An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

And if it chanced that any mans dream might be interpreted, him he highly extolled openly before the assembly. And when by this means he had gotten many on his side, by little, and little, he came to the same, which he went about a little before: and in the forenamed town he began to register their names which (being of his confederacy) were sworn to aid him, in slaying the wicked Princes, & magistrates, and in placing new in their rooms. For he said that he had received that commandment of God, to take them away & to constitute new. So long as he spake but of dreams, & such other like things, Frederick duke of Saxon did bear with him, especially because Luther by letters required him so to do. but when he began to preach seditiously, he was banished, who (after he had lurked in corners certain months) came to Nuremberg, and being also thrust from thence, a little after he came to Milhusium a town of Turingia. For when he was at Alstet he had enticed to him some of the citizens by whose help he obtained the office of teaching. And because the magistrates liked him not, he raised a tumult amongest the people, whereby new magistrates were created. This was the beginning of trouble. after these things the townsmen cast out the monks, and invaded their houses, whereof the chiefest and richest fell to Muncer's lot, who now played both the preacher, and the magistrate. For judgement (said he) should be give by the revelation of God, and of the scripture. And o• all other things he gave sentence, as it pleased him: for whatsoever he said, it seemed to them most holy. That their goods should be in common, he said, was most agreeable to humanity. That all ought to be equal in dignity, all men should be free, and that all their goods should be used indifferently, as well of one, as of an other. Whereby the common people began to leave of labour, and to be idle, and what thing soever any lacked, that that they toke by violence from other that abounded. These manners ⟨p. 411⟩he used for a space & when the common people, & husband men were in armour through Suevia, & Franconia to the number of forty thousand, & had destroyed the greatest part of their nobility, & had pulled down, and burned many Castles, & towers: then put he to his hand also thinking that the most convenient time to bring his purpose to pass.

And if it chanced that any mans dreame might be interpreted, him he highly extolled openly before the assemblie. And when by this meanes he had gotten many on his side, by litle, and litle, he came to the same, which he went about alitle before: and in the forenamed towne he began to regester their names which (being of his cōfideracie) were sworne to ayde him, in slaying the wicked Princes, & magistrates, and in placing new in their rowmes. For he said that he had receaued that commandement of God, to take them away & to constitute new. So long as he spake but of dreames, & such other lyke thinges, Friderike duke of Saxō did beare with him, especially because Luther by leters required him so to do. but whē he began to preach sediciously, he was banished, who (after he had lurked in corners certen monethes) came to Noriberge, and being also thrust from thēce, alitle after he came to Milhusium a towne of Turingia. For when he was at Alstet he had entised to him some of the citizēs by whose helpe he obteined the office of teaching. And because the magistrates lyked him not, he raised a tumult amongest the people, wherby new magistrates were created. This was ye beginning of trouble. after these thinges the townesmen cast out the monkes, and inuaded their houses, wherof the chiefest and richest fell to Muncers lotte, who now played both the preacher, and the magistrate. For iudgement (said he) should be giue by the reuelation of God, and of the scripture. And o all other thinges he gaue sentēce, as it pleased him: for whatsoeuer he said, it semed to them most holy. That their goodes should be in common, he said, was most agreable to humanitie. That all oght to be equall in dignitie, all men should be free, and that all their goodes should be vsed indifferently, as well of one, as of an other. Wherby the common people began to leaue of labor, and to be ydle, ād what thīg soeuer any lacked, that yt they toke by violēce frō other yt aboūded. These maners