her life and no apparent sense of that misery did not spur me on thus to mention so great an Object of Compassion on whom I beseech God to have mercy In the same year of Mr. Morgan's Mayoralty Sir Iohn Knight and Mr. Aldworth being the principal Contrivers I had two more admirable Trials of my Patron 's affection The first was the old Project of Scandal and were not my Evidence Mr. Burroughs then Swordbearer now dead I would more plainly say Subornation of Perjury to render me scandalous to the carrying on of which they busily tampered with such as were esteemed meet for their purpose whom while supplied with drink they found ready to say any thing that might gratifie their Masters Their chief Factor was one Thomas Warren whose employment it was to pick up Merchants of Fame Of such seaven Men and Women were selected as able to carry on the work whose Names and the Substance of what they were to Testifie being brought to Mr. Aldworth he drew them up in form ready for Oath and Signature This was discovered by Mr. Burroughs a zealously loyal Churchman who gave me the respect of a visit and to advise me to look to my self for that he overheard some whisperings of design against me and saw Papers handed from one to another by the Mayor Townclark and others upon that day dining with the Mayor In short the Mayor and other Particles of Iustice were on a certain day drawn together into the Council Chamber of the City to sit as in a Council of War to determine of a Poor Vicars Repute and Thomas Warren was File-leader of the Executioners For two of the seaven appeared not at all The five managed one by one by Warren and brought to Aldworth who stood in the Stairs leading to the Chamber to preexamine and instruct denied to swear what they had said Warren was angry and Aldworth askt them what they came thither for if thâ—â— would not Swear To whose question they answered That Mr. Warren made them drunk and that whatever they had said in their drink they would not swear what was read to them out of Mr. Aldworth's Papers for all the world So the Right Worshipful and Worshipful departed as wise and honest as they came Their intentions had been buzzed about the City among the Conventicling Parties before Mr. Burrough's discovery although not so privately but that some of the Ortâ—odox Party discerned somewhat of contrivance against me though they knew not what it was the day only being known when something of an high nature was to be proved against me This brought the Factious Birds in Flocks and the uncertain rumour brought the ingenious sorrowful men to be spectators Diverse of these last saw Warren busie in whispering and introducing the Witnesses one by one but Mr. Burroughs only heard the words spoken by and to Mr. Aldworth having by virtue of his Office more liberty than others to come within hearing This Holy Stratagem was improsperous but Malice being alway active they are furnisht with a new Devise Matter of Scandal was some years laid aside but in the same Mr. Morgan's Mayoralty I was sent for to the Toulzy by a Serjeant and there brought up into the Council House where Sir Iohn Knight twatled at his accustomed rates demanding of me particularly by what pretence of right I received Tithes within the liberties of the City my Answer was As lawful Incumbent of the Vicaridge of St. Philip of Jacob within the City Sir Iohn replied That the City by its Charter was exempted from all payments of Tithes the Chamber paying fourteen to the best of my remembrance pounds yearly to the Abby of Tewkesbury part of the Queens Dower pro omnibus Decimis Villae Bristol I justified the Tithes my right as being received by my Predecessors so long as that the memory of man could not alledge to the contrary and that I would defend the Rights of my Church to the utmost of my power not fearing Gods blessing upon endeavours and a Cause so just The Parishioners such as were Phanatical and willing to contribute to ruine the Church had private notice to be ready and the Chief of them called up into the Council House and commanded to pay no more Tithes to me or any succeeding Vicar of that Parish assuring them that if I brought any action against any of them their charges should be reimbursed out of the Chamber stock I urged that the Rector of St. Michaels in the City received Tithes time out of mind for Lands within the liberties of the City and that the City Chamber paid the Incumbent of little St. Augustines an annual Composition for Priors Hill in regard it was made common to the Citizens for certain uses and ceased to be beneficial as formerly together with other Lands within that Parish upon which Buildings were erected Sir Iohn learnedly confuted me with saying that that of St. Augustines was matter of benevolence and the other should be enquired into I departed and in pursuance of my Promise served Thomas Warren and others with Subpenaes out of the Exchequer for non-satisfaction for my Tithes They defended the Cause for a while but after considerable expences coming to the succeeding Mayor