An Answer to the Charge of Walter Bushnel, Vindication
A Vindication of the Late Commiſsioners for the Ejecting of Scandalous Miniſters in the County of Wilts, (ſo far as it concerns Mr. Bliſſet, and other the Commiſſioners of Marleborough) from the Aſperſions of Walter Buſhnel, Vicar of Box.
VVHen Wee conſider how frequently (almoſt in every page) and how falſely Mr. Buſhnel doth accuſe and aſperſe ſo Eminent a perſon as Dr. Chambers, whoſe integrity wee thought had been beyond the reach of envy, wee ſuppoſe wee might bee ſilent, and leave the unprejudiced Reader to gueſs at the truth of his ſeveral charges againſt us, by his impudency and raſhneſs in attempting to faſten ſuch Notorious Calumnies on that Reverend Doctor; but fearing leſt herein hee may gratifie the Genius of ſuch who delight in aſperſing pamphlets, and are too ready to beleeve the ſame, wee thought fit to ſay ſomething for the vindication of our ſelves from the odious reproaches which Mr. Buſhnel endeavours to faſten on us.
In the firſt place wee ſhall only take notice of one paſſage in his Epiſtle dedicatory, where, in a Vaunting manner hee uſhers in his Narrative with plenty of reviling language againſt the Commiſſioners, thus.
You ſhall finde mee charging them with ſuch Crimes which are not onelyonly odious in men as Chriſtians, but with ſuch which were looked upon as vild and odious by the moſt civil ſort of Heathens, and yet I have not charged them with a ſyllable which I am not able by proofs to make good upon them.
Anſ. Tis very obvious that Mr. Buſhnels deſign herein is to prepoſſeſs thoſe honourable Perſons to whom hee dedicates his book, with prejudice againſt us, and to beget in them a beleef of what he ſaies▪ but what little reaſon hee hath to bee ſo confident, will appear when wee come to the tryal of his proofs, Parturiunt montes naſcetur ridiculus mus.
In his Epiſtle to the Readers hee ſaith? VVent hey meet with the word Commisſioners, they are not to underſtand mee, as intending thereby all thoſe Gent. whoſe names were put into the Ordinance, as charging them with thoſe unworthy and unjuſt proceedings, many whereof (as to my buſineſs) never acted: But the Commisſioners which I here ſpeak of, are thoſe that made ejecting of Miniſters a kind of Trade, and unqueſtionably to themſelves it was a beneficial one, ſuch who were conſtant, and frequent, and furious in the buſineſs, and were theſe, Mr. Bliſſet, Mr. Thomas Baily, and Mr. Hunt of Marlborough.
Anſ. It is to bee noted again, how Mr. Buſhnel doth anticipate the Reader, having not ſo much modeſty or patience as to give him Liberty to judge upon the whole matter as hee finds it, but hee will bee (as our Accuſer, ſo) our judge in paſſing ſentence: The charge which hee brings againſt us is complicated, or made up of theſe two parts.
1 That wee made the ejecting of Miniſters a Trade, and queſtionleſs a beneficial one.
2 That wee were conſtant, frequent, and furious in the buſineſs.
To the firſt of theſe wee have five ſeveral things to ſay by way of anſwer for our ſelves.
1 Tis ſufficiently known that wee of Marlborough have ever had an indignation againſt that generation of men that have vilified the Miniſters, as if they made a Trade of Preaching (though hapily ſome have been too guilty hereof) But the Vicar of Box is the firſt that hath made a diſcovery to the world of a new Trade of ejecting Miniſters; But how unlikely it is that this ſhould prove beneficial to us (whoſe Commiſſion was only to remove ſcandalous and inſufficient Perſons from their livings, but had no power to ſettle any into either Parſonage or Vicaridge) we leave to the indifferent Reader to judge.
