a word of any such thing till he had a mind to curse my wife for deserting him To the seventh I say Mr. Eveleigh one of the Church-officers and others called the paper which was brought into the Church to be debated a Covenant told me that the greatest part thereof was assented unto therefore if it be lies you see who was the Authour and that I did dislike it I have already demonstrated To the eighth I say my wife did joyn to Mr. Downs Church as in my Narrative is expressed and that which Mr. Stucley call's Admonition preceeding it was only Mr. VVhithornes asking her the reasons of her absence from their Thursdayes private meetings when she had been absent not above three or four times for which I think the reader is satisfied she had some reason to abstaine To the 9. the traducing of Mr. Forde slighting of honest godly people different from your principle hath been too frequent among you and the lie and slander returns on your selves To the tenth I say I have sufficiently set forth the occasion manner and end of my wifes going to Honiton which is the Truth and will stand firme another day when all Mr. Stucleys foisted probabilites will be found to be nothing but the scum of his malicious Calumniating spirit To the 11th and 12th I say I deny not that I had hopes to prevail with my wife to return to Mr. Stucleys Church as my Narrative shews but when I had considered her grounds of dissatisfaction and their harsh proceedings in order to excommunication I abstained from their private meetings especially after that one of the honestest of the confederacy had counsell'd me to pluck up my spirits and hold the rains of Government strict in my hands and to forbid my wifes brothers Sisters and friends to come near my house and to turn away such servants as would not be plyable to this work and to take in others and to bear a stiff hand on my wife and that then she would go from me and I should not look after her and that then she would be weary and repent and I should receive her on mine own terms I did presently guesse from whom this counsell came for asking the party when he was with Mr. Stucley he answered he had been with him about two hours before and would needs ingage me to go to Master Stucley which I thought to have done but my heart failed me and I durst not goe fearing least he should engage me to some such wicked course as was proposed You see where to repair for good counsell how to order your wives The thirteenth hath neither head nor tail I shall answer it when Mr. Stucley explaines himself if it be then worth an answer To the 14. I averre that he opened the letter which Mrs Parr and my wife sent and most falsly and unfaithfully told the Church that it had more of designe then humility in it If it had any designe it was to prevent his and his Churches harsh and heady running into a mischievous act and if it be as he sayes that none of the Church saw it I say the worse the more unfaithfull and inexcusable was Mr. Stucley for that it was sent and directed to be communicated to the Church and he would not shew it them nor ask counsel of any in so waighty a businesse but lead his Churchhead long into sin The letter concerned them all but he conceales it and did he not therein shew himself more a lord and Master then a Steward and dispencer of Gods Ordinance If this be his faithfulnesse let me never be under such a faithfull Shepheard To the 15. To this I have answered already I only adde that Ratcliff that noted Mr. Stucleys prayer and others also that heard it do a verre it to be his prayer such a one as it was To the 16. I answer I have examined more narrowly this particular and find that Mr. Malls doctrine was that there is great reason Scripture reason when in severing the precious from the vile the Church should renew their covenant and he applied it to the businesse of excommunication then acted and pressed the renewing of their covenant Pray where is the great difference from what I have set down in my Narrative that denominates it to be a lye And as for his posture whether he sate down or stood up ' its not much materiall If I mistake in that I am sure I am right in all the rest To the 17. I suppose Mrs Parr is answering for her selfe and as for my wife I say again she found faults and saw cause enough to leave them and did desert them before she was admonished for neglecting their private meetings To the 18. I answer that if you did not look on other Churches as Babylonish c. Pray tell me how do your words and opinions agree pray what meaneth your cry come out of Babylon what meaneth the saying of one of your officers to one that was going to the Sacrament at Mr. Iohn Bartlets Church viz. what will you never come out of Babylon and what meant that Independent Book One blow more to Babylon To the Nineteenth I answer here Mr. Stucley shifts and pretends he understood not my meaning and that he meant not the Churches in Exon when all this while his conscience tells him that I was meaning and speaking to him of the Churches of Christ in Exon could he think I was speaking of communicating in Spaine or France in their masse I remember well he spake these words to me without intermssion Can you sayd he partake where there are Drunkards can you partake where there are liars can you partake of the Table of the Lord and the Table of Divells and as for the argument you recite out of my letter of your acknowledging the Churches in ' Exon to be true Churches Reader it is well knowen with how much adoe he shewed them as much Note this was spoken by him above two months before he owned the Churches here to be Churches of Christ the associated Ministers in the County of Devon know enough of Mr. Stucleys mind About owning other Churches I need say nothing To the twentiteh I say let the judicious Reader judge What other construction can be made of Mr. Stucleys citing of Pro. 5.8.9 and Tit. 2.5 and his applying Doctor Taylors Exposition thereupon to my wife then to insinuate and beget in the Reader a suspition of my Wifes chastity and by spreading his false and scurrilous Pamphlets into Dorset Cornwall and other places in the west to induce the people to believe those honest women to be as vile and notorious as is imaginable To the 21.th there needs no answer but the experience of the people of this place let them judge if I lye in this To the 22th I answer 't is well known that my wife was of Mr. Downes congregation and received the Sacrament there before she joyned with Mr. Stucleys
