No Treason to Say Kings are Gods Subjects, Title page – Preface

No Treason to Say Kings are Gods Subjects · Title page – Preface

NO TREASON TO SAY, Kings are Gods Subjects: OR THE SUPREMACY OF God, opened, aſſerted, applyed, In ſome Sermons preached at Lurgarſhal in Suſſex by N. B. then Rector there.

Accuſed of Treaſon by James Thompſon, Vicar of Shalford in Surry, and the Author ejected out of the ſaid Rectory for preaching them.

With a Preface Apologetical, vindicating the Author and Sermons from that falſe Accuſation, relating the manner of his Ejection, and fully anſwering the Narrative of the ſaid Vicar, now alſo Parſon of Lurgarſhal.

By Nehemiah Beaton Miniſter of the Goſpel.

Inſimulari quivis innocens poteſt, revinci, niſi nocens non poteſt. Apul. Apolog.

A man that beateth falſe witneſs againſt his Neighbour, is a maul, and a ſword, and a ſharp arrow, Prov. 25. 18.

LONDON, Printed for S. Gellibrand, at the Golden Ball in St Pauls Church-Yard. 1661.

A PREFACE APOLOGETICAL.

Courteous Reader,

I Know my ſelf too well to think any thing of mine worth publiſhing, in ſo knowing and learned an Age. Yea ſo free am I of the itch and ambition of being in print, that I have againſt the concurrent advice, and continued importunity of many worthy friends, forborn to make publick theſe Sermons, and this vindication of them, and their Author, from thoſe falſe accuſations, under which both have many months ſuffered; and now at laſt, I as unwillingly conſent they ſhould be thus preſſed to life, as men chooſe to be preſſed to death.

But, unleſs I will, by an obſtinate ſilence, be interpreted to conſent to the truth of that black and ugly charge, now printed againſt me; I can no longer avoid appearing in print. For ſo vaſt and unſatiable is my Adverſaries malice, that having devoured my living, he is nothing ſatisfied. My good name, and many good friends, he ſees, are ſtill left me, which ſo enrageth him, that after the example of the grand Accuſer of the Brethren, Rev. 12. Leſt theſe ſhould eſcape him, he hath caſt out of his mouth a (aaConvitia, & probra, quibus Chriſtianos toto hoc tempore Draconicolae obruebant. Objicientes eis homicidia, conjurationes in Principes. M…de in loc.) floud of Calumnies and reproaches, to overwhelm and deſtroy them.

I ſay a flood of Calumnies; nor need I retract it, as too exuberant an expreſſion, nor be beholding to an hyperbole, to ſalve the truth of it, though his whole Book be but one ſingle ſheet. For, he hath crouded ſo many notorious falſhoods into it, that it is like that ſheet in Peters Viſion, wherein were all manner of unclean beaſts and fowls.

The title he gives it, indeed, is A true Narrative. But frequently, Tituli habent remedia, Pyxides venenum. Mithridate, or ſome ſoveraign cordial may be written without, when Rats-bane, or ſome other rank poyſon is in the inſide. The truth is, he hath ſo fouled his ſheet with lying ſo very frequently in it, that it hath been very offenſive to me to touch it; and I cannot but fear, that having ſtirred it, and taken off that thin covering he had caſt over it, the vile ſtench of it will greatly displeaſe the religious, and ingenious Reader. But, I hope all ſuch will conſider, that I am much to be pitied, and not at all to be blamed; ſeeing my Adverſaries malice hath forced me thus to fetch èſtercore gemmam; It having left me no other way, to ſave and preſerve my good name (more precious than the moſt precious Jewel) than by turning up and down this unſavoury dunghil, in which he hoped I ſhould certainly loſe it; and which I cannot ſtir but it will ſtink the more, for, Plus foetant ſtercora mota. Yet ſhall I do it in as cleanly a manner as I can poſſibly, and ſtrive to expreſs his fouleſt practiſes in the faireſt language I can, without injury to truth; and, that thou maieſt he ſure I do him no wrong, I will ſet down his whole charge, in his own words; ſo that he ſhall have no occaſion to accuſe me, as Caius Fimbria did Q. Scaevola, Quod non totum telum corpore recepiſſe…. Thus then he begins with me.

James Thompſon.

Not long ſince I was preſented to a Rectory by a perſon of known honour (whom, as formerly, we truly call Lord Viſcount now) the undoubted Patron thereof; though Sir Richard, by ſome calumniation, would have found out another Doner; which Parſonage was void by death, but illegally poſſeſſed by one Nehemiah Beaton,

Reply N. Beaton.

Should I ſay, here are more lies than lines, I might, perhaps, be thought to have forgotten already my promiſe: Yet what other anſwer can I give to a Paragraph, in which there is ſcarce any thing but falſehood? I have thought of this expedient. Becauſe the word lye is a broad one, and not fit to fall from the pen of a Miniſter; ſo that if I ſhould uſe it, as often as he gives me occaſion, I fear I ſhould give offence: I have reſolved to uſe another word, viz. a Thompſoniſm; which whereſoever the Reader finds, he is deſired to remember, that no other thing is meant by it than what in an ordinary man we call a lye; but that having to do with ſo Reverend a perſon as the Vicar of Shalford and Bramley, Parſon of Lurgarſhal, &c. I will be more mannerly than to call a ſpade a ſpade. There are then in this period of his, four notorious Thompſoniſms. Firſt, That Sir Richard Onſlow would have another found Doner, of the Rectory of Lurgiſale, then the Lord Montague. Secondly, That he ſought it by calumniations. Thirdly, That the ſaid Rectory, when he the ſaid J. Thompſon was preſented to it, was void by death. Fourthly, that it was illegally poſſeſſed by Nehemiah Beaton.

A ſhort relation of what is indeed the truth, as to theſe four matters of fact, will ſufficiently ſatisfie the Reader, that I have not miſcalled, nor miſcounted theſe my Adverſaries falſhoods.

When by the death of Mr Thomas Stafford, the Rectory of Lurgars-hall became void in 1657. The Pariſhioners (not a man diſſenting) without any application of mine to them, deſired I might ſucceed him. And to that end almoſt all of them ſubſcribed a paper (which I have ſtill by me) in which they expreſſed that deſire; and earneſtly beſought all perſons concerned in the diſpoſal of that Rectory not to obtrude any other perſon whomſoever upon them. But what perſon, or perſons had the diſpoſal of it neither I nor they certainly knew. The moſt general and probable opinion was, that the Lord Montague, was the Patron. I was therefore adviſed to enquire of Mr Thurland, who being of counſel for that Lord was a probable perſon to reſolve this doubt. To him therefore I applied my ſelf, and was by him (in the preſence of Sir Richard Onſlow) aſſured, that the Lord Montague was indeed the Patron, but had made over that (with all other Livings in his gift in Suſſex) to Mr Yalden Senior of Blackdown; adding, that he did not queſtion, but the Lord Montague would be willing, at the deſire of Sir Richard, to preſent me; and freely offered himſelf upon Sir Richards account, to write to that Lord on my behalf, which he alſo did accordingly.

With his Letter, and another from Sir Richard Onſlow, I ſoon after waited on the Lord Montague, at Cowdry; who, after the reading of them, told me he would ſhortly give an anſwer to them, but he muſt firſt ſpeak with his Servant Turner.

