UPon the first day of November 1650. (towards evening) came one Shakespear (that called himself a Warrenner) one Iohn Collins a Glover, one Wyberton, and four others to the house of one Middleton, at the David and Harp in Moor lane, in the parrish of Giles Creplegate, London, where some of them being known, they were soon admit­ted into the best room in the house, and entertained by the woman of the house, who long before was suspected to be one of the Ranting crue. When they had continued many hours in the house, and it grew something late in the evening, when the street was void of noises, and sober men prepared to go to bed, these people were heard to sing blasphemous songs in the tune of Davids Psalms, and many uncivil words and actions were perceived and heard to pass amongst them; which put it into the hearts of some of the neighbours to acquaint the Constable therewith; who being as desirous to suppress disorders, as willing to bring such wicked persons to condign pu­nishment, he took some others with him to apprehend them; but to make the fuller discovery of this wicked pack, one that had some acquaintance with an active Ranter, went alone to the door where this wicked company were, and enquired of Iohn Collins that opened it, whether such a one were not amongst them? who replied, he was not there yet, but was expected; asking him if he was of his acquaintance? to which the party answer­ed, that he was: then Collins took him about the neck, and kissed him, saying, Welcome fellow creature. With this the party came into the room, [Page 2] where the like ceremony was offered by the rest (some Women being [...] amongst them:) presently after, one of the men let his breeches slip down in the middle of the room, and another ran and kist his buttock, and called to the rest to come and kisse their God. And after the passing away of a lit­tle more time in blasphemous words and uncivil behaviour, a joynt of meat, and some other things were brought and set upon the table, about which they flackt like bruit beasts, without any order, or sign of reverence; but on the contrary; one of them laid hold on the meat, and tearing it to pieces like a dog, both for himself and the rest of his fellow creatures, in a beastly manner he let a great Fart, and as it gave report he [...] these words, Let every thing thing that hath breath praise the Lord.

In the middest of which prophane and wicked words and behaviour, came in the Constable and apprehended them, who thinking them to be gi­ven over to commit all manner of wickednesse, thought good to search their pockets, for fear they might have some dangerous weapons about them to do mischief, and in searching them, he found two written papers stuffed with very blasphemous matter, which are not fit to be made publick, espe­cially untill such time as they have received their tryall, when this was done the Constable brought them down stairs into another room, and himself and others reproved them for their wickednesse, in the midst of which reproof, one of them, that were taken took a candle and made as though he did seek for something that he had lost, and being asked what he sought for, in a jeering and disdainfull manner he answered, That he sought for his sins but there were none, and that which they thought so great unto him, was so small, that he could not see it, by which it appears that they hold forth an opinion, that Sin is no sin, for which opinion an Officer of the Army was lately cashiered, and his sword broken over his head, at the head of the Regiment. But to return to that which I was relating before, the Constable finding them desperately incorragible and hardened in their iniquity, carri­ed the said Collins, Shake spear, and five others to the Compter, (who had been accompanied with Mrs. Middleton her self, had she not privately [...]ade an escape.

The next morning they were brought before Sir Iohn Wolaston, and charged with the matters before recited; as also that they had sung vile and filthy songs to the tune of Psalms, and uttered many oaths (or asseverati­ons of oaths) and execrations: some of which were, Ram me, Dam me, &c. and it being demanded of one of them what they meant by these words, he said by the word Ram, they meant God: and many other things of this nature were confessed by them: whereupon Sir Iohn sent them to Bride­well, where for a time they beat Hemp; and are bound over to answer for their offences, according to Law the next Sessions.

[Page 3] Having given you the true relation of this meeting, with the manner of their discovery, and some passages concerning their examinations, I shall proceed to some other instances to shew the vanity of this mad crew (of which there be too many) for all pleasures which are not reduced to honesty and necessity, are reproachfull and evill and especially those two of touching and tasting, do draw men most to offend in vice and unclearnesse; and for­asmuch as all occasions and opportunities, whereby the people are trained and drawn away to live dishonestly, shamelessely, wickedly, and intempe­rately are to be shunned and avoided, take in the next place some perticulers of another meeting which they had near Thames-street (not long before the Act was made against blasphemy, and another act for whoredome, &c.) as soon as they came together they coupled men and women) choosing their mates, and when they had fitted themselves in that kind, there comes into the room a man with a pottle of sack, and a glasse in his hand uttering these words, viz. Where doth God want any wine, to which presently an­swered one that had his minion on his knee, here, here, at which words the glasse of sack was given him, and he drank to his fellow creature (as he called her) and so it went round, after this they fell to singing filthy songs and catches which are not fit to be published, yet, for satisfaction sake, I shal give one of their songs to the first Scene, when they began to act upon the Devils Stage, what every one pleased, according to the fulnesse of wicked­nesse in his own heart, which was taken at the window, and in truth, is the leastoffensive of any I have heard, otherwise I should have had more modesty, than to have made it publick.

