PSEUDOCHRISTUS: Or, A true and faithful RELATION OF THE 

Grand Jmpostures,  
Horrid Blasphemies,  
Abominable Practices  
Gross Deceits;   Lately spread abroad and acted in the County of Southampton, by William Frankelin and Mary Gadbury, and their Companions.  
The one most blasphemously professing and asserting himself to be The Christ, The Messiah, The Son of God who died and was crucified at Jerusalem for the sins of the People of God.  
The other as wickedly professing and asserting herself to be The Spouse of Christ, called, The Lady Mary, the Queen, and Bride, the Lamb's Wife.  
Together with the Visions and Revelations, to which they did pretend their ways of deceiving, with the Names and Actions of sundry Persons deceived by them.  
As also their Examinations and Confessions before the Justices of the Peace, their Imprisonment, and their Trial before the Judge of Assize, at the last Assize holden at Winchester, March 7. 1649  
Published for a public Benefit and Warning to every one to take heed to himself, that he be not deceived by the Errors and Deceits of these present times.  
By HUMPHREY ELLIS, Minister of the Word in the City of Winton.  This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. Is. 37.3. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false Prophets. Behold, I have told you before: Mat. 24.23, 24, 25. 
London, Printed by John Macock, for Luke Fawn, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Paul's Churchyard. 1650.   

To the Reader.  
Courteous and Christian Reader,  
I Here present to thy view a very sad story, which contains in it a Relation of such and so high impieties, that like thereunto in all things hath not been yet heard of, to have been acted amongst us in this Nation: The importunate desire of many Christian Friends, Ministers and others, the expectation of all the Country hereabout, and the right information of others, (who living at a distance, even in remote parts of the Nation from us of this place, unto whom some rumour of these things have come, and who therefore desire to be more fully informed concerning them,) have required, called for, and necessitated the publishing thereof. And that the publishing hereof, hath been by me thus undertaken and performed, hath not been from any great willingness of mine own thereto, but that by the importunity of Friends I have been necessitated unto it, alleging, that by reason of my living and constant residence in this City, where much of these things have been acted, by reason of my acquaintance also with the Justices, and with divers other persons abroad in the Country, I might be best furnished with Informations for the carrying of it on, and that it was therefore rather expected of me then of any other. It hath been also much urged, that great benefit might come to the public hereby, that it might be a special means to warn others to beware of these or the like deceits, that they be not deceived by them. These Reasons, especially the latter, have wrought upon me, to appear in publishing thereof, though censures enough for my pains herein is that which at lest is from many to be expected by me. And now, Reader, if there be any love and zeal in thy heart to the Honour of God and Christ, thou wilt here see matter of Lamentation, that amongst us who profess his Name, any should arise in so high a manner to blaspheam his Name: Of Lamentation also for the sad Condition of our Nation, that such abominations are to be found amongst us. Here mayst thou see what a root of bitterness that unlimited, lawless, boundless Toleration is of all Religions, and of all things whatsoever under pretence of Religion, which some under colour of liberty of conscience have contended for: What bitter fruits would soon spring from it, may be hereby easily discerned. Hast thou any interest in God and Christ? see what cause there is that thou improve it, in thy addresses to the Throne of Grace, and that not only in behalf of our Land, that it may by his Grace be spared, notwithstanding these and the like evils committed in it; but also, that God would be pleased to rebuke this Spirit of Error and Blasphemy that is thus gone forth, and spreads itself amongst us; That God would also make his own people to be of one heart, and to strive earnestly for the Faith of the Gospel, to contend for the Faith once given to the Saints. And that thou mayst reap benefit from this Discovery, which is for thy benefit intended, and make that use which God would have thee to make thereof, is the desire, and shall be the prayer of,  
Thine in the Lord Jesus, and Work of the Gospel, HUMPHREY ELLIS. Winchester, May 14. 1650.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
WHat is here discovered in the ensuing Relation, I was for a great part an eye and ear Witness thereof; other things I had from their Confessions in their Examinations before the Justices, and from the Testimonies of divers persons of known honesty and integrity, whose Testimonies, subscribed with the hands of those from whom I received them, I have reserved by me. Considering then that I have such Authorities for the things here reported, which are not things reported to be done far off, like the stories of some travellers, which if false, yet could not be easily disproved; nor done long ago, as things forgotten, out of the memory of man; but things done among ourselves, and that very lately, that they are fresh in the memories of most persons hereabout, that very easily I might be disproved, should any other things then what are true be reported by me; and questionless this book will come into the hands of such who would be very glad of such an advantage, as to be able to charge any untruth upon it: On the other side, thousands in these parts can witness these things for the generality and substance of them to be true, that therefore I hope none will see any cause to question the truth and credit of the things here related, how strange soever they might otherwise seem to be unto them.   

