A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTORIOUS LIFE OF JOHN LAMB, otherwise called Doctor LAMB.  
Together with his Ignominious DEATH.  
Printed in Amsterdam. 1628.   

A DESCRIPTION OF the Life and Death of john Lamb, otherwise called Doctor LAMB.  
THis Lamb commonly called Doctor Lamb, whose Scandalous life hath been a long subject of discourse in this Kingdom, and whose tragical and unexpected death of late happening, hath given cause of a sad Example to all such wicked persons.  
To pass by his Childhood, and to come to the beginning of his life▪ after he was at man's estate, was for the most part spent in the houses of diverse Gentlemen, whose Children he taught to write and read the English tongue. The first step that ever he made towards that wicked course, which he was afterwards accused for, was the profession of that noble and deep Science of Physic, (a colour which many base Impostors have used to lewd and juggling practices, as the best things are subject to the greatest abuses.) Whether this Doctor Lamb, for so we will now call him, had any ability of learning in him or no, I will relate the judgements of some honest and able men, which have talked with him. he seemed to them (how ever he would talk highly to ignorant people) to be altogether unlearned, and silly of discourse▪ or else to affect that way of speaking as a colour of his mischievous pra ctises▪ and rather to be thought by them an Impostor, whom the credulous ignorance of the common people had raised to that Fame, then to be truly and guiltily learned in those wicked mysteries. But whether he were truly the man, which the people conceived him to be, or not, I refer you to the proofs upon Indictment at Assizes against him and those other stories of him justified by men and women of credit. He began within short time after he professed Physic in the Country, to fall to other mysteries, as telling of Fortunes, helping of divers to lost goods, shewto young people the faces of their Husbans or Wives, that should be, in a Crystal glass: revealing to wives the escapes and faults of their Husbands, and to husbands of their wives. By which means, whether truly or falsely told, he wrought so much upon their credulity, that many mischiefs and divisions were wrought between married people. But his fame was never truly great, till he came to be questioned by the Laws of the Kingdom at Assizes and Sessions. For the condemnation of his lewdness in those assemblies of justice, did raise an opinion of his ability among people, no less than some unlearned and foolish Books in our time have gotten credit among the people, only because Authority hath censured them bad, which in steed of hurting the Authors, hath blown them up with a vain pride, and honoured them in the judgement of their ignorant admirers. The first trial in a Court of justice against Doctor Lamb, of any note, was at the Assifes at Worcester, In which he was found guilty of two several Inditements; one for unchristian and damnable practices against the person of an Honourble Peer of this Realm; and the other for damnable invocation and worship of evil Spirits▪ as will in the following discourse more at large appear.  
And because I would not trouble every unlearned person to find out such as are learned to expound Indictements. Therefore for the better understanding of all persons, I have herein set down the true effects of the said Indictments in English.  

An Indictment preferred against john Lamb, otherwise called Doctor Lamb, at Worcester.  
Worcester. ss. The jury for our Sovereign Lord the King do upon the holy Evangelists present: That john Lamb late of Tardebigge in the County aforesaid, Gent. not having the fear of God before his eyes, but by a Diabolical instigation being moved and seduced the 16. day of December in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King james, of England, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc. the fifth, and of Scotland the one and fortieth. At Tardebigg aforesaid, in the said County of Worcester, certain evil Diabolical and execrable arts called Witchcrafts, Enchantments, Charmers and Sorcerers, in and upon the right Honourable Th: Lo. W. Develishly, Maliciously, and Feloniously, did use, practice, and exercise, to the intent by the same evil, devilish, and execrable Arts, to disable, make infirm, and consume the body and strength of the said Th: Lo. W. And further the jury aforesaid, upon the said holy Sacrament, do say, that by the said evil, devilish, and execrable Arts, and by force and pretext of the same evil, devilish, and execrable Arts, by him the said john Lamb as aforesaid, used, practised, and exercised the foresaid Th. Lo: W. the said 16 day of December in the years aforesaid, & at divers other days and times afterwards, at Tardebigg, in the said County of Worcester, in his body and strength was greatly wasted and consumed▪ conrary to the peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and dignity. And also against the form of the Statute in this case made and provided, etc.   
Upon which Indictment he was arraigned several times, and pleaded not guilty to the same, but was found guilty of the same by proof there made. But judgement was suspended.  
After which Indictment so found, the said Doctor Lamb was again Indicted upon another Indictment then preferred against him, for invoking and entertaining of evil Spirits. The effect of which Indictment followeth in these words.  