Mr. Yalden Senior, who had then the power of preſentation, knew of my application to the Lord Montague; to whom at the ſame time, by his Son Mr. William Yalden, he ſent to ſignifie his willingneſs and deſire to preſent me, and after he had heard this anſwer of the Lord Montagues, told me he was reſolved to preſent me, and no other; only he would waite the Lord Montagues anſwer, whoſe (conſent though not neceſſary) he deſired. All which, when I had communicated to Sir Richard Onſlow, he adviſed me, by all means, to ſtay for the Lord Montagues conſent; which accordingly I did, but with no great exerciſe of patience, for within a week or two the Lord Montague ſent Mr Turner his ſervant to Mr Yalden, to deſire him to ſign a Preſentation of me to the foreſaid Rectory, which he (the ſaid Mr. Turner) drew up and delivered into my hands. For which favour of the Lord Montagues unto me, when ſhortly after Sir Richard Onſlow, meeting him, returned him his thanks; the Lord Montague not only profeſſed, he had preſented me for Sir Richards ſake, but he added, he thought he owed many thanks to Sir Richard for preſenting ſuch a perſon to him.

Now Reader judge, whether Sir Richard ſought to find out another Doner than the Lord Montague, who when the power to preſent appeared, and was by the Lord Montague confeſſed to be in another, (though the right originally in himſelf) yet was ſo tender of that right, that he would have nothing done without that Lords conſent? To procure which, he wrote a moſt civil Letter to the Lord Montague, in which (for as is moſt uſual in ſuch caſes I had a ſight of it) there were theſe words: There ſhall be all poſſible care uſed to preſerve your right, and corroborate it alſo as your Council ſhal adviſe. Secondly, If he were thus far from ſeeking another Doner, how far was he from ſeeking one by Calumniations? Thirdly, If the Lord Montague himſelf, by his Truſtee, filled the Rectory of Lurgarſhal, and his Preſentee was alive when Thompſon was preſented; what is it to affirm the Rectory void by death at the time of his Preſentation? Fourthly, was N. B. illegally poſſeſt of it, who was preſented by the Lord Montagues Truſtee, not only with the connivance, but explicite conſent and expreſs deſire of that Lord, who, Mr Thompſon ſaith, is undoubted Patron of that Rectory?

Thus, Reader, I have ſatisfied thee that I came fairly into the Rectory of Lurgarſhal, and was legally poſſeſſed of it. Thou ſhalt next hear how I came out.

James Thompſon.

Who did, in or about April laſt, 1660. preach theſe words in his Pulpit, in the forenoon, concerning the death of his late Majeſty, and the occaſion thereof. You ſay theſe and theſe were the Kings Enemies; nay, quoth he, but I will tell you who were the Kings Enemies, viz. thoſe that cauſed him to marry with that harlot and adulterous woman: For, in marrying with that Papiſt Queen, he did adulterate his whole Generation, and did make it a National ſin, and the whole Nation muſt ſuffer for it, and we have ſuffered for it all this time. Which being proved, by the oaths of five credible Witneſſes, (and five and twenty more being ready if required to depoſe the ſame) before nine of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace, at Midhurſt, on the nineteenth day of December laſt, (though three of the ſaid Juſtices, viz. Mr Shirly, Mr Henry Onſlow, Mr Lee, took little notice of it, and refuſed ſubſcription) a judgment was ordered to be drawn up, and ſigned by the other ſix Juſtices, That the ſaid N. B. had maliciouſly preached againſt his ſacred Majeſty that now is, his right and ſucceſſion to the Crowns of theſe Realms, and that he ought not to be confirmed into the Rectory, into which he had intruded.

N. Beaton.

It is a received Rule in the Civil Law, Mendax ſemel, mendax ſemper praeſumitur. He that hath been taken once in a lye, is not afterwards to be credited. May it not then be ſuppoſed, that he that hath told ſo many Thompſoniſms about my coming in, may be guilty of far more in this his far larger relation of my Ejection? If Iſidore may be credited, it cannot be otherwiſe. (bbIſid Pel. l. 2. Epiſt. 229. foreign, &c.) He that in the beginning ſwerveth from the truth, will in his proceedings roll farther away from it, and end at laſt with ſome foul or ſhameful Cataſtrophe or other.

Sure I am, if this his general rule have any exceptions, this my Adverſary is none of them. For, to his whole Charge I may truly reply in the very words of that holy Writer, whoſe name I bear. Nehem. 6. 8. There were no ſuch things done as thou ſaieſt, but thou feigneſt them out of thine own heart. And although I have alwaies ſuſpected and deteſted unneceſſary proteſtations, and appeals; yet againſt ſuch a Charge, and under ſuch a Condemnation, I think no man will judge it needleſs, or unlawful.

I do therefore ſolemnly, as in the preſence of that Great God, at whoſe judgment ſeat I expect ſhortly to ſtand, proteſt and declare, That I never did, in any Sermon, on any Text whatſoever, utter thoſe words, of which I am accuſed, nor any other words of ſuch a ſenſe. Which proteſtation I make, without any equivocation, or mental reſervation, and ſhould most willingly renew it, and confirm it by Oath, if I were lawfully required; though I knew certainly I ſhould, the very next moment, paſs into Eternity. From my Accuſer and Judges do I therefore appeal to that Righteous Judge of all the world, before whom not only nondum judicata, but male judicata ſhall be tried; knowing that when that bright and bleſſed morning comes, in which the righteous ſhall have dominion over his moſt inſulting oppreſſors, He will bring forth my righteouſneſs as the light, and my judgment as the noon day.

In the mean time, though it be not poſſible (unleſs by the repentance and confeſſion of the contrivers, &c. (fully to diſcloſe all the ſecrets, and circumstances of this myſtery of iniquity; yet ſuch a diſcovery I ſhall make, that when the Reader hath heedfully obſerved and weighed it, unleſs he be corrupted by malice or intereſt, I dare challenge him to believe, or ſuſpect me guilty if he can.

And firſt, I muſt inform him (for my Adverſary wiſely concealed it) who was the perſon that exhibited this Charge against me. No worſe Man, I aſſure thee, than this James Thompſon that now publiſheth it. A man whoſe face, till I was forced to confront him as my accuſer, I never to my best remembrance had ſeen, and who, as himſelf confeſſed, was as much a ſtranger to me. How then came he to be my …ccuſer? Nay, Reader, thou ſhalt anſwer thy ſelf, and I think thou wilt not complain, that I have put a hard task upon thee, when I have farther informed thee of what I can prove from his own mouth, viz. That he had firſt obtained a promiſe, or grant of my Living, if I were removed, before he attempted ought againſt me. Although therefore he was a ſtranger to me, yet with my Living was he ſo well acquainted, that he knew it to be ſuch a one as he had long gaped for, and often ſucceſleſly ſought after. Now, Reader, if thou canſt not imagine that this accuſation proceeded from malice, (which they ſay is a good informer) yet might it not from avarice, which is the root of all evil, but bears no fruit ſo often as this of falſe accuſation? So that when God had prohibited this in the ninth Commandment, he immediately added, as that without which the other would never be kept, Thou ſhalt not covet, And when John Baptiſt had warned the Souldiers, that they ſhould accuſe no man falſely, he immediately preſcribes this, as the only remedy, Be content with your wages. It was the hope of getting the Living (ſaith a learned Biſhop) that made Ziba accuſe his Maſter falſely. But Mr. Thompſon had more than hopes, he had an aſſurance of my Living before hand. It was Naboths Vineyard, ſaith the ſame Author, and not his blaſphemy that made him guilty; and this, this only was my treaſon, I had a good living. This hungry Vicar well knew, that Lurgarſhal afforded a larger bite than Shalford Common; and that he could not get in, unleſs he thus leaped the hedge, the Law having let me in at the gate, and ſhut it faſt after me.