A true and faithful Relation of the grand Jmpostures, etc.  
WHat our blessed Saviour hath foretold to his Disciples, should come to pass in the latter Times, and to be a great and manifest sign of his Coming, and of the end of the World, (viz.) That men shall say, Lo, here is Christ, and lo there: that false Christ's, and false Prophets shall arise; Mat. 24.23, 24. the same may be seen truly verified in these times of ours; and the fulfilling thereof, even in the literal sense of it, will be discovered in this following Relation. Although I may herein make discovery of the sinful, erroneous, Heretical and Blasphemous Opinions, speeches and practices, of divers persons; yet William Franklin and Mary Gadbury, (the one professing himself to be The Christ, the other as blasphemously proclaiming him so to be; and both of them joining together, and effectually prevailing, to the seducing of the Souls of divers, to follow them in their ways of destruction;) are the persons whom I shall especially deal withal; and whose ways and practices of deceiving, with what hath been done by and upon them within these few months passed in this County of Southampton, I shall endeavour to lay open and discover. But as that which may give some light to the following Relation, and the better direct all that may see or read it, what use they are to make of it, it will be necessary that I first of all make some discovery of these Persons, their Conditions, Callings, and manner of living in Times past; the way and means of their acquaintance together, and associating themselves in so sinful a manner, and for so wicked an end, to and with one another, with the occasion of their coming together into this County, according to that understanding thereof I have received, either by their own Confessions, or the informations, which those to whom they or either of them have been formerly well known, have given me concerning them.  
William Franklin, a man, as may easily be guessed, much about forty years of age, was born at Overton, a place not far from Andover in this County of Southampton, was an Apprentice in London to the Trade of a Rope-maker, hath been about these sixteen years a married man, and hath at this time a wife and three children living in Stepney parish, near London, the place of his habitation, where he hath both lived and exercised, till of late, the Trade to which he was Apprentice.  
For his manner of living, he hath been well esteemed in Times past, as a civil man, diligent in his Calling, honest in his deal, careful to provide for his Family, and hath born Office in the place and parish where he hath lived; yea, he hath been well esteemed in Times passed for Religion, having been an eminent Professor of it, very zealous in the duties of Religion, and very constant in the practice and observance of the Ordinances of the Gospel: I have received very good testimony concerning him, that he hath been esteemed by the godly as an eminent Saint, as a choice Professor of godliness: he hath been of late years much afflicted, his Family visited with the pestilence, himself also (as I have heard) sick of it: he was also in a condition of desertion, doubting of the love of God, but had afterwards reviving by the Promises of grace applied to him; besides sickness both in body and mind, he hath been somewhat distracted in his brain: I have seen it testified under the hand of Charles Stamford, Chirurgeon, that in the year 1646. William Franklin was distracted, that he had bled him divers times, and used other means for that distemper: This of his distemper I the rather write concerning him, that I may not be censured to conceal any thing that might in the least extenuate his offences, especially seeing that several Certificates concerning this his distempered condition were presented in his behalf, when he stood at the Bar before the Judge at the Assize; and intimating that what was done by him to be while he was in distracted fits. Yet this I must also add, That I find not those Certificates, which I have seen, to certify any thing directly of his being in such a distemper since the year, 1646. While he hath been in prison in this City, I have several Times seen him, and had concerning his Opinions and Practices much conference with him, but could never see or hear aught from him, which might argue him in the least to be so distempered; but rather in such a cautious wary manner expressing himself, that what ever he spoke, was sufficient to show him to be a man all this time in a sober mind, enjoying the right use of his Intellectuals, his understanding faculty, according to the strength of those parts he was endued withal, very free from any such natural distemper. And though I have also spoken with divers, that have several times talked and conversed with him since his coming into this Country, yet I never heard of any to declare, that any thing in all this time hath been seen or heard to proceed from him, which might argue him so distempered: therefore for these Reasons thus expressed, although I cannot but say, the man hath been mightily possessed with a spiritual frenzy, in what hath been declared and done by him; yet I cannot admit any thing of such a natural distemper to be alleged to extenuate these great evils which he hath fallen into.  
But to return to that Relation of him whence we have thus digressed: In that affliction and distemper of his before mentioned he fell into divers strange temptations; and many blasphemous passages and expressions, saying, That he was God, that he was Christ, fell from him, and were uttered by him: but he afterward recovered from that distemper and affliction of body and mind, and both discerned and acknowledged that Satan had attempted to bring him under strong delusions: he began to follow his Calling again, he went to the Congregation, or gathered Church, to which he did belong, and whereof he was a member, and there humbly and graciously, to the apprehensions of those that heard him, acknowledged to the glory of God, and his own shame, that he had sinned, and blasphemed God, and was held for a time by Satan, and his own heart, under that strong delusion: he declared how God delivered him, he warned all to keep close to the written Word of God, to watch and pray, that they entered not into temptations; and to take heed they were not led away from the Truth by the error of the wicked, and so did fall from their own steadfastness. After this, he walked sometime in fellowship with that Congregation, and there was great hope that he was now well recovered from such delusions; but however not long after he fell again into, and was more deeply than before plunged in such spiritual delusions; for now he pretended to have received some Revelations and Visions, which he endeavoured to manage (as the manner of such is) with fair speeches, and seeming Scripture-Gospel-expressions, and pretended to prophecy and foretell things to come: he got acquaintance amongst some of those that deny Ordinances, Scriptures, Christ, and are fallen from all Gospel-principles; and, as it seems, learned their ways: He than pretended that he could speak with new Tongues, and would babble out words which neither himself or others were able to understand: and as it is the property of wicked men and seducers to wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, so hath it been with this man, till at length he hath attained to that height of impiety and blasphemy, which shall be declared in this Relation: By these spiritual deceits he so fell into, was he also led into much impiety, as to beat and abuse his Wife, to deny her to be his Wife, to keep company with other women; for all which evils he was at length, and that very deservedly, excluded by the Congregation to which he belonged.  
I will now leave William Frankelin a little, till having said somewhat also of his Companion and Partner in wickedness, Marry Gadbury, I may declare how they came acquainted, and what were the ways of deceit here practised by them.  
This Mary Gadbury is a married woman, about thirty years of age, her husband's name is James Gadbury, who (as herself saith) about seven years ago forsook her, and with a servant he had went away from her into Holland, whither (as herself also saith) she went to him, about five years since, but stayed very little time with him, since that she hath neither seen him, or heard from him, but with a daughter she hath lived ever since, asunder from him in London.  
The place of her living, as she hath declared, hath chief been in Watling street in London, though, as I have heard, she hath of late much shifted her habitation from place to place; her employment hath been to sell small Wares, as Laces, Pins, Bandstrings, and other trifles for Gentlewomen. For the manner of her living I have but little on certain grounds to declare: She pretends for herself, that she hath been long time affected to Religion, and to have been a frequent hearer of the Word, of Mr Sedgwick, and Mr Case, in times past, but of late chief of Mr J. Goodwin, and Mr Jesse. I have seen a Petition directed to the Judge of Assize in her behalf, subscribed with the hands of divers men and women, who, as I suppose, live in or near Watling street, the place of her living, declaring her to have been of honest conversation, to have lived in good repute, and religiously among them: But I have heard others reporting otherwise concerning her, as if she had been noted in times past to have been of a vicious, lewd, light behaviour: She hath acknowledged concerning herself, that by one of her neighbours she was accused before the last Lord Major to keep a naughty house; but of these things concerning her living, I have nothing upon certain information to write, but leave it to others, by farther enquiry at the place of her habitation, to satisfy themselves, if they desire it, concerning her.  
And now let me declare how these persons came acquainted, and engaged together in their sinful employment and undertaking here in this Country: for this let me acquaint the Reader, That Mary Gadbury having been first committed to Bridewell, was some few days after sent for thence by the Justices, to be committed to the Common-Goal, at which time being examined, she was more free then formerly to declare herself; and besides what was taken by the Justices as her Examination, and might serve them for their proceed in Law with her, she was willing also to make farther discovery of the Visions, Revelations and Voices which she pretended unto, and therein of the way of their acquaintance together, the occasion of their coming together into this County, and the things here done by them, which she did in a Discourse of at least two hours long, and which I, who was then and there present, took from her in writing, as nigh as might be word for word: This voluntary and free Confession of hers I shall now make use of, as that which will furnish me with matter to carry on this Relation, faithfully herein reporting the things I then received, and wrote from her, the whole of it in the order she delivered it I shall not transcribe, for it would be tedious to the Reader so to do, and many things therein are very impertinent to such a Relation as this is; but I shall select out of it such things as are material, disposing them also into such a method as I have proposed to follow in this Discovery.  
Concerning her first acquaintance with William Frankelin, she declared in that her Confession, That it was by means of a woman who lived in the house with her, that this woman told her concerning William Frankelin, that she having been at his house, she saw him there embracing a man, whom she called a Devil; but he reproving her for it, said, it was not so, but he was one beloved of God: and farther declared to her concerning him, that she had seen such a man, who had been in such a condition of misery, as she had never known any to have been in the like, but one who had destroyed his body by shooting himself, and that from this man, (viz. William Franklin) she had heard very sweet things: Upon this she desired of that woman to bring the man she so spoke of unto her, by whom also he was brought unto her: At his first coming unto her, he spoke some words which were then dark unto her, but some what of God she apprehended so sweet in them, that an Echo sounded in her to what he said: At his departing she said to him, My love is with me; and he answered to her, My Peace be with you: And after that he was departed, and she gone to bed, and waking after her first sleep, she was full of joy and singing, so was also the woman who lay there with her, who had brought this William Franklin unto her: This their singing was heard by a neighbour, who coming to them said they were Witches. Hitherto the occasion concerning her first acquaintance with William Franklin, out of her own Confession.  
What so deeply engaged these persons to one another after this their first and so sudden acquaintance is next to be discovered: Concerning which we will again have recourse to Mary Gadburies' Confession, and the Relation she made therein, of several Visions, Revelations, Voices, which she pretended to had and received.  
In that her Confession she declared, that she hath had certain Fits, which she cannot call Convulsion Fits, nor knows how to express them, which would set her whole body in a trembling, and shake the bed wherein she lay, and continue upon her some times from two a clock at night, to seven in the morning. Her first taking with such a fit was upon a Sabbath day, about twelve a clock at night, which came so violently, as it set her whole body on trembling, working to her finger's ends, and that so strongly, as if she should have been strangled by it, at which time a voice spoke forth from her, and said, It is the Lord, it is the Lord; but she could not say it was her own voice: At which time clapping her hands together, she had brought to her remembrance a Scripture, which she never heard before, as she can remember; The trees shall clap their hands for joy: Then the voice that spoke within her before, spoke again, Babylon is fallen, is fallen: And then it said further, There shall be no King, but the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: And further again, Rejoice, O daughters of Zion, break forth into singing: It said also, The Saints shall judge the Earth, and the World shall confess and say, This is the City of the Lord: As also, It shall be the desire of all Nations: And also, It shall be no more called the people of Patience, (a gathered Church so called,) or the people of Goodwin, but the people of the Lord. She further declared, that she then saw such a brightness, which she was not able to behold, which for its bigness seemed half as big as the Moon, when at the full; and though she had laid her sheet and rug upon her face, she yet saw it through all, that she cried out, she was not able to behold it, it was so glorious: There appeared also within the curtains of the bed so many stars, that the curtains seemed as full as they could hold with them, that she cried out, O the Angels of the Lord! The which her cry was also heard by the woman that lay in the same room at her beds feet; and being in extremity of pain, she also cried out, Elo, Elo, My God, why hast chou forsaken me? and then the pain left her: After which the Voice spoke again unto her as before, I will not so deal with thee again, but as with a Lamb: and then she lay down, and had a little sleep, upon her awaking, the same voice spoke again unto her, as formerly, I have sent many a love token to thee, but now thou shalt see me face to face: It said also, I will send my Son in person of a man, who shall rule over the Nations, and they shall see him face to face, eye to eye: There were also Trumpets sounding as it were within her, and they had names given them, as of the seven Angels, pouring down at every sound vials of wrath, and at the last it was said, Now the seventh Angel soundeth. She declared, that she did not believe to see a personal Reign of Christ, but only spiritual in the Soul, till she had heard the voice speak, as is before mentioned. She further said, that all this which she had thus declared, came to her at several times. She also moreover declared, that after the first time William Franklin came several times to her house, once in a week or fortnight, and that before he came in at the doors, the voice before mentioned did speak, Behold, an Israelite, in whom is no guile: And again, I have spoken to thee in Parables, but now speak no more in Parables, but show thee plainly of the Father. But that one time especially, William Franklin coming to her house, (being soon after that time that the Voice said unto her, That the Lord would sinned his Son to reign in the person of a man,) she demanded of him thus: Hath God revealed to you, that his Son shall reign in the person of a man? To which he replied, I am the man: Whereupon she (as laughing at his words) said, That she looked for the same body to come, that suffered, and was laid down at the Sepulchre at Jerusalem: To which he answered, That that was an old body, but that which he now hath is a new body: She than told him of his relations, that he was a married man, and had wife and children, which she was startled by: To which he answered, That the body and nature of Franklin, born at Overton, conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity, the Lord had destroyed, though the destruction thereof were not, as of the body, laid in dust, visible to the creature, to be seen by it: And as for the woman his wife, he owned her so to be his wife, while he carried about that body, in which he was so joined to her, and he then also owned his children to be the children of that body, but now they were no more to him then any other woman and children, and that he had a Command from God to separate from her, and that company he before had with her, and that he had not bedded with her as formerly for three years before. As concerning these things thus declared by William Franklin, Mary Gadbury acknowledged, in that her Confession, that she had many reasonings within herself concerning them, and had much ado to entertain them; but at last that she did assent to it, that it might be, and was so, as he had said, and that she was not ashamed to declare it to be so to some of her neighbours. Hitherto in this particular from the Confession of Mary Gadbury: In which we may perceive William Franklin asserting himself to have a new body, in a sinful manner renouncing and disclaiming his relation to his wife and children, and blasphemously declaring himself in his Answer to the woman's Question, to be the Son of God, who should here reign in the person of a man, and so to be the Christ: We have here also this foolish woman not only harkening to these his Blasphemies, reasoning and entertaining discourse with him upon them, but very easily brought over to give credit unto them; like the woman in the beginning, reasoning with, and giving credit unto, the Serpent, the Devil, persuading her husband also, as this woman now presently spreading abroad among her neighbours these delusions wherewith she hath been deceived. As further testimony of the truth of these things here declared, I can for myself testify, That since the imprisonment of these persons in this City, and that the sufferings they fell into had somewhat broken the sinful league that was between them, that they began to accuse each other, for being the cause of one another's troubles, as it is usual with companions in evil so to do, when they are in trouble together, that I, with divers others, heard Mary Gadbury relating these very things in the presence and hearing of William Franklin, and, as we say, to his face, and charging him hereby to have deceived her, and he not able to deny the truth of these things she so declared concerning him: But questionless the Voices she pretends unto to have heard, speaking concerning Franklin, when he came unto her, that he was an Israelite, in whom was no guile, and that now he would speak to her plainly of the Father, and not in Parables (she believing these Voices to be of God, as you will afterward be informed she did) was that which wrought upon her to be so easily persuaded to give credit to these his Blasphemies; and by giving credit to them, now to apply to him, as the person in whom should be verified, what the Voice had spoken in her, of Gods sending his Son to reign in the person of a man over the Nations, who should so see him eye to eye, face to face, and so to declare of this person, as if he were the Christ, the Son of God, in whom all this was verified, who was now come to reign upon the Earth in the person of a man, even as the Voice had spoken to her.  
After all this William Franklin, who before pretending a Command from God, had renounced his wife, and separated from her, doth also tell this Mary Gadbury, that it was revealed unto him, that she was the woman which was set apart for him, as herself also declared in her Confession. This also, together with the former deceits, was so embraced by this silly deluded woman, (if I may reckon her herein deluded, and not rather, as I and divers others have jealousy thereof, and too much ground for it, that all this deceitful business was, by a compact together, plotted by them, that they might deceive the better,) that she hath the impudence, as to go to William Franklins' house, there of his wife to inquire for him, and to demand of his wife concerning him, whether he were her husband; which the woman affirming, and that she had been so many years married to him, and had had divers children by him; this strumpet (for so she now becomes) answers her, That he was not her husband, nor she his wife, that they were not appointed one for another, she must go with those for whom she is appointed, and he with those for whom he is appointed, meaning, it is like, with herself. This I received from Franklins' wife, who with tears related this and other passages to me.  
Yea further doth this impudent woman proceed, That when William Franklin had been one time at her house, when he was ready to go away, she persuades him to abide there that night with her, which he said he would to do her good, so that he stayed there that night, and lay in the same house and room, if not in the same bed with her, (which I have heard by some charged upon her, and she scarce able to deny it:) She pretends that she was exceedingly troubled when he was ready to go away, that she was even ready to faint, the cause whereof she apprehended to be, that she had something to speak, but could not utter it, yet that she could not be quiet till she had spoken it, which was this, of persuading him to stay all night with her: This I have from her own Confession: As also, that for this she was accused by her neighbours to keep a naughty house, and by a Warrant brought before the last Lord Major, by whom being examined, she said, that she had no husband but the Lord of Hosts: She was afterward for this committed to the Counter, from whence after a night's imprisonment she was released upon bail, bound over to answer it at Guildhall, where she appeared, but w●●hout any thing done to her was dismissed, as she herself related.  
Yea, as a further discovery of the strong delusions whereby this woman is possessed, doth she pretend to have seen the Lord in a Vision, in the Voice to bid her sell what she had, and follow him, which accordingly she did, selling all she had, save only one bed, but could not be in quiet till she had sold that likewise; with the money she (as she was wished) fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, save a small part of it which she kept, and which she spent shortly after. This I received from the information given me by Mr Peter Blake of Andover, who demanding of her why she left her profession, gave this in answer as the reason of it.  
