A Just Apology for the Church of Duckenfield, Floating text 1 – Letter
At the Committee, January 15. 1646.
Preſton in Com: Lane.FOr as much as by reaſon of the many and great Sequeſtrators within this County, which have lately been ſuſpended, and taken off, by the compoſitions at Goldſmiths-Hall: this Committee doe conceive it neceſſary to reduce the Agents employed in the Sequeſtrations in the ſeverall limits, and diviſions, hereafter particularly expreſſed; viz. Oliver Edge in Mancheſter diviſiou: Iſaack Dehoo, in Middleton diviſion: Richard Bradſhaw, in Bolton diviſion: William Kindſly and William Parr, in the Pariſhes of Warrington, Winwick, Wiggan & Leigh; and Peter Ambroſe, and John Caſe in the remainder of the hundred of Derby, William Eccleſton and Thomas Jackſon, for …yland hundred: Charles Gregory, and John Haworth, in Blackhurne hundred: James Smith, Richard Whitehead, and William Audeland, in Amunderneſſe hundred: and Thomas Towlinſon, Thomas Gardner, Adam Sands, and John Sawry, in Loniſdale hundred. And that all other Agents employed in the Sequeſtrations in this Countie, ſhall from and after the firſt day of March next, ſuſpend and forbeare the execution of their places or employments as Agents. And in the meane time they are to perfect their accounts, and deliver the ſame to Mr. Okey upon ſuch penalties as are impoſed by the Ordinance of Parliament. And the Collectors for ſequeſtrations in Loniſdale hundred are from hence forward to forbeare the execution of their employments. And the Agents of that hundred are to performe the ſame accordingly.
J. Bradſhawe.
John Starkie.
Thomas Birche.
Robert Cunliffe.
William Knipe.
N. Rigbie.
Vera Copia Examinat.
Per me Oliver Edge.
And yet even ſince that time, that Committee that put him out, hath put him in againe; which doubtleſſe they would never have done, had they judged him unfaithfull to the State. A Copie of which order for re-execution of his place is as followeth.
At the Committee, March 4. 1646.
Wiggan in Com: Lane.IT is ordered, that William Kindſly, William Parr, and John Hampſon, ſhall be employed for the Sequeſtration in the Pariſhes of Warrington, Winwicke, Leygh, and Wiggan, and that they ſhall have one Collector to aſſiſt them. And that Richard Bradſhaw ſhall act as Agent for Sequeſtrations in the Pariſhes of Bolton, Deane, Bury, and Ratliffe, and that he ſhall have one Collector for his aſſiſtance therein; And that Iſaac Dehoo, and Edward Dutton ſhall be agents in the Pariſhes of Aſhton under line, Ouldham, Middleton, and Rachdale, and one Collector to aſſiſt them. And that Oliver Edge, and Laurence Owen, ſhall be agents in the Pariſhes of Mancheſter, Eccles, Dreſtwich, and Flixton, and that the parties aforenamed, ſhall doe, execute, and performe all things pertaining to that employment, as by Ordinance of Parliament is appointed. And that for their care and paines to be taken therein, they ſhall all of them receive the uſuall ſalarie, and pay, as hath been accuſtomably uſed to have been allowed, and paid to others of the like employment: ſaving that there ſhall be allowed to Mr. Dutton, and Mr. Dehoo, the weekly pay of twenty-foure ſhillings, onelyonly untill further order.
J. Bradſhawe.
John Starkie.
Thomas Birche.
N. Rigbie.
H. Eleetwood.
Vera Copia Examinat.
Per me Oliver Edge.
Farre be it from us, to bring any rayling accuſation againſt Mr. Smith, but let the tree be judged by its fruits, the man by his actions. As for Laurence Owen, and his buſineſſe, we ſhall leave it in the middle, and neither cleare him, nor condemne him, (further then matters of fact▪ reported in this Narrative are of a tendency one way or other) till the buſineſſe be iſſued before the Committee of Accounts. OnelyOnly hereby it doth appeare, that the Church, and the Elders, have laboured in ſome good meaſure to doe their duty.
Now we paſſe to the prodigious Story of the inviſible DRUMME.
