A Parish Looking-Glass, Letter 1 – Letter 4

A Parish Looking-Glass · Letter 1 – Letter 4

p. 7Civit. Cant. ſſ.

WE the Maior and Aldermen of the City of Canterbury, and other Inhabitants there (at the requeſt of Richard Culmer of p. 8the ſaid City Clerk, who hath lived in, or near the ſaid City for many years laſt paſt) do hereby certifie, That the ſaid Richard Culmer is a man of exemplary Life and Converſation, and an able and diligent Preacher of Gods Word: In Teſtimony whereof we have hereunto ſubſcribed our Names, this tenth day of Auguſt, Anno Dom. 1642.

Cleve Carter Maior, Avery Sabin. James Maſter, wil. wbiting, John Stanly, John Lade, William Bridge, Danicl Maſterſon, John Terry, John Watſon, George Knot, John Pollen. Paul Pettit, Viſpaſian Harris, Peter Pyard, Richard Juxon, Themas Player, George Yong, Roger Sympſon, William Cullen, Francis Mapleſden, George Milles, Edward Norden, Thomas Kingsford, Thomas Truſſer, John Sympſon, Walter Mond, John Routh, Edward Maſter, John Nutt, William Man, Edward Berry, John James, Henry James, Giles Maſter, Nicholas knight, Henry White, Allen Epps, John Bix, William Ruſſel William Jones, William Maſter, Robert Beak, George Nichels, William Cullen Sen. William Glover, Matthew Spencer, John Woodware, Richard Hardris, Chriſtopher Harſlet, Edmond Criſp, Thomas Den, Robert Lade, Edward Engeham, Edmona Randolph, Edward Aldy Rector of S^t Andrews in Canterbury, James Nicholſon, Philip Delme, Thomas Ventris Rector Sanctae Margaretae, John Player, Thomas Courthop, John Lee, Michael Page, William Taylour, Thomas Ventris.

This is a true Copy of the Original remaining in the Aſſembly.

Henry Roborough Scriba, Adoniram Bifield Scriba, John Wallis.

To the Honourable Committee of Parliament for Plundered Miniſters.

Honourable Sirs,

VVE are bold to move you in the behalf of M^r Richard Culmer, a Miniſter, who lives in Canterbury; The Burgeſſes, Maior, and Principal Inhabitants whereof, do give a very good Teſtimony of him under their hands in writing, whom we alſo know to be as they teſtifie of him; And we further teſtifie, That he hath been a very forward advancer of the Common Cauſe, by his Miniſtry, and otherwiſe, from the beginning of theſe diſtractions; And was long ſuſpended for not publiſhing the Book for Sabbath ſports: But now is altogether unprovided of a ſetled Miniſtry. Our earneſt requeſt is, That he may be taken into your conſideration, and provided for ſomewhere in theſe parts: We are very unwilling ſuch men ſhould be diſcouraged, or p. 9that the ill-affected ſhould point at them, as unregarded▪ So we humbly take leave, and remain,

Octob 9. 1643. Your Loving Friends to be commanded, John Lade Maior, James Oxinden, John Boys, William Man, Michael Lewſie, Ri. Hardres, Edward Scot, Thomas Weſtrow, Mark Dixwell, Edward Boys, John Boys.

This is a true Copy of the Original remaining in the Aſſembly,

Henry Roborough Scriba, Adoniram Bifield Scriba, John Wallis.

To the Honourable the Committee appointed by the Parliament for Plundered Miniſters.

Gentlemen,

I Do herewith preſent unto you M. Richard Culmer, a Miniſter of Canterbury, who though I cannot properly ſay he hath been plundered, yet hath loſt much for not publiſhing the Book for Sabbath ſports: And I have had perſonal experience from the firſt of theſe diſtractions of his fidelity, and great activeneſſe in the Common Cauſe. And now ſeeing a Teſtimonial under the hands of the Burgeſſes for Canterbury, and of the Maior, and many well-affected chief Inhabitants there; That he is a man of exemplary life, and an able, and diligent Preacher: And ſeeing alſo Letters directed to you in his behalf, from many of the Deputy-Lieutenants of Kent: And for aſmuch as I am certified that the Archdeacon of Canterbury hath deſerted his Cure at Ickham near Sandwich in Kent: My earneſt requeſt to you is, That M^r Culmer may by your Order officiate that Cure, and be ſetled in it, if the Archdeacon ſhall be removed out of it: And I am the rather willing to move you on M^r Culmers behalf, for that I know the Houſe of Lords (taking him into ſpecial conſideration) did Order that he ſhould ſucceed the Dean of Canterbury in the Parſonage of Chartham; but at my motion he ſate down, and gave way that my Lord Generals Chaplain ſhould have that Benifice: And ſo with my affectionate reſpects commended to you, I reſt,

Warwick-houſe, Feb. 2. 1643. Your very aſſured Friend. WARWICK.

And to proceed, after thoſe Libels were ſpread abroad in Print: A Libel was written againſt him at Canterbury, and in the night thrown under the door of the then Maior of Canterbury, who ſent it up to the Committee for Plundered Miniſters: And (to cauſe the people to deſtroy him) they raiſed a falſe report againſt him, that he had p. 10broken the earthen pots or pipes, which conveyed water to the City, and that he was ſeen to break them; And that he had ſaid, that all that neither could or would give any thing to the Parliaments proceedings, ſhould be put into a houſe, and the houſe fired on them; and that the King would be at Canterbury at ſuch a day, and then M^r Culmer ſhould be hanged, But threatned folks live long. And M^r Culmer being ſo recommended to the Committee for Plundered Miniſters, as afore-ſaid; they thereupon reſolved to place him in the Sequeſtred Vicarage of Mynſter in Kent; But the Malignants and Cathedralliſts from Canterbury, and ſome from Harbledown preſently endeavoured to make the minds of the people of Mynſter ill affected againſt him; and it was ſaid often openly in the ſtreets at Canterbury, Blue Dick ſhould be ſet out of Mynſter; And divers Miniſters that ſeemed to be his friends, did him ill offices there, for their own ends: One that aimed at that Living himſelf, told them, that although the Committee had voted M^r Culmer the Place, yet if they would ſtir and ſhew great oppoſition againſt him, they might remove him: An other (when he ſaw he could not get it for himſelf) adviſed them maliciouſly, ſaying, Clog it with a Lecture, clog it with a Lecture; But after the people had heard M^r Culmer preach there, nineteen of the Pariſh ſubſcribed, that they were willing to receive him as their Paſtor: And one of the chiefeſt did then give him loving entertainment, but deſired him to entertain his brother-in-law M^r P. then Curate to be his Aſſiſtant, and to give him 40^lb by the year, which M^r Culmer deſired to be excuſed in, ſaying, He was able to officiate alone, and that if 40^lb per annum Fifts, and as much in Taxes, and 40^lb to his Aſſistant, Were paid out of 200^lb, he ſhould have little himſelf: But the truth is, That Curate was very ſcandalous, called The Father of Drunkards, becauſe divers Toffe-pots in the Pariſh called him Father, and he called them Sonnes: But one day in a Cellar they complained to him, that he called them Sonnes, but gave them no portions: Then he gave them portions; To one Knaves-acre, to another Dunſ-acre, to another Cuckolds-corner, to another a Patent to hug and buſs, to another Meretrix-Hall: He would tipple with them in the Tap-houſe near the Church every day in the week, and on Holy-dayes, out of the Ale-houſe to the Church, and from the Church to the Ale-houſe, and come out hollowing at midnight, and was ſo drunk that he could not ſtand: He would bowl with them on the Sabbath, and forced the people by threats openly in the Church to come up and kneel at the Alter rails; And ſaid, Prince Rupert p. 11came over to right his Ʋncles Wrongs. And when M^r Culmer came to the Vicarage-houſe, there was a large Picture of a man in the window, and underneath it was written, Salvator mundi, the Saviour of the world. But M^r Culmer ſaid before many preſent, This is not the Saviour of the world, for it cannot ſave it ſelf, and thereupon daſhed it in pieces; But the Curate reviled him, and ſaid, It was there in many Doctors times, and in M. Bromwels time; He had ſerved above twenty years as Curate there, and was well beloved. And his Predeceſſor Curate would go to Sandwich and fetch Bottles, hanging round under his Prieſts coat; He was wont to huddle up forenoon and afternoon Service altogether, and tell the people he did it, becauſe there was a merry meeting in the afternoon; And the Prieſt (as they call'd him) was ſure to be preſent, and it was their glory to have him amongſt them, in their drunken courſes, and to laugh at the drunken Prieſt.

Another thing was then propounded to M^r Culmer at his firſt coming, viz. That he would give under his hand in writing, to take the Tythes as the Sequeſtred Doctor had them: But he refuſed to make any compoſition, whereupon differences aroſe: And the brother-inlaw to the Curate ſaid, He would ſpend 500^lb to keep out Mr. Culmer, and procured divers others to joyn with him to keep out M^r Culmer, and to bring in ſome other Miniſter. But when they ſaw they could not prevail to bring in whom they would; They went up to the Reverend Aſſembly of Divines, ſitting at Weſtminſter, to get any, they cared not whom, to ſupplant M^r Culmer; being confident that any Member of that Aſſembly would carry it from him: There they firſt met with D^r Smith, who hearkned to them at the firſt: But having diſcourſed with M^r Culmer, and ſeen his Teſtimonials, and enquired of M^r Herbert Palmer, and others touching him; He came to M^r Culmer and told him, That if his Living were worth 500^lb per annum, he would not have it from him, but would aſſiſt him againſt his adverſaries: But afterwards they ſurprized one of that Aſſembly, who accepted of that place; but when it was moved in the Aſſembly for his approbation from them to the Committee for Plundered Miniſters; M^r Herbert Palmer, who had known M^r Culmer for many years, made a Speech in his behalf of at leaſt half an hour long, as if it had been penned, and (amongſt the reſt) he ſaid, If Mr Culmer be ſupplanted of this Living, I am confident the Malignants in Canterbury will make bonfires for joy: Then D^r Gouge, M^r Wilſon, D^r Corpet, and others there, which knew M^r Culmer, ſpake alſo in his behalf: p. 12whereupon the Vote of the Aſſembly was, That their Brother ſhould be intreated to ſit down, and give way to Mr Culmer for that Place: And thereupon after that Aſſembly had certified to the Committee for Plundered Miniſters, touching M^r Culmers fitneſſe to officiate at Mynſter, that Committee granted him their Order of Sequeſtration.

