the holy Scriptures, to give 
 himfelf to reading ; and what praife doth he put upon the Scri- 
 pture ! 2 Tim. 3.16. I would ask thcfe men, whether they have 
 received another Spirit, then our Saviour promifed to give his 
 Difciples? they will not dare to vaunt of another fpirit : now 
 
 what Spirit our Saviour promifed to fend unto his Difdples, he 
 
 r ... . r «... ».. • o. ■_•./».//_-. /x.^pjrj,j^j^ig 
 
 \f9r- 
 
 .„ . "him^ It is not the Office of the holy Spirit, that 
 
 which Chrift promifed, to dream of dreams, of new and un- 
 known ReveUtions, or to hold forth new Doarine: *»«>« »s 
 the work of the Spirit of God, to confirm us in that which be 
 hathah-eadyfpoken, by the Prophets and Apoftles ^ feeing alfo 
 that the Lord promiTeth not to fend us another DoArine, fay- 
 ing. Hold fsfl that which thoM hafi, mmHI I come, Revel.2.24. 
 <?<!/. I. 8,9. whereby it appeareth, that we ought diligently to 
 travel, as well in hearing, as in the reading of the holy Scri- 
 pture, if we will feel the benefit and fruit of the Spirit of God. 
 Zl»i^^ acknowlcdeeih the diligence of thofcof Btru in fcarch- 
 
 F 2 «ng 
 
Iheltifty Sfmg Mdroundatlon 
 ing the Scriptures, AH/ 17.1 1. To this purpofe tendthefe 
 Scriptiyes: z Pet. t.\9. >*»J. 39. Liikfj^.ii. M0t^A,.A,. 
 Eph.6.i6. M4t.z2.19. Luke 24.27. /»ii» 2.22. 
 
 And PmI would have a Biftiop to hold faft the faithful word, 
 TitM 1.9, &c. Apoljoj was mighty in the Scriptures, &c. 
 ASs 14.24,28. 
 
 If it were otherwife, Bqw could we take heed to the deceits 
 of Satan, who duly transformcth himfelf into an Angel ot 
 light i whereupon (hould our tiich reft > we (hould be carried 
 to and fro without any ftabiiity. 
 
 But they do alledge, Jt vcere a great nbfurditj to fuhjcEl tht 
 holy Sfirit tmto the Scriftiirts, to Xfhom all things are to be fuh- 
 jtilfJ. 
 
 As if it were aihameand ignominy to the holy Ghoft, to 
 be alway like unto himfelf, and to be conftant in the fame word 
 without wavering at ail. If any (hould reduce the Spirit to 
 an Humane, or any other Rule, it were debafed, yea brought 
 into fervitude : but when we fay. That the holy Ghoft having 
 oncefpoken, is not mutable, and changeth not difcourfe Cnow 
 fpeaking one thing, and then another, as men are wont to do) 
 who will fay, that we offer any injury to the holy Ghoft ? 
 
 But they fay. He if by this meant examitud., which belongeth 
 not n«to ttun to do. 
 
 It is very clear, that it is fuch an examination, as he hath 
 picafed to eftabfifli in the Church -, that we may not receive the 
 fphit of Satan inftead of him : wherefore it muft needs be, 
 that the Spirit abide for ever, fuch as once he hath revealed and 
 manifefted himfelf to be in the holy Scriptures : It is no (hame 
 nor opprobry to the Spirit, for any to fey of him. That it is no 
 di(hononr for him not to be mutable, nor to renounce himfelf. 
 As for that which they tax the Minifters, to be Minifters of the 
 dead letter, one may plainly fee the Lords taking vengeance up- 
 on the outrage offered unto his holy Word ^ fmiting them 
 withafpirit of giddinefs, for having defpifed the true and on- 
 ly means of coming unto God, which is the Scripture and the 
 Word of God. In the paflage of the Corinthians where 
 
9f the Auahftifis. 
 
 PMl[juih,The letter, {uieth, ttii the Spirit auickineth; let any 
 elofelyconfidcr,againrt whom the Apoftle difputeth, and thcy^'*''^ 
 will underftand his drift. It is very evident that PmI in this 
 place, had to do with falfe Apoftles, who preached and extolled 
 the Law without Chrift, and caufed the people to recoil from 
 Salvation purchafed by Chrift, and the grace of the new Cove- 
 nant, whereunto the Lord had promifed to write his Law in the 
 -0 Jieart of the faithful-, the Law then being feparated from /« ^x ^. 
 Chrift, as a body without a foul j and nothing cometh from it ^--A 1 1 : 9- 
 but death, to thofe that are under it : it doth nothing but beat^^'^^,3'^■ 
 and ftrike the ears, without any quickening the foul, until by"*^ ''"^ 
 faith we are fent from it unto Chrift, as firom the Ufticr unto 
 the Mafter j and then the Law will be found fuch as David 
 fingsit, The Limof the Lord it f erf eii^ converting the foul ^ ^^■'^ pO.'.i9 E. 
 teftimoty of the Lord is faithful., making ^ife thefimfle : the com- 
 mandments of the Lord are right, rejojcing the he.irt,8cc. Thus 
 muft we underftand how it is faid. The Letter killeth : Paitl 
 caileth the Law, The killing Letter, and Cuth, The Spirit quick- 
 ncth i I. e. The Miniftry of the Gofpei, which he oppofeth 
 unto the naked Law -, and be himfelf caileth his preaching. 
 The Miniftry of the Spirit: we muft not underftand this place 
 as (hofe dreamers, who as often as they meet with an obfcure 
 
 kimMffi^BM i Mfi.yJffl 
 
 pture tnis killeth, but we muft come to the Spirit, i. e. to forge 
 
 "■f.iailHi^Mifl.'i'*sjt|^lj^lHIHB||]tjij^g[.^-j^|^-^'/j«j||ff4 
 
 fee in reading the fame Chapter, 2 Cor. 3. 8] It is then wret- 
 chedly and wickedly done, to caft off the Scripture upon fuch 
 pretence of the Spirit, feeing our Lord giveth us his Spirit to 
 underftand his word : as we fee Chrift opened the underftand- 
 ing of the two Difciples, not by making them wife in ihcm- 
 fclves, nor fetting them to look for a new kindc of word, or 
 natural and innate in them, in rejeAing the Scriptures j but 
 that they might underftand the Scriptures. After this manaci 
 the Apoftle Fanl exhorteth the Thcflalon-ans not to quench the 
 Spirit ; he would not have ihem fly in the air, after vain and un- 
 
