A Just Apology for the Church of Duckenfield, Title page – To the reader
A JUST APOLOGIE FOR THE CHURCH OF DUCKENFEILD IN CHESHIRE: Againſt certain ſlanderous Reports received by Mr. Edwards his overmuch credulitie of what may tend to the reproach of thoſe that differ from himſelfe in judgement (though but concerning matters meerly of externall order, and things of inferior Alloy to the ſubſtantiall Doctrines of Faith, and Manners) raſhly and without further examination of the truth of them, (together with an overplus of his own Cenſures, and uncharitable Animadverſions) divulged by himſelfe in a late book of his, intituled, The third part of Gangraena.
BY SAMUEL EATON, Teacher & TIMOTHY TAYLOR, Paſtour of the Church of God at DUCKENFEILD.
Whereunto alſo is annexed a Letter of a godly Miniſter, Mr Henry Rootes, Paſtour of the Church of Sowerbie in Yorkſhire, in vindication of himſelfe againſt a ſiniſter and dangerous (yet falſe and groundleſſe) Inſinuation, contained in the Copie of a Letter out of Yorkſhire, ſent unto the aforeſaid Mr. Edwards, and by him publiſhed to the Kingdome.
2 Cor. 6. 8.
By honour and diſhonour, by evill report, and good report, as deceivers, and yet true.
Luk. 21. 19.
In your patience poſſeſſe yee your ſoules.
Adeo ſatis Idoneus patientiae ſequeſter Deus▪ Si iniuriam depoſueris, penes eum ultor eſt; Si damnum, reſtitutor, ſi dolorem, medicus, &c.
Tertul.
LONDON; Printed by M. S. for Henry Overton, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley. 1647.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER; Grace and Peace be multiplied.
CHRISTIAN READER;
Titus 2. 8▪THe Apoſtle Paul exhorts Titus, to ſpeake ſound words in Doctrine, that cannot be condemned; and there is a proportionable equitie, that all men (Miniſters eſpecially) ſhould write and print ſound words, that cannot be condemned. If Mr. Edwards had kept himſelfe to this Rule, our labour at this time might have been ſpared. Our work in this Narrative, is to rectifie his errours. He hath led many from the truth, ſo farre as concernes Duckenfeild Church (for ſaving that there is an Epiſtle of our brother Roots annexed, there is nothing els medled with in this Apologie) and our undertaking is to reduce them to the truth. Should we ſuffer all to paſſe for truth, which he publiſheth concerning us, wee ſhould betray the truth, and our own innocency.
Theſe faults may be juſtly charged upon him from the way he takes of blazoning the ſuppoſed failings of all other men, that differ from him, though but in the moſt controverted, dim, and diſputable points; and inſtances may be given (if need require) in paſſages that relate to us, and our Church.
Firſt, He hath abroad in the Kingdome Factors that trade for him in the good names, and reputations of precious men, and orderly walking Churches, (who are not inferiour to the very chiefeſt of his Presbyterians, whether men, or Churches, Gangrae. p. 165.though they be nothing) which they and he ſell over to be mancipated to infamy and diſgrace, for ſuppoſed crimes falſly ſuggeſted againſt them by himſelfe, and his creatures.
Secondly, He takes reports (eſpecially flowing (as it is Ibid.ſaid) from godly perſons) upon truſt, and without any further examination, or inquiſition after the truth of them, iſſues them abroad (with a great meaſure of confidence) into the Kingdome, as if ſo be, his ſuppoſed godly perſons, were arrived at an abſolute incapacitie of hearing an untruth, and when they have heard it, reporting it for a truth.
