Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A69567
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The vindication of Slingsby Bethel Esq., one of the sheriffs of London and Middlesex against the several slanders cast upon him upon the occasion of his being proposed for one of the burgesses to serve in the late Parliament : for the burrough of Southwark.
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Bethel, Slingsby, 1617-1697.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing B2078; ESTC R4874
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14,038
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12
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the_o vindication_n of_o slingsby_n bethel_n esq_n one_o of_o the_o sheriff_n of_o london_n and_o middlesex_n against_o the_o several_a slander_n cast_v upon_o he_o upon_o the_o occasion_n of_o his_o be_v propose_v for_o one_o of_o the_o burgess_n to_o serve_v in_o the_o late_a parliament_n for_o the_o burrow_n of_o southwark_n london_n print_v for_o francis_n smith_n at_o the_o elephant_n and_o castle_n in_o cornhill_n 1681_o the_o vindication_n of_o slingsby_n bethel_n esquire_n one_o of_o the_o sheriff_n of_o london_n and_o middlesex_n against_o the_o several_a scandal_n cast_v upon_o he_o etc._n etc._n so_o long_o as_o i_o keep_v my_o private_a station_n in_o which_o i_o have_v spend_v a_o great_a part_n of_o my_o life_n i_o thank_v god_n i_o can_v say_v that_o though_o my_o deal_n in_o the_o world_n have_v be_v considerable_a i_o have_v have_v my_o conversation_n so_o as_o not_o to_o meet_v with_o or_o deserve_v as_o i_o reasonable_o hope_v any_o reproach_n from_o man_n but_o no_o soon_o be_v i_o contrary_a to_o my_o inclination_n and_o humour_n call_v forth_o by_o my_o fellow-citizen_n to_o a_o public_a employment_n than_o the_o envy_n and_o malice_n of_o ill-minded_n man_n be_v awake_v so_o as_o that_o to_o use_v the_o prophet_n word_n they_o bend_v their_o tongue_n like_o their_o bow_n for_o lie_n against_o i_o this_o i_o find_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n upon_o my_o election_n to_o the_o place_n i_o now_o bear_v in_o this_o city_n but_o when_o i_o be_v nominate_v at_o the_o late_a election_n for_o one_o of_o the_o burgess_n for_o southwark_n this_o malevolent_a spirit_n be_v grow_v outrageous_a muster_v up_o all_o its_o force_n and_o pour_v forthwith_o upon_o i_o whole_a volley_n of_o as_o spiteful_a calumny_n as_o wit_n sharpen_v by_o the_o keen_a malice_n can_v invent_v notwithstanding_o all_o which_o i_o consider_v that_o this_o be_v not_o my_o case_n alone_o but_o a_o common_a accident_n attend_v person_n stand_v in_o competition_n for_o place_n of_o so_o great_a honour_n and_o trust_v and_o especial_o where_o the_o election_n be_v to_o be_v determine_v by_o the_o suffrage_n of_o a_o great_a body_n of_o people_n divide_v by_o their_o several_a party_n and_o interest_n among_o who_o will_v be_v still_o find_v some_o ill_a man_n who_o prefer_v their_o private_a interest_n before_o the_o public_a service_n will_v not_o balk_v the_o foul_a practice_n for_o the_o obtain_n of_o their_o own_o end_n and_o therefore_o i_o be_v at_o the_o first_o resolve_v to_o sit_v down_o quiet_o under_o the_o satisfaction_n and_o assurance_n of_o my_o own_o innocency_n rather_o than_o to_o foul_a my_o finger_n by_o rake_v into_o that_o filthy_a dunghill_n of_o reproach_n cast_v up_o against_o i_o without_o the_o least_o colour_n of_o truth_n or_o reason_n but_o be_v tell_v by_o divers_a of_o my_o fellow-citizen_n that_o i_o ought_v to_o do_v something_o as_o well_o to_o vindicate_v the_o honour_n of_o the_o place_n i_o now_o bear_v among_o they_o as_o to_o justify_v their_o choice_n of_o i_o to_o that_o office_n and_o also_o that_o those_o of_o the_o neighbour_a burrow_n may_v not_o be_v think_v to_o have_v be_v mistake_v and_o deceive_v in_o the_o person_n who_o since_o that_o time_n they_o prefer_v to_o a_o place_n of_o so_o great_a trust_n i_o think_v fit_a to_o do_v they_o and_o myself_o so_o much_o right_n as_o to_o publish_v that_o which_o here_o follow_v for_o the_o detect_n of_o the_o malicious_a falsehood_n of_o those_o impudent_a slander_n which_o have_v be_v set_v on_o fooâ—_n on_o purpose_n to_o disable_v i_o from_o hold_v any_o place_n of_o so_o great_a trust_n first_o than_o it_o be_v object_v that_o i_o be_o a_o papist_n and_o a_o jesuit_n and_o to_o give_v that_o lie_v the_o better_a credit_n that_o upon_o some_o variance_n happen_v between_o i_o and_o dr._n oates_n he_o do_v declare_v that_o he_o know_v i_o beyond_o the_o sea_n to_o