We now see these two persons deeply engaged to one another, and the occasions thereof; the man forsaking his wife and children to accompany himself with another woman, and she as much embracing him, and selling all to follow him, as her Lord and Christ.  
They are now fitted for a march to go forth into some Country or other, to the seducing and deluding of others to follow them in their ways of destruction: This County of Hamp-shire is to be the stage, whereon they intent to play the rest of their parts; but what occasioned their coming into this County in particular, as well as the things done by them in it, comes now to be declared.  
What ever is undertaken by these persons, something of some Visions, Revelations, or Voices must be pretended as the ground of it, and the better to deceive others thereby. This County of Southampton would seem of all other the most unfit to be chosen by them, to carry on their design in it; William Franklin being this Countryman, born and bred at Overton, a town in it, as I have before declared; so that he could not in this Country be long hid, and his Condition, and relation to his Wife & Children being at the place of his birth well known, it could not but be a very great scandal to their way, his forsaking them, and accompanying with another woman: This having been by some put to them, and their folly censured in it, the Visions and Revelations seen by them have been alleged as the Reason of it. Hear we then what Marry Gadbury hath related in her so large Confession, several times before already mentioned in relation to this particular also.  
She declared that she saw in Vision a perfect man, as in the Clouds, with clothing on, and a sharp sword in his hand: She saw him taking down a Child, and setting it as in a Church, or Congregation, in the midst of the People; and the Child was so beautiful that she had never seen the like. She than looked for the man, but could see no more of him at that time, but only the hair of his head. But another time she saw the same man again in Vision, running so fast, that she had never seen the like; and it was revealed to her as the meaning thereof, that he made haste, and it was full time. She also saw the same man again in another Vision, coming from off the top of an house, and flying towards this Country; and the Country was named to her to be an hill Country, the Land of Ham, which she understood to be this Country of Hampshire, and it was so revealed unto her to be, by the like voice that had so several times spoken before unto her. When she saw the man so flying, a Lamb also flew after him as close as might be, and she saw the wool of the Lamb upon the back of it; and the Voice spoke in her, and said concerning it, This is the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, the Church of the living God. All this was seen by her, but very little before she came with William-Franklin into this County: And as soon as she had seen this Vision, she took occasion to declare it to William Franklin, and he declared, that it had been also revealed to him to go into the hill Country, the Land of Ham: And now it was (as appears by the circumstances of her Relation) that William Franklin told her, that it had been revealed to him, that she was the woman who was set apart for him. The construction made by both of them of all this, was, That by the Vision which she had seen, and the Revelation which he had, both so answering to one another, they were warned to go together into that Country of Hampshire. This Vision hath been declared by her to be a Heavenly Vision, which she judged she might in no wise be disobedient unto. And this she declared to be the Reason that brought them down into this Country; and having resolved upon their journey but two nights before they undertook it, the Voice that had spoke to her at first, and so all along in the several Visions, said then also unto her, I have made an end of sin & transgression for me and my people: And afterward, at another time, it said, Awake, awake, ye that sleep; put on your beautiful garments, O Daughters of Zion; for the marriage of the Lamb is come. Upon all this she came down into this County, which otherwise she was very loath to do; that though sickness which she had, and for her health sake, as also to avoid the trouble and clamours of Franklins' wife, made her willing to leave the City, and come into the Country; yet these things so revealed in these Visions and Voices to her, was the Reason of their choice of, and coming into this Country. Hitherto you have in all this the words of Mary Gadburies' own Confession, as nigh as may be.  
By these Visions thus occasioning their coming into this Country, we see, First. The Scripture abused in this particular; the Land of Ham. must be with them Hampshire: From the Scripture is this expression of the Land of Ham borrowed, Psal. 105.23. & Psa. 106.22. The Holy Ghost thereby meaning the Land of Egypt, as the Text itself expounds it; Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the Land of Ham: and that Land of Egypt was so called the Land of Ham, because by Hams posterity it was replenished with people, and inhabited: The name of that Country is in the Original Misraim, who was one of Hams sons, by whom that Country was peopled: But this County of Southamptou, vulgarly called Hampshire, must be the Land of Ham with them, because the first syllable of it is Ham. Thus doth the Devil in these Visions teach them to abuse Scripture. Secondly, It appears, by the construction these persons made of these Visions, that they applied it wholly to themselves, That Franklin was the running flying man, and Mary Gadbury must be the Lamb flying close after him; How else could their so flying towards such a Country be a warning and direction to them in Vision to go into that Country? Hereby it came to pass, that as the former Visions had declared William Franklin to be the Christ; so by this which the Voice is said to speak of the Lamb, by this woman, applied to herself, she becomes the Bride, his wife. Hence it was I suppose, that as he was proclaimed by her to be the Christ, so she declared of herself, and was acknowledged by their seduced Followers, to be the Spouse of Christ; and she blasphemously to apply to herself the Scripture of the Lamb's marriage being come, and his Bride to have made herself ready, which she pretends by her Voice to have been spoken to her. Thus is Franklin now in the room of Christ to her, he taking to himself what is proper to Christ; and she putting herself in the room of the Church, Christ's mystical body, to be the Spouse of Christ, the Bride, the Lamb's wife.  
By what hath been before declared, we find these persons with their minds fraught with all manner of the highest Blasphemies, resolved upon a journey into this County of Southampton, whither by their Visions they pretend to have been directed. According to this their Resolution in November last, Anno 1649. they undertake this their resolved journey: and all that hitherto hath been related of the Transactions of these persons and deal of them, towards one another, was much within the compass of a quarter of a year (as nigh as by any circumstances I can guests) from the time of their first acquaintance, to their undertaking of this journey. At this time here mentioned, William Franklin forsaking his Wife, Children, Calling, Employment, Family, and taking Mary Gadbury unto him, associating himself with her, as if his wife, (but indeed rather to say the least, his Concubine,) and she also (notwithstanding her knowledge that he had a Wife and Children, and herself also, for aught she knew to the contrary, a married woman, and her Husband living) doth yet join herself unto him, as his Companion in wickedness, and both together came from London to Andover, a Town in this County of Southampton, in the Wagon that weekly traveleth between these places. Thus while the written Word of God chargeth every man that hath a Family to live in and with it, to provide for it, and reckons him worse than an Infidel that doth not so do; and warneth all to fly fornication, and all such uncleanness, and whatsoever hath the appearance of evil in it, in respect of that or other sins: Yet can these persons by their Visions and Revelations find pretences to cast off all their Relations, and the Duties of them, and in such a way (that cannot by any that knows it, or shall read this relation of it, but be censured for fleshly unncleanness) associate themselves unto, and keep company with one another; to such a height of imprety are they already grown, and that through the just Judgement of God, having forsaken his Word, and giving heed to such Visions, Revelations, and Voices, whereof not God, but the Devil, must be judged the Author, they being so contrary to God and his Word; if yet there were indeed any such Visions, and were not things barely devised by them, the better to deceive one another, and others by them.  
Being come to Andover, they take up their lodging at the sign of the Star, which Inn is kept by one Michael Rutlie, who together with his wife, have been well esteemed for the profession of Religion, and after some acquaintance of these persons with this man and his wife, they could pretend to them that in some vision they had seen both of them, and that in some revelation it had been made known to them, that there should be their lodging; while they were there, which was about the space of a month, in all the time of it that they were there together, they kept company one with another, and as husband and wife they lay in the same bed together: The Sabbath day after their arrival at Andover, William Frankelin (as I have heard) offered to preach in the public place there, but that being denied him, he would yet presume to do it in the Inn where he lay, which also he did several times while he was there, divers resorting thither to hear him; he stayed not long there, but he returned up to London, to supply himself with money, but with a promise to return again in a fortnight, and at his return to take a house for their living in Overton, where she should be placed and abide, and where he would supply her with maintenance, though he himself by reason of his trade, must be forced to be sometime from her at London: While William Franklin was at Andover, (before his journey up to London) they contained themselves from spreading their blasphemies, supposing that it would not be seasonable so soon to do it, till he by his preaching and discourse might somewhat have insinuated himself into the minds of people apt to be deceived, which having a very plausible and affected (though slow) manner of speech, delivering things in language that people were not easily able to understand, having a seeming show of spirituality in it, he soon deceived many people, making them to admire the things they understood not; but he having herein by preaching acted his part first, the rest is to be done by her in his absence, as Mahomet's wife tells among her Gossips, that her husband was a Prophet, and so first spread abroad the fame of that false Prophet; so must the quean in her deceitful companions absence, tell abroad that she had seen Christ in the person of a man, not declaring him to be the person at present whom she did thereby intent, that so by the time he should return, it would somewhat appear how their design would take, and what might be like to be the effect of it: Thus have they plotted their business, and each hath their part to act in it, as they are most fitted for it.  
As soon therefore as William Franklin was departed, and was upon his journey towards London, Mary Gadbury now by his departure left alone to act her part by herself, doth presently begin to spread it abroad, that she had seen Christ in the person of a man; and that the rumour of this might the better speed itself abroad, she took all opportunities for the divulging of it: This report therefore of hers being not in a cold manner delivered, but with much earnestness insisted upon, persisted in, and pressed by her, as that which by no arguments of any whatsoever she would be beat off from, did so on spread itself amongst the people by reason of the strangeness of it, and by reason of the resort to that place, being a considerable Market-town, and the house wherein she lay an Inn, and place of great entertainment; the whole Country was also from thence presently filled with the rumour of it; And now do multitudes of persons both of that Town, and also of the Country, resort to her lodging to visit and to speak with her, the person of whom such strange things have been heard by them, and generally all the discourse with her is concerning what she had so asserted of her seeing of Christ in the person of a man: Concerning this her report, some labour by questions to search further into it, and try what further discovery can be had from her concerning it, divers questions therefore are proposed to her concerning the person, in seeing of whom she so asserted that she had seen Christ, as what manner of person he was, his shape and form, to obtain from her some description of it, what should be the end of his coming, where should be his present abode, what should be spoken by him at his first appearance to her, and by what occasion she first came to the sight of him.  
Company thus coming to her, thus also reasoning and questioning with her, where she saw any set to oppose her, and able to discover her deceits and blasphemies, very sly would she be in disclosing any thing to them, or in their presence, and would usually declare at such times that she was not then free to speak; yea, in her own large confession (out of which I have already related so many things) she declared, that when some came to oppose her, it, was given her to discern it, and that the voice that all along had spoken to her should then also speak to her, and say, Seal up the vision, and that this was the cause of her silence to them, and unto those who would especially with any zeal declare against the things she asserted, and against her also for her blasphemies, she would usually give some reproachful language, calling them Satan, or some such names; and when she would speak most moderately to them, it would be to tell them, that their eyes were not yet open, the time would come when their eyes should be opened, and they should then see what she had now told them: But where she saw any persons though but seemingly to comply with her, (for so by a seeming compliance deceiving her, some got these things from her, which otherwise they should not have heard) or any that were weak in understanding, not able to discern and discover her deceits and blasphemies, or any that she saw were credulous, ready to be shaken, easily to be wrought upon by her, to these she would freely speak and deliver herself, and use all means to win upon them to the seducing of them: Something also hath been gotten from her in answer to the several Quaeres before mentioned, wherein she would declare many things of her visions and revelations answerable to what hath been from her own confession before related, especially upon declaring of the occasion of her sight of him whom she called the Christ; such a description would she also give of his person, to be a plain man in grey , that she knew the place of his living in London, how gloriously he at first appeared, that she could not behold his glory, but desired his coming to her in a plainer form, and that in a fortnight he would come down thither to Andover to her; and many such things she declared in the description of him, which so well agreed to William Franklin, who had been with her, and was now gone to London, promising her in a fortnight to return, that many presently deemed that he was the person in all this held out by her to be the Christ; the end of his coming she would declare to be to reign upon the earth, to erect and set up his Kingdom, and for what he should speak to her, that he had never honoured any woman in so appearing to her, as he now did honour her in this his appearance to her.  
These, and many such like, were the things declared by her in the conferences she had with sundry persons, in answer to the questions by them proposed to her, many blasphemous expressions did now also at sundry times fall from her in relation to herself, as if she were the Bride, the Lamb's wife, yea, and did take it no robbery to be equal to God; the Scripture, when in any conference alleged to her, was generally slighted by her, the greatest Authorities she alleged was her own visions and revelations, many of which were yet in Scripture-expressions delivered by her, that she might deceive the better by them: And it is a wonder to consider that any person should be not so much weak, as sottish, to believe those so manifest, palpable, gross delusions, and blasphemies, as were thus vented by this deceitful woman, yet so it was, that many both in Town and Country were some shaken, some wholly seduced by these her deceits.  
It would be tedious to the Reader, and that which would cause this Relation (wherein I desire, and shall endeavour all possible brevity) quickly to swell into a considerable volume, should I proceed to relate what was declared by this blasphemous woman: (while she was thus by herself at Andover venting her blasphemies) in the several conferences between her, and sundry particular persons who came to see her, and to have (and had) discourse with her.  
It shall therefore content me (and I hope it will my Reader also) to declare what passed between this seducing woman, and those that being seduced by her, did hearken to her, and follow her in these her ways of deceit, and blasphemy, and the way and course taken by her, which by the permission of God, and through the efficacy of Satan, was effectual to the seducing of them: That large confession of Mary Gadburies' so oftentimes before mentioned, I shall now again have recourse unto, and make use of it, as that which will sufficiently furnish me with matter to carry on this part of my relation.  
In that her confession she declared, that while she was at the Star in Andover, (while as yet William Franklin was with her, and not gone upon his journey towards London, as is before related) she was one night so taken as a woman in travail, and with such pains so coming and going, as throes of a woman in that condition; but that the pains she now endured were more painful than those of women in that condition, which she could well tell, having had the experience of both: At which time of her pain, the same voice mentioned before to have spoken to her in the former visions, spoke this now again, Shall I bring to the birth, and not give strength to bring forth? All that night (wherein these pains and this voice came thus unto her) she was very ill with them, and all the day following also, which was the Sabbath day, wherein divers came to hear William Franklin speak somewhat unto them; the day after being Monday, W.F. went to London, after whose departure she began to declare, that she had seen the Lord Christ in the person of a man, and this amongst others she declared in particular to Mr. Woodward, which Mr. Woodward was then Minister of Crooxeaston, a village some few miles distant from that town of Andover, and to Edward Spradbury, which Edward Spradbury is by his profession a Clothworker living in Andover, and to him she also declared, concerning the pains before mentioned then continuing upon her, how great they were, and that she should never have rest till she were delivered of what she travailed withal: Thus fare already her confession: But before I go further in it, it will be necessary I give some information to my Reader which may serve to clear his understanding somewhat, concerning what here already is, and what further is to be related to him.  
The Reader is therefore here to understand, that these pains and travails which this deceitful woman doth thus pretend unto (if any such pains there were, and that these were not things altogethe feigned by her) she pretends also to be of God, and to be for some spiritual, and not for any natural birth, and she seems to take ground for this from the speech of the forementioned voice unto her concerning it; but how wickedly and blasphemously that saying of the Lord by his Prophet concerning Zion his Church, and concerning the birth of Christ, the manchild, and of all his people, raised and borne together, virtually with and in him in his Resurrection, Esa. 66.7, 8, 9 according to that of the Apostle, Ephes. 2. he hath quickened us and raised us together with Christ, is here I say, sinfully, wickedly, blasphemously applied, and assumed by this blasphemous creature to herself, making herself thereby to be the Zion there mentioned: But strange it cannot be thought, that having set up this W. F. to be the Christ, and applying to him what is proper to Christ, and herself to be the Bride, the Lamb's wife, the Spouse of Christ, she should now thus apply and assume to herself what concerning Zion and the true mystical Spouse and Church of Christ is delivered in the Scripture.  
Here also is further to be known, that this foolish woman was usually wont, as wickedly to apply to her self in these her falsely pretended travails that speech of the Apostle, Gal. 4.19. saying in general that she did travail in birth till Christ were form in them, to those with whom she conferred, and in particular when she perceived any one like to be wrought upon, and seduced by her, than would she pretend her travail to be for such a one, who being at length wholly wrought upon and seduced by her, it must be ascribed to her travails, as an effect of them, that must be the person for whom she was in travail, and such a person the spiritual birth now brought forth by her; according to this is that which she hath thus declared of her pains and travels to be understood by us: But one thing I may not omit here fit to be inserted, evidenced by a Constable, when the business concerning the pretended travails of this woman and her spiritual birth was examined and heard before the Judge of Assize, viz. that he heard from Edward Spradbury that this woman had been in travail, and was delivered; and ask of what she had been delivered, it was answered, of a Dragon, and what she was so delivered of, her Lord and Christ had slain it on the bed:— Hence I suppose it was, that so strong a report was sometime raised and carried about the Country, as if this woman had been in some real travail, and had been indeed delivered of a Serpent, or some such monstrous birth.  
But let us now return to the course of our Relation, and for the carrying of it on, have recourse again to the large confession of that woman, declaring therein her dealing with sundry particular persons, and the seducing of them, Edward Spradbury is the first that (by any circumstance I can find) was seduced by her, and gave credit to her blasphemies; and though I cannot learn by what means he was wrought upon by her, yet I perceive he stuck not long at the business, but was quickly persuaded to follow her in her deceits, to believe according to what she had asserted, William Franklin to be the Christ, and with many blasphemous expressions to declare him so to be unto others also, and to serve this woman as a very active instrument for seducing of other persons; for thus it follows in the Confession, That Edward Spradbury riding that way went to M. Wodwards at Crooxeason, and there told Mr. Woodward's wife what he had heard this woman to say, viz. of her having seen Christ in the person of a man; but that Mrs. Woodward not enduring to hear of it, said, I do think it is a Devil, but that a few days afterwards Mrs. Woodward [as she did herself declare and acknowledge] had it in a vision revealed to her, that this Mrs. Gadbury was the woman in the Revelation, clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and there travailing in pain.  
