❧ A true nyeuu tidings of the wonderful works of the Rebaptisers of Munster in Westuaell/ how the cete haethe been won and in what manner the king is taken/ and all their deeds and intentions hath taken an end &c:  
¶ johun of Ley a king of nyew Iherusalem and of the hole universal world Beynghe in the age of. xxvi. years.  
Aetatis 26   portrait of John of Ley, merchant taylor and elected King of Munster, styled New Jerusalem, with hat and crown, chain of office, sceptre and crossed swords  

There hath been hitherto many and manifold letters and writings/ of the wonderful deeds/ and intentions of the rebaptisers/ of Munster in westuaell hath been written of many great assaults and battles/ the which hath been done of both parts as well from without the cite as from within. So is now the most shortest concluded all things how it is and hath been because not to be grievous unto the Reader/ and in especial how all their deeds and intentions after the cite was taken is ended.  
HOw be it that it is well known unto all people and manifest that the rebaptisers of Munster in westuaell hath chosen among them a king whose name was John of Ley a teylloure etc. the which they have crowned with a costly crown of gold/ and straight fourth have taken him for their ruler and worldly lord & have knowledged him for a king of the hole world and so have taken him/ and hath also in all things been willing obedient and obeissante unto him/ for they have delivered him all their money and goods/ and when they had now a long season continued a wonderful Rule of the which there was never none such seen/ nor hard/ and have fortified and maede strong the cite of Munster in such manner/ that unto them neither with gone shot nor assault in no manner of means might no hurt be done unto them/ for many lords & other men of war hath proved it  
¶ When now the people the which that lay before the cite did daeyly abide and suffer great skaethes and loss/ and the lords and rulers considered that no schaethe nor hurt might be done unto them of Munster saving only by famyshinge/ agreed the bishop of Munster with the lords kapteins and men of arms and maede before the cite very neigh seven bolwarkes/ the which ware well kept twelve month and moor with men of war and soogers and did so great scathe and horte unto them of Munster/ that they might get no provision nor vittaels be no means in to the cite/ nor noon from without the cite could nor might secure nor help them the which is now well manifest and known unto all people.  
¶ When now they could nor might have of no body help nor comfort of victuals or nourishment for the body/ and that daily a great substance of victuals was spent and eaten by the multitude of people/ and the time ran fast on from day to day/ that the common people had eaten and spent their victuals of meat and drink/ In so much that there was no moor man's food within the cite saving only in the kings place or pallaeis.  
¶ Now had they in the cite in all void places open the walls & about them where was any void room sowed most with peasen and Raepes whereby the comen people lovede a great while unto the time that they had eaten and spent the straw of the peason and the green of the Raepes/ and that all was eaten up that was in the cite saving only three horse/ & there was none other man's food in the cite/ then horse and oxen heads/ the which they took and cotte them small and did syethe them with water whiles they were tender/ and did then eat them for to sustain their life there with all/ For they were daily comforted thorough their head ruler called kneppetelling that there should come provision in the cite/ & when that there was none other comfort among the comen people but to die for hunger/ they desired to depart out of the cite/ them was the tromme stricken about the cite/ that whosoever desired to depart out of the cite/ and that would tarry no longer there in/ they should come to the king and he should give them a token that they should be let out.  
¶ And straight forth gathered there together a great multitude of women young maidens and children/ the which came before the king and desyerd to depart out of the cite/ & then caused the king theȝ to be searched & to taeke away from them all that they had and left none of them more than one raiment and said to them now go your ways to the heretics. And when they were out before the gates without the cite between the cast walls and the trensches upon a large place there were they fain to abide/ for they that lay upon the bolwarkes let none pass thorough the trensches/ and their most they eat leaves & grass unto the time that it was commanded them to depart out of the country and there was many of them found dead the which had died for very hunger. But all the sougars or men's persons that came out of the cite were all killed & set upon cart whiles about the cite/ for the hedges and the trensches were so hay & so strong that it was not possible to scape.  