 F 3 profitable 
 
ihe Rife^ Sfring ind Fiunditien 
 
 profitable fpeculadons, without the word of God, butconfc- 
 
 qiienty he ^ddcth, «/./;,/, wr^ro^ifo*: thereby (hewing, that 
 
 p/-4/.iM,o, *''f"i'^5'P'f«.«q"«nchcd,and fuffocated, when Propherie is 
 
 / ">««>^rc,eAed ■ what will thofe poor Souies anfwer, who have 
 
 re,c«ed the lanthor n, which God hath given to be a light unto 
 
 God tauft work internally, to beget faith in u$; now this is 
 *»nein good order by the preaching of the Gofpel, as appears 
 
 d opened her heart, to underftand the things which 
 
 «s defers, and not tilled, it is loft, without produang fruit: but 
 ^t »«J. on the contrary, falling upon foil tilled and well manured, it 
 brings forth fruit in abundance. So the word of God, if it 
 fall uponihe hard and rebellious brain, it remaineth without 
 fruit, as upon ftony foil j but upon a heart prepared by the 
 operaaon of the Holy Gholt, then it brings forth much fruir 
 and as the Husband-man when he hath fown his feed, he can do 
 no more, he cannot make his grain to grow, but leaveth it to 
 God : fo muft the Minifters do ; when they have preached and 
 fown the Word of God, they cannot^ake it grow, they muft 
 -,; . 7 commend it unto God ; as the Apoftk faith. He that fUnteth h 
 mthtnr^MdbetbMtwttertthisnathinf,hit it it God that mnfi 
 give the iKcredfi : hedothnotlherArerejeahim that plant- 
 eth, nor him that watereth, that is to fay, the external Mini- 
 fters j forhefoonaddeth. We are co-workers or labourers 
 
 inafmuch as God maketh ufe of them as inftruments, and he 
 
 Ifather of thefeAnabaptifts, and that there is no rea 
 fon in his fpeecb. 
 
 pur Mennonifts have condemned theic Father in this point. 
 
#/ the Anthaftijls. 
 notwkhftanding there be ochers who maintain this opinion, or 
 
 bajtian FrMtjM, who this day do renew the queftion : yea, 
 fomt little fpacc of time fince, one of the chief of that Sed, 
 whofe name I (hall forbear to declare, in the City o( Frdni^fort^ 
 before feveral honeft people told me, and with might and main 
 maintained, with divers of his difciples, That the earth never 
 bare a more abominable Idol, then that which is called the 
 title J and that all the World doted upon it, looking therein 
 for the word of God, whereas wc ftiould look for it in our 
 hearts : and one of them redoubled it, and faid in the prefcnce 
 of Mr. jilofie and of us all, What do you talk fo much of the 
 Scripture! lafliireyouonmy part, I have learned more by 
 feeing a Hen er a Capon killed, then ever I learned by all the 
 So-mons and LeAurcs of the Books that ever I read. Unto 
 whom I anfwered. It muft needs be that you eat often of Hens 
 and Capons, feeing you have learned fo much by their death : 
 but I pray you, faid I, What good did you eve^earn thereby ? 
 lie anfwered,That he had learned to know.the obedience which 
 Jefus Chrift rendred unto God his Father upon the Crofs ; and 
 that as the fowl was flain J^ithout making refinance, and that 
 for the good and life of Ifcn-, fo was Jefus Chrift flain for 
 the life of mankinde : it was faid then unto him. How do you 
 know that ever there Was fnch an one as Jefus Chrift, aad that 
 he died for man ? do you finde that written in the Capons 
 belly ? the Turks alfo do kill Capons, bat they cannot reade 
 there, that Chrift was their Saviour. In the end they were ve- 
 ry angry, and like people deprived of their fences, when thej' 
 were nampered by the word of G«d, and by their wvn reafons. 
 What man is there that would noc wonder at fuch footifli and 
 irrational difcourfe ? is it not juft that fuch people (hould be 
 fo handled, feeing they have rejeftedthe word of the living 
 God, which the Angels themfclves defire to pry into, that tiny 
 fhould be fcni to School unto the bruit beafts. 
 
 Further,! come to the Propofition of Mmtz^, who faith. 
 That the Minlfiert are mttch (icc(ive(i-> thiHkirf^ thtit Fsith fomth 
 
7he Rife, Spring and foundstiott 
 
 h ^'"'"'"i^^^'ithM it is Vfritten, Brother /htll not teach Brother 
 afiymore,f4jiing, Knt^ the Lord; for thej JhM nil kpov me, 
 I from^ the leafi to thegre«tefi of them, being «Ut4Hght of God. 
 
