Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights, Letter

Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights · Letter

p. 1A Tranſcript of a Letter lately written from the Sommer Iſlands, to William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne Eſquire; relating the Schiſmaticall, Tyrannicall, and Seditious Proceedings of the Independents there; and how they Lord it over the ſoules and bodies of thoſe who dare oppoſe them; how contemptuouſly they ſpeak againſt the power of Parliaments, the Church of England, and ſcandalize all others whatſoever, who are not of their Faction. Which Gods Providence newly brought to my hands from thence, when I was cloſing up the premiſed Diſcovery.

Worſhipfull Sir,

ALI health, happineſſe, and proſperity wiſhed unto you (as to mine owne ſoule.) The occaſions moveing me at preſent to trouble you with theſe unprofitable papers, are great and many; and happily I being a ſtranger unto your Worſhip, you may account it more then boldneſſe, yea even peremptory ſaucineſſe, in me to preſume to write and crave favour to and from one who never had the leaſt knowledge of me. But the manifold reports I have heard of you by divers good Chriſtians, emboldeneth me; but eſpecially ſeeing your good works which I have peruſed with care and diligence, which from Mr Sparks his brother I procured, enforceth me ſo much the more in this my boldneſſe, not doubting but that you are a true hearted Chriſtian, truly fearing God, embracing piety and hateing iniquity, a faithfull well-willer to the Church of God; and to all the Iſrael of God, and to all true Iſraelites who with faithfull hearts love the Sion of God truly and ſincerely, without hypocriſie or halting between opinions, deſſenting from it in any by or falſe reſpects, the which are the only cauſes moving me hereunto: And for which I have ſuffered, and a… and have beene theſe thirteen mōnthes **This is the Independents liberty of conſcience where they have power in their hands.priſoner in bonds, for ſtanding in defence, and an oppoſite unto, or againſt a certaine Independent Church, hatched and forged in the braines of our Divines; and by them conſtituted, erected, and fully accompliſhed; and with us held in great repute and adoration, yea and the Actors of it not as men, but even as demy p. 2gods, attributing that unto them, which is only proper unto God; eſpecially unto their Paſtor Mr VVhite, Notethe chiefe Actor of their Faction, a moſt ſeditious turbulent, and hatefull malicious perſon, and as politick as Achitophell, and as crafty and ſubtle as the Devill, having as he holds the world in hand, that by his wiſedome none can excell him in the lawes, both Eccleſiaſticall and Civill; and therefore amongſt us, (a company of poore ſimple ignorant and undiſcerning people) he is ſo accounted of, as all his words are oracles, and himſelfe no leſſe ſent from God; and therefore whatſoever he ſaith, is and muſt be a law, whether it concernes Body, Soule, or Conſcience; for he cannot crre, ſo perfect is he in their conceits: And if**Is this the liberty of conſcience Independents plead ſo much for? Chriſtians in griefe and diſtractions of ſoule and conſcience, at their courſes, ſhall ſue unto our Rulers for redreſſe of their factious aud ſeditious courſes by way of humble petition, for a ceſſation of thoſe things, till we ſhall heare from England, what Diſcipline the high Court of Parliament and Synod hath concluded upon, and that to embrace and follow; then ſhall we preſently be ſummoned to an Aſſizes, and there undergoe ſuch penalties as by the Court ſhall be cenſured upon, or elſe, which they moſt ayme at, to have us, contrary to knowledge and conſcience, acknowledge we have wronged them, and there in open Court before the Countrey confeſſe our ſelves ſorry for what we have done; this is our miſery: yea if I ſhall ſpeak, much more write in our owne defence againſt their Independent Church, laying open their factious and ſchiſmaticall government, and their envying againſt our Church, and Church government, and Diſcipline, though they have proofes and grounds ſufficient by the word of God to convince them, the which I could