2 Mr. Buſhnel may conceit what hee pleaſeth to bee unqueſtionable, wee cannot hinder that, nevertheleſs wee challenge him or any other whatſoever to make proof of the leaſt Emolument which ever did redound to us, and this from the hand of any perſon that either was brought before the Commisſioners on a charge exhibited, and not ejected, or upon a charge proved, was ejected, or any one perſon that was preſented and approved by the Committee of approbation in London, to the living of ſuch perſon as by us was removed; yea (as well knowing our own innocency) wee do conjure Mr. Buſhnel to perform the promiſe which hee makes in his Epiſtle, that hee would not charge us with a ſyllable which hee was not able by proof to make good, and let the impartial reader judge whether Mr. Buſhnel who would bee taken for a faithfull Miniſ…er of Chriſt) bee not bound in point of honour to himſelf, and his profesſion▪ yea and in point of conſcience to (if there bee the ſenſe of either of theſe upon him) to make good by proof the foul charge which hee laies upon us (thorow out his book) of being mercinary perſons, and ſuch as have been brib'd with monyes, Plate, Horſe, and hay: For to this effect h…e ſpeaks in ſeveral places of his book, particularly in Pag. 227▪ where alſo our wives cannot eſcape his venemous pen.
3 Wee were ſo far from making this work of ejection, a beneficial Trade (as Mr. Buſhnel terms it) that in carrying on the ſame, wee all along, from firſt to laſt, acted upon our own private charge to the expence of above twenty pound apeece, to ſeveral of us, which monyes wee can prove (if occaſion require) was ſpent in our ſeveral journies, and ſittings, the which was never reimburſed by any perſons, nor yet out of the monies raiſed for incident charges.
4 Wee appeal to the great God, the ſearcher of all hearts, to whom all our actions and waies are fully known, that wee are cleer and guiltleſs of the charge which Mr. Buſhnel hath laid upon us, as to the value of one penny in Plate or money, or in any other kinde whatſoever: yea further for our vindication,
5 Wee do freely offer (if ever required thereunto) to take our oaths before any Judge of Asſiſe, or Juſtice of the peace; that wee have not either directly or indirectly taken any ſuch Bribe, Gift, or reward, or ever knew that in the work ejection wee lay under ſuch a temptation from any perſon whatſoever, and therefore wee do again require Mr. Buſhnel to produce any perſon within our County, or any other part of the Kingdome, that can teſtifie the Giving, or our receiving any ſuch Bribe or Gift, to us, or by us, in relation to this ejection work, and wee are ſenſible (as who is not) that at this day men will not bee ſhy or backward to make out any ſuch thing (if they could do it) as Mr. Buſhnel in his Narrative doth accuſe us of.
Now to the ſecond part of Mr. Buſhnels charge, That wee were conſtant, frequent, and furious in the buſineſs.
Anſw. Wee ſhall make but a ſhort reply to this, as being not ſo conſiderable as to require many words; It is confeſt that wee were more conſtant and frequent than ſome others of the County, becauſe the ſitting of the Commisſioners was uſually in Marlboro…gh, the place of our habitation (for of fifty four meetings there were above thirty in the ſaid Town) and moſt of our work was in the Northern part of the County, below us or neer unto us (there being little to bee done in the Southern part, which was formerly purg'd of ſcandalous Miniſters by the Committee long ſince appointed by Order of the houſe of Lords and Commons: Moreover, ſeveral of the Commiſſioners dwelt neer Marlborough, who did as frequently attend the meetings (for ſome of them) as wee our ſelves; and here wee would have Mr. Buſhnel know that as wee can with boldneſs appeal unto God as to our ends and aimes, in our diligent attendance upon that imployment, that they were worthy and becoming the truſt repoſed in us, ſo to this very day (notwithſtanding all his aſperſions) wee do not in the leaſt repent of being inſtrumental in the removal of any ſcandalous perſon, nor are wee conſcious to our ſelves of being furiouſly tranſported at any time in the management of that work, againſt Mr. Buſhnel or any other, but conſcienciouſly made it our buſineſs to proceed ſecundum allegata & probata.
