The Quakers Throne of Truth Satans Seat of Lies, Floating text 2 – Floating text 6
To his Highneſs, Oliver, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c.
The humble Petition of divers free Burgeſſes, and Inhabitants of the City and Councel of Briſtol.
Sheweth,
THat your Petitioners; and divers other Burgeſſes and Inhabitants of the City and Councel of Briſtol, viz. the generality of the godly, faithful, and conſtant friends to the Parliaments intereſt, came to the place, and at the time appointed by the Sheriffs, for the chuſing of Burgeſſes to ſit in Parliament, according to the qualifications, in the inſtrument of Government, ſuppoſing, that thoſe that had been faithful to the cauſe of God, and the Nation, ſhould have received countenance, and have been owned by thoſe who were to execute your Highneſs Commands, in a buſineſs of ſo great weight and concernment, as the Election of Burgeſſes to ſit in Parliament; for the carrying on, and ſecuring the common intereſt of liberty contended for, and brought through (by the good hand of the Lord) ſuch Seas of Bloud, and multitudes of other unſpeakable ſufferings, and ruines of the Saints, and good people of the Nations, amongſt whom, … your Petitioners, and their friends, have borne no ſmall ſhare and propertion.
That contrariwiſe, they found thoſe, who all along, both in principle and practiſe, have bitterly oppoſed the cauſe of God, (in the behalf of the late King, and your Petitioners, and other their friends, from proſecuting the ſame) countenanced, and incouraged to avote, and undertook by the Sheriffes to bee born out in ſo doing; and your Petitioners, with other friends, with a very high hand affronted, abuſed, threatned, and ſome or them (though rightlie qualified) denied to vote, as by the Narrative of proceedings hereunto annexed more particularly, may appear; to which your Petitioners humbly refer your Highneſs, as that which they own, and are readie to make good.
That your Petitioners being greatly aſtoniſhed, and afflicted in ſpirit, at theſe proceedings, eſpecially upon the Sheriffes, declaring, that what they did in point of Election, (contrarie to the expreſs words of the qualification in the Inſtrument of Government) was the judgement of your Highneſſes Councel, (which they cannot believe, but hope, and are confident to finde the contrarie) did divers of them ſeveral times, object and proteſt againſt ſuch elections; but all proving in vain, the ſcorn and confidence of the Cavalier Party encreaſing, (who carried things ſo, as if there were no ſuch thing as a Commonwealth, or your Highneſs being chief Governour, but as if Charles Stewart were again inthron'd in the Soveraignty of this Nation) before the firſt, whom your Petitioners nominated for them, was gone through, protested to the Sheriffes againſt ſuch the Elections, and departed immediatelie out of the Hall.
And your Petitioners bowels being even preſſed down with grief, knew not where (as to …men) to eaſe their hearts, but in pouring forth their groans and ſighes into to your Highneſſes boſome, whom they have (with the hazzard of all that is dear unto them, and with much reſolution and unweariedneſs owned in all your excellent undertakings, for the true intereſt of the Commonwealth, againſt this very generation of men, whom in the time of Parliament, durſt not ſhew their teeth; and now, when your Highneſs rules, (in whoſe Government your Petitioners expect them moſt to bee kept under) ſeem to prevail, and do triumph over your Petitioners, who have been owned and preſerved, by the preſence of the Lord of Hoſts, as a buſh unconſumed in the midſt of the burning, &c.
If therefore it ſhall pleaſe our God, to ſtir up your bowels within you, to bee affected with theſe proceedings, and your Petitioners condition, which indeed concernes your own being, for their enemies are yours, and ſo you will finde it, if Providence ſhould ever give an opportunity: Then your Petitioners ſhall humbly pray, that the Election made, and intended, to bee returned by the Sheriffes, may bee null and void, and that the perſons nominated, and choſen by your Petitioners, may bee approved and eſtabliſhed; and ſuch other Proviſions made by your Highneſs, as may teſtifie the earning of your heart towards, not only your Petitioners, but the faithful in theſe Nations, whom theſe things do generally concern; if otherwiſe, behold your Petitioners, and their friends, are in the hands of the Lord, and let him do with them whatſoever is good in his ſight.
Now Reader, ſay, Did ever man meet with ſuch an hypocrite; carrying two faces under one hood, in this manner? What a Monſter would this man appear to bee, if one ſhould but open the carkaſs of this baſe Petition, and let the world know the truth of things, as wee in this City know it? The generalitie of the godly, faithful to the cauſe of God, the Saints, and good people of the Nation, amongſt whom the Petitioners, and their friends, bore no ſmall ſhare. Theſe are the Epithites of himſelf, and the Petitioners; now I will not name them, becauſe peradventure ſome of them are, or may bee honeſt hereafter.
