Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	county_n	hold_v	peace_n	2,913	5	6.2612	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84383	Pseudochristus: or, A true and faithful relation of the grand impostures, horrid blasphemies, abominable practises gross deceits; lately spread abroad and acted in the county of Southampton, by William Frankelin and Mary Gadbury, and their companions. The one most blasphemously professing and asserting himself to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God who dyed and was crucified at Jerusalem for the sins of the people of God. The other as wickedly professing and asserting her self to be the Spouse of Christ, called, the Lady Mary, the Queen, and Bride, and Lambs Wife. Together with the visions and revelations, to which they did pretend their ways of deceiving, with the names and actions of sundry persons deceived by them. As also their examinations and confessions before the justices of the peace, their imprisonment, and their tryal before the judg of assize, at the last assize holden at Winchester, March 7. 1649. Published for a publique benefit and warning to every one to take heed to himself, that he be not deceived by the errors and deceits of these present times. / By Humphry Ellis, minister of the word in the city of Winton.	Ellis, Humphrey, d. 1676.	1650 (1650)	Wing E579; Thomason E602_12; ESTC R206414	57,353	63

some as not crediting the things reported to conferre with the persons themselves for their better assurance but others being credulous persons wavering and uncertaine in matters of Religion having itching ears after some new things were soon drawne away and seduced by them For now besides the persons before mentioned Mr. Woodward and his wife Goody VVaterman divers others do also become their Proselites as John Noyce Edward Spradbury of Andover Henry Dixon of Stockbridge with severall others how these persons were wrought upon and seduced by them I have not certaine information onely that I have heard in generall concerning them especially of Edward Spradbury that severall strange sights or visions and somthing of seeming-glorious appearance was seen by him in them which is supposed to be that which chiefly prevailed upon him and others of them But now doth this poysonous infection begin amaine to spread it selfe having gotten many and these also very active persons to be the Preachers spreaders and publishers of it abroad to the people These do even make it their businesse to publish it to persons whom they may have any occasion to do withall and to assert it with abundance of confidence as what is firmly believed by them and which with all the reason they can they perswade others to imbrace and entertain also that he that is this Franklin is the Son of God the Christ the Messiah the Lamb slaine from the foundation that suffered on the Crosse and was the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and had the key of the bottomlesse pit that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth c. with many other such like blasphemous expressions published by them concerning him These had also their severall offices and titles accordingly given them so that John Noyce was John the Baptist sent forth to tell that Christ was come upon the earth Henry Dixons office was to be one of the destroying Angells mentioned in the Revelation sent forth to curse the earth and the Inhabitants of it and his usuall curses were in a most execrable manner to bid the Plague of God be upon the heart of persons and the Devill to take them Thus Mr. George Pottisary an honest godly man in this Countrey informed me that he so cursed me in a conference with him In an Information I have in writing sent to me from Thomas Wilkins Constable of Andover he writes to me thus Dixon said that there was neither God nor Devill and that all things came by nature and did curse me with these curses the Plague of God upon thy heart the Devill take thee he said that I should be damned in three weeks and that I should come howling and crying and wish that I could touch the lower hemme of his garment and he said of himselfe that he was the destroying Angell sent to curse the earth Thus the Information of Thomas Wilkins Now Edward Spradbury had gotten a somewhat better office for William Franklin said that he was one of the two Witnesses mentioned in the 11. of the Revelation as John Lewis hath in writing to me certified adding that he would testifie it upon Oath but the usuall office of this Spradbury was to bee an healing Angell and so what Dixon had in the discharge of his office cursed and destroyed he came as an healing Angell to heale and restore againe wherefore when any person did discover offence at these curses and horrid imprecations by Dixon uttered he would tell them they should not be offended at it that it was his office and what he did therein was but the discharge of his office but that he himselfe was the healing Angell Of this wicked society was also one William Holmes of Houghton he seems to be a partner of Dixons in his office of being a destroying Angell Here take a true account of what passed between him and one Mr. Burret a Minister being in the Parish of Houghton which I have asserted under Mr. Burrets owne hand thus Houghton Jan. 17. 