 ^«/*. It Minillers be deceived by fo thinking, then wasPWalfo 
 
 R}-n. 10. 14, n: deceived j for he thus fpake, How Ml they believe, &c. vea, he 
 
 But one may eafily fee their pretence, which is. Totally to mak 
 void the Scripture, and the Miniftry of the Gofpei, to come 
 unto Revelations, We have already fliewed that God will 
 inllruft men by Minifters, Rom. 10,8. the Eunuch is fent to 
 Philip, Cornelitu to Peter, PmI to Ahmim, &c. As for that 
 paflageof the Prophec, where it is faid. Brother lh*ll not teach 
 brother; &c. the Lord would not hereby banifti from out of 
 the Church the Minirtry of the Word, (God forbid; to draw 
 men after Vifions and Revelations : Now they fail, in that they 
 do not narrowly look into the place -, for the Prophet doth not 
 fay totally, that they (hall not teach no more ; but thcfe are 
 his WOrds,ThefHall teach no more, fajing^Knorv the Lord: as 
 if he fhould fay. Ignorance (hall not poffefs the judgements 
 and under (landings of men, as formerly when they knew not 
 who the Lord was: yea, even ii^is reftauration of the 
 Church, thetrueknowledgeof GoPfhould become fo com- 
 mon and vulgar, that all (hould know how that the Son of 
 God, who is the lively image of the Father, is defcended here 
 below upon earth, to be united unto us, being made our Bro- 
 ther to guide us unto eternal life. We know there is a double 
 ufeof Teaching: one is for thofe who are altogether igno- 
 rant, to whom the firft rudiments, as points of Catechrfm, arc 
 to be held forth : there be others, who being entred in, mufl 
 make further progrefs. Seeing then that none hath fo profited, 
 but that he hath need further to be taught, fo it is the greateft 
 )art of our wifdome to bttrome teachable. Paul (heweth 
 low we (hould profit by tteching, if we would be Chrifts Di- 
 rf- ',415. ftiples, flying, That God hath conftituted Paftors and Teach- 
 ers, c^c. that we be not unfbble, children, tofTcd to and fro 
 v.'ich all winds of ftrange dodrinc, &c. whereby it appcareth, 
 
 thac 
 
of the Affdtaptijfi. 4T 
 
 tlut the Prophet never intended to bereave their Cliurdi of an 
 ornament foprcaious and neceffary : The Prophet oncly woukt 
 rellus,that God would maniiell himfelf tofmallandgreat.and 
 that the Church ftiould have children inftrufted and taught of 
 God.as waspromifed by IfdUh. This paffage then, is very clear 
 behoid.the Prophet faith, Thej jhAtl no more tt.ich every tMn hu 
 neighboHr^fajinX, Know the Lird ; and why ? becaufe, faith he, 
 / will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their in- 
 ivard parti : he doth not re eft the external Miniftry of the 
 Word, but he (heweth, that the knowledge of God cometh not 
 properly by the labour and travel of men, but it is becaufe the 
 Lord CTigraveth the Law of his Word in the underftanding : 
 Miniftcrs by their preaching ftrike upon mens ears ■, and God 
 by engraving his Law, worketh upon and teachcth their hearts, 
 as he dealt with Lydia at PaKlt preaching. Therefore it is, Aa.i6n- 
 that Jefus Chrift, John 6.4 j. feeing the Jews to murmure, and 
 ftorraagainftthe external Miniltry of the Word, faith. Nam 
 can come unto me, exceft the Father \Yho hath fent me draw him : 
 It is written in the Prophets, And they {hall all be taught of God -, 
 Vehofoever then hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh unto 
 me. Chrift thereby ftiewcth, that thofe who have heard, and 
 learned of the Father, do not difdain and rejed the Miniftry -, 
 but they come unto it, and receive profit thereby : and all this 
 (hewctn, tliat we are of our felves altogether indifpofed to 
 come unto this khowledge of God -, for otherwife God would 
 not promife, to caufe us to walk in his ftatutes • and if it were 
 in our own power fo to do, and that neither great ones by 
 their wifdom, not little ones by reafon of their ignorance can 
 mount fo high, unlefs by the Holy Ghoft they be drawn : Be- 
 hold, the true fenfe of the place, fo wofully corrupted by thefc 
 firft Anabaptifts, and all they pretend unto, tends not, but after 
 they have deprived the Church of the Miniftry, and the preach- 
 ing of the Word, to open the door unto Vifions and Dreams, 
 as they already have (hewn at Munfler and Amfierdam, as 
 MuHtier their firft father had begun unto them. Was it not 
 a pleafing thing to hear this alwaycs founding from their 
 
 G mouths. 
 
Iht Rijt^Sfring AndFanndation 
 months, The Spirit haih revealed it unto me, The Father hath 
 commanded me ? and when any brought a teftimony of Scrip- 
 ture contrary to their dreams and virions,ruddenly they replied. 
 What have we to do wiihthe dad Letter, feeing we have the 
 lively word of God imprinted in a living fpirit ? as if the holy 
 Gbnft, who is the Author of the holy Scriptures, could con- 
 tradiA himfelf. The Apoflle faul forefeeing* that fuch Sefts 
 would rife up, who would defpife the preaching of the Word ^ 
 he adjureth nis Difdple Timtthj before God ami the Lord Je- 
 fus, who (hajl judge both quick and dead, to preach the Word, 
 and to be inftaot in feafon &c. Satan knoweth, that he mutt 
 take off men from the Miniftry of the Word, when he will have 
 them at his beck, to pat into their heads what (hall feem good 
 unto him : and therefore his labour is to bring men unto this, 
 that they mwht hold nothing certain •, but that they finally be- 
 ing difturbedand anceriain he might make them defpair.Tbus in 
 the bMinoinfi he wrought with our Mother Eve, denying the 
 exprctt word of God : the Lord had faid, In the iUj thdtjM eta 
 thereof, j9ii/i4{JJ^e the dtdth. The Devil on the contrary denyeth 
 it, and faith. No, no, you (hall not dye: fo now he laboureth to 
 take from our eyes the word of God^ but what may we look 
 for afterwards, but chat we may be confounded, not knowing 
 what fideto turn unto? For if we acknowledge no more the 
 Scriptures to be the true word of God, which aj the Apodle 
 PMMliait\rV4jbtftn time vritten fur M,thir we through t*- 
 tieneeMneicanfoUth»of the Seriftiiret, might have hope-, wfiat 
 will our eAatc be f certainly we (ball be more miferabe then 
 the beads •, aod we mud give up oar fclves to Dreams and 
 Fables, as thofe who have rejcAed this light, and mud perifh 
 wofully. 
 