But Country-men, and fellow Citizens, you know them all: And ſay, Would not you think the worſe of your ſelves a good while after, if you ſhould bee found in the company of many of them: I ſpeak to you of my Countrymen, who are not Athieſts, Ranters, Church, and Ordinance-forſakers, and haters, drunkards, Whoremaſters, Sots, and Scoundrels: To you I ſpeak, would you not bluſh to bee found among ſuch Saints? Oh how eaſie it is to become a Saint? 'Tis but petitioning for George Biſhop to bee a Parliament-man, and then a Saint preſently; and then Quakers (as many of them now are.) All theſe Saints came together, to the buſineſs of ſo great weight and concernment, as the Election of Burgeſſes to ſit in Parliament, for the carrying on, and ſecuring, &c. So the Petitioners, and one of the men to do it, and that theſe Saints had nominated (which was only in their purpoſe) not ſo much as nominated in the place of chuſing, leſt they ſhould have been laught out of it: And as in their Petition (as they ſay choſen) which is a manifeſt falſhood, was this St. George; Oh high arrogance, impudency! I want words: What a frontleſs man was this, to have ſuch a conceit of himſelf? And how ſottiſh and ſimple were theſe fellow-Saints, as once to think, that the Inhabitants of this City had ſo far forfeited their reaſon, and would ſo far forfeit their Charter, as to chuſe ſuch a one for ſuch a work? As ſure as can bee, had wee choſen him, my Lord Protector would have appointed a Guardian over the City, as a company of Lunaticks and mad men.
And ſee the unworthineſs of this fellow, and the baſeneſs of his ſpirit: In their Petition they go on, (and you muſt ſuppoſe them to be in a meek, humble poſture, with very meek and gentle hearts towards God, and his Highneſs) your Petitioners bowels being even preſſed down with grief, know not where (as to men) to eaſe their hearts, (poor wretches) but in pouring forth their groans and ſighes into his Highneſs boſome, whom they had owned, &c. for the true intereſt of the Commonwealth, but now would hold his noſe to the grinde-ſtone, as going about to promote a falſe intereſt. George, your Countrymen know you well enough. But yet for all this, ſee how ſweetly wee expreſs our ſelves (not as hypocrites, who diſſemble and flatter) and go on: If it ſhall pleaſe God (good hearts) to ſtir up the bowels (his Highneſs) within you, to bee affected with theſe proceedings, (in putting by George from being a Parliament-man) and your Petitioners condition, which indeed concernes your own being, (yea, and it ſhould appear ſo, had hee and his complices power in their hands) for their enemies (i.e. Georges, and the Petitioners) are yours, and ſo you will finde it, if providence ſhould ever give an opportunity. But you George, (who I doubt not had the great hand in drawing this Petition) you are a moſt ſpecial and loving friend to his Highneſs: Fie George, fie, wilt thou not bluſh when thou ſhalt think of thy fellow-Citizens reading this Petition, who know thee ſo well? I would not have taken this pains, but to let the world ſee, what Saints you Quakers are, being mindful of my title page, and promiſe.
And now to go on, and ſee how George can free himſelf in the matter of the Lord Craven, which, ſayes hee, (page 98.) I ſeem occaſionally to bring in, but chiefly intended, thereby to aſperſe his name, and wound his reputation; in that I ſay (page 37. of my Narrative) that hee was the great Agent in breaking and tearing the Lord Cravens eſtate in pieces. Why George? What is the matter? Is it an aſperſing of your name, and a wounding of your reputation, to ſay, that you were the great Agent in breaking and tearing the Lord Cravens eſtate in pieces? Doth it touch? Are you ſore thereabouts? (Ah guilt, guilt! This worm of conſcience.) But ſtand, ſtand I ſay, I muſt touch you, and handle you there a little more? Poſſibly I may bee inſtrumental for your good, to open the ulcer, and let out the corruption, which lying there in thy conſcience, and impoſtumating, might deſtroy of a ſudden. Come, ſtand, better now than hereafter: Oh! how ſhould I rejoyce, that I might bee inſtrumental to help him to a ſight of his ſin, and ſo to true repentance?
