Letter to Dr Hyde, Postscript
Postscript.
SIR,
YOV have (since I wrote this Letter) turned my suspicion of your professed friendship, into undoubted assurance of your dissembling with me: By sending a Bailiffe on Saturday, (May 12.) to attach me, or to take Bond for my appearance, on Monday May 14. in the Court of Common Pleas, Which sodain warning was not by his choice but yours, as the date of your Letter of direction to him (for serving the Sheriffes Warrant upon …) sheweth. Hereby he that hath but halfe an eye may see, you meant (not like a good Minister) to disturbe my preparations for the Sabbath, and (as unlike a good Christian) to distresse me by want of time to take Counsell, how to apply my selfe for my just defence in the Suit commenced by you. I would not, I did not, serve you so, when I sent you my Book against you (by a Messenger of purpose) the next day after Ireceived it from London, that you might have as timely intelligence of the publishing of it as I could give you. Howsoever, Sir, you may perceive my readiness to perform my promise to you, (which was To serve you at the bar of any Court of Justice or equity, when you serve me with Processe to attend you there) for that day (viz. Monday forementioned, though your summons were so short) I came to Westminster where you had put (into the Court) no Declaration against me. So forward were you to shew your teeth, before you could bite; which may give occasion of caution, and (that may be also) some cause of security to him who sincerely subscribing to the Christian sentence of“Amicos deligere omnium est inimicos solorum Christianorum Tertul. ad Scapul. Tom. 2. p. 162. item. Tertullian had rather (notwithstanding your harsh and hasty dealing with him) entitle himselfe your Respondent,Christianus nullius cst hostis. Ibid. or Defendant, then your Adversarie
J. Ley.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Ley, Letter to Dr Hyde (1655)