But when news of this came to Mynſter, ſome began to rage at it, ſaying, Such a deviliſh Round-headed Prieſt, that brake the Windows at Canterbury, and refuſed to give the Sacrament to all at Harbledown, and would not uſe the Service-Book, ſhould not come there: And it was given out, that a band of women ſhould meet him at Sarwall, and throw him into a ditch: But one M^rs O, that had heard well of M^r Culmer, ſaid to the Goſſips in the Church-porch, What band? Who ſhall be Captain? One named, ſuch a woman; The other replied, Oh ſhe, ſhe was brought a bed a monethmonth after ſhe was married, we are like to have a good band I hear, either whores, or with childe before marriage. And upon this occaſion I cannot but recount what fell out lately in a Veſtry there at a Debate about putting out Apprentices, it was voted by M^r Culmers adverſaries, and ſet down in the Seffe-book, That ſuch a Girl (a Baſtard) ſhould be Mr Culmers Apprentice: But he afterward addreſſed himſelf to the Juſtices, and deſired them, that ſuch an affront might not be put on him, and ſaid further, There were yet but eight baſtards ſince his coming thither, and deſired he might be excuſed until the tenth fell: The Juſtices ſmiled, and ordered him another Apprentice. I rehearſe this, becauſe I hear the accuſation againſt M^r Culmer is his rehearſing of a ſame of words of the feminine gender. But the band of women never advanced nor charged, but with their ſharp tongues.

But the 500^lb man, with others, went preſently (before M^r Culmer came down with his Order) with a Petition to divers Peers of the Realm, which were then in the Iſle, upon pleaſure of Hawking and Hunting, and lay there: But when the Earl of Warwick had read their Petition againſt M^r Culmer, he ſaid, I know M^r Culmer well, he is an honeſt man, I pray receive him according to Order; If need be, I have a better Living for M^r Culmer; But we muſt not oppoſe Authority, &c. A little after a chief Pariſhioner of another Pariſh (brotherin-law alſo to the ſaid Curate, ſince a ſequeſtred Cavalier) went with two of Mynſter to Canterbury to a Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants, and there they clamoured againſt M^r Culmer, who was thereupon ſent for to the Chequer-Inne: But after they had heard him ſpeak, p. 13Sir James Oxinden ſaid, Now we have heard Mr. Culmer ſpeak, all that you have ſaid againſt him, falls from him as water from a tiled houſe: And Mr. Boys of Bettiſhanger (then Knight of the ſhire for Kent) ſaid, their allegations were of no weight, and would not prevail: and he ſaid, I pray oppoſe him not; I am confident you will never prevail againſt him to remove him, he hath been ſo eminently active for the common Cauſe, and you have nothing to alledge againſt him, I pray receive him, he is ſent unto you by Authority, I dare ingage for him he will be an honeſt quiet man amongſt you if you will be quiet. But he that was of another Pariſh ſaid, They had Scouts out againſt. Mr. Culmer, and would finde enough againſt him, He were better leave them quietly. And indeed they ſent out to all places where Mr. Culmer had lived, or had any dealing, to find matter againſt him: The chief thing which they then alledged againſt him was; that he was a contentious man at Harbledowne: whereupon the Committee ſent to D^r Auſtin, who is an eminent godly Miniſter, to know the truth of matters concerning M^r Culmer at Harbledowne: The Doctor returned them an anſwer in writing as followeth: Octob. 11. 1644. Whereas I am deſired to teſtifie what I know concerning M^r Culmers carriage and behaviour at Harbledowne, eſpecially for matters of contention between him and ſome there; I doe hereby truely teſtifie, that having heard all that hath any wayes been objected againſt him, I judged it rather to proceed out of malice, than from any ground of truth: and the contention ſpoken of, to have been rather out of his zeal to the cauſe of God, than any private cauſe of his own: And though they did alledg matters againſt him, yet I judged them but frivolous; And I have been thanked for his miniſtry there; which many of the City of Canterbury alſo thought ſo well of, as they took the pains to travell thither to enjoy it, and that for many years: And I alſo teſtifie, That I have had much dealing with M^r Culmer for at leaſt twelve years, yet if he were now mine enemy, I muſt ſay, I have never found him but an honeſt man, both in word and deed: In teſtimony whereof I have hereunto ſet my Name, Robert Auſtin. About that time the Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants for Kent, made the Order following, (viz.)

Whereas we are informed, that there is a weekly Lecture at S^t Johns in the Iſle of Thanet, in the County of Kent; we think fit that Mr Culmer, being a very well-affected man, and put in by the Parliament into a Cure in the ſaid Iſle, ſhall take his turn in preaching the ſaid Lecture. Alsford 12 June 1645. Richard Hardreſs, Anthony Welden, Robert Scot, William Miller, John Boys, William Kenrick▪ But after this Order, and M^r Culmers preaching there, that Lecture ſoon ceaſed, becauſe (it p. 14ſeems) M^r Culmers preaching was not pleaſing to the Cavaller party: The Miniſter there was afterward ſequeſtred for malignancy, and not one of the ſeaven Miniſters of that Iſle but was neuter or two pockets at the beſt, or rather the worſt at that time; and could make his Mill goe with any winde. But the ceaſing of the Lecture did not ſatisfie them; but their chief project was to remove M^r Culmer out of that Iſle: They (as the event proved) having a deſigne to raiſe a new Warre, they knew that Iſle to be a fit place for landing an Enemy: There is Ramſgate alias Roman-gate, where the Romans landed when they conquered this Nation: And not far from thence, there is at this day found (after a great rayne) Romane Coyn, with the Title and Effigies of Romane Emperours: And they conſidered M^r Culmers diſpoſition, activeneſs, and reſolution againſt them and their Cauſe: Thereupon they procured divers to go to Sandnich to a Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants, where Sir Edward Boys (a Parliament man and Governour of Dover Caſtle) was Chair-man; there at leaſt fourty in their beſt cloathes, and with their beſt friends and Sollicitors, did earneſtly petition, and clamour as for life, that M^r Culmer might be removed from Mynſter. But Sir Edward Boys asked them, What they …ad to object againſt M^r Culmer? It was anſwered, They had nothing for the preſent, but they might have in time:

(Non ame to Voluſi. nec poſſum dicere quare.

Hoc tantum poſſum dicere, non ame tc.)

They clamoured that they could not edifie by him, and deſired the Committee to pity their ſouls, &c. But Sir Edward Boys anſwered them ſaying, I have known M^r Culmer many years to be an honeſt man, and zealous for God in the worſt times, and a good Preacher; you do ill to oppoſe a man ſent unto you by Authority without ſhewing cauſe: if he ſhould be removed upon ſuch oppoſition, it would open a flood-gate to ruin all good Miniſters, and encourage oppoſition againſt them: I am a plainman, and love to deal plainly, I like not theſe courſes, and untill you have matter againſt him, I ſhall engage for him, and engage all the friends I have in England for him againſt you; therefore pray honeſt men be quiet, untill you have juſt and ſufficient cauſe to complain of him. At another time they came to a Committee at Eaſtry, and the 500^lb man ſpake againſt M^r Culmer a long time; Then Sir Edward replyed ſaying, He had heard him patiently, and all was in their own commendations, but nothing alledged againſt M^r Culmer; but (ſaid he,) when you have ſaid all, M^r Culmer hath lent more voluntarily to the State than all your Pariſh, beſides his perſonall actings: pray trouble us no more with your clamours till you have cauſe. And afterwards Sir Edward Boys (hearing of ſome potent agents, which they had procured againſt M^r Culmer at Weſtminſter) wrote a Letter as followeth.

To the Honourable Committee of the Houſe of Commons aſſembled in Parliament, for plundered Miniſters, preſent theſe.

Honoured Sirs, I and many of the Deputy Lieutenants of Kent, have heretofore written earneſtly unto you, in M^r Richard Culmers behalf, whom you have ſince ſetled in the Vicarage of Mynſter in the Iſle of Thanet in Kent, for which I, amongſt others, heartily thank you: Some of which Pariſh (being men of note for Religion, and activeneſs in the common Cauſe) have this day been with me, earneſtly moving me to be a means, that he may be upheld and continued there againſt a few violent oppoſers, who, having begun to oppoſe him, endeavonr to make good their own wills and acts, and leave no ſtone unremoved to that purpoſe, although I have once and again ſhewed my diſlike upon good grounds; I doubt not but when you underſtand the truth of things, you will be ſenſible of this cauſe, which is of great concernment, and will be ſuch a preſident if his enemies prevail, as will be of very ill conſequence; and I am certified, that there is no ſuch cordiall oppoſition in the moſt of the Pariſh as is pretended; but if two or three would ſurceaſe, all were at an end; his life and Doctrine being ſuch, that it hath prevailed already with divers. I ſhall not trouble you further, only I intreat this honorable Aſſembly, to continue him there untill be ſhall give juſt cauſe to be removed, or outed in a Legall way; which I preſume to crave at your hands, for him▪ that in the worſt times ſuffered under the tyranny of the Archbiſhop; and for a man which (to my knowledg) hath been moſt famouſly active for the Parliament many wayes, from the firſt of theſe diſtractions, and for a man ſo well atteſted as he is by ſo many godly Miniſters and others. So I reſt. Your humble ſervant Edward Boys. Dover Caſtle this 27^th of January 1644.

