The Lord Cravens Case, Pages 100-117
After this (now mark) one of the houſe of Parliament, comes to mee to my houſe, with recommendations from others of them, to preſs mee on; I gave him civil entertainment, but grew more reſolv'd in the buſineſs. After this, an eminent man in the Parliament came to our Committee, and preſt it, and told us, it was a buſineſs that many in the Parliament took notice of, and that if wee did not do it, they would take it into hearing themſelves: I ask'd that Gentleman whether he came to threaten us, and told him wee were upon our oaths, &c. So that hee went away in diſcontent. Upon this (very ſpeedily) an order comes to us to appear before the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequeſtrations, to give an account for our non-proſecution; a Colonel in the Army was hee that promoted it, and it was backt (as I perceiv'd after) by divers members; my ſelf appear'd alone in behalf of the Committee, they having Councel (beſides the Councel for the State) to ſpeak for them: It was as great a Committee of Lords and Commons, as I ever remember, to have ſeen at any time, I ſo mannag'd the matter, (well knowing the baſeneſs of the buſineſs) that it was refer'd back again to us, where wee never heard more of it, inſomuch that the Colonel came afterward to my houſe to ſpeak with mee, but by providence I was not at home, but he (as my family and neighbours told mee) threatned to bee revenged upon mee, but by Gods goodneſs (in whom I truſt) I heard no more of him; now had I yeelded in this matter, an honeſt Gentleman might have been ruin'd, for if wee had ſequeſtred him in London, (though hee had not much there) they would preſently have ſent down into the Country, and done the like there: The perſon is one of worth and honor, afterwards a member of that Parliament, and of the cloſe Committee, or ſafety, (I have forgotten the title) and is now a member of this preſent Parliament, one ſo cordial to the publike intereſt, that I do profeſs, when I afterwards ſaw him (upon his return from the circuit) my heart rejoyced that I had ſo appeared for him, whom (upon my own knowledge) was ſo true a friend to the Parliament, for I well knew him before by ſight, but did not know him by name, to bee the perſon proſecuted. I could tell you further (George) of others whom I have reſcued from the jawes of ruine, upon Parliamentary proſecutions, and that upon baſe and packt knavery, followed with perjury, and by ſome of our own Officers, which I my ſelf have diſcovered, and cauſed them to bee turned out: So that George, you muſt not ſculk and hide your head under the ſhelter of the Parliament. And for the reſt that followes in your anſwer and excuſe, the reader will eaſily perceive you do but quibble and trifle upon forms and circumſtances, which makes nothing to the ſubſtance of the buſineſs.
I ſhall not need to mention your zeal and earneſtneſs at the tryal of Faulconer, in his behalf, nor your reflecting upon the Judges in theſe words, page 15. of your book, The Judges in the iſſue ſummon'd not up the evidence, which they ſhould have done. As for the Jury, you beſtow this upon them, in the ſame page, The Jury (of the affections of whom for the Parliament, wee cannot yet underſtand) neither took any notes, nor ask'd a queſtion, yet in a very ſhort time were agreed in their verdict, and the next morning gave it into the Court, that Faulconer was guilty of the perjury mentioned in the Indictment: And then you go on, and ſay, That a man indeed, without divining, might have told which way the cauſe would go, by the countenances of the Jury, all along the tryal of the cauſe, as was taken notice of by many honeſt men, ſuch as you are, no doubt. And then you ſadly complain thus, But this is what every honeſt man may expect in caſes wherein the State is concern'd, George is huge angry that Faulconer is found guilty of Perjury.when the unpardoned traytors, whom with the peril of their lives they diſcover to bee undermining the ſafety of a State in times of great danger, in the field, and under ground conſpiracies, working towards the general deſtruction thereof, ſhall after the enemie is overthrown and prevented, bee permitted to come into England, when they can no longer do the Commonwealth miſchief abroad, and to be good witneſſes againſt ſuch honeſt diſcoveries (riſum teneatis amici) in ſuch Traitors own cauſes, as to their lives, as hath happened to one of the States witneſſes (Faulconer) in the very caſe now in queſtion. And ſo you flirt upon the Jury again, page 47. I will not comment upon it, becauſe I haſten to an end: But the man is very angry with Judge, and Jur, and Witneſſes, (and as before) with the Lord Mayor, as no friends to the State, that Faulconer was found perjur'd, which yet hee himſelf hath confeſt himſelf to bee.
