discreeter part of the countrey people, having laid down
their arms, put their hands to the golden plough, to hold
which they had been designed, rather than to mannage
Lances and Pole-axes. Muntzer escapes to Franken∣husium,
and hid himself in a house near the Gate, where
a certain Nobleman had taken up his quarters. This
mans servant going up into the upper roomes of the
house to see how they were accommodated, findes one
lying upon a bed, of whom he enquired, whether he
were of those who had escaped the fight, which he deni∣ed,
averring that he had lain some time sick of a fever:
whereupon looking about, he perceives a little bag ly∣ing
carelessely near the bed side; he opens it & finds let∣ters
from Albert Count of Mansfield, wherein he dehor∣ted
Muntzer from his wicked purpose, and from promo∣ting
the tumult already raised. Having read them, he
asked him whether they were directed to him, who deny∣ing,
he threatens to kil him; whereupon he cried quarter,
and confessed himself to be Muntzer. He is taken, and
brought before George Duke of Saxony and the Land∣grave,
whereupon they having made him confesse that
he was the cause of the popular insurrection, and sedi∣tion;
he answered that he had done but his duty, and
that the Magistrates who were opposers of his Evangelical
doctrine, were by such means to be chastised. To which
the Landgrave made answer, and proved it by several te∣stimonies
of Scripture, that all honour is to be given to
the Magistrate; and that all tumult raised in order to
a mans particular revenge, was by God forbidden Chri∣stians.
Here Muntzer being convinced, held his peace.
Being laid upon the rack, while he cried out aloud and
wept, the Duke of Saxony spoke to him to this purpose;
Now thou art punished, Muntzer, consider with thy self
by what unspeakable wayes thou hast seduced and
brought so many to destruction! whereat Muntzer
broke out into a great laughter, saying, This is the judg∣ment
of the countrey people. But when being brought
to his death, he was thrust into a close prison, 'tis won∣derful
how faint-hearted he was, and stood extreamly
troubled in mind, not being able to give any account of
his Faith, but as the Duke of Saxony pronounced before
him, and which he told him, he was to make a confes∣sion