wayes turn their eyes from beholding but yet their pride and covetousness is so great that many of them do grievously grumble at me and many long furrow have they ploughed upon my back yet to this very day not one of them would come to my face to gain-say any thing contained in that book though I live amongst the very croud of them nor ever did any of them so much as oppose any thing in it by writing against me yet see the subtilty of some of them for though they durst not come to my face to answer for themselves yet by their secret instigation of others they go about to take away my life for my friendly and plain dealing with them and to bring about their devilish desire some of their poor blinde proselytes who being fitted for that purpose being of the murthering principle have appeared openly to take away my life that thereby they might have my blood to satisfie the hungry desire of their greedy God whose hunger cannot be stayed but by the sacrifice of the blood of the Saints Now Reader I will plainly shew thee who are mine accusers and what I am accused of and who were my Judges and what their Judgement against me was at the last Sessions holden at Durham the fifth of April in this present year 1654. and by this if thou be not wilfully blind thou shalt see the strangest work that ever hath been heard of in England the which when thou hast rightly understood I leave to thee to Judge what wise honest upright Justices we have in this County of Durham for which thou mayest praise God if thou wilt Now in my proceeding I come to shew thee who it was that appeared to be mine accusers the one called by name Henry Eddan and the other Richard Raw who being men fitted for such a work being strongly Priest-ridden or if they stumble at this expression their understandings are so saddled and bridled by the doctrine of the Priests that they have them at command in turning them what way they please as for Richard Raw I have not much to say unto him because I have not had any acquaintance with him but onely as he appeared against me with Henry Eddan the which as far as I could perceive by outward expression was not much but that might be because the poor blind man had but little to say openly to my face therefore what he said against me when he whispered secretly with the rest of the Justices upon the bench he best knoweth only thus much I am apt to believe that he is so zealous for the glory of his God that he would give consent to kill Christ if he were in the flesh if he should but cross him in his principles and thus much I can witness against him by his giving consent to have me imprisoned for holding out Christ in his Divine Nature which seemed to thwart his Christ of flesh blood and bone I will not say much more of him at present but as far as he is guilty in acting against me with his fellow Eddan Let him read and apply to himself what here I lay open against him As for this Eddan I am somewhat acquainted both with his person and his principles As for his person I say nothing but onely this and would not have said so much but that his actions make manifest what was presented to me the very first time I saw him where I took good notice of his phisiognomy which told me that he was a man very much addicted to earthly mindedness and malice and envy for I clearly viewed all these to be figured out in his very face and for his principles I know them to be such as suite very well with such natural addictions and these are the Presbyterie principles the which I sometimes call the murthering principles for where these be they lead the persons to persecute to very death any that will not own these principles witness his saying once in a discourse to one of a contrary judgement That he was bound in conscience to persecute him to death because he would not go to Church as he called it as is too truly manifested in all places where these principles were accompanied with power and I hope many in this Nation can witness to this and do truly know that they are as a gangren in our Common-wealth and will be gnawing at the very heart thereof if by any means to overspread the whole body and when the chief governors of our land have any mind to persecute any for conscience sake let them but let loose the Presbyterie Principle and give it power and it will persecute to purpose c. Now this Eddan who is very well furnished for such a work both by principles and by nature and the devil driving both he wanted nothing but power but was it not pitty that such a suitable person should not have power also yea I believe some thought so and may be he thought so himself likevvise and to come by this povver I do not say that the Priests in New-castle petitioned to Authority to get him and Richard Raw the povver they vvanted neither do I say that Henry Eddan made use of some friends at London to get himself and his fellovv Richard Raw established in povver no I do not say any such thing but they have something vvithin them that can tell vvhether these things be so or not and in case the Priests in New-castle did so and shevved Authority vvhat suitable men they vvere for having povver conferred upon them I cannot blame them for every thing that hath life vvould preserve its ovvn life if it vvere vvith the death of its equall and for the Priests I think they are not such fools but knovv vvhat vvould pull them dovvn and vvho vvill hold them up in their places and this I think that they believe in part and vvhat they vvant of believing in the vvhole I can believe for them and upon my belief may they depend that if they have not Authority and Magistracy to uphold them dovvn they must for God vvill not uphold them in the vvay they are in therefore they had best devise all means possible by vvay of Authority to stay themselves by or down they go root and branch but let me tell the unsent Priests once again Authority shall not be able to keep them from what is determined with God and what I have foretold them shall as surely come to pass as the skin is on their face and that ray of light which is in rising shall not go down untill the thing determined be brought to pass for few as yet can see how or what will be the pullers of them down and that peradventure which they least suspect shall be the thing shall overturn them I can do no more but give them warning and if they will not believe I cannot help it and if they should hang me for my faithful dealing with them I should