In the ſame Epiſtle to the Reader hee ſaith, The Commiſſioners did often violate that Ordinance by which they ſate, and according to which they were to act, and that in many particulars. As in admitting and countenancing ſuch to ſwear (if they appeared againſt mee) which their Ordinance excepted againſt, in excluding ſuch witneſſes, if appearing for mee (yea after they had been ſworn) which by their Ordinance they were to admit of; and at laſt making a peremptory Order, that ſuch as would, might appear againſt mee, but no more in my behalf; and I charge them for diſcountenancing, interrupting, and thwarting with many witneſſes, &c.
Anſw. Here is a long Chain of Calumnies that hath not one link of truth in it, and doubtleſs hee did on purpoſe ſet his invention on work, how to aſperſe us, and wee muſt needs acknowledge his ſigular dexterity herein; But let Mr. Buſhnel prove that wee did ever knowingly admit or countenance any perſon (by our Ordinance excepted againſt) to ſwear, or refuſe witneſſes produced by him, then wee are contented to undergo his cenſure; if hee means, that, of our admitting Pinchin and Sanders to ſwear, hee cannot but remember they had given in their Depoſitions againſt him before the Crimes hee charges them with were proved unto us, and as to the making that Peremptory Order, what rational man will beleeve it? it's as falſe a ſuggeſtion, as thoſe that follow, viz. our diſcountenancing, interrupting and thwarting his witneſſes.
It follows in the Epiſtle, And I charge them all, Commiſſioners, Miniſters, and Clerk, for countenancing and incouraging infamous perſons, ſuch who had forſworn themſelves, and touching ſome of themſelves, in their hearing, ſuch as appeared out of malice, by their own confeſſion, and were proved guilty of ſuborning, and of being ſuborned, to their faces; yea, and ſuch as we ſhould have proved guilty of forgery likewiſe, had not theſe Commiſſioners and Miniſters by a notorious peace of injustice prevented it.
Anſw. Here Mr. Buſhnel doth exactly obſerve the Rule to Machiavel, hee hopes that by calumniating luſtily, ſomething will ſtick: To this horrid and unjuſt Charge the Dr. hath ſufficiently (ſo far as it concerns himſelf eſpecially) replied, and ſhewed the impertinency and invalidity of the ſeveral proofs, whereby Mr. Buſhnel hath indeavoured to faſten this accuſation on him, and 'twill bee evident to any one who hath the patience to peruſe his Book, that hee makes no conſcience of what hee ſaies, for throughout his whole Narrative there is not one Argument or Proof ſufficient to ground this charge upon the Commiſſioners. We do therefore once more deſire Mr. Buſhnel to be ſo ingenuous, as to inſtance and declare which of the Commiſſioners did ever countenance ſuch kind of perſons as here mentions, and to ſhew wherein the Commiſſioners were ſo unjuſt as to prevent the diſcovery of any who were guilty (as hee ſaies) of Forgery: Wee do acknowledge that (amongſt ſeveral ſubſtantial witneſſes produced againſt him) there were ſome few whoſe teſtimonies (after ſome crimes alledged againſt them) were not ſo authentick as others, and doubtleſs Mr. Buſhnel means theſe: to conclude this, if the Articles offered by Trevers bee that which hee intends for forgery, it is well known, and Mr. Buſhnel cannot but remember, that they were diſowned and rejected, and hee not proſecuted thereupon, but upon others; and if this bee not it which hee ſtrikes at, wee cannot gueſs at what hee means.
Page 212. But ſince I have heard that ſome body hath furniſht one of the Marlborough Commisſioners with a horſe, yea, and that ſome body hath preſented him with a parcel of hay ſince that, ſo that it may bee that the horſe or the hay made the ſpeech and not the maſter.
Anſw. To this blinde ſtory of ſome bodies giving theſe things to ſome body of the Commisſioners, wee ſhall ſay no more, than that wee know not of any perſons giving, or of any ones receiving the ſame, and do challenge Mr. Buſhnel to diſcover the perſons (if hee can) according to what hee declares in his Epiſtle dedicatory, who ſaith that hee hath not charg'd us with a ſyllable which hee is not able by proof to make good upon us.