never yet ſee diſproved by them; together with my name annexed thereunto, yet if he threaten me for boldneſſe herein to have a Counſell Table called againſt me, I am ſure of it, and there to bee baited and banded to and againe by a whole Counſell; together with our Schiſmaticall Divines, even as a Beare at a ſtake, not one to ſpeak one word in my defence, nor in the defence of Gods cauſe; Let their own Law there bee their Iudge here.but with an unanimous conſent and voyce my writings exclaimed againſt, pronounced Libels, and ignominious and ſlanderous writings, though none of them approved ſo to be, nor disproved for the Truth I ſtand for; yet ſhall I be cenſured by them, for them, bound to my good behaviour, put in ſureties; and if at any time afterwards I ſhall divulge any thing either by pen or tongue againſt this Independent Church▪ their Governours, or Government, Doctrine, or the like, I muſt then preſently be declared infamous▪ and lie in priſon till to the contrary we heare out of England; yea however, for want of Sureties in this caſe, to lie in priſon notwithſtanding till I can or doe put in Sureties; the which I did for the ſpace of five weeks, to my great damage and charge, and alſo detriment, being an aged poore man of 74 yeares of age; and five nights in the cold winter time almoſt drowned in the priſon with raine, and ſore tempeſtuous weather, Independents Liberty and Charity to their brethren.having no ſhelter to ſave my ſelfe dry: Theſe, with other things, have I undergon, too large for to relate, and that chiefely from this White of this Independent Church, Paſtor; I meane by his meanes, for if hee ſayit, it muſt and ſhall be by our Rulers, who indeed ought to be chiefe inſtruments in removing and caſting out ſuch venomous vermine out of both Church and Common-weal… But how can it be expected, when they themſelves are p. 3inconfederacy with him, and joyne hand in to work wickedneſſe; therefore whoever ſpeaks or writes againſt one, doth it againſt all; therefore with a cunning ſleight they put it off, as not being done in the behalfe of their Church; but as that by it I labour the ſubverſion of the peace of our Countrey as much as in me lay, as though our Countreys peace reſted wholly upon the planting of this their Independent Church, whereby they have made more and greater breaches, as can be manifeſtly proved, then ever they will be able to make good, both in Church and Common wealth: Notyea in private families alſo, the husband againſt the wife, the wife againſt the husband, the children againſt the parents, the parents againſt the children; and the like, according as your ſelfe have worthily noted in your twelve Interrogatories. Is not this a great miſery in ſo little a ſpot, even a handfull of people; Oh miſerable times! Oh unhappy conditions! Now if you demand a title or name of this their Church, or from whence derived, I cannot anſwer you; for I ſuppoſe themſelves know not, only framed of their fancie and braines, only to get themſelves a name, fame, and popular applauſe and eſtimation of the world: But thus much I am ſure of, it is derived partly from the Anabaptiſts, partly from the Browniſts, but moſt eſpecially from the Donatiſts, having in it a ſmatch of each; however they feign it to the Church of New England, which, as they ſay, is the pureſt Church this day in the world; yet come they farre wide of it, ſo that it is but their ſaying not their doing. But grant that they were in their way aright, yet hold it we not requiſite that their examples ſhould be rules to us to walk by, ſeeing that both the one and the other have beene conſtituted and erected by an indirect way,Note without the advice and approbation of lawfull Authority of King, Parliament, and Synod, the which our men ſay they are not to attend or waite upon Princes nor Parliaments leiſures, the cauſe being Chriſts owne, and depending only and alone upon him, and not upon any humane power: and they his ſervants, and Chriſt their Lord, it refteth on them in his behalfe to doe it, it being a ſpirituall and no carnall work. And againe ſome of them have ſaid it,Note their Inſolency againſt the power of Parliaments. that