consideration did Order that he should succeed the Dean of Canterbury in the Parsonage of Chartham but at my motion he sate down and gave way that my Lord Generals Chaplain should have that Benifice And so with my affectionate respects commended to you I rest Warwick-house Feb. 2. 1643. Your very assured Friend WARWICK And to proceed after those Libels were spread abroad in Print A Libel was written against him at Canterbury and in the night thrown under the door of the then Maior of Canterbury who sent it up to the Committee for Plundered Ministers And to cause the people to destroy him they raised a false report against him that he had broken the earthen pots or pipes which conveyed water to the City and that he was seen to break them And that he had said that all that neither could or would give any thing to the Parliaments proceedings should be put into a house and the house fired on them and that the King would be at Canterbury at such a day and then Mr Culmer should be hanged But threatned folks live long And Mr Culmer being so recommended to the Committee for Plundered Ministers as afore-said they thereupon resolved to place him in the Sequestred Vicarage of Mynster in Kent But the Malignants and Cathedrallists from Canterbury and some from Harbledown presently endeavoured to make the minds of the people of Mynster ill affected against him and it was said often openly in the streets at Canterbury Blue Dick should be set out of Mynster And divers Ministers that seemed to be his friends did him ill offices there for their own ends One that aimed at that Living himself told them that although the Committee had voted Mr Culmer the Place yet if they would stir and shew great opposition against him they might remove him An other when he saw he could not get it for himself advised them maliciously saying Clog it with a Lecture clog it with a Lecture But after the people had heard Mr Culmer preach there nineteen of the Parish subscribed that they were willing to receive him as their Pastor And one of the chiefest did then give him loving entertainment but desired him to entertain his brother-in-law Mr P. then Curate to be his Assistant and to give him 40lb by the year which Mr Culmer desired to be excused in saying He was able to officiate alone and that if 40lb per annum Fifts and as much in Taxes and 40lb to his Assistant Were paid out of 200lb he should have little himself But the truth is That Curate was very scandalous called The Father of Drunkards because divers Toffe-pots in the Parish called him Father and he called them Sonnes But one day in a Cellar they complained to him that he called them Sonnes but gave them no portions Then he gave them portions To one Knaves-acre to another Duns-acre to another Cuckolds-corner to another a Patent to hug and buss to another Meretrix-Hall He would tipple with them in the Tap-house near the Church every day in the week and on Holy-dayes out of the Ale-house to the Church and from the Church to the Ale-house and come out hollowing at midnight and was so drunk that he could not stand He would bowl with them on the Sabbath and forced the people by threats openly in the Church to come up and kneel at the Alter rails And said Prince Rupert came over to right his Vncles Wrongs And when Mr Culmer came to the Vicarage-house there was a large Picture of a man in the window and underneath it was written Salvator mundi the Saviour of the world But Mr Culmer said before many present This is not the Saviour of the world for it cannot save it self and thereupon dashed it in pieces But the Curate reviled him and said It was there in many Doctors times and in M. Bromwels time He had served above twenty years as Curate there and was well beloved And his Predecessor Curate would go to Sandwich and fetch Bottles hanging round under his Priests coat He was wont to huddle up forenoon and afternoon Service altogether and tell the people he did it because there was a merry meeting in the afternoon And the Priest as they call'd him was sure to be present and it was their glory to have him amongst them in their drunken courses and to laugh at the drunken Priest Another thing was then propounded to Mr Culmer at his first coming viz. That he would give under his hand in writing to take the Tythes as the Sequestred Doctor had them But he refused to make any composition whereupon differences arose And the brother-in-law to the Curate said He would spend 500lb to keep out Mr. Culmer and procured divers others to joyn with him to keep out Mr Culmer and to bring in some other Minister But when they saw they could not prevail to bring in whom they would They went up to the Reverend Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster to get any they cared not whom to supplant Mr Culmer being confident that any Member of that Assembly would carry it from him There they first met with Dr Smith who hearkned to them at the first But having discoursed with Mr Culmer and seen his Testimonials and enquired of Mr Herbert Palmer and others touching him He came to Mr Culmer and told him That if his Living were worth 500lb per annum he would not have it from him but would assist him against his adversaries But afterwards they surprized one of that Assembly who accepted of that place but when it was moved in the