THE Lying-wonders, OR RATHER THE Wonderful-Lyes, WHICH WAS LATELY Published to the World, in a Lying-Pamphlet, (called Strange and True News from Gloucester) Containing a Relation of the wonderful power of God, showed for Injustice at Fairford, by Frogs and Toads; And in the sudden death of the Clarks Daughter at Brokington in Gloucestershire.  
Presented to the view of the World, with some Observations in the end on another such like Pamphlet (The Lords loud Call to England)  

I. That the subtlety of Deluders may be discerned.  
II. That the simple may from their delusions be preserved.  
III. That the Lovers of Truth may be strengthened.  
iv That all men about these Wonders may be satisfied.   
By ROBERT CLARK, Minister of God's Word in Norleach.  
Fidei perfidia Error Veritati cedat.  
If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not: for there shall arise false Prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, Matth. 24.23, 24.  
Their coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thess. 2.9.  
London, Printed in the Year, 1660.   

TO THE WORSHIPFUL Andrew Barker and William Oldisworth, Esquires.  
Grace, Health, and Happiness be multiplied.  
SIRS,  
SO long as the enmity lasteth, betwixt the seed of the woman and the Serpent, so long must the Godly, (though mirrors of piety and grace) be subject to wicked men's unjust molestation, for the Just shineth, as lights in the midst of a crooked Generation; and the tongues of wicked men (the lying offspring of the father of lies) are under such command of Satan, to act this restless malice against the truth and holy Religion, both in Doctrine and practice, that Godly men cannot expect to have their names free from reproaches.  
It is no wonder then, that I find your names, (worthy and ever Honoured Friends) which (no doubt) are written in the book of life, and whom good men honour, abused upon Record, by one of Satan's Emissaries, who seeketh to bring about the bad cause he hath in handling, by such bad and wicked means, as shameful lies. The which, the less ground and colour of truth they have, with the more clamour and impudence, he thrusteth forward into the world, endeavouring thereby (as if he were the first born of Satan) without all shame and fear, to darken the bright and shining light of your clean and unspotted Conversations.  
That Lesson which the Devil taught his apt Scholar Machiavelli (Calumniare audacter aliquid sultem haerebit) he hath perfectly learned; by confidently belying you, he hopes to fling some dirt of reproach in your faces, and that not only, because ye run not with him and his followers, but also, to make others to run wi●h them, to the same excess of riot, of licentious Doctrines and practices, against the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints.  
What advantage Satan hath gotten in this age, as well as in other ages, by the strength of Lies, to bring God's Truths and our Holy Religion into suspicion and disgrace, may be seen by the easy entrance that Calumnies make in the corrupt minds of men of these times, who will hardly be dispossessed of such prejudice.  
Faction and Schism, being maintained by works of darkness, and unconscionable deceits, the multitude are ready to drink in the venom thereof out of a Cup of Lies, the which they greedily catch, and swallow down, though to the poisoning of their souls.  
It hath amazed me to consider how a lying Pamphlet will amaze the poor ignorant people of the Land, nay put men of more settled judgements at a stand; Nay did I not know the probate of it, by ocular and experimental demonstrations, I could never have brought my understanding to believe, that such groundless lies, as this Pamphlet contains (called Strange and ●rue News from Gloucestershire) should have such a vent of belief in the hearts of men as they have.  
Alas! That ever men in their wits, should believe such untruths, and yet they do; Though the wonders expressed therein be Lying-Wonders; and that,  
First, In their Original, as proceeding from the Father of lies.  
Secondly, In their matter being bottomless and gross falsities.  
Thirdly, In their end, which is lying and seduction: Yet the Current of them are so swift and dangerous, as greatly needeth to be stopped by some Sluice of contradiction.  
I therefore having some experimental knowledge of you (my ever Honoured Friends) and the spreading infection of these lies, which are scattered to eclipse your worths, and to advance separation, thought it my duty to stop the mouth of this Detractor, who with impudent face, and seared conscience, hath outfaced the world, by publishing to the world this Short and sudden Narrative; being a plain refutation of the Lies therein contained, and a right demonstration of the truth of the matter, not only, to undeceive deluded poor souls, by acquainting them with the subtlety of these Impostors, and to preserve others out of the snares of such Serpents; but to preserve also the preciousness of your names in the hearts of all good men, which the Relator setteth up as Butts to shoot his lying Arrows against, thinking thereby to wound your unblemished Reputations; that those honoured names of yours, which like a precious Ointment doth not only presume your own houses, nay your Town of Fairford, but sendeth forth a sweet savour to all that know you, or ever heard of you, might not be (like the precious Ointment of the Apothecary) corrupted with any dead Flies of slanderous, and lying reports.  
And if I may be thought of you to presume too much herein, I beg both your pardons, because this action proceedeth merely from the passion of love; And all such actions (according to the Lawyer's position) are not liable to Law, at least pardonable in respects.  
Pardon therefore I humbly beseech you, this action of mine, which proceedeth from the love I own to God, whose Glory I ought to advance; To the Church in general, of which I am a Member; to my Mother Church of England, of which I am a dutiful Son, to your Town of Fairford, as having spent some time in the execution of my Ministerial Office therein; to yourselves and relations, whose Christian steadfast walking through these unsettled times, I have with much comfort and benefit been an observer, whose steadfast, pure, and holy conversation in these deluding times, have not only strengthened your own assurances for the hope of happiness, but have been props to them that live under you, dwell by you, and converse with you, to keep them from Apostasy, and Spurs to further their Christian race, provoking them by your pious examples, to press the more towards the same glorious mark.   

