me I may by my friends and nearest alliances be blamed as too forward in publique affaires be argued of pride as David was by his brother yet I thinke the family whereof I am is so ingenious as to acquit me and to believe my conscience provokes me to do what I have done but admit â—â— should not be so my answer might be the same as his â—s there not a cause â—ay may I not rather wonder the harvest being so great that the labourers be so few if all men should be offended with me for endeavouring the good of all men in all just wayes for I professe I know â—â— other cause against me I should choose it rather then the displeasure of God or the distaste of my owne conscience affliction being to me a better choice then sin And this my judgement as necessary for that time I put into writing about 16 monthes since or somewhat more but deserred the publishing because it was once denied the Licencing which by the way was hard measure considering how freely aspersers have been Licenced or countenanced against me but chiefly I omitted to Print it because I thought my continuall acting towards the common peace freedome and safety of the Nation would yet in time clear off all my reproaches and for that I could not possibly vindicate my selfe but that I must necessarily reflect upon some sorts of men whom I did hope time and their grouth in knowledg would have certified in their judgements concerning me and the things I ever promoted But â—â—â—ding now at length that notwithstanding all times since I walked in an uprightnesse of heart towards their publique good without any the least wandering and deviation as their Petitioners of the 11 of September will hear me witnesse notwithstanding I can prove I have rendered very much good to those that had done me very much evil and from whom it s known I have deserved better things yet my asperâ—â—â—s after the last Summers troubles were over flew abroad a fresh for in all that time I â—ad very fair words and no may but Walwin was a Jesuite and a Penâ—ioner to the Pope or some Forraigne State but for proof not one sillable ever proved one while I was a Leveller then on a sodaine I drove on the King's designe and none so countenanced as those that were offlicious in telling strange stories and tales of me Insomuch as I found it had an effect of dâ—â—er â—â—wards my life divers of the Army giving out that it would never â—â— wâ—â—â— ill some dispatch were made of mâ— thaâ— I deserved to be stoned to death All which though I considered it to its full â—â—ue yet did it not deterre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my just Cause according to â—â— just Judgment and Consciâ—nâ—â— this 〈◊〉 my portion from too many from whom I may truly say I had 〈◊〉 better yet in all these things it was my happinesse to have good esteem from such as I acâ—â—unt constant â—o the Cause and uncorrupted men of Army and Parliament to whose love in this kind for many years I have been exceedingly obliged and who never shunned me in any company notwithstanding a 〈◊〉 roaches but ever vindicated me as having undoubted assurance of my 〈◊〉 and believing confidently that I was asperst for no other cause but for my perpetuall solicitation for the Common-wealth But there is no stopping the mouth of corrupt interests against which only I have ever steered and not in the least against persons being still of the same mind I was when I wrote my Whâ—â—per in the ear of Mr Edwards Minister pro 〈…〉 still as there iâ— pag 3. I did in sincerity of heart That I am one that â—â— truly and heartily love all mankind it being my unfeined desire that all men might be 〈◊〉 and come to the knowledge of the truth That it is my extreme gâ—ief that any man is afflicted molested or punished and cannot but most earnestly wish them all occasion were taken away That there is no man weak but I would strengthen nor ignorant but I would reform nor erroneous but I would rectifie nor â—â—cious but I would reclaim nor cruel but I would moderate and reduce to clemency I am as much grieved that any man should be so unhapâ—â— as to be â—uel or unjust as that any man should suffer by cruelty or injustice and if I could I would preserve from both And however I am mistaken it is from this disposition in me that I have engaged in any publique affairs and from no other Which my manner of proceeding in every particular businesse wherein I have in any measure appear'd will sufficiently evince to all that have without partiality observed me I never proposed any man for my enemy but injustice oppression innovation arbitrary power and cruelty where I found them I ever opposed my self against them but so as to destroy the evil but to preserve the person And therfore all the war I have made other then what my voluntary and necessary contributions hath maintained which I have wisht ten thousand times more then my ability so really am I â—â—ected with the Parliaments just cause for the common freedom of this Nation I say all the war I have made hath been to get victory over