Ibid.Thirdly, He doth not conſider that that malignant ſpirit, that in all preceding ages of the Church hath bent mens tongues for lies, and ſlanders, againſt the Saints of the moſt high God, is moſt induſtriouſly active at this day to render thoſe men odious, whoſe Converſation imports ſtrictneſſe of a more then ordinary elevation in the wayes of God. So that it is no ſecuritie againſt the perill of falſe witneſſe-bearing againſt the people of God, to ſay, Such a godly man told me ſo; eſpecially when that that godly man was neither an eye, nor eare-witneſſe of the thing, nor hath trac'd the report upward from man to man, to the firſt reporter, who had need to be godly, and an eye or eare-witneſſe of the thing. Our ſelves can ſpeake experimentally of the failings of divers Presbyterians formerly, whom we judged godly, that have taken up things againſt us by heare-ſay, for which they have ſeene cauſe afterwards to be aſhamed; which we deſire rather to cover with the mantle of Brotherly love, then like flies to fall upon their ſores, and unneceſſarily to uncover their nakedneſſe, and rake in their infirmities, as Mr. Edwards profeſſedly deales with us.
Fourthly, Mr. Edwards runs the more deſperate adventure, to ſplit his reputation, and wound his Conſcience upon the Innocency of traduced Saints, becauſe he takes not onelyonly the teſtimony of one ingaged party againſt the other, but even of the moſt precipitate, fiery ſpirits of that partie, the ſtrength of whoſe phanſie is enough to multiply a mole-hill of ſrailtie 3. Gangr. pag. 164. & 165.in the Saints, into a mountaine of obſtinary; yea, can make things that are not, appeare as though they were. And yet if the caſe were altered, Mr. Edwards poſsibly would thinke the Teſtimonies of twenty of thoſe whom he calls Sectaries, incompetent to take away the good name of one godly Presbyterian.
Fiſtly, The irregularitie of Mr. Edwards his proceeding, is the more inexcuſable in this, That whereas there ſhould be two or three witneſſes for the confirmation of every matter, that is not of notorious Cognizance; and whereas the accuſed Act. 25. 16.ought to come face to face before the Accuſers: Mr. Edwards publiſheth things of a private nature, upon the bare report of ſome one man, who is not in the capacitie of being a competent witneſſe in that matter whereof he is the relator. And ſo the good names of innocent, and ſome of them eminent perſons in the Kingdome, come to be blaſted by the miſpriſion of his ſupercilious, and unhallowed pen. Inſtance pag. 167. in what is related concerning two Gentlemen, perſons of great worth and honour.
Sixtly, Adde to this, that the impatience of his zeale in defaming the ſervants of God, holds no correſpondence with principles of common prudence. For who but Mr. Edwards, knowing that the Deacon of Duckingfeild, pag. 68. was ſpeedily to be brought upon the Stage before the Civill power, would not have expected the iſſues of his aay of Audience, rather then by an haſtie anticipation pre-judge (as in his Marginall note he doth) a perſon not yet heard nor condemned by the Civill State. And indeed a little patience (comparatively to much) might have ſerved the turne. For not long after Mr. Thomas Smith, Bookſeller of Mancheſter, [who (as we coneeive) was both Mr. Edwards Intelligencer, and ſoone after the Deacons accuſer] had a faire, and free hearing, before the Committee againſt the Deacon. Yet the Committee found not him guiltie of the ſuppoſed knavery in couzening the State, the diſcovery whereof was prophecied in the Letter of Auguſt 3. 1646. publiſhed by Mr. Edwards, but diſmiſſed him from their Board without any Cenſure. Would Mr. Smith have thought it well, and if he ſhould have approved of it, yet wee could not have avoyded the regreet of our own Conſciences, when he being nominated for an Elder of Mancheſter, and accuſation upon accuſation from parts nearer and more remote, were brought in againſt him, if wee ſhould have writ up to London, that ere long Mr. Smiths knavery would be diſcovered, and ſuch a one as he, is a fit man to be an Elder in a Presbyterian Church; even then when the Buſineſſe was depending, and unproved before the Triars?
Seventhly, Nor can it well be omitted, (and as little juſtified) Pag. 167.that from one Act (and that injuriouſly repreſented) a judgement ſhould be made upon a perſon; a Gentleman of worth muſt paſſe under the name of a great Zelot for Independents, from the evidence of one falſe Inſtance, which is given in to prove it. Would Mr. Edwards be well pleaſed to have ſuch meaſure meaſured unto himſelfe againe, and that becauſe there are ſome ſlanderous reports publiſhed in Mr. Edwards booke, therefore the whole booke is a booke of ſlanders?
