An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Now when the bishop had certain months borne all the charge of the siege him self alone, Hermannus the Archbishop of Collen, and John Duke of Cleave sent him for aid, money, and guns with a certain company of horsemen, and footmen. The Archbishop of Collen him self came also to the camp, to sit in counsel with them, and not long after, the city was besieged, in sundry places. And when there was no hope to win it by force, they made 7. ramparts about the city, to keep it from victuals, furnishing them with footmen, and horsemen, which should remain there all winter. The bishop of Monster (for the maintenance of the siege, and war against the town) required aid of the Princes about the Rhine, as the next neighbours, and to whom the matter also did be long: for which cause they gathered them selves together at a city Called Confluence, the 13 of December. 1534. After this unprofitable besieging of the city: John Leiden fell into a sleep, and dreamed the space of three days, and when he awaked, he spake never a word, but only required, paper to be brought unto him, in which he wrote 12. mens names, among whom were certain of noble birth, which 12 should rule as chief ⟨p. 429⟩heads, as it was among the Israelites: this he said, was the will of the heavenly father. When as by these twelve there was a way made for him to be king, he put forth certain articles unto the preachers, and will led them, that if they could, they should confute them by Gods word, or else he would publish them unto the multitude, and so of them they should be allowed, and established. The some of them was this, that a man was not bound to one wife only, and it was lawful for any man to have as many wives as he would. But when the preachers withstood this sentence, he called them into the counsel house, and with them the 12 rulers. And when they were all come thither, he put of his cloak, and threw it on the ground, and with it the new testament: by those (as it were) signs, he testified, and sware, that article which he had put forth was revealed to him from heaven, and therefore with terrible words he threatened them as that God would not be merciful unto them,¹ unless they would allow them. At the length, they agreed, and the preachers for three days togethers, preached only of matrimony: Straight way John Leiden married. 3.

Now when the bishoppe had certaine monethes borne all ye charge of the siege him selfe alone, Hermannus the Archbishop of Collen, and Iohn Duke of Cleue sent him for ayde, money, and gunnes with a certeine companie of horsemen, and footemen. The Archbishop of Collen him selfe came also to the campe, to sit in counsel with them, and not long after, the citie was besieged, in sondrie places. And when there was no hope to winne it by force, they made 7. rampers about the citie, to kepe it from victuales, furnishing them with footemen, and horsemen, which should remaine there all winter. The bishop of Monster (for the maintenannce of the siege, and warre against the towne) required ayde of the Princes about the Rhine, as the next neighbours, and to whome the mater also did be long: for which cause they gathered them selues together at a citie Called Confluence, the 13 of December. 1534. After this vnprofitable beseging of the citie: Iohn Leiden fell into a slepe, and dreamed the space of thre daies, and when he awaked, he spake neuer a worde, but onely required, paper to be brought vnto him, in which he wrote 12. mennes names, among whome were certeine of noble birth, which 12 should rule as chiefe