Assembly for his approbation from them to the Committee for Plundered Ministers Mr Herbert Palmer who had known Mr Culmer for many years made a Speech in his behalf of at least half an hour long as if it had been penned and amongst the rest he said If Mr Culmer be supplanted of this Living I am confident the Malignants in Canterbury will make bonfires for joy Then Dr Gouge Mr Wilson Dr Corpet and others there which knew Mr Culmer spake also in his behalf whereupon the Vote of the Assembly was That their Brother should be intreated to sit down and give way to Mr Culmer for that Place And thereupon after that Assembly had certified to the Committee for Plundered Ministers touching Mr Culmers fitnesse to officiate at Mynster that Committee granted him their Order of Sequestration But when news of this came to Mynster some began to rage at it saying Such a devilish Round-headed Priest that brake the Windows at Canterbury and refused to give the Sacrament to all at Harbledown and would not use the Service-Book should not come there And it was given out that a band of women should meet him at Sarwall and throw him into a ditch But one Mrs O that had heard well of Mr Culmer said to the Gossips in the Church-porch What band Who shall be Captain One named such a woman The other replied Oh she she was brought a
Benefice did joyn in the Persecution and did publish that prophane Book in that Parish Church on the sabbath-Sabbath-day in the presence of Mr Culmer and of the people there But a year after he lost his goods by fire and the next year he himself was drowned in the water And Mr D. yet living then Curate to the Bishop of Rochester at Barham did that Sabbath also publish in the Church at Goodnestone the unjust Decree of Suspension made against Mr Culmer in the Arch-bishops Ecclesiastical Court by the Arch bishops special Order and Command to Sr N. B. But a little after this the people of Barham fell to dancing on the Sabbath and a quarrel arose about a wager between two dancers and he that won the wager had his brains knockt out that Sabbath But at the first coming in of the Scots into England the persecuting Arch-bishop who a little after was beheaded at Tower-hill for Treason c. presently absolved Mr Culmer who might justly say Garamercy good Scot for his Absolution And he being at liberty to preach was presently called by Dr Robert Ausâ—in now living to be his Assistant at Harbledown near Canterbury where he preached divers years and had very many Auditors from that famous City But there also he was persecuted for his actings against drunkennesse and against prophaning the Sabbath by Crickit playing before his door to spite him which when he had reproved privately and publickly they removed that sport to a field near the Woods where they threw stones at his Sonnes whom he sent to see if they played there and upon publick reproof the Church-warden whose wise was for just cause denied the Sacrament bought boards to keep the people of Canterbury out of the Church Seats And the grandee Persecutor J. W. used to go with his crew of brawlers and railers his wife especially upon the Sabbath to the Parsonage-house and there did clamour and bawl to the Doctor to move him that Mr Culmer might preach no more there and one of them S. S. cried out saying It is a shame to speak what he hath done and being asked by the Doctor what Mr Culmer had done the only answer of the accuser was Why was he turned out of Goodnestone And being urged to speak what he could say more he could not alledge any thing else By this the Magistrate may see that some people are like a kennel of Hounds that will bark for company if one or two bark against a Minister then presently one and all right or wrong as of old they all cried Not him they all cried Crucifie him c. The upholding of the noise and cry was Oh our souls our souls will you damn our souls we cannot edifie by one we love not But when their clamours prevailed not they writ Articles against Mr Culmer as followeth That he refuseth to administer the Sacrament according to the Church of England That he raised scandals of the Parish in the Pulpit That he made differences between Neighbours That some refuse to hear him and others declare they cannot edifie by him These and only these Articles they exhibited to the Doctor who having heard all things objected against Mr Culmer gave them an answer that what they objected he found either frivolous or false And he reproved a rich widow Mrs R who being asked Why she clamoured her only Answer was that Mr Culmer had said to the Overseers of the poor that he wondered that she refused to pay her assessement of 2s 6d to the poor But the Doctor being elsewhere provided of a Benefice wholly left that place to the Patron who placed a Minister there And when they were told a little after that they had made a sorry exchange in the room of M Culmer It was answered We care not whom we have nâ—w we are rid of M. Culmer But what is become of those Persecutors of M. Culmer is famously known One of them E. Br. because M Culmer would not give him the Sacrament immediately after he had been drunk and did pursue his wife with a drawn sword did thereupon write a Petition against M. Culmer and went about the Parish to get Subscriptions to it was a little after found guilty of Felony