〈…〉 comb, by the holding up of the Pistol at her, and the uncivil Language given her (the Truth of which I doubt of, 
Page 18.  unless it was provoked by her uncivil Language) received such Terror, as brought upon her, such a sore distemper, and brought her nigh unto Death: but it was rather, the strange News of the King's return, by a Vote from Parliament, against whom, and his loyal Subjects and Ministers, the said Mr. Helme had highly acted; which made both their hearts sick, and suddenly to remove from Winchcomb (contrary to his often Engagement in his Pulpit, to his selected people, to live and die with them, notwithstanding the highest sufferings) and to act the part now of a loyal subject, upon some other Theatre, as it is not the first time he hath done it.  
As true likewise, 
Page 17.  as those Soldiers (some whereof were eminent Gentlemen of the County) who did in pursuance of their order from the Commissioners, upon that change of Government, endeavour to disarm the Fanatickes) did rudely ransack any for Arms, or act any way so barbarously as to be styled, The imbittered persecutors in the County; when, their civil demeanours to all places, and persons, were such as procured no other returns but flouts and Jeers for their civilities, when they were just reproofs of the others vile carriages, not long before when the power was in their hands; The Rudeness of whom, Two Famous Families in our County of Gloucester have cause to remember, as Sir Henry Frederick Thin, and his Lady, who were plundered not only in the grounds and stables of their, and other men's Horses, but in their closerts of their sweetmeats, so that it is no marvel that their Prophets have such sweet Tongues; and Mr. John How, and his Honourable Lady, whose very persons endured a tedious restraint, beside; the loss of all his Horses, and imprisonment of his servants, and loss of his Estate too, had not our Sovereign Lord the King come in for his Freedom.  
As true, 
Page 2.  as our former days under the usurped Government, were times of Reformation, 
Page 1.  and that some in Oxford were cut off for reading the Book of Common-prayer, and that the Societies from whence those that are imprisoned at Redding, 
Page 25.  for Refusing the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, are the more cheerful and the more increased.  
As true, 
Page 43.  as the death of twenty or thirty Dogs at Gravesend on the King's Proclamation day, was a Judgement of God for proclaiming the King.  
Lastly, As true as Not Loyal Subjects, and Orthodox Ministers, but such as profess disloyalty to Sovereignty, 
Page 4.  and separation from the Church of England, be the only people of God.  
For my own part, I am glad, That the Seducer hath no other foundation left him then lying wonders to build their Babel of Confusion on, and that the Town of Fairford have no more to render them odious to the world than A PECK full of Lies.  
Let the Seducer Boast of the hand of God apparently gone out for them, and their ways, Not an established Christian, that have read and studied the providences of God in these changes of Times, and Affairs, but may see the Hand of God apparently gone out against all ways of Separation; Their Counsels dissipated, their Designs Blasted, and those persons that have acted high against order, and Government in Church, and State, 
Psal. 9.16.  snared in the works of their own hands; so that, notwithstanding the Crying up of the hand of God, by way of execution of Judgement in their new coined Lies, God is certainly known in the Judgement that he hath executed; so that notwithstanding, that passage in the Letter that was written of that Mr. Fletcher's abuse by J.D. who was no Minister at Badgington, but Cutler at Gloucester, 
Page 19  (That Judgement is begun at the house of God) we will leave it to be interpreted by the Tongue of Magistracy, whose eye looketh over them, and us, who no doubt will tell us in some short Time, what will be expected of them, that neither own, or obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
Surely, God hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of us, 
Page 19  we have been sold for nought, and they that have ruled over us, have oppressed us very sore: The Bowels of our God are at this Time moved, his repentings are kindled together; The Salvation of Israel is come (we hope) out of Zion; For God hath so turned the Captivity of his poor afflicted Church, that for the suddenness and strangeness thereof we become like unto men that dream; 
Psal. 126.2.  filling our Mouths with laughter, and our tongue with Singing: 
Psal. 44.4.  So that the Lord our King hath commanded deliverances for us his people.  
Now we know that the Kingdom is the Lords, and that he is Governor among the Nations: Now we know that the Lord saveth his Anointed, having heard him from his Holy Heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand. Surely Salvation is nigh unto us his people, that glory may again dwell in our Land.  
Let the house of Israel (the Commonwealth) trust in the Lord, and bless the Lord, who is our Help and our Shield.  
Let the house of Aaron (the Governors of the Commonwealth) trust in the Lord, and bless the Lord, who is their Help and their Shield.  
Let the house of Levi (the Ministers of the Lord) trust in the Lord, and bless the Lord, who is their Help and their Shield.  
Let all them that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord, and bless the Lord, who is their Help and Shield.  
The Lord make all Deluders to mark that doom which St. Peter tells them, 2 Pet. 2.1. Who for bringing in privily damnable Heresies, (without repentance) will bring upon themselves swift destruction.  
The Lord open the eyes of all such as are deluded, or subject to delusion, that they may mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which they have received, and to avoid them, Rom. 16.17.  
The Lord so unite the hearts of His Majesty's Loyal Subjects, that differ not so much in Doctrine as in Discipline, that by their unseasonable Differences, they give not advantage to Deluders, who daily wait for it, threatening the better use of it then hath been made of former advantages, who will then appear to the King's Loyal Subjects, and the true sons of the Church of England, worse than the Frogs of Fairford, that (as they feigned them) troubled only the house of the Lords of the Town, and the Justice adjacent, like the Frogs of Egypt, that covered the Land sparing not the King's chamber: worse than those swarms of Flies, that covered (as they feigned them) (though only seen in the Orchard) the Garden of the Lords of the Town, but like the swarms of Flies wherewith the Egyptians were plagued, which like the unmerciful Tyrants which God threatened to wicked men, night nor day shall give any rest.  