A little after this, when M^r Culmer had ended his morning Sermon at Mynſter, on the Sabbath day, one R. H. came crouding up to his desk door, and clamoured ſaying; Neighbours, You that have ſet your hands againſt Mr Culmer, for a more abler man, pray ſtand to it againſt him; we have had no Communion this bleſſed Nativity, nor Prayers all this Chriſtmas Holydayes: Whereupon one or two clamoured, but M^r Culmer went out preſently: and the afternoon Sermon being ended, the clamourer came, and cried out as in the morning; then a chief man of the Pariſh cryed all, all: and the clamourer ſaid aloud in the Church to the forenamed Scout, who was of another Pariſh and then preſent; Captain I hope you will joyn with us: The Scout anſwered p. 16aloud in the Church ſaying, I will both ride and write: but M^r Culmer ſoon left them clamouring and talking. Not long after that they raiſed a ſlander againſt him, that he ſaid they were Malignauts: which I have often heard him ſay, they meerly forged againſt him, and that he only ſaid, he knew it was a plot of Malignants to incenſe them againſt him: Upon this the 500^lb man and ſome others went to the Committee of the County at Alesford, and there accuſed him of that ſaying, which they indeed had forged for their own ends, to ſtrengthen themſelves to get a Certificate from that Committee, That ſome of them being of the Trayned bands, did advance towards Arundell, and that they conceived them to be no Malignants. The Certificate was drawn up by the Clerk of that Committee, and upon debate about it, Colonel Blunt ſaid, I ſee you have cloathed Mr Culmers oppoſers, but you ſend him away ſtark naked, one Mr Culmer: I dwell far from him, yet I have obſerved his activeneſs in the common Cauſe: and once I made a Speech in the Lords Houſe, and he preſently made another there, to good purpoſe: What ſay you Gentlemen of Eaſt-Kent, who are his neighbours? Whereupon they cloathed M^r Culmer ſo well with Commendations, that his adverſaries were unwilling to make uſe of their Certificate. A little after that, M^r Culmer was adviſed to call the Pariſhioners together after evening Sermon, and to read his Certificates unto them; which he did accordingly: But ſo ſoon as they were read, the 500^lb man clamoured ſaying; M^r Culmer, M^r Culmer, Now the people have heard your papers, they are as much againſt you as ever they were, if you be not ſpeak ho: whereupon only one man (J. W.) ſpake, he cried out all, all, all, all: Then the 500^lb man and ſome others ſpake againſt M^r Culmer to incenſe the people againſt him: The 500^lb man fell a jeering him about his little flock at Mynſter, becauſe he had mentioned that day, Fear not little flock. And one accuſed him ſaying, M^r Culmer, you make diſſention in the Pariſh; you ſay when you begin your Sermons, you that fear God, hearken to the Word of God; as if ſome in the Pariſh did fear God, and ſome in the Pariſh did not fear God; and ſo you divide the Pariſh, and ſet us all at difference. Another cried out, M^r Culmer, you may preach, but you get no Tythes of me but by Law, if you can come by them by Law, ſo it is: Nor of me but by Law, ſaid another, &c. Then ſaid one, M^r Culmer, you gave thanks for a Lye, for taking of Scarborow Caſtle, which is not yet taken. But Mr. Culmer did indeed give thanks for the taking of Scarborow Town, and regayning of Weymouth. Then the clamourer J. W. ſaid he would take his Oath on it, although it was falſe which he would ſo atteſt againſt Mr. Culmer. But p. 17J. W. (that ſo clamoured all, all, and offered to ſwear falſly;) about a week after being drunk, fell (in his drunken reel) under the wheels of a wagon laden with 1500 houſe-tyles, and was cruſhed to death, vomiting up his bloud at his throat and mouth: God is known by the judgments which he executeth. But ſome notwithſtanding continued after that to revile Mr. Culmer, publikely calling him devilliſh roundheadid Prieſt; and Ha Blew Dick, the devil break your neck: and roaring out of the Alehouſe window, as he went by; You ſirra Jack Prieſt, &c. And ſome came of purpoſe from other Pariſhes to jeer the Prieſt, and affronted him at his door in ſuch a manner as is unfit to be named, much leſs committed to paper. And becauſe he uſed not the Service-Book, they called it the Round-headed kinde of Service. Come, will you hear the Roundheaded kinde of Chriſtning too. And one that was married by him, affronted him in the Church at the time of marriage, and told him he did not ſay right &c. but he had not done right, who had made a whore of the Bride divers moneths before the marriage. And he was much reviled becauſe he did not officiate at the grave: but he ſaid, he would not be Chaplain to the wormes, to ſay grace to them before they go to dinner and feed on the dead corps: upon this account he was threatned to be buried alive. He deſired them to go into the Church after the corps was interred, and ſaid he would there give them a word of Exhortation, ſeeing ſo many were there met together: but their uſuall anſwer was, If we can have nothing at the grave, we will have nothing in the Church. It were well if all Miniſteriall ſpeakings at the grave were prohibited, to take away all appearance of evill; for by ſuch officiating of the Miniſter, there is hardning of popiſh, ignorant and ſuperſtitious people; as if ſome good came to the dead by the Miniſters ſpeaking over the dead at the grave, and as if the devil will not come nigh Holy Prieſthood, Holy Church ground, Holy Service: And upon this account there is much enmity raiſed againſt good Miniſters, becauſe ſome Miniſters practice it out of ſuperſtition, and ſome to humour and pleaſe the people, leaſt they ſhould Article againſt them, or not pay their Tythes well. At one buriall when they began to raiſe at Mr. Culmer, becauſe he did not officiate there; one J. D. (a common ſwearer) fell flat on his belly, and thruſt his arm into the grave, and ſaid aloud, We ſhall have him here, here, here ſhortly: but this man (a young man) died a little after ſtark mad, curſing and calling out, the devil, the devil. And one T. D. who had two wives living, and children by them both, who did beat his own aged deareſt father, was inſtrumentall in the perſecution of Mr. Culmer, whom he uſed to p. 18affront, and ſaid, he had as much to do at the Vicarage as he; and ſaid, he would go no more to the Steeple-houſe: this man was a little after hanged in Suſſex. And when Mr. Culmer gave meat and money to divers poor people, the perſecutors told the people, that Mr. Culmer did that in policy to get their good wills, that they ſhould not joyn with the rich men againſt him; but they ſhould not finde him ſo liberall afterwards. A Grandee of the faction did uſe to lead many after him on the Sabbath as they went to the next Pariſh, which when a worthy Gentleman of that Pariſh obſerved; He ſent the Grandee word, That it was a badge of malice to leave Mr. Culmer, to come to hear at that Pariſh, where there was a Preacher, whoſe gifts were farre inferiour to their own Miniſters: But this is an ordinary perſecution of Miniſters, as now, when lately in that Iſle, a drunken, ſcandalous, railing Prieſt was ejected, there comes ſcarce one of ten to hear the godly Miniſter, placed in his room. And when Mr. Culmer reproved them for ſetting up a Tree May-pole, it was told him to his face, That there was a Bough ſtrong enough to hang him on it: And when he preached not on their Chriſtmaſſe-day, as they call it; He was reviled for it in the Church, and called Rogue, and aſſaulted in the Church-yard; and it was told him, Such a Miniſter did preach then, and why not you? The uſual ſaying of the 500^lb man, and his faction was, We don't take you for our Miniſter.

At laſt the Perſecutors plotted to advance their deſign againſt M^r Culmer by articling againſt him, before the Committee for Plundered Miniſters, thereby to make publick ſhews of numerous Witneſſes, and to manifeſt their implacable and violent oppoſition againſt him; Only by that pretence of enmity againſt him, to prevail to remove him; becauſe thereupon it would be conceived, That he was not like to do any good amongſt them, who acted with ſuch animoſity, charge, trouble, or travel: That was the myſtery of the iniquity of all that oppoſition, a confidence to prevail meerly upon the account of pretended oppoſition, and unlikelihood of not edifying by him upon that account: That's the knack of it all the Nation over; when only ſelf-will, and malice, and private intereſt, and ſelf-ends, are the weights that ſet all the Wheels a going: For they could not be ſo ſottiſh, as to imagine to prevail by the merits of the cauſe. They had a Treaſurer (at warre, as I may ſo ſay) who kept the money which was collected to defray the Charges in purſuance of thoſe Articles, to pay Witneſſes, &c. They raiſed and ſpent above 300^lb, (as appears by their own confeſſion) in proſecuting of him Some p. 19of the Articles are verbatim in the printed Libels, viz.

That he was a fantaſtick narrow brain'd man. That falſe News was by a Proverb called Culmers News. That he made a popular ſhew, but gave very little. That he denied to pay Parliament Texis. That he is an impudent man, and did piſſe in the Cathedral in Canterbury. That he gave not the Communion at Harbledown as he ought, &c. And (to ſteel their numerous, frivolous, woodden Articles, and to ſet an edge on them) they accuſed him to be a common ſwearer, and a Protector of Malignants. They carried whole Coaches full of Witneſſes through Canterbury, in a triumphant bravado; But at the hearing before the Committee, they could not produce one Witneſs that ever heard him ſwear one oath, It is true, that one Wilde of Ʋpſtreet (a Ditcher) was fitted with ruſſet-boots, and Yeoman-like, and carried up to Weſtminster to witneſs one Oath againſt M. Culmer; But when he came to the Committee door, his heart failed him: For the truth is, That he had falſly accuſed Mr. Culmer; whom he met one Morning, and told him, He did ride upon a Round-headed horſe; but Mr. Culmer ſaid little to him, uſing no oath or evil word againſt him, as Thomas Heath who heard all that was ſpoken was ready to witneſs, if Mr. Culmer had been called to his defence: But a little after Wilde fell ſick, and conſumed, and died in a fearfull manner. And that ſcandal touching Mr. Culmers protecting of Malignants; It was raiſed by the perſecutors from Harbledown, becauſe he dealt courteouſly with a Gentleman, who was taken to be the Lord Digby, being found at an Inne there in the night: But the true Lord Digby rid through Canterbury that day, and eſcaped over Sea. The Gentleman in his frolick put his ſcarlet cloak on the Can-maker, and he put on the Can-makers lethern apron, and ſo danced in his gold lace; But upon ſuſpicion) the houſe was beſet, and Mr. Culmer (then Miniſter there) was called up at midnight, and went to the Juſtice at Canterbury, and did write a Warrant at the Juſtices bed ſide, and called up Richard Redwood then Conſtable: The young Spark kept his room with his naked Rapier, which be thruſt thorow the glaſſe-window: But Mr. Culmer entred in upon him alone, and he yielded and put up his Rapier; whereupon Mr. Culmer promiſed him gentle carriage, which was performed: For he went (as he deſired with his … by his ſide, and with Mr. Culmer alone, and the rabble not near him, and was brough a back way privately to the Juſtice, and there delivered to the Conſtable; but he proved no Lord Digby, but, &c. And that Mr. Culmer was no protector of Malignants, his recited Cathedral Hiſtory, and the Records of the Committee p. 20for Examinations, and of the Councel of State can teſtifie.