To proceed, the Lord Cravens eſtate is broken in pieces, that cannot bee denied; but, ſayes George, it was confiſcated by Act of Parliament, and the act was not his, but theirs: And how can that act bee charged upon mee, who had not to do in the paſſing thereof? Well, I ſhall ſhew you how by and by: But in the mean time, let mee ask you George, Is it not poſſible, that a Parliament (upon miſ-information) may do that which in its ſelf is unjuſt, and they not ſo in doing it? I pray God deliver this Nation from the guilt of unjuſt actions, both in matter and manner. Suppoſe you, (or ſuch a one as you) having accidental diſcourſe with another, about a third perſon, and hee you diſcourſe with, ſhould let fall ſome words concerning that third perſon, which you at the preſent take no notice of, (or at leaſt) ſeem not ſo to do, which yet you do; (for otherwiſe you cannot communicate them unto another) and thoſe words you communicate to another; upon, and concerning which perſon, and words, you confer between your ſelves; and apprehending they might bring ſome advantage to ſome body, (being well improved, and handſomely mannaged, having power in your hands) and ſo being ordered, you ſpeak with your firſt man again, and form up his accidental diſcourſe, which hee judged not worth any thing (as to the prejudice of that third perſon, to injure whom, hee was not bribed or corrupted, nor bore any malice towards) you draw up, I ſay, that diſcourſe into an information of a crime, by handſome contrivance, reduce it into an oath, with your own hand, and thereupon form a charge againſt the third perſon, to the queſtioning both of his life and ſubſtance; and this charge you preſent to the Parliament, and they take cognizance of it, and order it to bee inquired into, and examination to bee had upon it; and you (having the tranſacting of the whole buſineſs) ſo mannage it, as that (it may bee) it appears to them (by that which is before them) hee is guilty, and ſo adjudge him: Are they guilty who ſo adjudged him, although (poſſibly) hee may not bee guilty? No, ſurely, the guilt lies on thoſe who miſ-repreſent him unto them: You well know friend, that Judges proceed not in Judgement upon their own knowledge, they act (ſecundum allegata & probata) as things are proved unto them. And how many perſons and eſtates have been ruined upon baſe, and wicked, and deſigned informations, is too well known to the world? And whereas you ask mee, whether I have not been a Solicitor for Sequeſtrations in London, in the time of, and by authority of Parliament. I anſwer, yes; and yet I can charge you for tearing and breaking in pieces mens eſtates; and do you, if you can, (or any man elſe) charge mee for doing the like, and I'le make them reſtitution, whom I have ſo injured, if any ſuch there bee, as ſure I am there is not.
I'le tell you George, my buſineſs there, was not to bee an Informer againſt any man, neither did I ſo; nor was it to poſſeſs my ſelf of any mans eſtate (either goods or money) the Committee had both their Collectors and Treaſurers to that purpoſe, I have ſate there many a ſcore of times Chair-man in that Committee. As alſo the Lord Steel, now the Lord Chancelour of Ireland) hath done the like; this hundreds (and many in this City) know: I was not their underling, or Clerk, (as you were) to ſit bare to your Maſters, they had ſeveral Clerks (better, and honeſter than you) and under-Clerks, to that purpoſe; no (George) my buſineſs was, to ſee right done between the Parliament, and thoſe who were their enemies, not to make them enemies, who were not, but to ſee juſtice done on thoſe who were, according to information brought in unto them; and this is the rejoycing of my heart at this moment, even the teſtimony of my conſcience, that I was alwayes fearful of making thoſe offenders, who were not; and if I inclined to any ſide, it was to the ſide of mercy. And I appeal to the God that ſearcheth hearts, that this honeſt and old principle (do as thou wouldſt bee done by) ſate and wrought upon my ſpirit, when informations was brought before us: And I have often had this thought upon my ſoul, when mens whole eſtates have lain in queſtion, and even bleeding before us; what would I have done, if this mans caſe had been mine own, or mine had been his: and accordingly I have had a reſpect unto them, ſo far as the buſineſs wherewith (upon oath) I was intruſted, would bear and permit mee; and this not of fear, or favour, nor for gifts, or bribes, either before or after: I did not think all that might bee gotten, either to my ſelf, or the Parliament, might bee well gotten; I did alwayes reckon, that injuſtice and oppreſſion, was the way to bring guilt and judgement upon the Parliament and Nation, and to make all their endeavours fruſtrate, and to turn it into a curſe: And I doubt, ſuch as you, are not a little guilty of being Jeroboams companions, who made Iſrael to ſin grievouſly, and this by falſe and perverted informations, and that ſuch things were not unuſual: And how much Judges may bee abuſed by baſe practiſes, if