But the Lord we hope who hath a mighty arm, a strong hand, and high right hand, which hath brought such mighty things to pass, in giving great deliverance to our King, by stilling of the tumults of the people, and preserving him from the violence of those assemblies of wicked men, and causing the captivity of his Loyal Subjects to return, will so order the affairs of this Nation by his providence for good, that the enemy (that is now enraged through God's cross dispensations to them, breathing out such notorious lies (as thick mists) to darken the way of his providence over his Church and People) may no more magnify himself, but under the protection of the Almighty, (who is our Rock, our Shield, and a wall of fire about his Church) and under the shadow of our Most Gracious Sovereign (who under God is the breath of our Nostrils, the Light of his poor Israel, the Repairer of our breaches, the Restorer of our decayed paths, nay Pater patriae, The Father of our Country) may live happily. Into the hands of the which Almighty God, the King of Kings, who have the hearts of all men, and the events of all things under his Rule and Governance, and into the hands of our most Gracious Sovereign, with those Renowned Worthies in Parliament, who are but God's instruments for the effecting of his designs; I, with all the Lords People, do commend this poor despised Church, and distracted State, waiting in hope for that time, when through God's providence, and their prudence the Church of England, which through lies, errors, and divisions, now seemeth to be disfigured like the Daughter of Antichrist; shall through an established Government shine like the Spouse of Christ; and this Commonwealth of England, with all other of His Majesty's Kingdoms and Dominions, which have long lain among the Pots, be brought forth at last with silver Wings, and be made the glory of all Lands, which is the desire, as well as the hope of him who wisheth well, not only to the peace of our Jerusalem, both Church and State, but to thy Soul.  
The Lord establish thee according to his Gospel, and keep thee from falling, and present thee faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy.  
This is the desire of Thy Friend in the service of thy Faith, R. C.   

THE LYING WONDERS, Or rather THE WONDERFUL LIES of  discovered.  
WHere Christ and his Gospel cannot prevail, there the Devil, being armed with power, and efficacy of Delusion, cometh and prevaileth; the Soul of man, being such a Tenure, as cannot want an Occupier.  
No sooner God's Spirit departed from Saul, but presently the evil spirit cometh upon him; so no sooner, mwn cast out of their hearts the love of the truth, but the belief of lies will enter, and take possession; if they once departed from the Faith, 
1 Tim. 4.1.  they will presently give heed to Seducing Spirits, 1 Tim. 4.1.  
Our present Age is a Theatre, whereon (with some) Lies are acted more than Truth; which is a sign, they Love Lies more than Truth, nay prefer lies before it, who employ their minds to devise Lies, their tongues to speak Lies, and their hands (by writing) to spread them, as if they were the very children of the Devil, given up to the Father of Lies.  
The Devil for craft, and cunning, is called the Serpent, the old Serpent, who deceiveth the whole world, and his subtlety he showeth, by translating himself, though he be a Devil of Darkness, into an Angel of Light: and in the shape of a Serpent he beguiled Eve.  
What a world of men have learned this Art, from their Father the Devil? who are as cunning grown, as the Devil himself to deceive, and may as well be called Serpents, as the Devil; and to this end (Protheus and Chameleon-like) they can shift themselves into any shape; where Lion's skins will not serve, they can use the Fox's Tail: We know that the best Drugs have their Adulterates; The most current coins their clips: Hypocrites can easily cloak, their worst intentions, with the best religion; and therefore, no wonder it is to see them, put on the rare, and excellent Jewel of Grace, to Grace themselves withal; that under the semblance of piety, they may bring about their horrid designs.  
Oh the Hypocrisy of this age! The Mystery of iniquity doth busily work amongst us; The Impostor bestirs himself, being with his Father the Devil, come down with great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time, Rev. 12.12. What a Great Mist of darkness, of black darkness, hath he raised, and doth daily raise to obscure the bright Sun of grace? he knoweth, he cannot now by open force destroy the Church, and therefore striveth to cloud the beauty of the Church, from the eyes of the world, by damnable and hellish untruths; That thereby he may beguile the simple, into the ways of Separation, from the Church of England; that thereby they may be led into error, and held therein at his pleasure.  
Oh what senseless, bottomless, and Gross Lies, are raised by Sectaries, to keep men from our public Assemblies! and to allure them, to join with them, in their private Conventicles! and what a strange, and incredible belief of them, is there entertained in the world! How this English Nation, who have ever professed themselves, to be the Defenders of the Truth, is at this time deceived with a Cup of error; we may plainly see, by the entertainment, that One Lying Pamphlet, hath at this time, in the ears and hearts of men that live at a distance, which is lately thrust forth in Print by some deluder, styled, (Strange and True News from Gloucester.) The which Pamphlet (Christian Reader) I do here cry down; assuring thee, That it is but the invention of some vile deluder, who would wound thy Christian Faith, under pretext of Christian Faith; and under a profession of Friendship, prove thy Great Adversary.  
We all know, that open Mischief, is easier to be avoided, and prepared for, then that which is more secret, and undiscernible; and the death of the Soul, is a worse death than the death of the body: Therefore (as a True Minister of the Gospel, that wisheth well to the souls of all men) have I set up This my Light, to keep men out of those secret pits, which are digged, and those indiscernible snares, that are laid for their souls; Which though I know, will be most unwelcome to the Separatists, being men of giddy spirits, and impotent prejudices, against any thing settled, either by civil, or Ecclesiastical Constitutions, and Customs in Church and State, to whom I shall be as Michaiah to Ahab; Yet, I hope, it will find Acceptance with thee, and all such as profess themselves to be Lovers of Truth, and haters of Lies, and love and desire the prosperity of this our Zion, both Church and State.  
And if you please to follow my Light, it will direct Thee (Reader) unto;  

1. The Notorious Lies, that are in the Inscription of the Pamphlet.  
2. The Monstrous False News enclosed.  
3. The Gross Hypocrisy of the Author in the Conclusion.   

First, Concerning the Inscription.  
The Title of the Pamphlet, is this; [Strange and True News from Gloucester]; 'tis strange, but not true, and it would have been strange News indeed, had it been true.  
