Thus this dark Cloud was diffipated that threatned a perilous Storm to the Anabaptifts (fo called) in OldEngland: The Sun fhone bright in our Horizon again, and the Anabaptifts lookt as fair as their Neighbours. But if this grievous Slander had not been timely detected, what fad work would here have been!

And not only that diabolical Pamphlet,but many other malicious ftories have been forged against the People of this Perfwafion, by profeffed Proteftants.

As is further evidenced in the abominable Slanders vented not many Years fince against Pious Grantham of Bleffed Memory, a faithful Minifter of the Gospel, a man fo endowed with all Moral and Christian vertues, that many of his acquaintance are perfwaded, that he was equalled by few, and exceeded by none that lived in his Day. And yet this Holy man of God could not efcape the Scourge of the Tongue. Some faid he was a Drunkard, fome faid he was a Whoremonger fome faid he was a Jefuite, and fome faid he was a Thief and Stole Sheep and Hurdles. And not only of the common People, but men of Reputation too, one was a Gentleman called Mr. Toathby, that had been a Perfecuting Magiftrate, tho' out of Commiffion when he vented this Slander against his Neighbour Grantham at Norwich. Another was a wandring Prieft called Mr. John Willet, he declared that he faw this Grantham ftand in the Pillory at Lowth in Lincolnfbire, for fome of the forefaid Mifdemeanours, and this poor Prieft did not only declare it in Words, but gave it alfo in writing under his Hand. And being affirmed by fuch men, who almoft would not believe it? Tho' it was really as Falfe as the Gofpel is True, as was fully manifefted afterward by the fhameful Confeffion of that Pfeudo-Evangelift, before Thomas Blofield, Efq; Mayor of Norwich. Where on the 6th of October 1691. He did with great Humility, Confefs his Wickedness, and that all was falfe which he had faid and fubfcribed against Mr, Grantham, and he did over and over with crying and bended

bended knees, and wringing of his Hands, defire forgivenefs of him, which this good Servant of the Lord readily granted.

Tho' the Worshipfull Mayor declared that it was the fouleft thing that ever he heard, and faid it is next to the taking Mr. Granthams Life, and Rebuked the Slanderer for his Wickednefs, which was fuch as deferved whipping, and faid if Mr. Grantham forgave him it was a very great kindness, and Commanded his Clerk to make a Record of his Confeffion, and ordered that Mr. Willet fhould fign and Seal it, which was done accordingly.

And whereas this wretched Slanderer had no mony to free himself from the Officer, this dear Servant of Chrift had Compaffion on him, and gave the Officer Ten Shillings to fet him at Liberty, that he might not go to Prifon for Charges. Thus he manifefted Love to his Enemy, requiting him good for evil. He did not ferve him in bis own Sawce, or pay him in his own Coyn; no not he, he was of another Spirit, which fhewed his union with Christ. He that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit, Cor. 6. 17. This is to be a Chriftian indeed!

May one ask a Civil Queftion,by the by, without offence, (for I would not purpofely Offend Mr. Eratt, nor any other Man) but fuppofe a diforderly Baptift had abufed Mr. Eratt as that Disorderly Prieft abufed Mr. Grantham, Would Mr. Eratt a done as Mr. Grantham did? No more but fo, it's a harmless Queftion, which he may confider at his Leifure.

These things occafioned Mr. Grantham to publifh two Books in his own jaft Vindication, to detect thefe vile Slanders, one Entituled, The Slanderer Rebuked. the other The grand Impoftor Caught in his own Snare.

When I confider these things, and fome others that I know, and have had Experience of in the Days of my Pilgrimage,

Pilgrimage, I think there is no great Credit to be given to thofe ftories from Germany, which is fo noifed abroad, and that Mr. Eratt infifts fo very much upon, throughout his Book.

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And I the rather think all is not true that is Reported' because of fome difagreement which I have obferved in the Evidence. Concerning one of the Mens Names, they do not agree whether it was, Nicholas Stork, or Nicholas Stock or Nicholas Stokins, fome peaking one way and fome another. Again concerning matter of Fact, fome Witnefs that John of Leyden had fifteen Wives, others bear Witnefs of only Three Wives that he had, and whether he had one or no, who can be fure? This difagreement weakens the Evidence. And I think they differ in fome other parts of the ftory, particularly concerning the Doctrines which they held, but I pafs that.