Church and for Mrs Parr she attended on the other Ministers And therefore I think owned them sure there were no others in Exon that she owned till Mr. Stucley came To the 23th imputed lye Mr. Stucley Pray be not angry I must tell you againe that your saying that my wife is a lawlesse woman that knowes no subjection is a most notorious belying her indeed and to persist in it as you doe in saying that she hath taken the power of rule out of my hands in the particulars you there instance is a bold untruth I am sorry and ashamed to see you so impudent in averring such apparent falsehoods Pray tell me did I ever complaine to you of my wifes disobedience what tatling gossop was it from whom you had this tale did she not tell you 't was not I but my wife that put the girts into the pot why had you not printed that also to prove my wifes taking the government out of my hands well this looks but like a sneaking trick to pry and peep into other folkes cupboards and kitchens to discover their houshold-affaires but I am sure all is but a false gossopps tale at best As for the 24.25.26 pretended lyes I referr the reader to my answer to the 18th To the 27th I have answered already and begg'd them mercy for my mistake if I did so farr forget my self as to say that they were the honestest people that ever I came amongst I have recanted that errour For his deniall of slurring Mr. Rutherford in calling him the Champion of Presbytery I shall referr it to the judgement of the Reader that considers how Mr. Stucley esteems of the Presbyterians and what a stickler he is against that way To the 29th I have sufficiently spoken and shewed his base abuse of and blind proceedings against my wife and challenged him to a publique debate of it which he refuseth I am sure he can never prove what he sayes in his pamphlet unlesse he can get some Knights of the Post to be his witnesses To the 30th I tell Mr. Stucley that I was never burthened with old Dame but once when he told me a lye upon her and then I was so zealous as to call her Naughty woman but my mouth was never so foul as to call her whore as he suggests Had I done so I would have begg'd her mercy for I believe she is as truly honest as Mr. Stucley himself But had she been such as Mr. Stucley reports yet why might not my wife go with her with lesse ignominy then Mr. Stucley may keep such a one for a Nurse in his house constantly for a year and more As for Mr. Mongwell he hath given it under his hand that Mr. Stucley hath slandred both him and her in his false reports To the 32. 't is not worth an answer yet I say I might well avouch the tendernesse and kindnesse of my wife which I had ever found though his and his Churches dealings occasioned a sudden heat or discontent for once To the 33 and 34. I say Mrs Parr was questioned by the Elder of their Church for going to hear Mr. Forde to the neglect of their owne officers was told that she should be called to account for it I have spoken to this already and therefore shall onely ask this question if she had been so guilty of lyes and devisions as they charge her to be why were those things let alone some of them for two years and more and then they must prove so mortall why did they let her lye so long in her sin but I doubt not she will sufficiently clear herselfe therefore I forbear To this 35. I say Mr. Stucley repeats false Reader look into my Narrative I do not there say that he never reproved my wife in four years but that he never reproved her in that tyme for her neglect of admonition of others To the 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. pretended lyes all which do concern the story of the difference between my wife and her Sister in Law I answer that what I have set downe in my Narrative relating to that businesse is the very truth and yet observe how confidently this bold man speaks passages in that businesse as if he had been present and privy to every thing spoken or done about it when in the meane time he prints all this meerly upon relation and hearsay and hath no better authority for it then if he had taken it out of Esops fables To the 41.42 I answer that my wife and her sister were reconciled friends and feasted talked journied and went to the Lords Table together many times and how durst this pastor suffer them if he knew them to be enemies all this while To the 43. Imputation I confesse I was in a mistake but noe wilfull one I said it was near three years when as it was not above a year and half this was a mistake onely in point of time which I have now rectified but I am sure 't was long enough the differences were dead and buried by an amicable composure but Mr. Stucley must rake up any thing to make a stinking stir withall To the 44. I shall onely bid my adversary repeat right my words are they had nothing to censure her for before she left them And this is the Truth I have and doe challenge him to bring forth any crime that deserved Church censure before she deserted them as for her