Mall and William Picke they were Three inveterate Devils being incouraged by this rich man Yet notwithstanding I proceeded on in the Law and when they saw they were in danger to be overthrown they used all ways possible to defer the Cause 7. And when they Saw that would not do but that I would bring it to Tryal They consulted together and Summon'd me into the Spiritual-Court thinking to have me Excomunicated that I might not have the benefit of the Law against them But I spent Money in that Court and kept off their Excomunication and proceeded in the Common Law towards a Tryal 8. And when they Saw that would not do then they Conspired and Consulted with the Wardens of the Company of Stationers to Search my House for Unlicenced Books upon which the Wardens brought many Booksellers and Printers and Three of the Kings Messingers with them and because my Wife denied to let them come up Stairs they Immediately with a Weapon they had broke open Four Doors that were Lock'd and Boulted Contrary to the Laws of England and they took away Four Hundred Books great and small from me of a considerable Value 9. After they had done this they Consulted with the Bishop of London to put me into the Spiritual Court and Sue me there for Blasphemy and get me Excomunicated that I might not have the Benefit of the Law against them neither for breaking open my House and Stealing away my Goods 10. And for that purpose they got the Lord Chief Justice Rainsfords Warrant for to take me he was a deadly Enemy to me as will appear in that he would have taken away my Life if he could but I defended the Spiritual-Court from being Excomunicated and from his Warrant being Executed or Served upon me until these two Tryals in the Common Law against these two Tenants of the rich Mad were ended 11. I was forced to be absent from my own House for above a Quarter of a Year I was Entertained by that ever honoured and true Believer that young Widdow Ann Hall I was Entertained by her as an Angel of God when other Believers durst not I was kept at her House in Obscurity from Friends and Enemyes not knowing where I was yet I Employed my Lawyers to manage my Business in both Courts and in my absence they overthrew my Adversaries in the two Causes aforementioned in the Common Law and I received again that which the rich Man had taken away with some of my Charges again 12. But the Wardens of the Stationers Company because they could not catch me though they hunted after me as Blood-Hounds but could not find me out to Serve their Warrant upon me then they pressed hard in the Spiritual-Court to get me Excomunicated they fearing I might Overthrow them in the common Law for breaking open my House and taking my Goods for they had committed an absolute Burglary and Fellony by the Laws of England 13. But I being pressed so hard upon in the Spiritual-Court that it came to this Resultation in the Court that if I did not Personally appear the next Court Day then I should be Excomunicated and being advised by him that managed my Business in that Court to appear he saying he thought there would be no Danger 14. Now by his words I was perswaded to appear though against my own Mind for I did fear I should be Trappan'd and as I fear'd it came to pass and it proved of woeful Consequence to me as will appear by what doth follow 15. To omit many Circumstances I shall Record the Heads and Substance of the whole matter and as I did appear in the Spiritual-Court to prevent my self of being Excomunicated The Court had little to say unto me only asked me if I did own that Libel which they knew I denied by my Procter before 16. This was only to Deliver me into the Temporal Magistrates Hand for the Wardens the Lord Mayor the Lord Chief Justice together with the Spiritual-Court were agreed together to Proceed against me this way otherwayes they could never have catched me while they Lived nor have brought me under their Law 17. Therefore the Wardens Merne and Clark they got the Lord Chief Justice of England's Warrant with a Constable ready and as soon as I was Discharged in the Spiritual-Court at Docters-Commons that curssed Court is meerly to betray People into the Hands of their Enemies and to ruin the Estates of the Poor People for it is of no more Consequence for the good of the Nation then to throw Stones against the Wind. 18. For the Wickedness and Envie of the Ignorant People is such because they cannot be revenged of the Innocent and Just by the Temporal Laws of the Land then they Cite the Innocent that cannot Bow Down to their Worship into the Spiritual Court which I have had great Experance of this curssed Court which did betray me into the Hands of wicked envious Magistrates as will appear 19. For as soon as I was coming out of the Court the Constable served the Lord Justice Rainsford's Warrant upon me Then was I delivered into the Hands of Satan to be plain into the Hands of Devils 20. And I was led to Guild-Hall before the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen the Mayors Name was Thomas Davis a Stationer by Trade a deadly Enemy to me and to all Moral Justice and a Man made up more of Mallice and Ignorance of the Law of the Land than Ntural Wisdom or Moral Knowledge And as to Spiritual Knowledge he was as Blind as a Beetle 21. The Constable gave Judge Rainsford's Warrant into the Lord Mayor's Hand and the Wardens gave the whole Book bound into his Hands and the Lord Mayor asked me whither I did own this Book I said I did 22. Then he commanded me to withdraw into another Room and I did so with an Officer with me I stay'd a little while and the same Constable brought my Mittimus from the Lord Mayor to carry me to the Geoal of Newgate until the next Sessions 23. So I being carried to Prison I was Bailed out until the 17th of January in the Year 1676 then did Merne and Clark draw up an Indictment against me but out of one of those Bookes they stole from me called The Neck of the Quakers Broken CHAP. II. Of the Bill of Indictment and of the Cruelty of the Judges 1. NOW followes the Bill of Indictment as I was Condemn'd for The Persons or Jury Sworn for our Lord the King gave in that Lodowick Muggleton late of London Labourer being a Man Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and a Monster in his Opinions 2. Pretending that he the said Lodowick Muggleton is one of the two last Witnesses of Almighty GOD and devising and intending to Spread Abroad his Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious and Monstrous Opinions and to disturb the Peace and quiet of this Kingdom of England and dispise and debase the True Religion Established and Exercised therein 3. As also