Judge thee by our own wills God forbid but by the Laws of the Nation All was well thus far so said and so done had been true Justice Then it was concluded to examine the particulars in my charge to know what was true and what was false so the Clerk was caused to read the first Article in the charge which was that in page the first of my book I railed against the Ministers of the Gospel calling them unsent Priests Then said Iustice Vane what sayest thou to that is it true or no To which I answered that was false for whosoever were the Ministers of the Gospel I owned and reverenced them He answered thou hast written in generall against all the Ministers of the Gospel Then I asked him if he did take all the National Ministry to be Ministers of the Gospel the which he would not conclude Then I answered to those amongst the Nationall who are not the true Ministers of the Gospel the things in my book are written and these are they which I call unsent Priests who they be let him that is guilty Iudge himself for I have named none and though I have written in generall to them all in some respect yet have I made exception of some amongst them as my book it self will witness for me which book I own and shall bear witness against mine accusers in things wrongfully stated in my charge with that I pulled the book out of my pocket and said Sirs here is the book I own it and will maintain all that is in it against any that will oppose it and will seal the truth therein contained with my blood if blind ignorance lead Authority to put me to it and more I freely offer this unto you if you be pleased to accept of it Take to you as many of the Priests of the County or all if you please and I will give them a meeting to maintain any thing in this book whatever any of them can except against to which they gave no answer but bid the Clerk read the second Article in my charge the which he did which was that I most wickedly said That who so lendeth a hand to pull them down shall be accounted happy and shall receive a reward of God for their work c. Then Iustice Vane asked me if I would own that to which I said I own it for so it is in my book the which is spoken by way of prophesie as may be seen in the book the which in time shall assuredly come to pass and said unto all the Iustices I pray take notice of what I say and if you please Record it will you not think it a very strange thing if some amongst your selves who are so strong at present for the upholding of the Priests vvill it not be strange to see some of you lend even your ovvn hand to pull them dovvn vvhich saying made some of them to laugh it being a thing so unlike to be So they passed on to the third Article in my charge quoted out of the 37. page of my book the which they stated thus my charge saying that I positively spoke against the observance of the Lords day and saith it is not by Divine Institution but the precepts of Priests c. Then asked they me what I said to that To which I answered I did not own that Article being wrong stated as I should prove by my book it self So Iustice Hallyman desired to see the book the which I delivered to him and so they turned to the 37. page and found it otherwise then was stated in my charge and could say nothing against what I had laid down upon that subject at which Iustice Eddan and Iustice Raw mine accusers were not well pleased but were struck dumb not having so much as one word to say against me but with a shameful blushing countenance sate silent on the Bench now when they saw they could not catch me in any of these Articles they had alledged out of my book Iustice Hallyman who had my book would seem to be some body and to do some great piece of justice in the place he was in that the rest of the Iustices might see his great skill and the Country take notice of his something he thought himself to have He asked me if I set that book abroad and if I would own it although he had heard me own it formerly I told him again I was the penman of it and owned what was in it and would answer for it against any that had any mind to oppose with that he gave it to the Clerk of the Peace to keep thinking thereby to skare mee at which I said you need not except against that book only for there is a thousand of them in England with that he begun to rail against me and the book and said I was a bold blasphemous person and vvorthy to be punished for my contempt of Authority To vvhich I said Sir is it your knovvledge or your ignorance that causeth you to say so Then he asked me what religion or profession I was on to which I said if you would know that you may satisfie your self in a book I wrote in answer to Tho. Ledger that is all the account I will give you at present Then they proceeded to examine me upon the other Articles in my Charge which were not quoted out of my Book but what mine accusers affirmed to be spoken by me in publick which is as follovveth That I was heard in publick to speak against the Ascention of the glorified body of Christ and deridingly to ask the question whether he was seen to ride on hors-back or go on foot to heaven Then Justice Vane asked me what I said to that To which I answered I never spoke these words and asked the Clerk of the Peace what day it was that I spoke the words who looked in my Charge and found no day set down the want of which by Law should have made void my Charge in that particular yet the Justices not willing to let it pass asked me if I had never spoken these words or some words to that effect To which I answered I confess at sometime I had occasion to speak something though not to the same effect and if I may but be allowed the benefit of my own words I will truly rehearse them over again for I did not fear what any could do to me for any thing I had spoken if they were but rightly understood they bad me rehearse them Then I answered said The occasion I had to speak what I spoke was from Mr. Eddan who was affirming against me that I denyed the glorious body of Christ the which I never did and I knew him to maintain a corporeal body of Christ to thwart his popish principle I said if you affirm that Christ hath a corporeal body in heaven tell me positively whether he be on horse-back or on foot in heaven this was all and this
