Origin of ana. baptifts.

feized on by force, churches prophaned and spoiled, &c.*

"And Dr. Sutcliff adds yet further, that that book of Vindicia contra Tyrannos gives a power to fubjects not onely to resist, but to kill their kings, if they impugne God's religion, of which and all their other mifdemeanors, they must be the onely judges, as it is fit they should be."

By way of prelude to the levelling scenes exhibited in this island, it will not be improper to introduce to my readers that arch leveller Muncer with his church militant of anabaptifts. The peculiarity of thefe fectaries did. not fo much confift in any new formula of faith or doctrines, as in an external fhow of humility, rigor, and mortification. So "no marvel was it to fee them every day broach fome new thing not heard of before; for they interpreted that reftlefs levity to be their growing to fpiritual perfection, and their proceeding from faith to faith."

* Had not Baldwyn written and printed these letters, in 1562, it might naturally have been supposed, that he was defcribing the fcenes acted upon our own theatre, between eighty and ninety years after that time; fo true is it, that fimilar causes produce fimilar effects.

Guy de Bres Erreures des Anabaptiftes, p. 27.

"But

"But these men, in whofe mouths at the Their doctrines first founded nothing, but mortification of and practices. the flesh were come at the length to think, they might lawfully have their fix or seven wives a piece. They, who at the first thought judgment and juftice itself to be merciless cruelty; accounted at the length their own hands fanctifyed with being imbrued in christian bloud. They, who at first were wont to beat down all dominion, and to urge against poor conftables kings of nations, had at length both confuls and kings of their own erection amongst themselves. Finally, they who could not brook at firft, that any man should feek, no not by law the recovery of his goods injuriously taken, or withheld from him, were grown at the last to think, they could not offer unto God more acceptable facrifice, then by turning their adverfaries clean out of house and home; and by enriching themselves with all kind of fpoil and pillage.

"For a further character of them, Sleidan Their levelling tell us, that Muncer, by his new doctrine principles. touching goods to be in common, incited the boores of Franconia and Turingen to undertake the holy-war (as he called it) against

* Dugdale's Short View of the late Troubles in England, c. i. p. 5, & feq.

their princes; telling them, that he was commanded of God to deftroy all wicked princes, and substitute new ones in their places; and that they were called indeed princes, but were tyrants. Moreover, that they would not reftore unto the people their liberty, nor permit them to have the true religion and fervice of God; exhorting them rather to dye, then to allow their wickedness, and fuffer the doctrine of the gofpel to be taken from them; and therefore to play the men, and gratify God, in destroying fuch unprofitable people.

Likewife, that this their great zeal towards God, and outward humility, got them in the beginning many followers; for their demands were first, that they might choose them fuch ministers, as should preach God's word sincerely, without any mixture of men's traditions. Secondly, That thenceforth they would pay no tythes, but of corn only; and the fame to be diftributed by the difcretion of good men, partly to the ministers of the church, partly upon the poor, and partly upon common affairs. Thirdly, That they had till that time been unworthily kept in bonds, confidering how they were all made free in the bloud of Chrift. Fourthly, That they refused not to have a magistrate, know

ing that he is ordained of God, and would obey him in all honeft things; but could not abide to be any longer bound, unless it were shewed reasonable by the teftimony of fcripture.* Fifthly, That in all their letters, which they wrote to provoke and allure others to their fellowship, they made their boaft, that they took up arms by God's commandment, and for a certain love and zeal to the common-wealth, to the intent the doctrine of the gospel might be fet forth, augmented, and maintained. And fixthly, That truth, equity, and honeft living might reign and flourish; as alfo, that they might so provide for them and theirs, that thenceforth they should not be oppreffed with any violence.

"And that when they had thus at few words declared the cause of their enterprize, they would then command their neighbours to arm, and come unto them immediately, and help them; if not, then would they threaten to come upon them with all their force. But having gotten the power and Luther's judgarms into their hands, they committed di

vers horrid outrages; infomuch as Luther exhorted all men, that they would come to destroy them as wicked theeves and parricides,

Lb. f. 63. + Lb. f. 64. b. & 65.

in

ment of the anabaptifts of his days.

Muncer defeated in open rebellion, taken, and beheaded.

in like cafe as they would come to quench a common fire, having moft fhamefully broken their faith to their princes, taken other men's goods by force, and cloak all this abomination and wickednefs with the cover of Christianity, which, faith he, is the vilest and unworthiest thing, that can be imagined.

"In Sucvia and Franconia, about forty thousand pefants took arms, robbed a great part of the nobility, plundered many towns and caftles, Muncer being their chief captain; fo that the princes of the empire, Albert count of Mansfield, John duke of Saxony, and his coufen George Philip the landgrave of Heffe, and Henry duke of Brunfwick, were neceffitated to raise what power they could; and having offered them pardon upon fubmiffion, and delivering up their principal leaders, which was refused, marcht against them. * But Muncer preparing for battel, encouraged his followers, crying out to them to take their weapons, and fight ftoutly against their enemies, finging a fong, whereby they called for help of the Holy Ghoft.t The fuccefs of which battel was, that the

Slcidan's Com. f. 57.

Thus did the rebels here in England at the last battle of Newbery, 27 Oct. 1644.

rebels