Questions So that she did afterwards indeed become the Teacher of all Women in London in matters of Faith and Religion 12. And she was imployed by John Reeve at the first to carry Letters to any that he did send unto 13. And there were several Persons came afterwards to my House more to discourse with her than us 14. She was at that time about fourteen Years of Age when this Blessing was given her by John Reeve And this was the first Morning 15. But I was in good hopes God would not speak to him no more for I was loath to be publick I would gladly have sat still and be quiet and not to contend with People about Religion 16. But the second Morning God spake unto him and told him what he should do as is set down in the Book aforesaid 17. John Reeve said unto me the second Morning If thou wilt not obey to go along with me I must pronounce thee Cursed to Eternity as God did me had not I obeyed him 18. Then said I In case they will not obey me when I speak unto them I have no Power to curse them if they will not go along with me or you 19. Yea said he but you have as much Power as I have for you are given to be my Mouth as Aaron was given to be Moses 's Mouth 20. So I went with him to one Thomas Turner his House and said unto him Mr. Turner You must go with us to John Tauny else you must be cursed to Eternity 21. But Thomas Turner was willing to go with us but his Wife was exceeding Wrath and Fearful that her Husband would be brought into Trouble by it 22. And she said if John Reeve came again to her Husband That she would run a Spit in his Guts so John Reeve cursed her to Eternity 23. For she looked with Wrath and Fear as if she had newly risen out of the Grave CHAP. II. The Transactions of the second Morning and how Thomas Turner went with the Prophets to John Tauny's and of John Reeve's Message to him and how John Tauny and his Design perished and came to nothing 1. BUT Thomas Turner went with us to John Tauny and John Reeve delivered his Message to him to this ephect Said he 2. God hath not chosen you to be the Lord 's high Priest as you declared your self to be neither is the Law of Moses to be acted over again as you pretend to do notwithstanding you have circumcised your self to fit you for that Work 3. Neither are you being of the Tribe of Rubin ever to be chosen high Priest for your Father Rubin lost that Birthright of the Priesthood by going up to his Father's Couch 4. But the Priesthood was confirmed upon the Tribe of Levy and to his Seed for ever 5. And here is my fellow Witness of the Tribe of Levy which you know your self he is of that Tribe and God hath chosen him high Priest in the last Age and the last that God will ever choose to the end of the World 6. And as Aaron was the first high Priest that God chose to be Moses 's mouth so Lodowick Mugleton is the last high Priest that God hath chose to be my mouth by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear. 7. Besides said he you are not fit to be the Lord 's high Priest because you stuter or stamer in your Speech 8. Which God never chose none to be high Priest but perfect men in Nature which you are not 9. Also he said You pretend to be King of seven Nations and to gather the Jews in all parts of the Earth together and to lead them to Jerusalem and to mount Olivet and to make them Kings of all the Earth And that you must follow John Robins with Sword and Spear 10. These and several other things did he speak to John Tauny and told him that there should never any such things come to pass as he pretended unto and charged him to lay all these things down upon the pain of eternal Damnation and gave him about a Months time to lay it down 11. But he did not but afterwards went further on to prosecute that Design and made Tents for every Tribe and the Figures of every Tribe upon the Tent that every Tribe might know their own Tent. 12. So John Reeve seeing this he wrote the Sentance of eternal Damnation upon John Tauny for his Disobedience of the Lord's Commission and left it at his Lodging for he would not be spoken with at that time 13. Because he had shut himself up for nine Days and he would speak with none for that time But he received it afterwards of the Man where he lodged and after a while he and his great Matters perished in the Sea 14. For he made a little Bote to carry him to Jerusalem and going to Holland to call the Jews there he and one Captain James were cast away and drowned so all his Power came to nothing CHAP. III. Of the Transactions of the Third Morning and of the Message of the Prophet Reeve to John Robins 1. THE Third Morning God spake to John Reeve as it is written in that Book aforesaid where it is said Go thou to Lodowick Mugleton and he shall bring thee to such a Woman namely Dorcas Boose and she shall bring you to John Robins Prisoner in New Bridewell and deliver my Message when thou comest there 2. So we went to this Dorcas Boose and said unto her You must go with us to New Bridewell for we have a Message from God to declare to John Robins She was willing to go but her Husband made a little Demur Then said I to her Husband If you will not let her go I must pronounce you cursed to Eternity 3. So he was willing to let her go for he was some Kin by Marriage to John Reeve and me both The Woman was a true Beleiver of this Commission afterwards 4. So we Three went to New Bridewell and asked for John Robins and the Keeper opened the Gate and said Who would you speak with John Reeve said with John Robins 5. The Keeper said You shall not speak with him 6. Then said John Reeve to the Keeper Thou shalt never be at Peace 7. So he shut the little Gate upon us and as we stood a little while without the Gate there came a Woman a Disciple of John Robins to come out Saith the Keeper to the Woman There is two or three without would speak with your Lord show them the other Way 8. So the Keeper let the Woman out and the Woman said unto John Reeve Would you speak with my Lord Yea saith he I would speak with thy Lord Saith the Woman He is the same and will be the same for ever Thou saith right said he he is the same and will be the same for ever Meaning the same false Christ for ever 9. So the Woman went and shewed us the place where John Robins