But why is George ſo angry, it ſeems hee is much concerned in it; for though hee act for good affection to the State, yet its reaſon that hee ſhould bee conſider'd; and therefore in my information from London (by a hand that is able to make good his undertakings) I am thus told, that hee (George) repaired to Drury houſe, and contracted for about 300 pound a year of the Lord Cravens Land, where, and when this argument was uſed, that hee might bee favourably dealt with, and conſidered in the purchace, for that hee was the man that brought the Commonwealth ſo great an eſtate, and that but for him, the Lord Craven had not been put into the Bill of Sale: and accordingly hee was favourably dealt withal: But Maſter Baker, Surveyor General to the Truſtees, then reprehended the ſaid Captain Biſhop for ſo ſpeaking, the ſcandal whereof was (it ſeems) like to prove ſo great, (as well it might) that hee relinquiſht the contract; and when (in the laſt Parliament but this) this contract was laid to his charge, by the Committee of Parliament, appointed to hear the Lord Cravens caſe, and hee urg'd to anſwer, whether hee did contract or not: How (ſayes my information) did hee prevaricate and ſhuffle with the Committee, and put off an anſwer, till hee did ſee there were thoſe preſent, that were ready to produce the contracts out of the book, and then (to his ſhame, and admiration of the Committee) hee did confeſs at laſt, hee did contract, for a conſiderable part of the Lord Cravens eſtate, but that hee had ſince that time declined the ſame: So that for all your pretences of publike intereſt, you drove on a deſign of your own private; and if the way had been honeſt, you might have done it, and you need not have declin'd it; and to back this, and ſo an end. Did not you write to a Gentleman, an acquaintance of mine and yours, (one imployed for the publike) to inform you of the quality and worth of a Mannour of the Lord Cravens, call'd the Mannour of Hinton Norton in Sommerſet-ſhire; and did not you afterward (in your Study) at White-Hall, tell him, that you inquired after it, for that you expected that the Parliament ſhould reward your good ſervice you had done for the State, in ſequeſtring the Lord Cravens eſtate? Or words to that purpoſe.
And now Sirs, you that are to give your judgment upon George Biſhop, upon the whole matter, what ſay you? Is George clear and innocent? Hath hee not uſed? nor doth hee not know of any indirect proceedings in that whole buſineſs of Craven and Faulconer? of which hee makes ſuch a bold appeal to the Almighty: Say, is it any matter, whether hee bee a Quaker or no, or what he is? And if wee may judge of the conſcience, honeſty and perfection of the reſt by him, may wee not conclude, as I undertook to make good, That a man may bee as vile a perſon as any under heaven, and yet a perfect Quaker? If hee had repented of it, and (what in him lies) made reſtitution) it had been ſomewhat, I ſhould have ſaid nothing; for who will upbraid a man with that, for which hee hath repented.
But hee ſtill (like a Quaker) juſtifies himſelf, as if he had done no evil; and I eaſily perceive the buſh under which hee hides himſelf, and thinks no body ſees him: For after his proteſtation, hee ſayes, Hee has had a large time of tryal, wherein bee hath neither wanted enemies for the ſake of truth, nor they malice and opportunity to lay to his charge, could they finde, or were there any thing to be found againſt him.
Simple fellow! I wonder hee could mannage ſo great a buſineſs, with ſo little wit; becauſe the Lord Cravens friends did not indict him, but Faulconer, therefore hee ſillily concludes, they could finde or ſay nothing againſt him. Doth hee not know, that it was for the Lord Cravens advantage, to lay all the blame upon Faulconer, and to charge him with the malice of it, (as well as with the fact) that ſo they might convict him of perjury, which being done, and hee to his conviction having ſince acknowledged it by his own confeſsion; and you having confeſt ſo much, and taken ſo much upon your ſelf, to clear him of the malice, (all which they knew not, till you confeſt it.) Now all this, (as afore conſidered) they know what to ſay to you: By the Law (it ſeemes, and as the Judges gave their opinion) bare for ſwearing ones ſelf, doth not bring a man within the compaſs of the Law againſt perjury, unleſs alſo it bee done maliciouſly and wilfully.