Woreester ss. The jury for our Sovereign Lord the King, do upon the holy Sacrament present that john Lamb late of Henlipp, in the County of Worcester aforesaid, Gentleman, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but by Diabolical instigation being moved and seduced, the thirteenth day of May, in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord james, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc. the sixth, and of Scotland one and fortieth: and at divers other days and times aswell before as after at Henlipp aforesaid, in the County of Worcester aforesaid, unlawfully, diabolically, and feloniously against the profession of the Christian Faith, and holy word of God, certain evil and impious Spirits, did invoke and entertain with the intent that he the said john Lamb by the same impious and wicked spirits should follow the evil determinations by him the said john Lamb, unlawfully, maliciously, and diabolically then determined, or from thence to be determined, to the great Displeasure of the omnipotent God, and to the manifest peril of his soul's health, and to the evil and pernicious example of all other the Subjects of our said Sovereign Lord the King, in such case to be delinquents, And contrary to the peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown, and Dignity. And also contrary to the form of the Statute in this case made and provided, etc.   
Upon this indictment, he pleaded not guilty, but by the jury he was found guilty, but judgement was stayed.  

Here followeth some particulars of the proofet against him upon this last indictment.  
That Doctor Lamb did meet with one master Wayneman by chance, and entering into some discourse with him, he told him, that although he never had seen him before, yet he could tell him what secret marks he had on his body, and what Acts he had done in his life; which he did: and also told him, that he upon sight of any man or woman could do the like to them.  
And did practise to draw the said Mr. Wayneman into the Devilish Art of Conjuration, and told him that he had the command of spirits, and said he would presently show to him an Angel. Which Master Wayneman for curiosity sake was content to seet.  
Thereupon Doctor Lamb took out of his pocket a round Crystal Class, and set on the crown of his Hat upon a table, and then he kneeled down on his knees before the same, saying I addure thee (Benias) Whereupon Master Waineman answered, should you not say I admire thee? No, quoth Lamb: Then Master Waineman said to him, sure you would not say, I adore? Yes, said Doctor Lamb, otherwise he will not appear: and although I said to you, it was an Angel, I would show you, I did deceive you▪ for it is a Spirit I use to call upon, whereupon Mr. Wayneman did depart.  
And at another time he met with Mr. Wayneman and persuaded him to the said art of conjuration, and told him that he could do strange things, as intoxicate, poison, and bewitch any man so as they should be disabled from begetting of children.  
And that he had 4. spirits bound to his crystal but said (Benias) was his chief spirit.   
All these Mr. Wayneman proved against Doctor Lamb.  
At another time a gentleman of the County of York, was present with the sons of the right honourable the Earl of Moultgrave, a few days before their death: where Doctor Lambe was showing of tricks at which there was great laughter, amongst whom the Lady Fairefax being present, and sister to the said Earls sons, did at the said tricks laugh very heartily, whereupon Doctor Lamb said to her, Madam, your Ladyship is very merry and pleasant, but within this few days your heart will ache, by occasion and accident of water, and within three days after the said Earls sons were all drowned: and upon his Examination in other matters laid to his charge, he confessed that he knew of this accident before it befell by their complexions and the Planets which governed them.  
This was confessed upon his examination taken before Mr. justice Daniel.  
Doctor Lamb being at a gentleman's house in the County of Worcester playing of juggling tricks, and diverse persons being with him: he fell into discourse with some of them, and left his crystal ball upon a table; a gentleman called Mr. Anthony Birch took up the same, and the shape of a hand appeared in it; and looking still on the said ball, he see a shepherd with a sheephooj and tarbox on his back, whereat Master Birch being amazed did presently ask what that was he did see in the crystal, and Doctor Lamb seeing him have the same in his hand, snatched it away in great discontent, and put it up in his pocket.  
This was proved by the same gentleman, by all which it manifestly appeareth that the said Doctor Lamb was an absolute Witch, a Sorcerer and juggling person absolutely given over to lewd wicked and diabolical courses, an invocator and adorer of impious and wicked Spirits.  
By his Art and skill in conjuration or rather by the information and instigation of his diabolical spirits, he would undertake any difficult thing, and did very often discover and bring to light goods and chattels although they had for a long time been lost.  
He could also tell by the view of any person suspected for witchcraft, whether he, or she were a witch or not.  
He could tell the disease of any although he never see the party, and this was discovered by a Servingman who coming amongst diverse others to see Doctor Lamb, told him, that his Master's Daughter, did then languish of a certain disease which he then punctually related, and told him her complexion: which gentlewoman he did never see; neither was he asked any question concerning her disease. This was the Daughter of one Mr. john Atwood.  
There was amongst diverse other Gentlewomen that resorted to Doctor Lamb whilst he was a Prisoner, one Gentlewoman, that was very earnest with him to know who should be her husband, and Doctor Lamb after he had delayed her diverse times with promises to show her what she desired, appointed her a peremptory day to come to him, on which day she accordingly came, and enquired of the keeper for him; and he directed her to the chamber where he lay, where when she came, she called Doctor Lamb? who answered her, and bid her draw near to his bed (upon which he was with his wearing apparel on) when she was near him, he bid her look in his Crystal which he laid on the ground; and asked her if she did see any that she did know: she answered that she did see diverse of her acquaintance there (there being then none in the Chamber but them two) who vanished away and the Crystal being clear from any further object she turned her face towards Doctor Lamb, and told him that then there were no other sight she could see in it: whereupon he bid her peruse the Crystal again, and thereupon she casting her eyes towards the same, she said to him, now I see a Gentleman all in green, he bid her mark him well, for that same party within a short while would come to her Father's house, and although his coming thither should not be with any intent to become a suitor unto her, yet there so it would fall out that before his departure he would have cause to express himself, and that he in the end should be her husband: she thereupon answered that she did not know the Gentleman, nor did ever see any such man, before that apparition in the Crystal; he answered, that it was not material; it would come so to pass as he had said. Whereupon she at that time departed reasonably well satisfied; and coming home some of the Gentlewomen knowing of her being with Doctor Lamb) enquired the news, and (as Gentlewomen are often inquisitive and very earnest especially to know such rarieties) she thereupon did make all known what had passed, and did describe to them what apparel and of what stature and complexion the party was that she had seen and was informed by Doctor Lamb should be her husband: and not many days passed after this discovery but the Gentleman whom she had so described, came to the Gentlewoman's Father's House, being a Counsellor at Law as a Client, and having had his advice, and taking his horse at the door, something did affright the horse as the Gentleman was getting up, which caused the horse to rear and kick in that sort as the Gentleman was taken up for dead, and there being no Inn near that place he was conveyed into the Lawyer's house, where he continued until he recovered his former health, in which time he fell in love with the Gentlewoman: and she with him, and in the end they were married together.  