thoſe who act under them deal not righteouſly: I could inſtance in ſeveral particulars, that came within my own knowledge, whilſt I was in that Committee, wherein had I readily complied with the commands of the Parliament, and obeyed their orders, which had been ſiniſterly procured (by wicked ſuggeſtions of thoſe, who ſought their own advantages, and not the Nations welfare) many innocent perſons had been ruined: This to be a truth, I could (I ſay) make appear by ſeveral inſtances undeniable, but that I am loath to charge my diſcourſe with any thing that is forreign, and that might make it unneceſſarily tedious. And as for my ſelf, (in reſpect of any gain that I reaped by that imployment) let mee tell you George, I did not make that my aim, I bleſſe my God for it; nor can I (or any man elſe) ſay, that I have made any addition to my eſtate by it, either in land or money; for what I earned, I expended in their ſervice; and this will appear to the world, when my God ſhall take mee hence, of whom it will (or may) be ſaid, as once was ſpoken of one I well knew, (who lived in an imployment, by which many others grew rich) Hee was an honeſt man, for hee died poor: This I ſpeak, in reſpect of any addition to my eſtate, ſince that imployment: No George, I have neither Biſhops, or Deans and Chapters Lands, nor King or Queens, or Delinquents lands: And as for moneys, I am beholding to my friends to provide for my wife and children, ſo little have I been graſping after the world, whatever elſe may bee mine infirmities otherwiſe; and whether you George can ſay this, doth appear to the world by your manner of living, (without your trade) which you would not do before, and by what will bee declared afterward▪ and therefore to go on, Whereas you charge mee page 100. with light ſcoffing, and ſlanderous ſtuff▪ and that by dark intimations of the buſineſs of Faulconer, of ſet purpoſe to wound your reputation, and to reproach the truth which you witneſs.
I ſhall now therefore (to do you right) ſpeak no longer darkly, and by way of intimation, but expreſly, plainly, in words at length, and not in figures, by which I ſuppoſe every one that runs may read what a Saint you are, and what a truth you witneſs: But the Proverb is here verified, Like lettice, like lips, a truth and witneſs well met; and becauſe I would do you all the right I can, and for that poſſibly ſome may read mine, that will not read yours.
I will here ſet down in your own words all you ſay for your ſelf in this matter, in your page 100. and 101. and then conſider it:Georges proteſtation in the matter of the Lord Craven. For the ſtopping of thine, and all ſlanderous mouths (ſay you) and the ſatis of ſuch as deſire not, nor delight in the defaming of others: I do declare in the preſence of the Lord, before whom I fear, who ſearcheth the heart, and tryeth the reines, and bringeth every work to judgement, that I am clear and innocent therein; nor have I uſed, nor do I know of any indirect proceeding, in that whole buſineſs of Craven and Faulconer, nor done otherwiſe, than in the faithful diſcharge of my duty. And further, that during the time of my publike ingagements, (which have not been a few) and my whole converſation, as I have received mercy to have a witneſſe, ſo have I born my teſtimony againſt unrighteouſneſſe and diſhoneſty (eſpecially ſuch as thou doſt intimate) in whoever, as I have had opportunity, or have been called thereunto, neither fearing the face of any man, nor preferring my life, or outward concernments, to the clearing of my conſcience therein, as is well known; unto which I have alſo the witneſs of him who is greater than all; and a large time of Tryal I have had, wherein I have neither wanted enemies for the ſake of truth, nor thy malice and opportunity to lay to my charge, could they finde, or were there any thing to bee found to the contrary; and thus much to ſay thou haſt compel'd mee: Thus hee.
Here is you ſee (Reader) a bold, high, daring, confident appeal of his innocency, in the matter of the Lord Craven, and of his honeſty and uprightneſs in all other particulars, in the time of his publike ingagements. Now, what if it ſhall appear, (notwithſtanding all this) that hee (George Biſhop) who made this dreadful proteſtation, did not only know of indirect proceedings in that matter, but that hee alſo was one (a chief one) that uſed them, and that (as to this matter) Faulconer, who died in priſon for perjury, was (in compariſon of him) an honeſt and innocent perſon: If I ſay all this ſhall appear, will you believe, that hee doth believe there is a God, that ſearcheth hearts, and tryes reines, and brings every work to judgement? Or can you bee perſwaded, that hee rightly entertains that Article of the Reſurrection, though hee ſeems to do ſo.
And before I give you an account of what I have to deliver unto you, that you may know the daring ſpirit of this man, and how little reſpect and reverence there is in him of the Almighty; and that it is an eaſie and light thing with him, to make ſuch appeals to God as this is.
