THE birth and Education of this Monster that the whole Christian world may ex­pect an account of, is so obscure and low, so extreamly inconsiderable, that even his own Gang of foolish followers, upon a strict inquiry of them, can only tell you that their first acquaintance with him did arise, when first his Co-partner in Villany, Reeve and himself, gave themselves to be the two last witnesses; then it was that Muggle [...]on leaped over the Shop-board, and would conceipt himself, and make sick-brained Idle people believe he was a great Prophet; that the power of binding and loosing were more strongly confirmed to him then ever the Roman Bishop pretended they were to the Holy Chair, for some years last past hath the impudence of this deceiver imposed upon a Company of Rude inconstant, Debauched people, to the wonder and astonishment of good and considerate men, that Justice did not stifle such a horried Fomenter of all that was superlatively wicked in its first birth; but such are those latter days that no Heretick hath appeared upon the stage of the World, but he hath found both adherers and admi­rers, some professing Religion, thinking it their glory to be alwaies seeking, though that their over curious inquiry hazards the welfare of their immortal Souls; too many are the present examples of this kind, and as easiy it were to give many instances how that at last the Vengeance of Heaven hath overtaken such enemies to God and Religion, and because men have not so far espoused the cause of the Almighty, as severely to punish such wretches presidents are not wanting where God himself hath made manifest by his Judgments his dislike to, by punishment upon those Sons of Belial that durst derogate from the power of Heaven, much more against those that would establish an opposition to it; this indeed must not be the design of this sheet to manifest, that to undertake, were to swell this sheet into a Vollumn, which is not my design, but observing a defect in the former Relation, it was thought necessary to give a more perfect account of Muggletons Tryal, and to inform the world that God hath given us such wise and learned judges, that the greatest zeal imaginable was shewn by them, and indeed by the whole Court against the Blasphemies of the boldest wretch that ever the earth made known, who at last being overtaken by the justice of the Law, received a Tryal before many of the great Oracles of Justice, whom his Majesty for their great merrits hath dignified with a judicatory Power; on Wednesday the 17th. of this Instant January, at Justice Hall in the Old-Baly, was this great blasphemer arraigned, and indicted by the name of Lodowick Muggleton, for that he had sould, uttered, and dispersed several books, contained most horried Blasphemies receited in the indictment, but too base for any man to name, and indeed too foul for any tongue to express; after his charg read, and the wittnesses heard, he was asked what he had to say for himself, who begged the fa­vour of the honourable Court, that he might have Counsel to speak for him, and he desired Mr. Jenner might be the person, which was graciously granted him, who like a good man discharged his duty as a Christian, and Counsellour, he hoped the Court did not expect he should defend or once name his Blasphemies, all that he would say was, that the prisoner did confess the fact, all that he did say in defence of himself, was that the Books so sould and uttered were written before the year 1673. In which year, his Majesties Act of Grace came forth, which he hoped would bring him under that cognizans, after this had received some Consideration by the Reverend Judges, his charge was given to the Ju­ [...]y in words to this Effect.

‘Gentlemen, you have heard the hainousness of the crime this wretch stands indicted for, it is for most horrible Blasphemy against the great God, such wickedness his own Coun­cil will not dare to repeat, and truly could it have been avoided, the indictment contains such horrible Blasphemies and villanies, it should not have been read, but Gentlemen, as to the matter, it is proved that he did utter, sell, and dispose several Vollums of these Blasphemous books, that great quantities were taken in his own custody, that he vented them [Page 1] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 4] for several prizes, the whole Vollumn for 14. s. the half for 7. s. another part for 3. s. 6. d. and some for 18. d. a piece, so that he had prepared and fitted his poyson to all degrees; he whose stomach was strong enough, had a full cup of Poyson, and for him whose appe­tite was weaker the half doze should serve, and for those whose disgestion was not so good nor purses so large, he had fited and prepared a smaller proportion for them; so that as much as in him lay, he indeavoured to infect all his Majesties Subjects that could be so ignorant as to buy his impious works, now what defence doth he make, he confesses that the books were sould and dispersed after the year 1673. In the following years, 74. 75. 76. Yet says he, they were written before the year 1673. so I hope the Kings Act of grace reaches so far as to pardon me; now Gentlemen, what witness, what proof brings he of this, why truly here is nothing appears but his own assertion, and he tells you the Title of his most wick [...]d Books speak that they were written before) who can be proof in such a case as to what he did? what Testimony can he give account of his writing his Manuscript, except his own wicked Spirit? he says it was written before, but can you believe him, do you think h [...] will make a conscience of lying, that hath vented such unheard of Blasphe­mies against God, than it were hard for the Divel to out do him in his mallice; as to the Titles of his hellish books, who can tell but he might g [...]ve them a false date or purpose to shelter himself under the Kings Act of grace, and foreseeing at last that Justice would over­take him, he thought to take that for his refuge, for to give books a new Title, it seems as it is easy, there is nothing more ordinary. Gentlemen we are fallen into such sad times, that what over opposet Government, whatever pusheth at Majestracy is upheld and carried on by a desperate sort of men; Gentlemen, I leave it to you, I pray God direct you.’

It was further insisted upon ‘That such was the charge against the Prisoner, and so unusual his Crime, that it did concern them to vindicate the Cause of God, of Religion, and of our Dread Sovereign, which [...]uch a disp [...]cable Villain had s [...]ught to Ruin, that it was admirable that such a silly Wretch durst be so Impudent to think to make himself great, by gathering a Rabble to Intitle themselves by his Name, it was left to them, and it was not to be doubt­ed but God would give them Direction, upon which the Jury withdrew, and found this Great Imposter Guilty.’ After Sentence past upon other Malefactors, he received judgment, in a phrase more eloquent then I dare presume to Judg my self able to rehearse, but in words much to this effect; that such a Superlative Monster of Wickedness, should dare to Belch forth such horrible Blasphemys against the great God, Creator of Heaven and Earth; that such a despiseable Fellow here should gather a party, and set himself up in defiance to his Maker, and so proceeding to his Sentence, it was as follows: ‘Thou art now, thou Blas­phemous Wretch, to receive the moderate Sentence of this Court, I call it so because set in the Ballance with thy Crime, it is extreamly mild, Bbut why is it so? is it in respect to thy Person, or compassion to thee, no surely, it is because the honesty and goodness of our Ancestors was such, that they thought the Earth could never bare such a Monster as thou art, and now thy Sentence is, thou art to stand three several days in the Pillary, in three of the most eminent places of this City, whereof the Royal Exchange is to be one, and thy Books that are already found, and which contain thy wickedness, to be devided in three equal parts, and one part of them to attend thee every time thou so standest, and because thy Proselytes shall see thy Doctrine suffer with thee, thy Books shall be burnt by the hands of the Com­mon Hangman, thou art also judged to pay five hundred Pounds, and to find Suretys before thou art discharged from Prison, for thy good behaviour dureing Life, but they must not be of thy own party (Muggletonian) but men of sincere and honest conversation, and this is the moderate Sentence of this Court.’

‘And hear it will not be amiss, that we admire at the Patience and long suffering of our good and gracious God in permiting such a Rabshack to go so long unpunished, so unwil­ling is that Divine being that any of his Creatures should be miserable, but wishes all to Re­pent, but if his Patience be abused, he hath whet his Glittering Sword, and bent his Averging Bow, so that all shall say, Righteous art thou Oh Lord, and just in all thy judgments.’