came to pass being pursued by men fled away and hid themselves in secret and solitary Places but being taken they valliantly encountred with their Adversaries and ended the Combat with Martyrdom These were the Reasons Athanasius laid down in his Apology the which he wrote in the defence of his Departure from his Bishoprick in time of Persecution Gen. 17. Exod. 12. 1 King 18. to 25. King 3.17 18 19. Mat. 26. Act. 9. 2 Cor. 11. Deut. 4. Jos 20. Mark 13. Luke 21. Joh. 8. Joh. 11. Joh. 2.7.11 Thus do we see the manner of the Sufferings and the manner of the Saints Meetings was various and therefore the holy Apostle did not say you must neither Forsake Decline nor Remove your Meetings but his Exhortation was not to forsake the Assembling themselves together as the manner of some was and so as to the manner he left it to them who were to be exercised therein who were to wait upon God and to Worship him as he should order them by his Holy Spirit and the Guidance thereof and according to the measure of Faith they had received of him to bear up their heads in Suffering Times and if some met privately for fear of the Jews and other met in an upper Chamber yet the Apostle was far from calling them Night-dippers Skulkers and Creepers Cowardly Bass and Timerous Carna Policy Occult creeping creeping into Garrets Cheese-Lofts Coal-hoals and such like Mice-walks By-holes c. as G. Whitehead and W. Penn detractingly charge the Professors withall because they rather follow the example of the antient Christians than the Peremptory Decree Law or Cvnnon to be observed by us See the Preface to the Chr. Quak. and his Divine Test Vindicated the 333 334 pag. if the 2d Part by G. W. if we would be owned in the Church of Christ as before recited and yet who more Creepers Sculkers Timorous Occult and Cowardly Meeter than G. W. and some of his Brethren as is here sufficiently manifested especially if they get such Letters sent as was sent to me not to mention his Name to any particularly no by no means that doth not sute since this Act came out Objection By this time some may be ready to object and say That altho it cannot be denyed but your Ministers of the Self-saving and others-oppressing Principle have given just occasion for a publick Reproof not only by their making a Law for their Hearers that they should meet and not decline the same contrary to the very nature Tendency and Example of that Christian Liberty which was taught by Christ and practised by his holy Apostles and Primitive Christians as is evident by Scripture and by Athanasius his Apology and that themselves walk and Practice contradictory thereunto but also by their publick Defamations and scurrilous Invectives whereby they expose not only W. R. F. B. T. C. J. S. and those of their own Society to be Judases Beasts Dogs Wolves Children of the Devil yea Devils Incarnate c. but also every other Profession of People with whom they happen to controvert as if all others besides themselves were of old predestinated to Eternal Destruction and themselves the only Electives c. yet however for the sake of some amongst them a more private way ought to have been first used c. Answ In answer to this Objection I do say that I have wrote to them about these things for these seven or eight years and sent great part of what is here printed in Manuscript one Paper which I called A Cry for Justice another called A Prescript and Postscript another Speeches and Passages with divers other Letters endeavouring to let them see their Errour if possible c. And now at last I wrote to the Second-days Meeting the 10th of the 2d Mo. 83 signifying that if six of them i. e. of the Second-days Meeters would shew their publick dislike and non-approvement of G. W's Book called Judgment Fixed c. and R. S's called Righteous Judgment c. and the Advertisement prefixt thereon and signed by their Clark R. R. that then I would forbear any Reply to the said Books notwithstanding they had defamed me in a gross manner and all this for the sake of the honest-minded among them but no condiscention they can admit of nor no Answer have I received c. And if the said well-meaning People will sit down and consent to the perfidious Dealings of that Meeting and be more tame than the Nobles and Barons in the Reign of King Hen. II. Ed. II. Hen. III. c. who often called the proud Prelates to account and shewed what Enemies the Prelates were to the Peace of the Kingdom I cannot help it Nay the Women in London knocked at the Parliaments Doors in Olivers Time and called for Justice Justice on the behalf of J. Lilburn and others And if the People called Quakers will allow a few Usurpers Viz. G.W. St. C. G. Fox Ch. T. R. R. and a few others who neither consult Events nor fear Effects to sit Tyronising over the Consciences of their Brethren and never call them to an account and knock at their door and say What mean you to sit here What business have you here Why do ye give occasion for these Controversies Though you fear no Effects that may hereupon ensue yet we have cause though you study no Events yet we that are as much concerned as you do think that it stands us in hand to study the Events of these things Why do you approve of the Printing and Publishing of Books scandalous to Truth and the Professors of it and why do you deal thus treacherous with the People Why do you thus exalt your selves and make your Nest among the Stars and sit as a Queen saying I am and there is none besides me And that it may yet more plainly appear that I have wrote to them to the same purpose above recited I may transcribe my Letter Verbatim that I sent to them To the Second-day Meeters in London FRIENDS Forasmuch as those of Party with G. F. These look upon you to he the Eye for the Body and that altho any may say they are moved by the Lord to write an Epistle Message or Warning to a Nation or People yet say you by your Practice they ought to acquiesce in your adding diminishing and altering the same c. And thereupon you may remember that before I put forth my Book Entituled De Chr. Lib. c. I wrote to you not for your sakes or that I ever owned you to have any such Power conferred upon you or delegated to you above the rest of your Brethren by Christ Jesus who is Head of the true Church but for the Peoples sake who many of them mean well altho zealous for the Traditions of the Elders least Sufferings should be augmented to them through these publick Proeeedings c. signifying that if you who assume to your selves the sole Power in Affairs Ecclesiastical among the
THE Painted-Harlot Both Stript and Whipt Or the Second Part of NAKED TRUTH Containing A further Discovery of the Mischief of Imposition among the People called Quakers by reason of a certain Law or Edict made by G. Whitehead S. Crisp and others of the Leaders and Preachers of G. F's Party at a Yearly-Meeting or General Council held at London the 27th of the 3d. Mo. 1675 strictly requiring us neither to FORSAKE DECLINE nor REMOVE our Meetings like WORLDLY FEARFUL and POLITICK Professors Whereby their Usurpations are manifest and how they begun to exercise Dominion over the Consciences of their Brethren like the Gentiles of Old contrary to the Example of Christ Jesus his Holy Apostles and the whole Current of Scripture Testimony and like the fair-pretending fair-saying Pharisces are laying heavy Burthens and cruel Yoaks of Bondage on the Disciples Necks but will not ease with one Finger as this Treatise will fully manifest BEING ALSO A Brief Answer to a part of G. Whiteheads Book called Judgment Fixed c. and S. Caters Narrative Of which R. Sandiland's Book gave Advertisement that it was long since in the Press Entituled The Lib. of an Apost Cons c. Wherein the Liberty and Freedom that the said S. C. for bimself and his Brethren the Preachers of G. F's Party stand for and vindicate is manifested to be both Vnchristian Immoral and Injurious and as great an Oppression to many of their Hearers as that of Tythes so much by them disclaimed By a Lover of Justice F. BVGG Mildenhall the 16th of the 5th Month 1683. Therefore have I also made you to be despised and vile before all the People because ye have not kept my Ways but have been partial in the Law Mal. 2.9 Hear this I pray you ye Heads of the House of Jacob and Princes of the House of Israel that abhor Justice and pervert all Equity Micah 3.9 LONDON Printed by J. Gain for the Author Anno 1683. and are to be sold by F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhill where also may be had the Authors former Book Entituled De Christiana Libertate c. which was Printed Anno 1682. THE Preface to the Reader Friendly Reader I WOVLD not be understood to write against the People called Quakers in general for I know that many of our Ministring Friends as they have not concerned themselves at these Monthly Quarterly Yearly nor Second-day-Meetings in making Laws Orders Directories and Prescriptions to bind the Consciences of their Brethren to the Observation of this that or the other Ceremony or Practice in Religion nor to impose doubtful Things upon them contrary to their Faith and Perswasion as knowing what is not of Faith is Sin SO ALSO in Suffering Times