«f the Anabaftifls. 
 
 of the Hreamsofthe Aji4bapifis^and how they are cm- 
 icmned bj the Word of Cod. 
 
 MVntxjr having thus prophaned and rejefted theword ot'Ma"'/'''. 
 God, he preached dreams, very goodly revelations, ^';'';]^"j'.^ . 
 which he at his pleafurc forged, as did the falfc Pipphet Maho- J V, .^ , 
 tfiet, fayine, that he had feen Angels, and gloried tliat he had 
 talked with them : by this means to cheat and deceive the poor 
 igno,rant people : but alt was feigned and counterfeit, to make 
 mulick unto poor and inconftant fools : and the Apoftle Paul 
 giveth warning of fucii gallants, that we (hould take heed of 
 them, faying, Ccl.z. 1 8. Let no man htguUe jou of jonr rt^i/ard, 
 &c. Yea, the Scripture forbids us lending ear to fuch dreamerS: 
 the Lord of Hofts fpeakingin the book otftrtmiah, faith thus, /n 15 k,, -.i 
 HcArkfn Hot unto tht vordj of tht Prophets which profhicie MHto'i-'r-Cy-l^-'^- 
 _7w,&c. wefhallhave intelligence of this in thefe laft dayes: 
 arc they not in a dead fleep, who will not be awakened by the 
 noife of this ftrong hammer of the word of God, which 
 breaketh the ftones in pieces ? who can be cleanfed by fuch 
 dung? and what truth can come forth out of a lye? dreams 
 have deceived many, and thofe have fallen who have truftcd to 
 them. Thefe words of God are true, and fufficient to en- 
 tangle all our dreamers and ravers, with all their celeftiaf 
 vifions, whereof they do faldy, and out of a certain malice 
 vaunt. Let us then rejed fuch cheaters, and follow the coun- 
 fcl of God in his word •, and we ftiall alwayes finde it to be a 
 ftrong buckler againft all affaults. The Lord fends us to the P/oj jj. ,- , 
 Law, and to the Teflimony ; if they fpeak hot according to this 'pii-n.i^- 
 word, it is bccaufe there is no morning-light in them. And 
 when D»t/«defircd, that the living might be taught by fome 
 
 —k^ L-r.j I j-f/->-J^- r ' ■ 
 
 they had Mofes and the Prophets, let them hear them. 
 
 Moreover, MHHtz,tr cometh from thence to grapple with 
 thefacrificeof the Son of God, to vomic out his liinking blaf- 
 
 G 2 phemies 
 
The life. Spring dnd foundatm 
 
 Mnnr,.. c J p!i«nies againft it ; faying, Minifters are lyers, when tliey Ijy, 
 
 ^uT^'cinn, Tbat Jtfus Chrill hath (atish'ed for us. and that we are jufbrttd 
 
 ftti.'fiUit*. & ^^ faith alone without works : thus fpeak thefe Scribes, when 
 
 /•/!<A«:i»;) it/ ihey mince unto men. Thefe are his words, as they may be 
 
 i-iith. read in his Books, But I pray you, is not this filthily to blaf- 
 
 pheme the Son of God ? it will not only follow, that the Mi- 
 
 nifters are only delicious and mincing, and make mens Confci- 
 
 iHioii encesdroufie; but alfo all the Prophets : For thus fpake y^w 
 
 j r 1° 3. '" ^^^ ''""'^ **f CtrniltMs the Centurion, All the Prophets bear 
 
 witnefs unto Jefus Chrift, That whofotvtr Jball hdieve on him, 
 
 phi. 19, ^i. fl>all receive remifton of fins through his name. Yea, fohn Baptifl 
 
 , ,- ^ held up the finger at Chrift, facing, Behold the Lamh of God, 
 
 thattfkes atoaj the fin of of the ivcrld. Ifdidh witneffeth and 
 
 teftifieth, that Chrift hatli furely born our languifhing, and 
 
 vrhenheCuthy He hath film the pain and puni/bment -^hich was 
 
 title MHto Hs -^ and that ^e are healed hj his wounds? the fame is 
 
 affirmed by the Apoftle Peter, i Pet. 2. 24. and Jcfus Chrift 
 
 himfelf faith, Joh.j. 1 6 Godfi loved the world, &c. The Apoftle 
 
 John tcftifieth, 1 3oki.2. If anj man fin, &c. fo P**/, Col, 1.20. 
 
 Hemade ftace, and reconciled MS, Irj the Hood of his crofs. Read 
 
 to this purpofe, 2 Cor.^.21. and Rom. 3. 19. and divers other 
 
 Scriptures teftifie unto this truth, fo as nothing is more dear : 
 
 and yet Mnntvr dareth to accufe the Prophets and Apoftles, 
 
 with the Minifters, as thofe that flatter mens Confciences, be- 
 
 caufe they teach not righteoufnefs by works. It is a marvel 
 
 how that fentenceof the Apoftle is forgotten, wlio faith, That 
 
 oil -1. ^f ^f ^fjiftifiedt^ the works of the law, Chrifiis dead in v'ain. 
 
