the North Wind driveth away Rain so doth an angry Countenance a backbiting Tongue Prov. 25. 23. I frowned upon him and told him he must go to the Person of whom he heard it and to the Person that was thus defamed and know the certain truth of the matter before he run about declaring it at Dan and publishing it at Askelon And upon this he takes up his Pack and away he goes and hath never come near me since Yea my Lord if he can hear of any fault that hath been committed if it were long since if it hath been heard determined remitted and buried yet this Backiter hath been for digging it up and reviving it verifying a saying in our old Charter Prov. 16. 27. An ungodly Man diggeth up evil and in his Lips is a burning Fire And this fearing I have intruded upon your Lordship's Patience is what I have to say at present my Lord. Judg. These are foul and unsufferable Practices Love-truth My Lord I could say much more of things of this nature how hasty and diligent he hath been in this Evil of Detraction Judg. There hath been enough said at present Mr. Love-truth The Bench ariseth and the Court is adjourned till two of the Clock in the Afternoon The Prison-Keeper Mr. Newman remands Backbiter to the Prison again not denying his Friends to come to see him So there came Mrs. Busy-body Mr. Liar Mr. Blind-Zeal Prejudice Hate-Peace and several others whose Names I took no account of so he sent for his Counsel Mr. Equivocator and gave him his Fee telling him he was afraid it would go hard with him if he did not speak and his Evidence did not swear to the purpose to justify his Proceedings The hour being come Mr. Newman hastens the Prisoner to the Court. When the Judg with the Mayor Recorder and Sheriffs with the Justices of the Peace and Quorum were sat Mr. Newman was commanded to put up Whispering Backbiter to the Bar which was done accordingly Attorny General Mr. Clerk of the Sessions What further Evidence have you against the Prisoner Clerk Here is Mr. Vnity subpaena'd to appear Judg. Let him be called Crier Vnity O yes O yes Mr. Vnity I am here my Lord but I dare not come into Court till Backbiter and his Friends are searched Judg. What are you afraid of Mr. Vnity Vnity Why my Lord I know they use to carry white Powder about them with which they use to shoot those they have a prejudice against and it murders a Man in his Name before he can hear the Report Judg. That is Treason by the Law there dare be no such an Attempt in Court Vnity My Lord They are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities 2 Pet. 2. 10. Being searched it appeared they had left those Instruments at home Judg. Mr. Vnity Pray how long have you known the Prisoner Vnity My Lord ever since there have been Swellings Tumults Wrath Strife and Debates they all came into our Corporation with Whispering Backbiter 2 Cor. 12. 20. Attorny General My Lord and Mr. Sheriff Order you know right-well the Confusion that hath been in some Companies in our Corporation of Christ Church and undoubtedly it hath been for want of regarding what you and I have endeavoured to maintain in conjunction with Mr. Fear-God namely Discipline and Order if it please your Lordship let Mr. Vnity give in his Evidence Judg. Mr. Vnity be as brief and express as you can Vnity I desire to have the liberty to speak in the presence of this honourable Court for he whose Hatred is covered by Deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation Prov. 26. 26 28. For a lying Tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it and a flattering Mouth worketh ruin It was accounted good and pleasant to dwell together in Unity Psal 133. 1. especially Brethren in one Society Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Ephes 4. 3. Till we all come to the unity of the Faith ver 13. But my Lord the Prisoner hath been a mischievous Instrument in setting particular Societies together by the Ears by him also neighbourly Union and Friendship hath been broken May be some different apprehensions have been about some Sentences in our Charter then Backbiter comes in and blows up the fire of Contention and sets them at work to smite one another on the backside with the Tongue crying out Hereticks Idolaters c. because they cannot see through their Eye-holes as tho it were possible yea the likeliest way to work a Reformation by Defamation like him mentioned by Dr. Taylor that seeing a Flea on his Neighbour's Forehead goes to knock it on the head with his Hammer and so knocks his Neighbour's Brains out Thus my Lord doth Whispering-Backbiter think to slander Men out of the faults he imagines them to be in when alas instead of healing The words of a Tale bearer are as Wounds that go down to the innermost parts Prov. 18. 