Here follow some exploits done by Doctor Lamb during his Imprisonment in the Castle of Worcester.  
THree Gentlemen came upon a time to see Doctor Lamb in the Castle of Worcester, while he was there Prisoner, who desired to bestow some wine on him; but the Keeper told them it was not a seasonable time to send for wine; it being past Eight of the clock in a Summer evening; at which time the Castle gates were of custom to be locked up, and the Tavern was half a mile distant from the Castle. Upon which the Gentlemen gave over their purpose of sending for wine. But Doctor Lamb asked them what wine they would choose to drink; and when one of them answered Sack, he called for a Wine-glasse, and immediately a pottle of Sack stood before them upon the Table, the Gentlemen were fearful to meddle with it; but the Doctor began to them, and they upon his encouragement pledged him. They asked him then from whence he had it; he told them from the Globe Tavern, and the sign of the Globe was upon the pot. The Gentlemen afterwards parting from Doctor Lamb, and going to their lodgings in the Town, enquired of the Taverne-keeper whether any body had lately fetched a pottle of wine from thence, or no. The man answered them that a little boy in green had since eight of the clock fetched so much for Doctor Lamb.  

Another.  
Doctor Lamb being merry at the Castle with diverse of his acquaintance, espied a woman not far from thence walking towards them, & told the Company he would make that woman take up her coats above her middle. And immediately, to the wonder of the company the woman began to take up her clothes, and by degrees lifted them up above her middle. Some women that beheld her, called out aloud, and asked what she meant by so shameless a behaviour, she answered them that she meant to wade through the water and save her clothes, imaginging (it should seem) that there had been a pool, where it was dry land.   

Another.  
A Gentlewoman hearing the fame of Doctor Lamb, came to the Castle with other of her Friends, expecting some strange sights from him. And when she was come into his room asked a friend of hers softly in his ear, which was the Witch? The Doctor came to her, and told her he knew she had called him witch, and because she should know, he could understand secrets, he told her aloud, (which was truth) that she had two bastards; and named their ages, and the places where they were both brought up. Upon which the Gentlewoman wonderfully abashed, quitted the place.   