I have observed them to be as ready to Suffer and bear their own Burthen as to exhort others to Constancy and Patience and thereby have been good Examples to the Flock c. Neither would I be understood to charge G. F's Party with the grosser sort of Popery held by some Papists that I may quote as very unfairly and unjustly G. W. would insinuate W. R. to have done See Judgment Fixed c. pag. 53 54 55. Viz. Blood-Suckers c. No W. R's words will bear no such sence as to compare them to these or the like Practices neither would I be understood to intend any such Comparisons nor yet that they hold any Personal Correspondency with the Church and See of Rome or any of their Priests Jesuits c. Or that they have any design to advance the Interest of a Pope at Rome But if that which hath been reproved as Popish-like Doctrines by such called Quakers with whom my Adversaries were at Unity be practised by them then I may safely charge and reprove G. F. and his Party as guilty of Popish-like Practices Now see what such have told the Church of England and others to be both Romish and Antichristian First To accept any Principle or Practice as fundamentally true or Orthodox that is not laid down and avoucht to be such by the plain Text of Scripture See W. P's Caveat against Popery p. 37. more at large Secondly Jo. Cole says The Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should walk act as they are perswaded in their Consciences which is a Popish Practice See the Whore Vnvailed pag. 71 72. Thirdly R. Hubbertborn says That to impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or Practice is not to do unto another as he would have another do unto him and therefore is contrary to Christ's Doctrine and Antichristian See his Works pag. 188. And many such Places I could quote out of our Antient Friends Writings Now if I do not make it appear that such Orders have been made amongst us as cannot be avouched by the plain Text of Scripture and that G. F's Party like the Church of Rome will not admit that People should walk and act as they are perswaded in their Consciences and not only so but impose upon their Consciences both to do and Practice then indeed I am blame-worthy c. First then in order to prove See the Cannon and Directory made at a Quarterly-Meeting at Hadenham in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge the 1st of the 10th Month 1675 about publishing the Intention of Marriage as it stands Recorded in their Book Verbatim Viz. It is ordered and agreed upon at this Quarterly-Meeting that no Friends for time to come may permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Men's and Women's Meetings they being distinct and apart and the Man and Woman to come both to the said Meetings to receive the Answer of Friends that so no disorderly or indirect Proceedings may be carried on any more contrary to the Unity of Friends Where is now the plain Text of Scripture to avouch this or a President for it and the distinct Womens-Meetings unless in the Pope's Nunnery Where R. R. in his Few Ingredients says there is something like it Do they not by this Order say plainly That none shall walk or act as they are perswaded in their Consciences who are not perswaded thus to publish the Intentions of their Marriage and their Practice hath also declared the same Do they not by this Law or Cannon declare plainly that they impose both to do and Practice which is at once both Romish-like Papist-like and Antichristian And what we would not have the Church of England Men do unto us And for a Proof of their Executive Power and Practice as well as their Legislative see the Condemnation of J. A. who could not conform to their Orders who at Hadenham in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge was tryed and by Vote adjudged worthy of this Sentence following Viz. Hadenham the 4th of the 7th Month 1678. We at this Quarterly-Meeting having the business of J. A. his taking his Wife contrary to the Orders of Friends brought before us and Friends
having several times spoke to him about it and he not giving Friends Satisfaction we do testifie that we have no Union with him in this his so doing See my Book De Chr. Lib. pag. 60 61 62 more at large Here is Proof of your Popish like Practice and Presidents both of your Legislative and Executive Power in your Church-Government about this particular namely publishing Marriages But by R. S's base way of Writing his Reader that believes him may think that J. A. did then marry when the Woman was not with him which was false for he about two months after his Publication took her to Wife in a large Meeting according to the Antient Practice of Friends of which hereafter I may speak more at large as well as to other particulars in the Books of R. S. and G. W. shewing their fallacious Dealing c. And were I minded to draw a History of some of the Principles and Practices of some of the Papists and compare them to some of the Practices of G. F. and his Party I think I could do it to a Hairs breadth but that would exceed the bounds of a Preface so that I rather referre the Reader to the History of Malmsberry Huntingdon and Hovedon which was Printed at Frankford by Wichelus Anno 1601. The last Edition of Goodwin's Catalogue of Bishops Fox his Acts and Monuments The Compleat History of Independency Prin's Antip c. Where he may find mention made of T. Becket Successor to Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury who was a great Innovator an Enemy to Christian-Liberty c. Also Hubert the 42d Bishop of Canterbury who in Arrogance and Pride was Eminent also S. Langâ—hon another Prelate whose Treachery wass sufficiently manifest as also Pandolf the Popes Legate who whispered K. John to resign his Crown and Kingdom to the Pope and of him to receive it again Likewise S. Edm. another Bishop who was Canonised by Pope Innocent the IV. And what shall I say of Boniface Stratford Courtney T. Arundel Cuthbert Tonstal S. Gardener Bonner Cardinal Woolsy together with the pranks of Hugh Peters and his Brethren who made their Pulpits ring with Curse ye Meros Curse ye bitterly c. I say what shall I say concerning these whom G. F's Party too much resemble only take a short review of some of their Practices and leave my Reader to observe what Coherence and Harmony they bear with the Practices of G. F's Party c. Did not the last rehearsed by their Preaching stir up Strife and Contention and sow the Seeds of Division Strife and Discord c So have the Ministers of G. F's Party who since the Orders for Womens-Meetings and other Innovations have been introduced have made it their business both by Printing and Preaching to magnifie the said Orders stiling them the good Ordinances of Jesus Christ Christ's Goverment the Established Order of the Gospel Blessed Things from the Oracle of Divine Breath And such as could not fall in accept and conform to these new fashioned Ceremonies but have conscientiously testifyed against them they have termed to be Informers Judases Raging Waves of the Sea enemies to Zion's Glory Wolves Dogs Devils yea Devils Incarnate with abundance of other Vnchristian Names c. By which they have shewed themselves to be the Evil Seedsmen of our Time whose Practices have been as pernitious to the peace of the Church as the recited Doctrine of such as lived in former Times c. Did any of the recited Papists interrogate their people whether they owned â—his or favoured that Opinion c. And did they love singularity and affect great Attendance c So do G. F. and his party who frequently ask us if we own W. R's Book I was once called out of a Quarterly-Meeting at Hadenham by S. Fulbig and asked whether I owned W. R's Book and so G. W. and others of G. F's â—arty have asked several Friends Likewise this we have for many years observâ—d unless it be very lately amended that when G. F. is minded to speak first â—n a Meeting he will soon begin and when he hath ended his Speech thouâ—h the Meeting be not half spent yet he goes out likewise if he intend to speak last he very seldom comes into a Meeting until it be half spent as if he was above the state of waiting or receiving Benefit by others Preaching which manifests his Singularity and as to G. F's Attendance it far exceeds his fellow Preachers in divers respects c. Did any of the recited Papists make Laws Cannons and Directories for the People to observe and had they Councils Synods and Convocations to determine them So have G. F's party See my Book De Ch. Lib. p. 61 62. and this Treatise p. 13 15 17 55. c. See also for a president the Hadenham-Order above recited and J. A's Condemnation for Nonconformity And to compleat and confirm these their Rules and Cannons c. they have Yearly and Second-day Meetings in London and Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings in the Countrey Did any of the recited Papists receive and accept of Gifts given to Holy Church or to themselves when not given by Name And did they by vertue of their sacred Function Degree or Order receive such Bequests so bequeathed So do G. F's Party witness the last Will and Testament of John Mason of Whitlesea-Cotes who bequeathed 20 l. to be distributed to Friends of the