She moreover declared in this her confession, that in the time of W. Franklins' absence at London, she could not take her rest one night in the week, she would very willingly have slept in the day, but that the voice said to her, thou shalt take no rest till I have accomplished my work; and it said moreover, she is coming, she is coming: Of whom the voice thus spoke, she declared she could not tell; but supposed it to be spoken of a woman in Wells, named Joan Garment, whom she had never seen outwardly, but she had seen her in vision; 
Thus can these deceitful persons, though 100 miles distant, see one another in visions.  and Joan Garment, had also seen her in vision, and declared concerning her, That there was a woman in London, set apart of God for a great work, and to be one of the Sealed, but is therein mistaken, as appears by what follows: Of this Joan Garment she thought the voice to have spoken, but shortly after Mrs. Woodward came; at whose coming she that had before been very silent (the voice having bid her to seal up the vision) was now very free in speaking, and rejoiced exceedingly, and was not able to conceal her joy, or contain herself from tears, although she did much endeavour it, knowing that Mrs. Woodward had something revealed to her, though what it was, was as yet not unto herself revealed. But now Mrs. Woodward being come, she declared, that it had been revealed to her, that the glory of God should be seen in her, (meaning this M. Gadbury) and that she had evil thoughts of her, 
Now also I suppose it was Mrs. W. related her forementioned vision.  but it had been thus revealed to her; do not have such thoughts, for thou peircest her, thou woundest her. That night there supped together with this Marry Gadbury in her chamber, Mr. Woodward and his wife, and Edward Spradbury. At the end of their supper, though she was very well, yet she felt on a sudden something rising in her like to stop her breath, which made her to cry out; and they all that were with her came, and some held her head, some her back; at last she cried to them to be unlaced with speed, or to have her laces cut; which being done, she yet thought, she should have died with extremity of pain, her pains were like to women's throes going and coming; and after the great pain was over, a laughter arose in her for the abundance of glory which she saw; the voice spoke in her, though not so audibly as for others to hear it, Who hath believed our report, 
Scripture most blasphemously abused.  and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? and she herself spoke out these words; so sudden as you see this change, so suddenly will the Lord appear to all. Upon this Mrs. Woodward said, by what I now see I believe with more confidence than before. How also doth Mrs. Woodward invite the woman to go to her house with her the next day, by reason the people of the Star were unnatural to her, and she herself was also directed by a command, the voice speaking, go with her; but it had not so much power in it, as to make her go presently, only it was revealed to her, and she declared it to Mrs. Woodward, that though she went not herself, yet the vision she had before seen of the woman in travail, should again be with her: upon this Mrs. Woodward the next day went home: Thus fare her confession for this, of what passed between her and Mrs. Woodward, whereby we see this Mrs. W. wholly perverted, even renouncing her faith in Christ, giving up herself to this deceiver, and together with Edward Spradbury become the proselytes of this seducing deceitful Strumpet.  
We have seen how well this M. Gadbury hath acted her part, and it is now time to inquire after W. Franklin, he (as hath been before related) going to London with a promise of returning in a fortnight, was as good as his word, and did return according to the time appointed, upon Saturday the 8. of December, and being returned, he declared to this woman, (as herself hath expressed in her confession) that he was bid by a voice that spoke to him, to make haste, and come away, and was by it informed and made sensible of her condition at the Star, and how unnatural and unkind the people of that place were unto her; for so it was that by this time of Franklin's return, it was sufficiently divulged and known about the town, that these persons were not husband and wife, as it was before supposed, but that he had forsaken his wife and children to keep company with this woman, and she also to be a married woman; information hereof came sundry ways to this town, as from Overton, not fare thence, the place of W. Franklins' birth and breeding, where himself, his condition, and his relations were very well known; and also from London, where W. Franklins' wife having understood her husband and this woman in the Andover waggon to be gone together into that Country, did inquire out Goodman Hunt the Waggoner, and enquiring after her husband, did with many tears make unto him a most sad complaint, and doleful jamentation, for her husbands so forsaking of her, and leaving her thereby in so miserable a condition, that she had no means of subsistence, but that she wanted bread for herself and her children: This report from W. Franklins' wife was by Hunt the Waggoner, upon his return brought down to Andover, and was a great means to make these persons grow very odious in that place: And now was this by divers objected to M. Gadbury (sometime before W. Frankelins' return) how, or with what pretence she could or durst to keep company with such a man, whom she knew to be another woman's husband, and in accompanying with her to forsake his wife and children; and was likewise charged upon both of them together at his return; unto which she would answer; that W. Fr. had not wife after the flesh but she, nor had she any other husband after the flesh but he; that it's possible a woman and children might so lay claim to him, who yet were no wife and children of his; he having a new body and nature, they were dead to him, and he to them; that she looked upon this as but the scandal of the world.  
However this so great a scandal they were not able to wipe off so easily, but that it had deep impression on divers to render these persons odious unto them; yea Michael Rutlie and his wife, their host and hostess, who kept the star, and with whom they lodged, now began to grow strange, and as they reckoned it, unnatural and unkind to them; insomuch that W. Fr. returning the Saturday, on the Monday and Tuesday following, both he and his companion having this of their sinful practice by Mr. Rutlie related to them, who endeavoured also to declare to them from the word of God, which they little regarded how sinful it was; they were warned by him to departed, and with all speed that might be to be gone out of his house: at which time of their being thus warned to departed, divers strange and blasphemous expressions came from W. Frankelin, saying, That he knew his Maker, and his Maker knew him, and he was one with his Maker: and now they charged Mr. Rutlie, as if he were another , thus persecuting of them, thus receiving the scandal of the world against them.  
There being now no longer abode for them at Andover, and M. Gadbury having told this W. Frankelin upon his return of Mrs. woodward's invitation; it is now very acceptable to them, and they bethink themselves of accepting of it, and going thither; accordingly on Tuesday December 11. departing from Andover they arrive at Crooxeason, where they are very welcome to Mr. Woodward and his wife, & have their entertainment there in his house for about the space of six weeks, till by the Justice's Warrants they were sought after, and apprehended, as you will afterwards understand. Mrs. Woodward [as M.G. hath confessed] had been told concerning the wife and children of W. F. but she did not then regard it, looking now upon the principle of God in the creature, & what had been revealed to her. Thus with these persons, it is nothing to lay aside natural relation and affection, to desert, yea to run away from wife and children, yea in an adulterous way to keep company together, and to lie with one another, if something of a Vision or Revelation may be pretended; though herein be enough to discover such visions and revelations to be of the Devil, and not of God, when occasion shall be given by them, and encouragement also to persons, to walk in such sinful practices so manifestly contrary to the Word and Will of God. Being now settled in their fresh quarters at Crooxeason, where they are sure to have free quarter; having made so good an exchange, by removing from an Inn to a private (and that a Ministers) house; being I say here settled, W. Frankelin declares, that it is revealed to him, that this place where they now were is the wilderness appointed for the nourishing of the woman, a time, times and half a time: here he stayed a month, and after that went again upon another journey to London: And now, what was done at this place, and what visions, revelations, voices, this M. Gad. pretends at this place to have received also, I shall make some discovery of from her own confession.  
She declared in her confession, that one night of her being at Crooxeason, awaking after her first sleep, she felt a weight upon her breast, as if it had been a stone of a load weight; and she said, 
The former travail brought forth Mrs. Woodward; and this seems to be another travail for another birth.  O Lord when shall I be released of this misery? at last the Voice spoke unto her, and what it spoke was chief concerning two men, living near Andover, the name of the one being Rutlie, the other Bunnie, and also of a woman whose name is Waterman; these persons had much exclaimed against Frankelin and her, for that he having a wife and three children should keep company with another woman, and for saying that he was the Christ. The Voice naming these persons, said of them, They have a godly zeal in them, they love what thou lovest, they speak not against my glory, but against the old nature which is gone; they see no farther than that; the Voice also hid her by M Woodward to send for Rutlie and Bunnie, & it said of them, they shall be pure they shall see me: then the Voice spoke forth aloud, 
This she said was spoken with such violence in her, that she feared she should have been strangled with the force of it.  as the voice of a man roaring out in speaking, I am the Lord of Hosts, JEHOVAH is my name, the high and holy one; I am of a pure eye, a God that cannot behold iniquity; I will unveil myself now, and they shall see me face to face, eye to eye. It is no more the morningstar, but the great day of the Lord is come. Then the Voice spoke directly to, and of herself saying, Thou shalt be clothed in a white robe which I will give thee, and they shall all see thy whiteness, for I have made thee pure; 
O gross pride, deceit and hypocrisy!  as it is all pure within, so shall it be without; thou shalt be clothed all in white, a resemblance of the inward purity, and I will make thee to be as a Phoenix. Then the Voice commanded her to speak for a thing that was in the house, (which was some white linen cloth) and to make her a white robe therewith, which should serve only for the present, for she should afterward be covered all over with white: She told Mrs. Woodward what the Voice had said concerning the white cloth, but Mrs. W. told her that she would speak to her husband to buy some Holland of seven groats an ell, to serve for that use, whereby it seems Mrs. Woodward, was not willing to be so easily cheated of her white cloth. With this answer, this M. Gadbury was much troubled, yet she thought to speak no more for it: but Mrs. W. being gone forth, the Voice said again to her, Doth she think that will suffice? the best things belong to thee: but M. Gad. declaring herself loath to trouble her, the Voice said, If she be offended, I will pacify the offence; then she called Mrs. Woodward again, and asked her, if she thought any thing too good for the Lord: who answered, no; and so at length both herself and her husband gave their consent to part with the linen cloth to her, for the use she desired. Thus by a fine trick of cleanly conveyance, is Mrs. W. cheated out of her white cloth, and M. G. by this Artificial way of deceitful cheating and juggling, hath got her a good piece of cloth, and accordingly makes her an outer-garment with it, that it might show forth her inward purity: she now seethe, that if she hath a mind to any thing which any of her proselytes hath, it is but to pretend a Voice or Vision for it, and it must presently be given to her.  
But to return to her confession, wherein she farther declared, that one night being broad awake, she saw a white foot, which the Voice commanded to rest upon her, 
Which I suppose to be the same night wherein she had the former vision.  and to her sight the foot was set upon her shoulders; and she saw no more of it: at which time all within the curtains of her bed was a great brightness, by a multitude of stars, that exceeded the morning star in brightness: At that morning the Voice spoke aloud in her, Arise, arise, all ye that sleep; which Mr. Woodward hearing, and supposing she had called him, he arose, and came into the chamber where she lay, and he declared that he saw the brightnesses at his feet; and at that time the Voice said, That the comprehensive power of heaven, 
A most blasphemous lie.  was for that instant gathered into that room, and it also said, All they that come before the presence of the Lord, and are not pure, let them tremble. It was also revealed to her, that it would have been dangerous for Mr. Woodward so to have come in at that time; had it not been for the forementioned message that was to be done by him.  
In the morning she spoke to Mr. Woodward to go to Rutlie and Bunnie, which he did, (for it seems all must be ready to serve her) but they made slight of the message.  
But the woman Waterman, she saw in a vision, and that she had a great oven in her house, and she had three looking glasses in the house, whereof one stood before the oven; 
A profound vision and interpretation.  and it was interpreted to her, that these glasses were for Goody Waterman to see herself in. This Goody Waterman, though it doth not appear to me, that she had any messenger sent to her as the two men had; yet she the next Sunday going to Andover, was with a great power drawn, even whether she would or not to come to Crooxeason to M. Gadbury; whither when she came, she was in an exceeding great sweat, 
This is in the confession, and doth not this look like a piece of Witchcraft?  but knew not the end of her coming; she stayed there all night, and in the evening sitting by the fire side, she said aloud, O Lord that I may not be deceived. She fetched her breath short, she cried out, Mistress Woodward, Mistress Woodward, why keep you me here in prison? at which words M. Gadbury said; that she herself wept exceedingly, and declared concerning this Goody Waterman, that she was even● rend and torn in pieces; and she cried out and said, O Lord how canst thou bring down the strongest heart that is? Rutlie is so high and strong, yet the Lord can bring him down, and that she had fought against the Lord, and now could not but confess that it was he. And thus Goody Waterman, notwithstanding her long standing off, 
Here end those informations I had from the large confession of Mary Gadbury so often mentioned.  and great opposition she sometime made against them, is at length deluded, and brought over to them by their deceits.  
This effect of their deceits on this woman, is now the more advantageous to them, they having at least seemingly been so much before opposed by her. And what from the thing itself, and the strange manner of it, it now works on Mr. Woodward the Minister, in whose house these persons were entertained, and who therefore was privy to all these proceed; for (as I have heard himself relate it in his own confession before the Judge of Assize, where being charged to give credit to these deceits of Frankelin, and for declaring him to be the Christ) he acknowledged himself for sometime to be much troubled, not able to close with what was by them delivered: that he asked of Frankelin whether he were the Christ; and that Frankelin should answer, that that was not the body of Christ, but he had the Father as a lion, Christ as a Lamb set at his breast, and that he was now come to call in believers: he farther confessed, that after this, being much troubled he went to his barn, and there sat down; where a perfect audible voice was heard by him, which said unto him, arise, and declare what thou hast seen; yet that he kept his own counsel notwithstanding, and declared this to no other, but that afterward Goody Waterman comes and tells them that Frankelin was one borne at Overton, and was a Seducer, and in a railing manner went away from him; but that they [viz. Frankelin and Gadbury] said that she would be sorry for it, and see her error, that about four or five days after Goody Waterman came again, desiring to see God in all, and that the third time of her coming she sat down on a stool, and was there the whole afternoon, and at night going away she said she could not, but was in prison and bondage, and afterward declared to them that Satan was possessed of her, but that now she was delivered; and (said she) the power that I reproached, that hath delivered me, and this (said M. Woodward) seized so on my spirit, that it caused me to entertain what I am now charged withal. This of Mr. woodward's confession I heard declared by him to the Judge, and took it also in short hand as well as I possibly could in such a crowd of people: And by this confession of his it appears, that what by the glorious things he had seen, as he pretended, and by the things which the persons themselves declared to him, as also that of the Voice which he heard, and these passages of this woman, they saying she would be sorry for what she had done against them; and she herself afterward making such a confession concerning them, and so believing in them, all this caused Mr. Woodward also to give up his Faith to them, as his wife had before given him example of it: And questionless, as in the beginning the woman was first in the transgression, and being deceived herself served Satan as an instrument to deceive her husband also; so that this woman Mrs. Woodward, having been first deluded, (as you have read) did contribute her utmost assistance to these deceivers to deal with, and to prevail upon her husband to deceive him also, and accordingly together they thus prevailed in it.  
Most of these passages thus before related, of the visions of M. Gadbury, and concerning Goody Waterman, and Mrs. Woodward, happened in the time of W. Franklins' being at London, where he stays not long, but as being herein very punctual in his word and promise, at his appointed time down he returns again to visit his Consort, to see how their design did thrive, as also to afford what assistance he could, to the further advancing and carrying of it on: In all the time of his abode at Crooxeason he is very diligent, not in discourses only, but sundry times preaching there in Mr. Woodwards house, thereby drawing together the more company unto him: And indeed by reason of the strangeness of the report carried about the Country concerning these persons, and the things done by them, multitudes of persons now resort to Mr. woodward's, to see, hear, and speak with them, of whom some come only for the novelty of the business, and to satisfy themselves with the sight of such strange persons; some as not crediting the things reported, to confer with the persons themselves for their better assurance; but others being credulous persons, wavering and uncertain in matters of Religion, having itching ears after some new things, were soon drawn away and seduced by them: For now (besides the persons before mentioned Mr. Woodward and his wife Goody Waterman) divers others do also become their Proselytes, as John Noyce, Edward Spradbury of Andover, Henry Dixon of Stockbridge, with several others; how these persons were wrought upon, and seduced by them, I have not certain information, only that I have heard in general concerning them, especially of Edward Spradbury, that several strange sights or visions, and something of seeming-glorious appearance was seen by him in them, which is supposed to be that which chief prevailed upon him and others of them.  
But now doth this poisonous infection begin amain to spread itself, having gotten many, and these also very active persons, to be the Preachers, spreaders, and publishers of it abroad to the people: These do even make it their business to publish it to persons whom they may have any occasion to do withal, and to assert it with abundance of confidence, as what is firmly believed by them, and which with all the reason they can, they persuade others to embrace and entertain also, that he (that is this Franklin) is the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb slain from the foundation, that suffered on the Cross, and was the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and had the key of the bottomless pit, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, etc. with many other such like blasphemous expressions published by them concerning him. These had also their several offices and titles accordingly given them; so that John Noyce was John the Baptist, sent forth to tell that Christ was come upon the earth; Henry dixon's office was to be one of the destroying Angels mentioned in the Revelation, sent forth to curse the earth, and the Inhabitants of it, and his usual curses were in a most execrable manner, to bid the Plague of God be upon the heart of persons, and the Devil to take them: Thus Mr. George Pottisary, an honest godly man in this Country informed me, that he so cursed me in a conference with him. In an Information I have in writing sent to me from Thomas Wilkins, Constable of Andover, he writes to me thus:  
Dixon said, that there was neither God nor Devil, and that all things came by nature, and did curse me with these curses, the Plague of God upon thy heart, the Devil take thee; he said that I should be damned in three weeks, and that I should come howling and crying, and wish that I could touch the lower hem of his garment; and he said of himself, that he was the destroying Angel sent to curse the earth: Thus the Information of Thomas Wilkins.  
Now Edward Spradbury had gotten a somewhat better office; for William Franklin said, that he was one of the two Witnesses mentioned in the 11. of the Revelation, as John Lewis hath in writing to me certified, adding that he would testify it upon Oath, but the usual office of this Spradbury was to be an healing Angel; and so what Dixon had in the discharge of his office cursed and destroyed, he came as an healing Angel to heal and restore again; wherefore when any person did discover offence at these curses, and horrid imprecations by Dixon uttered, he would tell them they should not be offended at it, that it was his office, and what he did therein was but the discharge of his office, but that he himself was the healing Angel: Of this wicked society was also one William Holmes of Houghton, he seems to be a partner of dixon's in his office of being a destroying Angel.  
Here take a true account of what passed between him, and one Mr. Burret a Minister, being in the Parish of Houghton, which I have asserted under Mr. Burrets own hand thus:  