And fuppofe thofe unhappy Men which acted their Tragedy at Munfter, were altogether as vile as they are Reported to be, yet how will it be proved that the Sect called Anabaptifts was then firft Broached, and Founded in Blood by them? This is the Point to be confidered. Sure the Sect might be Founded before that time, notwithstanding their Wickedness; and if what I read be true, it is moft certain that those bad men could not be the Founders of this Sect. For,

First, Some Lutherans, not Baptifts, were the Ringleaders and chief Promoters of that Sedition, who to be fure never defigned to Found this Sect, (fuppofing it had not been Founded before,) but to carry on fome other Defign.

This appears from the Writings of divers Credible Authors, who give an account that in the Year 1532. One Bernard Rotman, a Lutheran Preacher at Munfter, in the Church of St. Maurice, began to Preach against the Popith Doctrines, which the Papifts being informed of, they prevailed with him for a Summ of Mony to depart. But having

having Repented himself thereof, after fome Months he returned again, and having given notice before hand to divers principal Inhabitants of the City of Munfter, he had a Pulpit erected for him in the Portal of the Church, and fought alfo to have the Church opened for the greater promoting his Doctrine; and withal told them, if it were not granted, he would procure it to be done by force, &c.

Thus far Mr. Rotman advanc'd the Defiga without any help from John of Leyden; but in the Year following, this John of Leyden, that is fo much talkt of, came to Munster, upon the 14th of February, 1533. The very fame Year that Mr. Eratt fpeaks of, and this man was reputed an Anabaptift,and 'tis thought that he held Believers Baptifm, but they fay he differ'd in almoft all other Points with thofe of the Baptift Perfwafion, being (as my Author faith) a ftrange felfifh and Opinionative Man. Bernard Rotman had Conference with him, and taught him that it is Lawfull for men not only to defend,but alfo to Propagate their Religion by Force and Arms. And it feems he was very apt to entertain evil Counsel; For in the end, They with fome other Lutherans, and tome diforderly Baptifts, Plotted to make a full Reformation in Religion by Force,and to make their beginning at Munster.

And after an account of what paffed between the Bifhop of Mufter and them, and how they were fubdued by the Munfterians, the Hiftorian conludes thus';

This is indeed that Tragedy, (faith he) which was Acted at Munfter, which was not contrived and managed by thofe called Anabaptifts; but the first rise of it must be Charged upon the Lutherans, and in particular Bernard Rotman and his Allies.

Pray Oblerve, First who Confederated together, not the People called Anabaptifts by themselves alone, as they must needs have done, if they had only defigned to promote this Sect, but they were Lutherans and they to gether. 2ly, Obferve what their defign was, not to promote Anabaptifm in Distinction from all other Seats in the World, but they were Combined together to Reform Religion by the Sword, tho' that is the certain way to De

form

form it, but that was the thing which they Refolved upon, and God would not profper them in it.

But to what degree of fineness they intended to Refine Religion, by forcing it through that Furnace, Ifind not. For tho' they purpofed a full Reformation of Religion, yet that must take its eftimate from the Model of their own Fancies. 'Tis like they aim'd to reduce it to the Lutb.ran Pitch, and no finer: The unruly Baptifts that joyned them, might be glad to fee it brought to that, and the Lutherans would be forry to have it brought any further. To be fure they defigned to caft down Popery, and to make fuch a Reformation in Religion as would agree with the Seperate Interefts of Lutherans and Baptifts, of which two Sects the Confpirators were. There is Me diums that may joyn the Interefts of all Men in the world, and caft them into one Mould, tho' they are vaftly wide in other respects. But when their Interefts jump together, then they may agree to carry on one and the fame defign, or elfe they cannot. Can two walk together except they be agreed? Amos 3. 3. The Answer muft be, they cannot; for in fome thing they must be agreed before they can walk together:And fo were thofe Lewd Reformers at Munster, but it was not to advance Anabaptism above Lutheranifm; for in that they were not agreed.

And there is feme ground to think, that the crafty Lutherans had a defign to use thofe Enthufiaftick Fellows of the Baptift Sect,that were gone aftray from their Companions, as fit Tools for their purpose,till they had obtained their end, and that if a Reformation had fucceeded according to their minds, they would have taken the Honour of the Acttion to themselves, and not have been ashamed of what they had done. But if the defign mifcarry, let the Anabaptifts bear the blame:

Accor

ding to a Dutch Verfe formerly made upon that account, which is Rendered into English, by my Honoured Friend Dr. William Ruffel of London, in his Answer to a Presbyterian Minifter, named Mr. Michael Harrison, which take as followeth.

If