Ministry of which S. Cater by vertue of his Ministry got a good share not given to him by Name as S. C. For then what had any Man to do with it since a man may give his Estate to whom he pleases no but it was Samuel's Ministry which entituled him thereunto And notwithstanding this and his other Gifts Prison-Treats and other Priviledges which have abounded to him even beyond his Equals yet he will make a sad noise against the poor Priests for taking Money Gifts and Rewards for or by reason of their Priestly-Office and Function as if they were all gone after Baalam and himself poor innocent Man an utter Enemy to all Gifts and Rewards c. Did any of the recited Papists persecute or excommunicate any for dispersing the Books of Luther Zuinglius Bucer Hus Tindal Frith Barns and others See Fox's Acts and Monuments pag. 248. And Spir. Mart. Reviv'd pag. 213 as at large in my De Chr. Lib. pag. 204. c. So do G. F's party who excommunicated J. B. for selling and dispersing W. R's Book as at large recited in De Chr. Lib. pag. 197. A short Abstract whereof is as followeth Viz. From the Monthly-Meeting at Devonshire-house the 4th of the 11th Month 1681. Viz. Whereas there have been some unruly Spirits gone out from Truth Writing Printing and Publishing Things hurtful and prejudicial to Truth by corrupting of Peoples Minds * * At the same time B. C their Bookseller sold Ballads Gypsy-Books and Papist Books yet not Excommunicated that I hear of c. tending also to draw
them into disesteem of many of the Lords Servants * * Note this is a Preservative for their Ministers decaying Reputation c. Upon Consideration of these things we find our selves CONSCIENTIOVSLY concerned to take notice of something of this kind befaln J. B. who was Formerly a Member of this Meeting who having dispersed into several parts of this Nation divers of those pernitious Books in Print wrote by W. R. called The Christian-Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. So that now we being wholly clear having used our utmost Endeavours to reclaim him do not only testifie against that Spirit which hath as aforesaid led him into that disorderly Practice but also against him while joyned thereunto Δ Δ Reader observe that J. B. and his Spirit too are both at once excluded sad News for J. B. Nor can we have Spiritual Communion or Fellowship with him until unfeignedly he shall return unto the Truth by Condemnation of that Work Spirit Did any of the recited Papists break Faith and League and make void their solemn Agreements and firm Covenants with such as they account Heroticks So have G. F's Party witness the Agreement made at Hadenham Quarterly Meeting that no more Controversy betwixt S. C. G. S. and me should be and yet as soon as I put forth my Book De Chr. Lib. G. W. and S. C. by print revived the same which occasions this Reply c. See p. 51 52 64. of this Treatise Did any of the recited Papists so over-rule the People as that none dare to call in question the Pope's Holiness or reprove his Ministers or examine their Preachers but like poor tame Asses must believe all that is said and take all on trust c So do G. F's Party for whosoever speaks against any of his Ministers or examine their Doctrine or reprove them for their evil Behaviour or Imperious Carriage let them look to it they are in danger of Excommunication to the utmost of their Power And for a Proof and Presedent of this their Church-Procedure I may recite their Record made against me as it lyes in their Hadenham Quarterly Book for writing to G. W. wherein I impeached him as an Enemy of Christian-Liberty in certain Letters wrote to him and offered to prove it and told him and his Fellow Preachers of the Second-days Meeting of their Vsurpations as at large recited in De Chr. Lib. p. 150 172 180. Viz. At a Quarterly-Meeting in Hadenham the 7th of the 4th Mo. 82. Whereas this day there were inferred Notable Schollars inferred into our Meeting several Papers subscribed by F. B. wherein he hath unrighteously and ungodly reflected upon Antient Friends and greatly abused Faithful Ministers of the Gospel □ They may speak what they please of any Ministers but none must speak to them and also amongst the said Papers was one subscribed by 12 Persons directed to the Second-days Meeting in London wherein Friends are misrepresented and greatly abused which said Paper we believe ▵ And that is enough they being always furnisht with discerning and Judgment or else they would have sent for me to have confessed it or proved it If J. Lilburn's Judges had been thus confident and his Jury thus Implicit he must have been hanged when he was tryed at Guild-Hall in October 1649 for writing the Naked-Truth in O. G's Time c. the said F. B. promoted Now we being greatly grieved in our Spirits and truly sensible of his herein going from Truth do testifie we have no Unity with him nor can have while he is thus acted Did any of the recited Papists give and attribute to any of the Popes such Names as was due only to God and Christ So have G. F's Party given and attributed to G. F. these Names and Titles following Viz. One greater than Moses a Prophet indeed It was said of Christ He was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet whom John said he was not but thou shalt feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee and although the World knows him not yet he is known Again they stile G. F. The Father of many Nations whose Life hath reached through us thy Children even to the Isles afar off whose Being and Habitation is in the Power of the Highest in which thou lives and governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is established in Peace ◠and the Increase thereof is without End c. And for more of this nature let the Reader peruse the 5th Part of Babels c. by T. C. p. 7. and the 5th part of the Christian-Quaker distinguished c. per W. R. pag. 77. which for brevity I pass by leaving my Reader to weigh and consider these things and the manner of their Church-Government by recording their Sentences and comparing them with other their directions from their Second-days Meeting in London and Yearly-Meetings as hinted in my last Letter to the Second-days Meeting printed at the latter end of this Treatise and other places both in this Treatise and in my former Book De Chr. Lib. And if ever he was sensible of the swee◠Harmony that was amongst us in the Beginning of our Christian-Liberty that w◠then both pleaded for and admitted to each other and how God alone was in tha◠day exalted and Man abased the Holy Scripture esteemed and Man's Orders Directories and Cannons disclaimed and I think he hath cause to take up a Lamentation to behold the Change the Apostacy and vast Declension from our Primitive Principles and Practices that hath befall'n the Leaders and Teacher among us c. Object But some may object and say That also what is here inserted i◠chiefly what is upon Record amongst them yet to lessen thy Testimony they bespatter thee and represent thee as a fraudulent Man as an aggravation of thy Guilt they say that the 5 l. which the Justice gave thee towards thy Charges in prosecuting the said three Appeals mentioned p. 10. one for J. Folks and two for thy self c. was an abatement of S. C 's Fine of 15 l. and so you suffered but 10l for him c. This is frequently spread abroad Answ All this I cannot help the Servant is not greater than his Lord if their Predecessors the Pharisees called Christ Belzebub and said he had a Devil and that by the Prince of Devils he did those Miracles c. what shall these not say to such as endeavour to follow his steps so far forth as he shall inable them in reproving and discovering the Formality and Hypocrisy of such manifest Innovators as we have to do withal Did not the Apostles meet with something of this nature and the Martyrs also Nay did not we in our day meet with the like Treatment from the Priests and high Notionists I could give many Instances thereof only I should exceed the bounds