Houghton, Jan. 17. 1649.  
The day and year above written coming to two men which I had at work, there was talking with them William Holmes, junior, of Houghton, having a gun in his hand, and in his mouth many hard speeches and blasphemies against God; amongst the which, at my first approach, this was the first, That he was one of the Vials of God's wrath, to confound Mr Warren, myself, and the rest of the Parish, which he said were all damned: Upon my reply, I pray you William leave these fond and strong delusions, and have God in your heart: He answered, What dost thou know what God is? (or to that purpose:) God is a Toad, a Snake, 
O horrid blasphemy!  and a Devil. At which words I left the place, and upon it, which can witness the same, and more,  


John Butler,  
Daniel Crowder,  
and Robert Holmes.  
Ita testatur, Christophorus Burret.     
I was also credibly informed, that at the same time when he uttered these fearful Blasphemies, he also added thereto this grievous curse, The plague of God confound thee and thy Religion. Oh what an height of impiety and boldness in wickedness are these persons thus come unto! whose heart can but tremble at such grievous Blasphemies against the Divine Majesty, and wonder at the wonderful patience and long-suffering of God, so forbearing such persons, by whom his holy and glorious Name and Being is so grievously blasphemed?  
This William Holmes having been formerly a very lose and profane young man, was so far wrought upon by the Ministry of Mr Warren, (who is Minister of that Parish) that he left his vicious courses, and became very hopeful for Religion; but is now fallen into this depth of wickedness, enough to be so a warning to others, that he who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.  
Thus the leaven and poison of this infection, dispersed abroad by such active publishers of it, gins to spread exceedingly, that too many now begin to be taken with it, that such notice and great offence is justly taken thereat by divers godly and well affected Ministers, and others, that they think it necessary for the peace of the County, now ready to be hereby endangered; as also for the good of Souls, and out of a tender affection to them; especially for the Glory of God and Christ, whose Name and Honour is so stricken at, and grievously blaspherned, to think upon some course, whereby to stop the further spreading of this so great an evil.  
Accordingly, the last Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden in this City of Winton for this County of Southampton, in the beginning of January, many and great Informations and Complaints from sundry well-affected people were there brought and presented to the Gentlemen, Justices of the Peace for this County, then and there met together, concerning these practices of these persons, desiring justice against them, and some course thereby to be taken for the restraining of them. The Justices of the Peace (as in duty they ought) declared themselves very sensible of these things, and of the Glory of God, and good of their Country, so highly concerned in them: And accordingly with all speed were Warrants granted out by several of them, to the Constables of those parts, for the apprehending of William Franklin, and some others of these so dangerous persons. These Warrants were with as much speed as might be put in execution by the Constables; by them were William Franklin, and with him Mr Woodward, Henry Dixon, Edward Spradbury, apprehended: and besides what was done towards these persons upon their apprehension by the Bailiff of Andover, (where they were either apprehended first, or brought thither,) whose care and faithfulness in this business is much to be commended; they were from thence brought hither to Winchester upon Monday, january 27. and there presented before those Justices of the County, who live at this City, by them to be examined, and proceeded withal accordingly. With those persons thus apprehended, & brought by the Warrant, came also others of their own accord, though not included in that Warrant, as M. Gadbury, Mrs Woodward, Goody Waterman and some others. I do not hear that john Noyce was here present: particular complaint was made afterward against William Holmes, and particular Warrant granted for the apprehending of him, but he either departing from his habitation, or some way or other hiding himself, was not at all yet apprehended, that he neither appeared now, or at any time, before the Justices, or at the Assize. But those persons who were thus apprehended, with the others that came so together with them, not so much to see what would be done with them, as to assist them, and witness the same thing with them in their Trial and Examinations, and together they came with abundance of confidence and boldness, to stick unto those things which they had asserted & with which they knew they should be accused. The Justices before whom they were brought, and by whom they were now to be examined, were Mr Thomas Bettesworth, and Mr Richard Gobbe; Their Appearance and Examination was at Mr Bettosworths' house, who lives in the Close here at Winchester: At the time of their Examination great multitudes of persons resorted to the house, to see and hear what would be done with them, or said by them.  
It would be tedious to the Reader, and that which the brevity I desire, and shall endeavour in this Relation, will not bear, should I now proceed largely to set down the whole of their carriage before the Justices, and of the things spoken by them, according to that credible information I received of it: But some most material passages I shall have respect unto, together with the Examinations of some Witnesses taken upon Oath, and the Examinations of the persons themselves attested by them, by subscribing their names to them: These will be the most authentic Testimonies I can present my Reader withal of the blasphemous speeches and practices of these persons; and wherein he may see, from the Confessions of the persons themselves, a Confirmation of the most or most material things that have been before related.  
As concerning their carriage before the Justices, it was with abundance of boldness and confidence; in general there asserting whatsoever had been before declared by them, and towards others whom they had occasion to converse withal, with abundance of scorn and contempt: Goody Waterman, a very talkative woman, said to the company, That if they were not there, the house would fall down upon them, and if they should not speak, the stones would speak: And being very forward in speaking after this manner, Mrs Woodward told her, That she saw much of the Power of God, in carrying her forth to speak so as she did. This Goody Waterman, to one that bid her stand farther from him, saying, that her breath did stink, answered, that she defied what he spoke, and her breath was the breath of the Lord: And concerning another young woman, one of their own company, who had spoken somewhat wherein she was contradicted, she also answered, That what that young woman spoke was not much to be regard, she being but a babe of a week old; and indeed it was their manner to reckon their age from the time of their first believing in this Deceiver, as if they had been but then born. When one speaking of William Franklin, called him Fellow; Marry Gadbury at the hearing thereof, holding up her hand at him, said, Thou dog, how darest thou call thy Saviour Fellow; thou art not worthy of a crumb.  
Thus may these, and many other such like passages which fell from them, serve to discover their height of confidence in their blasphemous Assertions, as also the impudent boldness of their carriage.  
But leaving these things, we will now proceed to the Confessions and Examinations of these persons themselves, and Witnesses concerning them, setting down first what was attested by some Witnesses, and next what were their own Confessions.  
And first take here the Testimony of Fortunatus Wats of Woodhay, who was the first that I can hear of to have given evidence against these persons, and his evidence had been given in to the Justices before they granted their Warrants for the apprehending of these persons; but may now be here very fitly inserted. His Evidence was thus.  