From Gloucester] I verily believe, the Author doth highly Abuse that Famous City, by making it the fountain of those lies; and this is not the first time that that City hath been thus abused by such Deluders: who for the more general, and speedier vent of their delusions, and for the more general, and easier belief of them, maketh their lies to take rise from thence; But I dare acquit Gloucester of the coining of these Lies; There be several Mints out of Gloucester, as Cicister, Fairford, Stow, Burton on the water, Kemp●ford, and Norleach, where are men as famous, for the promoting of such coin, as at Gloucester; and indeed the very impression on the coin (though the Author concealeth his Name) giveth to many hereabouts, a manifest Guests, who was the coiner thereof.  
But what is the News?  
1. A perfect Relation, of the wonderful and miraculous power of God, showed for Injustice at Fairford, by an Innumerable Company of Frogs and Toads.  
2. A Great and Terrible Earthquake, the Running of Blood, and Hailstones of a pound and an half weight in France.  
3. The wonderful Example of God's Justice, in the sudden death of the Clarks Daughter of Brokington, in .  
Observe the Workings of this Serpent, which is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and Lying Wonders, 2 Thes. 2.9. The relation of which he calleth a perfect Relation; though every string in his Relation be out of Tune, he would not have his music to sound amiss, which discovereth the Author to be of the seed of a Serpent 
* Serpentina Soboles. : whose ways of undermining of God's Church, is as the way of a Serpent on a Rock unknowable, Pro. 30.19. When they cannot suppress it by force and cruelty, they will undermine it if they can, by craft and lies: Though the Relation be altogether counterfeit coin, yet it must pass for currant.  
And that it may so, The Author (as a chief Emissary of Satan) courts the world's Belief of it, with a known impudent Lie; calling the Relation, not only a perfect Relation, but telling us, That the Relation is entered according to Order; The which Order, he would have us believe, to be from the present power at Westminster, when it is from the Court of Hell; but no question, the printing of these lies, were like his daily walking, Disorderly; so that if the Inscription stumble, and fall from Truth, what encouragement have we to think, that the News enclosed, will stand upright?  
I confess, for the French News, I had rather believe, then 
* The Author is lame.  Travel, to find out the certainty of it: but for our Glocestershire News, I have weighed in a Balance, by a strict inquiry, and find them (notwithstanding this Fair Colour, the Author hath drawn over it, in calling a perfect Relation) Gross Lies; The which (let the Author be what he will) must needs proceed from a man of an evil Conscience, though he hath not such an impudent Face to prefix his name to it.   

Secondly; Concerning the Monstrous false News enclosed.  
THat Great and heavy Judgements of God have attended those that have reviled, and injured Gods chosen people (as the Author beginneth his News) Those Scriptures alleged by him, 2 Kings 2.23, 24. & Exod. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. & 14 Chapters, are sufficient Testimonies.  
But who the Author meaneth, by These his chosen people; and how the Frogs and Toads at Fairford, and the death of the Maid at Brokington, may be said to be God's Judgements on the Revilers of those his chosen people, craveth our inquiry.  
No question, by [These his chosen people] the Author meaneth the Company of Christians (as if all the rest of the Town were Heathens) which met together at Fairford on the Lord's Day in private, in opposition to the public worship of God; and those that met at Brokington, on the third of June, where was, those Famous Gifted Brethren, Brother Collet, and Brother Collins; and those that met in the Marketplace at Stow, to hear him whom the Author styled, John Belcher (as if he be not worthy to be one of the Brotherhood, as well as the other, and is not as precious, an humble, and tenderhearted man, as Brother Collet.)  
But how these can be thought to be the only Chosen people of God, I leave to any Rational man, and true Christian to Consider of; being Men of Turbulent Spirits, preferring their own houses before the Temple; Meetings in the Market-places, before our public Meetings in our Churches; The Jewish Sabbath, before the Christian; being enemies to all Ordained Ministers, crying up themselves to be the only Propagators of the Gospel, who under the name of Truth, have brought in damnable heresies, and by good words, and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple: Surely, if these be the only chosen people of God, God hath precious children indeed.  
And as for the Army of Frogs and Toads, which the Informer saith, he saw at Fairford, and the sudden death of the Clarks Daughter when they met at Brokington; how they can be thought to be examples of God's Judgements, on those the Informer nominateth, putteth me to a stand.  
Indeed, The Author speaking of his Relation, which he published, saith, that it is sufficient to reclaim any rational man whatsoever: Had the Relation been (as he calleth it) a perfect Relation, he might have had the better hopes of it; but that Lies should reclaim any rational man whatsoever, I must beg the Author's pardon, not to believe: And the fullness of both which stories. I come now to present to the eyes of all rational men to consider of. The true Account whereof, is as followeth.  

I. Concerning the Author's Relation about the Frogs and Toads, which he reporteth to have seen at Fairford.  
THe Author in the beginning of his Relation telleth the world of a company of Christians met together, (as if there were no Christians in the Town but them) their business being to serve God, according to their present apprehensions, (what zealous worshippers of God be these, who having no rule for their worship, but their present apprehensions, must needs differ therein as their apprehensions differ) at the place before named, that is, I conceive as the Inscription telleth us, at Fairford, but whither the Church or House was their meetingplace, the Informer is silent, but sure it must be at the house of some knowing eminent Christian, because the Informer saith there was none but a company of Christians met together: Not the Church, the house of prayer (where is the presence of the blessed Trinity, God in his Son, by his Spirit, The presence of God's Angels, the presence of his Minister, and of the greater number of people assembled to enjoy his Ordinances, whose Ranks being likened to Beds of Spices, which is an Holy Place, set apart for Holy uses, wherein the power and glory of an holy God is to be seen and felt) that is an abomination to those Christians.  
The which Meeting being collected (not by the noise of Bells but of some Tinkling Cymbals) was disturbed by the rude multitude, who were (as I am informed) little children, whose usage must needs be cruel, uncivil, and dangerous; so dangerous it seemeth to be, that nothing but a Justice of the Peace could appease the wrath and fury of those children, to whom some zealous persons repaired (whose Residence was nigh) for his Assistance.  