And now to deliver Faulconer from the crime and conviction of perjury, George (at the tryal) diſcovers the riſe and ground of all this buſineſs, freeing Faulconer (upon his own oath) of any intention of evil and miſchief againſt the Lord Craven, (as knowing nothing againſt him, that might render him culpable, or any way ſequeſtrable, as you heard before) but George (having conſulted with ſome body elſe) by handſome contrivance and manuagement, hath brought it to this you now ſee; and by this confeſſion of Georges at the tryal, and Faulconers at his death-bed, it is now apparent by whom it was begun, and effected, even by him, who (as before hee confeſſes) had the mannagement of the whole.
And now if there were a Starchamber Court, or any place of tryal for ſuch practiſes, they know whoſe eares and eſtate to require in part of ſatisfaction. In the mean time, let the world judge of your innocency: George, you have a fair eſtate in land, plate great ſtore, rings and jewels, and cabinets, and brave hangings, &c. you can live without the honeſt calling of a Brewer, which you could not do before; you have not been a bufie ſiſhop to no purpoſe, you have your reward; but take heed, it bee not in this life only: It may bee you may come to a reckoning, and give an account here for all theſe things, but fure hereafter: The preſent Parliament hath taken cognizance of the Lord Cravens cauſe, and it is to bee hoped they will proceed ſo juſtly and impartially, that the guilt of injuſticer and oppreſſion ſhall not lie at the doors of the Parliament of England, and ſo become the ſin of the Nation, and draw a curſe upon the while, for the iniquity of a few. However, look you to your light within, and let mee tell you thus much, if it do not ſtare you in the face, and fright you, 'tis a ſign you are blinde and hardened. I was deſired to ask you, who did trepan Colonel Andrewes into a deſign, for which hee loſt his life, when as hee had given over all thoughts of engaging, till hee was moved thereunto by a Trepanner, as hee declared before his death? And who it was that Trepan'd Sir John Gell into a miſpriſion of treaſon? And laſtly, who did trepan Mr. Love, and ſome of that party? Theſe queſtions are propoſed by thoſe ho are no babes in the world, and yet honeſt; and they ſay, this Biſhop can (if hee will) give ſatisfaction in. You know George what theſe things mean, and I know what the laſt means; and they adviſe mee, to read a book concerning Mr. Loves deſignes, and his death, written and pen'd by you, and they ſay, it will give the reader further ſatisfaction.
But you have dealt as craftily in the printing of this, as of the former, printed ſo few, and kept, or given ſo at your own diſpoſe, that I cannot get it; and I am not ſo free to ſend to you for this, as the former, becauſe you do not quote it againſt mee. But yet what I finde from other pieces I have met with in this matter, I will communicate to you, and the world, and this the rather, to ſhew you what an hypocrite you are, in charging us Prieſts (as in ſcorn you call us) with blood-thirſtineſs, and my ſelf in particular, as in the title of your Pamphlet: you ſhould have pulled the beam out of your own eye, before you reproacht us with a mote in ours. I ſuppoſe, e're I have done, (though it bee prettily well done already) you will at pear to bee, not only a blood thirſty, but a Flood ſucking perſon.
And in the diſcourſe of this I ſhall diſcover the ground of your ſo eaſie an entertainment of the thoughts, (or at leaſt ſuggeſtions) of forgerie in mee, from thoſe practiſes of forgery, which I ſhall declare to have been really acted by you, that you were a zealous proſecutor of Mr. Love unto (yea and after) death, is ſo manifeſt, that (as impudent as you are) you wil not deny that you proſecuted him after death, appears by what you publiſhed againſt him, when hee had no being to anſwer for himſelf, wherein you endeavour maliciouſly to kill him twice, and the latter, with more cruelty than the former, killing his good name, and (what in you lies) making him a Reprobate, and an out coſt from God and glory. I ſuppoſe you will own that piece, call'd Mr. Loves caſe, printed by Peter Cole, (as well as other books you publiſht againſt him) wherein you go about (moſt unchriſtianly) to undervalue, debaſe, and diſparage that comfort and confidence hee profeſſed to enjoy in and at his death; and this upon ſeveral accounts, which I will not recount, to avoid tediouſneſs, one only I'le mention, to ſhew your ſpirit of envy and bitterneſs, it is the Animadverſions upon the firſt Section, page 34. Mr. Love, (ſay you) it's more than probable, was not only vehemently exhorted, incouraged, importuned, but even ſolemnly, by all the ſa…red intereſts of high Presbytery, conjured by his C…ergie companions, to die like avaliant and reſolute Champion of the cauſe, and not to bewray the leaſt grudging of any fear or repentance, for any thing hee had acted upon the ſervice thereof, leſt it ſhould bee ſaid of Presbytery, her glory was ſtained and betrayed by the cowardiſe of her firſt-born. And page 38. Here wee have the ſecond part of the Theatrical flouriſhes of Mr. Loves confidence.