Another.  
There was a man that dwelled besides Tewxbury, whose name was Wheeler. He was warned to be one of the jury at Worcester upon the Trial of Doctor Lamb. He coming before to the Castle to see the Doctor, and standing amongst the crowd of people in the chamber; Doctor Lamb came to him, and falling down upon his knees asked him blessing. The people wondering at the reason of it, Doctor Lamb told them that he should shortly be one of his twelve Godfathers. Wheeler being a bold fellow and nothing abashed at it, told him it was true; but he was now come to see, whether he could do any such strange things, as he had heard of. Doctor Lamb bid him pluck off his garter, and tie it about his middle as fast as ever he could; which Wheeler accordingly did, and tied it in twenty knots. Then Doctor Lamb bade him pluck it off again; he told him he could not unless he took time to untie the knots. Then Doctor Lamb taking hold of the garter, plucked it with ease from him, and in such a manner as it seemed to all the company, and to Wheeler himself, that the Garter came out of his very body; upon which Wheeler was much affrighted, being not altogether sure, whether he were wounded or not.  
After his arraignment at the Assizes of Worcester, the High Sheriff, the Foreman of the jury, and diverse others of the justices, Gentlemen there present, and of the same jury, to the number of forty died all within one fortnight; upon which the Country (how ever that sad accident befell) affrighted, and suspecting the damnable arts of the said Doctor, and observing many other lewd practices of his, during the time of his imprisonment, became petitioners for his remove from thence; upon which he was removed to the King's Bench at London. In which place he lived in great plenty of money, and much resorted unto by people of several conditions. Where at last he was arraigned for a rape upon the person of a girl of eleven years of age, as shall more at large appear in the following discourse.    

here followeth the effect of an Indictment preferred against Doctor Lamb at the King's Bench Bar, for a Rape by him committed, upon the body of joan Scager, of the age of Eleven years.  
THE jury for our Sovereign Lord the King, upon the Holy Evangelist, do present: That john Lamb, late of St. George in the Burrow of Southwark in the County aforesaid Gentleman, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but by a Diabolical instigation being moved and seduced, the tenth day of lune, in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord JAMES by the grace of God, of England, France, & Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c▪ the 21. and of Scotland the 56. with force and arms, etc. at the Parish of St. George aforesaid, in the Burrow of Southwark aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, upon one joan Seager a virgin, of the age of 11. years, in the peace of God, and our said Sovereign Lord the King then and there being, an assault made, and her the said joan against her will, then and there feloniously and violently did ravish, deflower, and carnally know, against the peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity: And also against the form of the Statute in this case made and provided, etc.  
Upon which Indictment he was arraigned before the King's Majesty's justices of his Highness' Court, called the King's Bench, and was there found guilty of the said Rape, and had judgement to die, but by his Majesty's especial Grace he was pardoned.  

Here followeth the effect of the proofs produced against him concerning this Rape.  
Concerning the ravishment of joan Seager, of the age of 11. years, done by john Lamb prisoner in the Kings Bench.  
The Examination of Mabell Swinnerton, wife to William Swinnerton Bricklayer, dwelling in St. Martin's Parish, near unto the new Exchange.  
WHo saith, that Elizabeth Seager, the mother of john Seager came to her house, she then dwelling in South work on the Friday in Whitsun-weeke, and in a pitiful manner wring her hands like a woman overwhelmed with extreme grief, crying out and saying, I am undone, I am undone: I than asked her how her husband did, for at that time he was a prisoner in the Counter upon an Execution, and at that time lay very sick to all such as saw him there, thinking him no man for this world: She answered me and said, her husband was very ill and lay very hardly; but that was not that matter of her grief as then, for it was a worse sorrow than that! O Lord said I, what more sorrows than these you have already, yet whatsoever they be; desire God to give you patience, for nothing can happen to you, but by Gods fore knowledge: but I pray said I, tell me what sorrows these are that thus distract you, she still continued as before wring her hands, and said, she was not able to tell me, for she was undone, at last with my importance she said joan was undone, and she said she could tell me no more she was not able, but prayed me to come home: so forthwith I shut my door and went with her, and by the way I demanded the cause of her, she told me it was that villain Doctor Lamb had undone her child, and said she could say no more her grief was so great, but ask the girl said she and she will tell you: so coming to the child, I questioned with her, but she being much abashed and ashamed, was long before she would tell me: but at the last she told me, that on Whitsuneuen, Lamb's women being all very busy at her mother's house, there was no body to carry a basket of herbs over to the Bench: but she, who when she came to Doctor Lamb, his man was in the chamber with him scraping of trenchers, and Doctor Lamb took her herbs of her and set her to play on the Virginals, and then he sent out his man on a message and locked the door, and then took her and led her into his Closet and made fast that door, and took her upon a joint-stool, and put his tongue in her mouth to kiss her, but she was wondrous fearful of him, and strived with him as much as she could, but he would not let her alone, but strove with her.  