In pag. 164. there is the ſtory of a Drumme, and Mr. Edwards makes a godly Miniſter of Cheſhire to be the reporter of it to him, but his name is concealed; wee may not know him, yet we may aske Mr. Edwards whether the Miniſter were an eye or eare witneſſe of it? If he were not, nor yet aſſerted ſo much to Mr. Edwards, how comes it that Mr. Edwards ſaith in his Preface; For other Relations (alludeing to relations of fact) I have them from ſuch knowne godly Miniſters, and Chriſtians, being eare and eye witneſſe thereof. This will be found a monſtrous untruth in Mr. Edwards: However, becauſe there was no ſuch Miniſter, an eare, or eye-witneſſe of this matter, it will be found a loud lye betwixt them, upon which of them ſoever it will fall.
But becauſe there is great Enquiry made in ſome parts of the Kingdome about this matter, wee thinke it neceſſary for the ſatisfaction of all that would be informed in the truth of it, to give a briefe relation of it, as it was at Duckenfeild, and afterwards to manifeſt what a Bundell of untruths were knit up together in the ſtory, as it is repreſented to the Kingdome. And for the truth of what we ſay, wee ſhall appeale to many impartiall Auditors, who (as they ſometimes repaire to the Chappell) ſo they were eare and eye-witneſſe of the whole matter that very day. Their Teſtimony (they being neither Members of our Church, nor of our opinion) wee hope will currantly paſſe with all rationall men. Which is as followeth.
Upon one Lords day, while Mr. Eaton was preaching in Duckenfeild-Chappell, there was the noyſe of Rapping or Striking upon one of the Pewes or Seates in the Chappell, and (they being made of thin Wainſcoate, and ſtanding hollow from any wall) the ſound was the greater, but continued not long. Upon the firſt hearing of it, Mr. Eaton turned his eare towards the place whence he conceived the ſound came, and after he had finiſhed the ſentence he was ſpeaking, he made a ſhort pauſe, as his manner hath often been to doe, and the noyſe immediately ceaſed; and he began againe to ſpeake, and ſo continued to the end, both of Prayer and Sermon, as at other times, without any further interruption. In the place, whence the noyſe proceeded, there was a dogge which lay under the Seate, and it was then, and ſtill is ſuppoſed, that the dogge in Scratching of his eare, ſtruck upon the Wainſcoate with his foote, which in ſo little a place as Duckenfeild Chappell, might well cauſe as great a noyſe, as was there heard: But before it could certainly be knowne what cauſed it, the noyſe was ended, and the dogge was immediately put forth from the ſeate upon it. In witneſſe to the truth of this we ſet to our hands.
Robert Duckenfeild.
William Bardſley.
George Hurſt.
Henry Aritage.
Henry Hurſt.
John Taylor.
William Hampſon.
Thomas Ouldham.
Joſeph Aſhton.
William Aritage.
Joſeph Andrew.
Having thus brought the truth to light, the untruths, that have been moſt maliciouſly and unrighteouſly forged upon it, will more eaſily be manifeſt to all mens eyes.
Firſt, That the noyſe was like the beating of a March upon a Drumme.
Secondly, That the noyſe came in at the doores, and paſſed up the Iſle, and ſo compaſſed about the Chappell.
Thirdly, That it interrupted Mr. Eaton, in ſuch manner, that it cauſed him to deſiſt from preaching, and to betake himſelfe to prayer.
Fourthly, That at length (the noyſe continuing ſo long) it cauſed the diſſolution of the Aſſembly, and forced all to flee from the Chappell. Theſe are foure deſperate malicious untruths, by whomſoever firſt deviſed, and each untruth is more horrid and wicked then other.
Whereas Mr. Edwards doth Comment upon it, and to make it the more remarkeable, would have it obſerved, that this was the firſt viſible framed Independant Church that was ſet up in England, and before the Apologiſts came from Holland, &c.