Much might bee animadverted, but I forbear; you have a ſtrange ſpirit, that his comforts and confidence in God, trouble you. And then you go on to charge him with hypocriſie and lying, and other baſe imputations all along, beſpattering, and beſpotting, and ſullying him, as you can, even to his laſt. I know what ſlight touches of charity you have now and then, and at the cloſe of that Pamphlet, which are inconſiſtent, with that you had charged him before, as that hee acted the part of a moſt unchriſtian Calumniator, upon the Scaffold, in the very approaches of death, page 38. But page 45. you moſt unchriſtianly reproach him and his doctrine.
Thus, whereas in purging himſelf (hee means Maſter Love) from the aſperſion of lying, hee ſaith thus, I hope you will believe a dying man, who dare not look God in the face, with a lie in his mouth; intimacing (ſay you) as if his being ready to die, was a bridle in his ſips, to reſtrain him from lying: The truth is, (according to that principle of his, that hee whoever once truly believed, can never by any ſin or wickedneſs whatſoever, looſe the love and favour of God: His being ready to die in conjunction, with a perſwaſion of his Saintſhip, ſhould rather bee a temptation upon him, tolie, or commit any other wickedneſſe, than an ingagement upon him to refrain lying.
I have done with that; but I pray, that you may finde more favour and mercy from God, than hee found from you; and to that end, let him grant you grace to repent of theſe (pightful and moſt cruel proſecutions. As for your Proſecutions of him in his life, and of his tryal, I ſhall not enter upon the ſtory of, although I have relations of it, it would prove too large an undertaking; nor will I inſiſt upon your rotten and unſavoury language of the Miniſters of the Goſpet, whom in ſcorn you call his Clergie companions, you were fairly diſpoſed for quaking then; nor will I debate the cauſe, which you maliciouſly in your former book (the Lord Cravens caſe) charge upon Presbyterians in general, wherein how raſh, heady, uncharitable, and unchriſtian you are, let your ſelf conſider.
In page 22. of that book, you ſpeak it, which (becauſe it tends alſo to diſcover the ſuſpition, that even yourſelf had, of the injuſtice of ſequeſtring the Lord Cravens Eſtate) and do therefore endeavour to extenuate it from the circumſtancy of the time when it was done) I ſhall lay before the Reader; and thus you give it forth, The tme when the Parliament gave judgement upon his estate, (that's right, not upon his perſon, that had not offended) was, when the Commonwealth was deeply imbroi…d in wars, and deſignes lay every where to blow up this Nation in all parts thereof; their Army in Scotland, and the Scots drawn into the field after their rout at Dunbar, ready to ſerve the deſperate, and great deſignes and conſpiracies laid by Mr. Love, Thoſe of the Presbyterie and the Kings Partie, then ripe and readie to break forth in all parts, all of which were the effects of that Treatie at Breda, where the Lord Craven was often with the King, and his Privy Councel, (But doth any one perſon ſo much as ſay, that hee came to treat, or did treat? not one) and aſſiſting his Officers in their Petition for relief, to bee in a capacitie to ſerve him; (which you ſee was proved to bee a lye) and ſome of whom ſerved in thoſe deſignes, and otherwiſe, and of which the Parliament were ſenſible, (what was this to the Lord Craven) and the Lord Craven had manifested to moſt that converſed with him, his diſaffection to the Parliament, and Supreme Authoritie, (no ſuch thing is charg'd againſt him) in ſuch times and caſes, have many conſiderations, as the reaſon of their actions, which thoſe who are without doors, neither know, nor apprehend, nor are to take upon them ſo to do. Thus hee.
The language in the laſt part of it, is inconſiſtent and incoherent, a kinde of non-ſenſe; but this clearly is his meaning, (viz.) that the times being dangerous, (as hee deſcribes them) have many conſiderations and reaſons to ſequeſter the Lord Cravens eſtate, which thoſe who are not his Judges, (no nor bee himſelf) are to know or apprehend, nor muſt enquire into. In plain Engliſh, the Lord Craven muſt loſe his eſtate, and none muſt ask a reaſon, why? Are not theſe ſweet doings? As hee himſelf ſayes in another caſe, page 19.