and was burnt in the hand at the Sessions at Canterbury And you may now finde the Grandee Persecutor J. W. in the Goal at Canterbury his sonne used to thresh Corn on the Sabbath mornings for fodder And now after the death of two Ministers the third having little encouragement amongst them left them destitute And after M. Culmer lest preaching at Harbledown he preached in Canterbury and there he and other Ministers were appointed by Authority or Parliament to detect and cause to be demolished the superstitious Inscriptions and Idolatrous Monuments in the Cathedral in Canterbury And when they came to the great high priz'd most idolatrous Window in the Chappel of Thomas Becket in that Cathedral the Labourers not acting as was desired M. Culmer laid If we neglect this opportunity we may repent it and thereupon threw off his Cloak and took a whole Pike in his hand and went up a Ladder fifty six steps high and did full execution upon the Idolatrous Monuments there whereupon some stirres began a Prebends wife cried out Save the childe meaning Christ lying in the Manger pictured there and M. Culmers bloud was then threatned by some that stood without the iron grates in the body of the Church But M. John Lade then Maior of Canterbury sent a file of Musqueteers who conveyed Mr. Culmer safe home to his own house And a little after M. Culmer published a Book entituled Cathedral News from Canterbury which is a true History of the sins and plagues of that Cathedral Babel The Title page of that Book is Cathedral News from Canterbury shewing the Canterburian Cathedral to be in an. Abbey like corrupt and rotten condition which cals for a speedy Reformation or Dissolution which Dissolution is already foreshewn and begun there by many remarkable Passages upon that place and the Prelates there Recorded and published by Richard Culmer Minister of Gods Word dwelling in Canterbury heretofore of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge Master of Arts If I should hold my peace the stones would immediately cry out Luk. 19. 40. Imprimatur John White I have perused this Relation of Cathedral News and therein observe that the hand of Providence hath indeed wrought a new thing in our Israel Worthy to be lookt upon by all with a due mixture of wonder and thankefulness And therefore conceive it necessary to be published to the view of all Jo. Caryl Printed for Fulk Cliston c. But this Book being the finger in the Bile and swelling Ulcer of Prelacy and Cathedrals Immediately upon the first publishing of it the nest of Cathedral Hornets at Canterbury and their waspish Malignant Adherents flew about M. Culmers ears bombalizing and toating so loud that City and Countrey rang of their railing and libellings They presently
And one that was married by him affronted him in the Church at the time of marriage and told him he did not say right c. but he had not done right who had made a whore of the Bride divers moneths before the marriage And he was much reviled because he did not officiate at the grave but he said he would not be Chaplain to the wormes to say grace to them before they go to dinner and feed on the dead corps upon this account he was threatned to be buried alive He desired them to go into the Church after the corps was interred and said he would there give them a word of Exhortation seeing so many were there met together but their usuall answer was If we can have nothing at the grave we will have nothing in the Church It were well if all Ministeriall speakings at the grave were prohibited to take away all appearance of evill for by such officiating of the Minister there is hardning of popish ignorant and superstitious people as if some good came to the dead by the Ministers speaking over the dead at the grave and as if the devil will not come nigh Holy Priesthood Holy Church ground Holy Service And upon this account there is much enmity raised against good Ministers because some Ministers practice it out of superstition and some to humour and please the people least they should Article against them or not pay their Tythes well At one buriall when they began to raise at Mr. Culmer because he did not officiate there one J. D. a common swearer fell flat on his belly and thrust his arm into the grave and said aloud We shall have him here here here shortly but this man a young man died a little after stark mad cursing and calling out the devil the devil And one T. D. who had two wives living and children by them both who did beat his own aged dearest father was instrumentall in the persecution of Mr. Culmer whom he used to affront and said he had as much to do at the Vicarage as he and said he would go no more to the Steeple-house this man was a little after hanged in Sussex And when Mr. Culmer gave meat and money to divers poor people the persecutors told the people that Mr. Culmer did that in policy to get their good wills that they should not joyn with the rich men against him but they should not finde him so liberall afterwards A Grandee of the faction did use to lead many after him on the Sabbath as they went to the next Parish which when a worthy Gentleman of that Parish observed He sent the Grandee word That it was a badge of malice to leave Mr. Culmer to come to hear at that Parish where there was a Preacher whose gifts were farre