Alderman Stevens with a Bill of Charges and to Petition for an Order for Reimbursement according to the former Assurance the Mayor although very forward in encouraging them the preceding year and as forwardly concerned in the former practises against me had considered of the matter and answered that no such Order should be granted That Alderman Morgan galloped too fast in promises but that he would trot on considerately in performancies of his engagements in rash attempts This answer cooled my Adversaries and for that time they came to Composition neither did I find any further trouble from the following Mayors or other than due respects But the turbulent Spirit of Phanaticism began by banding together to bring to pass by their own Purses and Subtilties what they failed of effecting by the Magistrates To this end divers of them fourteen in number entred into a Combination and mutual engagement to detain my Tithes not only within the Liberties of the City but those parts of the Parish which lay without the City The Names of these were Iohn Dowl Thomas Warren Iohn Teage Richard Winston Robert Miles and Francis Bell Principal Conspirators with whom associated in Councel Thomas Edwards Thomas Wright Henry Lang not sued but promoters of the others obstinacy The rest were rather drawn in and therefore after some time left them But three years they held me in Law making Affidavits of one sort or other and bringing down Commission upon Commssion At length when they had almost worn me out they began to suspect and disagree among themselves For the Greater charged the Meaner with such Large Bills in Parnership from time to time that they began to fear themselves ensnared and to shew their Bills This I by accident hearing was not
furiously belched out foul language and after such Terms used the Grandmother threatned me to acquaint the Mayor with what I had done To all that was said I made no reply but walkt on with silence until that last womanish threatning to which turning about I answered The Mayor will much thank you for it Immediately the Mother bawls out What do you not care a Fart for the Mayor The Brawl oceasioned a great concourse among which were some good people but especially five men who had often rebuked the women for their misbehaviour To these as soon as the women had spoken the words I said It 's a thousand to one but these malitious women will inform and insence the Mayor with the words pretended to be spoken whereas you can testifie that nothing like it came from me I did not in the least suspect that the Mayor could be so wretchedly silly as to take notice of it but conjectured that through their want of discretion a Gossipping or Pick-thank story might be promoted But the next morning came two Sarjeants to my House requiring my appearance before Mr. Mayor immediately at the Toulzey I desired to see their Warrant but they answered that they were the Mayors Sarjeants and their Persons were Warrants I refused to go without a Warrant but they laid hands upon me and compelled me At the Toulzey were present the Grandmother and the Mother who sware that I said I did not care a Fart for the Mayor The Mayor and Aldermen then present expect Sir Thomas Langton who departed saying to his Brethren You do not do well to hearken to Womens Title Tattles I 'le be gone required me to give sureties for the answering at the next Quarter Sesons and the Behaviour in the mean time But I had sent for the five men before mentioned who offered to swear That being between me and the women they heard all the words by me uttered at that time while the Women were Brawling but that they did not hear any such words spoken by me Sir Iohn Knight the Elder who esteems himself an Oracle of the Law told them this was a Negative Oath and would signifie nothing I argued That if I had spoken such words the place where they were said to be spoken was not within any part of the City but in Glocestershire and that in the Womens Oath there was no mention of any particular Mayor of Glocester more than Bristol or Bristol than Coventry but to manifest that I was not so ungratefully ill-bred as causelesly to affront so eminent a Magistrate and one of my Patrons I offered to take my Oath that I was so far from speaking those words that they were not so much as in my thoughts until the Womens speaking them But Sir Iohn could speak nothing but Law and that discreetly and accepted neither my asleveration as a Clergyman nor my Oath as a man two witnesses swearing positively and my Oath being only negative and in my own Cause I urged again That if any person had been faulty in speaking rudely of another to any ingenious men his being ashamed thereof was sufficient satisfaction and that it was satisfaction enough in my judgement that my self and five more persons of known repute could swear the words not spoken by me and what I offered was argument enough that I esteemed such language misbecoming me that it could not appear other than Malice and Revenge in the women and lastly that if the words had