An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

The chief prophet (a fore named) toke the poor man, which being down on the ground, he stroke him with a spear, without giving him his deaths wound, although he ran upon him with a great violence. Then he commanded him to be carried into an other place, and taking a young mans half hake that stood by him, he shot him through, lying on the ground. And because that yet he died not out of hand, he said, that it was showed to him from heaven, that the time of his death was not yet come, and that God would pardon him of his offence. But the poor man within few days after dyed. When the prophet heard of his death, he toke a long spear, and ran with it about the City, crying that God the father had commanded him to drive the enemy out of the City. And when he came near unto the camp, a certain soldier slew him▪ And notwithstanding that this was the second time of bewraying of their falsehood, yet the residue of his fellow prophets had so bewitched the people, and they so set out the matter unto them, that the common people toke the matter very heavily, and said, that surely some great plague should fall upon them, for the taking away of so notable a man. But the next prophet after him, named John Leiden, willed them al• to be of a good courage: for (said he) it was long before showed me that he should dye after that manner, and that I should take his wife in marriage. Two days before Ester they ran into the temples, and rang all the belles at once. Within few days after Knipperdoling prophesied, that those which were set aloft should be brought ⟨p. 428⟩down, and the other should be exalted, from a vile, and base estate. After that he commanded that all the temples should be cast down, affirming with much gravity, that commandment to have come from God. Immediately the thing was obeyed, and that commandment celestial (as he termed it) with all diligence put in execution. About the same time, the fore named John Leiden toke the sword that served for the heading of the offenders, and gave it to Knipperdoling, and made him hangman, for so (said he) it was determined of God, that he which was one of the chief Rulers before, and of the counsel should now be in the lowest place, and be made hangman. Knipperdoling was nothing offended with the matter, but toke the office thankfully upon him.

The chief prophet (a fore named) toke the poore man, which being downe on the groūde, he stroke him with a speare, without giuing him his deathes wounde, althogh he ranne vpon him with a greate violence. Then he commanded him to be caried into an other place, and taking a yong mans halfe hake that stode by him, he shotte him through, lying on the ground. And because that yet he died not out of hand, he said, that it was shewed to him frō heauen, that the time of his death was not yet come, and that God wold pardon him of his offense. But the poore man within feaw dayes after dyed. When the prophe heard of his death, he toke a long speare, and ran with it about the Citie, crying that God the father had commanded him to driue the enemie out of the Citie. And whē he came neare vnto the campe, a certeine soldiour slew him And notwithstanding that this was the seconde time of bewraying of their falshode, yet the residue of his felow prophetes had so bewitched the people, and they so set out the mater vnto them, that the common people toke the mater verie heauily, and said, that surely some greate plague should fall vpon them, for the taking away of so notable a man. But the next prophee after him, named Iohn Leyden, willed them al to be of a good courage: for (said he) it was lōg before shewed me that he shoulde dye after that maner, and that I should take his wife in mariage. Two dayes before Ester they ranne into the temples, and rang all the belles at once. Within few dayes after Knipperdoling prophesied, yt those which were set aloft should be broght