forbearing their private meetings which Master Stucley calls Church meetings I think the Reader is convinced She had sufficient cause To the 45. I say that I lament his impudence 't is knowen to the whole Citty that 't is their principle and practice to deny their members to communicate in the Ordinances with other Churches I can prove that some were refused by him onely because they would not be confined to his Church and he hath denied it me as I have already shown can ye partake of the Table of the Lord c. To this 46. I shall onely wish Mr. Stucley to be as good as his word I make noe question but you have heard how your member Mr. Robert Spragne was convicted for two lies against the chamber of Exeter I fear they had another originall and his was but the second edition however they were publick offences and therefore pray instruct him to go to the chamber and acknowledge his errour in spreading two lies against them that they may forgive him or else according to your doctrine he will be in a sad case for you told me lately that we ought not to forgive unlesse the offending party ask us forgivenesse To the 47. for answer I referre the Reader to my answer to his 18th pretended lye I onely demand whether you would grant that there was any other Church of Christ in Exeter till about the beginning of April last did you not before that time stile your selves the Church of Christ in Exeter pray what means your calling those of your own Church and noe others Brother and Sister by way of contradistinction what means that Tenent of some if not all of you that you must love those of your own fellowship above any other of Gods people as a man loves his wife above other women and why should not Mr. Savery grant Mr. Forde the Minister to be one of the visible Church of Christ when he was so hardly prest to it To the last I shall onely say That as for Mr. Malls Sermon I referre it to the Reader to judge by his reasons that are extant in his Book And if any other construction then mine can be made thereof I shall be well content for the Truth is I believe the poore man was meerly drawn in And now to conclude Reader doe but reflect and consider the whole story and state of the businesse laid before thee and then judge impartially of Mr. Stucley and his Churches proceedings and at whose doore all the lies and foul practices must be laid I professe 't is farre from me to take any content to imbroile in differences or to make discoveries of others nakednesse could I avoid it as all that know me can bear me record but in this case I may truly say he hath compelled me 't is noe time for truth and innocency to seek out corners and to hold ' its peace when falshood and upstart Novellisme is so clamorous and impetuous Mr. Stucley you see hath declined a hearing and denied satisfaction to the unsatisfied and playes the part of the Athenian Commander who having ill stewarded the Treasury of the Common wealth studied not so much how to give an account as not to give any account at all which hath necessitated me to this work Pardon me right courteous Reader If I have been a little exasperated by Mr. Stucleys intemperate dealing and if I have uttered ought more fit for him to hear then me to speak It being almost impossible for any man that is conversant in his writings but to contract somewhat of his eloquence consider the case in hand and it is such as will even put words into the mouth of Crâ—â—sus Son who as 't is storied was dumb from his Nativity Publick Injury calles on me to speake more loud and largely in mine own cause but modesty bids me forbear My designe is not to derogate from him but if possible to convince him and to satisfie others truely honest and conscientious I deny not his personall abilities yet without presumption dare appeale and say he hath neither shown that soundnesse of judgement that is to be reverenced in some nor that meeknesse of spirit that is required in all my prayer therefore is that God will give him these and all others graces that may make him more instrumentall for his glory and the good of his Church FINIS
their joynt determination But this was utterly refused by him although it was offered him again again After the former Admonition by those of the Church I my self used arguments to perswade her to return to Master Stucleys Church pressing them with so much eagernesse and harshnesse that I have cause to repent for strayning the strings so high that it brake out into some words of heat and discontent but at length I and my wife accorded to have the Case justly stated whether those things before mentioned at which she was so much offended were sufficient cause to withdraw from Mr. Stucleys Church and go to another Now where to find fit persons for the resolving of this question we knew not for the present being both of us tender to engage the Ministers of this City least it might prove of ill consequence or beget some Animosity between them upon the determination of the question and therefore we mutually agreed to go to Taunton where we thought we might be well satisfied by some friends there without more ado the time for our journey was prefixt and the day came but a friend that was to accompany us being imployed upon some publick businesse our journey was put off and no other day appointed My wife having waited about ten days longer and I too often pressing arguments against her withdrawing from Mr. Stucleys Church she became impatient of farther delay told me that she would go somewhere to be resolved and rising early in the morning having given a charge to her chiefest Servant-maid to be carefull of her children untill her return she went away but whether she went I knew not for the present which exceedingly troubled me