But to go on with the matter of Mr. Love, Mr. Love and the Presbyterie are deſigning the Nations ruine, ſayes George, if you may bee believed; and how honeſt you are even in your moſt ſerious proteſtations and appeals to God, appears already. But if you ſuppoſe (and that's enough with you) that Mr. Love, or the Presbytery deſigne the Nations ruine; you will bee ſure (right or wrong) to accompliſh theſe. I have heard ſay heretofore of the Marches in Wales, that a cauſe there, did ſeldome fail for want of proſecution, and good witneſſes; you were a notable man to make an agent there; well, or ill fare him, who if a cauſe bee not good, can make it ſo: I ſhall not (as I ſaid) ingage to the whole of your proſecution againſt him, I ſhall only notifie what I finde concerning your ſelf, in a book written and publiſhed by Mr. Love himſelf, which (in the cloſe) hee ſayes, was finiſhed the laſt day but one before his death; and at ſuch a time (what ever you ſay) men are moſt ſerious, and to bee believed. The title of it thus, A clear and neceſſary vindication of the principles and practices of me Chriſtopher Love, &c. which book, hee ſayes, hee writ for the vindication of his name, from thoſe obloquies and reproaches, which by the Sons of Slander were caſt upon him, (was not this you George?) who would fain have his name to bee buried, and rot above ground, before his friends could bury his body under ground.
In this book of his, hee complains, that whereas at his Tryal, hee had a Notary to write for him, they took away all the books from him, ſo that nothing might come to publick view, but with what additions or ialterations they pleaſ, to his greater diſadvantage. But hee ſayes, his hope is, that ſome faithful pen or other, hath writ his defence, and the Witneſſes depoſitions, which is done; and I have, and according to them hee deſires, that his innocency bee judged, by indifferent, and unprejudicated men; it contains ſeventeen ſheets, very large paper, and very ſmall print; I ſhall not meddle with ought thereof, I ſhall only give in what I have from Mr. Loves own book.
In page 36. hee deſires his Readers, that if other ſlanders (for hee had anſwer'd and wip'd off many) ſhould be caſt upon him that they would have ſo much charitie, not to believe reports raiſed upon him, when hee ſhall bee ſilent in the grave, and not able to ſpeak in his own vindication.
And page 37. hee ſaves, 'Tis very likelie that they (his Proſecutors) will not publiſh the depoſitions of the Witneſſes in Court, but the private examinations taken from them in prizate and patche together by Maſter S. and Captain Biſhop. They were not aſhamed (ſayes hee) to proau…e them, and read them in open Court. And hee ſayes, ſome of the Witneſſes had ſo much honeſty left, as to diſavow them in open Court; and therefore (ſayes hee) believe nothing but what was ſworn in open Court, nor all that neither, for ſome of the Witneſſes ſwore falſely, as (ſayes hee) I made appeare in my defence. In the ſame page, I deſire you (ſayes hee) to take notice, that there is a lying Pamphlet put forth, entituled, A ſhort Plea for the Commonwealth: In which there are many groſs lies, eſpecially in things which relate to mee, (and which hee himſelfe is beſt able to ſpeak to.) Hee ſayes there further, it is not fit for him to enter the liſts with him; It becomes not, ſayes hee, a dying man to write of controverſies; which will beget diſpute; therefore, ſayes hee, I ſhall not anſwer the book, (though I could eaſily do it) but only ſum up the many lyes hee relates, concerning mee. Thus hee.
And page 39. hee ſayes, hee ſuppoſes Captain Biſhop writ that lying book.
And then Maſter Love goes on, reckoning up his lyes in that book, and ſhewes wherein, and in the Margin, writes the firſt lye.
The ſecond lye, and ſo on to the eleventh lye; It will not bee to any purpoſe to ſet down the particulars, becauſe my Reader hath not the book, whereby to judge of the truth or falſhood; I ſhall therefore content my ſelf, to give you what obſervations Mr. Love makes upon the man, and his lying ſtories.
In one place hee ſayes, that if Biſhop ſhould name the perſon that ſhould ſay the thing, (there mentioned) every one that heard the tryal, would cry out ſhame upon him, (viz.) Biſhop, for telling ſuch a lye. Hee ſayes, another is a groſs lye. And another thing hee charges him with, is a loud lye; and ſayes, It is well there were many witneſſes to contradict him: And ſurely (ſayes hee) if the Author of this book had not caſt off al feare of God, and regard to the good name of his Brother, hee could not bee ſo impudent, as to aſhrme what hee did.