Parliament and Synod can eſtabliſh no other Church Diſcipline or Government then theirs, unleſſe they will goe contrary to the word of God; this hath beene publikely delivered: yea by the ſame party ſuch ſtuffe hath beene delivered, that hath made all modeſt and ſhamefull faces to bluſh, eares to glow, and hearts to grieve that hath heard it; yea and that upon dayes of humiliation, making divers people both objects and ſubjects openly to work upon; thundering out puniſhments and judgements, both ſpirituall and temporall, againſt divers perſons, as though they had both ſwords in their owne power, or as though they had abſolutely knowne Gods ſecret decree; and this hath beene held for ſound and good Orthodox Doctrine, when divers have repented of their hearing; and theſe not once nor twice, but often. Infinite might I relate, even from their owne mouthes, which would make wiſe men admire, but I muſt paſſe over them to avoyd tediouſneſſe to my ſelfe, and trouble to you. And that in your wiſedome you may the better conceive of this their Church, The firſt beginning was a certaine Feaſt, held every week at ſeverall houſes, which Feaſt they called a loblolly Feaſt; which for the common fare of our Countrey is as our watergruell in England, ſo they would p. 4have it but of a common food; at which Feaſt each did ſtrive to excell another in the difference of making it: after they had once gotten a certaine number unto them, and ſo of an ordinary food they made it extraordinary; yea ſo extraordinary, that ſome in few meetings were forced to ſell the feathers out of their bedding,Note for milk, butter, and creame to feed them withall, and to make their Loblolly the more dainty and toothſome; others againe to maintaine this Feaſt, for one dayes entertainment, themſelves and whole family muſt pinch for it two or three months after; by which Feaſt, by the ſhew of neighbourhood or Feaſt of Love, though never none was found, in ſhort time they encreaſed in every pariſh to a pretty number. At which Feaſt alſo their bellies and ſtomacks being well gormondized, the Miniſter propoundeth certaine queſtions unto them by way of catechiſing of his owne framing, for halfe an howre; which each had in writing one from another, and like Schollers theſe their leſſons to learne againſt each Wedneſday, and great care was taken; ſome for feare of reproofe, and ſome popular applauſe: and theſe ca…chiſings being ended, they then for an houre or two diſcourſe of neighbours that would not joyne with them, traducing both names and perſons; this man is a drunkard, a whooremaſter, and the like; ſuch a woman was light and wanton, and loved ſuch and ſuch a man; ſuch a man loved ſuch a woman; this was the manner and order of their Feaſts, till at length themſelves were moſt of them drunkards and whooremongers.Note

The next thing was, a day in a week at noon for two houres ſpace to catechiſe youth and children, upon a ſimple ſmall Catechiſm ſet out by one Mr Oxenbridge, ſonne to Doctor Oxenbridge of London, who with his wife eſpecially were the firſt ground-works of this Faction: Who in time before it came to any perfection, departed from us, but left the curſed ſeed or fruit of their Faction behinde them: they being gone, this Mr White as chiefe, takes in hand to accompliſh this buſineſſe, which with another as forward, but better ſeene in it then themſelves, one Mr Golding, a young head but well learned in Schiſmaticall Science, if not worſe, joynes together, labours with and overcomes an ancient man, Mr Copeland by name; and then on all hands with an unanimous conſent, they joyne their forces for the erecting and eſtabliſhing this their Church; and then in ſtead of catechiſing youth, they would catechiſe ancient people young and old of both Sexes: This they could not well accompliſh, being by divers withſtood; but ſeeing they could not bring that to paſſe, then would they not ſuffer any to communicate without examination before, and that as well Beleevers as others, yea them eſpecially, though never ſo learned and ſufficient, which bred a ſore broile amongſt us; yet of many could they not have their wills, though put from the Sacrament.