In pag. 249. Mr. Buſhnel ſaies (as Mr. Stern reported it) that the Commisſioners demanded fifteen pound of him for their incident charges in thruſting mee out.
Anſw. How true this is that Mr. Stern reported it, wee know not, nor do wee beleeve Mr. Stern will juſtifie it, nay, we are ſure, hee cannot, for Mr. Stern well knows that there was never more than ten pound demanded from him for incident charges for the Vicaridge of Box, but upon what ground Mr. Buſhnel doth impute this demand to bee meerly for thruſting him out, wee cannot imagine: Reader, ſee the Ordinance by which wee acted, and thou wilt perceive for what incident charges (at which Mr. Buſhnel ſo often cavils) was demanded.
In pag. 252. I have not yet done with this fifteen pound charges incident (and when I have done with that I have done with all) for let mee now obſerve unto thee, what a beneficial Trade theſe Marlborough men made of it, Let the winde ſit which way it would: I think in this particular out-doing the Jews themſelves, for they would ſo far improve their opportunities, that fall out what could, they would turn it to their advantage.
Anſw. What cauſeleſs Outcry doth this man make? the relation it ſelf being falſe, as wee have ſhewed, and what was paid came from Mr. Stern, not Mr. Buſhnel; Hee tels us, having done with this, hee hath done with all, and if this bee all that hee can bring by way of charge againſt the Marlborough Commisſioners, let the Reader judge, whether it amounts to any thing? No doubt Mr. Buſhnel making it his deſign (as it appears) to render the Commisſioners odious, conſulted with the reſt of his brethren that had been in the ſame praedicament with him, to finde out what other ſums came to our hands. But hee could hear of none, therefore makes the ten pound incident charges received of Mr. Stern (to which himſelf invents and adds five more) as it were his Text, upon which hee raiſeth an Obſervation what a beneficial Trade the Marlborough men made of it; this is as natural as ſome of thoſe Reaſons by which hee proved his doctrine at his examination before the Commisſioners and Miniſters.
Mr. Buſhnel having not yet ſufficiently diſgorged himſelf, wee finde him again at the fifteen pound, pag. 255. And (ſaies hee) fifteen pound they demanded for thruſting mee out; 'tis good being a hang-man upon ſuch terms; and queſtionleſs this was enough to make mee ſcandalous, becauſe I would not daub, and they were reſolved to get by mee, one way or other.
Anſw. This as to the matter of Fact is before anſwered, wee ſhall not (with Mr. Buſhnel.) reiterate, as to what follows, 'tis very unſavoury and unbecoming the mouth of a Miniſter; and truly the Commiſſioners need not bee ſuſpected of injuſtice, in outing Mr. Buſhnel for a ſcandalous perſon, when the very language which comes from his Pen for the vindication of himſelf, ſpeaks him ſcandalous, and wee doubt not but the Reader will judge him ſo, if hee caſts his eye onelyonly upon thee 154 page of his Book, where hee diſcovers the froth and filth of his ſpirit, in comparing the Commiſſioners to Hang-men, Sheep-ſtealers, &c.
In the ſame page Mr. Buſhnel makes ſport for his Reader, in relating a ſtory which hee heard of a theeviſh Miller, to whom hee compares the Commiſſioners, his words are theſe; And now one would think that they had undone mee, as much as poſſible, and yet Mr. Sterne hath told mee, that hee is a greater loſer than myſelf, that I am four hundred pound the worſe, but that hee is five hundred pound the worſe: ſo that to mee hee ſeems to have met with ſome of ſuch a diſpoſition▪ whereof I have heard a Miller to bee, who ſtole five pecks out of a buſhel.