the understandings of men accounting it a more worthy and profitable labour to beget friends to the Cause I loved rather then to molest mens persons or confiscate mens estates and how many reall Converts have been made through my endeavours reproaches might tempt me to boast were I not better pleased with the conscience of so doing Of this mind I was in the year 1646. and long before and of the same mind I am at this present and I trust shall ever but be so And hence it is that I have pursued the settlement of the Government of this Nation by an Agreement of the People as firmly hoping thereby to see the Common-wealth past all possibility of returning into a slavish condition though in pursuite thereof I have met with very hard and froward measure from some that pretended to be really for it So that do what I will for the good of my native Country I receive â—tisâ— nothing but evil for my labour all I speak or purpose is construed to the worst and though never so good fares the worse for my proposing and all by reason of those many aspersions cast upon me If any thing be displeasing or judged dangerous or thought worthy of punishment then Walwyn's the Author and no matter saies one if Walwyn had been destroyed long ago Saies another Let 's get a law to have power our selves to hang all such and this openly and yet un-reproved affromed in open Court asperst in every corner threatned wherever I passe and within this last month of March was twice advertised by Letters of secret contrivances and resolutions to imprison me And so accordingly sutable to such prejudgings and threatnings upon the 28th of March last by Warrant of the
Godlinesse with which they stalked so securely becomes a badge of their reproach The Scribes and Pharisees and Herod and Pilat had their time but are their names now any other but a by word and doth not the Doctrine of Luther shine in despite of all his mighty opposers What gained the Bishops by bespeaking the Presbyter of so much errous and madnesse but their own down-fall what got the Courtiers by accusing Parliaments of intending Anarchy and Community but their own ruine and have not these Presbyters brought themselves to shame by their bitter invective Sermons and writings against the Independent and Sectaries 3. And are all these forementioned acquitted of the aspersions cast upon them and am I and my friends guilty why must these scandalous desâ—mations be truer of us then of them in their severall times there were beleeved to be true of them and its time onely and successe that hath cleared them and should perswade men to forbear censuring us of evil unlesse the just things wâ— have proposed and Petitioned for be granted and if we content not our selves within the bounds of just Government let us then be blamed and not before but what sayes the polititian if somebody be not asperst Mischief cannot prosper if these men be believed and credited downe goes our profit And truely that enemies to the common freedome of this Nation or enemies to a just Parliamentary Government enemies to the Army or men of persecuting principles and practises should either divide or scatter these false aspersions against me I did never wonder at beleiving these to be but as clouds that would soon vanish upon the rising of the friends of the Common wealth and prevailing of the Army And so it came to passe and for a season continued but no sooner did I and my friends in behalf of the Common-wealth manifest our expectation of that freedome so long desired so seriously promised them in the power of friends to give and grow importunate in pursuit thereof but out flies these hornets againe about our ears as if kept â—ame of purpose to vex and sting to death those that would not rest satisfied with lesse then a well grounded freedome and since we have been a fresh more violently â—yled at then ever as if all the corrupt interests in England must downe except we were reproachâ— to purpose And certainly there was never so fair an opportunity to free this Nation from all kinds of oppression and usurpation as now if some had hearts to do their endeavour that strongly pretended to do their utmost and what hinders is as yet somewhat in a mistery but time will reveal all and then it will appear more particularly then will yet be permitted to be discovered from what corrupt fountaine though sweetned with flowers of Religion these undeserved clamours have issued against me and my friends But I shame to thinke how readily the most irrationall sencelesse aspersions cast upon me are credited by many whom I esteemed sincere in their way of Religion and that most uncharitably against the long experience they have had of me and most unthankfully too against the many services I have done them in standing for their liberties and animating others so to do when they were most in danger and most exposed never yet failing though in my own particular I were not then concerned to manifest as great a tendernesse of their welfare as mine owne But in patience I