MOST TRUE AND MORE ADmirable news, EXPRESSING THE MIRACVlous preservation of a young Maiden of the town of Glabbich in the Dukedom of Gulische: And, THE STRANGE YET WORTHY execution of john Honaver, of Brunholf at Wittenberg, this present year 1597.  
Condemn not ere ye read, and having read, wonder at the Almighty's work.  
LONDON. Printed by Adam Islip for Thomas Stirrup, dwelling in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the George, 1597.   

❧ To his especial friend, Master Ed. Harc. Merchant in London.  
SIr (as you have desired) I have done all my endeavour to satisfy you with the truth of such noteworthy things, as in these parts happen; being recompensed by you with like for like from London, our natural and beloved City. So it is (that being certified of a matter beyond all natural reason wonderful) that at this instant is to be scene at the town of Glabbich in the Dukedom of Gulische near unto Colaine, from whence I departed not believing the strange report of many my good friends, till mine eyes had assured my heart, of that which mine ears could not persuade it unto. And to be plain with you, though I did see it, so admirable the report is, that I am doubtful to deliver it, lest you should call my known credit in question, and count me a reporter of fabulous lies.  
But to clear myself of that supposition, I have sent you the names and dwelling places of divers our countrymen ● that inhabit in and about London, who saw what I did see, wondered as I did, and will witness on their oaths the truth of what I writ. Besides I have sent you the Town seal to a certificate of the truth, signed by the Magistrates, with the occasion, why it was gotten: and first will I name my witnesses.  

Bartholomew powel's.  
Gerrard powel's.  
Harman Rutters.   
These three above written dwell in the parish of Saint Olaue, commonly called Saint Touleys in Southwark.  

Henry the post, Of the parish of Saint Katherine's by the tour.  
Henry powel's, Dwelling in the late Duke's place near Algate.  
Henry Hester, Of Waltham Stow in Essex.   
These to my knowledge did see this admirable wonder, which yet continueth for any to see that have occasion to travel into those parts.  
NOW having in some part cleared my way, & strengthened myself with witnesses dwelling by you, I will the boldlier tell you this strange and admirable accident; which in my conscience (among many other wonders) is in this wicked age by God ordained to reprove the folly of those fools, that say in their heart, there is no God, that jest at the promise of his coming, that blasphemously affirm nature to be conserver of all things. For no natural Philosopher in the world can yield reason for this admirable wonder. Longer I will not hold you from it the substance and truth is this.   

 portrait of maiden  
❧ The miraculous preservation of a young Maiden of the town of Glabbiche in the Dukedom of Gulische.  
ONe john Iohans, and Mary his wife, dwelling in the village of Wincklen, being people of honest report had a daughter called Veit en Johan's, who from the feast of holimesse in the year 1593. to this very instant hath never received any kind of sustenance, nor done those necessary works of nature which every creature naturally is forced to, yet is she fair, of a very good complexion, and to all men's seeming of perfect health. Her parents by no means can yield reason of this her strange kind of life, but do confess she hath eaten, drunk, and done as other children have. Only this they say, that in Anno 1593. she had a very grievous sickness, and upon the recovery she fed but little, and daily less and less, till at length indeed she took not any food: t● last of any, being as I before said, upon ho 〈…〉 ay Anno 1593. At the first her parents guessed it to ●●…se from sullenness or wantonness, but neither stripes nor entreaty could since make her take an● s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enance: but what beyond compass of all man's reason God inwardly nourisheth her withal.  
Me thinks (M. Harc.) I see a humour growing in you, or if not of yourself it come, some humourous person doth persuade you, that the parents of this child do get unto themselves profit, going about to make their daughter be thought another joan the Pucelle, or such a one as was our Hypocritical holy maid of Kent. But I can assure you, that they are no such people, but wealthy persons of peaceable and godly conversation, such as make no gain by their child, but are rather much hindered by entertaining those that come to see her, neither do they cloister her up nor chamber her so close, but she converseth daily with neighbour's children, at church, at work, at play, and never leaveth company, till they go to meat, which it seemeth her stomach loatheth.  
To add more credit hereunto, I send you as I promised, the copy of the certificate, which the Governors at the earnest request of Bartholomew powel's dwelling in London as aforesaid, did get; who will show you the original and the Town seal at it: The copy followeth.  
We john Stambe, William Hertzigh, Herman at Stappen, and john Spangen, with the rest of the magistrates of the City of Glabbith in the dukedom of Gulische, do by these our letters give to understand to all manner of persons whatsoever, before whom these presents shall come, that at the writing hereof there was before us one john Iohans with Mary his lawful wife, dwelling at Winclen, being a village in the Dukedom of Gulische, who said that they were of the age of sixty years and upwards, who brought with them a maiden child of their own, of the age of twelve years, and there they did depose, that the said child had neither eat nor drunk, nor taken any kind of food to sustain nature, neither yet done the necessities of nature, since the feast of Holymesse in the year of our Lord; 159● unto this present 28 of july in the year of our Lord 1596, and that always before the feast of Holymesse before named, she did and had lived by eating and drinking as all other children do, until it pleased God to visit her with a great sickness, in which sickness she began to leave her meat by little and little, but yet continued a small time only by drinking of milk: and at Holymesse aforesaid, she altogether left all food whatsoever, and so she doth continue: and yet she is of as red a colour and as fair a complexion as most be, as this picture doth show: which picture was brought before us with the child: also she doth increase in strength according to her age. And for the fuller certifying hereof, there were at the same time before us these three witnesses, Mathias Hennen, Peter Hennen, and Vitgen Engels, neighbours unto the said john Johan's, who deposed that this child was often with their children playing, and that they often offering it meat, she always refused it, and yet they tried her diverse times with diverse things, and always found her to loath meat so far, that when any meat was either given to their children or stirring in their houses, she would go away: so that they said upon their oath, that they thought that the smell of meat was loathsome to her.  
These our present letters are sent forth at the request of one Bartholomew powel's dwelling in the City of London in England, who desired our letters for the fuller certifying of the truth of the premises: and we being assured of the truth hereof, both by the witnesses and other epperiences, thought it good not to deny his request, that the truth of so strange a thing might be abroad known, to the praise and glory of God. Written and sealed in our presence, the 28. of july. 1596.  
OF this (M. Harc.) I have said all that I can, only I conclude, the Lord is mighty in all his works, and wonderful in all his ways, he will have his glory known, neither shall any thing in heaven or earth be joined as an aid with him, so full of Almighty majesty and jealousy is he: in his kindled wrath shall unbelievers fall, and the scorners shall be as stubble before fire.  
I suspect sir, that my tediousness doth weary you, but have a little patience, and (it may be) I will be briefer and merrier in this that followeth.   