Whitehead is not this Language of thy Brother R.S. more like thy Devil Incarnate and more like the Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out your own shame than any thing wrote by any of us whom thou so terms Yet for the sake of the simple I may hereafter take notice of a few more passages therein And among the rest that of thy trumpeting G. Whiteheads to be such a meek such a tender and pretious Man But in England we do know him especially of late a very evil Agent in the carrying on by his stiff imposing and Lordly Behaviour the Devisions on foot this day amongst us and there are few in England that will give him such a Character as thou hast done neither amongst us nor Professors under any Denomination with whom he hath had Contest after Contest so that it was high time for a Scotchman to come and do that for him which no man that understands what he doth or rather ought to do will do for him it is true he will talk of Condiscention and Accomodation and pretend fair a while but we have long observed his Drift hath been to assert their own Churches Authority And saith he She doth not give forth Precepts and Commands doubtfully but in Faith and full Assurance that the tender hearted will receive and accept or conform to them For he hath affirmed in Apostate Incendiary c. p. 16. That the true Church is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either believe thus as the true Church believes or else it were but both Folly and Hypocrisy to profess our selves Members thereof c. This compared with his Practice shews how near of Kin he is to that Position Believe as the Church believes practice as the Church Practices which is in order to bring in Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience Of which more hereafter Samuel Cater I have also read thy Letters which thou hast sent me being many of late several of them threatning me that if I would not call in my Book De Christianá Libertate and condemn it publickly that thou wouldst come out with a Narrative yea saist thou A plain Narrative of the whole Matter I do now intend to give forth But withal tells me in another Letter That if I will call in my Book and as publickly own my Condemnation as I have given Offence thou thou and others will stop your further Proceedings against me c. To which Letters I gave thee Answer which I think expedient to cite that both at the beginning of this Relation and at the end it may appear how loath I was to proceed What Samuel didst thou want Matter wherewithal to answer my Book that thou thus threatens me with a Narrative of a Controversy long since ended and since thou hast revived the same I have offered thee a hearing over again if thou dare refer it to honest men What will nothing do but Print Print a Narrative yea a plain Narrative To which Letter I sent this following Answer a little abstracted for brevity sake This day I received thine dated the 26th of December 1682. And if thou art not willing to stand to the Agreement made at our Quarterly-Meeting in Hadenham the first day of the 10th Month 1680 and then recorded in their Quarterly Book that all Controversy betwixt thee G. Smith and my self should cease I say if thou art not willing to stand to the said Agreement but finds thy self uneasie under it I will as I wrote thee word consent and agree that thou shalt have a hearing de novo by Persons indifferently elected by us both Viz. each of us four six ten or twelve Persons and to their Determinations we will again be bound to stand As for the calling in my Book I am willing on condition the Orders upon Record in our Quarterly Book which say that for time to come no Marriages are either to be suffered or permitted except the Parties publish their Intentions twice before the Mens and Womens-Meetings they being as thou knowest distinct and apart each from others and the Record against J. Ansloe for not taking his Wife according to the Order of Friends be raced out and made void that so those that have freedom to publish according to the said Orders may and those that are otherwise minded may be left to their Christian Freedom and also the Book Entituled The Accuser against W. R. be called in I say on condition that these things may be done I am willing to call in mine and use any Christian means for a thorow Reconciliation and healing of the Breaches But whereas thou threatens me with a great talk of a further Publication of a Narrative of which I have heard much it doth not trouble me neither do I believe it would have been thus long detained from publishing in Charity or good Will to me hadst thou not been conscious to thy self that the Publication thereof would have been a further means to have unmasked thee and such as thou art This is my sense and as speedy an Answer as I can well give who am thy well-wishing though much abused Friend The 6th of the 11th Month 1682. Francis Bugg But truly long ere this time I expected to have seen thy notable Non-such Narrative but as yet cannot G. W. gives an Account of the Expectation of it and in the Front of R. S's Book there is Advertisement of it by all which a notable noise is made of it in order to publish it and without doubt great expectation of it there is but yet no Printed Narrative that I can come at it being four Months since thou wrote me word that it was ready for the Press so that thou canst not reasonably expect that I can give a full Answer to it yet by the sight of G. W's Book called Judgment Fixed and thy Letters which I have received from thee since August last which are about ten Sheets of Paper and with the help of some Letters and Papers that I have lately obtained since thou and I burnt our Papers at Ely Prison pursuant to the Agreement and in concurrence therewith from some Friends to whom I formerly wrote about the said Controversy I say by the help of these Instruments I shall God willing attend thy Motion and at a venture shoot an Arrow at the dark Body of thy obscure Narrative and doubt not but shall hit between the Joints and Harness of the drooping Cause of you the Disguised Ahabs who are joyned to that corrupt Principle of not telling your Names and Habitations unless a Magistrate come and demand it or a Constable with his Staff which perhaps may not be once in the Countrey in seven years whereby that your self-saving and other oppressing Principles and Practices may throughly be discovered by and through which you have long like the Pharisees or Fair-sayers of old layed heavy Burthens on others but will not ease with one Finger no that 's below you or beside your
Principle and let me ask you you I mean of the Ruling and Over-ruling Party that neither consult Events nor study Effects as G. W. saith in his Introduction to his Judgment Fixed c. What have you not wherewith to answer my Book but you must take this piece of Revenge Doth my Book indeed set forth your Image of Church-Government so exactly in its proper Dress as that you are thus furious and outragious as to call me Apostate-Informer Betraying-Iudas Beast Dog Wolf Enemy of all Righteousness Child of the Devil yea Devil Incarnate What is this your Language is this the Fruit of you Preachers that these twenty or thirty years have been Preaching up Perfection Purity Self-Denyal and Humility Surely we have been greatly mistaken in you and deceived by you for now you appear to be Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing such as spare not the Flock and so I conclude this Introduction NOW I shall proceed to answer some part of G. Whiteheads Book that treats of the Fine and thy Letters drawing as plain a Narrative I can VIZ. IN the 22d Year of this King c. there was an Act made to prevent and suppress Seditious Conventicles c. By which the Ministers Penalty for Preaching was 20 l. for the first Offence which said Fine the Justices have power to lay on the Hearers upon condition that the Ministers Name and Habiâ—ation is to them unknown c. By reason of which Clause great and many were the Sufferings of the Hearers amongst the People called Quakers for although some of our Ministers are willing to bear their own Burthen and to stand with us in a like suffering Capacity and as ready to suffer as to exhort to Sufferings yet other Ministers of G. F's Over-ruling Party look upon themselves not obliged to tell their Names and Habitations unless demanded by a Magistrate and by virtue of this their Opinion and Practice I say great have been the Sufferings of the Auditors for besides these Fines which come thus upon them through our Ministers concealing their Names and Habitations they commonly bear the Fines for their own Offences against the said Statute and the Offences for the Meeting-Houses and the Fines for their poor Neighbours insomuch as that in the Loss of 13550 and odd pounds which I have collected out of five Printed Books presented to King and Parliament of which the Ministers that were Strangers never lost 50 l. and if I should add what hath been destrained besides what is in those five Books which I presume is a far greater Summe still the Ministers of this Self-saving and other-oppressing Principles suffer little in consideration of what the Hearers suffer insomuch that some of the Hearers have been so impoverished through their Fines imposed for their Ministers through their hiding their Names under pretence that it is not demanded by a Magistrate as that they have been necessitated to borrow mony to relieve themselves which to this day they have not been able to repay while S. Cater though a Rich Man hath been supplyed with ten pounds at a time from London and if he denies it I offer to prove it for a Fine which he suffered for Preaching at Phakenham in Norfolk and distrained at Littleport but through the moderation of the Officers 't is believed that he did not loose 5 l. as I have often signified to him c. But so it fell out that in November 1675 he happened to have a Meeting at Laken-heath in Suffolk where the High Constable and several others came and demanded the Name of the Preacher but he was so busie that he had no leisure to tell them his Name and Habitation so one of them asked a Woman Friend whose Answer was that his Name was written in the Lambs Book of Life where he could not read 't is to be noted he was one of our Ministers that obtained that belief in this well-meaning Woman so then they asked N. Holman who said he