But the Justice (saith he) being encouraged thereunto by the Lord of the Town (differing from them in Judgement) was so far from assisting them, as that he rather spoke hardly unto them by way of threatening.  
Observe here the tender Consciences of these zealous persons; who though they are overgrown with an Antimagistratical Jaundice, having envious and implacable eyes against Magistracy, and are men of such high minds and heady passions, giddy spirits, and popular principles, that they are impatient of any thing Authoritative, yet will storm if the Justice deny to them his Assistance.  
But who is this Justice that dare be so bold as to discountenance these Zealots? and who is that Lord of a Town, that will not veil Bonnet to these Pleberans?  
Though they are both famously known in their County, and elsewhere, yet they are not here named, and as I conceive out of malice, That those (Justa parentaliae) praises which all that know them, give (as most due) to their accomplished worth, might not give check to their Demonial Malice, and unjust Calumniations.  
As for the Justice of Peace; He is very well known to be a lover of Justice, and of tender Conscience, in the execution of his Office, in the distribution of Justice: And as concerning this particular (his denying of Justice to these Zealots who made Application to him) I know, as he did not approve of their irregular meetings, being done in opposition to our public Assemblies, so neither did he of the rudeness of the children, having no Law to countenance them; Whose care for the administration of Justice was proportionable to the Offenders, and offence, and as for his speaking hardly to them, I dare behold to say, that he rather hardly spoke to them that way.  
As for the Lord of the Town, though his obedience to the word of God, Loyalty to Sovereign power, and love to his Country, would never admit him to countenance such Meetings, yet I know such is his zeal to Justice, and his inclination to peace, that he will neither promote disturbances, or by any encouragement give any stop to the execution of Justice, knowing that Justice will in its due time find them out.  
And this I am bold to certify the world thereof, being a man very well instructed in the knowledge of those Worthy Gentlemen, as having spent since these late Revolutions of times, some time in the execution of my Ministerial Office, in that Town of Fairford; so that the sting of those Calumniations that is thrust in their Reputations, can never wound them, who have in their Country ever lived, live, and no doubt so long as God permits life, will live in their deserved Reputations, for their Loyalty to their Sovereign, zeal to Justice and goodness: Silly therefore is the charge which this Fanatic have drawn up against these Worthy Gentlemen (which though it be no wonder in him, or any other of his Tribe) yet I will assure thee (Reader) is one of his gross lies.  
The other is worse concerning the Progs and Toads, which he calleth the judgement of God shown on unrighteousness and ungodliness. Though there might have been a great number of small Frogs and Toads lie upon the ground, and yet no wonder to see them, or judgement on the Town by reason of them, they having not a personal but equivocal Generation, as fallen in Rain from the Clouds, being before drawn up in Atoms, and generated by the heat of the Sun, and so no miracle, being a work not surpassing the whole power of created nature; 
* Miraculum proprie quod fit preter ordinem totius naturae. Aquin:  Yet there was no such Spectacle: The Informer might see at that time of year Frogs and Toads enough, by reason of so many Ponds, Ditches, and Moorish places as be about Fairford, and need not stand in any by-place to behold them; but not such well Disciplined Frogs and Toads, as can march in Rank and File, turn to the right, or left hand, keep Court of Guards (as the Informer telleth us they did) about the house of the Lords of the Town, and the house and person of the said Justice, and make at last a sudden retreat, that is, from the house of the said Justice; (They may be till this time upon duty, about and in the house of the Lords of the Town for any satisfaction that the Informer giveth us, concerning their quitting his house.)  
Indeed for the great Army of Frogs and Toads, for their orderly march, for their strict observance of duty, for the reproving of the said Justice by his Maidservant, for the impression that her expression left on her Master, for the vanishing of the said Frogs and Toads upon his countenancing those Zealots, and discouraging and punishing the rude multitude; The world is extremely beholding to the Author's invention, being very glad that neither he or his brethren, have any other materials left them then lies to build their Babel. Let this Relation travel whither it may, as it may travel fare, having a Pamphlet for its pass, yet it carrieth enough with it, as doth give all true Christian hearts occasion to suspect it, and needed not be followed by the Hue and Cry of a loud, and general voice of contradiction.  
But though the Relator feigneth an Army of Frogs, which had received a Commission from the Almighty to plunder the houses of the Lord of the Town, and the said Justice, or to bring them away Prisoners upon refusing of doing Justice upon the multitude that disturbed those fanatics at Fairford; Yet I shall without hypocrisy certify the world. That the Town of Fairford (though it hath been freed from the Egyptian plague of Frogs, yet it hath not been freed from the general plague of England) Some spirits came often there in the likeness of Frogs.  
See in Rev: 16.13. what St. John saw, when the sixth Angel poured out his Vial on the great River Euphrates, it was three unclean spirits like Frogs, came out of the mouth of the Dragon, out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet. Where observe the principal Agents are the Dragon, the Beast, and the false Prophet: By the Dragon is meant Satan himself the father of lies; By the Beast, Antichrist with his whole body; By the false Prophet, any false Teachers belonging to the Kingdom of Antichrist: The three unclean spirits that were belched out of their mouths were  
First, The spirit of pride which came out of the mouth of the Devil, the Dragon.  
Secondly, The spirit of blasphemy, which came out of Antichrist, the Beast.  
Thirdly, The spirit of a lie, which came out of false Teachers, which belongeth to the false Prophets.  
The which unclean spirits are said to be like unto Frogs; Now what St. John saw come out of the mouth of the false Prophets, we may ordinarily at Fairford, as well as in other places of the County, see also; Namely the spirits of lies, and that in the likeness of Frogs, the which unclean spirits resembleth Frogs in these particulars.  