I then apprehending the ill use would be made thereof Towards the evening of the same day I understood that my wife was gone to Honiton whether I rode that evening unto her and we lodged there that night in a very friendly manner and the next morning when I awaked asking her whether she intended her journey she told me that I had too long delayed her and that she was now resolved for Taunton to her friends to be satisfied about the former question and for that purpose had sent to a Kinsman of ours in Somerset to bring my Mare which he there kept and furniture with him to Honiton to carry her to Taunton which was brought that morning accordingly And I had then a great mind to have carried her thither but our friend with us having urgent occasions to return to Exeter we willingly came home together with him resolving upon another journey thither afterwards which we undertook accordingly But failed of that full fatisfaction we expected Mr. Stucley having been there with our friends before hand and as I have cause to suspect had tampered with them about our busines Shortly after we were returned from Honiton I remembred my wife of her failing or miscarriage in not acquainting me with her journey who answered with tears that she was sensible of the evil thereof but intended no harm thereby and desired the Lord to humble her and forgive her for it and prayed me to forgive her which I did with all my heart Now Reader I have given thee the true and impartial state and story of the occasion manner end of my wifes going to Honiton which Mr. Stucley hath represented by a false perspective or multiplying-glasse and most unworthily terms running away from her husband whereof she never had the least thought Behold and wonder this is her capital crime that he paralels with incest This by his doctrine is a sin unpardonable by a husband without his Churches satisfaction But that I may not digresse but go on with the story take notice that his Church poor souls being possest bemisted with prejudice though they knew neither the occasion nor end of her journey they too gladly take advantage thereby and hereupon two others of his Church were sent to my wife with whom she refused conference unlesse upon the terms before expressed and began to be very rough with them telling them that they should forbear her house for that she apprehended they did set her husband at variance with her she having seen a letter of Mr. Savery one of their members written unto me carrying so much if not more in the sense thereof and she having likewise heard the expression of another member of theirs who speaking concerning my wife said unto me if the unbeliever depart let her depart After this Mr. Stucley with Mr. Mall pretended they had a mind to treat with two other Ministers but such as themselves should nominate about the premisses whereupon my wife proposed Mr. Forde and Mr. Mark Downe to treat with them both of which Mr. Stucley refused saying he had burnt his fingers with Mr. Forde already and Mr. Downe was an Ingaged or a prejudie'd man So that proposal took no effect Hereupon reports were brinted by several of the members of Mr. Stucleys Church That they had an intent to proceed against my wife by way of excommunication whereat I took occasion to abstain from their private meetings at which they were much offended and sent to me to come to the Church which occasioned me to write them this following letter in answer which I thought good here to insert at large that the Reader may see the truth of what Mr. Stucley sayes that I never did or said any thing to prevent it A letter from Mr. Toby Allein to Mr. Lewis Stucley to be communicated to his Church before they excommunicated his wife CHristian friends The occasion of my writing to you is this Mr. Rolls and Mr. Eveleigh were with me yesterday desiring me to come to your meeting this day which I was minded to do but considering with my self what was best to be done I chose rather to write because of my unfitnesse to speake especially before some who have already much defamed me as to make me a perjur'd man And why Because Mr. Mark Down baptized my child other defamations there have been but I spare and forgive without their asking me mercy If you desire a reason of my forbearance of your company It is this when my wife and you differed I could seldom meet with any of you but a little after salute presently the discourse was about my wife in which I could take no felicity it being but as vineger or gravel to my teeth especially the saying of one If the unbeliever depart let her depart This and such like sayings begat in me some dissatisfaction which for want of better observation I thought zeal which when my good father heard of I remember his advise was this next to peace with God and your own conscience which is the effect of the former preserve peace in your family especially with your wife which I have done and shall maintain and if any be offended thereat let them be offended although you be very dear unto me still for whom I suffer