did not know At which manifest Lye I was much troubled to think what Equivocations and Evasions they should perceive amongst us and all this time Samuel said nothing in answer to them and then T. S. the High-Constable a Man of good Repute and one that I had known many years being partner with my Uncle James Bugg in the Office of High-Constableship c. came to me I being at the further end of the Room and asked me his Name And I not being willing to equivocate as others did and well knowing that if I answered him to his Question it could not put him into a Suffering Capacity for it must be by the Oath of two Witnesses or Confession of the Party I said Samuel Cater and after some time having taken several Friends Names went away and a while after the Constables of Mildenhall where I dwelt came and destrained me for my own Fine 10 s. and 15 l. because the Name and Habitation of the Preacher was not known to the Magistrate neither could it for his Habitation was never mentioned and all that the Informers could swear was that they heard F. Bugg tell T. Syday his Name was Samuel Cater but to their own knowledge they could not tell he being a Stranger and as this Oath would have been illegal so would the Justice reject it if any such Evidence was offered but for my plain answer to this High-Constable which I think we stand obliged as Men except we be doing that we are ashamed of to give to the Chief Magistrate at that time how have I been traduced abused and stigmatized and at every turn and upon every slight occasion and by such heady and foolish People amongst us through the influence of S. Cater and his Abettors called Informer Informer as if I had gone to the Meeting and taken the Names of Friends and gone to the Magistrate and swore the Offence and taken the Money for my Reward which was one reason among many others that induced me to bring it to a hearing always offering that if what I said EITHER DID OR COULD PUT HIM INTO A CAPACITY TO BEAR HIS FINE THAT THEN I WOULD BOTH BEAR THE SAID FINE AND BLAME TOO But that this may seem more plain and Intelligible to the Reader I shall incert the Substance both of the Records of Conviction and Warrant that I suffered by and the Receipt for the Money when I took my Goods which were destrained and carried to the Whice Hart in our Town though T. Rudyard Samuel's Lawyer said I paid my Money voluntarily before distress was made of my Goods with many other such Lyes c. that so I may carry on things plain and easie to be understood through the whole Controversy resolving to assert the truth of the matter whether against me or for me and what I assert herein I am ready to prove that so by evident Proof the Matter I assert may stand or fall A Copy the of Records of Conviction Viz. BE it remembred that the 6th
answereth as in a Glass Face answers Face you see 4. Even in a Tryal now on Foot Where Justice finds no place But Will and Power bear it out This is the very Case 5. But worthy William Penn Hath drawn so fair a Scrowl ' Gainst arbitrary force of men Which none can back recall 6. Where Property he vindicates And each mans Right maintain And partial Dealings then he hates As nothing worse so vain 7. But why should I or any one proceed to Tryal then If Judgment true be fled and gone And loathed by such men 8. Surely 't is vain for to expect A full and ample hearing When Evidences they reject As good for nought but fearing 9. Yet put on Courage once again And call them to account who gave away what 's not their own Who chose themselves to mount 10. The Place of Arbitrators great 'Twixt those that differ'd much As if resolved to do right But it was nothing such 11. For Judges all both great and small Thereunto lyable are As Empson small and Dudly tall Who went beyond their Sphear For what is more arbitrary than your Proceedings What more partial than your Dealings When was there more need of a Law to limit illegal and arbitrary Government than at this time according to your Principle in your Book entituled Truth 's Principles p. 50. and E. B's Work p. Answer me instead of saying But how dar'st thou or any one Thus speak thus write or say Yea some may Query hereupon Saying Is there Cause I pray For any one thus to rebuke Men who pretend to Judge Infallibl'r than ever Luke Paul Peter James or Jude Let such receive an Answer short And search the Matter well If President then they find not Their 's Cause enough to tell And to be bold for to unfold Such falsifying Tricks As Man thereof hath not been told Nor read the like in Hicks So why should I or any other Such Partial Dealings hide Or such Injustice go and smother Such things I can't abide Neither could Micha Paul nor John The Scripture witness bear Silent keep but must go on Saying House of Jacob hear Wherefore let no man think I pray That such a Fool I am As to be scar'd or fray'd away For wrong me no man can As I keep to the Truth in which I Preservation have And therein trace a constant Path Where none can me bereave Of Blessings and of Peace also Whatever some may fear Tho Sufferings great and many too I therefore must endure Like them of old which practic 't not Soft Pillows for to Sew Who witnest Suffering's their Lot By the Self-saving Crew Whereof sometimes the Leaders they Greatest Politicians be Tho they profess another way More Noble Just and Free Yet do but look within the Vail And there you may behold Of being Valiants some to fail Which seemeth to be bold So after I had sent these Verses and several other explanatory Lines to the said Arbitrators calling them to account upon their own Principles viz. that the Governours are accountable to the People And none would have regard to Justice I then wrote this Epistle and sent it to W. P. wherein I offered to leave the Matter to J. C. R. B. and him if S. C. would chose other three Men I may recite part of it I am willing to leave things as intelligible as I can both to shew my Right there Partiality and my Desire all along for Peace if I might have had it upon any fair terms It is true J. A. and E. L. were two of these twelve but the other cunningly burnt my Writings and they not rightly understanding the Matter did like two well meaning Jury-men yield too far to the other for which I blamed them but not for any Design of Injustice c. Here follows part of the Epistle I sent to J. C. R. B and W. P. having never before then spoke a word to the former two Friends VIZ. Dear Friends YOu at this time are the men to whom I dedicate these Lines by way of Introduction to this following Narrative hoping there dwells in you as Noble a Principle as did once in the Bereans which may move you to a Search whether these things be so or no which is impossible you should do except you will admit me a hearing and therein resemble good old Moses who in all Cases Controversial between Brethren as well as Solomon and divers other good Judges recorded in Scripture SAID Hear to the full search diligently Judge impartially And inasmuch as I find by many of your Writings and declared Principles that you are like-minded with them I write these few Lines to you yea and the rather because I believe you came forth at first in true Self-Denyal and never sought your selves otherwise to what end shall I write to you for it is a true Saying The World loves its own And if I should write to such as came into the Profession of the Truth possest with little and are now grown Great and High and can Lord it over their Brethren as that too many such there are amongst us What acceptance should my words find surely none but retorts of Severity Wherefore let such as are like them choose them who may expect help by them for so it was in former Times and altho I never spoke a word to two of you directly nor indirectly yet this I say that if S. C. will choose three others I will choose you three and to your Determination I will abide and why this should be denyed me I know not except to gratifie some eminently guilty otherwise methinks a Hearing should not be denyed me it being such a reasonable thing c. And much to this purpose I wrote to them and sent to W. P. but as yet could not obtain a Hearing S. C. being a Preacher and had the Ruling-Party on his Side and so had the Opportunity from Countrey to Countrey to spred his own Fame and my Reproach that at length I was resolved to appeal from our Chief Lords to the Episcopalians for a Hearing and then I soon got a Hearing as afterwards I shall signifie but first I would give a short Description of the Behaviour of our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings who endeavoured to put me by writing for I was Clark to the Meeting for many years tho never for Salary as in some Places they have but they could not put me by until I laid it down of my own accord c. At a Monthly Meeting in Sutton in the Isle of Ely the 2d day of the 3d. Month 1677. S. Fulbig said to W. Wright Come and write for us to day W. W. What is the reason that F. B. is put by I have no freedom to write except F. B. be willing F. B. I have as much willingness that thou shouldst write as any man but first let me understand the reason why you would put me by seeing I have been Writer many years S. F.
