A Full and True
ACCOUNT
OF THE
Apprehending and taking Six French Prophets, near
Hog Lane, in Soho, who pretended to Prophecy that
the World should be at an end within this three Weeks, with
several other ridiculous Prognostications, with the manner
of their Examination, and Binding over, on Monday the
28th of April, by several Justices of the Peace sitting in
St. Martin's Vestry; as also an Account of the Examina-
tion and Binding over above 20 French People more, for
beating and assaulting the Worshipful Justice Bucknel,
for faithfully executing the Duty of his Office.
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THE French receiving great Encouragement from the merci-
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ful Protection of this Realm, and forgetting their clumber-
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ly Luggage of Wooden Shoes, through their being in the same
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Fashion as their betters, a Liberty not tolerated them in their own
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Land of Bondage; nor not contented with all this happiness (I say)
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and their Change of Course Diet, from Roots and Pottage to that
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of good Beef and Pudding, some French Sparks living in and near
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Hog Lane in Soho, being addicted to strange Enthusiamss, pretend-
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ed to have the Spirit of Prophecy (and as we are inform'd) had
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Printed above 40 Pounds worth of Books, which most impudent-
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ly attempted to Prophesie, That the World should be at an end in
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three Months time, how great Desolations should quickly rage in
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England, particularly about London; That strange Prodigies shou'd
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be seen in the Air, strange Hurricanes shake the Ocean, with seve-
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ral other Frantick Predictions, too ridiculous to be here related.
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However, last Thursday, one Monsieur la Bruse, one of their Fellow-Prophets,
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having some Words with these Six, he detected their Prophecying Project, raising
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the Mobb upon 'em at the end of Hog-Lane, near St. Ann's Church, but through
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the Multitude of French that is thereabouts, it gave them the Opportunity of ma-
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king their Escapes, except one, who was seized, and for fear Punishment might
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light heavier upon him, he discover'd where the others might be found, and ac-
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cordingly, being apprehended, they were on Monday the 28th. of this instant April,
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carry'd before several Worshipful Justices of the Peace, sitting in St. Martin's Vestry,
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where after a long Examination the Matter of Fact being plainly proved against
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them, they were strictly Bound over, giving in sufficient Securities to answer the
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same the next ensuing Sessions; for, according to the Statute of the 1st. of Queen
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Elizabeth, it says, None shall publish or sett forth any Phantastical or false Prophecy,
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with an intent to raise Sedition, on Pain to forfeit for the first Offence 10 l. and to
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suffer one whole Years Imprisonment, etc.
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What Profession or Occupation these French Prophets are is uncertain, some saying
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they are Refugee Ministers; others, that they are Jesuits disguised under that No-
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tion, to work their wicked Designs the better; some one thing, some another.
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Likewise there were this Morning Bound Over for their impudently beating and as-
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saulting in a most violent manner the Worshipful Justice Bucknel, threatning him
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his Life for the faithful Execution of his justicial Office, in the Examination (as
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'tis said) last Week of the first of these French Prophets, and without doubt they
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will be severely handled for so affronting and abusing Justice in the very Face of
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Authority it self.
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