Let mee minde you of the like in that his Pamphlet, which I think few men in the world (beſides himſelf) would offer, and by that judge of this. Whereas in my Narrative, I charge him and Holliſter, and other of their relations and adherents, that they joyn'd themſelves to the wretched Quakers upon faction, humour, and diſcontent. In page 44. hee makes this appeal and proteſtation, Another of Georges proteſtations.I do here, for clearing of my conſcience, and the ſatisfaction of all the ſober-minded, to whom this may come, and for the ſtopping of thine and all ſlanderous mouths, in the dread and preſence of the living and eternal God, who is Judge of heaven and earth, before whoſe Judgement-Seat, thou, and wee muſt all appear, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that hee hath done, good or bad. In my own, and the name of thoſe ſervants of the Lord whom thou reproacheſt, declare and affirm, that neither faction, diſcontent, diſaffected humour, pride, affected-ſingularity, (which are all of them thy ſlanders) nor any other thing, was the cauſe of our joyning unto them. But having many of us, &c.
And ſo goes on, ſpeaking of waiting in the uſe of outward means, &c. how God had now viſited them, by the Miniſtery of theſe men, and how hee had reach'd by his Eternal Power to that of himſelf in them, and ſo they became joyned to the Lord, and to the immortal word, &c. And ſeeing him who is inviſible, &c. they hunger no more, nor thirſt, nor wonder, as heretofore, &c. ſpeaking highly of their high attainments, as if they were now perfect, ſo that neither faction, humour, pride, &c. nor any other thing, but the mighty and pure work of God, was the ground of their becoming Quakers; ſo ſayes George.
But now if hee were to bee cleared by Compurgators, (viz.) ſuch as ſhould upon their conſciences affirm, that what hee here ſayes, they are perſwaded is true, he would finde very few (if any beſides Quakers) that would dare to do it.
For ſuppoſe hee might bee believed for himſelf, who, or what man in the world (that truly fears God, and knows what it is to make appeals to his moſt glorious Majeſty, and with what righteouſneſs and judgement it ought to bee performed) would, or can dare to make ſuch a proteſtation in the behalf, and in the name of others, as hee here doth? If hee had ſaid, hee had believed, or been perſwaded, or the like, that they did it not upon ſuch grounds, or motives, but upon a pure account, (which is impoſſible in this buſineſs) it had been tolerable, but thus expreſly, fully, unlimitly, as fully for them (whoſe hearts hee cannot know) as for himſelf, to call the living and eternal God to witneſs in this manner, argues him to be one of a preſumptuous ſpirit.
And for a further diſcovery of his Atheiſtical impudence in this kinde, do but read the report and judgement of thoſe who were familiarly acquainted with Holliſter, for whom this daring man doth thus proteſt, hee being by mee charged in ſpecial for turning Quaker upon faction and diſcontent, before ever I ſaw their book, which was but lately publiſhed; it is a book publiſhed by, and in the name of that Church (as they call themſelves) whereof hee was a member, or rather Master, till hee fell away to the Quakers, and drew away from them (as they ſay in their Epiſtle to the Reader) eighteen or nineteen with him; in the tenth and eleventh page of which book, they ſay, they did obſerve in what height of diſcontent hee came home, (from that thing call'd a Parliament) and continued in that poſture (viz. of diſcontent) till a new Religion came (which was the Quakers) which (ſay they) preſently, within few daies or weeks, hee imbraced.
So that I can (nor I think will any conſidering man) look upon him no otherwiſe than as one of thoſe Knights of the Poſt, (as they call them) who will ſay or ſwear any thing; and this to let you ſee the ſpirit of the man.
And now to proceed, hee profeſſes, and (as you ſee) boldly proteſts his innocency in the matter of the Lord Craven, and Faulconer; nor hath hee uſed, nor doth hee know of any indirect proceeding in that whole buſineſs.
Now that my Reader (who is a ſtranger in this matter) may go along with mee with underſtanding; I ſhall (as briefly as I can) lay the whole buſineſs before him: The Lord Craven (having been for many years (long before the troubles in England) reſident in Holland, and imployed in their ſervice) having a command under the Prince of Orange; the Scots King going to Breda, the Lord Craven came thither in attendance upon the Prince of Orange, during the Scotch Kings reſidence at Breda, divers officers (ſouldiers) formerly in the ſervice of the King his Father (being in great diſtreſs, and like to periſh) drew up a Petition for relief of their neceſſities: Now Faulconer aforeſaid, having been a ſouldier (a Major) in the Parliament ſervice, and being (as upon his death-bed hee confeſt) in a poor deſperate condition, and going over to Breda, (as a Spy) ſtrikes in with theſe Cavileers as one of them, and was intreated by them to draw the aforeſaid Petition, which hee did; in drawing whereof, Faulconer moved, that they might Petition the Scotch King, that they might bee entertained by him to fight againſt the Commonwealth of England, by the name of barbarous and inhumane Rebels; but thoſe honeſt Cavaleers anſwered, that they were ſouldiers of fortune, and it was uncivil language, and they would not have it in; and ſo the Petition (being drawn up by Faulconer, according to their minde) was delivered to the Scotch King, who, it ſeems, promiſed to conſider them.
