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HOFMAN a Skinner, and Anabaptist, Anno 1528, seduced 300 men and women at Embda in West-Friesland. His ••ollowers accou••ted ••im a Prophet. At Strasburg, he challenged the Ministe••s t•• dis••ute, which was agreed upon Jan. 11. 1532. where ••e••ng
mildely dealt with, he is neverthelesse obstinat••▪ Other Prophets and Prophetesses d••luded him. He de∣luded himself, and volu••tarily pined himself to death.
IN the year one thousand five hundred twenty * 1.1 eight, Melchior Ho••man a Skinner of Strasburg, a most eloquent and most cra••ty man, at Embda in * 1.2 West Friezland, ensnared 300. men and women into his doctrine, where he conjured up Anabaptisme out of hell upon pain of damnation, whereupon being ••eturned to the lower Provinces, who ever addressed themselves to him, he entertained them with water, bap∣tizing all promiscuously. This man upon the prophecy of a certain decrepid old man went to Strasburg, it ha∣ving been foretold him, that he should be cast into pri∣son, * 1.3 and remain there six moneths, at which time being set at liberty, he should, with his fellow-labourers, disperse the harvest of the Gospel through all the world, He was by his followers acknowledg'd and honour'd as * 1.4 a great Prophet. This was the great prop and pillar of the re••gn of Mu••ster. Having therefore made what hast he could pos••ible to St••asburg in order to the fulfi••ling of the phophecy, he there challenges the Ministers of the Word to dispute, which offerture the Senate engaged * 1.5 with, upon the eleventh of January one thousand five hundred thirty and two; at which time, the mists and clouds of errours and blindnesse, were quite dispersed by the Sunne of the Gospel. However, Ho••man stiffely adhered to the foresaid prophecy, as also to his own dreams and visions; nor would he acknowledge him∣self overcome; but, their mildnesse having somewhat ap∣peased him, he was thence dismissed, as one judged w••r∣thy of such a place where Lepers are shut up, lest others be infected. But 'tis incredible how joyfull he was at * 1.6 that newes, out of an excessive thanksgiving to God, putting o••••▪ his shoes, and casting his hat into the ayre, and calling the living God to witnesse, that he would live upon bread and water, before he would discover and brand the authour of that opinion. In the mean * 1.7 time some Prophets began to rise and keep a stirre, hinting, that he should be secured for that half year, and that afterwards he should go abroad with one hundred
forty and four thousand Prophets, who should, without any resistance. * 1.8 reduce and bring the whole world un∣der the subjection of their doctrine? There was also a certain Prophetesse who should prophecy, that, this Hosman was Elias, that Cornelius Polterman was Eno••••, and that Strasburg was the new Jerusalem, and she had also dreamed, that she had been in a great spacious Hall, * 1.9 wherein were many brethren and sisters sitting together, whereinto a certain young man in •…•…ing apparel should enter, having in his hand a golden Boul of rich Nectar, which he going about should taste to every one; to whom having drunk it to the dregs, there was none Pretended to compare with him, but onely Polterman. Alas poor Melchior! He having nothing, yet made Ma∣ster * 1.10 of a strong Tower, did after the example of Esdras, signifie by Letters that his Baptisme should, be put off for two years longer, until Africk should bring forth ano∣ther monster, that should carry hay in its horns. There were many other dreams, and some nocturnal pollutions, which they attributed to heaven, and thought such as should have been written in Cedar. But it was Mel∣chior's pleasure to think it a miserably happy kind of * 1.11 death, o die voluntarily, by pining and consuming a∣way with hunger, thirst, and cold.
Anno 1528.
Hofman a Skinner, and Anabaptist, se∣duced 300. men and women at Embda in West-Fries∣land.
A delusive pro∣phecy.
His followers accounted him a great Pro∣phet.
At Strasburg he challenged the Ministers to dispute, which was agreed up∣on, Jan. 11. 1532.
Being mildely dealt with, he is ••••verthelesse obstinate.
Other Prophe•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 delude hi••.
Yet it's like, to back their prophecies, they pretended liber∣ty of conscience.
A Prophetess deludes him.
He deluded himself.
He voluntarily pined himself to death.