Cost and Charges and to do business for the Service of Truth and its Professors freely without Money or Hire pursuant to our Pretentions give to all Collections freely relieve such as stand in need liberally serving the Lord with their Substance as well as in Words being unwilling to offer a Sacrifice at another mans Cost c. OR such as will not bear their own Burthens in Sufferind times except forced to it go as they pretend on Truths Errand but on others Charge sometimes with their Wives and Attendants under pretence of good Devotion until they grow so oppressive that the Widdows Substance is devoured S. C. knows that the Widdow Moor at the Seven-Stars nigh Bishopsgate London hath understood what I mean that some have been constrained to break up House and such as pretend to preach freely yea freely by all means and yet can take 10 l. at a time 3 l. at a time These three Summs I offer to prove Samuel guilty of if they reckon it guilt which they should do because they pretend to the contrary and 2 l. at at a time And such as can receive Broad Pieces of Gold Pieces of Hair-Camblet Silver Watches Beavers Casters Cloaks fine Linnen Cloths Holland Shirts Silk Caps and pritty Crevats with many other fine Trinkets Now the great Question is though I think 't is out of Question which of these two sorts of People most manifest their love to Money Mildenhall the 9th of the 10th Mo. 79. F. Bugg This Letter I sent him with much more that was in the former part which for brevity sake I pass by and a little added in the latter part which I have put into Parenthesis for distinction c. To which I never had Answer which since it is there great business to render me a man so bad often terming me Informer Iudas a Lover of Money False Treacherous Fraudulent and the like I am the willinger to recite the same in hopes that when it meets with a man endued with Charity Reason and Moderation he may say What is this the man you stigmatise and traduce in Print to the ruine of his Reputation among all that believe as the Church the Second-days Meeting believes Come bring forth your Evidences against him and prove your Matter of Charge for I will not give credit to your Imagination The Memory of John Story Revived called Sence and if you have any real ground for these your scandalous Detractions and Pernitious Defamations why did not you bring your Action against him at common Law If you say as that they must if they will say true you have no Evidence why then did you not exhibit a Bill in Chancery against him and there crave Relief c. for to publish your Imaginations and devised Stratagems against a Man at this rate in a Case that never was yet tryed before the legal Judges it is a shame to your Profession and it makes you odious to all that hear it for should every man take your Practice for his Example the Printers would have the best Trade Nay every Village had need have a Press going so that it looks like a piece of meer Revenge because by his Book published De Christiana Libertate he hath manifested the Naked Truth of your Errours and Innovations Thus by reason I cannot come at a sight of the Narrative which they told me was ready for the Press four or five Months since I am constrained to carry on the Matter the more large by Letters and Circumstances formerly transacted that so the difference and the nature of it may be the more explained to the unbyassed Reader but as to the true Sons of the Second-days Meeting I expect not their Examination for by an Epistle or Caution put forth by C. Taylor and approved by them their People are cautioned to the contrary Viz. Not to read such Books as are wrote by W. R. my self and others c. Which is not a Protestant Tenate I am sure nor a doing as they would be dealt by and they who obey such Doctrine must at the same time deny the use of their own Sence Sight Reason and Understanding and so come into the Papists exact Path of Implicite Faith which is tho a Man see his Horse is white yet if the Church say it is black he must deny the truth for the Church cannot err she is gifted with an Infallible Spirit and say as they say in their Book Entituled Judas and the Jews p. 58. WE NEED NONE TO GIVE US DISCERNING OR JUDGMENT CHRIST HATH FURNISHT US ALREADY AND DOTH ON ALL OCCASIONS So that what need have we of Proof or of such Evidence to prove Matter of Fact Let the poor Protestants use those beggerly Rudiments at their Judgment Seat at their Assizes and Sessions who are so cautious so mean spirited and unbelieving that they cannot say Christ hath furnisht them with Discerning and Judgment UPON ALL OCCASIONS no how should they for they are the World but We are THE yea THE CHURCH and there is none besides us except our holy Sister and therefore since we cannot send this Heretick to the Lollards Tower we will write a Book against him and tho the naughty Protestants will not let us burn him yet we will murther his Reputation for what we write and approve on our People they 'l believe and if he or any for him write any thing in his Vindication we will command or caution our Sons not to to look into their Venemous Dangerous and pernitious Books and that they may be throughly deterred from any such Examination for Examination We nor our Elder Sister could never abide we will tell our Sons that F. B. W. R. and T. C. c. are Iudases Informers Beasts Dogs Wolves Enemies of all Righteousness Children of the Devil yea Devils Incarnate and they ought to believe as We G. W. c. and the Church believes WE NEED NONE TO GIVE US DISCERNING OR JUDGMENT CHRIST HATH FURNISHED US ALREADY AND DOTH ON ALL OCCASIONS And G.W. Assirms That the True Church i. e. Themselves is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either believe thus as the True Church i. e. they believes or else it were but both Folly and Hypocrisy to profess our selves Members thereof Thus says G. W. I hope the Reader need not be told who he accounts the True Church and upon these two Positions 1. Christ having already and doth at all times furnish Vs both with Discerning and Judgment We upon that foot may judge and call them Wolves Dogs yea Devils Incarnate or what we please and who shall controul us We are sure we have both Discerning and Judgment given us at all times and upon all Occasions Christ may now sit still Judgment being given to us we are resolved to make use of it Christ called Judas a Devil and why should not we call F. B. W. R. and T. C Devils and others who shall interrupt us
was to be kept with Hereticks c. So then I wrote to S. C. this Letter following to prevent all occasion of a further Controversy if possible Samuel Cater I Understand that since I published my Book Entituled De Chr. Lib. several Friends have brought up the old Concern betwixt thee and I about the Fine I suffered for thee Anno 1675 for which my Cozen G. S. as thy Wives Messenger made me Restitution and the Controversy depending thereupon betwixt thee my Cozen G. S. and my self which was ended and finally determined by Friends whereof 5 or 6 were of the Ministry at a Quarterly Meeting at Hadenham the 1st of 10th mo 80 and there recorded in their Quarterly Book and lest thou shouldst be the Wheel within the Wheel or the moving cause of reviving the same so long after it was ended I thought my self concerned to write a few lines to thee in order to let thee know that if thou art not willing to stand to the Judgment of Friends of the said Quarterly-Meeting * * Which Priviledge cost me many a weary and tedious Journey before I could get that Priviledge granted me I will very willingly consent and agree that thou shalt have a hearing de novo by Persons indifferently chosen by us both Viz. each of us 4 6 10 or 12 Persons and be bound again to stand to their Award and final Determination in a Bond of 30 l. to each other as we were before and this thou need not to fear if thy Cause will abide the Test of Truth Justice and sound Judgment Or otherwise I have often proffered thee both before I had the Money and since thy Wife sent my Cozen G. S. to end it And do thou take which Proposition thou pleasest and likest the best That is to say Upon condition thou wilt sign a Paper like this which followeth in a different Character I will return the whole 15 l. that my Cozen G. S. by thy Wives Order paid me in satisfaction for the Fine I suffered for thee as aforesaid and can as freely give it as the Commons of England gave to King Henry III. the fifteenth part of their Moveables in consideration of Magna Charta or the great Charter