 We teach to do good works, and live holily, but not to be jufti- 
 
 ricd by them •, and that we live only by faith in Jcfus Chrift, 
 
 , Mmtz^tr thinketh to mend the matter, by faying. That thus to 
 
 VmcWi, *i preach Chrift, is the way to make men carelefs of doing well : 
 
 illifluri}.'- hut on the contrary to preach Chrift who dyed for our lins,ani 
 
 ".'''^"":;X that he gave himfelf out of perfeft love a facrifice for our Re- 
 
 ' //* ^" ■■ ' demption,is the way to be ftirred up with burning xeal to good 
 
 works. Vurthcrmorc we muft not preach the Gofpel as we 
 
 picafc. 
 
of the Analaptifls. 49 
 
 plwfe, but as ic is appointed of tin Faclwr, and as tlie Scripture 
 IciUfie, that the Apo(tlcs preached it : of fucli men the Apollle 
 Ptnr warncth us, faying, That there fljall 4rife falfe Profhits^ 
 &c. 2 /'f/.^. 2. Let notice be taken whether MnntK-er and his 
 companions be not of that number, who dare not plainly fay 
 as much, but they will fay as we do ^ but being put unco it, 
 they make Jefus Clirift but an half Saviour, by bringing in good 
 works. We fay, I hat faith without works is dead : but they 
 juftifie us not before God, neither blot out our fins. Aitlie .^ 
 flame is not without light, other wife it were not flame ■ yet it's ^'""■' 
 light burneth not, it is the fire, and the flame only tnat dotli 
 lighten -. fo faith is not without works j but works burn not, 
 I. e. take not away fin ^ it is faith in Chrirt only ; thus we fpcak 
 of the vertue of the property of faith, (hewing that thofc who 
 have this true faith, cannot be laiie, lb as out of love to God, 
 ihey ftiould not do good works to glorifie God, &c. 
 
 He likewife fell upon Marriage in a fooliJh and villanous ii.ii/.M».i!«]t 
 manner, faying, That the Marriage of Pagans and other igno- CMmi.vie. 
 rants and unbelievers was polluted and unclean, and that it was 
 fornication, and a very (hew of SataH : fo as many light fpirits 
 being moved, and fpurred forward by tliis woflil aodrine,took 
 occalion to break many marriages ^ leaving houfcs defolate, . 7-;, ^g_ 
 and drew after them filly poor women laden with lufts, to leave " 
 their husbands ^ perfwading them that the believing wife, /. ^ 
 after;their account, the re- baptized, ought not to abide with the 
 unrcbaptized husband : Ho ding that a wife dwelling with hcr 
 Gentilehusband, is polluted and defiled, and cannot btr faved. 
 Tl>ey called the marriage of thofe that were not of their Sed, 
 whoredome, and the fleihly bed ■, and their marriages were 
 fpiritual. The ApofHe was of another minde, when he faith. 
 Marriage is horutrAcU, &c. But it may be they will fay, Tiiis is W" i ; * 
 tobeunderftood of the Marriage of fuch, where both par- 
 ties are believers ■ and not ofthe believer with the unbeliever. 
 Rutthe ApoftlePWtaketh off all objcAion, when he faith un-j(-^._ ,,(, p 
 lOlhe mirtied, I commdnd them ,j!ct not J, but the Lord, &c. ' 
 what could be more plainly faid, to prove the marriages of bc- 
 
 G 3 I'evcrs, 
 
 o^-r 
 
 - 51S.>B 
 
7he Ri[t^Sfringind Ftitndaiiort 
 lievers with unbelievers, to be true marriages, though they 
 were joyned togetlwr in the time of their unbelief? Scs how 
 thefe poor people are become (hamelefs, in Uymg open 
 their filthinefs before all the world! who would not wonder 
 
 tncirniinincis Dcioreaiiiiic wwriu i wnv ».«».- ..". "« 
 
 to fee fuch fpiritual people as thefe pretend themfelves to be, to 
 live upon the goods and riches of whore-mongers '. this is the 
 honour that they put upon their fathers and Mothers, that be- 
 gat and brought tnem forth, yea, and upon themselves 
 
 As for the Apoftolical AnabaptiQs, they are fo calljd.becaufe 
 ' they follow (as they fay ) the Apoftles, and Apoftolical Church 
 ftep by ftep. They regard the naked letter of the Scripture, 
 They walked as Vagabonds through the Country, and Regi- 
 ons, without (hoes, without ftaff, without girdle, and without 
 money: they faid, that they were fent by God ^ and bccaufe 
 Chrill faith. He that vill enter into the Kingdom of heaven, mufi 
 become ai a /ittle child, they faid. We murt play the children 
 with Children, and therefore they fo did : and becaufe our 
 Lord faith. He that leaveth not all that he poffcffeth, whether 
 Wife, Children, Father, Mother, Lands and Inheritance, &c. 
 they often took flender occafions , and left their Country, 
 leaving their wives and children, and went as fpiritual Lans- 
 keneths : they faid, that a Chriftian ought not poffefs any thine 
 ashisown.andthatitwasimpoffibleforanyto be both rich 
 
 and a Chriftian. . ^ ,.« r r u /■ 
 
 Who would not wonder to fee the fooiilhnefs ot thele poor 
 people' the>' would carry neither fliocs, ftaff, nor. money in 
 Ihcir purfes, like begging Friers : they conllder not the mean- 
 in*' of thatScriprure. The ufe and praftife of the Applt es 
 declare fully, that our Lord faid that, to prevent his difciples 
 from being foUcitous for things needful for their journey, fec- 
 inc they (hould not want, becaufe the labourer is worthy of his 
 hire : this Chrift inftruded them in, when he faid tf'hcn I 
 rent lOH Without pnrfe, Without fcrip, Without fhots, lacked joh any 
 thini ? Thtjfaid nnto him. Nothing : he faith unto them. Now he 
 that hath a turfe Jet him take .V, &c. As for preaching upon 
 houfc-tops, what he had told them in their ears ^ it is no more. 
 
if the Anahapiips. 5 1 
 
 but clue wFui: he had told thtm in fccret, they (hould picuh 
 openly. And as for waftiing of their feet, he would figniric no- 
 thing eife thereby, but that out of love we (hould be helpful 
 one unto another : for then they had other kind of flioes then 
 we have now, fo as tlitir feet were foiled wich travelling, and 
 therefore they rightly wafhcd their feer, which now we have, 
 no ufc of, being fhod after another manner. Our Anaba- 
 ptifts who pradife this, I would have them to confidcr, how 
 comety tliis is : for it may tall out through wane of women, 
 that men muft wafh their feet ^ which how feemly it would be, 
 let them judge. When Chrift faith, we muft be as little chil- 
 dren, it is not (aid. We iftult be Children, and become fooli(h 5 
 but chat we (hould imitate the plainnefs and integrity which is 
 in little children ^ and that is it which the Apoftle Paxl holds 
 forth, when he faith. Be not ckldren in tinAtrfianding, bnt in mn- 
 hce, &c. in underftanding be men : and every where in the 
 Scriptures, their wandrings and vagations are condemned ^ for 
 he faith, jvhofoiver tnktth not cart cfhit ovn, &c Anditt tvtrj 1 Ti t. < s 
 cue Abide in (,ht calling Vekerein he is culled, &c. 
 