rather fear to offend as the Prophet Reeve saith That a true born Saint is afraid of his own evil thoughts much more of evil words or deeds against God or man Again we see by this Book of the Acts that these two Prophets were jointly chosen of God and made equal in Power and Authority for the Prophet Reeve saith That his Fellow Witness had as great power as he had himself And further said That he was the Lords last High-Priest If this be granted then it must follow that there can be no Salvation to such as shall reject him or his Writings altho' they pretend to own John Reeve Moreover the mighty sufferings that these Prophets have undergone for their Testimony sake are admirable yet notwithstanding all opposition providence preserv'd them so as that they both died in their Beds in peace and not only so but this last Prophet liv'd to see the downfal of many of his great Enemies and of his Persecutors and Judges Now to come to a conclusion of this Epistle When the Prophet had wrote this Book of the Acts he kept it by him not letting any to see it but about two Weeks before he died it was put into the hands of one of us that was his true Friend and ancient Acquaintance in order to be printed after his death Which now with the assistance of some Friends through providence it is perfected and is recommended to the whole houshold of Faith which I doubt not but it will be accepted of being a true Copy from the Original there being nothing here printed but what is really his own only you are to know that there are some things omited that are of a Temporal accompt as a dispute with Mr. Leader concerning Eclipses and the hight of the Visible Heavens with some other particulars which things are left out because of the greatness of the Charge for all cannot be Printed that is Writen for it is evident that altho there is above a Hundred Sheets of theirs in print yet is it not past a Third part of what is Writen by them two Witnesses for in the Year 1682 Mr. Delamaine did Transcribe so many of their Works and bound up in a Book as contained 1052 pages in Folio in which Book and in what is printed almost all the Scripture hath been Interpreted that are of concernment to Salvation But whether it may enter into the Heart of any that are Rich to be stirred up to Print the same or whether the Powers of the Nation may permit it We leave to Providence But before I conclude it is Requisite to give you an Acompt of the Prophets Death and Burial which was thus upon the First of March 1697. the Prophet was taken with an Illness and Weakness upon which he said these Words Now hath God sent Death unto me And presently after was helped to Bed and tho' he kept his Bed yet we could not perceive that he was Sick only Weak and he lay as if he slept but in such quietness as if he was nothing concerned with either Pain or Sickness So that it was meer Age that took him away which was the 14th day of March he then departed this Life with as much peace and quietness as ever any man did being about 88 Years of Age so that he had that Blessing to come to the Grave in a full Age like as a Shock of Corn cometh in at its Season Upon the 16th day his Corps was remov'd to Larsimus Hall and on the 17th day was from thence Attended on with two hundred forty eight Friends accompanying him to Bethleham Church-Yard where he was Buried by his Fellow-VVitness which was according to his own appointment And thus was the Lord's Last Prophet brought to his Grave in peace without noise or without tumult though thousands of Spectators beheld it and there they are both to remain until the coming of their Lord their King and their Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ the High and Mighty God and our God and blessed are they that know their Voice and wait for that day and are not offended with these things Farewel T. T. ERRATA PAge 18. verse 3. leave out the last single I. p. 95. v. 22. for yet and do read to p. 100. v. 5. for Reason read Religion p. 103. in the Contents for Argument read Arraignment p. 112. v. 25. for that read they p. 128. v. 17. for Reported read Reproached p. 140. v. 11 for maketh read make Idem v. 12. for probably read possibly p. 147. v. 19. for Law read Love p. 251. v. 19. for said read saved The Acts of the Witnesses c. The First Part. CHAP. I. The Prophet sheweth first That Moses and the Prophets did record strange and wonderful things As also their Revelations which we are bound to believe 1. THERE is and hath been Recorded many and several wonderful strange Things and Deeds of the righteous Fathers as Noah Lott Abraham Isaack and Jacob and of their Faith in God 2. And also how wonderfully God did appear unto them and strengthen them in their time when they were upon the Eearth These things are Recorded by the Revelation of Moses as God revealed it to him 3. Also Moses declared his own Birth and how he was preserv'd from being drown'd These things did he declare and how God appeared unto him and chose him and Aron for that great Work to lead that great People through the Wilderness and to be a Law-giver 4. Which was the first visible appearance of God upon Earth that is Recorded for all Generations to come For tho God did appear in a wonderful manner unto Enock Noah Abraham Isaack and Jacob and several other righteous Men yet we could never have known it had not Moses by his Revelation left it upon Record 5. How could the Generations to come have known any thing of the Creation of the World and how God made Man in his own Image and Likeness 6. Or that there ever was the Man Adam or Cain that slew his Brother Abel or that the World was ever drowned except eight Persons if it had not been revealed by Moses 7. So that we have nothing but Moses's bare Word for it for we did not live in his time to see the Wonders he wrought nor hear him speak 8. Yet we are bound to believe his Record and Revelation and Acts he did And blessed and happy were all those that did believe him when he was upon Earth when they saw his Acts and heard him speak 9. And more blessed are these now that understand and believe which have not seen his Wonders he wrought in his time not heard him speak forth those Revelations God revealed unto him concerning the Creation of the World as aforesaid 10. Also we read in Scripture of many wonderful Acts that was wrought and done by the Prophets in the time of the Law after Moses 11. As Samuel Isaiah Jeremiah Eljah Elisha and several other Prophets in the time