Eightly and laſtly, The ſcope and driſt of Mr. Edwards is, to make the world beleeve, that ſuch as thoſe Sectaries (ſo by The Marginal note. Pag. 68.him called) are, whoſe perſonall failings he divulgeth, ſuch are (or at leaſt in time are like to be) all that are of that Sect reſpectively. Now if the Sectaries (ſo called) were baptized into the ſame uncharitable Spirit, and would whet their ſtyle againſt the perſonall faults of Presbyterians, with a deſire to charge all upon the profeſſors of that way, doubtleſſe the volumes that might be written, would be far more voluminous then a compleat Decade of Gangraena's. As for thee (Chriſtian Reader) wee hope we ſhall eaſily obtaine ſo much juſtice at thy hands, as not to be meaſured by Mr. Edwards reed; But ſuch as our Doctrine, manner of life, patience, peaceableneſſe, painfulneſſe, are, (be they more or leſſe) ſuch let us be in the Ballance of thy eſtimation. Wee are abundantly ſenſible of the growth and increaſe of Errours and Hereſies in the Kingdome; wee deſire according to the meaſure of grace received, to pray againſt them, faſt againſt them; Wee labour in the courſe of our Miniſtry by preaching againſt them; And as God gives us opportunitie in diſputation, we labour to beat them downe; And we truſt God in his own time will diſpel them. The premiſes are ſufficient for thy premonition, not to take all for truth, that Mr. Edwards, or any other in this Calumniatory age, ſhall raſhly and uncharitably broach againſt any godly man, whether of the Claſſicall or Congregationall way. But firſt to try and trace reports, importing ſcandall to the fountaines of them, their firſt Broachers; By this meanes a great deale of uncharitable miſpriſion will be prevented, and thou wilt have no occaſion to mourne at the laſt. Wee remaine
Thine, whilſt thou art a Friend to Truth, SAMUEL EATON, TIMOTHY TAYLOR.
A JUST APOLOGIE FOR THE CHURCH OF DUCKENFEILD.
MAſter Edwards amongſt many other Letters, and Relations, which have been ſent him from all parts of the Kingdome, hath received (it ſeemes) ſome from the Northerne parts, from Lancaſhire, and Cheſhire: and in ſome of them there are paſſages that reflect upon the Church of Duckenfeild, and the Officers thereof, with reproach and ſcorne, with falſhood and ſlander; and where any truth is, it is with an injurious intent manifeſted.
We ſhall direct to the Pages, tranſcribe the ſubſtance of the words, and make Anſwer thereto.
3d. Gang.In Pag. …8▪ are theſe words; Mr. Eaton, of whoſe activity to promote that way, (that is, th… …ongregationall, which is the truely-ſo called Presbyteriall way) I doubt not you have heard, hath been the great Apoſtle to promote their deſigne in theſe parts.
Anſw. It may be a great queſtion whether ſcoffing or irrationalitie be the … predominant in this invective charge▪ For it is without all bottom, unleſſe activitie (which he onelyonly mentions) he the bottom of it. And then all the Clergie in Lancaſhire are great Apoſtles; for he calls them Pag. 167. An Active Clergie, that is, in promoting the Preſbyterian Deſigne. And this is all the reaſon Mr. Edwards can ſhew, of inſerting Mr. Eatons Name among the Principall Independents and Sectaries in his Booke.
But how comes it about, that Mr. Eaton is the great Apoſtle in this place, who Pag. 164. is but a Paſtor or Teacher of the Church of Duckenfeild?
If Mr. Eaton be the grat Apoſtle, who are teh leſſer? wee had thought among the Apoſtles there had not been greater, and leſſer.
If he be the great Apoſtle, what, or who are they that have ſent him? They muſt doubtleſſe be greater then Apoſtles; for greater is he that doth ſend, then he that is ſent.
If he promote deſignes as an Apoſtle, then the deſignes are preaching of the Goſpel up and downe, and gathering of Churches, &c.