One of Canterbury that ſaid, He would fain go like himſelf to Weſtminſter, to witneſſe againſt M. Culmer, had about five pounds towards his charges, when he went up to witneſſe, where Mr. Culmer made water in a duſty corner behinde old boards and rubbage, in the body of the Cathedral (where afterwards the Ammunition-wagons ſtood, as in Pauls London, and where afterwards the Dutch priſoners were kept) which Mr. Culmer was neceſſitated unto, at the time of the demoliſhing the Idols there, when all the doors were ſhut, and thoſe without ready to knock out his brains, if he had gone forth to make water. And a Gentlewoman (then of Mynſter, now of Canterbury) being asked by the Chair man of that Committee, What ſhe could witneſs againſt Mr Culmer, anſwered, That ſhe heard Mr. Culmer ſay, That if her huſband William Goldfinch, Would not agree to pay his ſmall Tythes at a rate in money, he expected his Tythes in kinde of T…, Pigs. And ſhe ſaid further, Sir, I told Mr. Culmer at our houſe, that I wondered that he would not go away from Mynſter, and that it did not move his patience to be ſo hated and houted at. And Sir, his anſwer to me was, That he was a cholerick man by nature, and ſoon moved, but he did wear a hat with broad brims, Which did keep the rain from his collar. This was all ſhe did, or could accuſe Mr. Culmer of, as appears in the Records of that Committee; which Committee ſaid, They found nothing againſt Mr. Culmer fit for their Cognizance to eject a Miniſter: And the worthy Chair-man gave them good counſel, and in concluſion bid them Go home and live quietly: Whereupon the faction to have their wils againſt Mr. Culmer, then offered a Petition to the Committee, wherein they freely offered to give Mr. Culmer during his life, the whole revenue of the Vicarage, and to provide a Miniſter at their own charge, upon condition that Mr. Culmer might be removed from them: And in that Petition it is propounded as an argument to have him caſt out, That they had ſpent in proſecuting him, two hundred and fifty pounds, and clamoured by word of mouth, That they had ſpent about three hundred pound. But the anſwer to that was very unpleaſing; and Mr. Culmer ſaid, Beneficium propter officium, and Officium propter beneficium. But Flictere ſi nequeo ſuperos Acheronta movebo. Preſently after that the Proſecutors, being returned home, two of them ſtirred up others to confederate to carry away all Mr. Culmers Tythecorn that harveſt, which they did (almoſt all) accordingly; One that paid him a little was reproved for it by one of the Confederates, who p. 21ſaid to him, You wrong all the Pariſh in paying your Tythes, ſeeing we are all agreed to pay none. One (when the Tythes were demanded) anſwered, ſaying, Others do not pay, I am loath to foul the Vicarage-barn with our little Tythe-corn. Another ſaid, We have poſſeſſion, which is eleven points of the Law: The firſt point in Hawking is hold-faſt. Another ſaid, I will pay no Tythes, but go along with my Neighbours, as dogs go to Church, and take Neighbours fare, come what will come; But he a little after riding in a Cart, it overthrew and killed the childe that was with him in it, and cruſhed his own Leg ſo, that it cannot be cured, but remains with wounds and bruiſes that he (continuing lame) cannot go along with his Neighbours. A little before that, he (hearing Mr. Culmer ſay in his prayer, Lord, thy mercy is great to us; there be many in Hell, that never ſinned as we have done, and yet are out of it, it is thy mercy we have time to call for mercy; thereupon) vowed, never to come to Church more, if M. Culmer preached: And being diſabled to go elſwhere, remains obſtinate to this day, and glorieth in keeping his vows: He is called Will Wounds, becauſe of his uſual oaths, by Wounds, &c. but now he & others may read his ſin in his puniſhment.

Another (a Sectary Leveller of another Pariſh) denied his Tythes, and gave this reaſon of it, ſaying, I deſire the ruine of all the Miniſters in England, and know no way better to effect it, than by ſtarving them out, by keeping their maintenance from them; and if it were in my power, I would ſheath my ſword in the bowels of all the Ministers in England. Another refuſing to pay his Tythes, ſaid, If the Parliament ſet Mr. Culmer on work, if they provide us ſervants, let them provide them wages. The Tythe robbers ſervants would cry out in the field, when the Tythe was gone, Ha! the Bird is flown, the Bird is flown, and would hollow and hoop like mad men. Come (ſaid a Sectary) Don't the Prieſts men want boughs to mark out their Tythes, &c? Some did threaten his ſervants from off their ground, ſaying, We know the Law forty thing: By Law you have nothing to do to meddle about ſetting out the Tythe, we by Law can tythe when we liſt, whether you be preſent or abſent: His tything ſervant was knockt down, and beaten, and bruiſed, and was after ſtripped before the Juſtice, who, with others, ſaw the bruiſes. They would not Tythe in his ſervants preſence, but ſome left a little Tythe-corn in their abſence, to colour the matter. If his ſervants waited all day, they would let the corn lie unheaped, and go home at night, and after ariſe at midnight, and leave what Tythe they pleaſed, and change the Tythe, and bring bad corn from elſwhere, and traſh out of the Barn to put in the room of good Tythe: Come Ned ariſe, p. 22we muſt go and do righteous things; No Knave to the pretended Religious Knave; No enemy to the pretended, yet falſe friend: As he that overtook the honeſt Traveller over night, and ſupped, and lay with him; but next day morning, when thieves aſſaulted and robbed the true man, the pretended friend joyned with them.

And many other Tythe-robbing tricks were uſed, againſt which tricks there is no-remedy provided in the Law: Whereupon Mr. Culmer printed two Books touching the frauds in Tything, hoping that upon ſuch Diſcoveries of the Defects of Law and Juſtice about Tythes, either Miniſters ſhould have been left wholly to the charity of people, or that better Laws would be made for their enjoyment of Tythes, which are eſteemed as their Livelihood, and in conſideration of them they pay Taxes, Fifths, &c. Yet the frauds of the lawleſſe Tytherobber are ſuch, that upon the matter (though not intended by the makers of former Laws) Tythes in kinde are but a State-cheat, or mock-maintenance, thoſe good Laws being now outplodded by malicious and covetous people: I pray God that thoſe Books, eſpecially that called The Lawleſs Tythe-robber diſcovered, may never riſe up in judgement againſt the Higher Powers, or againſt any other that have read them. But thoſe confederated Tyth-robbers acted ſo againſt M. Culmer, that for two years together he had not half ſo much Tythe-revenue (one way or other) as would pay his Fifths, and Tenths, and Taxes, which were ſeverely exacted of him, when almoſt all his Tythes were in the peoples hands: He had ten Troopers at a time quartered upon him, horſe and man; and was conſtrained to borrow money of the next Juſtices Mr. Thomas Paramor and Major Foach to pay his Taxes, which Taxes have been aſſeſſed and exacted to the utmoſt farthing of his Living, and more, when all the Pariſh was eaſed a fifth part, ſome a full half. The Perſecutions and oppreſſions that way have been unparallel'd, and yet he never complained of it, untill they made that injury a rule of other aſſeſſements, wherein they eaſe themſelves and burden him. There was then little or no relief for Miniſters in Sequeſtred Livings, though he made many journeys for relief about his Tythes: And the Seſſe-book was denied him, that he might ſee who occupied Marſhland, and the Order of the Deputy-Lieutenants ſlighted by the Perſecutors, who anſwered them at Canterbury, That Mr. Culmer ſhould not ſee it, but by Law, and ſo matters reſted. And to adde to his oppreſſions, beſides the ſcoffs formerly rehearſed, it was clamoured to him as he rid in Mynſter-ſtreet, Look how the Prieſts horſe ears loll, he goes ſo oft to London, and can get nothing: p. 23Yet theſe men paid their Tythes in corn to the full to the Non-reſident Doctor, who had 1^s. 6^d. per Acre for the Marſhland, and Mr. Culmer was contented with 1^s, yet could not, nor cannot enjoy that, as the Miniſter of W. H. in Kent, abated 2^d. of 1^s. due by cuſtome for the Acre, hoping they would pay that freely, but I heard him ſay, That if he had abated 10^d, and took 2^d, he findes they would have been as backward to pay that. And although M^r Culmer have forborn many for five, ſeven, ten years, and hath not ſued them; yet he findes it to redound to his greater loſſe, and to their, and others hardning, only to avoid contention; leaſt thereby they ſhould prejudice the Goſpel; but they now finde by experience, wofull experience, that their forbearance hath hardened men to be more unrighteous, as ſoft fires harden ſome things: By bearing one injury wicked men are invited to do more injury. A Miniſter in Eſſex (M^r Willet) for peace-ſake remitted 20^lb due to him for Tythes taken from him in Harveſt, 1652. and the ſame Tythe-robber carried away all his Tythe-corn in Harveſt, 1653. And Mr. Culmer had the ſame experience in Mynſter, becauſe he ſued not thoſe that carried away all his Tythe-corn in Harveſt, 1646. they carried away all alſo in Harveſt, 1647. But before Harveſt, 1648. The Sword of the Lord, and of Gideon made them pay their dues. Oh bleſſed Law and Sword of Magiſtracy, thou prevaileſt more with wicked men, than the Law of Nature, of Conſcience, of Reaſon, or the Law in judgements of God himſelf! But this is obſervable, that there is not one of the wilfull Tythe-robbers then, or now, but are confounded as to their eſtates, one, and all, to admiration: One being a priſoner at the ſuit of others had thirty pound forgiven him by Mr Culmer; yet within two dayes after the firſt Parliaments diſſolution, he clapt two Actions on Mr. Culmer, who afterwards had eight pound coſts in thoſe Suites; Now their own ears loll in other Pariſhes, while they make their houſes their priſon for fear of Lawyers, and have no revenue out of which they may pay Tythes, unleſſe it be Tythe lice. And it is to be conſidered, that theſe oppreſſors of Mr. Culmer did not only pay their dues fully and quietly to the Non-reſident, but were exceeding bountifull to their beloved Curates, and paid a kinde of Tythe or Contribution of Hay and Peaſe, &c. to him for horſe-meat, beſides continual gifts and entertainment of him and his wife. And to oppreſſe Mr. Culmer the more, they regard not the Limits of their Pariſh that he may know his maintenance, utterly refuſing to go the Bounds of it, though he have often privately and publickly intreated them.

p. 24And beſides all theſe oppreſſions, one thing more in point of livelihood, I thought fit to mention, That M^r Culmer having laid out about 5^lb in demoliſhing the Monuments of Idolatry at Mynſter, by ſpecial Order according to the Act of Parliament for their demoliſhing, cannot get his money ſo laid out. At his firſt coming thither he often deſired the Churchwardens to do that work according to that Act: But the 500^lb man being Churchwarden refuſed to act, and ſaid, He could not get a Sailor at Sandwich to climb up to the Croſſes on the Spire of the Steeple under 15^lb. So that that work was left undone about a whole year after M^r Culmers coming thither; But then Mr. Culmer was jeered by a Sequeſtred Malignant Prieſt, who ſaid to him, Phyſician heal thy ſelf; telling him of his actings at Canterbury: Theſe words took ſuch deep impreſſion on him, that he would no longer wait the Churchwardens leiſure: But a day or two after, being the 5^th of Novem. he got up into the Steeple before day, and by Moon-light, got up to the top of the Spire, ſeven roods or poles from the ground, and did ſit on the round Globe there; and did with a rope affix ladders ſo, that it was then little danger to go up & down from the flat Steeple to the top of the Spire. And then he came down and hired Peter Wotton, and Thomas Auſtin to go up the Ladder, and demoliſh the two croſſes there: The huge wooden Croſs covered with lead under the Vane, and the iron croſs above that. And many other Idolatrous Monuments, were demoliſhed, and the Chancel ground levelled, &c. by the Workmen and Maſons, whom Mr. Culmer ſatisfied, but to this day he cannot get one farthing of thoſe charges repayed him, though the Juſtices have ordered it according to that Act: And although he never demanded any thing for his own actings about that work of Reformation.