8. Yea my Lord I have known when that great Union and Amity hath been betwixt two Persons yea and Companies in our Corporation till Backbiter hath been at work and In carrying his Pack with all he could pick up hath uttered or whispered what hath soon broke the Bond of Unity Prov. 16. 28. A froward Man soweth Strife and a Whisperer separateth chief Friends Yea my Lord such Prejudice and Inveteracy hath been begot by Backbiter's means that it hath appeared next to an impossibility to reconcile them as Mr. Sheriff Order and Mr. Church-Discipline know right-well And this is what I have to say at present my Lord. Attorny General My Lord I very well know what Mr. Vnity saith to be true and so doth Mr. Sheriff also There are other Evidences may be called if your Lordship please Judg. I think there have sufficient Testimonies been given in against him to prove him guilty according to his Indictment And if further occasion should be they shall be examin'd Mr. Backbiter what Reason canst thou give why Sentence according to the Law of our Corporation should not be passed upon thee Thou hast heard what evident Testimonies have been given in against thee Backbiter My Lord you were pleased to allow me Counsel to speak for me and plead my Cause for alas my Lord I know not how to speak for my self Attorny General No Mr. Backbiter you have spoken so much falsly against others that you have nothing truly to say for your self Judg. where is your Counsel What is his Name Let him appear Backbiter My Lord his Name is Equivocator a Kinsman of mine Judg. Where is he Crier Mr. Equivocator Here Sir Why do you not attend your Client's Cause Equivocator Here ready my Lord and I am fee'd to plead the Prisoner's Cause and I think my Lord he is a good Man in the main and tho it may be true what hath been said by these Gentlemen that have witnessed against him that he carries Reports from one
to another this is no new thing he first receives it and why should he keep it in his Mind If he hath heard of the defaming of many and others saying Report and we will report it Jer. 20. 10. Why should not he take the same liberty Besides my Lord if he doth sometimes add to the Report or Accusation he hath heard it is but to amplify it and to make it more taking and convincing to them to whom he carries it for what is a Report or Story if it finds no Credit in the Hearers Moreover several other Circumstances should be considered as it may be he can hear but with one Ear and so cannot hear both Parties but reports it according as he hears it as also they whom he backbites as you are pleased to call it may be such as are more esteemed and applauded in the Corporation than he and their Graces and Virtue excels him and his and therefore his design may be good that so he may keep up his Fame equal with others He is not the first that hath envied the commendable Fame and Deserts of others there was David hated others Prosperity And I have also read a Passage out of Plutarch of Aristides Banishment called Ostracism His Accuser being asked what Wrong Aristides had done him he reply'd None neither do I know him but it grieves me to hear every body call him a just Man If this was a cause of Banishment well might it procure hard words for Men naturally hate to be out-stript either in worldly or spiritual Riches And my Lord besides Judg. Hold Mr. Equivocator you run too fast Attorny General You must not think Mr. Equivocator to sham off the Crimes at this rate You say he is a good Man in the main pray in what main The main of a good Man is to love our Sovereign above all and his Neighbour as himself This is inserted in our old Charter and reviv'd in the new Deut. 6. 5. Levit. 19. 16 18. and his Neighbour as himself Mat. 22. 37 40. which cannot be done by a detracting Tale-bearer And again you 'll see how he is resented in our Corporation as fair a face as you would put on his bad Cause Envy Murder Debates Deceits Malignity Whisperings Backbiters haters of God c. Rom. 1. 29 30. Pray where is his Goodness when he is a Companion with such a Gang of mercenary Wretches And saying Report and we will report Jer. 20. 10. was the Practice of the great Enemies of our City and Commonwealth And whereas you would vindicate his adding to a Report I am satisfied that he that will add to a Report will raise one too when he pleaseth which is expresly contrary to our old Charter and new for it is said Thou shalt not raise a false Report put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous Witness Exod. 23. 