 portrait of John Honaver  
❧ The strange yet worthy execution of john Honaver, of Brunholfe at Wittenberg, this present year, 1597.  
IT hath been reported for truth a long time, that the Duke and State of Wittenberg had gotten a fellow for the nonce, so excellent an Alchemist, as the wide world had not his like, The knowledge of the Philosopher's stone was his as sure as ever it was salomon's. Oh he was a perilous fellow by report, he intended to pave Wittenberg with silver, and cover the houses with gold. As for the Indies and their excrements gotten with so long travail, so dangerous fights, & such like attempes, he held them in scorn, the Elixir of life was his, and thereon he would venture his life.   depiction of man being hanged 
Therefore the State adding more to their loss prepared a gallows of a quadrangle form most artificially wrought, being iron work gilded ever, with bowls on the top and other curious forge work. It was plated on a square of stone, and from the top in the middle of the quadrangle went up an upright bar of iron and another crossing yet in manner of a gibbet, this held a broad Vane, upon which was engraven these words.  Here hangeth the crafty Alchemist that scaped from Struckgart, who pretended to make gold of iron, and because he lied and did deceive, he is hanged on iron gilded. 
The day of his death was on April the second day 1597, he was brought to the gallows with a hundred and fourscore horsemen, and a multitude of footmen, penitent he was, and did confess his error, yet a little bragged of his art.  
ANd by the way (M Harc.) I here note, all of his kind, have that kind of fault how ever they be overtaken, yet they have a mad desperate hope to attain that in one hour that thousands of them could never meet with in an age. You know some about London, that shall be nameless, who still lack purging in the master vain, against this mad frenzy of Alchemist, and will take no warning by the daily issue that runneth and vapoureth from their friends cofres and their inheritances.  
But leaving them to beweep their own loss, return we to john Honaver, by himself named lord of Brunholfe, a captive captain in that beggarly beguiling art. He was suited in cloth of gold, his stockings silk, his hat thrumd with gold and silk, his band of gold about his neck, a chain of gold and in this habit he was hanged dead, on a bar of iron crossing from the Vane, like the cross post of a gibbet: being dead he was disrobed, the hang man seizing on his gallant suit, and in four gilt iron chains, his body was hung up.  
On a pillar by the gallows was his lively picture with verses of high Dutch written to this effect.  
Here justly hangeth john Honaver,  
The consuming Alchemist, deceiver  
In Methernland this youth was borne  
Who now is made his country's scorn,  
He took upon him that he would  
Convert plain iron to rich gold,  
Many lords believed his knavery  
And made him rich with costly bravery  
But as lies did get him fame  
So his falsehood brought him shame,  
The Duke of Wittenberg commanded  
At Struckgart he should be imprisoned  
But thence he scaped to his great cost  
For by his flight his life he lost,  
Condemned he was hanged to be,  
Gilt iron was his gallow tree,  
He cost the State two tun of gold  
And by his craft his life was sold  
Three hundred pounds they more bestow  
To hang him with a golden show  
So ended he before he witted  
Because he was an Alchemist.  
These rhymes I can no better translate, the sense I am sure they hold. He was brought to execution with a hundred and fourscore horse, and an exceeding number of other people crying, There goes to hang the Algomist: which is a byname they give Alchemists in this country. Thus ended this young cozener being but four and twenty years of age: if some of th●se old companions of that kind which bootlessly trouble other States were so served the occupation of Alchemy, I mean in the most shifting professors, would prove like the profession of stealing, it indeed being a secret kind of theft.  
Thus (M. Harc.) have I done with these two novels, commending me to you, and referring you to the post scriptum, for one matter I omitted in this last business.  
Your friend to use, Alexander Gurth.  
Post scriptum.  
It is not to be forgotten, that when Honaver had broke his day, he was imprisoned at Struckgart: where escaping, proclamation was made, that any one who apprehended him, should have three hundred guildrens': and so in short time he was soon caught.  
Once again farewell. Coleyn Sept. xxii. 1597. A. G.