¶ Iten two & thirty sowgers that lay in the cite of Munster when they saw that the hunger was so great & was but small provision they agreed together & with a comen agreement to depart out of the cete toward the wing of saint Mauricius and desyrede to come unto the bishop himself/ and when they had showed their minds unto the sowgars that lay upon the bolwarckes and trensches/ and desired to help them over the hedges and trensches/ then haethe the sowgars of the Bischop Reached them their haelbards and have draewne them so over the hedges and trensches like as they had promesed them and that they should help them to the bischop/ and when that they were now helped over the hedges and trensches/ them died the sowgers of the bishop see that then they that were come out of the cete ware all cloothede with dubbelettes of silk and velvet and some of them had on cloth of gold like as they had taeken it out of the churches/ when they were now all within the trensches than was there noon other counsel but drew out their sword and killed them all/ then was there one the which came Runnynghe behind and was no yet over/ and when he came neigh unto the hedge and trensches and hard how they dealt with his fellows/ notwithstanding he ran to the hegde and boor half a haggebosche the which fired himself/ and when he came neigh to the hedge/ one offered him his haelbarde to help him over as the other his fellows had been holpen over butt he proferede him his gone and shot him that he tomblede and ran back agaeyne into the cete/ and then was the king in his he'll with his duekes the which he had maede butt a little before/ with his gaerde and pete captains and other that had daeyle their living out of his court/ and cast among them that they had no longer vittaelles butt for tow months Devysinghe and cownselinge the one the other/ how that they might ghitte help and vittaelles. Then was there one among them all the which was calede hans of the long street a watch maester and one of the rulers that the king set much be and gave him great credit/ the which had been a long season before with the bischope one of the maesters of the trensches/ and was gone from thence in the cete to the rebaptisers/ and this hans was very good teller of his taele and a great taellaer in commenycation and onder toeke and boostede himself in the presence of the king and then that had charge of the rule of the cete/ that as far forth as he could or might have charge of the king he knew the means for to ghitte provision of vittaeills within fourteen days and to bring in by that time three hunderde men of war or sowgers in to the cete where with the king and his counsel were well content and pleased/ and pointed a daey when this should be to onderstande upon midsummer night/ and then was hansken of the long street as at that time a watch maester in the cete/ and had been of the oether side without the cete a maester of the trensches. In somuch that he knew both the mamnar without the cete & within the cete & had vevede both by daey & by night te circuyte and the bolwarckes and the ditches about the town where they were deapeste or shall lowest where they were broodeste or narrowest/ and where the cete was strongest/ and feebeleste. In somuch that he knew all things/ and as soene as he was let out of the cete knew he strait the right waey thorrowe the hedge and over the trensches of his adversaries the which he must pass/ and so went four leegs from Munster in a little town called ham/ and belonghethe unto the duke of cleeve And straight fourth he sent for one the which was naemede my lord of the dame and had his dwelling there/ and had been one of the heads of Fryslande/ unto the which he saeide that he knew well that he was in great indignation with the reverend bischop of munster/ for beacawse that he had lefste the lantsknechts sowgers unto the bishop and was gone into the cete/ and he onder toeke as far forth as the bischop would pardon him and give him free gooinghe and coming he would give his reverence a mattar to knoelege where as land and people laey on and as soene as my lord of the dame had hard such nyews he haethe not taryede long. Butte haethe given the bishop knoelege there of & then haethe the bishop given him free going and comminghe/ and haethe poyntede him a plaece where he should come to him/ and so is the bishop and his counsel sown determined and become unto hansken of the brood street upon the plaece apoyntede together/ & have desyrede to hear the mattar/ & then hath hansken saeide unto the bischop and unto his counsel that he would show them the matter and as far fourth as the mattar went forward then dorste he never in his live days come among no lantsknechts nor sowgers/ and as far forth as the Bischope would then keep him all his life daeis or give him as much as he might maintain himself open dueringhe his life/ that then he would deliver unto the bischop upon midsummer night at ten of the clock the cete of munster drey foetede/ where opon the bishop and his counsellors hath taken and holden a short counsel/ and be son agreed in the mattar/ and as far forth as the mattar came to affect then would