possesse my self such as the tree is such I perceive will be the fruit and as I see a man is no farther a man then as he clearly understands so also I perceive a Christian is no farther a Christian then as he stands clear from errour and superstition with both which were not most men extreamly tainted such rash and harish censures could never have past upon me such evil fruits springing not from true Religion wherein as full of zeal as the times seeme to be most men are far to seek every man almost differs from his neighbour yet every man is confident who then is right in judgement and if the judgement direct to practice as no doubt it ought no marvell we see so much weaknesse so much emptinesse vanity and to speak softly so much unchristianity so many meer Nationall and verball so few practicall and reall Christians but busie-bodies tale bearers serviceable not to God in the preservation of the life or good name of their neighbours but unto polititians in blasting and defaming and so in ruining of their brother If I now amidst so great variety of judgements and practises as there are should go a particular way Charity and Christianity would forbear to censure me of evill and would give me leave to follow mine owne understanding of the Scriptures even as I freely allow unto others Admit then my Conscience have been necessitated to break through all kinds of Superstition as finding no peace but distraction and instability therein and have found out tâ—ue uncorrupt Religion and placâ—â— my joy and contentment therein admit I find it so brief and plaine as to be understood in a very short time by the meaneâ— capacity so sweet and delectable as cannot but be embraced so certain as cannot be doubted so powerfull to dissolve man into love and to set me on work to do the will of him that loved me how exceedingly then are weak superstitious people mistaken in me That I beleive a God and Scriptures and understand my self concerning both those small things I have occastionally written and published are testimonies more then sufficient as my Whisper in the eare of Mr. Thomas Edwards My Antidote against his poyson My prediction of his conversion and recantation My parable or consultation of Physitians upon him and My still and soft voice expresly written though needlesse after the rest for my vindication herein all which I intreat may be read and considered and surely if any that accuse and backbite me had done but half so much they would and might justly take it very ill not to be believed But when I consider the small thanks and ill rewards I had from some of Mr. Edward's his opposers upon my publishing those Treatises I have cause to beleive they are fraught with some such unusuall truths that have spoiled the markets of some of the more refined Demetrius's and crafts-men I must confesse I have been very apt to blunt out such truths as I had well digested to be needfull amongst men wherein my conscience is much delighted not much regarding the displeasure of any whilst I but performe my duty And in all that I have written my judgement concerning Civil Government is so evident as if men were men indeed and were not altogether devoâ—d of Conscience might acquit me from such vanities as I am accused of but for this besides those I have named I shall refer the Reader to my Word in Season published in a time of no small need and to that large Petition that was burnt by
that it takes pleasure in nothing but vvhat is truly good and virtuous the most of my recreation being a good Book or an honest and discoursing Friend Other sports and pastimes that are lavvfull and moderate though I allovv them vvell to yet I have used them as seldom my self as any man I think hath done But I see slander will have its course and that a good conscience and a corrupt interest can no more consist in one â—nd the same person then Christ and Belial And for a conclusion to all these scandals it is imposed upon us that we are an unquiet unstaied people that are not resolved what will satisfie us that we know not where to end or what to fix a bottom upon and truly this hath been alwaies the very language of those who would keep all power in their hands and would never condescend to such an issue as could satisfie such as would content themselves with the least measure of what might justly be called true freedom But what sort of men ever offered at or discovered so rationall a way for men to come to so sure a foundation for peace and freedom as we have done and long insisted on namely by an Agreement of the People and unto which we all stand As for the way and as to the matâ—er we have been long since satisfied in our selves but our willingnesse tâ— obtain the patronage of some thereto instead of furâ—herance procur'd its obstruction Because we cannot submit to things unreasonable and unsafe in an Agreement shall any brand us that we are restlesse and have no bottom Certainly it had been time enough for such an aspersion â—f there had been a joynt and free consent to what