This Song being ended, they went to revelling till ten of the clock the next day, by which time, they having satisfied themselves with chamber exercise, they fetcht a walk towards Smithfield, and went into Charter-house lane, where they had a lesson played on the Organs, danced mixed dances, and had an Antick Mask; and during the time of the mask­ing, the Musick that played, was, the Treble-Viol, the Hand-Symbal and Tongs: After this the Organs went anew, to the tune of a Psalm. After this, some of the creatures went into rooms apart to milk and fodder; and others (whose chiefest pleasure was in drinking) sung this catch following.

Unto this I shall add another, somewhat pertinent to the businesse, viz. A Gent. of quality (as I am credidibly informed) meeting with a Gentle­woman of his acquaintance, after a salutation how do you, and a little famili­ar discourse, he told her he was indifferent well in health, but wanted a sto­mack, whereupon she replied that if he pleased to come to her lodging the next day, she doubted not but she should find something to which he had an appetite, for which courteous invitation, in a civil manner he returned thanks, and promised a visit the next day about 11 of the clock: at which time accord­ing to appointment he made good his promise; and being invited up unto her chamber, he found her in her night array; and after the first greeting was over, she asked him how he found his stomack? he replied, that it was as when he left her the day before; she then said, that she hoped it would soon be regained: and on the sudden, instead of putting on her day apparel, dis­robed her self of what she had on, and appearing in nothing but her smock, asked him how he liked her, and whether his stomack would not come to him? to which he replied, that he understood not her meaning; but he hoped to have a stomack to his victuals when it was before him: then she said, I will try that presently; and immediately presented her self to him naked, saying, Fellow Creature, what sayest thou to a plump leg of mutton (striking her hand upon her thigh) with the cates that are now in thy view? which strange carriage of hers, did so appal this vertuous Gen­tleman, that he (in blushing wise) departed, wondring at the shamelesse uncivil carriage of her, of whom he had better confidence; which may be read and commended for a badge of his Vertue and Chastitie, and characterize the deserved infamy of the lascivious behaviour of her that was empty of all goodnesse, and discover her to be a true Prosolite of Cop and Claxton and the rest of that infernal gang which have been the dispercers of a Diabolicall opinion that there is neither heaven nor hell, for otherwise she could not be so audacious.

Having named Cop, I cannot let it passe without a word or two of what he is; he is one that not long, since assumed the Pulpit in a noted [Page 6] Church in London, and in a most wicked manner blasphemed and curst, for an hour together saying, a pox of God take al your prayers hearing, reading, fasting, &c. And being charged before he came down with uttering blas­phemy, he said that he would answer what he had done, and for this and o­ther things of like nature laid to his charge, he is now in Newgate, and to discover what might be said of him alone, would fill many sheets of paper, at this time I have promised brevity; therefore I shall onely ad to that in the pulpit. a passage of his on an ale-house bench, which is this, when he had drunk very hard and the woman of the house, to avoid disorder, desired him and his company to depart the house, he said God Dam me, thou needst not fear, The Divel confound me, thou art in heaven, By Gods Bloud and Wounds, thou art sav'd, &c. which put the woman into such a fright, to hear his curses and blasphemies, that she trembled and quaked some hours after.

I thought to have given you many other particulers, but I hope these are sufficient to satisfie all good people concerning the wicked practises and blasphemous opinions of this generation which have too long increased, and from what hath been said by way of discovery, take warning and avoid their company which may prove dangerous to the body as well as to the soul: for I am able to justifie that one Evan ap Bevan born of good Parentage near Bishops-Castle in the County of Salop, was for many years a constant hearer of the word, yet afterwards fell into strange opinions & would admit of no Scrament, no Baptism, no Duty, no Obedience, no Divell, no Hell, &c. in a short time after his fall into these grand errours (the Divel grow­ing strong with him) that for no other cause but that they were conscienti­ous and finding an opportunity, he cut off the heads of his own mother and brother, for which he was hanged in chains near Shrews-bury.