Then denied they to baptize children, unleſſe the Parents rehearſed the Creed, and ſuch as did had their children baptized, and ſuch as would not, theirs were not. Then having made themſelves ſtrong by encreaſing their company, they then began a weekly Lecture upon every Wedneſday, one one week, another another week; theſe exerciſes were wholly and only for the building up of this their Church: Exclaiming againſt our Church, both in p. 5Matter, Manner, Order, Government, Diſcipline, and Governours, applauding this their owne, the holieſt, and pureſt Church upon the earth, next unto New England: here they deny all ſupream power of Magiſtracy, yea of the King himſelfe, only to guide them in the channell, and to defend them and maintaine them in this their Church, Orders, and Diſcipline, to puniſh all ſuch as ſhall oppoſe them: themſelves being chiefe thereof under Chriſt, but eſpecially their Paſtor White, ſo pronounced by their Prolocutor, one of our preſent Governours in the houſe and preſence of God, and the whole congregation, that he was **A New Independent King and Pope.Supreame head of this Church next under Chriſt, and none above him: this was one Mr Painter a Cooper. Then the other two Miniſters were choſen Elders, whereof Mr Golding the younger man in yeares was the chiefe, Mr Copeland the inferiour, next a Deacon one Mr Robert Ceſteven a Counceller, and a great ſtickler; thus have you as yet all the Officers: But before this choyce the baptizing of Infants was quite rejected and given over, holding a tenet, that children ought not to be baptized, but only ſuch as were of yeares of diſcretion, and able to render an account of their faith, according to Mark 16. 16. with divers other places, ſaying, they were no Paſtors, and therefore durſt not **Independents true Anabaptiſts.baptize one nor other, and that they had baptized more children already then they knew how to anſwer: this was Mr Whites owne ſpeech unto my ſelfe upon a Lecture day, I having two of my children to baptize at the ſame time. VponUpon this I confeſſe, and ſe…ing the great inconveniency that did ariſe thereon, and many children in the Countrey to be baptized, and many more like to be, I put pen to p…per and write unto our chiefe Governour Capt. VVilliam Sayle, foure or five ſheets of paper, and preſented as a new yeares gift, hee being the only man, as I ſuppoſed, to redreſſe and reforme by vertue of his place and power, all ſuch erroneous and factious errours both in Church and Common weale; but hard ſucceſſe I found in my Epiſtle unto him: In the front of the work, I ſhewed him how I was perplexed both in minde and conſcience for yeelding unto them through his inſtigations and perſwaſions, at an Aſſizes before,Note this ſchiſmaticall practiſe. for another writing delivered by me unto Mr White himſelfe, upon his and the reſt their ſilencing themſelves, leaving our Churches upon the Lords dayes, and gathering ſwarmes of people into their owne houſes as Conventicles; and there have reading, ſinging, praying, expounding, and preaching, yea if truth were knowne, the Sacrament alſo adminiſtred in their private houſes; and all theſe Ordinances denied in the houſes of God, yea they were ſlighted, contemned, ſcorned, and rejected, even as Iakes: theſe at the beginning of conſtitution of their Church; nay in one ſmall tribe or pariſh three or foure ſuch ſeverall places of meetings, and the houſes of God deſtitute. Secondly I writ againſt Independent Churches according to my poore underſtanding, I being a man of no learning, but eſpecially againſt their Church, ſaying, had I power and approbation, I would ſhake the whole fabrick thereof; this was taken very heynouſly. But to let paſſe other things contained therein, come we to the work, where firſt I maintained our Church of England againſt all Independent Churches, to be a true and a perfect Church; yet ſo, as not being free or cleare from all defects, as no Church under heaven was, is, not never will be, comparing our Church with all other reformed Churches, and p. 6their defects and deformities. Secondly by ſeven wayes I maintained the lawfulneſſe and the neceſſity of baptizing Infants, where I anſwered divers objections of the Anabaptiſts, and theirs alſo unto me in number fourteen, and laid downe their objections ſeverally.