Wouldſt thou know more of my Proſecutor, to leave thee without the leaſt doubt or ſcruple whether, as foul a crime as falſe and forged accuſations are, yet he may be guilty of it? Then hear what he hath ſince done. When I was removing my goods from Lurgarſhal, this man deſired to buy ſome of them. Now though many perſwaded me to decline him, as a man not ſafely in any thing to be dealt with; yet his propoſition being fair, that he would give as much as any, and more than they could be worth if I removed them, I conſented to ſell them. But becauſe I knew pretty well the complexion of his conſcience, I appointed him to bring one with him to prize them, that ſo I might have another to teſtifie what paſſed between us. In ſhort, we met, and agreed on the prizes of ſeveral goods; he appointed me to what perſon to deliver them, promiſed again and again the payment of the money. The goods I delivered according to appointment, and now expected my money, according to his promiſe; but found that my Gentleman did not intend to hold my Living by one title, and my Goods by another. His five Witneſſes were not yet dead; and would they be ſo unkind, when they had helped him to a houſe for nothing, as to leave him now to pay for the furniture? To a firſt, a ſecond, a third demand therfore he denies to pay for my goods, and bids me take my courſe. Well, after a civill Letter, and almoſt a quarter of a years waiting, he is arreſted; and the laſt Aſſizes the cauſe was tried between us. Thither comes Mr. Thompſon, with one of his five credible Witneſſes, bragging of the victory, and offering to lay great wagers he ſhould caſt me, The Cauſe was called, forth ſteps his credible Witneſſe, to do him now once more knights ſervice, and ſwears as heartily (horreſco referens) or rather deſperately as before, but with ſome different ſucceſs; for the Jury, ſo ſoon as they heard my Witneſſes, without ſtirring from the Bar gave Verdict againſt him. Nay, Sir William Wild, who was of counſel for Thompſon, and who was by him prejudiced againſt me, as one that had ſpoken Treaſon, he I ſay (and to his honour be it ſpoken) when he heard my Caſe fully opened, ſate down and refuſed to plead for him; and when this modeſt Vicar, urged him to ſpeak; Sir William replied aloud with indignation, Do not urge me to ſpeak againſt my underſtanding and conſcience in ſuch a Caſe as this. Reader, ſhould I at large relate, without any comment or aggravation, all the odious circumſtances of this laſt practice, I am confident thou wouldſt think the man is not to be matched in England.

Next hear what I have to ſay as to the Charge. I am accuſed and judged for preaching maliciouſly againſt his Majeſties right, &c.

1. It is known, almoſt to as many as know me, that my judgment was againſt the death of the late King, and for the reſtauration of this.

2. I have often, to the hazard of more than I have now loſt, and to the trouble of my friends, openly declared my diſlike and abhorrency of the murder of the King; by which name I have frequently called it, in publick places, and was for ſo calling it accuſed to one of his pretended Judges, who therefore did threaten to do great things against me.

3. I was ſo far from thinking that his Majeſty that now is had no right of ſucceſſion to the Crown of theſe Realms, that I was alwaies perſwaded he had an undoubted right; and that it was my duty, in my place to endeavour his recovery of that right, and have laboured to convince others that it was their duty. I am certain I did ſeriouſly, and heartily do my utmoſt, in my place, to procure it.

If theſe three Aſſertions be true, wilt thou believe there is any truth in this Charge? Now to prove them true, I can produce the Teſtimonies, and have the Certificates of many Knights, and a multitude of Gentlemen, both Miniſters and others. I will not trouble thee but with one, of Sir Thomas Woodcocks, who ſo long jeoparded his life in the high places of the field, for the late King, and ſo lately hazarded it, in the High Court of Juſtice at Weſtminſter (a more dangerous place than the former) for his loyalty to his Majeſty that now is; and is deſervedly of that repute, both at Court and in the Country, for his Valour and Civility, that I ſhould much diſhonour him, if by giving a Character of him, I ſhould but ſuppoſe that the Reader hath not heard of him, or would doubt the validity of his Teſtimony; which follows in theſe words.

Theſe are to certifie all whom it may concern, that I have been well acquainted with Mr. Nehemiah Beaton, above ſeven years laſt paſt. In which ſpace of time, diſcourſing very frequently with him concerning the King, and his affairs, I diſcerned in him ſo deep a ſenſe of his Majeſties ſufferings, and ſo great a deſire of his reſtauration that I was encouraged, at a proper ſeaſon to conſult him, &c. (where followeth a large relation of a particular ſervice I did, in order to his Majeſties reſtauration, which for brevities ſake I omit; and then he concludes with theſe words) All this, and much more of like nature I know, and am ready to atteſt for him; conceiving my ſelf obliged in honour and conſcience thereunto, he having then given me unqueſtionable evidences of his loyalty when his Majeſties Caſe ſeemed moſt deſperate, Feb. 4. 1660.

Thomas Woodcock.

Now Reader, canst thou imagine that I, who had ſo many years deſired and to my utmoſt endeavoured, even to the laſt, his Majeſties reſtitution, ſhould just then, when fear of the greateſt puniſhments made the moſt diſaffected pretend affection, I ſay that I ſhould then preach openly, in thoſe moſt odious words, againſt his Majeſties right of ſucceſſion? &c. unleſs thou ſhouldſt ſuppoſe that I therefore only deſired it, and endeavoured his recovering his right, that I might thereby be put into a capacity thus to loſe my whole eſtate.

Well, but as highly improbable as this Certificate, and theſe conſiderations render it, It was, ſaith Mr. Thompſon, proved by the oaths of five credible witneſſes, &c.

Anſw. 1. I have heard that the Law accounts him a credible witneſs, that hath not been convicted of perjury, or is not excommunicate. That in ſuch a ſence they were not credible I cannot affirm; but ſurely, there may be the greateſt reaſon not to credit ſuch credible Witneſſes. For who is ſo ſenſeleſs to ſuppoſe a man cannot ſwear falſely, till he hath been convicted of perjury, for then, how could he become guilty of that perjury of which he was firſt convicted?

2. I ſhall not affirm they made themſelves guilty of perjury, by what they ſwore againſt me; only this I affirm, that they laid to my charge things which I knew not, and might as truly have ſworn they ſaw me at Rome, who was never out of England, as that I ever preached thoſe words. But let the Reader call ſuch ſwearing what he will for me.

3. Neither ſhall I give the Reader a Character of them, conceiving my ſelf, after ſo great an injury received, not fit to do it. Only this I muſt needs ſay, that as much as they wronged me, they did not at all deceive me; for many years knowledge and experience of them taught me to expect nothing (ccQuaſi apud lapſos, & profanos eſſe aliud poſſit, niſi mens prava, & fallax lingua, & odi… venenata, & ſ… crilega mendacia. Cypr. ad Flor. Pupian. Epiſt. 69.) better from them; having often thought upon that ſtrange, yet moſt true inference of Abraham, Gen. 20. 11. I thought, ſurely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will ſl…y me.