Anſw. Wee anſwer, viſible it hath been from the firſt day it was a Church, for wee have carried all things publickly in the face of the world, to prevent the many foule aſperſions which have been wont to be caſt upon domeſtick and clandeſtine meetings; that with Chriſt wee might be able to ſay to all malicious falſe witneſſe bearers, wee ſpeake openly daily, in ſecret have wee ſaid nothing, if therefore wee have done evill, beare witneſſe of the evill, if not, why ſmile you us ca…ſ…eſly? But whether we were viſible, and framed before the Apologiſts came from Holland, (ſeeing that it is not yet full three yeares ſince the Conſtitution of our Church, and little above two yeares ſince it was compleated with Officers,) let Mr. Edwards himſelfe (who knowes the time of their coming from Holland) more conſiderately compute: and finding it falſe, (as we are confident he will) let him retract ſo bold an aſſertion.
The Concluſions which Mr. Edwards builds upon it, are fooliſh, cruell, and abſurd, as may appeare from what hath been preſented in the Premiſſes; And let it be conſidered, whether he hath not dipped his pen deeply in Bloud, while he would propheſie what ſhould become of the Independants? and whether he hath not ſhewed himſelfe a Bloudy man, and hath already in his heart ſplit a great deale of innocent Bloud: As for us, the prayers that wee have put up day by day in places where we preach, for peace betwixt us and our Brethren of Scotland, will cleare us that we are not the men he chargeth us to be: And wee commit it to God to have our innocency cleared to all mens Conſciences in his time. In the Interim, wee are contented that thoſe foule and hatefull Charges, that Mr. Edwards hath made againſt us, may paſſe with the world upon ſuch evidence, as they are preſented, and that they may be received and credited upon thoſe grounds upon which they are built, which are moſt impudent falſities, viz. For [certainly, and aſſuredly,] as there was a Drumme heard, beating a March in Duckenfeild Chappell, ſo [undoubtedly] doe the Independants delight in warre. Againe, [ſo ſurely, and unqueſtionably] as the beating of this Drumme, drove us out from the Chappell, and brake up our meeting, ſo [certainly and infallibly] ſhall the warre which wee have ſought, overthrow all our opinions, and meetings, and caſt us out of England, as an abominable branch for ever: And ſo [infallibly] ſhall ſome of our heads be ſerved up by the Presbyterians, and put into Bloud, as King Cyrus his head was by Tomyris.
In pag. 166. and 167. there is a Letter, in which the Sectaries are charged to have promoted a Petition for toleration, the members of Duckenfeild to have framed it, the ſubſcribers to be Seekers, Soule-ſleepers, Anabaptiſts, &c. And amongſt others, one common Drunken Miniſter: It is ſtyled, The Petition of the peaceable and well-affected, who deſire Liberty of Conſcience, as was promiſed by the Houſe of Commons in their Declaration.
Anſw. Truth it is, there was a Petition on foote, both in Cheſhire, and Lancaſhire: The fierceneſſe of ſome Preſbyterians in their Petitions in both Counties againſt their Brethren (who would have lived peaceably by them) was the cauſe of it. It was not for Toleration, but againſt violence, where moderation and forbearing ought to be: It carried no ſuch Title, as the Letter imports. Some Preſbyterians were at the framing of it with Independants; many Presbyterians employed in the promoting of it. The greater part of the Subſcribers were Presbyterians; the Miniſter that is ſaid to be a Common Drunkard, and yet ſigned it, is one who is entertained by a very godly People in Lancaſhire, who have ſpoken very hopefully of him to one of us. However it prove, a Claſsicall man he is, or was, a little after he had ſubſcribed it, and therefore not for the honour of the Informer, to mention him as a Drunkard. If any young Schollar which ſubſcribed it, ſaid he would defend Independency with his Bloud: the ſpeech was raſh, but may admit of as favourable a conſtruction, as that ſomewhat like expreſſion of a Presbyterian, who ſaid, He would burne at a Stake, before he would reade the Houſe of Commons Declaration of the 17 th of Aprill. But how many untruths have been written in theſe Informations given in about this Petition, may be worth the obſervation of the conſiderate Reader.
In this Extract alſo ſome Gentlemen of noble Qualitie, are moſt unworthily and falſly charged; And though they be not nominated, yet being it is notoriouſly known who are intended, the injury is not the leſſe, but the greater; for they might vindicate themſelves from ſuch aſperſions had they been nominally mentioned.