1649. The day and year above written coming to two men which I had at work there was talking with them William Holmes junior of Houghton having a gun in his hand and in his mouth many hard speeches and blasphemies against God amongst the which at my first approach this was the first That he was one of the Vials of Gods wrath to confound Mr Warren my self and the rest of the Parish which he said were all damned Upon my reply I pray you William leave these fond and strong delusions and have God in your heart He answered What dost thou know what God is or to that purpose God is a Toad a Snake O horrid blasphemy and a Devil At which words I left the place and upon it which can witness the same and more John Butler Daniel Crowder and Robert Holmes Ita testatur Christophorus Burret I was also credibly informed that at the same time when he uttered these fearful Blasphemies he also added thereto this grievous curse The plague of God confound thee and thy Religion Oh what an height of impiety and boldness in wickedness are these persons thus come unto whose heart can but tremble at such grievous Blasphemies against the Divine Majesty and wonder at the wonderful patience and long-suffering of God so forbearing such persons by whom his holy and glorious Name and Being is so grievously blasphemed This William Holmes having been formerly a very loose and prophane young man was so far wrought upon by the Ministry of Mr Warren who is Minister of that Parish that he left his vicious courses and became very hopeful for Religion but is now fallen into this depth of wickedness enough to be so a warning to others that he who thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall Thus the leaven and poyson of this infection dispersed abroad by such active publishers of it begins to spread exceedingly that too many now begin to be taken with it that such notice and great offence is justly taken thereat by divers godly and well affected Ministers and others that they think it necessary for the peace of the County now ready to be hereby endangered as also for the good of Souls and out of a tender affection to them especially for the Glory of God and Christ whose Name and Honour is so striken at and grievously blaspherned to think upon some course whereby to stop the further spreading of this so great an evil Accordingly the last Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden in this City of Winton for this County of Southampton in the beginning of January many and great Informations and Complaints from sundry well-affected peeple were there brought and presented to the Gentlemen Justices of the Peace for this County then and there met together concerning these practises of these persons desiring justice against them and some course thereby to be taken for the restraining of them The Justices of the Peace as in duty they ought declared themselves

PSEVDOCHRISTVS Or A true and faithful RELATION OF THE Grand Jmpostures Horrid Blaspemies Abominable Practises Gross Deceits Lately spread abroad and acted in the County of Southampton by William Frankelin and Mary Gadbury and their Companions The one most blasphemously professing and asserting himself to be The Christ The Messiah The Son of God who dyed and was crucified at Jerusalem for the sins of the People of God The other as wickedly professing and asserting her self to be The Spouse of Christ called The Lady Mary the Queen and Bride the Lambs Wife Together with the Visions and Revelations to which they did pretend their ways of deceiving with the Names and Actions of sundry Persons deceived by them As also their Examinations and Confessions before the Justices of the Peace their Imprisonment and their Tryal before the Judg of Assize at the last Assize holden at Winchester March 7. 1649 Published for a publique Benefit and Warning to every one to take heed to himself that he be not deceived by the Errors and Deceits of these present times By HUMPHRY ELLIS Minister of the Word in the City of Winton This day is a day of trouble and of rebuke and of blasphemy for the children are come to the birth and there is not strength to bring forth Is 37.3 Then if any man shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or there believe it not For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets Behold I have told you before Mat. 24.23 24 25. London Printed by John Macock for Luke Fawn and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1650. To the Reader Courteous and Christian Reader I Here present to thy view a very sad story which contains in it a Relation of such and so high impieties that like thereunto in all things hath not been yet heard of to have been acted amongst us in this Nation The importunate desire of many Christian Friends Ministers and others the expectation of all the Country hereabout and the right information of others who living at a distance even in remote parts of the Nation from us of this place unto whom some rumor of these things have come and who therefore desire to be more fully informed concerning them have required called for and necessitated the publishing thereof And that the publishing hereof hath been by me thus undertaken and performed hath not been from any great willingness of mine own thereto but that by the importunity of Friends I have been necessitated unto it alledging that by reason of my living and constant residence in this City where much of these things have been acted by reason of my acquaintance also with the Justices and