1. Now if he takes liberty to add what doth he less than put his hand with the wicked to be an unfaithful Witness Again by the same rule he may improve every little Infirmity into a mountainous Guilt and the little or small Freckle into a Leprosy What Reputation can be secured from such who have their dead Flies to cast a stink on their Brethren at pleasure to corrupt all their odorous Virtues And as to your Instance of Aristides's Banishment it 's recorded as an Instance of Heathen Cruelty but Backbiter out-does the Cruelty of Ostracism as far as Death is worse than Banishment for in murdering the Name he destroys the Livelihood and the Greeks have a saying That a Life is no Life without a Livelihood Yea a Backbiter or Detractor is a Thief and robs a Man of that which is better than precious Ointment or great Riches Eccles 7. 1. Prov. 22. 1. Equivocator My Lord all I would further have said was to desire that his bad Memory and the want of the use of his right Ear may be considered and that his Evidences may be heard Judg. Yes he shall have all the favour that can be allowed by the Charter of our Corporation and if his Evidences are Persons of any degree of Morality and Repute they shall be heard Let them be called into Court Equivocator Crier pray call Mrs. Busy-body she is own Cousin to the Prisoner Clerk Crier call her into Court. Crier Mrs. Busy-body O yes O yes Mrs. Busy-body She cannot leave her Twattle Mrs. Busy-body Ready ready Sir Why do you not attend the Court Busy-body I have so much business betwixt one Friend or Neighbour and another that alas I am seldom at home or rarely out of imploy my Lord. Judg. Pray what was your Imploy Busy-body My Lord if I hear of any one failing committed it 's my desire and endeavour that no body may be ignorant of it But I remember I have read That the Lips of the wise shall instruct many And this as my Cousin Backbiter hath told me must be by carrying ones failings to another Judg. Didst thou ever seriously read over the Charter of our Corporation I fear that thou seldom lookest at home Constable No my Lord when I search'd for Busy-body I saw her House all out of order and she was just going out Judg. How did you know she was going out Constable Why my Lord she had two Glasses in her hand and I have been informed of it and that by some that had experience of it Judg. Hold Pray Mr. Constable what Glasses were they Constable My Lord one was a magnifying Glass and the other a multiplying Glass with the former she with her Cousin Backbiter makes a small failing a great one and with the latter one failing many Judg. It 's a shame that such ignorant and pertinacious Practices should be suffered in the Suburbs of our Corporation let her be taken into Custody Crier She is withdrawn and absconded my Lord but I shall take care to have her apprehended for it 's one Man's work to have a serious sight of his own Sins and judg himself aright Clerk of the Sess Call Mr. Zeal into Court Crier Mr. Zeal O yes O yes Mr. Zeal Ready my Lord but I cannot see the way into Court. Whispering-Backbiter Pray take him by the hand Mr. Equivocator for he is almost as blind as a Post He is handed up Judg. Old Gentleman what is your Name Zeal Zeal My Name is properly Blind Zeal my Lord. Judg. I thought so I have heard much of you Zeal Yes my Lord I was with Saul when he would have slain the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21. 2. and with Jehu 2 Kings 10. 16. and with Saul now called Paul Acts 9. 1. Phil. 3. 6. yea and with those Jews my Lord Rom. 10. 2. Yea my Lord and I know Mr. Backbiter to be a very zealous Man by this for he cannot rest if he hears the Report true or false of another's failing alas he can rest no more than he that lies upon a Bed of Thorns till others know it and this is
Justice Fear-God is the Judg with the honourable Mr. Rule-well Mayor and Justice Order Sheriff and Mr. Church-Discipline Recorder as also the Attorny-General to prosecute the Laws of our Soveraign against the Criminal with the Under-Sheriff Mr. Learn-Rule with other Justices of the Peace and Quorum The Bench being sat the Sheriff commands the Prison-Keeper Mr. Newman to put Backbiter to the Bar which is done accordingly Then the Judg proceeds to read his Commission which impowered him to hear Causes and determine Matters in behalf of our Soveraign and the great Charter of our Corporation and Common-wealth In the said Commission was also inserted the Duty of Mr. Rule-well the Mayor and Mr. Church-Discipline Recorder shewing that they must act in conjunction with the Judg the honourable Fear-God for the suppressing all Disorders that Justice be not perverted the Innocent wronged and the Guilty go free but that the Right of all Heaven-born Subjects be preserved in Life Name and Substance according to that Statute-Law given to qualify Rulers 2 Sam. 23. 