of the Aire the Fish of the Sea I could not imagine how these things could give Being to themselves nor how they should come by Nature nor how they should Create one another Then thought I Man might as well Create himself and come by Nature as those Things 7. So I thought there must needs be some Original Cause or supreme Power that gave Being to these Things and hath placed a Law of Order in all Things sutable to its Nature 8. This supreme Power that made those Things That Power that is the Cause of Causes we call God but what he is in himself I knew not at that time But these Thoughts preserved me from saying in my Heart as the Fool doth there is no God Many of my Acquaintance did say in their Hearts and Tongues both That there is no God but Nature only 9. But notwithstanding I did not know that God that made all things and Man in his own Image and Likeness yet I considered that innocency of Heart and a just upright Spirit was good in it self if there were no God to Reward it 10. And that Unrighteousness and Lust after his Neighbours Wife and not to be of an upright Spirit it was Wickedness in it self if there were no God to punish it 11. Therefore I was loth to let go my Integrity but kept close to it for as I had been Innocent from my Childhood to this Day I was resolved to keep to it to the end if there were nothing after Death yet would I keep my Heart upright and would do nothing to wound my Consience 12. For I never had no Guilt of actual Sin that did ever trouble me 13. So with this Resolution I did resolve to live in to do just between Man and Man and to keep from all actual Sin as I ever had been and not to mind any Religion more for I saw all profession of Religion in all Men was vain and unsatisfactory to all Men as it was to me 14. So I gave over all publick Prayer and Hearing and Discourse about Religion and lived an honest and just natural Life And I found more Peace here then in all my Religion and if there were anything either of Happiness or Misery after Death I left it to God which I knew not to do what he would with me 15. But I was in good Hope at that time that there was nothing after Death but all Happiness and Punishment was in this Life For I saw a temporal Punishment follow Wickedness in this Life to many 16. And I saw Prosperity to those that were Righteous even in this Life so that I was in good Hopes all Punishments and Happiness would end in this Life 17. So I was resolved to keep myself as I always had done unspotted of the World and not to defile my Conscience And I had a great deal of peace of Mind in this Condition And in this Condition did I continue some three Years until I was about forty years old and in the year 1650. CHAP. VIII The Prophet gives a Discription of John Tannye and John Robins being counted greater than Prophets and sets forth their Appearance and wonderful Actions 1. AFter this it came to pass in the year 1650. I heard of several Prophets and Prophetess that were about the Srteets and declared the Day of the Lord and many other wonderful Things as from the Lord. 2. Also at the same time I heard of too other Men that were counted greater than Prophets to wit John Tannye and John Robins 3. John Tannye he declared himself to be the Lord's High-Priest and that he was to act over the Law of Moses again Therefore he Circumcised himself according to the Law 4. Also he declared that he was to gather the Jews out of all Nations and lead them to Mount Olives to Jerusalem and that he was King of Seven Nations With many other strange and wonderful Things 5. And as for John Robins he declared himself to be God Almighty and that he was the Judge of the Quick and of the Dead and that he was that first Adam that was in that innocent State and that his Body had been Dead this Five Thousand Six Hundred and odd Years and now he was risen again from the Dead And that he was that Adam Melchisadick that met Abraham in the Way and received Tithes of him 6. Also he said he had raised from the Dead that same Cain that killed Abel and that he had raised that same Judas that betrayed Christ and now they were Redeem'd to be happy 7. Also he said he had raised several of the Prophets as Jeremiah and others and that he had raised the same Benjamin Jacob's Son that had been Dead so many Thousand Years now he was raised again 8. I saw all those that was said to be raised by John Robins and they owned themselves to be the very same Persons that had been Dead for so long time 9. Also I saw several others of the Prophets that was said to be raised by him and they did own they were the same for I have had Nine or Tenn of them at my House at a time of those that were said to be raised from the Dead 10. For I do not speak this from Hearsay from others but from a perfect Knowledge which I have seen and heard from themselves 11. Also they declared unto me That their God John Robins was to gather out of Englad and else where an Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Men and Women and lead them to Jerusalem to Mount Olivet and there to make them happy And that he would feed them with Manna from Heaven And that he would divide the Red-Sea and that they should go through upon dry Land 12. Also he said that those Prophets he had raised should be their Leaders and on Joshua's Garment should be the Moses Man that should be chief under his God John Robins And that all the Leaders should have Power by the clap of their Hands and a stamp of their Foot to destroy any that did oppose them 13. Also I have seen one of his Prophets that should have this Power to kneel down and pray to John Robins as unto God Almighty with such high and Heavenly Expressions which was marvellous unto me to hear 14. Those Things and many more lying Signes and Wonders did he shew to some as presenting the appearance of Angels burning shining Lights Half-Moons and Stars in Chambers and thick Darkness where it was Light to the Phantasies of People when they covered their Faces in the Bed 15. They said he presented Serpents Dragons and his Head in a flame of Fire and his Person rideing upon the Wings of the Wind. 16. Also his Prophets had Power from him to damn any that did oppose or speak evil of him they not knowing he was neither false nor true for this Rule he went by 17. That he or she that would speak evil of Things they knew not they would as