And all this oppreſſion did not quench the burning malice of the 500^lb man and his faction: They ſaid, The greateſt croſſe (the Prieſt) was yet remaining. And they ſuffered the Churchyard to be without a gate, that the paſture there might be common, and ſo it continued: at laſt they put a Wattle or Hurdle, in ſtead of a Gate, which continued ſo for divers years, to the laughter and deriſion of all that paſſed by: And they handled the matter ſo, that none durſt help the Sexton to ring the great Sermon-bell on the Sabbaths: But M^r Culmers own Servants did conſtantly do that ſervice. After that one of the chief of the faction took away the Key of the Church from the Sexton, and kept the doors locked, when about two hundred people (Pariſhioners and others) were aſſembled in the Churchyard, on the Sabbath p. 25morning, ſo that they were all conſtrained to return home without any publick Worſhip. A Grandee ſaid aloud, The Church-doors ſhall not be opened: Another crouded up to the door, and ſaid, Let me ſee who dares break open the Church-door? And the next Sabbath M^r Culmer got into the Church at the broken Chancel windows, which were left unrepaired about half a year by the 500^lb man, in hope that Mr. Culmer ſhould pay for all the ruines, which came through the wilfull neglect of the 500^lb mans ſpeedy reparations of thoſe windows, which belong'd to him to repair as Parſon, according to the ſaid Act of Parliament; There was not at firſt ten foot of glaſſe broken there: And when Mr. Culmer was gotten into the Church, he rung the Bels, and when people were come thither, he unbolted one door, which had no lock, and let them into the Church: But about a quarter of an hour after he had begun the Publick Worſhip, there came into the Church ſeven men of the Pariſh with their hats on, clamouring and yelling like Tygers: Five of them ruſhed into his Desk: One called him Thief, becauſe he came not in at the door, but at the window: And thoſe five laid hands on him, and thruſt him violently, and the other two at the door tugged and pulled him; but they could not move him, untill the Conſtable Robert Wells (ſeeing him look pale, as if he were fainting) prayed him to give way: They thruſt his ribs on the edge or point of a plank, and bent them, and cruſhed his body ſo, that he vomited bloud, and purged bloud: They dragged him by head and ſhoulders out of the Church; but he did not lift up his hand againſt them; yet I have heard him ſay, He could eaſily have killed them every one with his ſteeletto: But he often ſaid, He bleſſed God, who kept his hands from ſhedding their blouds; and that he admired at the goodneſſe of God to him, that gave him ſuch a ſpirit of meekneſſe upon ſuch an occaſion, contrary to his natural and uſual diſpoſition in his own defence, when violence hath been done him: But when he was gotten out of their clutches in the Churchyard, he preſently ran into the Church at the other Church-door, and went on in the Publick Worſhip, and anon the Rioters came in again, clamouring with their hats on: But Mr. Culmer went on in his reading of the Chapter, and then many good people were come into the Church: And Mr. Har…is of Birchington, and many Pariſhioners came out of their ſeats, one ſaid, They ſhould have his heart-bloud before they ſhould touch Mr. Culmer again: And then they laid hands on the Rioters, who preſſed forwards to come at Mr. Culmer: But they were all crouded and tugged in a throng down to the lower end of the Church, where being left, they p. 26went out into the Churchyard, to … themſelves; But while Mr. Culmer was praying before Serm…he Pulpit, they came in again clamouring as before, but … preſſe towards him; But they interrupted him, and ſaid, He ſhould not preach then, though it ſhould coſt them their lives: Then ſaid M… Culmer, though you will not let me preach, yet (I hope) you will let me read a little Scripture out of the Bible, and I will come down: They yeelded to that: Then he read out of Gen. 19. how they preſſed upon Lots door in Sodom, and how fire and brimſtone preſently conſumed them, and he applied it to the Rioters. Then he read Numb. 16. of Corah, Dathan and Abiram; And 2 Chron. 36. 15. They abuſed his Meſſengers, &c. Then Jer. 18. 18. and Matth. 23. Oh Hieruſalem, Hieruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, &c. Then they clamoured: But Mr. Culmer deſired them to hear one Text of Scripture more, and he ſaid, he would come down; whereupon they were ſilent: Then he read, Rom. 13. All Powers are ordained of God, &c. and he that reſiſteth receiveth damnation. Then he diſmiſſed the Congregation, and came down.

No marvel if his Highneſſe in his Commiſſion for Ejecting ſcandalous Miniſters, and placing Godly Miniſters in their rooms, provide againſt Riots, which, it ſeems, there was juſt cauſe to fear. Such practices have been in many other Pariſhes alſo, where the Biſhops, Non-reſidents, and ignorant, and drunken Curates have let in the Devil, who, now he is to be caſt out in theſe bleſſed dayes of the Sonne of Man, rends and tears, as he dealt with the poſſeſſed man in the Goſpel, when he ſaw he muſt be caſt out: When there was like Prieſt like people, and where it is ſo now, and the ſtrong man is in poſſeſſion, all was and is in peace, and honey-love between Miniſter and people in many Pariſhes, where there is no articling or complaint againſt moſt ſcandalous Prieſts, that humour the people in their ſuperſtition and prophaneneſſe. But if faithfull Miniſters be placed in their rooms; then the Devil roars againſt ſuch Miniſters; He moves his Vaſſals to ſpend their bodies in journeys, their eſtates in expences, their ſouls in Tythe-robbings, lies, ſlanders, riots, perſecutions, to worry out ſuch Miniſters; They ſeem to ſay, when ſuch Miniſters of Chriſt are ſent to them, as the Devils ſaid to Chriſt himſelf, Art thou come to torment us before the time? Neighbours, ſtand to it againſt this deviliſh Round-headed Prieſt, and either keep him out, or weary him out, or elſe we ſhall be weary of our lives, we ſhall be ſo plagued with him, with his bawling at Church, and new Round-headed tricks.

But (to proceed) in the afternoon of that rioted Sabbath, they p. 27placed a guard of men under the broken Chancel windows, which they had be daubed with filthy ſir-reverence; but Mr. Culmer vaulted over the heads of the guard, who had not the hearts to touch him; and (being got into the Church) he tolled the Bels, and unbolted the Church-door, and preached that afternoon, and no Rioters acted againſt him; But the next Sabbath (when he was got into the Church in the morning, and went to ring) the clappers were all taken out of all the five Bels, ſo that none of the Bels could ſpeak (as they uſe to ſay:) But he went home, and took his wives great iron-peſtle, and went up into the Steeple, and tonged the Bels with the peſtle, in ſtead of clappers, and did preach twice that Sabbath.

One of theſe Rioters, who ſaid Mr. Culmer was a thief, was after that a Pirate, a thief at Sea, being a Cavalier Captain, and was ſlain at Sea. And another of the Rioters that pulled out the clappers, a luſty young man, was the firſt of that Pariſh that wanted a clapper to ring his knell: He uſed, when he ſaw M^r Culmer returned from London (whether he was neceſſitated to go often in his own defence, and needs muſt he runne whom the Devil drives) the Rioter uſed to ſwear fearfully, and ſay, Hath not the Devil broke his neck yet? Is he not hanged yet? And the next Sabbath after the Riot, they ſent about the Pariſh, to warn people from coming to Church, and when any ſaid, They would come, then the Meſſenger prayed them that they would not tell that they were ſent; but now the Meſſenger is lame, and another looks behinde him. At laſt there came a Warrant from the Committee of Parliament for Plundred Miniſters, to the Sheriff to raiſe Forces and aſſist Mr Culmer againſt the Ricters; And ſome of the Pariſh, who oppoſed the Rioters, went to the Earl of Warwick, who was Lord Admiral then, and lay at Walmer Caſtle; He preſently ſent his Warrant to have the Peace kept. Afterward two Juſtices did ſit upon the Riot, and the Rioters were bound over to the Seſſions; and there indicted and found guilty, and fined each of them fourty ſhillings, which they received again from their good maſters and dames, by a Collection in the Pariſh. But M^r Culmer did not proſecute the Law againſt any of them for the aſſault and battery, neither had he his charges expended at the Juſtices ſitting about the Riot, and about journeys, Warrants, &c. about 8^lb. He had no recompence for his bloud and bruiſes, though the Phyſicians and Chyrurgions bils were coſtly. When the Juſtices ſate at Mynſter upon the Riot, a godly man of the next Pariſh (S^t Laurence Pariſh) where they had no Miniſter at all, ſeeing theſe actings, ſaid, Here is a ſtirre againſt a p. 28Minister, we would praiſe God if we had a Minister: Then the 500^lb man, and three more (I have their Names in writing) ſaid, Would to God, if it were Gods bleſſed will, that we were in your caſe, and had no Miniſter neither, if it were Gods ſweet will and pleaſure. At the Seſſions the Ring-leader and Incendiary of the Rioters, being called to the Bar, the Judge called him the Trumpeter, becauſe he being decrepid and limping, only clamoured: But he put up a Petition, and theſe Articles to the Bench againſt M^r Culmer; Theſe Articles, I ſay, and only theſe,

1. That the ſaid Mr. Culmer did preach, That many be like the Dogge in the manger, that will not let the Horſe eat, nor eat himſelf.