Anſw. This ſhews that Mr. Buſhnel in the want of truth hath a minde to make himſelf merry with his own lyes, for hee was removed from Box in September, 1656. and this Vicaridge reputed worth but ninety pound, per annum, and hee entring to it again before harveſt 1660. So that hee was deprived of the profits of the ſame, not full four years, the which Mr. Sterne took fully to his own uſe (excepting only the tend pound incident charges) ſo that what Mr. Buſhnel loſt, Mr. Sterne had and*Fifts to Mr. Buſhnel onelyonly excepted. received, how then doth it follow that theſe two men can bee loſers of nine hundred pounds between them? This is much like the Millers ſtealing five Pecks out of a Buſhel.
And now as to what concernes Mr. Bliſſet (one of the Commiſſioners) in particular, the Reader is deſired to obſerve what followes.
Pag. 208.As to my ſelf in particular, whereas in page 208. he boldly chargeth me (though upon a bare report) with the receiving of xx. l. his words are, viz. Theſe men as Godly as they are, love dearly to be fingering mony, Mr. Sterne hath ſaid that Mr. Bliſſet had xx. l. of him (I believe half the mony would have made him my friend) which in all probability he had an eye to of a long time.
Anſw.Now let the Reader judge of the ſpirit of this man, who is not onelyonly void of charity, but common Ingenuity; to make ſuch a Concluſion from a bare reported Premiſſes, and to paſs ſuch a poſitive ſentence upon ſuch a report, as will appear to be a very grand miſtake between them, (I mean Mr. Buſhnell and Mr. Sterne) and I refer him to Mr. Sterne for the rectifying thereof, & then I doubt not but he will quickly ſee his over-forwardneſs in cenſuring, conjecturing and believing ſo much amiſs of me, but more of this by and by▪
Pag. 239.Mr. Buſhnell hath another fling at me, in page 239. hopeing that ſome of his dirt will ſtick. It ſeems (ſaith he) that Mr. Bliſſet was well acquainted with Mr. Sternes recei…,I doubt not but he and his ſon William hath been well acquainted with ſome of Mr. Sternes diflurſements.
Anſw.It ſeems, and I doubt not, proves nothing, but is a farther manifeſtation of his ſpleen, Laying the ſtreſs of all he ſaith, upon conjectures, and his own bare ſuppoſitions. Again, he harps upon the ſame ſtring, leſt it ſhould be forgotten, in page 249.
Pag. 249.Beſides the xx l. Mr. Bliſſet had from him, of which I have ſpoken already.
Anſw.And ſo have I alſo.
Pag. 253.Again page 253. That he might be ſure his Reader ſhould not forget, yea that he might the more certainly confirm him in the beleef of that which before he affirmed barely upon the report of another, the ſame is now become a truth upon his own knowledge, for ſaith he, And here I can ſpeak upon my own knowledge, xx l. Mr. Bliſſett had, I know not for what elſe, Anſw.but for putting Mr. Sterne in.
Herein Mr. Buſhnell doth imitate thoſe who by often telling incredible ſtories come at length to believe them to be truthes; And were it true, yet it muſt be a lye in him, ſince here he affirms that to be true on his own knowledge, which in ſeveral pages before he confeſſeth he took up onelyonly on the bare Report of Mr. Sterne: But however Reader for thy ſatisfaction, I ſhall farther add, for the clearing my ſelf in this particular,
That I never ſaw one penny of Mr. Sternes mony in all my life, nor did I (or any other to my uſe) ever receive one penny, much leſſe ſuch a ſum from him, or from any other by his appointment; nor was I ever under that temptation from him, nor did I know or was I made acquainted with what contracts Mr. Sterne made with any perſon in order to his coming into Box: Though (I believe) Mr. Sterne will acknowledge he received from me as many civilities as he could in reaſon expect (being a ſtranger to me) which he hath often acknowledged to many perſons, and fully expreſſed the ſame in a letter long ſince unto me. Therefore knowing my own innocency as to this charge, I do appeal to Mr. Sterne to Juſtifie the truth of this my Proteſtation, who is quoted by Mr. Buſhnell to be the Authour of this ſcandalous Report.