of the Liberties and Priviledges of the People of England See 9. H. 3. and confirmed the 28. E. 2. And certainly there is as much reason to be offered for our Ministers who usually appoint the Meetings and incourage others to be valliant and give up All for their setting themselves in a like suffering Capacity with the Hearers whom they thus incourage as for the Commons of England to have their share in those great Priviledges therein granted and yet there is reason enough in that too SINCE THE LAW IS SO MADE that if the Minister refuse or neglect to tell his Name and Habitation where he is a Stranger his Fine of 20 l. except the Justice be the more moderate unavoidable falls upon the Hearers nay if he please he may lay it upon any single Person present of the Hearers * * See the Records of Conviction by which I suffered for S. C. that is a tryed Case and by as good a Lawyer as G. W. And if so what an intollerable a thing is it for our Ministers who pretend to be mighty zealous and for giving up All should stand in one Capacity wholly free from Sufferings by that Act against Conventicles where they are Strangers as that I affirm they do if they refuse to tell their Names and Habitations as aforesaid and we the Hearers in another Capacity always lyable to Sufferings not only for our own Fines but for the Poor for the Meeting-Houses and for our obscure Ministers too albeit one Priviledge thou hast which I neither have nor desire for thou didst never suffer but one Fine and through the moderation of thy Neighbours for which they deserve Commendation some think thou never lost 5 l. by it nay I think so too for as often as I mention it I never find thee deny it and yet notwithstanding thou hadst ten pound presently sent thee out of the Treasury * * This G. W. hath denyed as Stated and bid me prove matter of Fact as stated Notably done George as stated no I will not pretend the words PRESENTLY and TREASVRY was used at the dedicating this Gift but I will prove that he had ten pound sent him by John Peacock of St. Ives and that it was in consideration of his said Suffering This I can prove from London notwithstanding worth hundreds of pounds at the same time which doubtless was â–µ â–µ Though not long before thou got the knack of Preaching thou went to Days-works and had scarce wherewith to pay thy debts This I can prove but thou wert always a leading Man I know what obtained through such kind of Augmentations since thou hast confessed to me under thy hand as well as to others by word of mouth that it was but a few years since that thou hadst not much more than would pay thy Debts I say it was but a few years before thou wert a Preacher that this was thy low condition and truly if all thy Sufferings have such a plentiful Reward I do not know but Sufferings may be as beneficial to thee as of old they were to Bishop Wren * * For it hath been said that in Ely Prison by Treats and otherwise they believe thou fairedst as well as Persons of much higher Degree So that there is great need for such as thee to stand in a like Suffering Capacity with the Hearers and not to make such a stir about a little Money The Paper I mean is this MEmorandum that I S. C. do hereby testifie that it is my Judgment that all Friends of the Ministry where they are Strangers ought to tell their Name and Habitation upon apparent sight of Informers coming into the Meeting taking Friends Names in Writing or otherwise in order to convict the Meeting that so we may all stand in a like Suffering Capacity relating to Sufferings or if any have not freedom thus to do that then they ought to make satisfaction to such who suffer for them through their concealing their Names and Habitations And to such as refuse to perform their part in either of these two Propositions ought from thence forth to be reputed blameworthy and noted as such Witness my hand per me I say sign this Paper or one like it and I will return the 15 l. for the reason aforesaid and if this be not a Condiscention sufficient enough to please thee let me know what thou wouldst have me to do c. and much more to the same effect which being already in substance treated on I am loath to be too repititions So away I sent it to him and when he percived from whence it came he sent it to me again and never opened it as conscious to himself of guilt I suppose or else
without curtailing and for proof let the Reader compare page by page and sometimes they 'l say I lye I lye tho it be as really true as a man can write What Opponent have they yet ever had and not served them so But let them know that for my Book Entituled De Chr. Lib. which shews your Innovations and Errours in your Church-Discipline and this Entituled The Painted Harlot c. discovering their Ministers and their Errours in Church-Goverment and I shall offer to prove the truth of them and if ever they give me cause to examine the Q. V. M. and the Authors therein quoted I may set forth their base Temporising and abominable Traducings of People more righteous than themselves and as I cautioned them in De Chr. Lib. p. 213. about the sixth Branch c. so I do again but shall wait until their own wickedness corrects them not desiring any thing more than their Repentance and Amendment yet the Man of Sin and Jezabel that deceive the Nations must be discovered with her fine guilded Cup of Purity Sanctity Self-denyal and Humility as if they could not hurt a Worm when the poyson of Asps is under their tongue and the Venom of Malice vents it self through them without measure c. Here follows the Letter of S. C. that he sent me Francis Bugg THis is to let thee know that if thou wilt not make thy Cozen G. S. and my self Satisfaction and also call in thy wicked Book which thou hast caused to be Printed in which thou hast belyed abused and misrepresented Friends to the World THEN we shall make thy ungodly Actions and fraudulent Proceedings more manifest than ever we thought to have done whereof we have a Narrative ready for the Press But if thou wilt call in thy Book and as publickly own thy Condemnation as thou hast given the offence and thereby clear Friends of the Reproaches then we shall stop any further Proceedings To this I desire thy speedy Answer from him that hath been much wronged and long abused by thee The 26th of the 10th Mo. 1682. S. Cater By which the Reader may observe that altho he joyns my giving him satisfaction for the wrong done him and G. S. meaning the Fine with the calling in my Book yet the Condition of that Obligation is such by the latter part thereof that if I will but call in my Book and CONDEMN it PUBLICKLY which is the main String that both G. W. and this S. C. harp upon that then they would proceed no further with the Narrative See the Copy of my Answer I wrote the same day and sent it away to him S. Cater THis day I received thine dated the 26th of the 10th Mo. 82 and I am not sensible I have wronged thee nor my Cozen G. S. neither hast thou therein said wherein I have So that in Answer I do say if either of you can make it appear where I have wronged either of you I will readily make you satisfaction but if thou means the Money that my Cozen as thy Wives Messenger paid me in satisfaction for the Fine I suffered for thee Anno 75 and art not willing to stand to Agreement made at our Quarterly-Meeting the 1st of the 10th Month 80 as there recorded in their quarterly-Quarterly-Book that all Controversy betwixt thee my Cozen and me should cease c. I say if thou art not willing to stand to the said Agreement but find thy self uneasie under it I will as in August last I wrote thee word very willingly consent and agree that thou shalt have a Hearing de novo by Persons indifferently elected and become bound to stand to their Award c. And as for the calling in my Book this I am willing to let thee know that on CONDITION the Orders upon Record in our Quarterly Book which says That for time to come no Marriages are either to be Permitted or Suffered unless the Parties publish the Intent thereof twice before the Mens-Meeting and twice before the Womens-Meeting distinct c. And the Record against J. A. for not taking his Wife according to the Order of Friends c. be RACED OUT AND MADE VOID That so those that have freedom to publish according to the said Orders may and those that are otherwise minded may be left to their Christian Liberty And also the Book called The Accuser and others against W. R. c. be called in I say on condition these things may be done I am willing to call in mine and