The one of them is ſaid to be become a great Zealot for Independants, for no other reaſon, but becauſe he is not cauſleſly tranſported, with that rage and fury againſt them, as the Author of this Letter is, and many other of the Pre byterians are in that County; That he threatned any godly Miniſter to make their places too hot for denying their Pulpits to Mr. Eaton, is moſt calumniouſly aſſerted againſt ſo honourable a perſon. The one of us was an eye and eare witneſſe, when this man (not a godly as it is ſaid) but an unworthy ſcandalous Miniſter behaved himſelfe inſolently and audaciouſly againſt this Gentleman; and yet he bore it with remarkable patience, onelyonly told him his own unworthy intemperate offenſive carriage in his function, might ere long be brought againſt him, to caſt him out.
The other Gentleman is ſaid to have incouraged Sectaries, diſcouraged and borne downe the Orthodox well affected Gentlemen and Miniſters, that they could never to this day, get any thing done againſt them.
Anſw. But this is a moſt ingratefull accuſation againſt ſo deſerving a Gentleman, who hath done his Countrey, and the Kingdome, ſuch noble ſervice, and it is full of malicious ſlander.
For, firſt; The perſons that he is ſaid to have incouraged, are knowne to be as godly and as Orthodox (Independency excepted, which in point of Oxthodoxneſſe is under doubtfull diſputation) as any other. And what hath his incouraging been, but his entreating them to take their Turnes in preaching with others: which ſervice alſo the Parliament hath required from ſome of their judgement.
Secondly, What Inſtance can be given of any one Orthodox Gentleman, or Miniſter, that he hath diſcouraged and borne downe?
Thirdly, When were there ever any attempts made, and ſet afoote by any of the Gentlemen or Miniſter againſt ſuch perſon, and he oppoſed them therein, and ingaged himſelfe for the other party? if none of theſe, then is he unworthily dealt with. And let it be obſerved, that whereas there is an implication in his words of a forwardneſſe among the Gentlemen and Miniſters to ſuppreſſe Independency, there is an untruth cloſely wrapped up in it; for no ſuch thing hath appeared from the Gentlemen, nor generally from the Miniſters.
It is alſo conſiderable, how to uſher in, what (by way of defamation) he would have the world to take notice of concerning this Gentleman, he takes upon him to diſcover the ſtate of Cheſhire, and therein his own horrid apprehenſions of the Independents, (for he inſtanceth onelyonly in them) and he compares them (by way of implication) to ſome hideous devouring Monſter, and all that are taken with them he reſembles to a miſerable prey; as if Independency were mortiferous and deadly to all the imbracers of it, poyſonous and deſtructive to mens ſoules. It is of ſad conſideration to thinke unto what an unjudiciouſneſſe of mind, and to what moaſtrous conceptions men are left, through want of charity. And then to confirme what he had aſſerted of Cheſhire, he ſtrengthens it with a notorious untruth; There are (ſaith he) two or three Independent Churches, ſet up by them already, and they are ſetting up two or three more; the latter part of this relation is totally falſe.
3d. Gang. Pag. 167.Having done with Cheſhire, he proceeds to lay his defaming pen, upon ſome Parliament-Members, and delivers himſelfe in ſuch language, as if ſome abominable thing might be laid to their charge, which it would be leſſe ſafe for men to mention, then to blaſpheme all the perſons in the Trinity; And by and by he addes words, which reflects upon the whole Aſſembly of Parliament: His Expreſſions are theſe; The ſuffering of the Church of God to be rent and torne in pieces by hereſies, ſchiſmes, and diviſions, the retarding reliefe for poore bleeding Ireland, the grieving and ſadding the hearts of our Brethren of Scotland, &c. The words need no Comment upon them who can permit and ſuffer ought, which the Parliament will inhibit, and ſo of the reſt it may be ſaid; therefore the Parliament is ſtruck at, but moſt unjuſtly; For, how they have carried it in all theſe things, is abundantly evidenced to all that will open their eyes.