with divers other persons abroad in the Country I might be best furnished with Informations for the carrying of it on and that it was therefore rather expected of me then of any other It hath been also much urged that great benefit might come to the publique hereby that it might be a special means to warn others to beware of these or the like deceits that they be not deceived by them These Reasons especially the latter have wrought upon me to appear in publishing thereof though censures enough for my pains herein is that which at least is from many to be expected by me And now Reader if there be any love and zeal in thy heart to the Honor of God and Christ thou wilt here see matter of Lamentation that amongst us who profess his Name any should arise in so high a manner to blaspheam his Name Of Lamentation also for the sad Condition of our Nation that such abominations are to be found amongst us Here mayst thou see what a root of bitterness that unlimited lawless boundless Toleration is of all Religions and of all things whatsoever under pretence of Religion which some under colour of liberty of conscience have contended for What bitter fruits would soon spring from it may be hereby easily discerned Hast thou any interest in God and Christ see what cause there is that thou improve it in thy addresses to the Throne of Grace and that not only in behalf of our Land that it may by his Grace be spared notwithstanding these and the like evils committed in it but also that God would be pleased to rebuke this Spirit of Error and Blasphemy that is thus gone forth and spreads it self amongst us That God would also make his own people to be of one heart and to strive earnestly for the Faith of the Gospel to contend for the Faith once given to the Saints And that thou mayst reap benefit from this Discovery which is for thy benefit intended and make that use which God would have thee to make thereof is the desire and shall be the prayer of Thine in the Lord Jesus and Work of the Gospel HUMPHRY ELLIS Winchester May 14. 1650. POST-SCRIPT WHat is here discovered in the ensuing Relation I was for a great part an eye and ear Witness thereof other things I had from their Confessions in their Examinations before the Justices and from the Testimonies of divers persons of known honesty and integrity whose Testimonies subscribed with the hands of those from whom I received them I have reserved by me Considering then that I have such Authorities for the things here reported which are not things reported to be done far off like the stories of some travellers which if false yet could not be easily disproved nor done long ago as things forgotten out of the memory of man but things done among our selves and that very lately that they are fresh in the memories of most persons hereabout that very easily I might be disproved should any other things then what are true be reported by me and questionless this book will come into the hands of such who would be very glad of such an advantage as to be able to charge any untruth upon it On the other side thousands in these parts can witness these things for the generallity and substance of them to be true that therefore I hope none will see any cause to question the truth and credit of the things here related how strange soever they might otherwise seem to be unto them A true and faithful Relation of the grand Jmpostures c. WHat our blessed Saviour hath foretold to his Disciples should come to pass in the latter Times and to be a great and manifest sign of his Coming and of the end of the World viz. That men shall say Lo here is Christ and lo there that false Christs and false Prophets shall arise Mat. 24.23 24. the same may be seen truly verified in these times of ours and the fulfilling thereof even in the literal sence of it will be discovered in this following Relation Although I may herein make discovery of the sinful erroneous Heretical and Blasphemous Opinions speeches and practises of divers persons yet William Franklin and Mary Gadbury the one professing himself

very sensible of these things and of the Glory of God and good of their Country so highly concerned in them And accordingly with all speed were Warrants granted out by several of them to the Constables of those parts for the apprehending of William Franklin and some others of these so dangerous persons These Warrants were with as much speed as might be put in execution by the Constables by them were William Franklin and with him Mr Woodward Henry Dixon Edward Spradbury apprehended and besides what was done towards these persons upon their apprehension by the Bayliff of Andover where they were either apprehended first or brought thither whose care and faithfulness in this business is much to be commended they were from thence brought hither to Winchester upon Munday Ianuary 27. and there presented before those Justices of the County who live at this City by them to be examined and proceeded withal accordingly With those persons thus apprehended brought by the Warrant came also others of their own accord though not included in that Warrant as M. Gadbury Mrs Woodward Goody Waterman and some others I do not hear that Iohn Noyce was here present particular complaint was made afterward against William Holmes and particular Warrant granted for the apprehending of him but he either departing from his habitation or some way or other hiding