3. He that ruleth amongst Men must be just ruling in the fear of God In which Diligence is required Rom. 12. 8. He that ruleth with Diligence That they must not judg according to outward appearance but judg righteous Judgment Joh. 7. 24. without knowing of Faces or partially favouring of Causes c. The Jury being warned to appear Mr. Ready-Scribe Clerk of the Sessions is commanded to read over their Names and Mr. Conscience the Crier to call them by Name distinctly The Clerk reads the List of their Names and the Crier calls them aloud by Name Hate-Strife Love-Brother Society Condescension Patience Plain-dealing Faithful Charity Hope-well Pray-well Humility Concord Good Men and true Stand forth and hear your Charge Crier Silence about the Court there Judg. Gentlemen of the Jury you shall carefully hear and faithfully and impartially try the Cause depending betwixt our Soveraign and the Prisoner at the Bar and according to the Evidence and the Oath you have taken a faithful and just Verdict you shall bring in according to the best of your Understandings and so the Lord help and direct you Whispering-Backbiter Hold up thy Hand Clerk of the Sessions read his Indictment which runs to this effect Clerk Whispering-Backbiter Thou standest here indicted by the Name of Whispering-Backbiter thou wast made free of this honourable Corporation of Christ-Church and admitted to the Privileges thereof as a Member of the same But thou not having the Fear of God so before thine Eyes as thou oughtest to have had hast been guilty of many foul Crimes not only in offering Violence to our Sheriff Mr. Order and the Recorder Mr. Church-Discipline Persons to be highly honoured and esteemed in our Corporation who are as Walls to our City yea thou hast been guilty of wounding of Love-Truth in his Name and Livelihood by thy laying him on the backside thou hast broken the Peace and sowed and stirred up Strife in the Corporation and Discord amongst Brethren thou hast broken both the old and new Charters of our Corporation Herein thou hast manifested not only the breach of thy Corporation-Oath but also thy great Insolency and Rebellion against our Soveraign Lord his Crown and Dignity Judg. Mr. Backbiter What canst thou say to this thy Indictment Art thou guilty or not guilty Prisoner My Lord I am indicted by a wrong Name I changed my Name as I told the Worshipful the Sheriff my Name is Christian Professor my Lord. Sheriff Order Yes Mr. Backbiter you did tell me of changing your old Name for a new but you shewed no signs of any other change no new Birth no new Creature or Newness of Life in Qualities or Qualifications and what advantage is it to have a new Name when the old Man with his Deeds is not put off Ephes 4. 22. Rev. 3. 1. Backbiter If I must go by this odious Name of Whispering-Backbiter I must be content to bear it as my Burden but I hoped my new would have carried me above all suspicion or at least have preserved me from being called into question Recorder It will appear in his Trial whether he be the Person expressed in the Indictment or not Judg. What sayst thou Art thou guilty or not guilty Backbiter I beseech your Lordship that I may have the Liberties and Privileges of a Freeman there are two of the Jury especially that I have great reason to object against for I know they are diametrically opposite to me in their Minds and Dispositions Judg. Who are the Persons you object against Backbiter My Lord there is the Foreman Mr. Hate-Strife I cannot endure him and the last Man Mr. Concord and there is Mr. Charity and Mr. Society Men that have no kindness for me yea I can justly object against them all Judg. No Sirrah we know them to be good faithful and honourable Persons by the same rule you may object against Me the Mayor Sheriff and Recorder Answer to thy Indictment Backbiter I hope your Lordship will allow me to have a Counsel for I cannot speak in my own Defence as some can Judg. Yes you shall be allowed the favour of a Counsel Backbiter I thank your Lordship Judg. Answer Art thou guilty or not guilty Backbiter Not guilty my Lord. Judg. By whom wilt thou be tried Backbiter By my Soveraign and my Country Attorney General If your Lordship pleaseth I shall open the Cause by way of Breviate and shall discover the Disposition and manner of the Life and Actions of Backbiter ever since I was Discipline Recorder of our Corporation Judg. Do so but pray with what brevity you can Attorney General As for the Man he is to be considered in the common Gender Man or Woman Some of the learned in our Laws upon that Statute Levit. 