shall be willing to use any Christian means for a thorow Reconciliation But whereas thou seemest to threaten me with a Narrative yea a plain Narrative as in the Letter dated the 3d. of the 8th Mo. * * There he tells me that he hath given a full and true Narrative from the beginning 82. of which I have long since heard of it doth not trouble me neither do I believe it would have been thus long â–µ â–µ The beginning was the 6th of November 75. detained from publishing in Charity or good Will to me hadst thou not been conscious to thy self that the Publication thereof would have been a further means to have unmasked thee and such as thou art This is my sence and as speedy an Answer as I can well give who am thy well-wishing though much abused Friend The 6th of 11th Mo. 82. F. Bugg By which Letter the Reader may see that I promised that if they make it appear that I had wronged them I would make them satisfaction and that I renewed my offer to referr things to honest men such as we should choose but nothing accepted which is another reason that my Book was the cause of their rehearsing old Matters long since ended Nay G. W. was so revengeful that he would have made my mentioning the Kings Clemency that I compared to their Severity De Châ— Lib. p. 179. and set it as an Example to them little better than petty Treason because perhaps I was not so well skilled in wording the manner and methods of the Kings expressing himself when he remits Offences c. But let G. W. know that if I deserved his Displeasure for that what will become of such who mark the Actions of Magistrates and record them to Posterity to their Ignomy and Shame and the Casualties and Accidents that befall them as Gods Judgments in defence of the Catholick Faith and so must in After-times be accounted Miracles yea a heap of Miracles will come out whereof they have given us an Intimation Judas and the Jews c. p. 41. VIZ. Our Faithful Chronicles of the bloody Tragidies of that Professing Generation will tell Future Ages other things And why Future Ages What are you ashamed to bring it to light in the same Age least it should be detected A notable crafty way indeed what keep it close until none are alive that remember those Passages and then it will look like a fine glistring Chronicle among all such
and to blast them for Persons partial and unjust has not a President but with Persons Runagade from their Society which F. B. would not be accounted Besides that F. B's NEIGHBOVRS and they FORREIGNERS to S. C. should be partial and against F. B. when his Case called not for it is a thing not easily believed F. B. I dare not say thou art hired to lye because I cannot prove it but this I say I never heard the like of thee among all the Runagades that I have read of Thomas how darest thou say they were my NEIGHBOVRS and to S. C. they were FORREIGNERS for of the twelve that chose themselves there was never a man that lived nearer me than 10 miles some 14 some 18 and some nigh 30 miles off me but S. F. and W. B. two of the 12 lived in the same Town of Little-Port where S. C. dwelt and his own very Disciples and about four or five more of them lived at Douneham in the Isle of Ely and at Eley and Sutton and yet thou hast the Confidence to say they were my Neighbours as if they lived all round about me and absolute Strangers and Forreigners to thy Clyent Surely if his Case did not call for partial Judges false Witnesses Lying Lawyers and such a Tribe of Perverters he would be ashamed to own them c. And so I shall conclude with a word of Use and Application c. A Lawyer and a Friend can he be found Professing Truth I say on English Ground Who Truth will speak upon Occasion free From lying words and base Partiality If not the WOE was not pronounc't in vain Since to such Lawyers it doth appertain Who can pervert and wrest an honest Cause Their Refuge being Lyes and not our Laws After all these turnings and twinings with his Lawyer his Friend G. S. his Reverend Friends the Preachers of the Ruling Party on his behalf from time to time to assist him at every turn and I had nothing but Equity and Reason the Custome of valiant Ministers in former Ages and some few in this Age and the Scriptures on my side I say after all these several Transactions G. S. and I met at a Quarterly Meeting in Hadenham the 1st of the 10th month 1680 where were G. B. T. B. J. W. S. G. T. H. and I think J. B. all Ministers besides about 30 or 40 other substantial men who after a long and tedious debate G. S. bringing all his Arguments in the defence of S.C. and himself and I offered what then I had to say in my defence in my Prosecution of S. C. And when all was done it came to that issue that an end thereof was concluded and firmly settled not barely by word of mouth but RECORDED in our Quarterly-Book a Copy whereof followeth Verbatim At this Quarterly-Meeting being the 1st of the 10th Month 1680. All Differences betwixt F. B. S. C. and G. S. were ended and that all Papers by all Parties Viz. F.B.S. C. and G. S. be brought to Ely Prison on the 1st of the 11th Month 1680 to be burnt and all Controversy to cease by and betwixt them all c. But let the Reader note that as G. S. hath been false to me so he was not true to the said Meeting tho he then assented to Friends in the said final conclusion for when S. C. and I at Ely Prison in S. C's Chamber pursuant to the said Agreement and in concurrence therewith burnt our Papers G. S. never so much as met us there nor did I see him burn a Paper which when I aftewrards considered it I thought there might be a Snake in the grass and then altho I burnt every Paper I had in my Custody yet when I came where I had sent and disperst Manuscripts amongst my Friends I got what I could of them again c. Well but however things rested very quiet for nigh two years and very still we were until I put forth my Book De Christianâ Libertate in the year 82. And I being then in London N. L. told me there was a discourse raised about a Fine and my taking 15 l. which as represented did not look well or to that effect and asked me if I was free to appear in it to whom I replyed yea I am willing to appear but that matter is ended and that upon Record too in our Quarterly Book but I am willing to defend my self if they begin where wouldst thou have me to come and when he said to morrow about the 9th hour in the Forenoon to R. M. So the next morning I went and with me L. and J. E. and after a little time there was T.B. S.H. S.W. E.M. J. B J.H. and others so N. L. opened the matter and told us that R. M. was his Author for what he said which was about my taking 15 l. of G. S. c. in a fraudilent way and manner the words I cannot now well remember So R.M. told me that so he heard and if I could clear my self I might So I asked R. M. over and over time after time who was his Author but could not get it out of him do what I could as if he had vowed Secrecy so then I told him that whoever it was they had broke Covenant and acted contrary to the Agreement made at our Quarterly Meeting where were 6 or 7 Friends in the Ministry and about 30 or 40 substantial men in our Country where both our Allegations came under Consideration were fully heard and at last resolved into a final end and agreement pursuant and in concurrance therewith I my self and S. C. burned our Writings and Papers yet since thou hast raised it or at least set it on foot again I may say something in the defensive part altho there is little need for those Friends cannot but conclude that if it was ended there were reasons and grounds to believe that those who had the hearing of it and assented to the said Agreement were satisfied therewith c. So I run through the heads of several Passages c. Whereupon E. M. in their presence did affirm that he would make it appear that if a Minister refused to tell his Name and Habitation and another suffered for him by means thereof if then the said Minister should not repay the said Sufferer it was as bad as if a man should borrow 20 l. on a Bond and refuse to pay it again this he offered to make good against any man in London and which was to the great satisfaction of the Auditors so we parted And when I came home here was the same News a Friend that came from Ely Prison namely T. B. who first spake about my Book and then fell upon the Fine and said I had no right to it So then I clearly perceived that they had a purpose to quarrel with me and to break the Bond of their Agreement and snap the Cord of their Quarterly Book Record as if no Faith