4. Of them all, I ſay as the Evangeliſt of the Witneſſes that teſtified againſt our bleſſed Lord, Mark 14. 56. Their witneſſe agreed not together; which he obſerves again, as an infallible evidence of their falſhood, Ver. 59. But neither ſo did their witneſs agree together. When I obſerved and urged this at my tryal, I was anſwered, that they agreed in the main; with which anſwer, or rather the power of the Anſwerers, I was ſilenced, but not ſatisfied; nor will any judicious Reader I am certain. For, when it was only words of which I was accuſed, and five perſons ſwear poſitively each of them his words were thus, and yet all of them differently: Sure they muſt all but one at the leaſt be forſworn. And whereas it is ſaid they agreed in the main; unleſs it be meant that the main drift was to ſwear me out of my Living, and that in that they all agreed, I deny it. Nay, I affirm, that there was a more conſiderable difference betwixt any two of them than can be found in the depoſitions of thoſe two Witneſſes againſt our bleſſed Saviour. For they both agreed in the main indeed, and ſwore home to the Charge of blaſphemy; for all the difference between them was (as will appear to any one that ſhall compare Mat. 26. 61▪ with Mark 14. 58.) that one of them ſaith he ſaid, I can deſtroy this Temple, the other, I will. Now, whether he ſaid I can, or will, he aſcribed Divine Power to himſelf; for no man could deſtroy that Temple and build it up in three daies. In the main then they agreed, and yet it being words they accuſed Chriſt of, the Evangeliſt notes this diſagreement as a clear diſcovery of their perjury. But alas, theſe Witneſſes againſt me differed greatly, though they had ſuch a help as it may be thoſe before-mentioned wanted. 1. One ſwore, I ſaid theſe words in the beginning of my Sermon, another, in the middle, a third ſaid, I repeated them twenty times, and then they muſt be beginning, middle, and end too almoſt. 2. One ſaid the words were, That the King cauſed his death by marrying a Harlot and adulterous woman. Another, That they were his enemies that cauſed him to marry with a harlot and adulterous woman, for in marrying with that Papiſt Queen he adulterated his whole Generation. A third differs from both, and hath it thus, That the Kings friends were the Secluded Members, and that thoſe were his foes that counſelled him to marry with a Papiſt and Adultereſs. Another ſwears my words were, That the Queen that reigned laſt in England was a Harlot and an Adulterous woman. There are more very conſiderable differences in their ſeveral depoſitions, but theſe are ſufficient, which I have faithfully given thee, as they were taken by a Juſtice of the Peace, then preſent, from the mouths of the Deponents; which I am forced to make uſe of, for I was denied a Copy of the Articles, Depoſitions, and Judgment, by the Clerk, though promiſed it by the Juſtices; which promiſe when I urged to their Clerk, he told me the Juſtices, ſince that, gave order I ſhould have no Copy.

5. Obſerve, they name no day, nor no monethmonth, certainly, ſaying, In or about April, that ſo they might cut off, as far as they could, all poſſibility of a detection.

So much of the Witneſſes in general, we ſhall next conſider them ſeverally in their order.

The firſt was Henry Challen, and deſervedly, for he is ſecond to none; of whom I ſhall ſay no more than that this was the man that ſince ſwore for Mr. Thompſon, of which mention was made before. Now, if the Reader will but firſt enquire, of any intelligent impartial perſon, that was preſent at that tryal, what he ſwore there; I am content he ſhould afterwards credit him, as far as he thinks he deſerves it.

The ſecond was William Stone. This (Reader) was he that ſwore I ſaid the words twenty times. Now, let any man that ever heard me preach believe this if he can; and let all men judge what a credible Witneſs this is, when they have heard what twenty men, that heard me preach, (when this man ſaith, I uttered thoſe words twenty times over) ſay to the contrary; which they ſhall by and by meet with.

The third was Edward Lickford. This man came to my houſe the night before he ſwore againſt me; and after ſundry proteſtations, that he was none of thoſe that contrived the deſign, then carried on againſt me, asked me what I would propound and offer for the ſtopping that deſign; for he told me he was confident he could yet do it. I knew the man, and therefore ſuſpected a ſnare, and gave him no anſwer but this, that I knew my own innocency ſo well, that I was aſſured, unleſs men would perjure themſelves, they could not hurt me; and if he could prevent any ones commiſſion of that ſin, they would receive a greater benefit thereby than my ſelf. Yet he urged for another anſwer again and again, but I diſmiſſed him without any other anſwer.

The fourth was James Longley, who for this peece of ſervice was created Clerk by Mr. Thompſon ſo ſoon as he had poſſeſſion. When it was reported that he was to be a witneſs againſt me, an honeſt man, of the Pariſh, went to him, and asked him whether that report was true; He replied it was. Why, what can you testifie againſt Mr. Beaton? replied the other. To which demand he gave him this anſwer, I will teſtifie that Mr. Beaton ſaid, The King cauſed his death by marrying an Idolatry woman. Are you ſure theſe were the words? ſaith the other. Yes, ſaith he, that I am; I am ſure thoſe were his very words, uſing a ſtrong aſſeveration. And though, being urged by the ſame perſon to repeat the words, he ſtill confidently affirmed, without the least variation, that the words were Idolatry woman; yet he differed every time more or leſs in the others. Which being obſerved, and he being told that he and his fellow Witneſſes would, in all likelihood, diſcover themſelves, by their contradicting themſelves, and one another: No, no, ſaith he, Mr. Thompſon hath promiſed us, the words ſhall be read to us out of a Paper. Of all this I was informed by this man, who heard him ſpeak theſe words. Wherefore on the day of tryal I made a motion to the Juſtices, that no paper might be read, giving this relation for my reaſon; which motion was ſeconded by three Juſtices, but it was carried againſt them by the major vote; and then, this man that had affirmed with aſſeverations, that the words were Idolatry woman, and no other, ſwore Harlot and adulterous woman. Now Reader, I appeal to thee whether, when the Reverend Rector next reads the ninth Commandment, this Cleark (whatever the Fanaticks ſay to the contrary) hath not great reaſon to cry out, for himſelf and his Companions, Lord have mercy upon us.

The laſt was John Collen, whom I do exceedingly pity, above them all (though I pity them all.) This young man, I can prove, was prompted just as he was called in; but having a worſe memory than any of them (though none of them had ſuch a one as men of their profeſſion ought to have) he forgot the firſt part, and ſwore in theſe words: He ſaid that the Queen was a harlot, and an adulterous woman; and being asked whether I told what Queen, anſwered, that I ſaid the Queen that reigned last in England; and being asked whether I ſpake of the King, anſwered, he did not hear me ſpeak of the King at all. which was indeed the very truth, for he confeſſed ſince to an honeſt man, that he was at H…ſlemore when theſe words were ſaid to be ſpoken by me; and his elder brother coming a little after to my houſe, deſired I would forgive his brother, for he was meerly drawn in to do what he did. Sure, by this time, I may conclude my Reader fully ſatisfied, that no credit at all is to be given to theſe five credible Witneſſes; and he will be ready to conclude this following Certificate, though alone, ſufficient to ballance a hundred ſuch credible Winteſſes, yet after ſo plain a diſcovery needleſs. Yet having promiſed it, and referred to it, I have now annexed it.