Pag. 254.Again in page 254. Mr. Buſhnell adds, And if it be as Mr. Sterne hath reported it, Mr. Bliſſet hath not been wanting to himſelf in this buſineſs; for he hath not onelyonly made the Vicaridge of Box bring him in plentifull returns to his Treaſury for the preſent, but alſo he hath ſo providently provided it, that it ſhall yield him a crop after we are dead and gone, for as Mr. Sterne told me, he hath got the next Preſentation to the place, ſo that it is not to be wondred, that he ruined me firſt, and (after he had received his largeſs from him) cared not how ſoon Mr. Sterne were gone from the place, in order whereunto, it was indeavoured that he ſhould be made weary of it, becauſe his turn was next, and ſo upon Mr. Sternes avoidance, he might make uſe and benefit of his preſentation.
Anſw.This charge againſt me will ſoon be brought to a ſhort iſſue, It conſiſts of two parts, The one (though expreſſed in other termes) I have already anſwered, viz. Box Vicaridge bringing in plentifull returns to my Treaſury (I ſuppoſe hee means the twenty pound) I ſhall ſay▪ no more to this. The ſecond is as falſe a ſuggeſtion as the firſt; Let this bee the iſſue between us: I appeal to that honourable perſon Sir Hugh Speak, Knight and Baronet, who is the undoubted Patron thereof; I ſay, I have nothing to do in the next Preſentation, nor had I in the laſt, more than in telling Sir Hugh Speak that I thought Mr. Sterne to bee an able & honeſt man, & one that might deſerve his favour▪ ſo that theſe premiſes having no foundation, I doubt not but the impartial Reader will adjudge his Concluſion, pag. 255. as rotten. I abhor that ſaying of his, that I ruined him, hee may very well remember my inclinations towards him were otherwiſe*I appeal to Edw. Carter Eſq; his Counſel.. I require Mr. Buſhnel to make good (if hee can) that I indeavoured to weary Mr. Sterne of Box, that I might make my advantage upon the next Preſentation*Enquire of Mr. Sterne.. Theſe, Mr. Buſhnel, of all aſſertions in your Book▪ are the moſt diabolical: I challenge you, or any perſon whatſoever, to make good theſe, or any other paſſages of the like nature upon mee throughout all the Actions of my whole Life (having been in publick imployment neer fourteen years laſt paſt.)
Reader, wee thought fit to tell thee, that wee have had no greater allowance of time, than ſome forty eight hours, both for the reading of Mr. Buſhnels Book, and compoſing an Anſwer to thoſe Paſſages that ſeem to reflect upon us; for till within this two daies wee had no thoughts of entring upon this ungrateful work, neither did wee know of any Reply that the Doctor intended, which might give us an opportunity to annex ſomething thereunto for our vindication, and if wee miſtake not, wee do not finde any thing in his Narrative, ſave what the Dr. and our ſelves have fully anſwered to, that carries any matter of Reflection with it. As for his oblique charges, ſcurrilous expreſſions, and quibbles, and Mr. Bliſſets Circumſtance ſo often iterated and ſported with, wee are reſolved not to take notice of them: But if in this undertaking of his hee had had ſo mnch modeſty and ingenuity as to have forborn his invective and ſatyrical language both againſt Commiſsioners and Miniſters, and had fairly ſet before the Reader the whole proceedings in the buſineſs of his Ejection, without ſuch monſtrous Comments and Inferences, and not put the ſtreſs of the Truth of what hee principally chargeth on us, upon [As I conjecture] [as I think] [as I beleeve] [as I was told by ſome body] [as it hath been reported] [and in probability] [and it ſeems ſo] [and 'tis evident enough to mee] and as I remember] [and the like.
Riſum teneatis amici? wee ſhould have thought the judgement of his Ejection (as to the Matters charged on him, and the proofs thereof made by ſuch witneſſes (as hee renders them) and the defence made by himſelf, and his witneſſes for him) would have lain with the more clearneſs before the Reader, as to the Sentence of his Ejection, whether it was juſt or unjuſt.
FINIS.