Now Apoſtolicall preaching of the Goſpell in all places up and downe the Countrey, is a good deſigne, eſpecially at this time, when there is ſuch want of preaching. But this deſigne, Mr. Eaton could not heretofore, nor can at this day attend upon, being a prefixed Officer at Duckenfeild, as is acknowledged Pag. 164. And as for the deſigne of gathering Churches, (which is an Apoſtles worke) what one Church hath Mr. Eaton gathered? True it is, that he, with many others, wearied out with the long want of ſome of Gods Ordinances, and with corruption in other of Gods Ordinances, did at length (for their better ſpirituall accommodation) joyne together in fellowſhip, that they might injoy all Gods Ordinances. Yet herein he no more gathered them, with whom he joyned, then they him. But be it that he promotes theſe deſignes, yet ſithence theſe deſignes are of no worſer import and contemplation then they are, neither they that ſent him, (if any ſuch there be) nor he that is ſent, have cauſe to be aſhamed.
But his Activitie is great. And wherein appeares this his great Activitie, unleſſe it be in entertaining now and then one call of many, to preach a Sermon abroad, as occaſions will permit? Or unleſſe it be that in defence of the way he profeſſeth, he anſwereth ſome of the many challenges Brethren make in oppoſition againſt it. In which alſo he is rarely ingaged alone, and leſſe active then his opponents ſhew themſelves to be.
In pag. 68. the extract of a Letter written from the Northerne parts, ſpeakes thus; I ſhall hereafter give you a particular account of the Church of Duckenfeild.
Anſw. It had been ſafer for the Author of this Letter to look into his own heart, and ſee what is amiſſe there, that he may be able to give a particular account to God of all his wayes, when he ſhall be called thereto; then to ſpend his time in obſerving Duckenfeild, and medling with account of things that concern him not. Is not this to be foreign a buſi-body in other mens matters; and if he ſuffer as ſuch a one, what glory or comfort can he have at the laſt? Notwithſtanding let him be ſure his account be juſt, and it will prove no diſadvantage to Duckenfeild that he makes it.
Gangrae.The Ruling Elder is a Sequeſtrator in Cheſhire.
Anſw. If the Ruling Elder be an honeſt man, and Sequeſtratorſhip an honeſt imployment, we hope it is no diſparagement to Duckenfeild Church, that their Ruling Elder is a Sequeſtrator.
Gangrae▪Their Deacon is a Sequeſtrator in Lancaſhire; The Deacon I ſhall ſpeedily being upon the Stage, and make a notable diſcovery of his knavery in cou…ening the State.
Anſw. As concerning the Deacon, we ſhall give a true relation of the carriage of that matter. M. Taylor preaching at Shrewsbury the laſt Summer, (in the beginning of the MonethMonth of Auguſt, as he remembreth▪ had diſcourſe with a religious Gentleman (a friend of his, and of the Claſsicall way for matter of Judgement) concerning the different Church-ways, that are now matters of ſuch hot digladiation amongſt many in the Kingdome. The Gentleman by way of diſcourſe told him, that there were ſome in the Church of Duckenfeild, as bad as were to be found in the Pariſh Aſſemblies, and named Laurence Owen, a Deacon of our Church, and referred Mr. Taylor for further ſatisfaction to Mr. Thomas Smith, Book-ſeller in Mancheſter, and to Thomas Hartley, for proofe of his diſhoneſt dealing with the State. Mr. Taylor at his returne communicated this buſineſſe to the Elders of the Church, and in a ſhort time after wee both conferred with Thomas Hartley, and received from him a report that he was not ſatisfied that L. Owen had carried the matter well, and gave ſome Inſtances. Hereupon wee reſolved, (ſo ſoon as poſſibly we could get a convenient time,) to call Laurence Owen before us, and to require an account of him concerning his Negotiation for the State: and to deſire Mr. Smith, Thomas Hartley, and whomſoever els might fall under our Intelligence, as a perſon able to witneſſe any thing materiall concerning L. Owen his proceeding, to give us the meeting. That if it might appeare that L. Owen had done any thing to the prejudice of the State, or peace of a good conſcience, wee might uſe our beſt endeavours to bring him to the ſight of his ſinne, and repentance for it, and alſo to make due ſatisfaction to the State.