forgive them but I have digressed a little But now to come to speak a little more of Henry Eddan and Richard Raw. I find them now in Authority being made Justices in the County of Durham I wish they may do good in their places and this I will say for them that if they be but as well fitted in parts and as vvell acquainted and read in the Lavvs of the Land as they are fitted vvith the persecuting Principles all the other Justices may give them the right hand of fellowship Now Reader by this time thou mayest understand that those who were mine accusers are now become my Judges also mayest thou not think that here would be a goodly piece of Justice acted But to let that pass a while I will truly inform thee with the particulars charged upon me in their information there being five Articles in all and three of them wrong stated and one of them a very false Article not so much as ever either spoken or written by me and another of them was right stated and that I owned but what they were and as they were stated I give thee the true Copy thereof as followeth The first Article That I called the Ministers of the Gospel unsent Priests For proof hereof they quoted the first page of my book which they called by the name of a seditious book The second Article Which they quoted out of the second page of the same book Was that I most wickedly said that who so lendeth a hand to pull them down shall be accounted happy and shall receive a reward of God for their work And the third Article they quoted out of the 37. page of the same book where they say I positively speak against the observance of the Lords day and saith it is not by Divine institution but the precepts of Priests And the fourth Article was That I was heard in publick to speak against the Ascention of the glorified body of the Lord Jesus And the fift Article was That deridingly I asked the question whether he was seen to ride on horse back or go on foot to heaven These were the things laid against me most falsly as thou shalt see in my answering all the particulars in open Sessions the day and year beforesaid there being upon the Bench at that time to be my Judges Sir George Vane Justice Mr. Leddal Justice Mr. VVhitingam Justice Mr. Hallyman Justice Mr. Dailles Maior of the City of Durham Justice Mr. Raw the one of mine accusers Justice Mr. Eddan the other of mine accusers Justice seven in all But before I proceed take notice of this viz. I was attending the Court in the forenoon that day but was not to be called untill the afternoon but when the Justices rose to dinner they gave me a charge to attend the Court at two of the clock the which I was willing to observe Now in the forenoon Justice VVren and Justice Dolnell and Justice Clavering sat upon the Bench with the other seven but in the afternoon they withdrew themselves from the other and would not appear to be Judges against me the reason as I conceive was because they understood my cause better then the other and might see that what was charged upon me in case all had been true was out of the compass of any known Law in England and so their wisdom might cause them to withdraw But now to proceed I will give thee a true Relation of things as they were carried on in the afternoon between the seven Justices and me At two of the clock I attended the Court and my Information was presented to the Bench by the Clerk of the Peace the which they read amongst themselves and what debate they had about it they know best for it was secret and they paused upon it about half an hour and if I may guess at their thoughts by their outward appearances I believe they were at a stand what to do with it insomuch that some judged they would have passed it by if they could have shut themselves of it without being notice taken of for I do believe they knew well enough the Law of the Nation could not take hold on me for any thing therein contained and to Judge me by the Law of their own wills was a thing to be taken notice of thus they paused till at last Justice Eddan mine accuser and my Judge stepped nearer the other Justices and whispered something in their ears what it was themselves best know but this I say Truth seeketh no corners neither feareth who hear or see it but after that whispering the Bench gave order to the Clerk of the Peace to call me and let me hear my information read and so it was and I commanded to stand up and give answer to my charge the which I did immediatly without any fear or dread my spirit being carried up above its wonted condition and having no guilt at all upon my conscience being I knew who was my guide both to write that book and likewise enabled me with courage to answer in the defence thereof by which my very countenance which was smiling did plainly manifest my spirit was above the reach of the malice of men the which thou shalt see presently what my Judges censured thereupon and what Judgement they passed upon me for it My charge being read I desired to know who were mine accusers so the Bench ordered the Clerk of the Peace to read the names of mine accusers where Justice Eddan was found chief who had informed the Grand Jury with these things and they poor men not able to judge of these things took all for good and so presented the same to the Justices but I do not question the Grand Jury for the breach of their oath in this thing because ignorance blindeth men and malice maketh them oft-times do things which they may be forry for afterwards and for my part I wish God may pass by them for any thing done to me for I do freely forgive them Then Justice Vane spake to me and asked me if I would own what was in my charge To which I answered What is truly stated therein I own but what is falf I will not own it he asked me what I owned in it I answered if they were pleased to examine me upon every particular they should know and withall I propounded these things to them and said Gentlemen I desire to know of you whether you have called me before you this day for matter of disputation or to be Judged by the known Laws of the Land or by the Law of your own wills if it be to dispute any thing rightly stated in my charge or in my book I am willing to answer you or if I have offended against any known Law I am willing to submit to the penalty of such Laws as I have transgressed onely let not your own wills be Law Then answered Justice Vane and said we have not called thee to dispute nor to