 As for the community of Goods, whereof they make fo 
 much, fZ-jfe taught it i the £■/?«« had all things common -, and 
 this was fometimes praftifed in femfAltm : but when it is laid, ^"'Y' '"'* 
 Thfj hdd all things common,Scc. Lttke underftands it of many, ^"''"'' 
 and not of all • for is is manifcft that all did not fo, bccaufe it '^''■■*- '' 
 is particularly fpecified of fome, faying, Andjofes alfo fold his 
 fojfejpon : if all fold their inheritances, there was no need of 
 naming particular perfons, for particulars arc comprixed in the 
 number of all: he intends nor that all the faithful fold all that 
 they had, but as much as ncceffity required : it was in the li- 
 berty of everyone, as Pfr^rtold Ananias, when the field w^.s ,4^^ 5. 
 fold, yxas it not in thj power ? &c. It is very evident that Chrilli- 
 ans pofTefTed proprieties, and that there were fome very rich, 
 who left not their riches to put them into a common ftock. A- 
 hraham was very rich ; this is not to be rejefted, though in the C: •. 14 3- 
 OId-Teftament,for he is in the Ncw-Tcftamenc called t le father 
 of the faithful. Yea, Chrifts fpeecb, Jfrff.25.35.fully teaches 
 us propriety in goods. ; 
 
7ht Rifty Spring and FounJatieit 
 SoPmI, I Cer. 16. i.2Cor.S.i0.lCor.9,6,7. RomM.il. 
 Gdl.6.6. This communion was not in the Church o\ Efhtfui, 
 Efhef' 4. i8. neithsr in the Church of the Philippwns-. fee 
 
 The Apoftles ciiargc concerning rich mcn,proves propriety, 
 I rim.6.17 ?»i»allowech propriety, i M. J. I7- ^° ^'^' '°' 
 34./'"».2.2j. Theft is forbidden by God, and therefore no 
 community. Were not Jf44c, and Jacob, and M, and Jcfrpk 
 of Arlmathea, rich, and retained propriety in goods f I,4<,arM 
 with bis two fifters retained their iioufe. The women and 
 Ziikf miniftred of their goods unto Chrift : Dorcas, Ljdia, 
 Corneliiu, hadfrofrlttj in their tjiatts, &c. Much more is faid to 
 tliis purpofe, but this may fuffice. 
 
 Moreover, then the multitude of believer s,for the moft part, 
 were very poor, as Paitl faith. Brethren, joit know y»wr calling ; 
 not mawj noble. Sec. This wasnotdoneinadiforderly way, but 
 
 iM.'A'.*l*l<*H^I^»..«)tt*tIMJHlHU<<-i*lMil(lB<ll^»l». 
 
 bute according to their judgement, to poor believers among 
 the Jews, who were hated, and had not means to, get bread: 
 andbecaufe they who had efhtes were plundered, or were in 
 danger of confifcation of their eltates -, for this caufe it may 
 
 and expend ihdr eftates, i 
 
 at the deftruAion of Jeri^alem, by Titus and Vefpafian, which 
 came fliortly after : before which ruine, the Chriftians were 
 retired from /*Jm, as £«/r^/w recites: butthefc Anabaptifts 
 would put all the world in a confufion by their community of 
 goods, and that tjiey might enjoy other mens labours : but it 
 is wor fc for them to bind all men unto it upon pain of damna- 
 
•/ th( Anibdftifis, 
 
 of the Sfiriml Andaftlfts , tvh are fipdrttd frmthe 
 world* 
 
 * Sfor the Anabaptifts who call themfclves SepaMed frtm 
 _ _i,thi^orU, and are wholly fpirituali they fay. They will 
 have nothing in common with the Gentiles, as they call them, 
 not Farting, obfervation of dayes, life, eating and drinJiing, 
 &c. Thefeeftablinia rule how plain their garments muft be, 
 of what ftuflf, how long, how large, of what matter, and how 
 for manner : they forbid the ufe of all coftly garments, calling 
 fuch as ufe them Gentiles, and Pagans: when ihcy fee any laugh 
 or;becheerful,iheycry,J»'«*i«»/fl jm that laugh now, for ye fhaU 
 \feep. They fetch continual deep fighs, and are alwayes faJ, 
 they rejcA all feaftings and banquets at Weddings, all ufe of 
 Mufick ; and as for that fpeech, Rom.ii.i. they have it al- 
 wayes in their mouthes, Fajhion not pur f elves unto the -^trld .- 
 they alledge it, as if the Apoftle had intended to change the 
 nature and property of all things, and as if fo be he com- 
 manded us to go upon our heads, becaufe the Gentiles go up- 
 on their feet ^ or to fpeak with our feet, and hear with out 
 heels , becaufe the Gentiles fpeak with their mouthes , and 
 hear with their ears. Whereas the Apoftle undcrftandeth no 
 other thing, then that we ftiould not imitate the world in that 
 which is evil i which the Apoftle /oAw faith. Love not the ^erU, 
 nor the things that are in the world : for all that is in the world, 
 the luftof theflcfti, theluft of the eye, and the pride of life, 
 is not of the Father, And the Apoftle Paul expoundeth this, 
 £phef.^.J7. when hechargethus that we Ihould not walk^ as 
 the Gentiles ivall^, in the vanity of their under fiandinp. It is 
 folly in them to draw thefe words from the true fcnfe, to 
 make them condemn a multitude of things indifferent j as 
 fomeof them will not put onadeanfliirc upon Sunday, bc- 
 faufe unbelievers do fo: fome will not call A funday or Tuef- 
 rt'jr, hut the fiift and fecond day of the week j bmding theii- 
 