Thirdly and laſtly, I ſhewed who of neceſſity were bound, and therefore ought to baptize infants, namely thoſe to whom God had given the diſpenſation of the Word and Sacraments, that is, ſuch as God hath called to the Miniſteriall function, and endued them with gifts and graces anſwerable for their Callings, ſuch and none but ſuch ought to meddle in the word or Sacraments; here I ſhewed the duty of all who had children to baptize only to ſuch, and to none but ſuch: then next, the duty of Miniſters, they being ſo ſought to; they ought, they muſt baptize them: next I confuted and condemned certain heretick… and ſchiſmaticks that denied and refuſed to baptize infants, and namely themſelves; and laſtly concluded with a friendly exhortation to all Miniſters to be carefull to perform their duty in this, and in all other points. This in brief was the ſumme and effect of my new yeares gift, of which I heard not a word for three weeks ſpace, in which time, yea ſo ſoon as he had it, he ſhewes it to the Miniſters, who all this time peruſed, ſcanned, and ſifted it; upon the which Mr White comes to my Schoole, ſalutes me kindely, with one with him to catch and beare witneſſe what proceeded from me, at length uttered his mind; amongſt many other paſſages, that I perverted the Scripture to my own ends, ſaying I had abuſed the words of our Saviour, Luk 10. where he commandeth little children to come unto him, and forbid them not: you maintaine ſaith he, he meanes ſuch children as ſuck the breaſt, here is your errour, ſaith he,Note. and for this you ſhall ſmart; but ſaith he, his meaning was, ſuch as were newly converted to the faith, theſe, ſaith he, are thoſe that Chriſt calls little children or babes, as in 1 Iohn 2. 1. Therefore for this your **This is the Lordly Anabaptiſticall li…erty of conſcience that Independents grant to their Orthodox Brethren.abſuſing and wreſting the Word, you ſhall anſwer it, and I doubt not but to crave ſo much favour of the Governour, as to call a Councell table, where you ſhall anſwer your abuſes, and peremptory ſcandalous and libellous writings, and ſo at length we parted. The next week following I writ a Letter to the Governour, giving him to underſtand, I had taken him for an honeſt Chriſtian friend, telling him withall▪ I ſent it not to them but unto him, ſuppoſing himſelfe only would have made uſe of it for ſome better ends, and withall laving open Schiſmaticks more plainer then before, adviſing him upon them five marks or tokens to know them by, to ſearch and ſee if he knew none or could finde none. Then I ſhewed, that Faction and Sedition did ſpring from theſe ſinnes, Pride, Hypocriſie, and Ambition; and from theſe three did ariſe preſumption, and rebellion, both againſt God and man, ſhewing how and wherein; praying theſe ſinnes were not found amongst us, but neither named nor pointed at any that hold could be taken. The next Sahbath a warrant was ſerved on me for my appearance at a Councell table the thirteenth of February 1644, where being as before, I was ſo baited and banded to and againe, as wonder it was, and ſhortly **Why ſhould not independents hav… the like liberty of conſcience as they grant their oppoſites?after clapt in priſon: however nothing traverſt that day, ſave only the Letter, nor my new years gift never queſtioned; when and where I made mine appeale for England, where God bleſſing me, would I have beene at preſent, had it p. 7not fallen out, that in October laſt in the dead of the night, my houſe with all I had therein was burned, to my great loſſe and prejudice; ſo that being altogether unable, I am forced with ſorrow to ſtay behinde, as not being able to put clothes on my back; having alſo burnt all my writings, which hath beene more griefe to me then the loſſe of all my meanes and goods, which was more then of mine owne I ſhall ever ſee againe.

But having digreſſed from the proceeding of this Sect, I returne againe where I left: and having given over the baptizing of infants for a good ſeaſon, at length they gave over preaching, as being no Miniſters, as being made ſo in an Antichriſtian manner; Note the manner of ga…hering Independent Churches and ordi…ation of their Miniſters.and no true Miniſters till ſuch time as they were new called and ordained by their holy Church; which at length was accompliſhed: in which time they ſtill continued their weekly Lectures; whereat there was added, and they received members unto and into their Church daily, but after a moſt ſtrange manner; their exerciſe being ended, thoſe that were to enter in, came upto the Chancell with great ſobriety and ſhew of humility, and ſorrow, with contrition, and wounding of conſcience