Whereas Mr. Nehemiah Beaton, Miniſter of the Goſpel at Lurgarſhal, in the County of Suſſex, hath been accuſed, that about the latter end of March, or beginning of April, 1660. in a Sermon preached on Prov. 21. 1. he uttered theſe words, viz. That the late King cauſed his own death by marrying with an adulterous woman, and a harlot, whereby he adulterated his whole Generation: We whoſe names are underwritten, Inhabitants of the ſaid Pariſh, and his conſtant hearers, do teſtifie, and are ready, when called lawfully thereunto, to confirm the truth thereof by our oaths, as followeth, 1. That we were not abſent from the Church, neither on any Lords day, or other day, when any Sermon was preached by him, in our Pariſh Church, i… March, April, May, or June that year. 2. That Mr. Beaton preached not on Prov. 21. 1. either in March or April, nor untill the latter end of May. 3. That he did not, in any of the Sermons preached on that text, ſo much as name the late King or Queen, nor did we ever hear him then, or at any other time, uſe that, or any other expreſſion of a like ſenſe. Nay, 4. We know that we may ſafely ſwear, he never uſed them in any of thoſe three moneths fore-mentioned, nor we believe at any other time. Sure we are, that by the Sermons we have heard from him, and the private diſcourſes we have had with him, we judged him to be one that truly deſired his Majeſties happy reſt au ration. Laſtly, We teſtifie, that we are witneſſes of his holy, unblameable, exemplary, peaceable converſation; painful and profitable Preaching, Catechiſing, and other Miniſterial duties; ſo that we ſhould eſteem his removal a dreadful curſe upon this place.

Richard Launder, of Ramfold.

John Hook.

John Allen.

Richard Mills.

John Cooper.

John Launder.

Edmund Carter.

Thomas Wallis.

Richard Launder, junior.

George Wakeford,

William Boxold.

William Wakeford.

And many others.

I muſt deſire thee to obſerve, 1. That though there were many more that were confident of my innocency, yet becauſe they had but once or twice been abſent, in a quarter of a year, they were not capable of certifying for me; for they that witneſſed againſt me named no day nor certain monethmonth. 2. That two of theſe wrote my Sermons, one in ſhort hand, the other in long hand.

But what though I have more than balanced the teſtimonies of thoſe five credible perſons? It ſeems I have Hydra to fight with, and when I have cut off one head, five grow inſtantly in the place of it; for, ſaith J. Thompſon, and twenty five more being ready, if required, to depoſe the ſame.

Although, when I firſt read this paſſage, I verily believed it was as notorious a Thompſoniſm as ever man called Miniſter was guilty of: Yet I muſt confeſs, Obſtupui ſteterunt que comae—not out of the leaſt fear of this his numerous reſerve, but becauſe, whether true, or falſe it renders that Pariſh, to which I bear a moſt hearty affection, ſo miſerable and odious. If it be falſe, how could it be more unhappy in a Miniſter, unleſs the father of lyes himſelf take orders, and ſerve him as he hath ſerved me? If true, that beſides himſelf, and the five credible Witneſſes there are yet twenty five more to ſwear that falſhood; then a… one and thirty it puts down all the Pariſhes in England. But, Reader, I hope thou wilt be more charitable than to believe, that there are twenty five, yea, or five more that dare do what this man affirms they are ready to do. Sure I am, I have ſpoken with many, very many of Lurgarſhal, and the parts adjacent, about this paſſage; and they are moſt confident it is a falſe and foule ſlander.

But what if he had five hundred to ſwear it (as who knoweth but there may be ſo many Knights of the Poſt in England, and if there be, I know none more likely to know them) doth he think, that judicious and impartial men cannot, or will not diſtinguiſh between ſwearing and proving; or that Witneſſes are to be valued by number, and not by weight? But it ſeems, Reader, Mr. Thompſon fears an afterclap, and hath muſtered his forces for a ſecond hearing, for he ſaith, they are ready. For my part, though I do not pretend to much reading or learning, yet ſo much Philoſophy I have learned, that à privatione ad habitum non datur regreſſus; and ſo much Hiſtory have I read, that I know alſo, that that Axiome faileth almoſt as ſeldome in Civil and Politick privations, as in privations natural; ſo that, in that vaſt and large Catalogue of oppreſſed and ejected Innocents, which both ſacred and prophane History preſents us, you cannot find ſcarce one of a hundred that was ever relieved or reſtored. I do not therefore feed my ſelf with hopes of enjoying again what I am moſt unjuſtly deprived of; though yet of this I do not deſpair, nor ſhall decline any but ſeek by fit means opportunities of effecting it; but theſe are not the hopes I live upon, nor about this do I at all trouble my ſelf, but do in patience poſſeſs my ſoul; being aſſured, that if here I have not a ſecond, nor more ſuccesful hearing, there is a day coming, in which it is impoſſible the avarice or malice of an Informer, the perjury of Witneſſes, or partiality of Judges ſhould hurt me. This is the day I look for, and deſire to prepare for; and much better would it become, and more highly doth it concern Mr. Thompſon to make ready againſt that day, in which there will be ſomething ſaved or loſt that is more worth than the Rectory of Lurgarſhal, or Empire of the World. And if there ſhould be twenty five, or five, or one, that have liſted themſelves, and are ready to ſwear this notorious falſhood; let me beſeech them to think ſeriouſly of that day, and caſt up what it will profit them, by endeavouring to deprive me of my living, or good name, to loſe their own ſouls, I ſay, to loſe their ſouls; for though I dare not ſay with Chryſoſtome, aaChryſ. Hom. 12. in Act. Ap. c 5. Tom. 3.It is impoſſible that any perjured perſon ſhould be ſaved, yet this I may ſafely ſay, that as a man can hardly commit a greater ſin, ſo there is no ſin of which fewer repent, and eſcape thereby the damnation of hell. For a man to tell a lie to a Magiſtrate, ſitting in the place of God, as a judge; this is, with Ananias, not to lye unto Man, but God. For a man to kiſs, therefore to kiſs that bleſſed Book, the Goſpel of truth, that he may thereby betray and deſtroy his innocent brother; doth not this prove him poſſeſſed with Judas his devil? For a man to diſclaim all help from God, all benefit by the Goſpel, if he ſpeak not the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, (for ſo he ſaith, So help me God and the contents of this Book) when he is ready to ſpeak what he knows not to be true, or knows certainly to be falſe; this is, by being witneſs against his brother, to become his own judge, and to paſs a ſentence ſo terrible upon himſelf, that even devils would tremble at it; and yet he challengeth God to execute it.

And now, what if thou haſt known a man commit this ſin, or ſins (for it breaks both Tables at one blow) and yet he hath neither, with Ananias, fallen down dead In the act, nor, with Judas, fallen down headlong and burſt aſunder after the act; nay, what if thou hadst known a ſinner commit this evil an hundred times, and yet his daies be prolonged: Yet think not better of the ſin, nor of the ſinners condition, nor be encouraged thereby to commit it; for, unleſs he repent, he is but reſerved for greater puniſhments. That large roll of Curſes, twenty Cubits long, and ten Cubits broad, took its flight from the Temple, at the very inſtant in the which he committed that ſin; and hath been ever ſince upon the wing, and it will enter into the houſe of him that ſweareth falſely by the name of God, and it ſhall remain in the midſt of his houſe, and ſhall conſume it, with the ſtones thereof, and the timber thereof, Zech. 5. 3, 4, 5. The Lord grant, that the guilty may prevent the execution of this dreadful doom by a ſpeedy, hearty, and thorough repentance; and that all others may hear and fear, and do no more ſo wickedly. Which is all I have to ſay of his Witneſſes, either already ſworn, or who, he ſaith, are ready to ſwear. He next informs thee who were my Judges.