19. 16. compare him to a Pedlar who carries Wares about to utter and dispose of to Customers So he carries Reports and Tales from House to House Another saith on that Statute Psal 15. 3. He that backbiteth not with his Tongue c. or slandereth not defameth not the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence Regel a Foot is derived properly notes a going to and fro prying and spying and carrying Tales and Rumours and is used for defaming or calumniating by craft or guile as Ainsworth saith Backbiting is used for all crafty deceitful abuse of the Tongue Backbiters and Whisperers saith Downham go about after the manner of Spies go up and down dissembling their Malice that they may spy the Faults and Defects of others of which they make a malicious relation to such as will give ear to the Slander So that backbiting is a malicious defaming of one behind his back A Backbiter speaketh openly evil of another behind his back but Whisperer signifies privacy the design of whispering and backbiting is the one to separate Friendship the other to hinder ones Fame Saith Mr. Leigh in his Crit. Sac. Obtrectatio or Detractio Psal 120.
Gentlemen of the Jury are you all agreed Foreman Yes my Lord and have also agreed to give in our particular Verdicts Hate-Strife My Lord I ever hated to see things done through Strife Phil. 2. 3. but to my Grief I have seen Strife and Violence in our City Psal 55. 9. and I have traced home one of the chiefest causes of it to Backbiter's very door so that I am conscious to my self he is guilty according to his Indictment and evident Testimonies Love-Brother I am sure my Lord he hath been a sower of Enmity and a destroyer of Unity It 's high time to take him off for where there is no Tale-bearer Strife ceaseth Prov. 26. 20. There is no greater a Demonstration of our being beloved Citizens of Christ's-Church than to love one another John 13. 35. the true Badg and Character of Christianity and if this Backbiter be not taken off our Charter will be broken and lost Society I assent to what Mr. Love-Brother saith for my Lord if he be suffered to sow Strife as he hath done alas a Nation City or Family divided is brought to ruin Luke 11. 17. And what can be a more effectual way to break Human and Divine Society for as a false Witness he speaketh Lies and soweth Discord among Brethren Prov. 6. 19. Condescension My Lord I agree that he is guilty and indeed I have wondered at his obstinacy that such plain Convictions not only from the Freemen of our Corporation but also by Mr. Heathen enough to have melted him to confess and forsake that he may find Mercy Prov. 28. 13. should not work upon him but he obstinately covered his Sins Patience My Lord I think he hath been born with too long tho I can bear as much as some yet the very sight of Backbiter in our Corporation hath greatly provoked me And tho by an angry Countenance I have drove him away Prov. 25. 2 3. yet I could never drive him out of his wicked Practice I agree he is guilty Plain-dealing My Lord I am not a Man of many words but to be plain if ever Man forfeited the Freedom and Privileges of Christ's Church Whispering-Backbiter hath done it for he hath proclaimed his Folly for he that hideth Hatred with lying Lips and he that uttereth Slanders is a Fool his Wickedness ought to be shewed before the whole Congregation Prov. 26. 26. that others may fear Faithful I have long wondered at the deceit and falshood of Backbiter Christians that are free of our Corporation should carry their very Hearts in their Hands and Meanings in their Fore-heads but his Mouth hath framed Deceit Rom. 3. 13. He is guilty according to his Indictment my Lord. Charity I cannot have a good thought of him tho I have ever been unwilling to think any evil 1 Cor. 13. 5. till it hath evidently appeared but my Lord this Backbiter is still forging or picking up Thunder-bolts against which no Innocency can be an Armour of Defence He is guilty I can have no Charity for such a one that casteth Firebrands Arrows and Death at his Neighbouâ—â— Prov. 26. 18. and counts it sport Hope-well I agree my Lord that he is evidently guilty yet I would not be without some hopes that the Order and Discipline of our Corporation will effectually lash him into better manners for tho Folly hath been bound up in his Heart and he hath wrought Folly in our Israel Deut. 22. 