really been spoken I saw no ground that they had for such proceeding but that my rudeness was my own punishment Sir Iohn insisted upon the positive Oaths and required surety which I denied so much as to seek for So my Mittimus was made and I was committed to Newgate Prison for the space of six days Sir Iohn Knight Alderman Willoughby Alderman Hix Alderman Stevens and Alderman Lawford signed the Mittimus during which time I desired on Sunday and Newyears day to have the liberty to officiate at my Parish Church paying a Keeper to go with me The Goaler dared not permit this without the Mayors leave I wrote to the Mayor to desire that liberty but was denied At six days end I gave Bayl but the night before I went forth of the Prison the Keeper of it being sent for into my Chamber to receive his Chamber-rent and Fees began to perswade me to a submission and to cast my self wholly upon the Mayor and Aldermens mercy my answers averse to his propositions seemed strange especially in regard of their Power and that although persons very rich in their own private fortunes they would prosecute me with the Chamber-stock and in fine would certainly ruine me I replied that little of their love to Justice would appear in their relying only upon their Power and Riches that the trust was presumed to be put into the manegery of those that were impartial who would not be moved to wrong doing by either favour or spleen At last after much discourse to this purpose I said Come Come Mr. Holt the Keepers Name thy are a company of Noddies and know not what they do This was a grand Offence and moved the Sophies to high indignation especially by the Keepers to obtain with his Masters the repute of being diligently jealous of their esteem adding and swearing more than was spoken although words in themselves meerly frivolous Hereupon I was again committed and detained under close confinement ten days more and then Bayled forth During my Confinement the Mayor Sir Iohn Knight the two Sheriffs Mr. Robert Aldworth the Townclarke who had been a Collonel in Service against King Charles the 1st and Son of that insolent and ungrateful Rebel Alderman Aldworth who being Mayor of Bristol shut the City Gates against his Master and the King forcing his entrance with an unusual Clemency not only prohibited Military Execution as in those cases but was graciously pleased both to pardon the Traytor and recommit to him the Sword Yet his Majesty had no sooner left the City but Aldworth did notwithstanding his many pretensively thankful asseverations of future Allegiance conspire against his Prince whose most eminent Compassion reprieved him from the jaws of Hell and made the City a Parliament Garrison Mr. Robins Steward of the Sheriffs Court was sent with diverse others to the Bishop with the Complaint of my rude carriage toward the Mayor at one time and most of the Magistrates of the City came at another Sir Iohn Knight as most potent in Law laid open the offence in a speech very copious and prodigiously eloquent concluding with a Prayer that I might be prosecuted for this misdemeanour in the Ecclesiastical Court Mr. Aldworth seconded him but Mr. Robins expresly denied to speak against a Clergy-man in a Cause whereof he was altogether dislatisfied The Bishop when Sir Iohns Gaping fit was over had liberty to deliver his sentiments that he thought the Magistrates had done very ill in Committing a Clergy-man to Prison on
be with me within an hour but staying longer I was in Bed by nine of the Clock and scarcely lain down when the Gentlemen came and were brought up into my Chamber and their business being only to deliver a Licence and treat with me concerning the time of Marrying the Persons therein mentioned departed These I brought also and my Servants who all testified so much yet the three found thus malitiously false and although unknown then to me long known to the whole City to be the vilest of Men sticking at no sort of Rudeness Lies or Debauchery found among the Godly sober Party the Credit of Saints and Angels Besides many other contumelious reports groundless and silly such as Church-haters had forged in their extravagant mirth and used to tell of Parsons even before my Birth impudently packt upon me for the space of several years I could not walk the streets without vollies of scurrilous Terms and reflections thrown at me by Apprentices and Journymen the Masters standing by and shewing themselves therewith pleased But my Patience I thank God preserved me from the harms intended me by that sort of Battery and I was no more afflicted then so â—aâ— as Compassion for their Malice and Folly moved me to Sorrow neither did I forbear passing through any street by reason of the reproachfulness of the Inhabitants or gratifie any ill temper by anger or so much as turning my head to look upon the Persons of disingenuity Nevertheless I was not Ignorant that the ill Characters of my Person were not the sole aim of their Aspersions but had learned from the Examples of Superiors at the pedestral of whose Imitators I