About three weeks after, the Scotch King (being to depart from Breda next morning, theſe Cavaleers)▪ not finding anſwerable relief, (according to the former Petition, and the Kings promiſe) they drew up another ſhort Petition, to put him in minde of his promiſe; and meeting the Lord Craven there, (who they knew to bee a friend to ſouldiers) they entreat him to further that their Petition, hee knowing nothing of the former; nor did it appear that the Lord Craven promoted this ſecond Petition, which if hee had, there was not any thing offenſive: but the Scotch King went away next morning, without giving any relief to the Petitioners, as Captain Briſco, one of them ſweats, at Faulconers tryal, inſomuch that Faulconer (being diſcontented that hee got no moneys) ſaid, (as hee was going into the Town) This is a horrid thing, that wee ſhould bee in this caſe, to follow a thing, they call a King, Goddam me, I will go into England, and do all the miſchief I can, as Col. Drury (another of the Petitioners) informed, at Faulconers tryal: of which afterward.
Now that you may better know what a manner of perſon this Faulconer was, and how fit for any deſperate undertaking; it was at his tryal ſworn againſt him, that hee drunk a health upon his knees to the devil, in the open ſtreets at Petersfield; and that then hee uſed theſe words, I have ſpent my brothers eſtate, and my own, I will never want money, for whilſt there is any in the Nation, I will get one way or other, and I will doe ſomething of infamy to bee talkt of, that the name of Faulconer ſhall never die. One James Greham ſwore againſt him, that after the ſiege of Exeter, in a Cellar, there hee the ſaid Faulconer put into Grehams hand a two and twenty ſhillings piece of gold, ſwearing, Dam him blood and wounds, hee would bugger his ſoul to hell. Another ſwore, that dam him, and ſink him were his uſual expreſſions. One Bradley teſtified, that hee heard Faulconer ſay, our Saviour Chriſt was a baſtard, and a Carpenters ſon, and carried a basket of tools after his Father: Mr Thomas Dyer of Briſtol, (being produced as a witneſs) did declare, that Faulconer confeſt to him, that hee had ten pound of a man, by procuring one to perſonate Captain Biſhop.
Thus a Citizen deſiring Faulconer to get Captain Biſhop to do a buſineſs for him, hee promiſed Faulconer twenty pound, ten pound in hand, and ten pound afterward; Faulconer got one to perſonate Captain Biſhop, and to go along with him to the Citizen, which man ſo perſonating Captain Biſhop, promiſed the Citizen (upon the account of Major Faulconers good ſervices for the publike) to afford him his beſt aſſiſtance in effecting what was deſired in his Petition, and ſo Faulconer got the ten pound.
It was alſo proved, that Faulconer was committed to Goal, in the County of Middleſex, for ſuſpition of felony; and thence, by order from the Lord Chief Justice Rolls, to Newgate; and that hee had been committed to Ailsbury Goal, upon ſuſpition of felony, robbery, and murther.
Now this Faulconer having been over at Breda, (as aforſaid) and returning into England, George Biſhop (being Clerk to the Committee for informations) has to do with him, from whence hee receives information of divers plots and deſignes of the adverſe party to the Parliament.
But (to come to the buſineſs) the Lord Craven, (having a great Eſtate in England of Land, beſides brave houſes, one in particular, that coſt twenty thouſand pound the building, beſides brave and gallant woods and timber) being thus beyond Sea, and never acted againſt the Parliament in armes, a long time after Faulconer had been over, and given in his informations, of enemies actings; and having ſaid nothing of, or againſt the Lord Craven, an information is drawn up againſt the ſaid Lord Craven, in Faulconers name, as the informant, which is as followeth.
Faulconers Examination.