2. That he preached, That a man was taken up at Sea alive, ſwimming with a Teſtament in his boſom, and his fleſh ſoaked, as if ſodden.

3. That the Popiſh-Prieſt did drink all, ſupernaclum.

4. That the Papiſts reſerve the Communion bread in a box, and give it to dying men, who die with their mouths full of it.

5. That Satan was a ſubtil Fox, and was above five thouſand year old.

6. That one called him a ſoul-murtherer, and he took no courſe to clear himſelf.

7. That he ſaid in his Prayer, Lord, thou knoweſt there be many in hell, better than we, which is a dangerous thing to bring weak Chriſtians into the ſin of deſpair.

8. That he prayed, Lord, how long wilt thou avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? Lord, give the ſcarlet whore plenty of bloud to drink, for ſhe is worthy: We do think it a dangerous thing to meddle with the judgement of God, to direct him how he ſhall puniſh ſinners.

9. He ſaid the Rebels in Ireland cauſed a Proteſtants guts to be wound out alive.

10. That he laid aſperſion of Malignants upon ſome of the Pariſh.

11. When the Pariſhioners pitched upon Mr. to be their Miniſter, Mr. Culmer ſaid, The poor of the Pariſh did ſet their hands, becauſe he would give two meſſes of porridge to Mr. Culmers one, which is enough to diſcourage any Miniſter from coming amongst us, as if we more regarded the food of our bodies, than of our ſouls, which are immortal.

Theſe Articles are to be ſeen under their own hands, they were delivered to Mr. Culmer after the Juſtices had peruſed them: But the p. 29two laſt Articles were wholly forged againſt him; And that of the man taken up at Sea, is in the Book of Martyrs. And after this Riot, the Miniſter of the next Pariſh dying, moſt of that place came uſually to Mynſter Church; And eſpecially two Juſtices of Peace, and Deputy-Lieutenants came with their Families conſtantly, for about two years, untill it did pleaſe God to provide a godly Miniſter for them in their own Pariſh: But their coming pleaſed not the faction; for (to uſe the Gentlemens own words) the ſtyle over which they were to come on the Sabbath to the Church, was bedawbed with reaking hot ſir-reverence, of purpoſe by ſome that waited their coming, ſo that they were conſtrained to have a gap made in the hedge to go thorow. And the wife of the 500^lb man (who told her husband, She edified moſt by Mr. Culmer's Miniſtry, and deſired him to carry her no more about to other Pariſhes with him on the Sabbath) when ſhe was gone home in the Sabbath noon-tide, a ſir-reverence was laid in her Pew in the Church: But a ſtranger (a Gentlewoman of London) coming from the next Pariſh before her to Church, when Divine Worſhip was begun, kneeling down ſuddenly in the Pew, was ſo bedawbed with that ſtinking excrement, that ſhe was conſtrained to ſtrip her white Sattin-peticoat over her feet in publick, in the Church, in the time of divine Worſhip, and wrapping it up, gave it to her man over the Pew, in the face of all the Congregation. And many other abuſes at home and abroad have been put upon M. Culmer for his good affection to the preſent Powers and Government, enough to fill a volume.

One of the Grandees of the Faction that cried All, All in the Church at Mynſter (ſeeing him in Sandwich when the mock-Prince was there, the day before the Kentiſh Petitioning with Swords) made a clamour againſt him in the open ſtreets as he paſſed by, to incenſe the numerous crew there againſt Mr. Culmer, but he then eſcaped.

And at Canterbury, he coming thither from London about Noon upon the 25^th day of December, 1647. called Chriſtmas-day; and being in his Inne, a tumult was made in the ſtreets againſt godly men which opened their Shops that day; and when Mr. Culmer heard the Maior was knockt down, he was running out to help the Maior: But M^r Joſeph Phillips at the ſign of the Saracens-head, ſhut his doors, and he and his men laid hands on Maſter Culmer, and kept him in, and a little after he was perſwaded to ride out at the back gate; But he was not gone half a quarter of an hour, but the Rioters came in, and ſearched for him, and would not be perſwaded but that he was in the houſe, and ſwore, They would hang the Round-headed p. 30Rogue; and afterward he was informed, they would have hanged him over the Cathedral-gate, where he helped to pull down the large Image of Chriſt, with the holy Ghoſt in form of a Dove over his head, in full proportion. And he then riding thorow the back-ſtreet, there were few people there: for all were in a tumult in the High-ſtreet, after ſome Plumporridge-Prieſts (as M. Culmer uſed to call them) had ended their Sermons: But at North gate ſtreet, ſome women ſeeing him ride that day with his Cloak bag behinde him, railed at him, ſaying, Oh Rogue, will not you give Chriſt his day? he was compelled to eſcape the dirt thrown at him, to runne the Gantlet, or thorow Purgatory, as they call it. And on Moonday-morning (according to his promiſe to a friend) he returned to Canterbury, having heard nothing of their ſearch for him the Saturday before: And at North-gate-ſtreet there were few people: But two women there asked him, If he were Mr. Culmer, which when they knew, Oh Sir, ſaid they, ride no further, for the City-gates are ſhut, and they are all together by the ears, and ſome in Canterbury ſwore, If they had taken you upon Saturday, they would have ſtoned you to death, or hanged you: But (being mindfull of his promiſe) rid on to the midſt of Ruttenton-lane; but upon better conſideration, he took this as a warning from God, and returned to Forditch, where he wrote a Letter to excuſe his not coming according to promiſe, and then he rode to Sir James Oxendens, where after Dinner the News being ſeconded of the Riſing in Canterbury, he and his Sonne (being Deputy-Lieutenants) ſent Orders to raiſe the trained Bands; and a Regiment came from the Wilde of Kent, which quelled the Rioters, who were many of them carried to Leeds Caſtle: But when Mr. Culmer came to Canterbury at the coming in of thoſe forces, a woman in North-gate ſaid Oh M^r Culmer, there's good quarter for you now in Canterbury. But I cannot conceive for which of Mr. Culmers good works in Canterbury any there ſhould ſtone him, whoſe Miniſtry they enjoyed gratis for many years, and where he endeavoured with the hazard of his life, to quench their fires in Dover-lane, and elſwhere, and where he hath leaped into a deep whirl-pit, and dived to ſave life, and fetched up the party from the bottom, when he was Miniſter at Harbledown, as hundreds there know, being eyewitneſſes thereof.

But in the year 1648. the Scout and the 500^lb man, and their Faction, One, and All, All, All, proved themſelves Malignants with a witneſſe, by their practice and actings in the Kentiſh Riſing, wherein divers of them were Commanders, and were Sequeſtred; The Scout p. 31was a Captain therein. Two dayes before the Riſing they ſummoned a meeting at Church, to ſign the Cavaller-Petition, which when Mr. Culmer had read, he earneſtly diſſwaded them from ſubſcribing it; The Petition cried down Taxes, and would have the Army diſbanded, &c. But Mr. Culmer ſhewed them the neceſſity of Taxes, to defend our ſelves againſt the enemies of our Religion, lives, &c. and that wars were chargeable, as Phyſick in ſickneſſe, more chargeable than ordinary Diet, and that we were in a Tempeſt, and at ſuch times men throw their goods overboard, to ſave their lives, and that theſe Taxes were not ordinary, but upon neceſſity; And that the Kings Taxes of Ship-money, &c. were made without a Parliament, and without neceſſity, and that theſe illegal preſſures were taken away. Then one of the chief of the Faction (who after was a Commander, and an Impriſoner) ſaid, The Parliament hath taken a Flea out of our boſome, and put in a Serpent: And M^r Culmer ſpeaking againſt the disbanding the Souldiers, ſaid, The Wolves would make peace with the Shepherds, upon condition they would hang up their Dogs; The Shepherds deſirous of peace, hung up their Dogs, but when the Dogs were gone, the Wolves devoured Sheep and Shepherds too: And this my father applied, ſhewing, that the Army kept us, Governours and People from bloudy Wolves in Ireland, Papiſts, Atheiſts, &c. Many thereupon refuſed to ſubſcribe, but the All, All, All-man cried out, Pen and Ink: Then M^r Culmer left them ſubſcribing: And the next day Richard Langley of S^t Laurence Pariſh (a very godly man, and active for the State) was ſet upon, and put to it to flie for his life, and was purſued to Mynſter, and murdered there upon Thourn-down: But the Gentleman Cavalier that ſent out the purſuers, and furniſhed them with Horſe and Piſtols, did afterwards cut his own wife in pieces, and was hanged at Sandwich. This man was a great jeerer at praying by the Spirit, a contemner of publick Ordinances, a great Incendiary againſt Mr. Culmer, and came to him, reviled and berogued him before hundreds of people at a publick meeting in the Tents at Mynſter at a muſter. And Mr. Culmer being at home, when the Riſing began, knew nothing of it, or of the murder of Langley, untill his ſervant came home, and told him how matters ſtood, and that they were arming in the ſtreet to fall upon him, and that there was a Court of Guard at Ebbsfleet, and at Sarr: Whereupon he (knowing himſelf unable to defend himſelf in his own houſe) preſently eſcaped out, before they came to his houſe; And (night coming on) he went to the River ſide next Aſh, and did ſwim in his cloaths over the River; and p. 32having left his Boots when he took water, he went without ſhoes on the South of the River, till he was paſt Ebbsfleet, where the Court of Guard was, on the other ſide of the River: And then he croſſed the Haven again nearer Sandwich, at a place called Little-joy. And who it was ſhot at him, God knoweth, but he was fain to play the Dydapper, and croſſing the Haven again below Sandwich (M^r Wade now Gentleman Uſher at White-hall can tell more of this.) Then he travelled bare-foot on the ſands to Deal, where he had entertainment at Pilot Culmers houſe, whither he came at break of day, and there he had a gray Sute, and refreſhed himſelf: But preſently there begun a Tumult before the door againſt him, and they ſwore, They would hang the Round-headed Prieſt, and the Rout increaſed; but by means of M^r Wood a Phyſician there, and his ſaid Kinſman John Culmer and M^r Potter, he eſcaped and got ſafe to Deal-Caſtle to Col. Rainſborow, which was his intent, when he firſt ſet out. The noble Collonel uſed him very courteouſly. And M^r …lmer of Sandwich (coming newly out of the Iſle) told Mr. Culmer how his friend Richard Langly lay in his bloud, and that they ſaid, If they had taken him, he ſhould not have died that death; and that he had no way to eſcape them, but by ſwimming. And that day the Collonel carried M^r Culmer aboard with him in his Long-boat, and put him aboard Captain Nubery, in the Hunter Frigot, which was then diſpatcht for London, whither M Culmer came one Saturday night late. And the next day he preached in his gray Pilots ſute at M^r Whitakers Church, called S^t Mary Bermonſey, and incouraged the people to ſtand faſt and cleave to the preſent Cauſe, &c. And when the Lord Fairfax marched into Kent, he returned homeward with the Army, and came ſafe to his Family and Charge, where they had plundred him of horſes and other goods: But in Mr. Culmers abſence, the Faction had got a like Prieſt, like People, and they had Service-Book worſhip, Gloria Patri, and Dominus vobiſcum, &c. Afterwards they compelled Mr. Culmer to pay what they had laviſhed upon a Malignant Prieſt in his abſence, and he (for peace ſake) gave them their demands.