the heads with all oether rulers by in the forward/ where upon the bishop hath kept a commons upon every bolwarcke/ and given also knoelege of the mattar unto every man/ how they were myndede for at such an hour should the cete be opened how they were myndede there to/ and whether that they would avonture it/ for all noble men lords gentle men and they that have charge of other shall & will be of the furst/ and there with was the comment very well content/ & cried all with one voice Ie/ Ie/ Ie/ we have lain long enough in the straw we will also sleep oones upon beds/ and so hath the bishop contended according to his promise unto hansken of the long street after his own desire and Request as had been devised. And so are concluded in one and have appointed together that they should be open the set hour ready and come before the cross gaete/ & then would he give them a token and when they should see the same/ that they might then come hardly for all things should be clear them After that went hansken of the long street into the cite again/ and made the king believe that he had brought all things well to pass and that at the hour that he had appointed should come in three hundred sowgers with provision and victuals. Then was the king and all that were about him very glad and yoifull and maede the one the other good chyere/ And now when the appointment was made fowrtene days a fore midsummer night/ have the folk of the bishop prepared in the mean season all things necessary there to like as skaellꝭ and ladders and other hooks/ & be come at the hour appointed before the gate and then did hansken of the long street give them a token that all things were clear/ then have they set forth/ for hansken of the long street had been the evening before with the watch that watched that night upon the rondel of the tower/ & said unto them for he was a watschemaster/ this night shall many folks and provision come into the cite sleep hardly/ & be of good cheer and be still and take no hide unto the people that come in/ and as now the folk of the bishop throng on sore then came to the ditches of the cite neigh unto a little gate the which was shut and locked and there they most needs over the ditch/ for there was no place about the cite where the ditch was narrower than there as hansken had told them before/ and there they cast their ladders over the ditch and maede a bridge unto the wall of the cite and when now many of them were over the ditch went they forth till they came to the tower of the rondel the which is called the cross gaete/ & there cast they their ladders the which were a man's lenghte to short so that they could do nothing there/ from thence cast they their Ladders upon the bolwarke of the rowndel and when some of them were upon the bolwarke they drew the other op with their halberds that they were thirte strong. Then went they unto the privy watsche where as every night watsched two/ & eight upon the tower of the rondel unto the which hansken of the long street had been before/ the first watcher that met with them they axed what the watsche word was/ then spoke the watsche man & said earth/ & straight with all was there one with a two handed sword and hew him in two pieces/ for the watsche word of them of Munster within the cite was earth/ and of them that were without the cite their watsche word was Mary the mother of God/ and they had for their field token/ a straw wische upon their arms. And then leapt forth the other watschman and axed them what the watsche word was and the folk of the bishop answered in like wise earth and there with was he content/ and then went two or three of them foerth like as watschers and when they were passed killed they the other likewise. After that went they straight foerth to the other watschers of the tower and axed them likewise the watsche word/ and they said also earth them they killed likewise/ and then knew they the watsche word well/ and had taken in the tower of the rowndell with all the gaetes & bolwarckes so that they could not well be letted nor grieved. Then went they backward again to the bolwarcke/ where as they would have fastened their ladders that were a man's length to short/ but reached the other their halberds and so drew op the oether upon the wael of the cite till they were two ninety and thirty strong/ & then pressed they that ware out of the cite so sore that the brigge the which they had maede over the ditch brake. But when they see that they were two ninety and fift strong within the cite/ then went they in the dead of the night and said/ now on gentle brethren follow us and mente that they that were yet out of the cite/ should have followed them/ and went forth and found the gates of the cite standing open/ and so went foerth still whiles they came to the market place/ and then began the day to apere and all their trommes did strike and they cried all alerm alerm/ and spread abroad seven banners/ and then was the king and the citizens first ware that their enemies ware afore and in the cite/ and by and by had they also gathered them together/ & bet their enemies with strong hand from the market place back again unto the gaete