First, 
Ranae ex limo natae.  Frogs have their beginning and life out of filthy Ponds, and Pools, and do most delight in filthy Ponds and Pools, whence they had their beginning and life; So doth these unclean spirits which are like Frogs, fetch their life and beginning from the Ponds and Pools of filthy errors, and stinking abominations of doctrine, and do continually delight in those most filthy Ponds, and Pools of corrupt doctrine, out of which they fetch their beginning and life.  
Secondly, 
Called by the Poet, Ranae Clamosae.  Frogs doth importunately croak, and make a noise about the Ponds, and moorish places where they are, being called therefore Ranae, from the Hebrew word, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is vehementer exclamare; So doth these unclean spirits (like Frogs) croak in those places where they frequent, by sounding out their errors and heresies, with importunate clamours, haunting the poor simple people with loud and incessant importunity.  
Thirdly, 
Limosoque novae saliant in Gurgite Ranae. Ovid.  Frogs do hop and skip from place to place; And therefore a Frog is called in Saxon, Hopper ab Huppen, saltare, to leap or skip, because he doth hop and skip about with his four feet; So do these unclean spirits skip and hop about the Country, They are now here, now there, to day in this place, to morrow in another; Nay before their Kingdom shall be abolished, they will hop far to propagate.  
Fourthly, 
Rana anima amphibium coaxans. Varro.  Frogs are both for water and land; Varro so describes a Frog to us to be an animal which croaketh on the water, as well as on the land; so do these unclean spirits (being for water as well as land) they live and croak in both places; when their Proselytes have any need of washing of their foul bodies, than ye hear them croak on the waters; when they are willing to eat their broken bread, than they croak on the Land.  
Fifthly, 
Ranae apibus mimicae. Plin:  Frogs are great enemies to the labouring Bees that gathereth Honey; so are these impure spirits like Frogs, sore enemies both to the true Preachers of the Gospel, and established Christians, the true lovers of the Gospel, which like painful Bees yields and gathereth the Honey of the truth, and by meditation and conferences franieth their Honeycombs within their Hives.  
Sixthly, 
Ranae ictus apum non sentiunt. Plin.  Frogs have such skins as they feel not the stinging of Bees; no more do these impure spirits, so singular they are in their own opinions, and so hardened in their Resolutions, that the sharpest sting of reproof, from those labouring Bees (Gods Ministers) cannot make them sensible of their errors.  
Seventhly, 
Ranae linguae mirus in Magicis usus. Plin.  The Enchanters and Witches maketh great use of the tongue of a Frog; so these impure spirits which are belched out of the mouth, like the tongues of Frogs, are of wonderful use for the enchanting of the hearts of simple people, for these being the Prophets that have sweet tongues, mentioned Jer. 23.34. Who having taught their tongues to speak lies, with sweet words and fair speeches, deceiveth the hearts of the simple; So that knowing the Enchanters, we need not ask our simple people, as St. Paul did the Galatians, O ye foolish Galatians! who hath bewitched you from knowing the truth?  
Eightly, The use of Frogs is that they may be instruments which God useth sometimes for the punishment of wicked men: so those Frogs which did cover the Land of Egypt, were sent to take revenge on the sins of the Egyptians; these impute spirits which resembleth Frogs, is a greater punishment to the people of England, in that they have the souls of people, which God permitteth in his Church, not only for the good of his Church (they being like the Nations which God left to prove Israel, Judg. 3.1.) but for the just punishment of wicked men, who will not obey and stick to the truth, 2 Thess. 2.11.  
Ninthly, The plague of Frogs, was the next punishment upon the Egyptians, to their waters which were turned into blood; so these impure spirits, which at this time, like that Egyptian plague of Frogs covereth the Land, followed our bloody waters of affliction; No sooner were our waters turned into blood, but these impure spirits like Frogs sprang up, and filled the Land, nay we find them in our streets, in our marketplace, in our very houses.  
These (not such Frogs as the Relator speaketh of) are often seen at Fairford, The which impure spirits in the likeness of Frogs, are often to be seen hopping and skipping about their streets, nay they are known to creep into their houses, often filling the same, but not the houses of the Lord of the Town, or of; the Justice adjacent (as the Relator expresseth) their houses are better disciplined then to be harbour for such filthy vermin; but the houses of some men of giddy and unstable brains, whom these Enchanters have bewitched with their sweet tongues, whose houses they make as filthy Ponds and Pools of stinking errors, and vile abominations of doctrine, wherein they do most delight, and where they do importunately croak, whose croaking noise did invite the children of the Town to enter into one house (who became like a stone cast into a Ditch where multitude of Frogs are) making them for that time cease their croakings, The which judgement the Lord did not send upon Fairford for injustice, as the Relator saith, but for their not receiving the love of the truth: Mark that place, 2 Thess. 2.11. For this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie: For this cause, what is that? Mark the precedent words, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.  
And this is not a peculiar judgement on Fairford alone: We have such filthy Ponds and Pools of corrupt Doctrine at Norleach, wherein are often to be heard the croakings of such Frogs, but they are not so troublesome to the ears of many at Norleach, as they are at Stow, Burton on the water, and other places adjacent.  
But indeed not a rational man but may perceive this judgement to be a general judgement; Men have so fallen away from truth, that they are given up to strong delusions, to believe lies; So that these impure spirits in the likeness of Frogs, may be seen hopping, and heard croaking, in most places of the Land.  
But my hope is; That as the plague of Frogs on the Egyptians was not an everlasting plague, but removed by the prayer of Moses, Exod. 8.12. So neither this punishment of Frogs on England, but may in time be removed from the Nation, by the endeavours and prayers of sound Christians.  
Prayer which is Vis Deo grata, 
Tertul:  is of great efficacy with God, for the removal of this judgement, and therefore let all Christians pray.  
The voice of the Gospel is likewise of great force to stop the mouths of these kind of Frogs, though never so clamorous: 
Veritas mendacio longè fortior.  Ministers must now (if ever) appear for the truths of God, and be able to convince the Gain-sayer, and the people must labour to be well grounded in the Scripture, which is profitable for doctrine and reproof; 
2 Tim. 3.16.  And both Ministers and People must be valiant for the truth, and contend earnestly for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints.  