of the Eleventh Morning of the Twelfth Month 1668. from the glorious Majesty of the most high God who fils Heaven and Earth that lives in his Servant William Pen junior CHAP. V. The Answer of Lodowick Muggleton to William Pen Quaker his proud presumptious and blasphemous Letter 1. WIlliam Pen I have perused your proud presumptious blasphemous Letter against the true God how hath your Learning lifted up your Heart with Pride to fight against the true God and to bid him Defiance to his Face and let him stand forth and see if he can deliver himself from your bodiless God that gave you a Commission as you say 2. You know that Reeve and myself have declared in all our Writings that the Lord Jesus Christ is our God and that the Worlds were made by him and that nothing was made in the Beginning but what was made by him as the Scripture saith 3. This Man Christ Jesus was in the form of Man a spiritual heavenly and glorious Body before this World was 4. And in the Beginning this glorious spiritual Body made Man in his own Image and Likeness the Form of Man else Moses's Words were not true do you disprove it if you can 5. Only the Man Adam his Body was earthly and made of the Earth but God's Body was spiritual and heavenly yet in Form like Adam And Adam was a Man which none can deny that owns the Scriptures 6. And in process of time this God became Flesh and dwelt among Men and that he took upon him the Form of a Servant and was in all things like unto Man Sin excepted and made himself capable to be put to Death by the Seed of the Serpent his own Creatures his Blood was poured out unto Death for the Redemption of the Seed of Adam to make good that Promise to Adam in Paradice That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpent's Head Which was fulfilled when he suffered Death upon the Cross 7. And when he quickened out of Death into Life again then was that Saying fulfilled Oh Death I will be thy Death Oh Grave I will be thy Victory And that other Saying I am Alpha and Omega the First and the Last he that was dead and behold I am alive for ever more 8. This Alpha and Omega was Christ and he was God and this Christ was the Lord from Heaven a quickening Spirit And was there any other God or Alpha or Omega that dyed but Christ and did any quicken out of Death to Life again but he and did any God become Flesh and dwell with Man but Christ 9. And was not Christ in the form of Man when on Earth did not he retain the same form when he assended up to Heaven and doth retain the same Form now he is glorified and is in the same Glory which he had before this World was 10. Oh Pen How is it that you cannot understand that Eternity did become Time and Time is become Eternity again That is that spiritual and glorious immortal Body of God that was eternal before Man was made but in the fulness of time this glorious immortal Body became a pure mortal Body even Jesus Christ capable to dye so eternity became Time And in that he quickened out of Death into Life again Mortality became Immortal again and Time became Eternity again 11. This great Mistory That God became Flesh is hid from the Eyes of the Seed of the Serpent such as William Pen the Quaker is and revealed unto us unlearned Men. 12. And this is that God that Reeve and Muggleton hath declared in our Writings and this God we received our Commission from and that Power to Bless and Curse to Eternity 13. This God you have proudly and blasphemously defied and trampled under your Feet as Dirt also you have boldly challenged the true and living God that is in the form of Man to touch or hurt you and stand in a holy Defiance of me and my God's Strength and that me and my God is chained and on me and my God you trample and to the bottomless Pit you have sentanced us both me and my God And if this be not high Blasphemy Pride and Presumption against the living God there never was any 14. Oh Pen did you never read how Goliah defyed the living God the God of Israel and how David flung a Stone into his Forehead and slew him for defying the living God the God of Israel For David knew the God of Israel was in the form of a Man but Goliah his God was the same God as the Quakers God is a bodiless God so vast and so bigg that he cannot be confined neither to the vast Heavens above nor in this vast Earth below but he must fill the Aire also and all Places at one and the same time This is the Heathens God and the Quakers God also 15. Did you never read of Corath and his Company Captains of Rebellion and Conspiracy against Moses and Aaron and against God that chose them to teach the People neither would God suffer any other Men to do it but them he chose therefore it was the Earth clave and swallowed them all up alive 16. Now you Pen and many of you Quakers have practised the same thing against Reeve and Muggleton whom the God of Heaven hath chosen in perticular and no other Man upon Earth at this Day to set Life and Death before Men. 17. Now hath not you and your Captain Teachers of the Quakers Railed Reviled Reported and Condemned Reeve and Muggleton and our God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory because we had our Commission from him to open Hels Mouth and swallow up such Rebels as you are into those eternal Torments where the Worm of Conscience shall never dye nor the Fire of Hell never go out for your dispising the living God in the form of a Man which you Quakers have done and are more guilty than any People in the World 18. Neither are you sensible of the great Ephects that this Commission God gave to Reeve and Muggleton hath wrought How many of your valiant Captains and mighty Men of War have fallen by the two edged Sword of the Spirit put into my Mouth even the Commission God put upon me 19. Do not you miss many of your Captains and Leaders of the Quakers What is become of William Smith Samuel Hutton Thomas Taylor Richard Farnesworth and many more I could name here of late Years Do you not miss Thomas Loe and Josiah Cole These were valiant Men like your self to reproach and defy the living God 20. Are you not sensible how the Curse of God took hold of them sudainly after they had defyed the living God in the form of a Man 21. And now last of all you come like Goliah the Philistian with a Commission from a great bodiless God that can neither be found neither in Heaven nor in Earth nor no place else signed and sealed to defy the living God that