A man aged about thirty or forty years, on Monday the 17. of December, 1649. at Mr woodward's at Crooxeason in Hampshire, affirmed himself to be Christ, the Son of the living God; the Messiah that sits at the right Hand of God; the Corner stone, the Lamb of God, that was slain at jerusalem, and had the wound yet on his body unhealed: That his Spirit was abroad, gathering in of Souls; that he came now in the fullness of time to save the very Elect, and is none of those false Christ's spoken of in Scripture, but the true Christ indeed: If any would know my name, I am, said he, the great King of Heaven, without any guile in my mouth, without beginning of time, or end of days. He undertook to forgive sins;  
and by name did so to me Fortunatus Wats of Woodhay in Hampshire, Witness my hand, Decemb. 20. 1649. And this he subscribed his name unto,   
Now you shall have the Examination of some Witnesses, delivered upon Oath before the Justices, at Andover and at Winchester, after their Apprehension.  

The accusation of Peter Blake of Andover in the County of Southampton, Merchant, given upon Oath before several Justices of the Peace at Andover, the 26. of January, 1649.  
HE saith upon Oath, That Edward Spradbury of Andover, Clothworker, affirmed, that one lately lying at the Star in Andover aforesaid, naming himself Franklin, was, the Lord of Life and Glory: and that he was the Messiah, the Lamb slain from the foundation; that he had the key of the bottomless pit, that shutteth and no man openeth, and openeth and no man shutteth: That he was the Christ, the Saviour of the World; The Christ that suffered on the Cross: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And this, and more to the like purpose, was spoken by the said Edward Spradbury, in the hearing of the said Peter Blake, at the dwelling house of the said Edward Spradbury in Andover aforesaid, on Monday the 21. of January, 1649.  
Peter Blake. For so he subscribed his name.   

The Examination of Richard Cook against Henry Dixon, January 26.  
He saith upon Oath, that Henry Dixon said this present Evening in Andover, in this Accusants' presence, and divers others, That he the said Dixon was the God of Light, and the God himself.  
And now also did Thomas Wilkins deliver in that testimony of his before mentioned, wherein he so affirmed upon Oath, this Dixon to say, That there was neither God nor Devil, but all things came by nature: Such a Spirit of frenzy and contradiction, as well as Blasphemy, possesseth these persons, as in the same breath, to affirm, That there is no God; and yet that he himself is God: That there is neither God nor Devil; and yet presently in his cursing to use the names of both of them.   

The Examination of John Lewis taken before the Justices.  
He saith, that William Woodward of Crooxeason, Minister, said, that the man who was at his house, being one named Franklin, was the Lord of Life and Glory: and that he had received glorious things from him: and that one who believed him not to be so, was afterward convinced, and came to see the glory of the Lord, and acknowledged him to be the Lord of glory. He farther saith, That Edward Spradbury told him, that Franklin said in his presence, that he had trodden the winepress of the wrath of God; and that he the said Edward Spradbury was one of the two Witnesses mentioned in the Revelation; that he was slain for the testimony of Jesus Christ: and that the said man, named Franklin, was slain, dead, and risen again in glory.  
I have moreover an information which this John Lewis sent me under his hand, concerning the same thing, declaring that William Franklin should say, That he was the Lord of Life and Glory; that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation; that he was the everliving Son of the Father; that he had the key of the bottomless pit: that it was he who died without the gates of Jerusalem.  
This I John Lewis certify upon my Oath.   

The Examination and Evidence of Mr Thomas Musprat of Winchester.  
He affirmeth, that being at Andover, he found Mr William Woodward with one Spradbury, and one Dixon, who jointly affirmed, that the said Franklin was the Christ, and Saviour of mankind: And he the said Thomas Musprat finding fault with Mr Woodward to be in company with such men, he the said Mr Woodward replied, That he had seen the glory of the said Franklin, and did rejoice in it: Whereupon the said Thomas answered, that all glory was created or uncreated, and demanded which of these two he had seen in the said Franklin; to which, after some waving the question, he at last answered, that it was the uncreated glory.  
This Evidence of Mr Musprats was given by him upon Oath, before the Judge of Assize also, and then I heard his Evidence, and taking it in writing, find it somewhat more full than this which I have thus transcribed from the Justice's Record of it, at least in the first part of it: for upon his Oath than he declared, that being so in Andover, these persons (viz.) Mr Woodward, Dixon, Spradbury, jointly affirmed to him, Franklin to be the Son of God: upon which he distinguished of Sons of God by Adoption and by Nature; and would know of them, in which of these respects they would have that man to be the Son of God: They thus answered to him, that they knew nothing of that distinction; but that Franklin, whom you so call, is the Son of God, and Saviour of the World.  
Thus I have related the Testimonies and Evidences of several of the Witnesses, all which speak very home, to discover the great Blasphemy whereof these persons are guilty. I shall now also set down their own Confessions in their Examinations before Mr Bottesworth and Mr Cobbe, the Justices, wherein you will see what these Witnesses testified to be by themselves asserted, that in a case so clear, as their own Confession makes it, we shall not need further witnesses, now hearing themselves speak.   

The Examination of Edward Spradbury of Andover, Clothworker.  
He affirmed, that the man, whom some men call Franklin, is the Messiah, the Lamb slain from the Foundation; and that he had the key of the bottomless pit, that he shutteth and no man openeth, and openeth and no man shutteth; the Lion of the Tribe of judah. He affirmed that he heard the man, whom some men call Franklin, preach twice at the Star in Andover, and once at Crooxeason at Mr woodward's, at all which several times he took Texts; but many other times he hath heard Instructions from him without taking Texts.   

The Examination of Henry Dixon of Stockbridg.  
He affirmeth, that about a fortnight since, and not at any time before, he came acquainted with one which some men call Franklin, but he affirmeth him to be the Son of God, the Christ crucified for our sins, now come down from Heaven. He affirmeth, that he himself is one of the seven Angels spoken of in the Revelation; and that he is sent to plague the Earth, and that he is sent by God.   

The Examination of Mr Woodward.  
He affirmeth, that Franklin, and the woman called Mary Gadbury, who came with him, did call themselves man and wife, and that they lay together in one bed in his house about a fortnight.   

The Examination of Margaret Woodward, wife to Mr William Woodward.  
She affirmeth, that the man examined before us, whom we called Franklin, is her Lord, and her King, and that she is saved by his Death and Passion. Farther she saith, That the man, her Saviour, was nothing but dry bones; his flesh was clean scraped away, and his skin and bone hanged together: and his skin likewise very suddenly fell off from him, and that he had nothing left but the hair of his head, and of that one hair was not diminished; and afterwards new flesh came again as a young child. She doth farther affirm, that there was a woman with him, which he calleth his Spouse, and others call her the Queen, and that they continued together, and lay together at her House about a fortnight; and that she was one night one hour in strong travel, and brought forth a spiritual birth, which this Examinant received from her. She farther saith, That he did preach in her house two or three times, and that her family did hear him, and divers others; and that he did often deliver much spiritual discourse, when he did not preach.  
But not being satisfied with that Answer, in regard that it was suspected that she was delivered of a child, and had destroyed it, the Justices were very earnest with her to know the truth farther, and told her, they did believe there was substance in that birth, and that it was not altogether spiritual, and did expect that she should satisfy them in it, and tell them the Truth. She answered, that she could best tell, in regard she was present, and received what the Queen was delivered of; and said, it was of that man which she called Franklin, but in a spiritual manner, persuading them that Franklin was transfigured, and had no substance left him; and that she received him as a Saviour (from the woman called the Spouse) in the shape of a man; and moreover told the Justices, that what was in the Scripture, of either Old or New Testament, was but Types and Shadows, which she did not now regard, having the Substance.   
Thus far the Examination and Confession of Mrs Woodward, of whom it is to be noted, that when she was called in by the Justices to be examined by them, Marry Gadbury calling her, said, Come in my Elect Lady: And Goody Waterman, the woman so often before mentioned, said then of herself also, that she was the King's Daughter, all glorious within.  
But let us now come to those who were the Principals in all this business, and consider what was done with them.  
Concerning them therefore it is to be known, that the Justices had much to do with them to get an Answer from them to any the questions they proposed, concerning their Names, Conditions, Callings, Habitations: they would either answer, they had no name, no habitation, according to the flesh, intimating thereby that they were wholly spiritual, the flesh wholly destroyed in them; and thereby all these things of name, relation, habitation, which were fleshly also. But it being intimated to them by one of the Justices, that they must then deal with them as with Rogues, committing them to Bridewell, the house of Correction; for so it seems the Law doth judge those to be Rogues, that being examined, cannot, or will not, declare their names, conditions, calling, or place of their habitations, and accordingly appoints the House of Correction for them. William Franklin therefore being soon sensible of this, and the danger he was in thereby, receded from his before professed Resolution, and now became willing to submit to Examination, and accordingly being examined, made this following Confession.  