To another hee ſayes, 'tis notoriouſly falſe, and abominably falſe; and that although hee was not aſham'd to ſay of him, as hee did in the general, yet hee durſt not inſtance in any particular, nor (ſayes hee) will any other in my life time, whilſt I can anſwer for my ſelf.
To another (hee ſayes) Hee that will bee ſo ſhameleſſe to falſifie my Petitions, (which are made ſo viſible) will not bee aſhamed to bely my words: Where hee further ſayes, hee (Biſhop) charged him, that Maſter Calamy inſtructed him to ſpeak as hee did; and that it was, that Alaſter Calamies good tricks might not come to light; both which, together with what hee charged him before, hee ſayes, are very falſe.
To another, hee ſayes, hee wonders the man is not aſham'd, to faſten that upon him, which hee did. And again, hee ſayes, if this man (meaning Biſhop) hath belied others in his book, (whom hee names) as hee hath done mee, there is not one true Page in all his book.
And to the eleventh lye, thus; If this man were not an Athieſt, or an Antiſcripturiſt, the example of Ananias and Saphira might make him tremble, lest hee ſhould bee ſtricken down dead, with a lye in his mouth.
And again, this falſe and deceitful man, would make the world believe, that this were proved againſt mee; and then concludes this matter thus, Theſe, and many other falſhoods might bee found in this book, if I ſhould make a through ſearch into it: Hee calls it (ſayes hee) a ſhort Plea, but I may call it, a long lye: And 'tis not, ſayes hee, for the honour of the preſent Government, to have a common lyar to bee a Pleader for their Commonwealth.
And amongſt all theſe lyes, (thus generally hinted) I have reſerved one in ſpecial, wherein Mr. Love charges him not (onelyonly with lying) but alſo with forgery, which hee brings in thus, page 38. And becauſe I am belied about my examination, before the Committees, and may bee more abuſed after I am dead, therefore I am neceſſitated to diſcover that jugling and baſeneſs of Mr. S. and Capt. Biſhop, about my examination, which I thought never to have made publick.
Whiles I was examined (ſayes hee) before the Committee, that pragmatical fellow, Captain Biſhop, (who I ſuppoſe wrote this lying book) did put in ſix or eight lines into my examination, which I never ſaid; ☜hee ſuppoſing that I would bee ſo meal-mouth'd, as not to read it, or to put my hand to his forgery, without any more ado; but I did (to his ſhame) make him blot out, at leaſt, ſix lines in my examination, which was but very ſhort. Some of the Committee did ingeniouſly ſay ſometimes, that I did not ſpeak ſuch words as Captain Biſhop did put in: By his abuſe of mee, who would not bee abuſed by him, I cannot but think, how hee injured other men.
Hee goes on, I did refuſe to put my hand to it, ſeeing I was abuſed by Captain Biſhop; but told them, if they would give mee a Copy of it, I would ſubſcribe my hand; but they denied mee a copy, which made mee ſuſpect, they did not intend to deal fairly with mee, as I found true after: And then goes on, to ſhew wherein, and that to their conviction, and concludes thence thus; Wherefore I beſeech the Reader not to believe any thing that ſhall come forth, either pretended to bee my examination, or the examinations of other men againſt mee; they are but the forgeries and contrivements of Mr. S. and Captain Biſhop. And well might M. Love think how this Biſhop injured other men, and that in the like kinde.
I have one inſtance more, under the hand of a godly, reverent, and faithful Miniſter of the Goſpel, now being well known to moſt of the Inhabitants of this City, and many in London, ſo to bee, who writes to mee, that being to bee queſtioned about Maſter Loves buſineſſe (as hee was, and impriſoned) Biſhop (ſayes hee) was Clerk to the Committee of Examinations, and wrote down all that I ſaid; and added divers things, thereby undeavouring to inſnare mee; for which I ſharply reproved him, telling him, that I knew his birth and breeding, and therefore I did ſcorn to bee examined by ſuch a one as hee was; at which, both hee and the Committee were much offended, threatning to uſe much ſeverity againſt me, but the Lord reſtrained them.