was produc't and insisted on by others For till a bargain be made both parties are free and may â—aise the price as occasion invites so hath it been in our case At first the little short Agreement was by us thought sufficient and had that been establisht we had rested there but that being baffled as the burnt Petition had procured that Agreement so the baffling of that usher'd in and occasioned the fulnesse the largenesse of that Agreement which Mr Lilburn publisht and if that had been asâ—ented to and established we had rested then and untill after contract all complaints are unjust and now if the baffling of this last thorow further observation and teachings of necessity the next in motion should exceed both the former in clearnesse of freedom and removall of all grievances would it not rather be a good improvement of this time of suspension then deserve the aspersion of unsetlednesse We wish those that upbraid uâ— of unsetlednesse would settle according to promise and if after we content not our selves and stand to what is setled then and not before let us be thus asperst God knows how exceedingly we long to see this Nation out of danger misery and poverty it is like to run into through losse of trade and by reason of the enmity continued amongst us for want of such a settlement as we desire and which are defects if by some mens policies it had not been prevented had been long since setled as we verily believe to the contentfull satisfaction of all sorâ—s of people and to the restoring of that peace amity love and friendship which hath been too to long absent from us and untill which be restored this Nation will never flourish with that plenty of trade and commerce which alone can produce the happinesse and prosperity of this impoverished and wasted Nation Lastly yet I am out of hope it will be the last for I see no end of this ever-flowing fountain I am accused to have said I never would petition the Parliament if I thought they would grant what I petitioned for which I professe is most false and absurd for I never had any hand in any Petition but I desired withall my heart it might be granted and aâ— perswaded if those I and my Friends have presented had been granted it had been much better with the Common-wealth then now it is for we have been ever watchfull for the good of England though now we are requited with a prison and aspersions for our labour and if the presenâ— time should be so froward as to reject the ligâ—â— we bring yet our comfort is that our principles are of a growing nature as having the power of truth in them so that we cannot doubt but England will be the better for our motions and endeavours to all generations I little thought when I began this work that it would have drawn me out to such a length much beyond my disposition but if I can avoid it I shall make amends and never trouble the world any more in this kind Nor had I done thus much but that through my easily pierced sides they wounded the cause I shall promote whil'st I have breath they wound the reputation of the Family whereof I am and may too much wound with grief my dear and ancient Mother whom I have the greatest cause to love my Wife and Children also are deeply wounded in my reproaches whom I value ten-fold above my life and upon whom whensoever I shall leave the world I would leave no blemish Nor should I could my heart be truly understood for how exceedingly short soever I may come of doing my duty in all cases yet are my desires inclinations and intentions as reall to the publique as free from basenesse in my particular walkings and occasions as the corrupt Fountain of Slander is full of malice treachery and impudence Nor could I as the case is now with me this restraint being very much to my prejudice bear up my spirit with that contentednesse I blesse God I do were it not for the integrity of my Conscience towards all men And whereas long since I had concluded it for a most excellent truth my experience now tels me that affliction is ten thousand times better then sin and that the innocent have more chearfulnesse in a Dungeon then corrupt and wicked men have though they are cloathed in Purple and fare deliciously every day This Discourse being thus far furnished immediately after I came into prison I did forbear to print it because of its largenesse far exceeding my inclination â—nd was much better satisfied to fall in with my partners in sufferings in publishing our joynt manifestation of the 4th of April 1649. wherein we conceived we had given full satisfaction to all men and stopt the mouth of slander it self and after that according to our promise therein having upon the first of May 1649. published an Agreement of the People to take off that scandall then upon us that we would rest or bottom no where As my three partners did so did I judge my writing work at end as not knowing or conceiving that any thing remained in objection against me that was not either expresly or impliedly cleared and resolved And thereupon began to take some more