presumed to stand that the blackning a Name by Obloquy made a grand Progress in Ruin And these were preparatives for justification of Actions to follow which were frequent Arrests of me and my Servants of my self for words pretended to be spoken of which they never stood to the trial of my servants for the like and for treading besides the Paths of some of their grounds in their looking after my Tithes And although they dared not stand to a Legal Deremination yet this was expensive and they hoped by continual Actions to impoverish me and likewise to tire the patience of my Friends whom I made use of as Bayl that if they could not drive me out of the City yet they might secure me in a Prison The before named Dowle Boyce and one Francis Bell were the Principal Actors herein In the beginning of December in the year that Sir Thomas Lancton was Mayor I cannot exactly speak the number of the year I had occasion to send a Letter by a Trowman to one Henry Hyman living near Monmouth who was wont to furnish me with Provisions of Corn Bacon c. and not finding the Trowman aboard his Trow his men directed me to the place where he was at the White Hart in Corn-street Where finding him I had scarcely delivered my business and called for a Flagon of Beet when before I tasted it came into the Room one Atwood and Dickenson Chief Constable and Constable of All-Hollows Ward the later being a reverend Heelmaker and Speaker in an Anabaptist Conventicle who after some gaping one upon another and a short silence began to demand of me what business I had there I Answered That I would return them an Account if they first satisfied me what Authority they had to examine me But their Answer was short That they were Constables and must bring me before the Mayor I refusing to go unless they shewed me a sufficient Warrant they laid hands on me and dragged me forth Dickenson striking me diverse blows because forsooth not knowing the man but guessing by his words and gesture I said I believed him to be some zealous Tub preaching Cobler The Mayor being not at home they drew me to and fro through the Streets as if some notorious Malefactor in quest of the Mayor and after two hours finding him Dukenson presented me informing him where they found me and beginning to preach to the Mayor and both Sheriffs present then how unseemly and scandalous a thing it was for Ministers to frequent publick Houses c. Sir Thomas whose thoughts were clear of Phanatical Dregs required by what Warrant they had thus apprehended me They produced Sir Thomas's Warrant to search all Publick Houses and suspicious Places and to apprehend all such Strangers as they any where met with who could not give an account of the Places of their Abode or Business in Town it being soon after an insurrection in the North. The Mayor replied you intimate that you know Mr. Godwyn to be a Clergyman and do you not know his place of Abode They confessed yes What then is this said he to your Warrant But furthermore tell me whether you found Mr. Godwyn doing there any ill or unlawful Act or can you prove that he sat there drinking beyond the limits by the Law exprest They answered no but began as before to Cant and tell him That Ministers of the Gospel ought to be Pure and of good Conversation and Example But the Mayor and Sheriffs threatning them for this Fact they departed Yet this they reported and diverse in the City Lovers of the Church as well as Enemies believed it That they had taken me in a House Drunk and that the Mayor had ordered me to provide Sureties the next day for the Behaviour and intended to indict me the next Quarter Sessions Diverse litigious Actions and approbrious Reflections too tedious to insert here being this year thrown upon me the next year Mr. Willoughby was Mayor in whose time certain Persons in and near the City died of the Plage But one Mr. Walter Chester a Gentleman of my Parish falling sick and dying of a Prurisie because I had during the time of his sickness been diverse times at Prayer with him and had administred to him the Holy Eucharist the Mayor upon slight Information that he died of the Plague shuts up my House and places Musqueteers at my street and back Doors The Physitian who was daily and almost hourly with Mr. Chester in his sickness lived almost in the Heart of the City the Apothecary dwelt by the Toulzey where the Magistrates and Merchants daily met yet no notice was taken of them whereas my House in the Suburbs must be shut up And both to remove all pretence of the Mayor and other Magistrates not knowing who was the sick Mans Physitian or Apothecary and manifest this an Act of Malice against me the last is shewn by their fearless discourses and reception of the former For Dr. William Sermon the Physitian and Mr. Martin the Apothecary in the presence of the Mayor and Aldermen at the Toulzey made Oath that Mr. Chester died not of any Contagious Disease but of the Plurisie so did one Woman who attended him in his sickness and two others who laid him out as they term it sware that there was not the