James Thompſon.

Before nine of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace, at Midhurſt, on the 19th. day of Decem laſt (though three of the ſaid Juſtices took little notice of it, viz, Mr. Shirley, Mr. Henry Onſlow, Mr. Lee, and refuſed ſubſcription) a Judgment was ordered to be drawn up, and ſigned by the other ſix Juſtices, that the ſaid N. B. had maliciouſly preached againſt his Sacred Majeſty that now is, his Right and Succeſſion to the Crowns of theſe Realms; and that he ought not to be confirmed into the Rectory, into the which he had intruded.

N. Beaton.

Of my Judges I was reſolved, once, to have ſaid nothing; not only becauſe, Non tutum eſt adverſus eos ſcribere, qui poſſunt proſcribere, but becauſe they all of them profeſſed, they paſſed this Sentence moſt unwillingly, and therefore only did it, becauſe the Witneſſes ſwearing as they did, they ſaid they durſt not but do it. But, ſeeing Mr. Thompſon will needs tell the world who they were that refuſed to ſubſcribe the Judgment; I cannot but ſay, that I heartily wiſh he had as well told who they were that did ſubſcribe it; and then I ſhould have been moſt willing to have left it to the Readers judgment, after the reading of this vindication, whether deſerved the greateſt honour. But ſeeing he hath not, I ſhall not.

That Mr. Shirley, Mr. Onſlow, Mr. Lee refuſed ſubſcription is moſt true; but that they took little notice of the Charge, the Witneſſes, &c. is a moſt impudent Thompſoniſm. For they therefore refuſed ſubſcription, becauſe they took notice of what others did not. And if ever that ſecond hearing come, of which you ſeem to be affraid; you and others will find, they took ſo much notice of ſome paſſages (not fit for me to mention, yet highly conducing to my vindication) that you will have no advantage, nor others credit. by their taking little notice. But why talk I of a ſecond hearing? Mr. Thompſon would fain gull his unwary Reader into a belief, that my Cauſe hath been twice heard and judged already. For ſaith he,

James Thompſon.

Which Judgment was immediatly ſtopt by a Writ of Certiorari; yet afterwards was returned into the Crown-office, and upon the motion of Sir William Wild, in the publick Court of the Kings Bench, at Weſtminſter, upon reading the Record, confirmed by my Lord Chief Juſtice, and three more of his Majeſties moſt reverend Judges, upon the eleventh day of February laſt.

N. Beaton.

To what purpoſe are the Kings Bench, the Crown Office, Sr William Wild, the Lord Chief Juſtice, the moſt Reverend Judges mentioned; unleſs to perſwade the Reader that I had a ſecond hearing? But this he durſt not affirm, it would have been too groſs. Let the Reader then know, that though I therefore obtained a Writ of Certiorari, becauſe I was informed it would produce a ſecond hearing; yet I found my ſelf wholly deceived, for no Witneſs was examined pro or con, nor enquiry made into the truth of any matter of fact, or the merits of the Cauſe, &c. What advantage then is this to his Cauſe now managing againſt my Reputation? What if the Judgment had been thus confirmed a thouſand times is it any proof of my guilt?

But, Reader, we have both now appealed (he by printing his Charge, I by publiſhing my defence) to a Court of Equity, thy Conſcience; and here, ſure, the reading of the Judgment, or his ſuggeſtions, will not without more ado produce a confirmation. But thou wilt hear and weigh both parties, and then, though my Adverſary, being firſt in his own tale, might ſeem righteous; yet when thou haſt conſidered, how I have come after and ſearched him, I am as certain I ſhall by thy juſtice be abſolved, as Mr. Thompſon is I was by the Juſtices condemned. Which abſolution of all ſober unbyaſſed perſons, though it leave me as far from my Living as before, yet would I not exchange, for more than my Adverſary enjoyeth by my condemnation. For though a good name be not, as precious as it is, to be named with a good conſcience; yet it is to be prized above a good, yea, the beſt Living.

But if it ſhould be the lot of theſe Papers to fall into the hands of perſons whom malice, prejudice, or intereſt will not ſuffer to receive ſatisfaction; or at leaſt will cauſe ſtill to pretend they are unſatisſied: As I regard not their cenſures, ſo can I eaſily foreſee, and could as eaſily obviate and anſwer all their cavils and objections; but ſhall take notice only of one, for the ſake of ſome honeſt, but very weak perſons, whom they may think to ſtartle with it.

Object. But can any man imagine, that ſuch a Charge could be forged, or framed without any ground? That five men would have ſworn it that, &c.

Anſw. Conſider, Reader, whom theſe Objectors wound whilſt they thus ſtrike at me. They not only offend and accuſe the whole Generation of the righteous, but do Crucifie again the Lord of Glory, and put him to open ſhame. For, if a man muſt needs be guilty becauſe condemned: Then what an Impoſtor and Malefactor must he be, who is holy, harmleſs, ſeparate from ſinners. For he was accuſed of blaſphemy, condemned as a Traytor and enemy to Caeſar; his proſecutors Prieſts, the Witneſſes many, and of conſiderable quality. And if they thus called, and condemned, the Maſter of the houſe, is it any wonder, that they deal thus with thoſe of his houſhold? Mat. 10. 25.

I am accuſed for calling the Queen Harlot, Adultereſs. Why, with the very ſame train did the devil blow up the Miniſtry of that holy Father, and faithful ſervant of Chriſt Chryſoſtome. (ddVid. vitam Chryſ per Pallad. Dacon. Script. & operibus ejus praefix p. mihi 9.) Adverſus Joannem calumnias ſtruunt, Sermones ipſius quoſdam aſſumentes, & ut dictos in probrum Reginae invidioſe divulgantes. They forged calumnies againſt him, taking hold of ſome ſpeeches of his, and maliciouſly ſpreading and divulging them, as ſpoken in diſgrace and reproach of the Queen. But what ſtirred up his Accuſers? Why, he had ſo freely and ſharply reproved their wickedneſs and prophaneneſs, that they reſolve ſome way or other to rid themſelves of ſuch a burden, and this was the likelieſt way. What if I never ſpake againſt his Majeſties right of Succeſſion? Yet I had ſpoken againſt ſome mens Swearing, Curſing, Debauchery, &c, and that was not put into the Act for confirming of Miniſters, as a cauſe why they ſhould not be confirmed, and the other was.

I ſhall conclude with the words of the learned Biſhop Sanderſon, Biſhop Sanderſon Serm. 1. ad populum on 3 King 21. 29.for they are, as his uſe to be, worth the tranſcribing. That there ſhould be mighty ones ſick with longing after their meaner neighbours vineyards; that there ſhould be crafty heads to contrive for greedy great ones what they unjuſtly deſire; that there ſhould be officious inſtruments, to do a piece of legal injuſtice upon a great mans Letter; that there ſhould be Knights of the Poſt, to depoſe any thing though never ſo falſe, in any cauſe though never ſo bad, againſt any perſon though never ſo innocent; that an honeſt man cannot be ſecure of his life, ſo long as he hath any thing elſe worth the loſing: Of all this (ſaith he) here is an inſtance in my Text. He doth not ſay that of all this my Caſe is an inſtance, nor will I now: but when any man goes about to ſhew wherein the parallel failes, he may know more of my mind; till then no more as to my own vindication.