where as they were come in at/ in the mean season had one of the citizens locked the gaetes that they could not out again. Then cried the king gentle and dear lantsknechtes lay your weapons from you and go again out at the gates/ you shall have no harm done unto you/ and straight withal Ran the women upon the waelles and cried to the sowgars that they should fetch their banners and their head again/ for that kared nothing the folk of the bishop but struck upon the gaetes with hamers and with axes/ and as soon as they had gotten the gaetes open/ ran they straight to the tower of the Rondell/ and put forth their bannar out at the tower toward the bolwarckes from without the cete now were the other that might not come overthediche because the bridge braeke Ran back again to their bolwarckes/ for because of the great shuetinge and assault that they hard/ in the cete and also they went that all their fellows had been slaeyne/ But when they sae the bannar upon the waell than concyderede they well that their compaengions were yet alive. Then Ran they all together in the cete and bet the king with all his rebaptisers again from the market plaece till unto cathedral court/ and there they put themself again in defence/ and ware driven again from thence till unto saeinct Michells chapel opon the which they did great hortte with shuetinghe/ where thorrowe the bischopes folk suffered great skaethe and gave back because of the great gone shot behind the cathedral church/ and so laey they upon saeinct Michells chapel whiles ten of the clock afore noene/ and in the mean season was the king taken the which was given back upon saeinct Gillian's gaete the which was the most strongheste gaete of all the cete. After that they desyrede to keep speech with the oppermoste captain/ the which was graented them.  
¶ And was so much done a both sides that every one should go home unto the coming of their most redoutede lord and bishop/ then should there moor be spoken of the which was graentede and promesede unto them and opon that went every one in to his house/ and when now the lantsknechts that had lain under the bischopes Bannar had sustaynede great loss and skaethe and the most vallianste and extymede gentle men and dubbell sowgers that were slain to the number of a honderde and fist/ ran they with and angrey mind in to the houses and when are they found any them drew they be thy hear upon the street/ and hewed them to pieces and so killed them. Schortely after was the trome stricken about that they should kill no more. Butte where any ware found them should they bring to the oppermoste Ruelar/ and when they were brought thedder then was their head stricken from their body/ four days after caused the captain to be stricken about with the trombe/ that all women young & old should come to the dumb which is the cathedral church and when they were all there and gaddered together/ was it commanded them that they should by and by void the cete. And so they voided all young and old to a great number/ upon the fealde and that lasted to the third daey. Butte who that could agree with the lord for his wife or daughter or set surety for them they were suffered to come in again/ & when they had been about eight daeis in the cete again they saeyde that they would abide by their oolde sect/ & then was the trome strike about agaeyne that all the women that were come in to the cete again should come in the moerninge At nine of the clock to the plaece of the cathedral church.  
¶ Then was given unto them a commandment of a nyew that they should by and by void the country ionge and oelde and who so ever housed or logede them should be in treated as though he were a Rebaptiser himself he or she and if there aware any sowger that had any such woman in his company/ he most be son set put her awaey feon him/ or he him self should suffer such ponuyshment of his bode as she should. Shortley after aware letters set upon all church doors all gaetes of little towns and villaeges that lay about Munster that no bode should neither house nor log no such folks for they that should be found so doeynghe they should be punished as a Rebaptiser/ so kan noman tell where that people is become. Item after that johun of lay a taellior and king of the Rebaptisers of Munster/ the which of all the rebaptisers was chosen a king of nyewe Iherusalem and of all the universal world Is first after that the cete was all gotten taeken prisoner/ & then aware caused to be maede tow jeron colours with long links of jeron upon them/ one for the king & one for his fellove/ the which were stricken about their necks/ and fast revetede three days after that they were taken presonners/ & ware so had between tow men of arms like beasts/ three leaghes of Munster in a little town called Rybergh/ and after that that the armey braeke op at Munster/ they were brought unto a castle called dulem also three leaghs from thence and there passed many sowgars for by when they braeke up at Munster/ and than was the king and his fellow kneppertellinge set a fore the gaete of the castle because that the sowgars should yet once moor see them in the passing for be the castle.  