And in his abſence a grand Perſecutor of his of another Pariſh (who came to the Ale houſe at Mynſter) incenſed them againſt him, jeering and calling him, The godly, able, orthodox Divine. This man ſent word to M^r Paramour (at his firſt advance in that Riſing) That he never did ſee a Sword ſcarletted, but he was ſlain at Wye, and left ſtark naked lying in his bloud. And a little after that Riſing the 500^lb man died: And for divers years after Mr. Culmer lived peaceably p. 33without diſturbance, untill he entred upon the Adminiſtration of the Lords-Supper, and refuſed to give it to all, as all the Iſland Miniſters then gave it. (Hinc illae lachryma) Then ſome oppoſed that way publickly, and a new ſtir began againſt him; The Communion-Table Carpet was cut out into Breeches, ſlanders raiſed, Tythes detained. And divers did hate him upon other grounds alſo, becauſe after private and publick means uſed by him in his Miniſtry to reform abuſes in the Pariſh, and that not prevailing, and all others refuſing to act by complaints to the Magiſtrate, Mr. Culmer complained againſt divers ſwearers and drunkards, and prophaners of the Sabbath; And (amongſt the reſt) he complained of the Scouts prodigious executions; And he indicted him (with the conſent of divers of the Pariſh) for erecting two new Cottages there, to the great prejudice of the Commonwealth, and of that Pariſh, which hath been lately charged with above 300^lb a year to the poor, who cannot all be imployed there, and will (in all likelihood, if Cottages and Inmates be ſo increaſed) pull the rich men out of their houſes, as they have done the Miniſter out of the Church. It is not ſo proper, I confeſs, for a Miniſter to indict ſuch men, and to attend the publick Seſſions, with ſuch complaints, though for the common good, as England finds by experience, and will finde more need of, and incouragements to ſuch Indictments: but in that Pariſh none dare act or ſhew themſelves publickly in ſuch things, although the Pariſh be undone by them: But I heard Mr. Culmer ſay, He was reſolved to wave the ſcandal, and odium, and prejudice, that came to him by ſuch actings, ſeeing they were of neiceſſity for the common good, and all others refuſe to act, the conceived himſelf to have a calling from God to do it as a Pariſhioner there. Upon which account he conceives himſelf bound in conſcience, never to ceaſe ſuch endeavours for the common good, though it much prejudice his private. And M^r Culmer indicted the Scout for barring a common ſheep-way, for which he had a Verdict againſt him at the laſt Summer Seſſions at Canterbury.

For theſe and other actings for the publick, Mr Culmer is hated and perſecuted, eſpecially now by the Scout, who (being no Pariſhioner of Mynſter, yet occupying Lands there) to be avenged of Mr. Culmer, hath detained his Tythes for three years laſt paſt, and hath procured five more to joyn with him to put into the Exchequer a joynt Anſwer with him, wherein they inſerted ſcandalous and falſe Articles, and did ſwear, That Mr. Culmer is an enemy to the preſent State, &c. But the Honourable Barons of that Court, ordered Mr. Culmer five p. 34pounds coſts meerly for the ſcandal in their Anſwer, which they ordered to be expunged. Whereupon the enraged Scout, and his Adherents went lately to a Juſtice of Peace, who is a Commiſſioner for Ejecting of Scandalous Miniſters in Kent, to whom they accuſed Mr. Culmer, as followeth, viz

That his breath ſmelt of drink one Evening. That he ſaid, that Pontius was his Chriſten-name, and Pilate his ſir-name. That he preached on Pſal. 51. 18. and ſaid, by Sion was meant the Church, and by Jeruſalem the Civil State. That he preached. That a Toleration was better than a Perſecution. And when the Juſtice ſaid, He was ſorry to hear complaints againſt a Miniſter upon ſuch weak grounds: It was replied (by him that firſt clamoured againſt Mr. Culmer for want of prayers in his Chriſtmas-holy-dayes, and Trumpeter in the Riot on the Sabbath) That if they above had that about a Toleration before them, they would make ſomething of it. This man was lately brought in to be Pariſh-Clark by the Faction, for his good ſervice done againſt Mr. Culmer many wayes, eſpecially in being Ring-leader in that Riot, and for railing at M^r Culmer at the Church-wall before and after Sermon, and never going to Church elſwhere, only attending that evil work, and affronting M^r Culmer coming and going to Church for divers years, they would have no aſſiſtant to the Miniſter to ſave charges, ſo that M^r Culmer beſides praying, reading, expounding, and preaching twice every Sabbath, and catechizing conſtantly, was conſtrained to name and read the Pſalms to the people, for this man reads very falſe, and now he comes to Church for gain; he uſeth when M^r Culmer is preaching on the Sabbath to make mows and Apes faces, and laugh, and make other ridiculous geſtures in the Church, to move contempt againſt M^r Culmer, and laughter; which divers godly men make great complaint of, to ſee Gods name ſo taken in vain, and his Ordinances and Sabbaths ſo prophaned, which is no ſmall Perſecution of, and grief to M^r Culmer. But the truth is that M^r Culmer ſaid, Pontius was as his Chriſten-name, &c. And the Scout ſaid openly at the Seſſions, (when the Verdict was given againſt him) Mr. Culmer, you have let my purſe bloud, but I will let your bloud to ſome tune ere long, I'll warrant you; But he may be ſilent about bloud, if he look home (but I forbear impertinent recriminations.) And (in proſecution of that blood-letting) one of the ſaid Anſwerers (endeavouring to fill up the meaſure of his deceaſed Fathers perſecutions againſt Mr. Culmer, from whom he hath detained his Tythes for above three years, to a great value, and who is a prophane ſcoffer at p. 35the Communicants, calling them, Mr. Culmer's Diſciples: And in oppoſition leaves the Chancel windows unrepaired, ſo that the rain daſhed into M^r Culmers face lately at that Adminiſtration, and rained into the Cup, and wet the bread exceedingly, and the Communion Table-cloath was as wet as if it had been taken out of the water) came lately alone to the ſaid Commiſſioners houſe, and offered to put in Articles againſt M^r Culmer, but he ſaid, He had none written, only he deſired to ſee the Ordinance for the Ejecting of Scandalous Miniſters, which was read to him, as to the Sca…dals therein enumerated, as juſt cauſes of the Ejection of ſuch Miniſters; and he anſwered to every Article by it ſelf, That he had nothing againſt Mr. Culmer touching it. But in concluſion he ſaid, Although I have nothing againſt M. Culmer, which the Articles will reach, yet I will denl ſomewhere elſe againſt him for words he hath ſp…ken of my wife: Whereupon he petitioned and complained of M^r Culmer to his Highneſs, and thereupon it is ſince boaſted in Canterbury, That Mr. Culmer ſhall be caſt out of Mynſter. A quondam Singing-man of the Cathedral, ſaid in the open ſtreets, That he heard M^r Culmer had routed C. S. at the Seſſions, but C. S. would rout him out of Mynſter; And a Cavalier of Canterbury ſaid to one of Mynſter, N…w your Round-headed Prieſt of Mynſter ſhall be caſt out. And they boaſt of their friends above in the Army. But they need not ſeek further revenge for that then their own avenging themſelves by their calumnies, and falſe accuſations and railings againſt M^r Culmer; Beſides the real wrongs they have done M^r Culmer, eſpecially in keeping his Maintenance from him, and combining to undo him by charges in Law. But it ſeems nothing will ſatisfie their malice and rage, but his purſes bleeding to death, by taking away his means of Livelihood and Subſiſtence, by his Ejection or Removal from his place and Station.

But if this project againſt M^r Culmer ſhould prevail without the merits of the Cauſe, to have their wils of him at ſuch a cheap rate without their price of near 200^lb per annum, or (rather than fail) I ſuppoſe ſo much as Haman offered to pay into the Exchequer for the ruine of Mordecai, and others: Then what triumph would the Cathedral, Prelatical, Cavalier party in Canterbury, and elſwhere, make againſt him, and againſt all his worthy friends, and againſt that Cauſe of God to which he hath conſtantly adhered? How would they inſult, againſt whom Perſonally he hath acted, for the ſuppreſſing of vice, and brought them to condign puniſhment? They triumph already in hope and confidence to prevail; but then (no doubt) they p. 36would rejoyce, and ſend gifts one to another, at the ruine of him, who had tormented them; They would make, if not Bonfires, yet Books and Ballads, as they did in the rehearſed Libel, called, The Razing of the Record, viz.

When the ſtrongeſt was King, there roſe up a thing

Some call't a Divine for a Cauſe a, &c.

And there was found in Canterbury, at the beginning of this Parliament, a baſe jeering, quibling Catch, or Libel, written againſt M^r Culmer, viz.

And what's the News in Kent?

They want a Parliament:

I drink to thee Jack Bennet,

And what's the News in Tennet?