Now George ſay, Are not you a blood-ſucker? Were not the lives of theſe men at the ſtake? Was not one of them actually put to death? I'le ſay nothing of the man, I need not, hee was known well enough in England, his death is bewai…d by thouſands, and his name precious with many godly. I was once drawn away by your diſſimulations and lies, to a prejudice againſt him; but now I ſee, that the moſt innocent, (when they fall into the hands of huckſters) may bee rendred culpable: What George, what! Are not only the eſtates of men (great eſtates) ſmall bits with you, but you can ſuck and ſwallow the bloods and lives of men, Miniſters of the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus! No marvel you turn Quaker, turn Turk man, or become a Jew, to whom the name, and Goſpel of Chriſt, and Chriſtian is odious; for ſhame bear not that ſacred name any longer, leſt it bee blaſphem'd by its enemis, becauſe of you: Oh horrid and dreadful! not onelyonly bee a common lyar, but to forge, to put in, and to add words, on purpoſe to inſnare men; no marvel you catcht at Faul…oners words, but once ſpoken, and put them in haſtily, to take away ones eſtate, when you forge and put in words many words (whole lines in a ſhort examination) which were never ſpoken; and this, to take away mens lives.
And here, ex ore two ſerve nequam, out of thine own mouth, from thine own words ſhalt thou bee judged: Look back, and minde thine own expreſſions, in thine own book, pages 7 and 8, where you charge mee with forgery, in one word, and which yet was not forgery, but a miſtake and that not in mee neither; and yet ſee your outcries and loud exclamations, You may here ſee (ſay you) of what a falſe and miſchievous ſpirit this Prieſt is; and what a devilliſh wickedneſs it is to forge in ſuch a word, as for it, were it trul… ſo would take away his (Foxes) life? What credit is to bee given to what ſuch a one ſaith? And again, Is not bee that can do this paſt bluſhing? Is there any wickedneſſe ſo great, that ſuch a one may not bee well conceived to bee ready to act? Is ſuch a one a Miniſter of the Goſpel? Words need not further to expreſſe ſuch an act, which in its very face is ſo manifeſtly wicked and abominable, a wickedneſſe not found in the Roll of thoſe evils, which the Apoſtle mentions ſhould make the laſt daies perillous. I'le ſay no more, I need not. Read the words, and remember your own actions, and apply.
But let mee ask you, were theſe all, whoſe blood you thirſted after? Did you not write a letter to a friend of yours in Briſtol from White-Hall, that until Calamy, and ſome other of the Prieſts were dealt withal, as Love was, it would never bee well? I hope I ſhall one day get that book of yours, which you writ againſt him (mentioned before) viz. A ſhort Plea for the Commonwealth. Thoſe who have ſeen it; tell mee, it moſt fully ſets forth the fierceneſs, and bitterneſs of your ſpirit, not only againſt him, but that you ſhew your rancour and malice therein, againſt many of the ſervants of Chriſt, whoſe names are yet precious in the Churches, and the memory of whom will live, when your name ſhall rot and periſh; or if it bee mentioned or remembred, it ſhall bee with abhorrence and deteſtation, as infamous as poor Faulceners is. I cannot but remind that paſſage of yours in your Throne, page 34. where, becauſe I ſaid the Magiſtrates had their ſpots and failings, you ſay, they are no Magiſtrates of God, but men of ſin, and the born of the devil: If ſpots and failings do (in your judgement) render them thus, Oh! what are you? mind that Rom. 4. beg. Therefore thou art inexcuſeable, O man, whoſoever thou art (Jew or Gentile, Ranter, or Quaker) that judgeſt; for wherein thou judgeſt another, thou condemneſt thy ſelf; for thou that judgeſt doſt the ſame things. (nay, infinitely worſe) But wee are ſure the Judgement of God is (according to truth) against them which commit ſuch things; and thinkeſt thou this, O man, that judgeſt them who do ſuch things, and doeſt the ſame, that thou ſhalt eſcape the Judgement of God?
But Reader, in this poor wretch, you ſee what a dreadful thing, and what a heavy judgement it is, for a man to bee given up of God; what wickedneſs ſo abominable, that hee will not then commit? So Rom. 1. ver. 24. to the end.