There are other paſſages in theſe very Letters, and in other Letters which wee have read, which reflect upon ſome Independent Churches in theſe parts, and wee are able to contradict thoſe things, wherewith they, and their Officers are aſperſed, and to declare the falſitie of them. And if we conceived, that themſelves would be ſilent, we ſhould thinke our ſelves bound to ſay ſomewhat; But it is probable, the ſenſe of injuries done them, will lie upon them, as well as upon us, and put them alſo upon vindication of themſelves in due time. Wee therefore ſhall reſt ſatisfied in pleading our own innocercy, and ſhall intreat the Impartiall Reader, to conſider with what diſhoneſt and deceitfull ſtuffe, both Relations and Letters are filled, which will not abide Tryall. Our requeſt to God ſhall be, that he would teach them, (who thinke they doe God good ſervice, in beating and baiting their Brethren,) more love, candidneſſe, and ingenuity in all their relations of others, and all thoſe who are the ſubjects of all their Exclamations and oppoſitions, more innocency, and integritie in all their demeanor, that thence it may come to paſſe, that all that would accuſe their good converſation, may be aſhamed.
The Copie of a Letter from Mr. Henry Rootes, Paſtor of the Church of Sowerbie in Yorkſhire, in Vindication of himſelfe againſt a ſiniſter and dangerous, yet falſe and groundleſſe inſinuation, conteined in the Copie of a Letter out of Yorkſhire, divulged by Mr. Edwards in the third part of Gangranna. pag. 69.
To his loving Brethren, Mr. Eaton or Mr. Taylor, theſe be preſented.
Dearely beloved Brethren;
HAving received Intelligence from my Brother Taylor, of your purpoſe of anſwering ſome ſlanders of Mr. Edwards, I deſire to give you a true and faithfull accompt of what I delivered in that Sermon, which is toucht upon in that Letter of James Robinſons, which is Printed, and of the unchriſtian dealing in that particular.
Firſt, I exhorted all godly men to joyne themſelves to ſome viſible Church, if they have opportunity. I explained my ſelfe, I ſay to ſome viſible Church; not this or that, but ſome, I ſay, if they have opportunitie; for if God take away their opportunitie, they muſt wait Gods time: Theſe Cautions premiſed: theſe Motives were added; Firſt, Whoſoever joynes not to ſome, ſinneth, Heb. 10. 25. Jude ver. 19. Secondly, God will puniſh ſuch, Zach. 14. 17, 18, 19.
Secondly, I exhorted all godly men, being joyned to ſome viſible Church, to ſtrive to walke in ſome neerneſſe of Communion with that Church: as, 1. In love; 2. Peace; 3. Watchfulneſſe; 4. Chriſtian toleration of Infirmities; 5. Seeking one anothers welfare; 6. Defending one another from common enemies, Gen. 14. 14. Act. 7. 24. Act. 9. 24, 25. Where you may ſee a miſtake in the Relator of this laſt Quotation; this is the real truth, as I can produce mine own notes, and skores of Witneſſes to atreſt the ſame.
Firſt, Obſerve that this relation which now is printed, was carried on the Sabbath day to another Chappell, a mile diſtant, and there written downe in all haſt, and the next morning poſted away to Mancheſter, and that week to Yorke: ſpread fifty miles diſtant in a few dayes: the next weeke I hearing of it, both from Yorke and Mancheſter, I took occaſion to ſpeake with Mr. Hollingworth about it, who ſaid he had ſeene ſuch a Letter, and I related unto him mine own Expreſſions, and ſenſe, who ſaid after he heard me, that I had a deale of wrong done unto me; I deſired to know the party that did write the Letter, that I might vindicate my ſelfe; but he deſired to be forborne in that; I intreated him then to doe mee that Brotherly Office, as to deale with the party himſelfe; who promiſed he would, yet after all this, the Letter is ſent to London, and printed.