for ſinne; and there ſtand, but with much hypocriſie and diſſimulation; and there before the Pulpit, with all the holy brethren and ſiſters about them, they make a conſeſſion of their ſinnes, are in outward ſhew ſorry for them, with great contrition: upon which enquiry is made among them, what they think of their confeſſion and contrition, and whether they are not worthy as members of their holy Church to bee received in? anſwer is made, yea: then they tell them, they do accept of them, and with great applauſe they all receive them, all ſhaking and embracing and hugging them, with great joy, biding welcome brother, Such are fit members for lawleſſe Independent Churches.welcome ſiſter. But ſuch confeſſions and doings as you never ſaw the like; inſomuch that Law might juſtly take hold of many of them: but theſe open confeſſions have a pretty while bin left off, they being aſhamed of it in regard the people mock them, telling them that this open auricular confeſſion is meere idolatry and ſuperſtition; therefore now they have private confeſſions; and whoſoever entereth into their church, muſt alſo enter into covenant to ſtand to and to maintain their church and church-diſcipline, orders, governours, and government, Note this confederacy.to the uttermoſt of their powers and abilities; yea they muſt endeavour and ſtrive therein even unto blood. And concerning baptizing of infants at the taking up againe of their miniſtery; they alſo have taken up againe the uſe of the Sacraments, but only among themſelves; but for any that are not in or of their church, their children ſhall not bee baptized unleſſe they will enter into their church, and covenant with them; neither for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, ſhall any partake thereof, but only their owne Flocks and Members, by which cauſe many people who have an ardent deſire thereunto, have beene deprived of it, ſome **Is this liberty of conſcience or rather tyrannizing over mens conſciences?two yeares, ſome three yeares, ſome more ſome leſſe, to their great griefe and ſorrow; And for the manner, forme, and order of the Sacrament amongst themſelves, it is according to their Faction, derogating from our mother Church as I heare: and for all ſuch as are not of them, nor adheres unto them, we are accounted as ††This is Independents charity and humility.heathens, yea even as dogs, or ſwine, and ſo reputed. Thus in briefe have I laid you downe the order and manner of their Church from the beginning to this preſent, which hath beene in agitation theſe foure or five yeares; and whether it be yet fully perfected, I think p. 8themſelves are ignorant of; but now is their maine hope, that their great Paſtor of their Church is now come for England, and that from and by the Parliament he will accompliſh a full and abſolute ſetling and eſtabliſhing this their Church amongst us, Noteby vertue and power from the Parliament, and by friends that he will raiſe, eſpecially by the meanes of one Mr Holland, one that beares ſome place of eminency in Parliament, who is a great and extraordinary friend of his; the which if he ſhould accompliſh this their wicked deſires, then will they tyrannize over us, and bring a great confuſion upon our whole Countrey, and raiſe civill warres among us, to our utter ſubverſions, being in compariſon but a handfull of people, to the great griefe and hearts ſorrow of many honeſt Chriſtian hearts, who deſire the peace of Gods true Church, but for all falſe wayes we utterly abhorre. And now Worſhipfull Sir, with favour give me leave to uſe by way of ſimilitude the words of Mordecay unto Eſter c. 4. 14. who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for ſuch a time as this? Even ſo ſay I to you Sir, what know you whether the God of mercy and conſolation hath raiſed you up as an inſtrument or meanes for theſe diſtracted times? yea, what know you, whether by your help and aſſiſtance you may not be a meanes and help for the releaſe and delivery of many poore diſtreſſed and diſtracted Chriſtians from the cruelty and tyranny of theſe Schiſmaticall Schiſmaticks, Notewhoſe mercies are meere cruelties, which we know by woefull experience we ſhall finde. And however we are farre remote from you, yet we beſeech you (I ſpeak in the behalfe of many) let your goodneſſe by your ayde and aſſiſtance even ſtretch it ſelfe to the utmoſt ends of the world, if occaſion be offered, for the good of Gods Church and people; and as your works comming by Gods bleſſings amongſt us, to our great joy and comfort, and to the vexation of our malignant adverſaries; who notwithſtanding ſlights them, ſaying, you have writ according to your underſtanding, and to