A briefe description of the notorious life of Iohn Lambe otherwise called Doctor Lambe. Together with his ignominious death.

Here follow some exploits done by Doctor Lambe during his Im∣prisonment in the Castle of Worcester.

THree Gentlemen came vpon a time to see Doctor Lambe in the Castle of Wor∣cester, while hee was there Prisoner, who desired to bestow some wine on him; but the Keeper told them it was not a seasonable time to send for wine; it beeing past Eight of the clocke in a Summer euening; at which time the Castle gates were of custome to bee locked vp, and the Tauerne was halfe a mile distant from the Castle. Vpon which the Gen∣tlemen gaue ouer their purpose of sending for wine. But Doctor Lambe asked them what wine they would chuse to drinke; and when one of them answered Sacke, hee called for a Wine-glasse, and immediatly a pottle of Sacke

stood before them vpon the Table, the Gentle∣men were fearefull to meddle with it; but the Doctor began to them, and they vpon his encouragement pledged him. They asked him then from whence hee had it; hee told them from the Globe Tauerne, and the signe of the Globe was vpon the pot. The Gentlemen afterwards parting from Doctor Lambe, and going to their lodgings in the Towne, enqui∣red of the Tauerne-keeper whether any body had lately fetched a pottle of wine from thence, or no. The man answered them that a little boy in greene had since eight of the clocke fet∣ched so much for Doctor Lambe.

Another.

Doctor Lambe beeing merry at the Castle with diuers of his acquaintance, espied a woman not farre from thence walking towards them, & told the Company hee would make that woman take up her coates aboue her middle. And immediat∣ly, to the wonder of the company the woman be∣gan to take vp her cloathes, and by degrees lifted them vp aboue her middle. Some women that beheld her, called out alowd, and asked what she meant by so shameles a behauiour, she answered them that shee meant to wade through the water and saue her clothes, imaginging (it should seeme) that there had bin a poole, where it was dry land.

Another.

A Gentlewoman hearing the fame of Do∣ctor Lambe, came to the Castle with other of her Friends, expecting some strange sights from

him. And when shee was come into his roome asked a friend of hers softly in his eare, which was the Witch? The Doctor came to her, and told her hee knew shee had called him witch, and because shee should know, hee could vnderstand secrets, hee told her aloud, (which was truth) that shee had two bastards; and na∣med their ages, and the places where they were both brought up. Vpon which the Gentlewo∣man wonderfully abashed, quitted the place.

Another.

There was a man that dwelt besides Tewxbu∣ry, whose name was Wheeler. Hee was warned to be one of the Iury at Worcester upon the Tryall of Doctor Lambe. Hee comming before to the Castle to see the Doctor, and standing amongst the crowd of people in the chamber; Doctor Lambe came to him, and falling downe vpon his knees asked him blessing. The people won∣dering at the reason of it, Doctor Lambe told them that he should shortly be one of his twelue Godfathers. Wheeler being a bold fellow and nothing abashed at it, told him it was true; but he was now come to see, whether he could doe any such strange things, as he had heard of. Doctor Lambe bid him plucke off his garter, and tye it about his middle as fast as euer he could; which Wheeler accordingly did, and tyed it in twenty knots. Then Doctor Lambe bad him plucke it off againe; hee told him hee could not vnlesse hee tooke time to vntye the knottes. Then Doctor Lambe taking hold of the gar∣ter,

plucked it with ease from him, and in such a manner as it seemed to all the compa∣ny, and to Wheeler himselfe, that the Garter came out of his very body; vpon which Whee∣ler was much affrighted, being not altogether sure, whether he were wounded or not.

After his arraignment at the Assises of Worce∣ster, the High Sheriffe, the Foreman of the Iury, and diuers others of the Iustices, Gentlemen there present, and of the same Iury, to the number of forty dyed all within one fortnight; vpon which the Country (how euer that sad accident befell) affrighted, and suspecting the damnable arts of the said Doctor, and obseruing many other lewd practises of his, during the time of his imprisonment, became petitioners for his remoue from thence; vpon which hee was remoued to the Kings Bench at London. In which place he liued in great plenty of money, and much resorted vnto by people of seuerall conditions. Where at last hee was arraigned for a rape vpon the person of a girle of eleuen yeares of age, as shall more at large appeare in the following discourse.