Secondly, The next Lords day after I heard of this, I publickly before all the Congregation, related what I had heard was written to Yorke and Mancheſter, (the writer being preſent) I then deſired to repeate what I had delivered, and did ſo; and ſhewed before all, my ſenſe, that I meant it of the Common enemy of the Kingdome, (we being at that time imbroyled in Civill warre,) and I added, That I was ſo farre from judging it lawfull, for the Congregationall men to take up Armes againſt the Presbyterians, that I held it unlawfull for any private man to take up Armes, except he was backed by Publick Authoritie. Yea, I thought this warre, now in being, could not be juſtified, but that it hath the Authoritie of the State to mannage it.
Thirdly, diverſe weekes after this, (learning who was the Writer of this Letter) I dealt with him about it before one of his intimate friends, Paul Greenwood, ſhewing him how unchriſtianly he had dealt with mee in it: Paul anſwered, indeed he ſhould have knowne my ſenſe before he had divulged it: and for his part, he obſerved the paſſages of that Sermon as diligently as he could, and did not finde any thing of juſt exception againſt it: and I judge this Paul, as judicious a Chriſtian as moſt about us, yet all this would not cauſe the Letter to be recalled, or ſtayed from Printing.
Fourthly, It may clearely be diſcerned by this Relation, and the Circumſtances here ſet downe, that divers ſinnes, divers wayes have been committed. Firſt, by the firſt Relator, who upon the Lords day leaving his owne Chappell, in the midſt of the day, to goe to carry a piece of a Relation, which proves the ſeed of ſlander; if wittingly he minced the relation in the limitation, there's Doegs ſinne in it, yea if he related it in that ſenſe which the Scribe, and Publiſher in Print ſeeme to import, (as it is very probable, by his haſty telling of it, and the others haſty writing of it abroad) it was in that ſenſe then the like ſinne, to their's that were the falſe witneſſes againſt our Saviour, Mat. 26. 60, 61. cum Joh. 2. 19. 21. But if it was raſhly done, without any ſiniſter intention, (which is much to be doubted,) yet there was evill in it, to relate a Paſſage, and to leave out principall circumſtances for the underſtanding of it.
Secondly, Sinnes committed by the Writer, and divulger were.
Firſt, A receiving an accuſation againſt an Elder upon one witneſſe, without enquiring of the Elder, whether it were ſo, though he might have done any day, and then divulging of it, behinde the backe, and never to the face, in a ſlanderous manner.
Secondly, Impenitency, and hardneſſe of heart, for when he was ſhewed his ſinne, and could not but ſee it, yet to this day, he never gave any ſatisfaction, or teſtimony of repentance to the party wronged; neither did he ſuppreſſe the divulging and printing of it, which he might eaſily have done, had he timely improved his endeavours, which in godlineſſe he ought to have done; but it appeares in this particular act, he loved evill more then good, and ſlandering more then ſpeaking righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 52. 3.
Thirdly, The ſinne of him that publiſhed in print theſe things was, his printing ſlanderous Relations upon ſo ſleight Grounds, without enquiring into the certain truth; yea having been admoniſhed before of ſuch dealings by Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Saltmarſh; and Mr. John Goodwin, and found faulty in the ſame kinde, and yet goes on in the ſame trade; ſurely the Wiſe man layes a heavy doome on ſuch, Pro. 29. 1.
All this ſhews by wofull experience, that there is a ſpirit of malice workes in the hearts of Brethren againſt ſome of their Brethren more virulent in this kinde, then the Spirit of Epiſcopacy, ſtriking not only at our peace, libertie, and livelihood, but at our good names and reputations unjuſtly: which the Biſhops never could ſo touch: But I hope, God will in his time cleare us; as in this particular by his goodneſſe he hath done, and all the world may ſee it, if they will but view this.
Brethren, thus I have given you the truth, which I will avow; if you pleaſe to adde any thing within theſe bounds which is defective; to blot out any thing redundant or unneceſſary, or alter any phraſes which are harſh or unpoliſhed, I give you free libertie, nay I intreate you as Brethren to doe it, and inſert it with your owne, and I will acknowledge my ſelfe much obliged unto you. I ſalute you both in the Lord, and deſire to be remembred to all the Brethren, and ſo remaine
Sowerbie March 2. 1646. Your truely loving Brother in Chriſt, HENRY ROOTE.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Eaton, A Just Apology for the Church of Duckenfield (1647)