But many importune occaſions falling in, in that conjunction of time, deferred the execution of our determinations for a ſhort time, till a fit ſeaſon was by the good hand of providence opened unto us. But when wee were fully ripened by a univerſall conflux of all conce…ring requiſites for the iſſuing of this buſineſſe, (which had not ſuffered the leaſt delay, but that we had probable, and promiſing grounds of hope, that the charges againſt him were founded upon miſtakes in his accuſers) wee reſolved to bring it under examination, with a moſt requiſite and impartiall endeavour of diſcovering (ſo far as God ſhould help us) the whole truth. Now in this juncture of time, Mr. Smith had drawne up a charge, and brought it before the Committee of Lancaſhire, who upon a full, and impartiall hearing of the cauſe, did not find him guiltie of the things charged upon him, and ſo diſmiſſed him from their Board, without any cenſure. And this was the iſſue of Mr. Smiths confidence that he ſhould ſpeedily Pag. 68.diſcover the Knavery of the Deacon, in his firſt attempt.
And though this buſineſſe iſſuing before the Gentlemen, according to our former (then preſent) apprehenſions, might have given reaſonable ſatisfaction to us in point of the Deacons innocency; yet becauſe wee underſtood that Mr. Smith was not herewithall ſatisfied, wee reſolved (as unforeſtalled in point of the innocency of the accuſed by any thing that paſſed before the Gentlemen, or fell otherwiſe under our obſervation,) to give Mr. Smith a full and faire hearing; that ſo if he could make any reall diſcovery, wee might improve it to the glory of God, the States ſatisfaction, and our Brothers ſpirituall good: and accordingly deſired Mr. Smith, when he was ripe for the purpoſe, to let us underſtand. After ſome weekes paſt, Mr. Smith ſent a Declaration to Mr. Taylor, ſubſcribed with his own hand, and the hands of George Jackſon, and Tho: Hartley; containing divers charges againſt L. O. Upon the receipt hereof, the Church aſſembled to faſt and pray before God, to ſeek aſſiſtance of grace on the behalfe of the Brother that was afreſh accuſed, that he might carry it candidly, and ſincerely in his Anſwer, as in the preſence of God, and be as ready to take ſhame to himſelfe, if any thing were juſtly charged, as to ſtand upon the defence of his innocency, in things wherein his Conſcience bore witneſſe to the integritie of his Actions: as alſo that the Elders might be inabled to conceive aright of things, and to make report of them accordingly to the Church. The Dutie being ended, the ſeverall Charges were drawne out of the Declaration [the moſt materiall of them being the ſame (as we have been informed) that were agitated formerly before the Committee] and L. O. required to make Anſwers to them: which accordingly he did. After we had thus heard both parties ſeverally, wee deſired to heare them joyntly, and that they might come face to face, for which purpoſe, Mr. Taylor writ a Letter to Mr. Smith, and his two friends, deſiring them to give us the meeting at ſome convenient place, and to bring with them ſuch perſons as might give in evidence againſt L. O. concerning any thing contained in the Declaration, that might ſtand in need of further proofe. He alſo deſired that Mr. Johnſon of Aſhton, and Mr. Angier of Denton (two godly, and grave Miniſters of the Claſsicall way) might be preſent as witneſſes of what paſſed on both ſides.
This deſired meeting Mr. Smith and his two friends thought fit to decline for theſe two Reaſons, as they pretended.
Firſt, That matters of fact were laid downe with that diſtinctneſſe, and cleareneſſe in the Declaration, that they needed to adde no more words for the ſatisfaction of any ingenuous Reader.
Secondly, (and that by way of implication) that wee were not authorized to take their Examination upon Oath.