And ſee alſo, how the Lord doth punish hatred and contempt of his Miniſtry and ſervants, and Apoſtaſie, from the truth, with hardneſſe of heart, and blindneſſe of mind, giving them over to believe lyes, 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. What a ſottiſh piece is this poor man become, to turn Quaker? But 'tis moſt true, Shipwrack of faith, and of a good conſcience, are ſeldome ſevered, 1 Tim. 1.19. But yet (Countryman) come, there is hope in Iſrael, concerning this thing, there is ſtill balm in Gilead; the blood of Jeſus Chriſt shed at Jeruſalem (though above ſixteen hundred years ago) is as efficacious, as prevalent, as ever. Come man, leave quaking, don't trample upon, and deſpiſe the price of thy Redemption; I ſee thou art in the gall of bitterneſſe, and bond of iniquity; but come, repent of thy wickedneſſe, and pray to God, perhaps the thoughts of thy heart, (and the wickedneſs of thy hands, and the blaſphemies of thy pen and tongue) may bee forgiven thee. Don't deſpiſe the riches of Gods goodneſs, and forbearance, and long-ſuffering towards thee; know, that the goodneſſe of God (in this patience of his, in not cutting thee off) is to lead thee to repentance. Conſider friend, there is a day coming, wherein the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and will make manifeſt all ſecret plots, contrivances, and under-hand counſels; Repent, whiles 'tis called to day, leſt thy heart bee more and more hardened, through the deceitfulneſs of ſin; treaſure not up wrath by impenitence, and hardneſs of heart; one true repentant tear, will avail more now, than millions of yellings and howlings then; our Jeſus is able to ſave perfectly, and to the uttermoſt, all thoſe who come unto the Father through him, meet him whom thou ſlighteſt, and make him thy friend.
And for a cloſe, know and conſider, that if you go on in ſin wilfully and impenitently, (after you have received the knowledge of the truth) and that you deſpiſe the blood of Chriſt, there remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, but a fearful looking for of judgement, and of fierce indignation, which shall devoure the adverſaries. And now from henceforth, let none of theſe Quakers trouble mee, I have done with this generation; but if they will bee troubling, let them know, I will not bee troubled: And as for any further anſwers, replies, contendings, or debatings with them, or him, being well aſſured that my ground work (on which my diſcourſe and diſcovery is founded) will ſtand firm: I declare this, as my Coronis, my farewel to Quakeriſme: As for their doctrines, or opinions, (in this, or any other of their Pamphlets) I think them not worth the reading (much leſs the anſwering) by any ſerious Chriſtian, eſpecially that hath publick imployments, indeed, not of any one that hath ought elſe to do, but to make a long voyage to Tarſhiſh, to fetch only Apes and Peacocks.
I conclude therefore with holy Auguſtine, Tales judices velim, &c. I deſire ſuch Judges of my writings, that will not alwayes require an anſwer, when they shall finde what I have written, to bee ſpoken againſt; thoſe things (which being matter of fact) have clear teſtimonies, and (being matters of doctrine) have clear arguments and authorities: It were a prejudice and diſparagement to either, to agitate whem alwayes, upon the cavils of ignorant or contentious perſons; therefore I end.
FINIS.
Books lately written by William Prynne, Eſq; a Bencher of Lincolnes-Inne, and ſold by Edward Thomas in Green-Arbour.
IUs Patronatus, Or the Right of Patrons, to preſent Vicars to Pariſh Churches, &c.
The firſt and ſecond part of a ſeaſonable, legal, and hiſtorical vindication of the Fundamental Rights and Laws of England. The ſecond Edition, in Quarto.
A Declaration and Proteſtation againſt Excize, in general, and Hopps, a native incertain commodity in particular, A PIECE WORTHY PERUSAL.
A Polemical Deſertation of the Inchoation, and Determination of the Lords Day Sabbath.
An old Parliamentary Prognoſtication, for the Members there in Conſultation.
The Quakers unmasked, and clearly detected to bee the Spawn of Romiſh Froggs, &c.
A new Diſcovery of Free-State Tyranny.
The firſt Part of a Short Demurrer, to the Jewes long diſcontinued Remitter into England.
The ſecond Part of the Short Demurrer, &c.
A Legal Reſolution, of two important Queries, concerning Miniſters giving of the Sacrament to their Pariſhioners.
A new Diſcovery of Romiſh Emiſſaries.
Alſo all the former works of Mr. William Prynne, both before, during, and ſince his Impriſonments, are ſold by Edward Thomas in Green-Arbour.
Pendennis, and all other ſtanding Garriſons, diſmantled.