There are certain passages which are upon the Records which for Modesty sake are here omitted.  
I Asked her why she told it not at the first, she said she was afraid her Mother would have beaten her: but then at her mother's entreaty, I took her home and dressed her, but when I opened her to dress her: the place did smoke like a pot that had seething liquor in it that were newly uncovered, and I found her to be very sore, and could not abide to be touched: but I perceived that some body had dressed her, and I asked her if any body had meddled to dress her, she told me Lamb's maid Becke had brought her a thing in a dish, and had dressed her, but there was a little speck of the venomous substance of it, that stuck upon the inside of her thigh, and when I pulled it away, it had festered the place where it stuck, as if one had touched it with an end of Iron, so vild and venomous was that base substance. So by the entreaty of goodwife Seager, I went over to Doctor Lamb to show him what indeed he knew before which was on the morrow after we knew of it: which when I came, I saw the chamber well fraught with women, and not past three men in all, and I saw the Doctor (not indeed knowing what he was) very busy folding of linen, shaking of them bettwixt him and another, and a white cloth pined about him, and white sleeves up to his elbows, and as nimble as a Vintner's boy setting every one in order. I demanded of his woman to speak with the Doctor, they told me, that was he in the white apron: so at last he went into his closet and called to me, and asked me if I would speak with him, I asked if his name were Doctor Lamb? That is it said he, marry said I, I am come to do a message unto you, that I am both sorry and ashamed to do, sorry said I in respect of the child, and sorry for you, that you should offer to do such a thing, for you have undone an honest man's child, for well she may recover her health of body again, but never her credit, for it will be a stain to her reputation whilst she lives: so many strumpets in the town and to seek the ruin of a poor child, I would to God said I you had not done it: With that he railed upon my Lord of Winszor grievously, with many base words, and said, he did more good deeds in a week, than my Lord of Winszor did in a year: I grant you may do so; but this one ill deed hath quite put out the light of all them good deeds, and still he railed▪ on my Lord of Winszor: but I made answer, I did not know my Lord of Winzor, he was an Honourable gentleman for aught I know: but this concerns not him at all, but you, for you have undone her: then said he? let her come to me, that I may see how she is, Nay said I, she hath been too late with you already, she will come no more here, he said he would have her searched with 12. women, you may do as you please said I for that matter: I will have her searched to see if she be torn, nay said I, she is not so much torn▪ for I will wrong no body for a thousand pound: but in plain terms you have burnt her, either you have a foul body, or you have dealt with some unclean person, beside I told him he had sent his maid to dress her, for the dish was at home still, and so I left him.  
And this is the truth, concerning this business with many appurtenances besides apertinant to the matter.  
After his reprieve upon the rape, he hired a house near the Parliament house, where he lived about the space of a year and a quarter, in such a course of life, as differed not at all from his former practices. Upon Friday being the 13. of june, in the year of our Lord 1628. he went to see a Play at the Fortune, where the boys of the town, and other unruly people having observed him present, after the Play was ended, flocked about him, and (after the manner of the common people, who follow a Hubbubb, when it is once a foot) began in a confused manner to assault him, and offer violence. He in affright made toward the City as fast as he could out of the fields, and hired a company of Sailors, who were there present to be his guard. But so great was the furie of the people, who pelted him with stones, and other things which came next to hand, that the Sailors (although they did their endeavour for him) had much ado to bring him in safety as far as Moore-gate. The rage of the people about that place increased so much, that the Sailors for their own safety, were forced to leave the protection of him; and then the multitude pursued him through Coleman-street to the old jury, no house being able, nor daring to give him protection, though he had attempted many. Four Constables were there raised to appease the tumult; who all too late for his safety brought him to the Counter in the Poultry, where he was bestowed upon the command of the Lord Maior. For before he was brought thither, the people had had him down, and with stones and cudgels, and other weapons had so beaten him, that his skull was broken, one of his eyes hung out of his head, and all parts of his body bruised and wounded so much, that no part was left to receive a wound. Whereupon (although Surgeons in vain were sent for) he never spoke a word, but lay languishing until Eight a clock the next morning, and then died. This lamentable end of life had Doctor john Lamb, who before prophesied (although he were confident he should escape Hanging,) that at last he should die a violent death. On Sunday following, he was buried in the new Churchyard near Bishopsgate.     
FINIS.