the corruption of your owne heart, and that you have beene anſwered and foiled in your owne arguments; perſwading poore ſimple ignorant people unto any thing; for divers having ſeene your twelve Interrogatories, ſtruck them into ſuch a damp and diſtemperature, that they knew not what to ſay or doe, untill their Paſtor eſpecially with their Elders, through deluding ſpeeches, gave them as they ſuppoſe ſome comfort; otherwiſe I perſwade my ſelfe many of their adherents had revolted from them, and turned Cat in the pan. But no marvell though they ſleight you; for they doe ſleight all the moſt reverend Divines and men of learning, Independen…s Atrogance and ſpirituall pridewiſedome, and gravity, whoſe lives have beene cautious, pious, and religious that have beene before them: let a man name any forreigne and domeſtick, ſome they will ſet at naught, others happly with a more reverend reſpect, yet ſleight them (as my ſelfe at times have produced at leaſt a hundred upon occaſions) they will anſwer, they were good Reverend men in their dayes, and taught well according to their times; though you name the Interpreters of the Scriptures, or bring in Beza or Iunius, upon their Annotations, yet ſay they, theſe were but men, ſubject to failings and errours, and their dayes were the times of ignorance, and of ſuperſtition, and the cleare light of the Goſpel was not then ſo manifestly and ſo clearly made knowne unto them as now it is, the Lord revealing his will with a greater ſplendor in theſe p. 9latter dayes unto his Servants the Miniſters then in former times, for the calling and gathering together of his Elect from the foure corners of the world, and by them in theſe latter times hath ſhewed a more nearer and eaſier way to Heaven then formerly (O impious impiety!) wherewith they delude poore ſimple people, deceiving them, being voyd of underſtanding and diſcerning even to their deſtructions: for let a man diſcourſe with them, and ſhew them their ſolly and their blindneſſe, and ſhew them the erroneous wayes they are in; this preſently is their anſwer, **Independents blinde obedience as bad or worſe then Popiſh.we doe know that our Teachers, who are our Leaders, they are wiſe, learned, religious, pious, and holy men, and they cannot erre, ſay they; and they have paund their ſoules upon this way, and would they wilfully damne their ſoules were it not the right way, no tis impoſſible; therefore we will never forſake this way, but whatever they ſay or teach we will build our Salvation upon it, and ſeale it with our blood: Thus have they taken poore ſoules captives and deceived them; and through their deluſions we have daily a falling away, forſaking the old way which is the true way, and turning to Sinne and Schiſme, and erroneous Factions, which are new invented wayes never heard on till not much my time before. Wherefore we beſeech you, we beſeech you in the bowels of love and compaſſion, let the ſerious conſideration hereof move you to enter liſt with this ſtout Champion, whoſe pride we know to be ſuch, that hee will overcome ten thouſand better then himſelfe; and not only to enter liſt, but alſo as God hath called you to, and ſeated you in a place in that high Court of Parliament; that ſo you would oppoſe his enterpriſes and hinder him of his deſired purpoſes, that ſo he may not come with Power and Authority from that High Court, to lord it and to beare rule over the Lords inheritance amongst us, but rather forced to recant, and lay downe all his and their Schiſmaticall courſes, or confine them all together to ſome other place. Things comming into my minde one after another, cauſeth me not to ſet them downe ſo exactly in order as they hapned, but ſomewhat confuſedly: I ſhould have told you at firſt, this man, Mr White, was by the Company of Adventurers ſent over ſome yeares ſince, Miniſter for our two Tribes, Pembrook and Devon, and by the Earle of Dorſet then Governour, with the whole Company, they bound him in a bond of two hundred pound ſtirling to live with us peaceably and quietly, and to follow the Orders and Diſcipline of our Church for the ſpace of three yeares after his arrivall; which argued he was a man of a turbulent ſpirit in the place where he was, at Knights bridge neare Weſtminſter **Independents formerly as Epiſcopall and Ceremonious as Presbyters.; during this time of his bonds he was at hot a zealot as poſſible might or could be, both for the Book of Common-Prayer, as alſo for all other Ceremonies of the Church, as kneeling at the Sacrament, Croſſe in Baptiſme, Ring in the Marriage, and all other things whatſoever, ſo long at his bonds laſted: But ſuddenly after he turned upſide downe, and after