21. yet the Rod of Correction may drive it from him Prov. 22. 15. Pray-well My Lord it shall be my request that he may learn to take heed that he offends not with his Tongue but that he may keep his Mouth as with a Bridle Psal 39. 1. and that he may learn to guide his Tongue and not whet his Tongue like a Sword and that he may shoot no more of his Arrows even bitter words Psal 84. 3-8 Humility My Lord I agree that the Prisoner is guilty according to his Indictment and it 's evident that it 's the Arrogancy of his Spirit that causeth him to despise and scandalize others like that Hypocrite of the Synagogue Luke 18. 9-11 Pride Suspicion and Envy are always for staining the clear Fame and casting the first Stone Concord My Lord I am clearly of the same mind with Mr. Hate-Strife the Foreman and do say he is a sower of Contention and where that is there must needs be Confusion and every evil Work James 3. 16. and therefore my Verdict is that he may be no longer suffered in our Corporation Judg. Gentlemen I am glad to see you all so harmonious in your Verdicts and so unanimously shewed your Loyalty to our Soveraign and indeed you have spoke the very minds of our Mayor Sheriff and Recorder namely Rule-well Order and Discipline and I perceive you have given great Satisfaction to our Corporation in general Backbiter hold up thy hand and hear thy Sentence Crier Silence about the Court on pain of Displeasure Judg. Backbiter thou hast so disorderly acted that thou mayst be no longer a Member of our Society Mr. Church-Discipline shall cross out thy Name inrolled in our Corporation-Book and Mr. Newman Prison-keeper shall convey thee back to Confinement and in thy Apartment there he shall cause thee to sit down upon the Stool of Repentance and consider what thou hast done whom thou hast wronged and defamed what Envyings Strife Debates and Whisperings thou hast caused 1 Cor. 12. 20. Thy Lodging shall be upon a Bed of Sorrows yea thy Meat and Drink shall be the Bread and Water of Godly Sorrow and internal Afflictions till thou hast attained to a rent Heart and a broken Spirit and canst demonstrate a Repentance to Life then thou shalt study to make Restitution for all the Wrongs thou hast done in causing the Reputation of thy Brethren to lie bleeding then he shall put thee upon the Heart-work and hard work of Mortification that with the sound of thy Tongue and blast of thy Lips thou mayst never cause the Reputation of thy Brethren to fall flat as the Walls of Jericho I have read the saying of an antient Freeman of our City that he observed that there was rarely a Member in our Corporation in his day that had attained to any degree of Excellency but there hath been ready a black Character by some defaming Tongue to clap upon him So that Stars of the first Magnitude by this means have been eclipsed And thou Backbiter shalt be taught by Mr. Newman till thou dost learn to bridle thy Tongue all thy Pretences to Religion will be vain James 1. 16. And when thou art become a new Man then and not till then shalt thou be restored to the Privileges and Immunities of our Corporation of Christ-Church And so the Lord have Mercy upon thee and grant thee Repentance to Life never to be repented of Amen BE gone my little Book thy Message do Give thy Advice to all both Friend and Fo Shew to the World the Evil of those Wrongs That have been done by these defaming Tongues And if they slight thee let them so and spare not If thou art lov'd by Christians then I care not I know there 's some will say their Tongues their own And do resolve to be controul'd by none Yet others will thee gladly entertain And by thy Counsel will advantage gain Thou speakest plain to sute each Corporation And dost afford Advice to all the Nation For Cato saith that both in old and young Virtue begins with a well-guided Tongue If some detracting Reader shall amend Then thou obtainst the Writer's chiefest end Lend it not but let them buy The Price is low and so am I. FINIS Advertisement NOte That the Substance of what is here published was wrote Anno 92. and now at the request of some is published in print not to reflect upon any Person or Persons but simply and sincerely to detect that Evil where-ever it is found or amongst whomsoever it is tolerated it being confessed by all that it 's very injurious and opposite to Love and Charity Moreover there are some other Criminals that according to this method may e're long be apprehended and brought to their Trials