'T is an Easie matter for Mr. Stucley to call these poor oppressed women dogs he and his Church onely are the children and Saints But if thou wilt set aside their leaving his Church There is nothing in them for which they may not compare with the best Saints in his Church And I dare say this City in which they were born and bred and have ever lived can say no otherwise I appeal to all that know them But it 's policy for him first to debase and vilifie those that he intended his Church should Curse He that will kill a dog must give it out that he is mad Pag. 9. Mr. Stucley cites Prov. 5.8 9. Remove thy way far from her c. And adds that 't is dangerous to come near the house of such c. Sol. What is this but to insinuate my wise such a one as is spoken of in that place i. e. a very strumpet I cannot forbear to say it so nearly concernes me that this insinuation is a base and slanderous belying her who never came into the least suspition of any such crime Had Mrs Parr been guilty of such lying as this I and others had been more satisfied in her excommunication then we now are or can be Pag. 9. Whereas in the same page towards the end Mr. Stucley saith He ought to pull off the masking robes and vizards c. Sol. He discovers himself what many before now never believed him to be viz. A man that cares not what dirt and filth he casts on any that cares not for his independent wayes They have deceived him as he saith But the truth is they were deceived in him and his Church expecting when they entred into fellowship with them that purity which they never found And now when they were disappointed and so apprehended their over-sight and went about to mend their fault by returning to those congregations to which they formerly belonged he judgeth them causelesly Pag. 10. He calls my wife a Lawless woman that knows no subjection c. Sol. I cannot forbear to say this is a most notorious belying her whom I know to be far otherwise I have cause to blesse God for so good and obedient a wife and one that orders the affairs of my family and calling with so much care and diligence as my heart can wish Insomuch that I have often left the whole management of my trade and imployment on her head care for a whole moneth together in my absence when I have kept above 500. people on work For what he charges her about her going once to Honiton I have sufficiently answered in the Narrative to which I refer the Reader Pag. 10. Again These have turned their backs on pure ordinances c. Sol. As if no pure ordinances could be found but in Mr. Stucleys Church or some other of the same edition Reader be pleased to take notice They were in actual communion with the rest of Gods people in this City before they were excommunicated And therefore did not turn their backs on pure ordinances but such is the pride of Independents they think there are no pure ordinances but in their own Churches Pag. 12. The like stuff you have page 12. That now my wife and Mrs Parr are not in Mr. Stucleys Church they are not amongst Gods people Cannot enjoy the benefit of the covenant See in what a sad condition all are that are not Independents But I hope God and good men will judg better then Mr. Stucley and his Church Pag. 13. They are turned out from beholding the conversation of Gods people c. Sol. Sill Mr Stucleys Church are Gods people no other But for that which he so much commends I do assure thee neither I nor my wife could ever see such eminency of godlynesse in their conversations I shall not asperse them I will onely say I know many very many no Independents in this City of as unblameable and godly conversation as any of them And my wife may see the conversation of those I hope notwithstanding she is excommunicate by Mr. Stucley Pag. 13. In the same page God will loose us this day from that particular tie c. Sol. My wife I hope is not in so sad a condition because Mr. Stucley and his Church are loose from their tye If she have other as godly and honest to admonish and exhort her as ever she had I forbear comparisons Pag. 14. I have no mind to discant upon Mr. Stucleys fancy in the fourteenth page where he frames a parly between God and the Divel 't is absurd enough Sol. Onely I must say he hath again slandred my wife In saying she hath removed the bounds and that she is a Lawlesse woman The contrary to my knowledg is most true and for this there are in this City as many godly Christians to witnesse as far exceed the number of Mr. Stucleys Church I know it is a sad thing to be justly excommunicated Matth. 18.18 But I know many have been excommunicated by the Pope and some by the Pharisees The question is whether those persons were justly excommunicated And that I deny And leave it to the Impartial Reader to Judge by the Narrative Pag. 15. He cites Mr. Grenhams opinion of excommunication They are among Zijms and Iijms c. Sol. He need not cite Mr. Grenhams opinion to perswade me or my wife what a sad thing excommunication is I only say the curse that 's causless shal not come The Popes Bull is but a beast when it roars the loudest Pag. 17. Whereas contumacy is urged as the reason of excommunication and Mr. Rutherford is quoted with a sufficient slur upon him and the Presbyterians Sol. I Reply that cannot be contumacie For that one act of indiscretion she hath acknowledged to my self And if an errour 't was such I hope as was pardonable by the husband without Mr. Stucleys indulgence There was no persisting in any crime but onely her not coming to Mr. Stucleys Church And Mr. Stucley cannot but remember the many overtures she made for a meeting of him and Mr. Mall with other Ministers and her willingnesse to submit to their determination which he refused as if he had been Lord Bishop Paramont and his Church infallible for which I refer you to the Narrative But now for-sooth Contumacie must be the foil to set off the fact and a decoy to draw the Church into this unwarrantable practice Pag. 19. My wife is accused for neglecting fellowship and covenant breaking and running away c. Sol. I answer she holds fellowship with the people of God And for covenant breaking she is so far guilty as she was no more willing to be confined to Master Stucleys Church but indeed of her own accord went from it for reasons mentioned in the Narrative before If she had made a covenant which yet she never intended to walk with Master Stucleys Church and not with other people of God It is an unlawfull covenant