The Law of the Land is of no small force to stop the hoppings from place to place, to silence the croakings of these Frogs; Let but Magistrates, which for their Office, in Scripture are called masters of restraint, but show their zeal for God in the execution of Justice on such troublers of Israel, and we shall find them soon to vanish.  
The Informer feigneth the vanishing of those Frogs and Toads (which he feigned likewise to be at Fairford) to be upon the Justice of the Peace his countenancing the Zealots, and discountenancing and punishing the Disturbers.  
If our Magistrates would but countenance those that are Lovers of peace and truth, and discountenance and punish those that are the Disturbers of peace and truth; These hopping Frogs would quickly stop their journeys, and these croaking Frogs soon change their notes.  
That the eyes of the Inhabitants of Fairford, and all other places (which are visited with these impure spirits, which cometh to them in the likeness of Frogs) may behold no more such horrid Spectacles, that their ears may be no more afflicted with their odious croakings, that their conversations may not be disturbed with their hoppings and crawling.  
FIAT JUSTITIA.   

II. Concerning the Author's Relation about the death of the Clarks daughter at Brokington.  
COncerning the Meeting at Brokington; I find by inquiry, that at the time and place expressed there was such a meeting, when and where was B. Collet, and B. Collins, and some from Stow, and other places, but John Belcher I find by the Author's relation was not there; and that precious humble tenderhearted man (Brother Collet) was in exercise, and that Sarah the daughter of Thomas Woodward, Clark of Senington, about 17 years of age was there with her mother, and that the Maid did die there suddenly, is a truth which cannot be denied.  
But that the hand of the Lord of Hosts went out against that Daughter for her opposing, and reviling them, and uttering hard speeches against them, their meetings and ways, is as far from truth, as these troublers of Israel are from peace.  
For both the Daughter and the Mother to whom the Relator attributeth opposition, and reviling, are known to be so far guiltless of it, as that they are great Lovers of these persons, great approvers of their meetings and ways; Nay the Parish Clark himself, the Maid's Father (as I am informed) is one of their Followers, who performeth his Office at Church, and when he cometh Home, performeth his Devotion with them.  
And as for the Demeanour of the Daughter at the present exercise, she was observed to behave herself with great attention, and devotion, and solemn silence, not a word she uttered, nor gesture expressed she, as could plead her guilty, either of any dislike in herself, or any disturbance of the Exercise; so that I wonder at the gross impudence of the Informer, that dare excommunicate her out of the number of those chosen Ones, and publish her to the world as a Reviler of those chosen people of God.  
Now for the manner of her death, it was thus; The Clarks Daughter having some children to look unto, which were without Doors, was bidden by the wife of one Thomas Timbrill, to go forth to look to the children, she went forth and fetched them and came in, and gave a sudden screek, and fell down dead before them all, whose Corpse after some rubbing and chafing (there being no appearance of life) was carried into the passage, at what time (as it is related) came that Esquire Mr. Heiden, that led that party of the Troop, to disturb their meetings; and the death of the Maid having dissolved them, he without any injury done them, forbade only their disorderly meetings for the time to come, and departed.  
This I find to be the truth, and to this I have the attestation of some of those neighbours who were present, and of many others, who (since the publishing of the death of this Maid as a wonderful example of God's Justice) by them have of the truth hereof been informed.  
For my part, I dare not say that she was in her sudden death, made any example at all of God's Justice, no otherwise then as death is the wages of sin; but an example of the frail, and brittle condition of man, whose breath is in his nostrils, which may suddenly vanish; and therefore Brother Collins answered well, when Mr. Heiden charged them with the death of the Maid, We have not (said he) killed her, but the Lord hath done it, in whose hands is your breath and ours; wherein Brother Collins doth seem to differ much from the Relators censure, who maketh her to us, not an example of God's Justice, but a Spectacle of mortality, to usher us in the School of death, that we may always be watchful in an holy preparation for our change.  
As for those that doth look upon her death as an example of God's Justice on the Maid; I think them to be of the safer judgement, that conclude her to be an example of God's Justice, for frequenting the Meetings of such Impostors, who under the colour of spreading the Gospel, corrupt the pure Doctrine of the Gospel by their vile errors, and base opinions, and instead of spreading the light, fight against it, by their despisings of the Ministers of the Gospel, the holy Ordinances of Christ, and of all those that desireth to walk in the light thereof; rather than an example of God's Justice for revile and hard speeches against them, who was a zealous follower of them, and out of whose mouth was heard no such reproofs.  
And as for that wise and zealous Oration of the Clerk her Father, who after that time spoke (as he did before) saying, These are the People of God, were the Clerk so gifted a Brother as Brother Collins, as precious humble tenderhearted man as Brother Collet, as great an Oracle as John Belcher, it would as little evidence his Daughter's death to be an example of God's Justice, as canonize them for the people of God.  
And as for their much peace, and freedom from Molestations in their Meetings to hear John Belcher in Stow, in the Marketplace, and other places, which they have enjoyed (as the Informer saith) since this remarkable hand of God; I believe that neither John Belcher, nor that gifted man B: Collins, nor that precious humble tenderhearted man B: Collet, will attribute it (though the Informer doth) as an effect which followed upon the Death of the Clerks daughter.  
But being as Full of State-pollicy, as they are of spiritual Revelations, I know they cannot but conclude their peace and and freedom, to proceed either from the wisdom of the State, forbidding all public disturbances, and the Loyalty of peaceable Subjects, who in their conversations subscribes to Government, or from the clemency of the State, by conniving (not approving) of their separations, and divisions; upon which clemency of the State, they have mightily improved themselves, who must know, they are not favoured, though not punished, who may have (though the State sitteth silent for a while) in a short time by the prudence of the State, their errors set in order before their eyes.  