¶ And the bishop of munster came unto the castle first unto the king and unto his lyftennante kneppertrllinge/ and as soene as the bishop saewe the king/ spaeke hy to the king and saeide O you wretsches how piteously have you distroyede my and my poor subgests. Than anwerde the king spytfully & skoornfully add saeide thou priest I have not distroyede the. I have deleverede the a strong cete the which is agaeinste all assaults & oprunniges And I have maede you pour I will maeke you rich again as far fourth as you will follow me cownlel. Then axed the bishop him hoche cede maeke him rich/ then saeide he to the bishop/ I know well that you will put me to a shaemefull death. That he should cause to be maede for him and for his lyfeten nante kneppertellinge a kaege of jeron keverede over with leather and set them both thearin/ and cause them be carried thorrone all countries/ and who sever desyrede to see them that they should give a stuyver the which is tow pence flemische/ they should ghite moor monne than the bishop had laeide out & then the hole bishop Rick was worth/ and so is the bishop depaerted from them  
¶ Item when the bishop had now the cete again and all the rebaptisers both men and women were gone some slaeyne & some voeydede the country and dreven awaey/ and the lords and the sowgars were agreed for the depaertinghe of the bout so that the sowonars should have the one half & the lord the other. Then was there stricken about with the trome that noon of the sowgars should keep as much as the vallewe of half a gold ghildrens and who that ware found the contrary should be ponnyschede of body and goods/ and there to wear xxi partinghe maesters ordenede of every bannar three that should sell the good and maeke it to monne/ then mente the men of arms a horseback to have their paerte also/ the which the sowgars would not consent in no wise where of they were long at strife and debaete/ & when the paerte maesters should now depart the bout and had not so much monne as the sowgars had counted/ then toeke they the paerte maesters every one and put them in the mids of a ring of them all as the maunar of them is/ and demaended and axed of them where the monne and goods beware become/ and when the paerte maestres would not show them according he unto their mind/ caused they the hangman to come in the mids of the ring among them/ the which drew tow of the part maesters upon a laddar a fore all the common sowgars and yet would not they beknowned and this lasted whills after noene/ and then died the lords set out the maetter till the next daey and in the mooringe ware all the part maesters gone/ and then came the hagman in the ring and saeide that it was forbidden him be the lords that he should axe no more rigorosly/ concyderede that he had racked the daey before and that they had not confessed. Then sent they by and by of every bannar tow sowgars/ and the hangman with them to the king and kausede him also to be asked with torments what he knew of the bout and when the hangman had tourmentede him threyse knoelegede he of a barrel of gold and other yewells and and golden rings/ te which all was not so much worth as the sowgars would fain have had.  
¶ In conclusion than was the bout depaertede among them so that every sowgar had no moor but eghtene eemde ghildeius of four shillings flemmische the piece. Then faeide the head men of the sowgars they knew a good remedy for as soene as they came out of the gaetes they knew where to have monne and another lord/ and so went the sowgars awaey now ten now twente/ and went so awaey that there abode butt five honderde sowgars in the cete/ the which the bishop held to keep the cete/ & who that ought one anoether they gave each other noothinge  
¶ Item who that had let him to be Rebaptisede in Munster and given his goods to the king that was perfection in their law/ & him died the king hang a token about his neck maede of copper with three letters thearin A. d.w.f the which betookene the so much the word is become flesh. Iten before the king of munster was borne the mamnar of a ronude bowl with a golden cross there opon/ and afore that tow sword and that betookenede as much with them as a king of the hole universal world his cloothinge and lifrey was brown and green parted in four quarters/ and upon the right arm had he in manner of an appel with a cross and tow sword thutroe it and there with had he cloethede all his gaerde and household servants. And when common people in the cete of Munster had not had no bread in three weckes/ is there nevertheless found after that the cete was gotten in the kings court seven ton of wine and one ton of bier and one ton of flesh & a ton of meal/ and they were well in the cete of Munster fifteen honderde men stronghe and when the cete was won they were not passed a thousand and are of both sides be the war that was before the cete and within slaeyne nigh opon eght thousand I beseech Ihesu heaven king to send us hence fourth unite and peace Amen.