 H Conlcienccs 
 
The Rifty ^fMiig Md Tiundation 
 ConfuVncesunto fuch things: ihey make themfclves ridicu- 
 loo?, bcouufe they condemn garments and trimmings, which 
 are not according to their Cut and Rule, by their taytors, ^d 
 according to their patern and faihion. We wOOld rtot here 
 letioofethe reins to pomp and vanity, but we fay, We ai^e 
 IMC toctwideiiinhiin, Who is ctothed actor ding to hisEnhce, 
 and according to cJle cuAoin of the^ouncry •, yong peopled ail 
 according to the received ciiAoRi,Geritten)im according to their 
 ranks. Merchants, and confeqiMtntiy all men of Eftate accord- 
 ing to their quahties. We condemn, with the Apoftle Peter, 
 all fumpcuoafnefs, and vanities which are unprohtable : not- 
 withAanding we fay. That when Princes and the like carry ic 
 magnificcntTy, they are not to be condemned as Pagans -, fw 
 Chrift and his Apofties never gave us Rules for our garments. 
 Let every one hoM forth mediocrity, and cut off all luperfluity, 
 for the profit of the poor. Meat & drink is not lefs free to Chri- 
 ftians,thcn garments, wherefore to forbid them.is to hold forth 
 the DoArine of Devils, as FmI faith. Wlwt hurt can be found 
 theretfl ? when God fliall by his bli:Ainc give a Chriftian means, 
 that he may make ufe of good meat and drink ^ and the faithful 
 f tfceivie it with giving of thanks, without gluttony,bat with fobri- 
 eey. wherefore fliould any fa^'. That this gift of God is a curfe ? 
 ^ve not the fervantsof the Lord, praifed the Lord for it ? 
 as Ddvid for the Lords fiUing of his Cup, and fpreading his 
 Table. Was not Chrift at Feafts and banquets with his 
 friends? there were none hut the hypocritical Pharifces of- 
 flmdedatir, calling him Glutton and Drunkard. PmI iikh. 
 He could te/t howtt stonnd, M-meRMt* vant. If abelievcf 
 bath little, lei him be contented without murmuring ■ if he 
 hath much, lethimufe it with moderation and fobrierj', and 
 giving of thanks -, remembring that pafTage of the Aportle, 
 fyhtther yoM lAt tr drinks, do 4O to the glory of God. They con- 
 demn all mirth and laughter as bad. It is true, Chrid faith,. 
 Woinnto jou that Uugh, for pn Jbull mowrn : yet Paul exhorc- 
 eth to rejo^'ce with them that r ejoyce •, and Solomon faith.T'icrf 
 isatimt to laugh, Ecclef.3. Akuham laughed, Ccnef.Vi.io. 
 
 ,and 
 
*/ the Aii*baftifis. 5 5 
 
 and yet thcfc men would banifti all mirth and laughter. AH 
 civil mirth is not to be condenned, nay, rather their hypocri- 
 ticalfighings, and their fad and melancholy looks, arc to be 
 ccnfured, whereby they would, as more holy, extol thetn-< 
 fclvcs above other men : the Kingdome of God confifts not in 
 thcfe things ^ the Scripture no where condemneth honeft mirth, 
 but every where hypocrifies. In the time of S*lamtH, IfracI 
 held a Feaft for fourteen dayes together, becaufe of all the 
 goodnefs of God vouchfafed to Davtd his father. As mourn- 
 ing proceeds from adverfity, fo joy from profperity : which 
 fcremUh plainly holds forth, when he faith. The jtj of o«r i^"*? u- 
 hmrt is ceaftd, andntr mirth it turned inta mourningy &c. They 
 condemn alfo the honeft banquets at Weddings, as unlawful 
 and evil •, and yet we fee the Scripture fpeaketh often of the 
 voice of the Spoufe and efpoufed : we reade it no where con- 
 demned, either in the Old or New Teftament. Our Lord was 
 not onely at a Wedding being invited, but wrought there his 
 firft Miracle, by turning water into wine : he fate down there, 
 and his Difciples. 
 
 i}4t//Wfaith, G odhdth made ))piHe to nuke glddmMs heart, 4iidTf4.io^\'. 
 ejl to make hit face jhine : Feafts and Banquets which exceed 
 Chriftian moddty, are not to be commended. Lot made a 
 feaft to his two gnefts; and Ahaham did fo at Jfaaei weaning : 
 who ever will reade of the feaft of the faithful, let him reade 
 thefe Scriptures-, <7«.26.jo. C7«.4J. 34. fW;. 14 10,12,17. 
 2 Sam. 3.20. I Kings i. 15. Jot 1.4,5. ^^ '* ^^*^ Matthew 
 made a feaft, where many Publicans were : Chrift doth not 
 forbid them, yea, he fetcheth a comparifon from the Bride and 
 Bridegroom, from the Wedding-Supper, and the Wedding- ^,^^f ^^ 
 Garments. We would not here encourage intemperance in 
 any, but to Ihew the liberty which Chriftians liave of the good 
 Creatures of God , that none may condemn thofe , who in 
 Gods fear do make ufe of their liberty : the Kingdom of God 
 lieth not in fuch obfcrvations j bodily exercife profiting little, 
 but godlinefs being profitable in all things. Moreover, if we 
 (hould reckon up al their Errours and feveral Opinions, time 
 would fail us to refute them. H z There 
 
7he Jtife, Sfriitg dndfoundMton 
 
 there be fomewho hord re-bapcizirig h necefTary as that 
 withontit none canbefaved: Nor wil they Ciluce any, nor 
 ^ve the hand, nor acknowledge any but fuch to be thdr bre- 
 thren: fomeholdkno^foneceflary, and make no fcrupleco 
 
 thren: fomeholdkno^foneceflary, and make no fcrupleco 
 ke foandwith honeft people, andto account them as brethren : 
 but their number is but (mall. 
 