To which M. Taylor in his Letter to them anſwered, That our deſigne was (according to our dutie) to endeavour to bring our Brother to the ſight of his ſinne, and repentance for it, in caſe he ſhould prove guiltie, according to the ſeverall charges contained in the Declaration, or any of them. That this we could not doe, except wee could convince him. That we could not convince him, and upon conviction proceed againſt him, but by the proofe of two witneſſes at the leaſt, ſince he confidently denied divers things contained in the Declaration, and in his Anſwer avoyded the dint, and ſcope of the reſt. That he deſired to have his accuſers come face to face, and that he might have libertie to Anſwer for himſelfe: and that this Juſtice neither they, (ſince they had laid a charge againſt him, nor wee (if wee would carry it righteouſly aActs 25. 16. & 26. 1.) could deny him. That wee deſired to know whether they did joyntly atteſt all, and every of the miſcarriages charged in the Declaration, or ſeverally. If not all joyntly, but ſome ſeverally, then we deſired to know which of the particulars were atteſted by one onelyonly witneſſe, and which by two or more, ſince we could not proceed upon a ſingle teſtimony, but muſt deſire further proofe. That L. O. had brought a Certificate bThe ſame Certificate was ſince ſubſcribed by another godlyman▪under the hand of a man beyond exception faithfull, (who ſpake not by heareſay, but as an eye and eare witneſſe, point-blank, contrary to one maine thing charged in the Declaration, and alſo another man (that had great reaſon to know the ſtate of the buſineſſe to which he ſpake, atteſting that which is contrary to the maine thing charged by them, as we ſhould give them fully to underſtand, if they pleaſed to give us the meeting. That there was alſo one thing mentioned in the Declaration in generall termes, viz. certaine ſummes of money received that were not given in in his accounts, but no particulars ſpecified, and we deſired that the particulars might be given in, and ſo atteſted by themſelves, or otherwiſe. That theſe things conſidered, they could not righteouſly deny us the meeting, notwithſtanding the diſtinctneſſe, and clearneſſe in matter of fact pretended to be in their Declaration.
And as for the ſecond, it was anſwered in Mr. Taylors Letter aforeſaid; That if they did not judge it unfit to give in their accuſation in their Declaration, though they did not look upon us as authorized to adminiſter an Oath to them; why might they not corroborate, and make out their accuſation before us (in things wherin there ſhould be need of further light,) though we were not in a capacitie to adminiſter an Oath unto them? Theſe were the moſt material▪ p ſſages in Mr. Taylors Letter.
Mr. Smiths Anſwer in the moſt conſiderable pertinent paſſages was; That he would have appeared before us, if he had believed us inveſted with any lawfull power by God … to have taken his Examination▪ That to comply with us in thi… way, would be a remedy worſe then the diſeaſe. That if L. O. deſired is accuſers to come face to face, why according to his counſell had he not brought his Accuſers before the Committee? That he would not trouble himſelfe with … Certificate he …ve, or from whom procured, ſince he … to make out the maine particulars of his …wn Accounts and Confeſſion and by ſufficient …ony upon Oath▪ That he … not the Declaration to one Church, nor in any of his Letters had acknowledged Mr. Taylor a Miniſter. That if we deſired a meeting in a Chriſtian way, and not in a Church-way, and pleaſed to let Mancheſter be the place, he would meet us, and endeavour to ingage his two friends, and ſuch other Witneſſes as ſhould be neceſſary. That for other particulars in the Letter, (i. e. Whether they did atteſt the things charged in the Declaration ſeverally, or joyntly, and if not all joyntly, but ſome ſeverally, then which were atteſted by one Witneſſe, and which by two or more) Wherein we deſired ſatiſfaction, he conceived it would be fitter to give in account to the Committee for Sequeſtration then to us. To which Mr. Taylor replyed, That whether he acknowledged the Church of Duckenfield a Church, the Elders a Presbyteris, or himſelfe a Miniſter, neither the one, nor the other, nor himſelfe did regard. For with them it was a ſmall thing to be judged of him, or of mans judgement. To their own Maſter they muſt ſtand or fall. That the ſcope of this deſired meeting (on our part) was not to ſteale from him an acknowledgement of the truth of our Church, or Miniſtries, but an improvement of it to this end, that our Brother might be healed in his Conſcience, if he had done any iniquitie, and in his reputation (ſo far as in us lay) if none of thoſe things whereof he was accuſed were found in him. And foraſmuch as a meeting of them in the capacitie of Chriſtians, would be of equivolent conducency to the attainment of our end, wee ſhould as willingly meet them under that Notion, as in the capacitie of a Presbytery.