Blew Dick muſt out of Mynſter,

His Wife muſt now turn Spinſter:

He lov'd the Parliament;

But now he doth lament:

The Biſhops he did hate;

But now Dick's out of Date:

Cathedral he did maul;

But now he ſpits his gall:

He broke the painted-Glaſs,

But now he cries alas:

Then drink to me brave Jack,

And let the Round-head pack

And if pretences of not Edifying be cauſe of oppoſitions, and general enmity ſhould prevail to remove a Miniſter without the merits of the Cauſe (which I fear is the only ground of the preſent attempt againſt M^r Culmer) eſpecially when ſuch a rioting, mutinous, perſecuting crew act againſt him: If they ſhould be ſo indulged, as to wave the Commiſſioners and Common-Law; Would not other Pariſhes be thereby incouraged to endleſs unwearied, impudent Perſecutions of faithfull Miniſters, in hope to prevail and weary him out one way or other, one time or other, eſpecially under that pretence of not Edifying. And many times there is pretence of univerſal cordial oppoſition in a Pariſh, when only one or two lead all the reſt, to ſubſcribe Petitions, clamour, &c. againſt a Miniſter, and all follow the Ring leaders for company, or other reſpects, as Sheep follow a Ramme drawn through a gap, or leap out of a Boat, as daily experience p. 37ſhews, as they at Harbledown did, where they barked for company. It's a ſure ſign commonly, that a Miniſter is good, when all the Pariſh is againſt him: and commonly when a whole Pariſh loves a Miniſter, and ſpeaks well of him, he is ſtark naught (Woe be unto you when all men ſhall ſpeak well of you) A like Prieſt like people; as a Neighbour-Prieſt to Mr Culmer ſaid to the Pariſhioners, when he had called them up into the Chancel; Neighbours, I would gladly give you all content, pray do I read too much or too little of the Service-Book? And every Pariſh hath as much right to have the Miniſter removed, becauſe they oppoſe him, as any one Pariſh, and thereby faithfull Miniſters ſhall be runagates, and wandring Levites, all the Nation over. Beſides the very removal of a Miniſter, which is not voluntary, is ſcandalous and prejudicial to his Miniſtry, whitherſoever he is removed; M^r Culmers Perſecution from Goodneſtone was taken up as a ſcandal, and cauſe of oppoſition, and clamour againſt him at Harbledown: And whitherſoever M. Culmer is removed, he (above all Miniſters) muſt expect hatred, and oppoſition, and perſecution from ignorant, prophane, diſaffected perſons, which abound in every Pariſh; For not only the Perſecutors that have their wils of him to remove him, will purſue him, and ſtir up enmity againſt him whitherſoever he goes, as they at Harbledowx did incenſe them at Mynſter, and thoſe at Mynster did incenſe them at Cliff againſt him, if he had been removed thither, which was endeavoured. But ſome of the Parliament oppoſed it for reaſons of State, that Mutineers ſhould not be incouraged, &c. It is the nature of perſecutors ſo to purſue the perſecuted (read Act. 14. 19.) And he muſt the rather expect ſuch oppoſition, becauſe the Ly-bels, printed and publiſhed, and ſpread all the Nation over, have many lyes ſo loud againſt him in all places: He was aſſaulted at Billingsgate in London (in the time of the Kentiſh Riſing after he was fled to London in 1648.) where the people were incenſed againſt him by a Scribe that did belong to the Archbiſhops Regiſtry at Canterbury, and Mr. Culmer hardly eſcaped with his life, retreating in Summers-Key with his Rapier-Cane, and M^r Mapſden took him into his houſe: And about two years ſince P. K. a debauched Malignant-Prieſt, incenſed the people againſt him in the Minories without Algate; but the Gentleman that is now Deputy there, prayed Mr. Culmer to come into his houſe, leſt they ſhould murder him. And an Elder and Preacher of J. T. pretended Separate Congregation (who is Curate to that Non-reſident Paſtor, who lives near thirty miles from divers of his ſcandalous flock at Mynſter) meeting M^r Culmer p. 38lately upon the road, affronted him, and uſed opprobrious tearms, and cried out, Mr. Culmer, Mr. Culmer, Pray ſell me four pounds-worth of the holy Ghoſt, repeating thoſe words again and again, and ſaid, I know you had enough of the holy Ghoſt from the Biſhop to afford a good penny-worth. And afterwards overtaking Travellers, boaſted of this, and told them, How he had handled the Antichriſtian Priest. And this Sectary ſaid at Sandwich to Mr. Culmer before many witneſſes, If you be not all Antichriſtian Prieſts then the Devil fetch me away before all this company; And being reproved for his execration, he ſaid, If you be not all Antichriſtian Priests, then I pray God to command the Devil to fetch me away body and ſoul before all this company. So that it is now come to paſſe that M. Culmer may ſay with S^t Paul, In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countreymen, in perils by the Heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderneſſe, in perils in the Sea, in perils amongst falſe brethren, 2 Cor. 11. 26.

But to conclude, whatſoever the Adverſaries of M^r Culmer ſuggeſt againſt him in their ſecret or publick accuſations, and calumnies as if he were ſuch a Peſtilent fellow, &c. yet he is ſtill the ſame man as he was before atteſted to be, both in his life, and doctrine, and good affection to the preſent Powers: And of this aſſertion, I will only ſet down ſome late Teſtimonials, and conclude: One of theſe Teſtimonials is from Captain Thomas Wilſon, who is the preſent Deputy Governour of Dover-Caſtle, and a Commiſſioner for Ejecting of Scandalous Miniſters, as followeth,

For my very Loving Friend Mr. Richard Culmer, Miniſter of the Word at Mynſter in the Iſle of Thanet, Theſe.

Worthy Sir,

I have herein incloſed ſent you (knowing your active and publick ſpirit) ſome of the Armies Declarations, which ſhew the grounds of the late Acts; pray let Major Foach receive one, with my due reſpects; and uſe the beſt means you can to let them be publiſhed, and made known to the honeſt people of the Iſle, as in your wiſdom you ſhall judge meet. In haſte I remain,

Sir, Dover-Caſtle, April 24. 1653. Your aſſured Friend, Thomas Wilſon.

Another Teſtimonial is ſubſcribed by nine of the ſaid Commiſſioners in Kent, as followeth:

We whoſe Names are here under written, do hereby teſtifie, that Richard Culmer Miniſter of Mynſter in the Iſle of Thanet, in the County of Kent, is of good Life and Converſation, and a diligent Preacher of p. 39Gods Word, and hath conſtantly and eminently ſhewed his good affection to the State, and to Reformation. Dated the 27^th of June, 1655.

Henry Oxenden, John Boys, John Dixwell, Thomas Foach, Thomas Monius, Francis Tayleur Preacher of Chriſts-Church Canterbury, John Durant Preacher there likewiſe, John Player, John Swan, Nicholas Thorowgood Miniſter of Muncton, Robert Webber Miniſter of Sandwich.

Another Teſtimonial is from the chief Sea-Town in that Iſle (where M^r Culmer (with others) preacheth a weekly Lecture gratis) as followeth,

We Pariſhioners of S…s in the Iſle of Thanet, in the County of Kent, whoſe Names are here under written, do hereby freely certifie, that Mr. Richard Culmer Miniſter of Mynſter in the ſaid Iſle, doth (with others) freely preach a weekly Lecture in the ſaid Pariſh, to the good liking of the ſaid Pariſhioners; and that we receive much benefit by his Miniſtry, to our Edification and Conſolation: In witneſſe whereof we have hereunto ſet our hands this ninth Day of Auguſt, 1656.

Gregory Parker, Stephen Biſhop Churchwarden, Richard Genuey, William Rook, William Prince, John Buſher, John Piers, John Tomlyn, Humphrey Pudner, William Grant, Thomas Muſſared, William Terry, Roger Wright, Richard Omer, John Biggs, Thomas Watts, &c.

And it may adde ſomething to this Apology and defence, for the continuing and upholding of M^r Culmer in his place, that he being threeſcore years of age, hath laid out (beſides Fifths and Taxes) above 200^lb in Reparations, Buildings, Gardens, Orchyards, Pond, Fences, &c. at the Vicarage-houſe in Mynſter, which was an unfit habitation at his firſt coming thither; There having lived no reſident houſ-keeping Vicar in fifty years before; And he was at all this coſt upon a Sequeſtred Vicarage, chiefly relying on the Juſtice & favour of his Highneſs, knowing that Vicarage to be only in his Highneſſes Perſonal Patronage and diſpoſal; after the death of the preſent ſequeſtred Incumbent; And all this Mr. Culmer often ſaid he did, In faith and confidence of Gods continuing to own his own Cauſe, and the preſent Government under His Highneſs, whom God preſerve. But that which doth eſpecially blaſt and weaken the project and pretences, for his removal from his place and ſtation (wherein he was ſetled by Authority, and hath been upheld by the Juſtice of the Higher Powers, and preſerved by the ſpecial Providence of God) is, that there he hath edified ſouls; Having (maugre the Devil and all his Inſtruments) the ſeal of his Miniſtry there, by the beating down with the ſpiritual weapons of his warfare the ſtrong-holds of Satan, ignorance, drunkenneſs, &c. He having by his Miniſtry there, turned many from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God which the moſt obſtinate Adverſaries have confeſſed in divers places. There was lately one of Canterbury, who being with his Tenant at the Inne at Mynſter, heard one railing on M^r Culmer, to whom he ſaid, I have heard you ſpeak evil of Mr. Culmer, I have known him better ſpoken of: But have you no good to ſay of him? Pray deal plainly, Doth he no good amongst you? The anſwer was, We think the Pariſh is better for him in two things, One is, That there is more knowledge, (becauſe beſides his Preaching) he doth conſtantly c…chiſe. And the other is, That there is not half ſo much drunkenneſs in the Pariſh, as there was before he came to be Miniſter here. And if any ſhould maliciouſly and impudently deny this Seal of his Miniſtry, and clamour, whiſper, or ſuggeſt, that he ought to be removed, becauſe he doth no good there, nor never will, becauſe he is oppoſed, which (as is ſhewed before) is the uſual plea of Perſecutors, to have their wils without the merits of the cauſe, in an arbitrary way, and move the Chriſtian Magiſtrate to joyn in the Perſecution; yet the thing it ſelf doth ſpeak and confute that untruth: For many in the Pariſh (the chiefeſt) are convinced by the power of the Word in his Miniſtry; and are come in freely to the wayes and Government of Jeſus Chriſt in Church-fellowſhip, giving a particular account of their Chriſtian knowledge; and promiſing to be willing to be admoniſhed, &c. And the number of viſible Saints increaſeth in that Pariſh daily, bleſſed be God: And there is not only a very great Reformation in that Pariſh, but in the whole Iſle, as to good affection to the Preſent State, and to Reformation; ſince the eſtabliſhing of a Godly, Well-affected Magiſtracy there, and ſince the ſettling of a faithfull Miniſtry, almoſt in all the ſeven Pariſhes of that Iſle, Wherein (as in Zabulon and Napthali) by the way of the Sea, the people that ſate in darkneſſe ſee great light.

FINIS.

End of the text · Richard Culmer, A Parish Looking-Glass (1657)