But though I began with my own vindication, and have hitherto ſolely attended it; yet ſhall I not conclude, till I have alſo vindicated that noble Knight, Sir Richard Onſlow, from thoſe ealumnies and ſlanders which in this ſheet he hath publiſhed against him; for he hath done me the honour to abuſe me with that worthy and honour able perſon. With whoſe vindication I ſhould have begun, as the more conſiderable and noble ſubject, had not I conſidered, that till I had cleared my ſelf, I ſhould but ſully another by undertaking his defence. And here, though I ſhall not ſet down his words at length, as before, yet ſhall I not do him the leaſt wrong, but give thee the ſubſtance (ſuch as they have) of them. Only firſt I muſt acquaint thee with the occaſion of this his Schedule.

Some malicious perſons had publiſhed ſeveral Libels againſt Sir Richard Onſlow (for the ſmoak of envy and detraction will alwaies purſue the faireſt) in which they accuſed him to be the great enemy, and ejector of many learned, loyal, and Orthodox Divines. That is, they accuſed Moecenas to be a hater of Poets, and Alexander an enemy to valour. Well, againſt theſe Libellers Collonel Gardiner ſends out a hue and cry; in which he diſcovers the folly and falſhood of that accuſation; and names many learned, loyal, Orthodox Divines, whom Sir Richard was a refuge to in the late ſtorms, and amongst others (his only mistake) reckons up this James Thompſon. Which I call a miſtake, not that Sir Richard had never done him a Curteſie, but becauſe he reckons him amongst Learned Orthodox Divines. Now in anſwer to this hue and cry of Collonel Gardiners comes forth this narrative. A great part of which he ſpends in telling his Reader what he hath done and ſuffered in the late Wars. Six times he was impriſoned, but for what we do not know, nor where, nor by whom. I fear (ſaith a ſober Royaliſt, that ſuffered much for his Majeſty, in a book of his recommended by Dr. Hammond) if the Martyrology, even of theſe ſuffering times, were ſcanned; Venus, and Bacchus would be found to have many more Martyrs than God and Loyalty. But what if he were ſix times impriſoned, and for his Loyalty▪ what's that to Sir Richard Onſlow? Truly, as much as any thing that followeth.

For how, think you, doth he prove Sir Richard Onſlow turned out Orthodox Divines. Why he names ſeveral that were turned out in Surrey, and ſome of them within a few miles of Sir Richards houſe; and then, ſure, any ſober, loyal, Orthodox Divine will conclude Sir Richard turned them out. Is not this rare Logick? Sure his Shalford Commoners, that preferred thoſe Articles againſt him, which Sir Richard put up in his pocket, would have uſed better than this, or they had not deſerved to have lived on a Common among Geeſe. Suppoſe one of thoſe Articles was, that Mr. Thompſon was guilty of Fornication; and they had had no better proof of it than this, that ſeveral baſtards were born in Surry, and of ſome of them within no leſs than two miles of Mr. Thompſon; I am very confident, if they had had no better proof than this, if Sir Richard had been his Judge, he would have taken ſome notice of it, and refuſed ſubſcription.

Well, but though he be ſo bad an opponent, it may be he is a much better Reſpondent; which is the task he next undertakes. For Col. Gardiner had named Mr. Smith, Mr. Outred, Mr. Smith of Sheer, Mr. Bradſhaw, and Mr. Thompſon, as men whom Sir Richard had uſed his intereſt to preſerve in their Livings. Mr. Thompſon denies it, and theſe are his reaſons. Mr. Smith was a very civil perſon. Mr. Outred was a great Mathematician, favoured by Mr. Selden, and laid by Mr. Thompſon and Mr. Smith in his grave. Mr. Smith of Sheer lived 39. years within two or three miles from Sir Richard, and was old and blind. Mr. Bradſhaw he had no acquaintance with. And will any man now ſay Sir Richard was a means of preſerving theſe men in their Livings? But for himſelf, though, after all that he hath ſaid to the contrary, I am ſtill of opinion he was beholding to Sir Richard: Yet I muſt do him that right, that he hath ſufficiently made it appear that Col. Gardiner greatly wronged him in numbering him among thoſe perſons before-mentioned. So that, I think, he may be for ever ſecure from any fear of ſuch another injury.

And now, Reader, thou mayſt underſtand the meaning of that which follows that relation of my Ejection. For he brings it in, as an inſtance of Sir Richards enmity to Orthodox Divines, and to him in particular. his words are theſe.

J. Thompſon.

Such, notwithſtanding, was the zeal of Sir Richards affections, to Orthodox Divines, and to me in particular; that he put in a Caveat againſt me, unturned about the latter end of December, and ſtopt my Inſtitution, ſeveral weeks, to my great trouble and expence, &c. And this he did, though he had been aſſured of the truth of the premiſes againſt him, by a perſon of honour, and knew the Judgment to be confirmed in Weſtminster Hall before the Reverend Judges.

N. Beaton.

Here is Sir Richards offence, and then two wonderful aggravations of it. And what if all this were true, that Sir Richard entred a Caveat notwithſtanding, &c. It would amount to no more than this, that Sir Richard Onſlow was willing to have ſuccoured and relieved an innocent perſon, although he knew he had many and great enemies.

But, Reader, here are again three moſt notorious Thompſoniſms. For, 1. Sir Richard Onſlow never entred any Caveat againſt him in December, nor any other monethmonth, as I can prove by above five Witneſſes, whom thou wilt count credible. 2. I am authorized from Sir Richard to aſſure thee, that no perſon of honour, nor without honour, ever came to him to ſatisfie him of the truth of the Charge. 3. But theſe are nothing to this laſt. Mr. Thompſon tells thee, he entred this Caveat in December, though he knew the Judgment was confirmed in Weſtminſter Hall. Why, when was that Judgment confirmed? Mr. Thompſon told thee but now, it was not till the eleventh of February following. So that Sir Richard Onſlow knew in December that the Judgment was confirmed in February following. I confeſs, I knew a very large meaſure of knowledge might juſtly be attributed to Sir Richard Onſlow, but never thought we might aſcribe fore-knowledge to him. Wilt thou think I have dealt too harſhly with this man if he will never write one line of truth? How is it poſſible to anſwer him more civilly than I have done, unleſs thou wouldſt have me not diſcover his falſhoods?

But I am very glad this ungrateful task, which his malice unavoidably conſtrained me to, is almoſt at an end. For he concludes in theſe words.

J. Thompſon.

And now I hope, though the Collonel be a Kinſman of his (Sir Richard Onſlows he means) he will be no enemy to truth; but will acknowledge, Amicus Plato, amicus Socrates, magis amica veritas. For theſe are the civilities I muſt confeſs to have received from Sir Richard Onſlow; and ſhall expect the like, when he hath power to ſhew them, and I occaſion to uſe them; which, to uſe his late Majeſties words to me, in another caſe, immediatly after Edgehil fight, I hope will be, ad Graecas Calendas.

N Beaton.