But their great Boasting of their much peace, and Freedom, that they enjoy now in Market-places, and other places, putteth me in mind of the difference between Loyal Subjects, and Rebellious Sectaries; The Sectaries without disturbance have now their Freedom to publish their errors and lies in the very Market-places, but we could not heretofore enjoy our Liberties in our Churches, to publish God's truths without high disturbances.  
And seeing they have so much peace and freedom from Molestations in the Market-places, I would they would take this Counsel from one that wisheth their conversion, not their destruction, their safety, not their peril; that neither the Relator that boasteth so much of freedom, neither any of the Brotherhood that doth enjoy it, use any more their peace to provoke war, by blowing up all Coals of dissensions amongst us, and their Freedom to set Rebellion again in a Blaze, to fire both Church and State; If so, Let them be men as well Gifted as Brother Collins, as precious humble tenderhearted men as Brother Collet, and have as much Freedom in the Marketplace of Stow as John Belcher, The hand of Justice may soon find them out; when by the hand of the Magistrate, God may in the very Market-places, where they proclaim their Rebellion, make them more evident Examples of God's Justice for their Rebellion, than was the sudden death of the Clerks Daughter of Broking●o● for her revile, who was a Sister, a Disciple, one that against them was not heard to open her Mouth.  
Now Reader, If thou be'st a Rational man, whom the Informer by his Relation would reclaim, and to whose Judgement I have recommended this Narrative, thou canst not but find, the News from Gloucester, to be strange, but not true; and the Author (who ere it be) not to be (as he styleth himself) The true Informer, but an Hypocritical Liar.  
And as his Notorious Lies proveth him a Gross Hypocrite, who hath spoken these Lies through Hypocrisy, so doth his Conclusion lay open his Hypocrisy to the view of any indifferent Reader.    

Lastly, Concerning the Gross Hypocrisy of the Author in the Conclusion of his Pamphlet.  
THe Relator telleth us, that much more was expressed, both in the Letter, and by sundry personal evidences, this cannot be applied to the News from Fairford; there he certifieth us, that he was an eyewitness, being in a By-place, to see what would be the issue of those Frogs and Toads: and here he speaketh of a Letter, wherein somewhat and much more was expressed; (And saith he, also by sundry personal evidences) but this I am sure, had the Relator any Greater evidences of cruelties and indignities offered by such spirits as he specifieth, they could not have escaped the press, herein being little said (the truth being uncased) to cry up any cruel usage of them.  
Now whereas the Author and Printer (who are said to deliver only the Truth in General (when they have branched out the Lying Wonders in particular circumstances) do desire a kind acceptance of the Reader, I cannot see how it can be granted by any Reader, who is a Lover of Truth; but only by seduced persons, such as are fettered to other men's vile opinions, and held fast under their power; to whom I crave to urge that reproof which the Apostle urged to the Corinthians, 2 Ep: 11.19, 20. Ye suffer fools gladly; ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you; so say I, to all such seduced persons, ye suffer fools gladly, to work on your affection, to fasten on your persons, to spoil you, to carry you away from the Truth, as a Bear, Wolf, or Lion, carry away their prey; becoming as Leopards and Blackmoors, whose spots and ugliness of base opinions, can never be washed away, who have cause to fear their own condemnation; for when God shall send such strong delusions, as shall produce such an effect in the hearts of men, as to cause them to believe a lie; the end is, that they might be damned, 2 Thes. 2.11.  
But though we cannot grant a kind Acceptance of these notorious Lies, yet we may embrace the counsel they give us, which is to amend that which is amiss, either in the Relation which is full of lies, or in ourselves being full of Frailties.  
For the amending of what I have found amiss in the Relation, I have performed my endeavour, by bringing these lies to the Light of Truth, whereby Truth may be discerned from error, and for the amendment of what we find amiss in ourselves, let us daily beg the Assistance of God's Spirit, to enlighten our eyes in the knowledge of the Truth, and to lead us into all Truth, and preserve us therein by his Almighty power even unto Salvation.  
Here I should have finished, but that the Relator or Printer, o● both, hath given me cause of Jealousy, to conceive that as they will not own me for their Fellow-Christian, so I dare not own them for my Fellow-Subjects, who seemeth by their unusual phrase in their Conclusion, not to own King Charles for their King, but some other King to Reign over them.  GOD SAVE OUR KING. 
BY the phrase [Our and not The] some are of the opinion, they mean not King Charles, to whom they are apparent Enemies, but Christ, whom they make a cloak for their wickedness; Though I am of opinion, that there be many that in this Nation owneth no other King but Christ, yet should they mean him here, they could not but discover a great deal of ignorance, in thus praying for him, That God would save him, who is our Alone Saviour.  
But I am more apt to believe, that seeing This Government doth not please them, and they expect some Alteration of Government, of which some are very confident, expecting through fresh divisions to have the sword again in their hands, of which they say, they will make better use than they have done; That they mean some eminent Commander, whom God in time may raise up for their protection in their licentious practices. But God who hath already Blasted their designs, I hope will so order, by his powerful providence, the Affairs of this Nation, that such cruel and Tyrannical Spirits, shall be so fare from sitting any more at Stern in the Ship of this Commonwealth, as they shall for ever be kept under Hatches; And that this Our Gracious Sovereign (whom the Lord miraculously hath preserved, and restored to be a repairer of our breaches, and a restorer of our decayed paths; whose name was, is, and will be ever precious, among his sound-hearted and Loyal Subjects, and whose Princely Dignity is adorned with such piety, Temperance, and humanity, as will be steadfast props to uphold his regal Authority) shall sit  in his Throne, shining therein above all other men in a parcel of God's Majesty, by righteousness establishing his Throne, and by Judgement the Land, 
Prov. 16.12. Prov. 29.4.  and so make us his Subjects by his wise Government a happy people, and his Kingdoms the glory of all Lands.  
GOD BLESS KING CHARLES.   
FINIS.