By W. W. Ravenhilly Esq. 69 



" Hope this frog plague not eternal. Voice of the gospel the 

 law of the land. Magistrates do your duty. Fiat Justitia, 1 



11 The clerk's daughter's sudden death had nothing to do with the 

 meeting, she merely went to fetch some children. If a judgment 

 at all, it was for attending these meetings. He prays their con- 

 version. The news strange but not true, God Save the King." 



The above appears to need no commentary, but croaks its own tale. 



1 K. P., Sm. Qto, 849 :— 

 " A Perfect Narrative of the phauatic wonder in the West of Eng d with a true 

 relation thof Sent in a Letter to an Alderman of London. 

 " London printed for Charles Gustavus 1660 Sep 20 th 

 " Loving Cosen &c 



" Conc e rning the paper book sent. In answer. 



" June the 16 th last past it pleased God to send us plenty of rain and thunder 

 showers, w h was very welcome, God send us thankful hearts and free us fr° lying 

 tongues— After w h my landlord Esquire Barker having some old fish ponds in 

 his°orchard and outltets— Three ponds being filled afresh with the rain and other 

 supplies, there did, w h will appear by perfect Evidence an annual customary thing 

 not only in that place but in all other about our neighbouring Parishes, issue 

 forth of these ponds and Ditches great store of young frogs and water toads, w h 

 in length were an inch or hardly so long shifting and hopping to and fro, being 

 out of their watery element. Insomuch that if any would have taken pains to 

 have viewed them, shifting some one way and some another they might have 

 seen thousands of these silly poor varmints, was as usuall as the year did 

 proceed ; w h silly creatures with 1 any measure of prejudice unto man woman or 

 child that evening and night were cleared. Wherefore in answer to the verity 

 of y r book and these Zealots that were the founders, for the odiousness thereof I 

 shall leave that to the judgement of you and y r friends had the prayers of these 

 Zealots prevalendie. But God will not hearken to prayers where malice is 

 the foundation. Some, They w d be Egyptian Magi were not God's mercy 

 superabundant. The law ought to be turned upon them, but this cannot be done 

 for want of a foundation to do it. 



" Verity of my account attested by undersigned. 



" Let a book be printed to the contrary. 



" Yr loving uncle 



" Fairforde the 15 th Septem 1660 " G. Beown. 



" The truth of above narrative attested by 



" John Shipman Minister." 1 . 



" Thomas Watkins Churchwarden. 



John Batteeton, Constable. 

 " Feancis Ceipps. 

 "William Chandlee." 



In the K. P., Folio Sheets, vol: 18, is a " Faire song" :— 

 " lhe Phanatics plot discovered in Gloucestershire, 

 Frogs and toads called Anabaptists and Brownists," 