himself was not at all yet apprehended that he neither appeared now or at any time before the Justices or at the Assize But those persons who were thus apprehended with the others that came so together with them not so much to see what would be done with them as to assist them and witness the same thing with them in their Tr●al and Examinations and together they came with abundance of confidence and boldness to stick unto those things which they had asserted with which they knew they should be accused The Justices before whom they were brought and by whom they were now to be examined were Mr Thomas Bettesworth and Mr Richard Gobbe Their Appearance and Examination was at Mr Bettosworths house who lives in the Close here at Winchester At the time of their Examination great multitudes of persons resorted to the house to see and hear what would be done with them or said by them It would be tedious to the Reader and that which the brevity I desire and shall endeavour in this Relation will not bear should I now proceed largely to set down the whole of their carriage before the Justices and of the things spoken by them according to that credible information I received of it But some most material passages I shall have respect unto together with the Examinations of some Witnesses taken upon Oath and the Examinations of the persons themselves attested by them by subscribing their names to them These will be the most authentique Testimonies I can present my Reader withall of the blasphemous speeches and practises of these persons and wherein he may see from the Confessions of the persons themselves a Confirmation of the most or most material things that have been before related As concerning their carriage before the Justices it was with abundance of boldness and confidence in general there asserting whatsoever had been before declared by them and towards others whom they had occasion to converse withall with abundance of scorn and contempt Goody Waterman a very talkative woman said to the company That if they were not there the house would fall down upon them and if they should not speak the stones would speak And being very forward in speaking after this manner Mrs Woodward told her That she saw much of the Power of God in carrying her forth to speak so as she did This Goody Waterman to one that bid her stand farther from him saying that her breath did stink answered that she defied what he spake and her breath was the breath of the Lord And concerning another young woman one of their own company who had spoken somewhat wherein she was contradicted she also answered That what that young woman spake was not much to be regard she being but a babe of a week old and indeed it was their manner to reckon their age from the time of their first believing in this Deceiver as if they had been but then born When one speaking of William Franklin called him Fellow Mary Gadbury at the hearing thereof holding up her hand at him said Thou dog how darest thou call thy Saviour Fellow thou art not worthy of a crumb Thus may these and many other such like passages which fell from them serve to discover their height of confidence in their blasphemous Assertions as also the impudent boldness of their carriage But leaving these things we will now proceed to the Confessions and Examinations of these persons themselves and Witnesses concerning them setting down first what was attested by some Witnesses and next what were their own Confessions And first take here the Testimony of Fortunatus Wats of Woodhay who was the first that I can hear of to have given evidence against these persons and his evidence had been given in to the Justices before they granted their Warrants for the apprehending of these persons but may now be here very fitly inserted His Evidence was thus A man aged about thirty or fourty years on Monday the 17. of December 1649. at Mr Woodwards at Crooxeason in Hampshire affirmed himself to be Christ the Son of the living God the Messiah that sits at the right Hand of God the Corner stone the Lamb of God that was slain at Ierusalem and had the wound yet on his body unhealed That his Spirit was abroad gathering in of Souls that he came now in the fulness of time to save the very Elect and is none of those false Christs spoken of in Scripture but the true Christ indeed If any would know my name I am said he the great King of Heaven without any guile in my mouth without beginning of time or end of days He undertook to forgive sins and by name did so to me Fortunatus Wats of Woodhay in Hampshire Witness my hand Decemb. 20. 1649. And this he subscribed his name unto Now you shall have the Examination of some Witnesses delivered upon Oath before the Justices at Andover and at Winchester after their Apprehension The accusation of Peter Blake of Andover in the County of Southampton Merchant given upon Oath before several Justices of the Peace at Andover the 26. of January 1649. HE saith upon Oath That Edward Spradbury of Andover Clothworker affirmed that one lately lying at the Star in Andover aforesaid naming himself Franklin was the Lord of Life and Glory and that he was the Messiah the Lamb slain from the foundation that he had the key of the bottomless pit that shutteth and no man openeth and openeth and no man shutteth That he was the Christ the Saviour of the World The Christ that suffered on the Cross The Lion of the Tribe of Judah