Who ſaith,
THat about a Fortnight before the concluſion of the Treaty at Breda, the Lord Craven, the Queen of Bohemia, and her two Daughters, came to Breda, to the Scots King Charles, and went not thence till the King went to Houſleidike, a houſe of the Prince of Oranges; that during that time, this Informant ſaw the Lord Craven divers times in preſence with the ſaid King, and every day with the ſaid King at the Court there, hee being there with the Queen of Bohemia, and her two daughters, to take their leave (as they ſaid) of the King of Scots, before hee went to Scotland: That ſeveral Officers, about thirty in number, made a Petition to the ſaid King, to entertain them to fight for him againſt the Commonwealth of England, by the name of barbarous and inhumane Rebels, either in England or Scotland, for the recovering of his juſt rights, and re-inſtating him in his Throne; and deputed this Informant and Colonel Drury to preſent the ſaid Petition, who indeed drew the ſame, that when the Informant, and ſome other Officers came to the Court at Breda, intending to preſent the ſaid Petition immediately to the Kings hand, but finding the Lord Craven very neer to him, likewiſe the Marqueſs of New-caſtle, who preſented his brother, Sir Charles Cavendiſh, to kiſs the ſaid Kings hand, the evening before the ſaid Kings departure, who this Informant ſaw kiſs the Kings hand accordingly: The Lord Wilmot, the Earl of Cleveland the Queen of Bohemia, the Lord Gerrard, &c. and a great buſtle of buſineſs: This Informant, with Colonel Drury, applied themſelves to the Lord Craven, entreating him to preſent the Petition to the Queen of Bohemia, to preſent it to the King of Scots: The ſaid Lord Craven taking the Petition, and reading the ſame cheerfully, ſaid to Colonel Drury, and this Informant, there is the Queen of Bohemia, deliver it to her, and I will ſpeak for you; upon which they applyed themſelves to the ſaid Queen, and ſhee preſented the Petition; after which, the King of Scots, the Lord Craven, the Marqueſs of New-caſtle, the Queen of Bohemia, with ſome other Lords, went into a with-drawing room, where this Informant and company could not enter; but the Lord Craven came forth of the with-drawing Chamber, and told this Informant and company, that they ſhould receive an anſwer from the Queen of Bohemia to their Petition, and that hee had ſpoken to the Queen of Bohemia in their behalf, who afterward came and told this Informant and company, that ſhee had delivered their Petition, and that the King had taken order for it. The next morning, at three of the clock, the King departed; but this Informant and company had their quarters ſatisfied by the Princeſſe of Orange, according to the ſaid Kings Order upon their Petition, and thereby to inable them to follow the ſaid King in the proſecution of theſe wars againſt the Parliament of England, which was the effect of their aforeſaid Petition: That this Informant ſaw the Lord Craven very often, and familiar with the ſaid King, and enter with the ſaid King into the with-drawing Chamber, and ſtaid there the laſt night the ſaid King was at Breda, very late.
Richard Faulconer.
To this were added theſe two following examinations.
Colonel Hugh Reyleys Examination.
Who ſaith,
THat during the late Treaty at Breda, this Informant did oftentimes ſee my Lord Craven with the now King of Scots in his Bed-chamber, and alſo walked abroad with him, there being no man more converſant with the King than hee: That the ſaid Lord Craven, during the ſaid Treaty, did twice go to Rotterdam, and Dunhagh, and back again, being imployed, as was commonly reported at Court, there by the ſaid King, that the ſaid Lord Craven had a charge from the King to look to one Mrs. Barlow, who (as is reported) and he believes to bee true, had a childe by the King of Scots, born at Rotterdam, which hee did; and after the King was gone for Scotland, the ſaid Lord Craven took the childe from her, for which ſhee went to Law with him, and recovered the childe, as is reported:
Hugh Reyley.
Captain Kitchingmans Examination.
Who ſaith,
THat the ſaid Captain Thomas Kitchingman, in April and May, 1650. ſaw the Lord Craven ſeveral times with the King of Scots at Breda, and waiting upon the ſaid King ſeveral times at his Table at Breda. This Informant alſo ſaw the Earle of Oxford, at the ſame time, with the King of Scots at Breda, waiting upon the ſaid King at his Table; and ſaw the Lord Craven, and the Earl of Oxford, many times going into the withdrawing rooms after the ſaid King. This Informant alſo ſaw the Lord Craven, and the Earl of Oxford, in a Bowling-alley in Breda Caſtle, with the ſaid King.
Tho. Kitchingman.
In theſe two latter Examinations,Reyleys, was but report. you ſee there was nothing that would render Lord Craven criminous. But upon this his eſtate was ordered to bee confiſcate, and afterward ſold, and ſold it was, and is, accordingly. Of the endeavours of the Lord Cravens friends to prevent it, and what was agitated in Parliament, I ſhall not mention, for that I refer the Reader to a printed piece, entituled, A true and perfect Narrative of the ſeveral proceedings in the caſe concerning the Lord Craven, printed by R. White, 1653.