The Examination of William Franklin, taken the 28. of January, 1649.  
He saith, his Living is at Stepney, beyond London, and that he is by Trade a Rope-maker; and that he hath now, according to the flesh, a wife and three children living. He saith farther, that about a month since he went to the house of Mr William Woodward, a Minister, at Croexcason, and that he had a woman with him, which he calleth his Spouse, and hath been acquainted with her a long time: And doth affirm, That it was revealed to him in a Vision, that she should be set apart for his use, and that he should separate from his own wife; which she the said Spouse at the first motion, having a great opinion of his integrity, believed, and consented to go with him whither he pleased. And immediately after they had another Vision, whereby they were warned to go into the Hill Country, into the Land of Ham, which they interpreted to be into Hampshire; and so being obedient unto that heavenly Vision, they came both together in Hunt's Wagon to Andover. He farther saith, That he often preached at Mr woodward's house in the presence of Mr Woodward, and his wife, and whole family, and sometimes twenty more, and sometimes more: And saith, That he is the Son of God, and was crucified without the gates at Jerusalem, and that his body hath been wounded, broken, and often offered up for sin, and that it was about three years and an half since that he assumed this fleshly body of his, and that he is not to suffer any more in this mortal body. It being told him That he could not be the Christ, Christ being in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, as the Scripture testifieth, but he being here bodily must be a Deceiver, he answered, Those things of the Scripture were gone, and were nothing to him but types and shadows. And thus you have also the Examination and Confession of W. Franklin.  
But Marry Gadbury, not so sensible of the danger she should expose herself unto, by refusing to be examined, and concealing her name and habitation when required of her, refused still to give any direct Answer to those things: and therefore all that I can understand at this time to be answered by her, was, to that of her name, that she had no name according to the flesh, but a new name; to that concerning her husband, (there being ground enough to judge that she had an husband,) that she had now no husband according to the flesh, but that her maker was her husband, the Lord of Hosts was his name, and he was within her: and being questioned concerning her lying with Franklin every night, though he were a married man, as it had been witnessed their so lying together, which though she could not deny, yet she affirmed, that it was without pollution or defilement, and denied that there had been any carnal copulation between them. Speaking of William Franklin, she affirmed, that he was crucified at Jerusalem; and being demanded whether she had been at Jerusalem, and when, she answered, that she had been there about a week ago; of which her Answer she afterward gave this Reason, saying, that Jerusalem was every where. And this is the whole that I can find to have been then taken of her Examination.  
But that one thing of the woman's impudence is moreover noted, which is, That it being supposed by many who were present at her Examination, that she was painted, her complexion being so very fresh and beautiful: that the truth thereof might be discovered, one of the Justices took a candle, (for this their Examination was at night,) and told her, that she looked so fair, that he did scarce believe it to be natural; whereupon she stepped forth presently, and very boldly put her face very near to the candle, and said, That she was glad the glory of God did shine so beight in her face, that they were forced to admire it.   
The Examination of these several persons being now thus past, the Justices designed and endeavoured, if possible, to obtain from William Franklin, the head of this blasphemous company, some Recantation of these his many Blasphemies, and some acknowledgement of his great evil therein, hoping that such an Acknowledgement and Recantation from him, the Ringleader, might be a means to startle all the rest of the seduced party, that so followed him, and hung upon him; to this purpose they begin to deal with him: They set before him the danger he had now brought himself into by these his wicked practices, and endeavour to make him sensible, that there is no way for him to obtain favour, to save himself from the great danger he was in, and to recover liberty, unless he be sensible, and make acknowledgement of his wickedness, in these abominable practices, to the undeceiving of others; and put him also in hope, that by this means some favour might be obtained by him. And indeed William Franklin, now at length becoming sensible of his condition, and the trouble and danger which he and plunged himself into, apprehends it his best way to hearken to the advice of the Justices, as the only means left him to save himself, and to obtain favour: And therefore doth he, in answer to that advice of theirs, pretend himself to be sensible of the evil of the way he had thus walked in, and professeth himself (at least outwardly and seemingly) willing to make such an Acknowledgement and Recantation as they proposed to him, hoping and expecting thereby (as it appears) to find favour from them. This therefore of his profession being accepted of, a form of a Recantation is presently by Justice Bettesworth drawn up, offered to him, and is, in the very words of it, subscribed unto by him.  

The Recantation of William Franklin.  
He now confesseth, that he is sorry that he hath affirmed himself to be Christ, and that he was crucified for the sins of all men, and that there was no salvation but by faith in him, and doth hearty repent, and doth himself hope to be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ crucified, as in the Gospel is set forth unto us, and that he will openly recant from his former blasphemous Opinions; and cause all that have been misled by him, to the uttermost of his power, to forsake the false Opinions and Delusions which he hath brought them into.  
To this he subscribed his name, William Franklin; adding also thereunto these, or words to the like purpose, That what he professed now in this his Recantation, he intended by the Grace of God to stand unto.   
By this Recantation presently a great distraction arose amongst the whole party; nor can it be imagined, but that they should be much confounded hereat, not knowing themselves what to do, ashamed so suddenly to renounce what but even now with so much con●●dence they asserted, and yet how to stick to it they knew not, he that was the head of their party having so soon and solemnly (as it appeared) disclaimed what either he of himself, or they concerning him had thus asserted, reckoning them to be but blasphemous Opinions; no wonder therefore that they are so confounded, and know not what to do. Marry Gadbury, when this was first shown to her by the Justices, at the very time of it, looking upon Franklin with a very angry countenance, demanded, Hast thou done this? is this thy hand? At which he remaining some time silent, at last answered, You see what the times are; Or, you see what condition we are fallen into. She also afterward often times professed, That she should never have believed this, though ten thousand had told her so, had she not herself seen it; That she should have laid down her life for the truth of what she had declared concerning him, who did now see herself to be abused by him; she kept not company with him as Franklin, but was persuaded by him, that that name and nature was gone, that he would not be called by that name, and now to see him subscribe the name of William Franklin, and that also to such a Recantation, made her see, that she had been deceived by him. Edward Spradbury, when he came to the sight of it, looking as angrily upon Franklin, yea holding up his hand at him, as if he would have stricken him, said, Thou Villain, how hast thou deceived us by thy lies? And thus he that even now was their Lord and Christ, their Saviour, that died for their sins, is presently, even in the same instant of time and place, reckoned a Villain, that by lies deceived them: So uncertain, so changeable, are these giddy people, and upon such ●andy foundations is their whole salvation laid by them. And Mr Woodward, who before pretended that he saw his uncreated glory, and rejoiced at it, could now presently upon this say, That he thought there was Witchcraft in it, and supposed they were Witches▪ Such a sudden change, such a great confusion is thus on a sudden wrought among them.  
After these things of the Examinations of these Persons and Witnesses was thus over, the Justices proceeded to dispose of the persons themselves, and it was thus: That Mr Woodward, Edward Spradbury, Henry Dixon, were bound over to the Assize, then to appear, and before the Judge to answer these and such like things they should be charged withal: but William Franklin and Mary Gadbury were both of them committed to prison, upon suspicion of having the one two wives, the other two husbands; which suspicion and commitment of theirs thereupon was upon very good grounds, and very just; for Franklin acknowledged in his Confession his having a wife and three children, and there was sufficient information of the woman, that she had an husband also; and yet for these thus to accompany together, to call one another husband and wife, and as husband and wife ordinarily to lie together, could not but be just ground for such a suspicion and commitment upon it: William Franklin therefore, having his Mittimus made, is presently sent to the Common-Goal, where he is received, and as a Felon, (being thus committed upon just suspicion of Felony,) hath irons upon his legs, and in this condition continues so fettered in prison till the time of the Assize: but Marry Gadbury having so accompanied with another woman's husband, and besides the Charge of that suspected Felony and Adultery, refusing to declare her name or condition, is as a lewd woman, & rogue in law, committed first to Bridewell, the house of Correction, where she lay a week, and in that space several times received the Correction of the house, according to the custom of it: The Monday after, February 4. she is sent for thence by the Justices, and brought before them: And having now suffered a little hardship, and tasted some what of the smart of the whip, the height of her spirit gins to be somewhat abated; now she with abundance of tears laments her condition wherein she is, and desires all favour that may be from the Justices; she doth now readily answer to all their Interrogatories concerning her name, her calling, her husband and children, her acquaintance with this man, and the occasion of their coming into this Country; all which was such as I have before related concerning her, that therefore it may be somewhat tedious here again to relate and insert it: And besides what she spoke to the Justices in answer to these and the like questions, as that which might serve them in their proceed in Law with her: She was very forward of her own accord to declare such things which they (because they concerned not them in their proceed) listened not much after: but therein discoursing so at large, as she did of her Visions, Revelations, Voices; I, who was there by, had the patience to hear her at least two hours discoursing and relating of such things, and what she spoke, I writ from her own mouth, being willing thereby to learn somewhat of the wiles of Satan, whereby she and others by her had been deceived: and thus I received from herself at this time that large Confession so often before mentioned, whence I have presented so many things already to the Reader.  
After all this of her Confession, is she dealt withal as Franklin had been, to procure some acknowledgement and Recantation from her; and besides the Arguments wherewith he had been persuaded, now used towards her also, it is farther pressed by the example of what Franklin had done; and she pretending to be willing thereunto, a form of a Recantation was presently drawn up, presented or read to her, acknowledged and subscribed by her: And it was thus:  

The Recantation of Mary Gadbury.  
I Mary Gadbury do hereby acknowledge, that I have been deceived by the temptations of the evil one, the Devil, in a sinful way accompanying with one William Franklin, a married man, and ascribing to him what is proper to CHRIST; And do declare myself hearty sorry, that I ever spoke of him under the names of my Lord, and my Christ, which I have sinfully given unto him: And renouncing these and all such deceits, I profess myself to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Saviour of his people, who is now in Heaven at the right Hand of the Father, by whose Righteousness alone I hope and expect to obtain Life, and everlasting Salvation.  
To this her Recantation she subscribed by making her mark, she having not skill to write her name.   
And now upon this, is this woman removed from Bridewell to the Common-Gaol, whither Franklin had been before committed, upon suspicion of Felony, as hath been before related; and so these two companions in wickedness, after the several places they had been in, though a week separated, are now met together in the Gaol, where they lie expecting the Assize, then to be either released, or otherwise according to Law dealt withal.  
While these persons thus lay in prison together, between the time of their Commitment and the Assize, about the space of five weeks, they were by great multitudes of persons from divers places, resorted unto and visited, but for several ends; Some to satisfy themselves in the sight of those who had so filled the Country with the rumour and report of the strangeness of their Actions and Opinions: Others, that were godly, and settled in Religion, to confer with them, to inquire into the Principles whereby they were acted, to find out the wiles of Satan, whereby they and others by them had been deceived; and if possible to convince them the more of the greatness of that evil whereof they were thus guilty. Some again, out of respect to them, did often visit them; for they wanted not those (no not in this City) who (as foul as their Crimes were) would speak and plead for them; did look upon them as persons wronged and persecuted: and by these was provision sent in daily unto them, whereby they were (the woman at least) as well supplied with necessaries, as if at liberty. Notwithstanding these sufferings, which these persons had thus fallen into, and discovery made thereby of their so sinful and abominable practices and blasphemies, yet was all the endeavour that might be used to keep up the hearts of their parties abroad: For the more credit of which I shall here insert a Passage of a Letter, written by one, sometime a Cavalier in Arms in Wallingford Garrison against the Parliament; but since his discharge of that service married a wife, pretended somewhat to Religion, in a short time run through divers Sects and Opinions, forsook his wife, betook himself to another woman, at least to too much familiarity with her, and is now a Soldier in one of the Garrisons of this County, from whence he wrote the Letter I mention to the woman, whom, forsaking his wife, he had so much followed. This Letter by some means intercepted, from the Original of it, by a special friend imparted to me, I transcribed the whole of it: the name of this person, and place where he is, I shall forbear, for some Reasons, to mention; but the truth of what I here insert, is too notoriously known by divers in these parts, to whom this Relation will come; nor shall I set down the whole of the Letter, but only that part of it, which relates to the business I am upon: And it is thus:  
Well, I am filled with the quickening Spirit, and with the Holy Ghost; and I hope ere long to enjoy that Light I told you of: For here is Elias flying in his fiery Chariot. Already strange things are done about Andover and Winchester: many men's hearts fail them for fear; for there is one who saith, he is Christ, and with Him the Lady Mary, who declares strange things: They never miss to make trumpets sound in the very bellies of their Converts, and great ships appear to the view of all people near them. If they desire to speak with an one whom they never before saw, if they speak to any to go for them, they must, and cannot refrain, when that they send for them; and messenger and all come, though they go five or six miles, they come again in half an hour. Lights appear upon the breasts of many: let them discourse with whom they will, Priests or else, they all are converted, leave all, and follow them: For the most part it is thought they have converted to them five or six hundred; and now they are in Winchester Prison: and since that, He hath been seen amongst his members, many of them; I say, 
Lies & all.  He hath been seen amongst them in appearance, and yet His Body all the while in the Prison, with a hundred more of the like nature, which here I cannot declare. Thus far the Letter, the Conclusion whereof was with this subscription:  
From and to all Eternity, Thine own self, MALLANCHOLICUS.  
With this Verse also at the foot of the Letter.  
'Cause God in Ginger I do use to own,  
The Holy Crew great love to me have shown.  
By this passage of the Letter, notwithstanding that most of the Particulars are notorious lies and falsehoods; and if they were truths, I mean, that such things had been seen and done, yet could prove nothing, unless that this deceivers coming was such as our Saviour hath foretell should be the coming of the false Christ's in the latter times of the world, with signs and lying wonders, whereby if possible to deceive the very Elect: yet it hereby appears with what false reports the hearts of this wicked party abroad were yet supported.  
Among the many that visited these persons in this the time of their imprisoment, I acknowledge myself to be one, who (still with some othess with me) went several times to them, and had as often conference with them: I have reserved by me in writing the substance of what in discourse passed between us, which I shall not now relate, only something in general concerning either of them.  
As for the man William Franklin, I found it very hard at all to deal with him; for he carried himself very warily, jealous of me (or any, unless well known to him) especially if there were any else in company; as if there coming were to entrap him, and learn somewhat against him: He is naturally very slow of speech, but now he was very shy of delivering himself at all; but in that discourse I could obtain with him, I heard some complaints fall from him of the trouble he was now in, but very little that might discover any true sense of the great evil he had committed, of which I laboured chief to make him sensible: yea, so far, for aught I could ever perceive, of being sensible thereof, that he rather laboured to put it off, to deny it, to make it to be but the mistakes of others, that he should say he was indeed a Son of God, but never to have affirmed himself to be the Son of God. No particular acknowledgement of any thing could be got from him, only he would in general say, If I have done any man wrong, if I have deceived any one, I shall be sorry for it: and so sheltered himself under such generals as these, without any particular acknowledgement at all, notwithstanding he had in his Recantation under his own hand confessed the substance of what he was by any charged. In what related to Religion he appeared very ignorant, even in the Principles of it, but very plausible in his speech, that might easily insinuate itself into the minds of the simple; his speech and language was wholly according to the Familists Dialect, from whom I suppose he had sucked in all these wicked Principles, upon which he was acted: He would oftentimes allege Scripture in his discourse, and speak much in the language of it, but very strangely abusing, perverting, wresting it from the true sense thereof by his Allegorical fancies.  
But as for the woman M: Gadbury, she was more free, but very uncertain in her discourse; sometimes she would seem to plead somewhat for the things wherewith she was charged: for her accompanying with Franklin, lying with him, and the appearance of Adultery and uncleanness that was in it, I heard her allege that of the Apostle, Have I not power to lead about a sister, a wife, etc. And it is remarkable what was told me by a godly Minister, to be spoken by her unto him, when he asked whether she were not ashamed of it, viz. That Adam and Eve in innocency were naked, and were not ashamed; but sin brought shame into the world: but when they come to be in Christ, it is again taken away. For William Franklins' being Christ, she would plead the union of the Saints and Christ together: But at other times, especially after she had been a little time in Bridewell, and was thence removed to the Gaol, she would seem with tears to lament her condition, and the trouble she was in; and would seem hearty to acknowledge how much she had been deceived, and had given the glory of God and Christ to another; That it was well with her till she looked down upon the creature, and had respect to Franklin, by whom she would say, she was deceived, even undone by him, and lay all the blame upon him; and that she should not endure to look upon him any more: But after a little time of her being in Prison with him, she began again to look upon him, and be too familiar with him: But even then, when she seemed most to acknowledge her evils, and how much she had been deceived, yet she would still stick to those Visions and Revelations she had related, that they were not of Satan, not delusions, but of God; it was the Voice of Jehovah spoke so to her: all the world should not take her off from it. And though both I and others in this laboured much with her, to make her sensible that these were deceits, and rehearsed many of them, and declared how contrary for matter and end, and unlike in manner, to Gods revealing himself to his people they were, that if she acknowledged (as she did) Franklin to be a deceiver, herself to be deluded by him, she might well see these to be deceits and to be of the Devil, which had so been the means to draw her from Christ to give herself to another: That this was her first error and inlet to all the rest, her slighting Scripture to hearken to these deceits; and though she did recover from this, she might be as apt to fall into the like evil again, so long as such ways of Revelation, besides and contrary to the Scripture, were respected by her; and with these and such like Arguments was she often persuaded, but nothing would in this prevail, but she would stand it out even to the death those Visions to be of God; by all which may be easily discerned what little opinion is to be had of her feigned Recantation, and how soon she may be expected to fall again into the like or greater evils, when that corrupt principle of giving heed to such wicked Visions and Revelations shall be so tenaciously held and asserted by her.  
Thus these persons abiding in prison, at length the Assize comes, which began here on Thursday, March 7. and upon Friday, March 8. in the morning, were both these persons presented at the Bar, before the Lord Chief Justice Rolls, than one of the Judges for this Western Circuit, and who here sat upon those businesses which relate to life and death. William Franklin was first proceeded withal; but the business with him held not much debate, he renounced what he was charged withal, denied himself now to be the Christ, declared that he desired to be a Member of that Body whereof Christ is the Head, and hoped to be saved by him; he moreover declared himself (yet but in general according to his manner) to be sorry for his Errors, and what he had done amiss; his Recantation, before mentioned, was then again presented to him, and owned by him, and in the face of the whole Court he subscribed thereunto. And this was all that I could learn by way of Examination, or Trial, to be done with him, for I was not present at it; but I came time enough to see and hear the proceed which followed with Mary Gadbury, and the other persons, Mr Woodward, Spradbury, Dixon, who, as hath been before related, were bound over to the Assize. Marry Gadbury being presented at the Bar, and now both Franklin and she standing there together, the Informations were read, which were given into the justices, and which I have before set down; divers Witnesses of credit did there also Viva voce deliver to the judge what they knew in the business, and some confirmed upon Oath what was before testified by them to the justices, and some spoke more fully to what these persons were charged withal: especially the Constable, who served the Warrant upon them, whereby they were apprehended, he testified, that Franklin told him concerning himself, that he was Christ, the Saviour of the world, who died on the Cross for the sins of the people, that he was Alpha and Omega, and that he who believed in him should be saved: And that when he came to serve his Warrant upon them, they asked him, how he durst be so bold as to come in the presence of the Lord, and bid him put his shoes from off his feet, for the place whereon he stood was holy ground. And that at that time, looking in upon them, and seeing them in bed between the sheets together, they checked him for being so bold as to see them there: He also witnessed concerning the woman, that she said of herself, that she was Mary the mother of Christ, who bore this Christ; and that she was the woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet: He also witnessed, That Mr Woodward laid open to him the Image of Daniel, to persuade him (had he not had more grace then to believe it) to be of their opinion: Divers other things were also witnessed concerning Mary Gadbury, as that she should say of Franklin, That she had no other husband after the flesh but him, nor he any other wife but herself; she denied not but another woman might lay claim to him, but no one could say he was her husband, but herself: Other Testimonies being the same with what hath been before related, I forbear to proceed in farther Relation of them.  
Marry Gadbury having now obtained liberty to speak for herself, answered, That she had indeed believed otherwise concerning Franklin then now she did, for she followed him not as Franklin, as now she perceives him to be: But as concerning her lying with him, concerning which many questions were asked her of the reason of it, & she rebuked as guilty of adultery in it; she answered, to free herself from being accounted a harlot, That Franklin had denied to her that he had any wife and children, and that he knew not such fleshly relation, that she companied not with him as a carnal, but as a spiritual man, and she denied any whoredom whatsoever, forshe companied not with him for camal copulation, nor was there any such between them; she companied not with him in an upcivil way, but as a fellow-feeler of her misery; at which last word the whole Court laughed exceedingly, some saying, Yea, we think you companied with him as a fellow-feeler indeed▪ She having thus spoken, the Judge declared, with much detestation, the evil of these opinions and practices, That the opinions were so gross, that it could not be believed any one in his wits could follow them, but especially wondering at this of a Ministers being seduced by them: And for what she alleged of her not lying with him as a carnal, but as a spiritual man, he said, That so might any whore say the like, and might this be allowed her, pretend the like conceit to colour any adultery and whoredom whatsoever; that in all this she shown herself to be a lewd woman, and that Bridewell was too good for her: In fine, this at length was the sentence of the judge concerning either of these, That Franklin should lie in Gaol till he give good security for his good behaviour; and that the women be committed to Bridewell, and there lie till the next Quarter Sessions: And though the woman pleaded that she might not be punished twice for the same offence, having been before in Bridewell; yet could she not get it remitted, but was rather told, That the punishment was too light for such a lewd woman; and her offence was the greater▪ because she so committed it under the cloak of Religion. She also presented a Petition to the judge, which though her release could not be obtained by it as she desired, yet because it is an Acknowledgement of the substance of what hath been before related concerning her, I shall here insert it.  