That Col. Gardiner may call Plato, Socrates, and truth it ſelf friends, the character I have had of him, from good hands, abundantly ſatisfies me. But for your part, you have ſufficiently proved, that you are altogether a ſtranger to Plato and Socrates, and an utter enemy to truth. It is hard for a man that knows you only by this Schedule, to determine which are worſt, your Intellectuals or Morals. For there are but few lines in which we can find either ſenſe, reaſon, or truth. Latine, I confeſs, we find ſpilt upon all occaſions without any choice or diſcretion; for which, and the jest of Sword-man and word-man, ſure, thoſe honoured friends, for whom only you ſay you intended this Schedule, will admire you as a great Scholard. But alas they are ſuch pitiful old ends and ſhreds, that when I had read them, I could not forbear remembring Overburies Character of a Dunce, (but I will not apply it, though I tranſcribe it) His jeſts are either old flead Proverbs, or lean ſtarved hackney Apophthegms, or poor verbal quips, out-worn by Serving-men and Tapſters. But though I cannot hinder it, but ingenious Readers will ſmile at your wit and Latine; I will warn them, as they love themſelves, to take heed how they deſpiſe your Logick; for though it ſeemeth ſo pitiful, yet if ever they have that experience of you I have had, they will find you an excellent man at proving; and that Ariſtotle, Plato, and Socrates were but meer bunglers to you. For if once you bring your five, or twenty five, the controverſie is at an end, and their mouths are ſtopt. But I haſten to his concluſion. As the King told me, &c.

What did the King tell him? He hoped Sir Richard Onſlow would never have any power till the Greek Calends. That had been to his purpoſe indeed, and more to Sir Richards diſhonour than a thouſand ſuch Schedules; but no ſuch matter, he tels us it was in another caſe. Therefore the King is quoted for a moſt pitiful Proverb, which every Tayler and Barber hath worn threadbare. What learned Loyaliſt, that bears a due reverence to the memory of that learned Prince, can, without indignation, read this your concluſion? What monuments hath he left behind him of his Wit and Eloquence! His Learning and Wiſdom was ſuch, that it was admired by the greateſt Enemies of his Perſon, and contemners of his Authority. And muſt he be quoted for a pitiful Proverb that would not credit a School-boy? But it is Mr. Thompſon that is to be credited by the quotation, for that's the deſign of it, that we ſhould know that the King ſpake to Mr. Thompſon. But for that we have only Mr. Thompſons word; which if in this inſignificant buſineſs we ſhould take, he would not perhaps gain much more honour by it, if we knew what it was his Majeſty indeed ſaid to him, then that fellow did, who having been at Court, vapoured much amongſt his Companions in the Country that the King had ſpoken to him: The truth of which being queſtioned, and he urged to ſay what it was; Why, ſaith he, I ſtood in the Kings way, and he ſaid to me, get you out of my way, you unmannerly Coxcomb: That Mr. Thompſon might give his Majeſty ſome ſuch provocation to ſpeak to him, thoſe that know the impertinency, and the impudence of the man, will not judge very improbable.

This is all I intend now to ſay to him. To which if he ſhall have the forehead to reply, it is my reſolution to throw away no more hours upon him. For I know it is impoſſible he ſhould ſay any thing againſt the truth of any part of this Vindication. which any Reader, that hath or will read it, cannot, by the help of it, eaſily diſcover to be falſe or frivolous. And, to uſe his late Majeſties words on ſuch an occaſion, Myforeign, Cap. 15. patience, I thank God, will better ſerve me to bear, and my charity to forgive, then my leiſure to anſwer the many falſe aſperſions, which ſome men have (or ſhall) caſt upon me.

The foregoing anſwer to the falſe and ſcandalous Narrative of Mr. Thompſon I drew up as thou now haſt it ſo ſoon as I could procure one of them. But when I ſhould according to my own reaſon, and reſolution, the advice, and expectation of others, have ſent it to the Preſs, that unreaſonable unwillingneſs to be ſeen in Print, mentioned in the beginning of this Preface, ſo far again prevailed, that I threw it by, and for ſome moneths it hath now lain by me, nor hadſt thou now, nor I think ever been troubled with it, had not I, not only been informed lately out of thoſe parts how much my adverſaries and accuſers glory and triumph in my ſilence, but alſo found that it doth exceedingly animate Mr. Thompſon to further injuries. For within theſe few daies he hath commenced a ſuit againſt me for dilapidations; though it be notoriouſly known that I left the Parſonage houſe and buildings by many pounds better than I found them, and found them as fair and good as moſt Miniſters houſes in Suſſex. But what if he had found it an old, rotten, ruined houſe, &c. We have a Proverb, That it is not fit to look a given horſe in the mouth. Sure it were far more unreaſonable to look in the mouth of a ſtollen one. But was it ever heard that ſuch a one ſhould ſue the right owner becauſe he was not younger, or require him to furniſh him with Bridle and Saddle? How Mr. Thompſon came by my houſe is pretty well known, that afterwards he would have forced me to furniſh it for nothing thou haſt heard; he is now ſuing me becauſe it is no better. Canſt thou forbear, Courteous Reader, pitying a man, a Miniſter that would fain live in peace, follow his Studies, and fulfil that Miniſtry which he hath received of the Lord, but is fallen into the hands of one of thoſe Miniſters, which Paul himſelf ſo feared that he begs the prayers of others that he might be delivered from them, viz, (ee2 Theſ 3. 2. Vid. C. a Lap. & Sclat. in loc:2 Thess 3:2) Unreaſonable, and wicked men, (as we render it,) but unreaſonable and troubleſome men it may be rendered. Yet alas! there are others in the world who are far more to be pitied, and whoſe miſery lyeth heavier on my ſpirit than mine own troubles and loſſes, I mean thoſe miſerable Flocks that have ſuch devouring contentious beaſts, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks of in the place forecited, obtruded on them for Shepherds, ſuch lewd and lying Miniſters as that Prieſt was of whom Sir Thomas Moor ſaid jeſtingly, That he would not for any good hear him repeat the Creed, left he ſhould take it for a lye coming out of his mouth. That there are many ſuch Prieſts amongſt us is too evident; what hope there is that thoſe places which are plagued with them may be freed from them, the Sermons which are herewith put into thy hands will inform thee; which, though they are ſo mean, and plain in respect of ſtyle and compoſure, that without an inevitable neceſſity it would have been ignorance and arrogance to have made them thus publick, yet are they, as to the matter of them (I am ſure) ſo true, honeſt, and uſeful, that (under ſuch a neceſſity) I am not at all aſhamed that the world ſhould know who preached them. They were prepared for a plain, very plain Country Auditory, without the leaſt imagination that they ſhould ever have been made more publick than the preaching of them made them. But it being ſworn poſitively that it was in theſe Sermons preached on Prov. 21. 1. that I uttered thoſe words for which I was Ejected, it ſeemed abſolutely neceſſary for my vindication that I ſhould print theſe Sermons; which I have done without concealing, adding, or altering any thing, which might make them have any other ſenſe than they had when preached. Nay, I think I may ſafely ſay, that it is ſcarce poſſible to print a Sermon more exactly as it was preached. And the truth of this, not only mine own Notes in which (as my conſtant cuſtome is) I penned every word that I intended to deliver, but alſo the Notes of others who wrote the Sermons from my mouth when I preached them, will teſtifie. Now they are thus against my will gone abroad into the World, will the Lord but bleſs them to do the leaſt good to the ſouls of men. Nay, could I but know that any one ſoul might be bettered by reading them, it would make me forget all the troubles and ſufferings they have (by no fault of theirs) occaſioned to

Little Horſtead, Nov. 4. 1661. Their unworthy Author Nehemiah Beaton.