to make and Excite discord between the King and his Subjects and to bring into Odium and Disgrace his said Majesty's Kingdom as to Eclesiastical Matters 4. He the said Lodowick Muggleton on the 30th of August in the 23d Year of His Majesty's Reign in St. Giles's Parish without Cripplegate London aforesaid by force and Armes did Unlawfully Wickedly Maliciously Scandalously Blasphemously Seditiously Scismatically and Heritically Write Print and Sell Utter and Publish a certain Malicious Scandalous Blasphemous Seditous and Heritical Book Intituled The Neck of the Quakers Broken 5. In which Book Written to Edward Burne are contained these Unlawful Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and Scandalous Sentences following viz. I Write these Lines unto you Edward Burne knowing you to be the Seed of the Serpent 6 There was repeated out of this Book much more as Page the 18 31 and 54. That whosoever Reads that Book may see those Blasphemies these Quakers did first Judge me with so that I had cause enough given me to Pronounce those sad Sentences of Damnation upon them and those Books was known to the Powers of the Nation many Years before and the Powers of the Nation took no notice of it because that and all others were Pardoned by the King and Act of Parliament till within three Years and that Book was Printed 13 Years before 7. Yet these wicked Judges and Jury and others Conspired together to perswade the Court that this Book was Antidated 13 Years ago yet Published this August 30th 1676 that it might come within the Act of three Years 8. Now these words that were taken out of this Book made some of the Judges Mad with Envie and grin'd their Teeth and their Counsel said it made his Hair stand on an End he was so Affrighted which caused one of the Judges to belch out of his Mouth saying it was to the great contempt and Scandal of their said Lord the King of His Crown and Dignity 9. When as that Book did not meddle with their Established Religion at all neither was it any dishonour to the King but rather an honour if he had but Read it over but Truth doth alwaies offend the reason of Man as is seen by what a Multitude of Hellish Expressions and Palpable lies uttered in their Indictment being patch'd up with Reproaches and Slanders against the purest Truth that ever was spoken by Prophet or Apostle 10. I shall now Record now unjustly Judge Rainsford dealt with me before the Tryal The Sessions before I was Tryed the Bill of Indictment was Read in Court and I answered not Guilty and said unto Davis then Lord Mayor that I would Traviss the Indictment and put in Bail to the Indictment 11. So Davis asked whither I could put in three Sufficient Men that could Swear they were worth Two Hundred Pounds a Man he would Accept of Bail thinking I could not have procured such great Security And Judge Rainsford Sate at the Right-Hand of the Mayor and I heard Judge Rainsford say to the Lord Mayor that it was pitty but I should be Burn'd I heard by his Words and saw by his Countenance that he was and would be a Deadly Enemy 12. But the Mayor could not deny Bail nor to Traviss the Indictment by the Laws of England so the Men were called and the Mayor being Envious asked one of them if they were of my Gang one of them answered and said thus Sr. We do not come here to be Examin'd whose Gang we are of but we came to be Bail for this Man for Six Hundred Pounds for his Appearance the next Sessions The Mayor said no more but Accepted it 13. And when the time drew near I did according to Law with my Lawyer go to this Judge Rainsford and got his Clerk to draw up a Sessarary which was to remove it out of that Court into the Court of Kings-Bench and this En vious Judge being Judge of the Kings-Bench-Court and we could not have a Sessarary in any Court else which he knew well enough which caused his Envie to act so wickedly and unjustly towards me 14. For when his Clerk and my Lawyer had Drawn up the Writing and had recived their Money near Forty Shillings they went into the Judges-Chamber for him to set his Hand to it to remove my Cause into his own Court which was but Law but he made them answer and said he would not set his Hand to it but would hear the Tryal himself at the Sessions 15. So I was Cheated of my Money by his Clerk and he knew it and he deprived me of it and of the just Law which is the Birth right of every free born Man of England 16. But now as to the Tryal I shall in the next place Record some of the most remarkable Words and Passages of the Judges and the Counselors and the Witnesses against me in the Tryal Upon the 17th of January 1676 first the Indictment was Read and the Cryer of the Court said Are you Guilty or not Guilty 17. I answred not Guilty but desired the Court to let my Counsel Plead the Cause because I knew they would have taken hold of my Words and made them a more horrible Crime then the Book it self which Judge Rainsford readily granted and asked Who was my Counsel I said Mr. Gener. 18. And he received a Breviat of the Cause shewing the Wrong I had received by their breaking open my House and taking away my Goods contrary to the Laws of England Also I gave into my Counsels Hands the Kings Gracious Act of Pardon That whosoever did Sue any Man for what was Pardoned in that Act afterwards that the Partie so Sued should Plead the General Issue and should Recover Ten Pound a Man of those his Adversaries 19. This Act was given into my Counsels Hands to Plead and that Book that stated the Indictment out of was given into his Hand which Book was Pardoned by that Act being Printed 13 Years ago all was Pardon'd till within Three Years 20. Also their Counsel I know not his Name had one of the Boâ—oks with the whole Volumn bound and Clasp'd which they stole from me in his Hand I saw the Chief Judges were bent upon Mischeif against me 21. Therefore I was resolved to follow the Practice of Christ when Examined by the high Priests Rulers and Counsel gave them no answer neither before Pilate for he knew they watched to catch Words out of his Mouth that they might have some what to Accuse him of to make his Cause worse then what his Enimies did Accuse him with as may be Read Luke 22.70 where Christ held his Peace and answer'd nothing 22. Then said they all Art thou the Son of God and he said unto them Yea say that I am and to this they said What need we any further Witness for we our selves have heard out of his own Mouth so Mark 14. and in verse 62 Jesus answered and said to his question I am the Son of God