 Some account Chil<farens Baptifm fo bad, as that they will ra- 
 ther be difmembred,- and fiifler, then to let their Children be 
 baptized. Others fufler it as an Ordinance , which neither 
 hindreth nor proHteth. Some account themfelves holy and 
 pure^ thefeare feparated fromr others, and have all things in 
 common ^ none faith among them. This it mint -. and to have 
 any thing i»propriay, is accounted a fin. Some have endured 
 great torroentSjbecaujfe they would not keep Stindaiej and Fefti- 
 valdayes,indefpiteof Antichrin : feeing they were daycs ap- 
 pointed by Antichrift, they would not hold forth any thing 
 which is like unto him. Others obferve thcfe daycs, but it is 
 out of charity. 
 
 Some fay they are come fo high, as that they cannot fin any 
 more. The moft pure of them preach iip the Crofs, and per- 
 fecution fo high; that they fcem to make it an Idol, and a new- 
 Saviour, putting of it in the place of Chrift, for falvation, as 
 the Papifts do their works. There be fome who have daily 
 fome new command from God, to make known unto their bre- 
 thren and ftrangers. Some are rapt into an extafie, and have 
 their vifage and countenance changed, lying upon the ground 
 certain hours. Some Tremble and Quake, for two or three 
 hours together : after that, when they are come unto them- 
 felves, they propherie and fpeak ftrange things, as if the>' had 
 been in another world, or as if they had rallen from out of 
 heaven : and they account to have that in common with' the 
 Apoftle, when he was taken up into the third heaven. 
 
 Many cannot fpeak nor declare the great fecrets, and Myfte 
 ries which they have feen. 
 
 To fonwthisExtafie or Trance Cometh often, to others not 
 fo often, to others of them notatall. Soroeamocg thcm-fall 
 
 do-.vr 
 
of the A/iataptifls. 
 down upon ihcir faces, and dream ; others do not, but keep 
 thcmfelvcs to the Letter of the Scripture, Some do nothing 
 elfc but pray as the Friers do, and fay. That they do hindei- 
 and keep back, by their prayers, all the mifchief which other- 
 wife would befal the world : thefe will not that evil ftiould be 
 refifted by any other wayes then by prayers •, and in no fort 
 will permit the ufe of arms. 
 
 Jthn Dinl^ did not admit of fwearing by way of witnefs. 
 Some hold not the Trinity of perfons in one Eflirnce, faying. 
 That the Son only is a perfon. Some eftcem of the Sacrament 
 of the Lords fupper as we do -, but they preach it up fo highly, 
 as that it will be very hard to linde fo much as two lit to com- 
 municate therein ^ and therefore fome are of opinion not to do 
 it until their death.In fomc places they banifti and cxcommuni* 
 cate all thofe.which will hearc any Preacher or Minifter preach : 
 they fpeak all the evil of them that may be, calling them Scribes 
 and Pharifert. Others endure that one may near, fee, and 
 read any thine : but in the mean while the manner of Minifters 
 living picafcth them not. They have the Crofs in fuch efti- 
 mation, that they defpife and rejeft all thofe which are without 
 it, and perfecucion, and fay, That their cafe is not good : for 
 ( fay they 3 if they were in the Lords way, they would fuffer 
 perfecucion : fome therefore feek the Crofs, others are of 
 another opinion. And many times they break fair houfliolds 
 by feparatinc the parties, when one of the parties is excom- 
 municated, the party which is not excommunicated muft with- 
 draw from the other party : and their excommunications are 
 for very fma II matters ; yea, when they are married one to 
 another, they make them promifc, that if one of them come to 
 be cart out of the Church, that the innocent party (hall with- 
 draw from the nocent •, and by this means thdr marriages are" 
 all conditional : when one is thus fcparated, the party offen- 
 ded cannot be remarried, if the other party being married 
 be not delivered by the deatli of his adjoynt : yea, fome- 
 limes it falls out, that ferae who have been excommunicated,' 
 r.rc received in again, and fjnde their party married to another- 
 
 H J and 
 
The Rife, Spring and Ftundation^ &c. 
 
 and theie thej' muft fee their wives before their eyes to be unto 
 another man, and they themfdves cannot remarry^ yea though 
 they have not the gift of continence, they fay unto them, as 
 unto the Friers, tMt they muft make themfclves Eunuchs for 
 the Kingdom of heaven. Behold how the Devil makes him- 
 felffporcwithihefemenl They are in mortal war with the 
 Franiqucs : upon this occafion the Mennonifts have excom- 
 municated the Franiques, becaufe they would not approve of 
 thefe goodly marriages. 
 
 They fay alfo. That when a man hath finned, though hexioth 
 * repent, that he is to be excommunicated : and then if he doth 
 perfevere therein, he (hall be received in again. Behold, the 
 fairftirof Satan, how he playeth the game with thefe men, 
 which follow not tbe true light of the Gofpel. Our Lord be 
 pleafed to give eyes to all the World, that they may take heed 
 of thefe S^s, which make men turn afide from the way of 
 truth. So be it. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 liyti&MMifeiMMiiiiiMMi 
 
 THcre is now in the Prtfi , and will very (hortly be ex- 
 tant, an excellent and ufefull Treatife , Entituled, 
 The Righteous Mm's Evidence fcr Heaven, &c. By 
 Mr. Timtthj Rogers, Mmifterof the Golpcl. 
 
 rgrt?ari?iai»ir<HK?aiiBtTKiiiii?rrriiirT>iMiTia:?iiTmMiMBi!iKMK ZKiiBiSii