Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross.

THE CONTENTS.

IOHN MATHIAS repaires to Munster, his severe edicts, he becomes a malicious executioner of Hubert Trutiling, for contumelious expressions touch∣ing him; his own desperate end.

IN the year of our Lord God.* 1.1 M.D.XXXII. at M••••ster (which is the Metropolis of Westphali••) a certain Priest called 〈…〉〈…〉 under∣took to preach the Gospel of Christ; which being done with great successe, certain messengers were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Marpyrgum, a place in Has••ia, whose busi∣nesse was to bring along with them some men of learn∣ing and good conversation, who should be helpful in the propagation of the Gospel▪ From 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dispatched, who arriving at M••nster, re∣duced the principall heads of Christian Religion into thirty nine Articles, which they proposed to the Magi∣strate, being ready, (as they pretended) to make good and prove the said heads,* 1.2 by places of the holy Scrip∣tures; which was effected. The Religious, and (as they are called) the spiritual who were possessed of the chiefest Church, could by no means digest this, so that depart∣ing the City, they caused much trouble to the Citi∣zens. Upon this weighty businesse, the Magistrates and Citizens sate in long and prudent consultations. At length there was a certain agreement, upon these terms, viz. that all injuries committed in those Tumults should be p••••doned, and that the Gospel should be free∣ly preached in six Parish Churches, and that the Church of our Lord only should be absolutely reserved to them. These conditions were readily subscribed to by both sides, and thereupon all things laid asleep in peace. But this peace was not long undisturbed by the Devill,* 1.3 (that irreconcileable enemy of peace and vertue) and there∣fore by doing at M••nster what he had done at other pla∣ces, that is, by raising up out of the jawes of Hell, the se∣ditious and pesti••erous Anabaptists, those importunate disturbers and turn-pikes of the Gospel, his design was not only to discourage the good and godly, but withall, shamefully to destroy the Gospel it self. For in the same year there rise up at Harlem a Baker called Iohn Mathias,* 1.4 a man utterly unlearned, yet cr••fty and boldly eloquen••. This man being e••cessively lecherous, negle∣cted and ••lighted his own wi••e, who being somewhat well ••trit••en in years,* 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so much the lesse fit for the exercises of 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Being therefore over head and ••ars

〈◊〉〈◊〉 love with a certain Virago who was an Alehouse∣keepers daughter, he could not resolve of any way more advantageous to seduce, then by an Angelical carriage, and a counterfeit sanctity. He made frequent visits to her, and entertaining her with his visions and revelati∣ons, he thereby drew her to his opinion, and conveigh∣ed her into a secret place in Amsterdam,* 1.6 where he profes∣sed himself a Doctor and a Preacher, affirming that God had revealed certain secrets unto him, not yet revealed to others, and that he was Enoch the second high Priest of God▪ Upon some he laid hands, and sent them two by two as Apostles and messengers of Christ, dispatching to Munster one Gerard a Bookseller, and Iohn Buckhold the botcher of Leyden, others into other places. These emissary messengers of Christ, or rather of Satan, boyled over with their various opinions, held mar∣riages of no account, and dreamed divers other things. Some taught by parables, and their own illusive dreams; others, acknowledged not him a Brother who defiled his Baptisme with sinnes; others preferred the Baptisme of Iohn before that of Christ;* 1.7 others taught that all Ma∣gistrates, and whoever were unsatisfied with their Reli∣gion, ought to be destroyed root and branch; some would acknowledge nothing but their own visions and prophecies; others that all the Prophets and Tea∣chers that were departed this life, should shortly rise again, and should reign with Christ upon earth a thou∣sand years, and should receive a hundred fold for what ever they had left behind them. Some of these men affirmed that they had communication with God, some with Angels; but the more discreet and wiser sort of men conceived that their conferences had been with the devill. Hereupon the great Prophet Iohn Mathias (upon whose account his most vain Apostles already proclaimed a Peace) perceiving an occasion by this means of domi∣neering in this world, consecrated in his stead his disci∣ple Iames Campensis, a Sawyer, Bishop at Amsterdam, committing unto his charge the people,* 1.8 to be seduced with the same zeal, as he had begun. These things be∣ing thus fairly carried, he repaired to Munster to his Apostle and Ambassadour Iohn Buckhold, whom he made Governour of the City, who presently published

these severe edicts.* 1.9 That every man should bring his gold and silver, and whatever were of greater importance, into the common heap, and that no man should detain any thing at his house; for the receiving of which things so col∣lected, a place was appointed. Though the people were not a little astonished at the rigour and severity of the edict, yet did they submit thereto. Moreover he forbad the reading of all books but the Bible, all which that they ought to be burnt, the divine authority had by him, its witnesse, commanded.

At this very time a certain Tradesman, whose name was Hubert Trutiling, had scattered some contu••••elious expressions concerning this great Prophet; whereat he being immeasur••bly incenled, even to the losse of all compassion, caused the foresaid Trutiling to be brought into the Market place, where he is accused and sen∣tenced. Whereupon he himself laying his violent hands upon this innocent man, layes him along upon the ground;* 1.10 in that posture he runs him through with a spear; but finding by the palpitation, that there was some remainder of life, he made him be conveighed thence, and, taking a musket from one that stood by, which was charged, killed him, intimating that he was commanded by God, that is to say, his own, (who was a murtherer from the beginning) to do what he had done. This no∣ble exploit performed, he took a long lance in his hand, and hastily ran about the City, crying out that he was commanded by God the Father to put to flight the ene∣my, which at that time had closely besieged Munster. Having taken the said weapon, and running like a mad man upon the enemy,* 1.11 he himself was run through by a souldier of Misna.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ANNO 1532.
• * 1.2

  Pretenders to Religion, prove usually the di∣sturbers there∣of.
• * 1.3

  The devill an enemy of peace.
• * 1.4

  John Mathias a Baker at Harlem.
• * 1.5

  His lechery notrrious.
• * 1.6

  At Amsterdam he professeth himself a Do∣ctor and a Preacher▪
• * 1.7

  A murtherous opinion.
• * 1.8

  John Mathias repaires to Munster.
• * 1.9

  His severe edicts.
• * 1.10

  He becomes a malicious exe∣cutioner of Hu∣bert Trutiling, for not siding with him.
• * 1.11

  His desperate end.