see by the Lawes of England how you can possibly bring this Man in Guilty therefore Jury look to it 16. Then stood up Judge Rainsford and said That if it was not Law we will make it Law and further said who knoweth but this Raskal might Antidate the Book 13 Years ago and Publish it this 30th of August last past 17. The Envy of this wicked Judge made him speak against his own Conscience for he knew it was impossible for me to do such a thing as to get it Printed so lately for he knew it were those that Stole my Books published them 18. And further this Rainsford vented his Envy exceeding high and called me Incorrigable Rogue that should Assume to himself to be in Gods place a Man Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and a monster in his Opinions Pretending himself one of the two Witnessess of Almighty God to the great Scandal and Contempt of our Lord the King his Crown and Dignity as also the Religion of this Kingdom rightly Established And further said he was Sorry that the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish Crimes of this Nature 19. And further he goeth on in his Rage against me and saith Gentlemen of the Jury if you do not bring this Man in Guilty you will be pertakers with him in all his Horrible Blasphemy and grand Apostisie 20. Many more hateful Words with the Fire of Hell that proceeded from his Heart and did appear in his Face his Zeal was great to have me Punished Nay he thought in his Heart that Hanging was too good a Death for me for said he This Crime of horrid Blasphemy as he accounted it was worse than Murder Fellony or Treason and was Sorry that the Laws was so unprovided to punish such Crimes 21. I was so moved in my mind to hear this Cursed Devil to Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit that sent me and gave me Power to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon such Blaspheming Devils That I could have wished that God would have Executed some vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon this Blasphemous Judge to have smote him with a natural Blindness for I knew he was Spiritually Blind for I had done wrong to no Man 22. Only I had Executed the Commission of God faithfully in giving Sentance upon all dispising Devils who sinned againg the Holy Ghost This was that Sin the high Priests and Elders committed in Christ's time against him in that they said he cast out Devils by Belsebub the Prince of Devils 23. I know this that Judge Rainsford would have said the same to Christ himself had he been in my place for his Blasphemy was great not only against me but against God that sent me which God he knew not 24. Therefore my Anger was kindled against him and desired an immediate vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon him that might have been a vissible Witness whither God did own him or me 25. But there was a secret Voice within me said thy Commission is Spiritual and hath to do with the Spiritual and Eternal Estate of Mankind and that all such Persons are the Seed of the Serpent and are to receive for their Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost their Punishment in the Life to come even Eternal Damnation which is the second Death where the Worm of Conscience shall never Dye nor the Fire of Hell shall never be quenched to Eternity 26. Then I was quiet and willing to bear all they could do unto me even to the loss of my Life CHAP. IV. The Prophet is brought in Guilty of his Sentance and Judgment with the nature of his Sufferings 1. AFTER that Judge Rainsford had made his Speech to the Jury then was the Goler commanded to take me away from the Bar and put into a little Room for a season and after a little space I was called for to the Bar again and Jefferies being then in the Recorders place that Bawling Devil was to give Sentance and Judgment upon me 2. And when I did appear before him a great Fire was between us where they did Burn those in the Hand which were Condemn'd to that Punishment but all that was over before I did appear 3. And this Jefferies Sate in the Judgment Seat as Pilate din against Christ and I stood a Prisoner at his Bar and when he saw my Face the first Words he speak he called me Impudent Rogue because my Countenance did not change nor look sad nor asked any Favour of the Court and said nothing to all their Threats Revilings and Reproaches whereby they Reproached me 4. Then he asked the Jury Is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty They stay'd a little space before they speak Jefferies asked again is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty the Jury said Guilty 5. Then he Proceeded in Judgment and said the Court is sorry the Laws of England are so unprovided to punish Crimes of this Nature therefore the Court hath thought Fit to give you but an Easie Easie Easie Punishment 6. You shall be committed and put to stand upon the Pillory in three of the most Eminent Places in the Citty That is one Day in Cornhil near the Exchange London Another Day in Fleet-street near the end of Chancery-lane and the Third Day being on the Market Day to Stand in West-Smith-Field London from the Hours of Eleven in the Forenoon until one in the Afternoon 7. On which said several Days a Writing Paper shewing your Offence to be put upon your Breast and also your Blasphemous Books in three Parts to be devided and with Fire before your Face near the Pillory aforesaid by the Common Hangman then and there to be Burn'd 8. And then to be returned into Newgate in safe Custody until your Fine of Five Hundred Pound be paid and then to put in good Security to be of good Behaviour the time of your Life but none of your own Gang as he call'd them shall be Security for you These are the Words of the Sentance that Jefferies passed upon me the 17th of January 1676. 9. The Paper that was tyed to my Brest every Day I stood upon the Pillory to shew my Offence and cause of this Suffering the Words were as followeth 10. Lodowick Muggleton Standeth hear for Writing causing to be Printed Selling Uttering and Publishing a Blasphemous Book 11. After this Sentance and Judgment was passed upon me I shall Record as short as I can the manner of the Execution of this Sentance and how I did suffer it and bear the Curse of their wicked Wills for they did make that Law which was not Law as Rainsford said before and as Judge Atkins when he saw me Condemn'd contrary to Law he went off the Bench and said there were no fair Dealings with me 12. This Sentance have I Suffered in every Tittle in the greatest Rigour that could be inflicted even beyond their own Law they made me Ride in a Cart as a Thief or a Murtherer Bareheaded without Hat or Cap which never