inferiour to their own Ministers But this is an ordinary persecution of Ministers as now when lately in that Isle a drunken scandalous railing Priest was ejected there comes scarce one of ten to hear the godly Minister placed in his room And when Mr. Culmer reproved them for setting up a Tree May-pole it was told him to his face That there was a Bough strong enough to hang him on it And when he preached not on their christmass-Christmasse-day as they call it He was reviled for it in the Church and called Rogue and assaulted in the Church-yard and it was told him Such a Minister did preach then and why not you The usual saying of the 500lb man and his faction was We don't take you for our Minister At last the Persecutors plotted to advance their design against Mr Culmer by articling against him before the Committee for Plundered Ministers thereby to make publick shews of numerous Witnesses and to manifest their implacable and violent opposition against him Only by that pretence of enmity against him to prevail to remove him because thereupon it would be conceived That he was not like to do any good amongst them who acted with such animosity charge trouble or travel That was the mystery of the iniquity of all that opposition a confidence to prevail meerly upon the account of pretended opposition and unlikelihood of not edifying by him upon that account That 's the knack of it all the Nation over when only self-will and malice and private interest and self-ends are the weights that set all the Wheels a going For they could not be so sottish as to imagine to prevail by the merits of the cause They had a Treasurer at warre as I may so say who kept the money which was collected to defray the Charges in pursuance of those Articles to pay Witnesses c. They raised and spent above 300lb as appears by their own confession in prosecuting of him Some of the Articles are verbatim in the printed Libels viz. That he was a fantastick narrow brain'd man That false News was by a Proverb called Culmers News That he made a popular shew but gave very little That he denied to pay Parliament Texis That he is an impudent man and did pisse in the Cathedral in Canterbury That he gave not the Communion at Harbledown as he ought c. And to steel their numerous frivolous woodden Articles and to set an edge on them they accused him to be a common swearer and a Protector of Malignants They carried whole Coaches full of Witnesses through Canterbury in a triumphant bravado But at the hearing before the Committee they could not produce one Witness that ever heard him swear one oath It is true that one Wilde of Vpstreet a Ditcher was fitted with russet-boots and Yeoman-like and carried up to Westminster to witness one Oath against M. Culmer But when he came to the Committee door his heart failed him For the truth is That he had falsly accused Mr. Culmer whom he met one Morning and told him He did ride upon a Round-headed horse but Mr. Culmer said little to him using no oath or evil word against him as Thomas Heath who heard all that was spoken was ready to witness if Mr. Culmer had been called to his defence But a little after Wilde fell sick and consumed and died in a fearfull manner And that scandal touching Mr. Culmers protecting of Malignants It was raised by the persecutors from Harbledown because he dealt courteously with a Gentleman who was taken to be the Lord Digby being found at an Inne there in the night But the true Lord Digby rid through Canterbury that day and escaped over Sea The Gentleman in his frolick put his scarlet cloak on the Can-maker and he put on the Can-makers lethern apron and so danced in his gold lace But upon suspicion the house was beset and Mr. Culmer then Minister there was called up at midnight and went to the Justice at Canterbury and did write a Warrant at the Justices bed side and called up Richard Redwood then Constable The young Spark kept his room with his naked Rapier which be thrust thorow the glasse-window But Mr.
thorow the back-street there were few people there for all were in a tumult in the High-street after some Plumporridge-Priests as M. Culmer used to call them had ended their Sermons But at North gate street some women seeing him ride that day with his Cloak bag behinde him railed at him saying Oh Rogue will not you give Christ his day he was compelled to escape the dirt thrown at him to runne the Gantlet or thorow Purgatory as they call it And on Moonday-morning according to his promise to a friend he returned to Canterbury having heard nothing of their search for him the Saturday before And at North-gate-street there were few people But two women there asked him If he were Mr. Culmer which when they knew Oh Sir said they ride no further for the City-gates are shut and they are all together by the ears and some in Canterbury swore If they had taken you upon Saturday they would have stoned you to death or hanged you But being mindfull of his promise rid on to the midst of Ruttenton-lane but upon better consideration he took this as a warning from God and returned to Forditch where he wrote a Letter to excuse his not coming according to promise and then he rode to Sir James Oxendens where after Dinner the News being seconded of the Rising in Canterbury he and his Sonne being Deputy-Lieutenants sent Orders