foure yeares hee began theſe things; and ſeeing he could not accompliſh his deſire with us, he made ſhewes of leaving us and goe to another Charge that was vacant, unleſſe we would ſue unto him by ††Spirituall pride if not Papall.humble petition, as unto a Prince, which we refuſed to doe; the other they did, and gave him a Call, and with their Call, a hogge of forty ſhillings price; which Call he received and embraced, forſook us, p. 10and went unto them: He had not long beene there, but by ſome of our Tribe he was ſued unto to come to us to baptize three children; the which he did, he and his wife, Mr Copeland and his wife being witneſſes to one; where his Text being (He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he that d…ſpiſeth me, de…iſeth him that ſent me;) At which time he did ſo exclaime againſt us, ſaying, we despiſed him and his Doctrine, and had caſt both him and it from us, and ſo conſequently God the Sonne, and God the Father, becauſe we would not ſue▪ unto him by way of petition: When he alſo for our fact, pronounced a doome againſt us in his Pulpit, ſaying, Stand up ye of Pembrook Tribe and heare your doome, which was, you ſhall live here theſe twenty yeares without a preaching Miniſter; comparing alſo our Reader to the Idoll Dagon; the Reading-pew to the place of Deſolation, ſaying, Here ſits the Idoll of Abomination in the place of Deſolation; ſaying our Book of Common-Prayer was an Idoll alſo. And ſtill in their weekly Exerciſes, defame they our Church, and Church Diſcipline, with the Orders and Manner thereof, crying, ſhe is uncleane, ſhe is uncleane, polluted, defiled with Antichriſtianiſme, both in Church-government, Manners, Orders, and Diſcipline, yea throughout; therefore ſay they, Come out of her my people, and take not of her pollutions, with divers ſuch like; yet for the man, I muſt confeſſe he hath beene and is a worthy and reverend Teacher, which cauſeth many, yea moſt people the eaſier and ſooner to be deceived, as alſo by humble carriages, and pious walking, which is ſuch, that as our Saviour ſaith, is able to deceive the very Elect, by their walking in ſheeps clothing; but ſure I am, they are ravening wolves, and eaſily may be diſcerned by their fruits; that is, by their Doctrines, the which however it ſound good to ſimple people, and is as honey in their mouthes, but ſure I am, they tend only and wholly to their owne Schiſmaticall Faction. And thus have I beene large in my Diſcourſe, and troubleſome unto you, though in briefe. Now Sir, you know that he who cutteth wood over his head, is in danger of the chips flying in his face; ſo fareth it with me, I having beene an oppoſite againſt them, both by ſpeaking and writings; they are therefore become mine inveterat enemies, and have from time to time traduced me: and as the caſe once was yours, ſo is it and hath beene mine, having ſuffered much by our Rulers, through their meanes, they being all in a confederacy; and likely, if he can poſſibly, ſuffer more; but I hope will defend me from their cruelty by the help and meanes of you; who are able to ſympathize another mans caſe by his owne, and be the eaſier ſtirred up to compaſſionate my caſe, and to doe your beſt endeavour for me, and many more honeſt hearted people, who by me deſire from you the like favours; ſo ſhall I and them alſo be bound to pray for your proſperity here, and everlaſting happineſſe hereafter; deſiring you to keep this writing to your ſelfe, and make uſe of them, and not ſhew them to any, except to ſome ſure friends, not but that any thing herein contained is alſo abſolutely true, but that they are mine inveterate and malicious enemies, and if by the Parliament they ſhould get their deſires, then am I ſure to ſuffer moſt exceedingly; therefore I am forced to ſend to you underhand by way of Mr Spark, and another to write the ſubſcription of his Letter, that my hand bee p. 11not ſeen; ſuch laying wait there is for any my writings. This Gentleman the Bearer, hath in ſome meaſure beene a co-partner with me in ſuffering, and hath had much trouble, and is now come for England to cleare himſelfe from many falſe accuſations laid to his charge, as alſo to maintaine the Countreys agrievances and his owne alſo: And if your Worſhip ſhall bee pleaſed to doe him any friendly office, either by word or Counſell, he will be thankfull, and ſo ſhall more; and with my ſelfe in eſpeciall be bound to pray for you, and ever reſt your truly devoted and faithfull well-willer in heart till death to be commanded.

Richard Beake.

Sir, I deſire your favour I may heare from your Worſhip, which will be a joy to me and many others, who rejoyce of you, and hope well in you.