Now if this information of Faulconer bee the onelyonly material teſtimony, upon which the Lord Cravens eſtate was ſequeſtred; and that Faulconer in this information was perjured and forſworn, and this bee a falſe information, then this will clearly follow, that there was indirect proceedings in ſome body, in this buſineſs; and that this information of Faulconers was, and is falſe, and hee perjured in it, and forſworn, appears by two moſt pregnant teſtimonies, neither of them to be denied. Firſt, by his legal tryal, and conviction. Secondly, by his own confeſſion on his death-bed: For Faulconers tryal and conviction of perjury, (in, and for this very information) that appears by the Records thereof; for the Lord Cravens friends prefer'd an Indictment of perjury againſt him in the County of Middleſex, which Indictment was found againſt him, one Sir Henry Blunt being foreman of the Jury: Delayes were uſed to hinder Faulconers pleading to it, notwithſtanding the Proſecutors for the Lord Craven had procured a Habeas Corpus, to bring him to the Bar to plead to the Indictment, which hee ſailing, they procure another Habeas Corpus; hee yet gets further time, and a peremptory day aſſigned by the Court, or elſe Judgement to bee entred againſt him. And the very laſt day (when needs muſt) and not before, when the laſt rule was out, hee pleaded, not guilty. Now Faulconer having pleaded not guilty, a Jury is ſummoned, Councel appear in the Ʋpper Bench at Weſtminſter, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Hales, Mr. Twiſden, Mr. Philips, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Drury, for the Commonwealth, and the Lord Craven; Mr. Windham, Mr. Letch, Mr. Lechmore, and Mr. Haggat, of Councel for Faulconer, where (upon five hours debate) the ſaid Faulconer was found guilty of perjury, in this very matter againſt the Lord Craven, the whole proceedings whereof you have fully related in the Narrative before mentioned. This tryall and conviction of Faulconer, was May 20. 1653. Hereupon Faulconer was committed to the Upper Bench priſon in Southwark, where hee lay till hee died. Now for the ſecond evidence of Faulconers perjury, in his teſtimony (upon which the Lord Cravens eſtate was ſequeſtred and ſold) you have here the ſad and lamentable confeſſion of poor Faulconer himſelf upon his death-bed, under his own hand and ſeal, confirmed in the preſence of ſeveral credible perſons, who were preſent with him on his death-bed, which is to the effect following.
IN the Name, and through the gracious mercy of God, I Richard Faulconer, being of ſound memory and underſtanding, do under my own hand and ſeal, on my death-bed, make, and confirm this my confeſsion, with a contrite heart and penitent ſoul, to the honor of my good God principally, and particularly concerning the Lord Cravens buſineſs.
And firſt; I confeſs I have ſinned grievouſly againſt my God, in taking my oath upon his holy Teſtament, that all my information was true; for after a twenty weeks ſickneſs this was done, my body being low, and in much haſte, being much enfeebled, and above three quarters of a year after I came over Sea; ſo that I here ſolemnly proteſt, that I did not then abſolutely remember, whether the words, barbarous and inhumane rebels, were expunged; and theſe words, being once named by mee, they were as quickly inſerted, and I (the Lord pardon me) ſwore it; but ſince I really remember, thoſe words were put out of the Petition, and the Petition which Drury produced in the Upper Bench Court, was the true and right Petition: Drury did ſay, that the Lord Craven would not bee ſeen to deliver ſuch a Petition, but hee would ſpeak to the Queen of Bohemia. I did not hear the Lord Craven ſay this. I ſinned, ſwearing the Lord Craven ſaid ſo, when as Drury told it mee.
And truly theſe great ſins, ſince they perfectly came to my memory, and to touch my conſcience, have wofully perplexed my ſoul, ſo, that I many times wiſhed that the Lord would expiate them, by taking my life away, and granting mee repentance and pardon, through the merits and ſufferings of my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, the which the Lord for his mercies ſake vouchſafe to grant. Amen.
And here I utterly renounce all Books and Pamphlets writ by mee, or any one in my vindication, and eſpecially a late Pamphlet ſent to mee by Captain Biſhop. The cauſe of my writing that Pamphlet, was the ſhame and diſgrace of the world, which I feared then, more than the provoking of my good God: beſides, other under actors told mee, until I did that, I could not think my friends would ſupply mee, as they would, if that were done; liberty and money were falſly promiſed mee.
And whereas it was ſworn in Court, that I was imployed, I here proteſt before the Almighty God, that I never undertook any imployment, nor ever any one motioned it to mee, or I to any; but I went over in a poor deſperate condition, ſupported by others. And here I dare not ſay that any one bribed mee, no, none did, but I was haſtily, after a great ſickneſs, provoked to it; and when I made a demur at the words, barbarous and inhumane Rebels, Captain Biſhop ſaid, if you leave that out, you do nothing: So I let it paſs, being ſpeedily brought before the Committee, where I falſly ſwore it. True, I had done great ſervices for them, but not by imployment, and Captain Biſhop kept mee low with ſmall pittances, ſo that I was at his bow, &c.
Richard Faulconer.