A BRIEF NARRATION OF THE EXAMINATION OF Geo. Bateman Vpon five ARTICLES in a Charge laid against him by Henry Eddan and others With the Sentence of the Bench in Ordering him to be committed to the Jayl the last general Sessions of Peace holden in the City of Durham the 5th of April 1654. Divers honest people being present who can witness with the truth of what is here declared The which Sentence let the world Judge whether Just or Unjust For the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Israel and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant he looked for Judgement but behold Oppression for Righteousness but behold a Cry Isa 5.7 Fear none of those things that you shall suffer for the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 London Printed Anno Dom. 1654. IT is not unknown to those who know any thing of order and course in former dispensations that when God began to make himself more manifest to the sons of men then in former ages and to appear strongly for the making his name glorious in chusing out and delivering some people from the evils and bondages of the world we see upon such occasions what hurly burly was alwayes raised in those Kingdoms where such a work was to be brought to pass as in Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel and likewise when Christ appeared in the flesh though at that time the world had peace and the Land where Christ was born was brought into a quiet condition by Caesar yet when Christ was born indeed what tumults were raised the history of Scripture will declare Now we see it plainly recorded that those who were the greatest and most eminent in raising those persecuting tumults were the Priests and holy people so called and the Magistracy who were blinded by the Priests in all ages it hath been found that the generality of the national Priest-hood and formal holiness were the greatest opposites to God the truth of this is verified by the Prophets in many places being so well known it needeth no further proof and in the time of Christs appearing in the flesh which was the neerest appearance of God to men of all his former appearances yet the more neer that God appeareth to the Son the more violent will the Priests and outward formalities appear also and as the truth of this was made apparent when Christ came in the flesh so this shall be come to pass and be compleated when he shall come in a far more neerer appearance then ever viz. when he shall appear in Spirit and maketh himself manifest in the hearts of his people the which appearance shall be as far hid from the beholding and believing of the generality of the national Priesthood and outward formality as his appearance in the flesh was to the Priests Scribes and Pharises in those dayes and as in these days the looking at the observation of some part of the Law and Circumcision blinded them by reason of the lust in their hearts so that they could not close with Christ in the flesh even so shall it be when he beginneth to appear in Spirit the Priests and outward formalities shall be blinded by looking at Christ in the flesh by their carnaland fleshly apprehensions of him whereby they shall create a Faith to themselves which being joyned to the lust in their heart from whence they shall be made the greatest enemies and persecutors of Christ in spirit and his Saints in whom he is and who are to bear witness of the truth thereof for the mysterie of God must be fulfilled in its time and in the fulfilling of this Mysterie there will be Persecutors and people to be persecuted and the more neer that the Mysterie of God becometh fulfilled the more mystical will the persecution be and will it not be thought very strange to see any such thing now amongst us in this present age when so many mens lives have been lost for the peace and liberty of the Saints as is pretended and when the present Government seems to be established amongst us tending to the very same end yet who can believe that under all this any persecution of Christ and the Saints should arise but for all the blood that hath been spilt and for all the fair raised forms of worship and for all the liberty that is yet attained do not think that the persecution of the Saints is at an end for under all and out of all this outward holiness and liberty so much spoken of shall arise a persecution which shall be suitable for the time of the Mysterie and whosoever you be that are true Saints indeed take notice of this for the peace is not yet compleated for the Mysterie of God is not yet finished and he that rides on the white Horse with his Army is not yet unmounted nor will be until the Saints warfare be accomplished and the Kings and great men the Dragon and the Beast and all the false Prophets and the worshippers of the Image and those who have received the mark of the Beast be all of them overcome but in the interim be of good comfort and valiant for the truth though the Devil prevail to cast some of you into prison for so it must be until the time of the end I need not go far for proof of this truth who am a prisoner my self for no other cause but for the testimony of the mysterie of the truth as it is in Jesus and for my plain discovering of the false Priests and for the clear demonstrating between the shaddow and the substance of truth setting forms in their proper place and the substance in its place he which is a thing so far beyond the understanding of our blinde Priests that they have combined together though secretly to take away my life if possible and yet will they not be seen to act any thing against me themselves but make others to become their stalking horses and to shut the bolts that they have made as thou shalt see hereafter but before I come to the thing intended I will give the Reader a short discovery of some things that tend to making more plain to the understanding the things that are to follow In the first I would have thee to know that it was put upon me a year and a half since to write some things which might be useful for the present times either to convince or to be as a witness against many which things thou mayest see in a book penned and owned by me called The Arrow of the Almighty shot out of the Creatures bow c. In which book there is something that hath not pleased as many of the unsent Priests as have seen it for therein I believe they have found such truth laid to their charge as they can no