This Anſwer being thus returned, we were in plenary expectation, that this buſineſſe would ſpeedily be iſſued one way or other. But though we condeſcended to meet Mr. Smith upon his own termes, yet in his Anſwer to Mr. Taylor, he totally (contrary to his own ingagement, and promiſe under his own hand,) refuſed to meet us, and not onelyonly ſo, but expreſſed himſelfe reſolved to forbeare all further intercourſe with Mr. Taylor in writing about this matter. The reaſon alledged by him of his refuſall to meet us, was, That he was inhibited by the Committee of Accounts, who were reſolved to take the full examination of the buſineſſe themſelves, conceiving that our private debates, would no way advantage the publick, and might prejudice them in their proceedings. Aſſuring us that if we would have but a little patience, things would be diſcovered to our full ſatisfaction, out of the examination taken upon Oath.
When we were thus deſerted by Mr. Smith, and his two confederate friends, refuſing to tell us which of the charges were atteſted by one onelyonly witneſſe, and which by two or more, or to give any particulars atteſted where the charge was generall, refuſing alſo to give us the meeting for the making out of his charge, where it needed proofe, viz. in ſuch things, whereof he, and his two friends, were onelyonly the relators, and accuſers, but could not poſſibly be the atteſtors or witneſſes: When wee were thus deſerted, (wee ſay) yet wee left no ſtone unmoved, further to informe our ſelves concerning this buſineſſe. And having notice that L. O. was to come to his Anſwer before the Committee of Accounts for Lancaſhire, upon Tueſday the ſecond of Febr. 1646. (to our beſt remembrance) in Mancheſter: Wee both came thither, and ſent to the Gen lemen of that Committee, to deſire libertie that wee might ſit by and heare what paſſed that day for our further ſatisfaction. But this libertie was denied us by the Gentlemen at that time. After this Mr. Taylor having intelligence of the meeting of the Committee upon a Tueſday, came to Mancheſter to deſire a Copie of L. O. his charge, the better to enable them to diſcover the truth of this matter. But after he had come twice or thrice to the place where uſually they ſate, he was informed, that the Countrey people came not in, and ſo they would not ſit that day, and ſo loſt his labour at that time. After this he applied himſelfe to one of them particularly, expreſſing the deſire that himſelfe, and his Brethren had to be throughly poſſeſſed of the ſtate of that buſineſſe, and that it would be a very great courteſie to us, if wee might but have a Copie of the Depoſitions. The Gentleman anſwered, that it was reſolved at their Board, that L. O. ſhould not onelyonly be allowed Breviates, but alſo Copies at large of the Depoſitions, and there was but onelyonly one thing undetermined, and that was, whether ſince all the Examinations were not taken, he ſhould have the Depoſitions piece meale, or the whole together. Mr. Taylor went away well ſatisfied in the candor, and impartialitie of the Gentlemens proceedings in that matter. And ſo wee hope that in due time we ſhall enjoy the advantage of thoſe Depoſitions, to enable us to make a Judgement of the cauſe, and till then wee ſhall ſuſpend our thoughts and determinations about that matter. OnelyOnly this wee cannot but take notice of; That Mr. Smith after ſome Depoſitions were taken, before L. ☜O▪ had anſwered for himſelfe, (for that is not yet done) or the Gentlemen had paſſed any Cenſure againſt him, (which alſo is not yet done) he writ up to a Gentleman a friend of his in London; That the Deacon of Duckenfield his knavery is proved before the Committee upon Oath, and be turned out of his place. His Letter bore date, Jan. 30. 1646. Who reading this Letter, would not conclude, that the Committee, after a full hearing of both ſides, had found L. O. guiltie? and for his guilt (or knavery, to ſpeake in Mr. Smiths Dialect) had turned him out of his place? and ſo his friend in London took it up. Whereas the truth is, the Examinations are not yet all taken, neither to this day of our preſent writing, hath L. O. a Copie of any one Depoſition, nor have the Committee of Accounts paſſed any Cenſure at all againſt him, much leſſe put him out of his place. But the Committee of the Countie to eaſe the publick charge, did diminiſh the number of the Agents for Sequeſtration, and (without any Character of diſgrace at all) did ſuſpend him from the execution of his place; as they did alſo many other perſons of unſpotted ſide litie to the State. A Copie of which Suſpenſion is as followeth.