To the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice Rolls, and Justice nichols.  
The humble Petition of Mary Gadbury, lately living in Watling-street.  
THat your Petitioner, who hath ever lived in honest conversation, and in good repute amongst her neighbours, and all that ever knew her, living religiously amongst them, as they do hereby testify for her the same by their hands hereunder written, until by the means of a woman who lodged in your Petitioners house, who brought one Franklin unto her, who most falsely feigned himself to be Christ, by whose vehement persuasions (he showing her Scripture for his false pretences) your Petitioner was seduced (he forcibly persuading her) to believe in him, and to sell all that she had, and follow him, as her Christ and Saviour, which your Petitioner did, and now she is by his means utterly undone, and cast into Bridewell, a prisoner there at Winchester.  
In compassion of the premises, and your Petitioners contrition, and great sorrow of heart for her said offence, she in all humility humbly beseecheth, that your Lordships will be pleased that she may be relieved in the same, and that your Petitioner may by your charitable goodness be released out of the said prison.   
But not able to obtain her desired liberty by this her Petition, let us leave her to her sentence for Bridewell, and Franklin for the Gaol, and consider what was likewise done with the other parties.  
After this proceeding with these persons, Mr Woodward was called, who at first denied his owning of Franklin to be Christ; but divers things were testified against him concerning it: in particular Mr Musprat did there again deliver upon oath before the Judge, what he had formerly testified concerning him and others of them to the Justices; and he himself, after many questions that passed forcing him thereto, at length largely confessed what of Visions and Voices he had seen and heard, and how he had been seduced by them; adding withal, in answer to a question by the judge proposed to him, That he thought there was juggling in the business: The sentence at length pronounced against him was the same with Franklins, That he be committed to the Gaol, there to lie till he bring in good security for his good behaviour: And because it was proved, that it was known to him and his wife, that Franklin was a married man, and yet he entertained these persons in an adulterous way, lying together in his house, it was ordered by the judge, That Mrs Woodward, his wife, be indicted for a Bawd, the Indictment delivered to the Grand jury was found by them, and she not being then present to answer it, he was bound to bring her in to answer it at the next Assize: and as I have been well informed, his living or Parsonage was by Order of the Committee afterward, and that very justly, sequestered from him, to be given to another.  
After Mr Woodward, were Edward Spradbury and Henry Dixon called, and both also appeared: dixon's Examination before the justices, wherein he had affirmed Franklin to be the Son of God, was read; he acknowledged he had said so, but that he did find it otherwise now: being asked whether he were one of the destroying Angels, as he had before affirmed himself to be, he answered, that he was not, and now acknowledged that he was Harry Dixon of Stockbridg, and not such a person. Spradbury also being asked whether Franklin were the Messiah, acknowledged that he did sometimes say so, but would not now affirm him to be so: At length both of these received the same sentence that Will: Franklin and Mr Woodward before them had, (viz.) To be committed to Gaol, and there to lie, till they put in good security for their good behaviour; and accordingly Mr Woodward, Spradbury, Dixon, are presently seized on by the Gaoler, and taken by him into his custody. And thus you have the Trials and Censures of these several persons: These three last, Mr Woodward, Spradbury and Dixon, being acquainted in the Country, lay not long in prison, but the same day wherein they were committed, offered such security which would be bound for them, and which was accepted, and were accordingly the same day released. Marry Gadbury was according to order taken to Bridewell, and received correction there again, according to the order of the house, where also she continued till the Quarter Sessions holden here the week after Easter, at which time petitioning with tears to the justices for her liberty, acknowledging also publicly her errors and wickedness, she was discharged by them; and the week after (the last week, on Monday, April 22. 1650.) she went from this City of Winchester towards London, in the Wagon which weekly traveleth between these places: But William Franklin not so acquainted in the Country, and his crime so great, that there is none but would be ashamed to be bound for him, lies in prison yet, is there at this present, not being yet able to find such sufficient security that may be accepted; and how much longer he may continue there, is to me altogether unknown.  
Thus have I now presented my Reader with a true, faithful, impartial Relation of the do and sufferings of these Blasphemers; in respect of the things done, rather than of what they suffered indeed, a tragical story. I shall now conclude the Relation itself with presenting to my Reader a brief Synopsis of it, in the names of the Actors in it, with the parts acted by them therein; which were,  
William Franklin, Blasphemously making himself to be The Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, crucified for the sins of the people.  
Marry Gadbury, as blasphemously called, and calling herself, The Spouse of Christ, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, the Lady, the Queen, the Mother of Christ that bears him, the woman clothed with the Sun, who travels in birth for the bringing forth of those spiritually that were seduced by them.  
Goody Waterman, The King's daughter all glorious within.  
Mr William Woodward, a Minister, their Proselyte, who professed he saw his glory, and rejoiced to see it.  
Mrs Woodward, his wife, The Elect Lady.  
John Noyce, John the Baptist, whose office was to declare the coming of this counterfeit Christ into the world.  
Edward Spradbury, One of the two Witnesses, and an healing Angel.  
Henry Dixon, One of the destroying Angels, whose office it was to be sent forth to curse and destroy the Earth.  
William Holmes, junior, Another destroying Angel, sent forth also to curse and destroy the Earth. Divers other persons also there were engaged in this wicked business, of whom not having such clear and particular Information, I have not inserted their names in this Relation.  
And having thus concluded the Relation itself, let me desire of every one to whom it shall come, and who shall be the Reader of it, to consider seriously with himself, whether he hath ever known, read or heard of the like abominations to be acted in the World. How great must this wickedness needs be, for men professing the Name and Gospel of Christ, and so eminent in the profession of it as some of these sometimes were, not only to departed from Christ and renounce him, (for how could these things have been acted by these persons without a manifest denying of Christ, renouncing the Faith, and reckoning to be even a fable whatsoever the Scripture hath recorded concerning him?) but also to proclaim, and set up another in his stead, to be the Christ; and to ascribe to such a person whatsoever is due and proper to Christ; and for such an one to assert himself to be the Christ, and all of them to assume so wickedly such Titles and Offices to themselves in the service of him. Surely what Sleidan hath reported in the tenth Book of his Commentaries, concerning the blasphemous Opinions, speeches, and practices of John of Leiden, and the Munsterian Anabaptists, is nothing in comparison of the things I have here related concerning these persons. David George, Tho: Muncer, William Hacket, came very short in their Blasphemies and Wickednesses, to what hath thus been by these acted. And had they not, together with their blasphemous Opinions, fallen into such wicked practices, as might deservedly bring them under the censure of the Magistrate, and were so timous●y taken notice of, and a stop put to their wickedness by them, what the sad effects of these their ways might have been, is easy to be imagined. We have heard of many strange and blasphemous Opinions vented abroad in these times of ours, but surely never any came to such an high degree of blasphemy (that ever I could hear of) as these persons have done. In all which there is surely much to be learned by us; great use may be made of this Relation for our Instructions: and such remarkable passages, as are here represented, ought not to pass us without some serious consideration of them, and of the use and benefit we are to receive from them.  
First, Here may we learn by experience the Truth of Christ, and of his Word, the Scriptures; for how are we forewarned by them, (O that we might all be thereby also fore-armed,) that there shall come false Christ's, and that they shall come with signs and lying wonders; that many shall be deceived by them: That men shall creep in cunningly, who shall privily bring in damnable Heresies, denying the Lord that bought them: All which we may see, even to the letter, verifled in this Relation: So that these persons, thus eminently fulfilling the Scripture, notwithstanding their impugning of it, give us ground thereby to be settled in our faith concerning the divine Authority of it.  
Here is the patience and long-suffering of God to be admired! who, notwithstanding he be so jealous of his glory, that he will not give it to another, nor communicate to any other besides that Authority which he hath given to the Son, whom he hath exalted and anointed to be both Lord and Christ, should yet exercise such forbearance towards persons so extremely guilty in ●●●se their actions of such high affront, yea, Treason against his Divine Majesty; not only denying to his Son the glory to which he is exalted, which every knee is by his Command to bow unto; but also invading it, assuming it to themselves, setting up another in his stead, ascribing to him what is due and proper to Christ. O that this patience, forbearance, and long-suffering of God might lead those to whom it hath thus been shown, to true Repentance of those great Treasons, which, against the Majesty of himself, and Son, they have thus committed.  
Tremble we at the Example of Divine Justice we here find discovered: Wherein is the Justice of God more seen, then in his spiritual Judgements, of all Judgements the greatest? By God were the Gentiles given up to the lusts of their hearts, to all uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies, to a reprobate mind, to do things not convenient, etc. whereby they became so guilty of all these evils recorded concerning them, Rom. 1.24, 28, 29. And all this, because knowing God in his Works, they yet glorified him not as God, nor gave thanks to him, Verse. 21. By God were the Apostatising Christians under the Papacy given up unto strong delusions, to believe all the lies of the man of sin; and this in Judgement also, for their retaining the Truth in unrighteousness, not believing the Truth, but taking pleasure in unrighteousness, 2 Thess. 2.11, 12. So how could it be, that any persons should be so grossly deceived, for any one so to renounce Christ, as to set up himself in his stead? or for any others to hearken to such manifest deceits, and to give up themselves, and their faith, to such a deceiver, were there not the just Judgement of God giving them up in Judgement thereunto, and some great, though possibly secret evil, the cause of it. By all which we may see, that if God in Judgement leave persons to themselves, there is no evil so great, which they would not suddenly, by the power of inward corruption, and of Satan's temptation, fall into, so as to be led about by Satan at his will, and become his Instrument, even in the greatest wickednesses.  
In this Relation there hath been much discovered from the Confessions of the persons themselves of Visions, Revelations, Voices, which they pretend unto, to have been seen and heard by them; but whether any such things have been so seen and heard by them, as by them is reported, hath been by some questioned; apprehending all these their Relations of them to have been only by themselves devised, to deceive the better by them. I deny not but such things may have been seen and heard by them which they have related; which some, who have endeavoured to take as near a consideration of them as may be, have imput●● to witchcraft, and a secret compact with the Devil therein: But this I dare confidently assert concerning them, That being for the matter and manner of them so unlike to any the deal of God with his servants, yea, even then, when by Visions and such like ways he made himself and his Will known to them; (and therefore I desire the Reader to consider either, and compare them together;) and the end of them being so manifestly wicked, as to cause men to slight the Word, and have it in contempt, passing that by, to hearken to these things; tending also to draw men from Christ, and to set up a Deceiver in his stead, to destroy, and not to confirm the faith of any; and this to have been in some the effect of them, that therefore surely they were not of God, but of the Devil, the father of lies, who hath thus deceived by them: And for the Devil to be able to effect and represent such things to the fancy and senses of men, and to have done thus with others, and by such means deceived men, is I suppose, even to all unquestionable, that I need not go about the proof of it. Discern we then here somewhat of the wiles of this our spiritual Enemy: The persons he chooseth thus to deal withal were such as slighted the Scriptures, and inclined to such things as these; easy therefore to be deceived by them: and such are the persons the Devil doth usually make choice of to deal in such a way withal; and in all these Revelations is the Scripture yet made use of, though in the whole of it misapplied: Almost all is delivered in Scripture-phrase, language, and expression. The Devil thus transforming himself into an Angel of light, thereby the better to deceive them, and others by them. What a warning may this be to many in these times, with whom the Scripture; are so much in contempt, that they look on them as low things, themselves above them; and set up a teaching of the Spirit within themselves, without besides, against, and contrary to them: and are ready to entertain, what, under the notion of Enthusiasms and Revelations, shall be brought to them. When once persons are come to such a slighting of the Scripture, then are they, if not past hope of recovery, yet certainly in the snare of the Devil, too fast entangled by him, and in the road way of Error: nor can they have in themselves any security at all from being carried away with the strongest deceits and delusions. Consider the Jews and Papists, setting up Dagon and the Ark, their Talmud and unwritten Traditions, with the holy Scripture: and while they accuse the Scripture of imperfection, obscurity, etc. make it by these to be supplied, by these to be explained; how hath God visited these? giving up the one to a spirit of slumber, to have eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day: not more Vagabonds through the Earth in their Conversation, then in their Opinions, in respect of the vanity and uncertainty of them; and even when Meses is read a vail is upon their Understandings: and giving up the other also to strong delusions, to believe lies, to give heed to lying spirits, and doctrines of Devils. Consider the German Munsterian Anabaptists in their time, as much neglecting Scripture, and setting up Revelations, which they much pretended unto, given up by God to act such abominations, which have made the remembrance of them odious to all posterity that hath heard of them. The great sin of slighting, contemning the Scripture, the Word of God, is never left unvisited, unpunished by God; Visited it is, not only with an uncertainty in matters of Religion, that having left this pillar and Cloud of fire which should guide them through the Desert of this world, they are as men wandering in a Wilderness, where no way is; like Cain, in respect of Religion Vagabonds, settled in nothing, carried up and down with every wind of Doctrine, constant and certain in nothing but inconstancy and uncertainty; and also at length given up to the grossest deceits and delusions which the Examples of many in these times, as well as of the persons I have here had to do withal, may evidence to us: For having left this certain light of the Sun of the Word, the Ignes Fatui, which they follow, never leave them till they have plunged them into some pit or other. Greater measure of light and spiritual enjoyment these men usually pretend for this; but, as the Apostle saith of the Gentiles, Rom. 1. Pretending to be wise, they became foolish: so are these very carnal, wherein they pretend to be spiritual, and are so discovered to be by the light of the Word in their most spiritual notions, by every spiritual Christian, that so it may be truly said unto them, and of them, They have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what Wisdom is in them?  
If the consideration of these many sad Examples of Divine Justice, upon the Contemners of the Word, may not suffice to reclaim those that are already plunged in the guilt of this evil, yet I hope they may serve to warn those who are yet free from this contagion, especially all the people of God, that they take heed how they fall into it, and thereby into temptation, and the snare of the Devil; but rather let this of the Divine Authority, Perfection, Sufficiency of the Scriptures be, as well as the first Principle, for the Foundation of our Faith, that is learned and received by us, which the Apostle Peter directs us to, 2 Pet. 1.20. Knowing this first of all: That holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost: and therefore what they spoke, and is from them recorded in the Scriptures to be of Divine Authority, I would put the Emphasis on, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Knowing it first of all; as if it were that Principle which is first to be received by us: So let this Principle be constantly cleaved to, that we receive nothing in matters of Faith and Religion, but what we have from it; For if once we fall from this, we fall from all. Look not then after new Revelations, but hear what the Spirit speaks in the Scripture to the Churches. And by this Word of Truth try all things; Try the spirits, whether they are of God; for now are there many false spirits gone abroad into the world. Surely they are but deceitful Merchants, and such is the ware they bring unto us, which they will not endure to be brought to this light to be tried. 'Cause we have to be very jealous, That that silver is reprobate, counterfeit, drossy, which they would obtrude upon us, not suffering it to be tried by this Touchstone: To the Law, and to the Testimony; they who speak not according to this, it is because there is no light in them. And be as diligent to inquire after the sense, as well as words of Scripture, lest by the words, contrary to the true sense, we be deceived.  
From what hath been held out in this Relation, may diverse receive some warning to themselves in other things, besides what are now mentioned.  
First, To the persons themselves, the Agents and Instruments in this great evil, let them consider whence they have fallen, and repent: Consider the greatness of their sin by the fearful aggravations which it will admit; For one to assert himself to be the Christ, and others to declare him so to be, are they not both guilty of the highest Treason that can be imaginable against the King of Heaven? and while they endeavour to persuade others to join with them in these their evil ways, is it not to draw subjects from their allegiance, to destroy their Faith, and murder their Souls thereby.  
Surely they have preached another Jesus, another Gospel, than what Paul preached; let them therefore consider whether they come not under that Curse which is by him against such denounced, Gal. 1.8, 9 'Cause they have enough with Peter to weep bitterly for this so great an evil; and to look up to that Jesus whom they have pierced, by whom alone they must be saved from the guilt of that Treason which against him they have committed: Let them also take heed they return no more to this or the like folly, lest their latter end be worse than their beginning. And though I may be likely to incur some displeasure from them, for thus publishing their names and actions, yet, if there be in them any true sight, and detestation of these wickednesses wrought in their hearts, they will not be much displeased at the publishing of it, for the warning of others by their example, but be also provoked hereby to make as public Declaration of their Repentance, as public notice hath been taken of the sin committed by them.  
Many such there are who walk in that way of profession, which amongst us bears the name of Anabaptism, to whom also something might here be delivered by way of warning: Of all the several ways and sects in the profession of Religion, which men, separating from the Reformed Churches, have fallen into since the time the Reformation began: I know none so eminently blasted of God, that either for the Congregations of them, or particular persons, have been given up unto, and been guilty of such Errors and sinful Practices as those I now speak of, not to instance in times past, and the practices of those of this profession in Germany, left on record by the testimony of those who deserve sufficient credit with us, but only to have respect to our own times; See we not their Congregations, even in all places, shattered and broken to pieces, and that not by the hand of man, by the persecution of any Enemies, but by the immediate hand of God, and by the divisions which have risen up amongst and within themselves: that it is now a rare thing to find a Congregation of that profession: some of them there may be yet holding together in London, but in all the Countries hereabouts, where Churches of them have been in several places erected, and where but few years since there hath been much and zealous disputing for that way, there is not now, that I know of, a Church of them to be seen, but the members of them living in as scattered a divided way one from another, as may be: yea, refusing to own that very way, for which they before so zealously contested, as the only way of God; even ashamed of it, as if but a carnal Administration: Have not their Churches been the Nurseries and Seminaries of all these many Errors which have overspread the face of our Nation? that from them have mostly proceeded, and been sent forth, all these false teachers, the Instruments of divulging of them: Antitrinitarianism, Arminianism, Socinianism, etc. with many other gross Heresies, how have they been professed in them? where have the Scriptures been so much slighted, and Revelations cried up, as among them? and for Revelations how much have they pretended to them? especially when their deceitful pretence of shaking fits was so much in fashion of late amongst them? And so from this slighting the Word of God have fallen into all manner of Errors whatsoever.  
From them also have proceeded those very Deceivers, whose deceits and wickednesses I have here related. William Franklin was sometime a zealous Professor of that way; so was Edward Spradbury, Mrs Woodward, and many others of them: yea, it hath been observed amongst us, that scarce any appeared to hearken to these Deceivers, to countenance them, and incline to their deceits, but such who had been this way engaged. In a public Dispute, publicly managed in the Church at Bazingstoke in this County, in the beginning of November last, by some godly Ministers of this County (with whom I was then somewhat engaged in the same cause with them) in behalf of Infant-Baptism, I saw Edward Spradbury there appear, and heard him speak in opposition to us; Mrs Woodward also (as I have been informed) was there, and privately spoke, to the encouraging of the parties who opposed us; and yet both of them, in very few weeks after, were entangled in these deceits, and hearkened unto this Deceiver, to the even denying and renouncing of Christ, as hath been before related of them; and became as zealous for a time against those who opposed this their counterfeit Christ, as they had so lately been against Infant-Baptism. I deny not, but some there are of this way of Anabaptism whereof I speak, that I look upon as godly persons, who hold fast to the Scriptures, and to many fundamental doctrinal Truths delivered in them: but have they not cause in all these things to take notice of the hand of God's Justice, so prosecuting that way of theirs; and to be very jealous, whether that way be of God, which hath been thus eminently in all times, all along, so blasted by God? Yea, and farther to consider, whether there be not just ground to judge, that their separating from all the Churches of Christ, which are not of their opinion, and disclaiming all fellowship with them as Antichristian, which hath generally been the practice of those of their way, their casting also of children out of their Churches, by denying Baptism to them, leaving all the generation of mankind in infancy in the world, the Kingdom of the Devil, not owning them to belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Church, but denying any thing of the free grace of God in Gospel-Ordinances to be held out unto them, to the great undervaluing and eclipsing of that abundance of the grace of God now in the Gospel held out unto us: Whether, I say, these be not the sins which God hath thus visited upon them, in his thus blasting their way, and giving up the most eminent Professors of it to these ways of delusion? For surely God is jealous of the glory of his Grace, and will not endure it to be undervalved; very tender of his Churches, and of the little ones in them, that he will not suffer those, who so cenfure the one, and so highly offend against the privileges of the other, to pass unpunished. Oh that therefore these things might be so considered by these persons, that the warning they have in them might be seriously laid to heart by them.  
Many there are who profess to expect a personal coming of Christ to reign here upon the Earth, and I deny not but some, eminent in learning and godliness, have held forth somewhat like thereunto; but I well remember what a learned friend of mine said long since unto me, when that opinion of Chiliasm was first cried up amongst us, (viz.) That it might be just with God for some Deceiver under that pretence to come among them, and prevail for a time, to the deceiving of such; and that this opinion did hold out a ground and foundation for such a deceit: I have now seen it somewhat truly verified; for this opinion hath been the foundation of all these deceits, I have here related, to have been acted. Mary Gadbury ●elieves Christ shall come in the flesh to reign here; she asks of William Franklin whether it had been revealed to him; he takes the advantage to deceive by it, and saith, I am the man, and she as quickly believes him; and through all this Relation these seem to be the things held out, That as Christ should come to reign here on the Earth, so William Franklin was he, now come accordingly here to reign, and set up his Kingdom; nor think I that his deceits were or could be by any entertained, unless this were first believed and expected by them. I hope therefore that such an example as this is will make men wary how they entertain such an opinion which seems to give such an occasion to it.  
But some there are who deservedly are called Seekers, who, if they judge not themselves to be above Gospel-Ordinances of Word and Sacraments, and look upon them as carnal low Administrations, yet please themselves to live without them, censure all the Churches of Christ, who walk in the practice of any of his Ordinances, to be Antichristian; deny that there is any true Ministry, Churches, Sacraments, or any to be, till some extraordinary person or persons be immediately sent of Christ, as Apostles, for the restoring of them: Upon which ground themselves live without practice of any of these Ordinances, or of any Church Society, and condemn and censure those who walk in the practice of them; whose opinion to recite is to refute, and the evil of it cannot but be easily discerned, and be also by all the people of God justly exploded, that have had in their souls any true experience of the benefit and comfort God gives in to the Souls of his people, who, in an humble and conscionable manner, walk in the practice of his Ordinances, and attend upon them: But let them also consider how easily they lay themselves open to such deceits, how easy a thing it may be for them to be deceived by any Deceiver, that taking the advantage of this expectation of theirs, shall pretend himself to be such a one as is expected by them; yea, cause they have to take heed of it, that God in judgement give them not up thereunto, for this contempt and slighting of his Ordinances.  
And may not this at last be warning to every one, to be jealous of himself, and his own standing; That he who thinks he stand, take heed lest he fall, seeing such sad examples of the great and dangerous falls of these and such like persons. Take we heed of an uncertainty in matters of Religion, of being Sceptics in it, affected with every novity; and Athenian like, hankering in our minds after it; and beware of these whom we see possessed with such a spirit of giddiness in matters of Religion, that they know not what to fix or settle upon: See we the evil of error, how it pollutes a man: A corrupt judgement quickly causing a corrupt life, so that those who cherish and entertain error quickly proceed to much impiety: Of which these persons are also sufficient examples; when once a person is entered into the path of error, and is fallen from his steadfastness in the truth, he knows not where to settle; as appears in these persons, running from one Error in Religion to another, till they at length attained to that height of blasphemy, that I think the like hath searce been heard of; and usually the proceed of men in their changes from one Error to another, is still for the worst, according to that of the Apostle, Evil men and Deceivers wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, 2 Tim. 3.13. But prise we truth, and the true knowledge of it; labour we to attain it, but labour we also as much to be settled in it, that we be not carried about with every wind of doctrine, but be rather able to contend for the faith against the gainsayers of it; hold we fast the mystery of Faith in a good conscience, lest turning aside from the one we make shipwreck of the other: Surely Christ's sheep know the voice of Christ, and can discern and distinguish it from the voice of strangers: The Lord make us of the number of these his sheep, and give us the ointment of his Spirit, that we may know all things at least that are necessary to be known, being guided thereby into the way of truth, we may be preserved from the deceits of the many Antichrists which are now abroad in the world.  
Amen.  
FINIS.   

Imprimatur,  
JOSEPH CARYL. May 18. 1650.