to raise the trained Bands and a Regiment came from the Wilde of Kent which quelled the Rioters who were many of them carried to Leeds Castle But when Mr. Culmer came to Canterbury at the coming in of those forces a woman in North-gate said Oh Mr Culmer there 's good quarter for you now in Canterbury But I cannot conceive for which of Mr. Culmers good works in Canterbury any there should stone him whose Ministry they enjoyed gratis for many years and where he endeavoured with the hazard of his life to quench their fires in Dover-lane and elswhere and where he hath leaped into a deep whirl-pit and dived to save life and fetched up the party from the bottom when he was Minister at Harbledown as hundreds there know being eye-witnesses thereof But in the year 1648. the Scout and the 500lb man and their Faction One and All All All proved themselves Malignants with a witnesse by their practice and actings in the Kentish Rising wherein divers of them were Commanders and were Sequestred The Scout was a Captain therein Two dayes before the Rising they summoned a meeting at Church to sign the Cavaller-Petition which when Mr. Culmer had read he earnestly disswaded them from subscribing it The Petition cried down Taxes and would have the Army disbanded c. But Mr. Culmer shewed them the necessity of Taxes to defend our selves against the enemies of our Religion lives c. and that wars were chargeable as Physick in sicknesse more chargeable than ordinary Diet and that we were in a Tempest and at such times men throw their goods overboard to save their lives and that these Taxes were not ordinary but upon necessity And that the Kings Taxes of Ship-money c. were made without a Parliament and without necessity and that these illegal pressures were taken away Then one of the chief of the Faction who after was a Commander and an Imprisoner said The Parliament hath taken a Flea out of our bosome and put in a Serpent And Mr Culmer speaking against the disbanding the Souldiers said The Wolves would make peace with the Shepherds upon condition they would hang up their Dogs The Shepherds desirous of peace hung up their Dogs but when the Dogs were gone the Wolves devoured Sheep and Shepherds too And this my father applied shewing that the Army kept us Governours and People from bloudy Wolves in Ireland Papists Atheists c. Many thereupon refused to subscribe but the All All All-man cried out Pen and Ink Then Mr Culmer left them subscribing And the next day Richard Langley of St Laurence Parish a very godly man and active for the State was set upon and put to it to flie for his life and was pursued to Mynster and murdered there upon Thourn-down But the Gentleman Cavalier that sent out the pursuers and furnished them with Horse and Pistols did afterwards cut his own wife in pieces and was hanged at Sandwich This man was a great jeerer at praying by the Spirit a contemner of publick Ordinances a great Incendiary against Mr. Culmer and came to him reviled and berogued him before hundreds of people at a publick meeting in the Tents at Mynster at a muster And Mr. Culmer being at home when the Rising began knew nothing of it or of the murder of Langley untill his servant came home and told him how matters stood and that they were arming in the street to fall upon him and that there was a Court of Guard at Ebbsfleet and at Sarr Whereupon he knowing himself unable to defend himself in his own house presently escaped out before they came to his house And night coming on he went to the River side next Ash and did swim in his cloaths over the River and having left his Boots when he took water he went without shoes on the South of the River till he was past Ebbsfleet where the Court of Guard was on the other side of the River And then he crossed the Haven again nearer Sandwich at a place called Little-joy And who it was shot at him God knoweth but he was fain to play the Dydapper and crossing the Haven again below Sandwich Mr Wade now Gentleman Usher at White-hall can tell more of this Then he travelled bare-foot on the sands to Deal where he had entertainment at Pilot Culmers house whither he came at break of day and there he had a gray Sute and refreshed himself But presently there begun a Tumult before the door against him and they swore They would hang the Round-headed Priest and the Rout increased but by means of Mr Wood a Physician there and his said Kinsman John Culmer and Mr Potter he escaped and got safe to Deal-Castle to Col. Rainsborow which was his intent when he first set out The noble Collonel used him very courteously And Mr â—â—lmer of Sandwich coming newly out of the Isle told Mr. Culmer how his friend Richard Langly lay in his bloud and that they said If they had taken him he should not have died that death and that he had no way to escape them but by swimming And that day the Collonel carried Mr Culmer aboard with him in his Long-boat and put him aboard Captain Nubery in the Hunter Frigot which was then dispatcht for London whither M Culmer came one Saturday night late And the next day he preached in his gray Pilots sute at Mr Whitakers Church called St Mary Bermonsey and incouraged the people to stand fast and cleave to the present Cause c. And when the Lord Fairfax marched into Kent he returned homeward with the Army and came safe to his