46 On the History of Chippenham. 
probably be quite novel to the greater part of the audience. But 
with his name you will be historically familiar; for every one will 
remember amongst the extravagances of the Commonwealth, a 
certain denomination of fanatics who rejoiced in the title of 
Muggletonians. I have no claim to particular intimacy with their 
doctrines, and therefore in giving authority for the fact that their 
founder, Lodowick Muggleton, was Chippenham born and bred, I 
can only hope that there isno Muggletonian present to take offence 
at the pungent description of his chief which I am obliged to borrow. 
A memoir of this person, in which he is said to have been born 
here, “of poor though honest parents,” is printed in the Harleian 
Miscellany,! and its title is as follows: “A modest account of the 
wicked life of that grand Impostor, Lodowick Muggleton: wherein 
are related all the memorable actions that he did, and all the strange 
accidents that have befallen him, ever since his first coming to 
London, to this 25th day of January, 1676. Also a Particular of 
those reasons which first drew him to those damnable principles ; 
with several pleasant stories concerning him, proving his com- 
mission to be but counterfeit, and himself a cheat.” The biography 
goes on to show that Mr. Muggleton (of Chippenham) began his 
religious career as a Church of England man; exchanged for 
Independent; slipped off to Anabaptist; tasted Quakerism; and 
finally, as might be expected, subsided into no religion at all. His 
practice is described as having been as loose as his theories were 
wild, and through the one or the other he appears to have fallen 
occasionally into troubles. 
“‘Howbeit,” says the “modest account,” ‘a little before Oliver’s 
death, Muggleton, by continual flatteries had got into his books, 
and, amongst other prophecies concerning him, had declared that 
Oliver should perform more wonderful actions than any he had yet 
achieved, before he died. But, he happening to depart this life, 
before he had done any thing else that was remarkable, Muggleton 
was demanded why his prophecy proved not true? He answered 
very wisely, and like himself, viz., that he was sure Oliver would 
have performed them had he lived long enough.” J. HE. J. 
1 Vol VIII. p. 83, (Svo. 1810). 