was done in England before I stood Bareheaded upon the Pillory which no Cheat ever did but were suffered to weare a Cap of Steel under another Cap. 13. I was set as a Mark for every one to Throw a Stone at me 14. My Books were offered up in Three Burnt offerings unto the Unknown God as Three Sacrifices before my Face the smoke of them asscended into my Nostrells which caused me to Cry to Heaven for Vengeance upon those Great Men of the Earth that were the cause of those Burned-offerings unto Devils 15. And my self was Offered up as a Sacrifice Three times to the Rude Multitude For the People came from the Four Winds or from the Four Quarters of the Citty and Subburbs round about they were for Multitude without Number 16. I was maul'd by the People some cast Dirt and Mudd out of the Kennel at me others Rotten Eggs and Turnâ—â—s and others cast Stones at me some Stones weighed a Pound and out of the Windows at the Exchange they cast down Fire Brands Pieces of Billits with Fire upon them at my Head which if they had lighted upon me would have done the Work as they desired 17. I was Bruised and Battered and my Innocent Blood was shed tho' not unto Death for Gods Cause for that the Blood of the last True Prophet and Witness of the Spirit hath been shed by this Bloody Citty for my Testimony to the Commission of God put upon me 18. And it was the wonderful Providence of God my Life was preserved for I was delivered into the Hands of unreasonable Men the rude Multitude by the Hands of Rainsford Davis and Jefferies Judges of the Law of Reason and Jury these were the Men that were Guilty of my Innocent Blood 19. I was willing to be stoned to Death by the rude Multitude and would have gone off the Pillory to be stoned to Death but the Officers would not let me come down when this was over my Wounds and the Blood stanched I was put into the Cole Cellar again the same Day at Night I went Three pair of Stairs high to my Lodging 20 And the next Day I would willingly have kept my Bed but the Keeper said If I would not come down into the Cellar in the Afternoon they would put me in the Common Side so I was forced into the Cellar who had more need to have kept my Bed 21. But there is no mercy in Prison therefore it may well be compared to Hell for in Hell there is no mercy but Justice only neither is there any mercy in Prison Keepers at all without profit 22. After I had suffered these things I was put into Prison again for the Fine of Five Hundred Pounds that was laid upon me to Pay but I did lye in Prison Six Months after I had suffered these things aforesaid 23. And now in my Imprisonment I considered that my sufferings were much like unto the sufferings of the Prophet Jeremiah Chap 11.19 he suffered for his Message from the Lord of Host the mighty God of Jacob. 24. And my sufferings was for my Commission received from the high and mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory the only wise God my King and my Redeemer 25. And as his Enemies that caused him to suffer and would have had him put to Death were Princes and great Men of the Earth so likewise those my Enemies were great Men and as Princes on the Earth and they sat upon the Thrones as Gods on Earth in Judgment against me 26. And as it was with Jeremiah so it was with me for I was like a Lamb that is brought to the Slaughter and I knew not that they had devised devices against me if I had I could have prevented them They saying Let us destroy the Tree with its Fruite thereof and cut him off from the Land of the Living that his Name may be no more Remembered 27. That is let us destroy this Muggleton the Tree and the Fruit thereof his Doctrine of the True God and Right Devil in his Writings that none may receive his Writings more nor believe his Doctrin or Commission that he hath Power from God to Bless and Curss to Eternity any more This Reprobate Men have practised against me 28. So that I have had Cause to make my Complaint unto my God my King and my Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ as David and Jeremiah did 29. Oh Lord God of Truth that Judgeth Righteously that Tryeth the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for thou knowest I have been Faithful in Executing thy Commission the Burthen of the Lord which thou didest lay upon me 30. And thou knowest the unrighteous unjust Judgments these wicked unjust Judges gave against me They were not only Enemies to me but thy Enemies Oh God for they have hated me without a cause and they have said let us smite him with the Tongue with Lyes Slanders and Reproaches 31. Therefore heed O Lord God of Truth and harken to the Vioce of these wicked Judges and Jury and all those that assented to that Judgment for harm that contended with me And let me see thy Vengeance on those thy Enemies for their Fathers did unto thee when thou was upon Earth as these do unto me 32. Thou hast saved me from Bloody Men For they laid wait for my Soul to Kill it had the Law been provided with Strength and not for any Transgression of any Law that I had broken but for thy Commission and Doctrine thou gavest me to declare 33. Therefore Oh Lord God of truth be not merciful unto any wicked Transgression that Persecuteth only for Conscience sake it being the Sin against the Holy Ghost 34. And God will let me see my desire upon my Enemies and bring them down Oh Lord my God 25. This was my secret Supplication unto my God when I was Prisoner in Newgate after I had suffered all those Corporal Punishments which they Sentanced me to Suffer CHAP. V. Shewing how that the Prophet in a short time saw his desire unto God in part fullfilled 1. AND a little while after these my Sufferings I saw my desire in part granted and several of my Potent Enemies cut off this Earth by Death As first that certain rich Man that took away poor Widdow Brunt's Ground as is aforemention'd he was call'd Sr. John James 2. And notwithstanding I had overthrown his two Tenants in the common Law yet when he saw that I was in Prison and Condemn'd for those Books and had suffered as aforesaid yet I being Fined Five Hundred Pounds he thought I could not be delivered out of Prison no more the Fine was so great 3. Whereupon he wickedly took advantage upon my sufferings for God's Cause and sent a Writt of Ejectment to my Tenants to Eject me out of Possession so my Atturney Read it and said I must answer to it else he would Eject me out the next Term so I was forced to Imploy a