be_v such_o this_o indeed_o will_v have_v be_v a_o sufficient_a bar_n to_o my_o admission_n to_o any_o place_n of_o public_a trust_n and_o much_o more_o to_o my_o sit_v in_o the_o parliament_n who_o have_v show_v so_o great_a a_o zeal_n to_o the_o protestant_a religion_n and_o will_v have_v forfeit_v my_o head_n also_o have_v the_o same_o be_v true_a but_o not_o to_o mention_v here_o the_o test_n that_o i_o have_v late_o take_v to_o the_o contrary_a as_o those_o that_o have_v know_v my_o constant_a conversation_n or_o what_o i_o have_v write_v and_o publish_v will_v not_o believe_v that_o i_o have_v any_o kindness_n for_o that_o religion_n so_o the_o doctor_n be_v ready_a to_o declare_v to_o any_o one_o that_o desire_v information_n in_o that_o point_n that_o he_o be_v never_o the_o author_n of_o any_o such_o report_n nor_o can_v he_o know_v i_o beyond_o sea_n under_o any_o character_n whatsoever_o for_o i_o do_v affirm_v that_o i_o be_v never_o out_o of_o england_n since_o one_o thousand_o six_o hundred_o seventy_o two_o and_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o doctor_n will_v satisfy_v any_o that_o shall_v ask_v the_o question_n that_o he_o never_o go_v beyond_o the_o sea_n till_o the_o year_n one_o thousand_o six_o hundred_o seventy_o seven_o nevertheless_o the_o doctor_n not_o be_v in_o town_n to_o contradict_v this_o story_n at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o poll_n in_o southwark_n it_o be_v well_o enough_o design_v to_o serve_v that_o turn_n second_o it_o be_v say_v that_o i_o be_v a_o soldier_n in_o the_o parliament_n army_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o late_a war_n and_o be_v most_o cruel_a and_o vnmerciful_a in_o the_o exercise_n of_o arms._n this_o as_o it_o seem_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o former_a character_n so_o have_v it_o in_o itself_o as_o little_a of_o truth_n but_o among_o a_o divide_a multitude_n in_o a_o jealous_a age_n when_o the_o generality_n of_o man_n be_v more_o prone_a to_o believe_v any_o thing_n of_o ill_n that_o they_o hear_v than_o to_o be_v at_o the_o trouble_n to_o examine_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o be_v say_v it_o matter_n not_o whether_o report_n be_v true_a or_o probable_a so_o as_o they_o be_v deliver_v with_o sufficient_a confidence_n and_o the_o more_o variety_n there_o be_v in_o those_o story_n however_o inconsistent_a they_o may_v be_v the_o better_a be_v they_o fit_v to_o the_o various_a and_o different_a humour_n and_o interest_n of_o mankind_n and_o the_o bold_a and_o industrious_a calumniator_n by_o this_o method_n of_o proceed_v do_v often_o prevail_v so_o far_o upon_o some_o of_o all_o party_n as_o to_o bring_v the_o person_n he_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o oppose_v under_o their_o dislike_n and_o although_o the_o matter_n of_o this_o election_n remain_v under_o question_n i_o shall_v not_o say_v that_o this_o project_n have_v its_o full_a effect_n in_o my_o case_n yet_o to_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o last_o mention_v objection_n be_v a_o mere_a fiction_n design_v only_o to_o serve_v this_o occasion_n and_o can_v not_o be_v just_o reflect_v on_o i_o i_o do_v affirm_v and_o several_a hambrough_n merchant_n now_o live_v may_v remember_v and_o the_o registries_n of_o their_o court_n will_v plain_o show_v that_o i_o go_v to_o hambrough_n in_o the_o year_n one_o thousand_o six_o hundred_o thirty_o seven_o and_o live_v there_o in_o continual_a employment_n until_o december_n one_o thousand_o six_o hundred_o forty_o nine_o so_o as_o i_o can_v have_v no_o hand_n in_o the_o war_n or_o change_v of_o government_n which_o happen_v in_o england_n within_o that_o time_n and_o though_o after_o my_o return_n into_o england_n i_o do_v with_o other_o submit_v to_o the_o government_n i_o find_v there_o yet_o do_v i_o never_o embrace_v any_o other_o then_o civil_a office_n in_o which_o i_o hope_v i_o may_v say_v without_o arrogancy_n i_o demean_v myself_o with_o that_o integrity_n indifferency_n and_o moderation_n that_o i_o may_v just_o challenge_v the_o great_a of_o my_o enemy_n to_o instance_n in_o or_o to_o name_v any_o one_o act_n of_o severity_n injustice_n or_o partiality_n that_o i_o ever_o show_v towards_o any_o party_n or_o person_n whatsoever_o three_o that_o be_v at_o hambrough_n at_o such_o time_n as_o the_o late_a king_n death_n be_v resolve_v of_o in_o england_n i_o do_v there_o say_v that_o rather_o than_o he_o shall_v want_v a_o executioner_n i_o will_v come_v thence_o to_o perform_v the_o office_n although_o i_o do_v resent_v this_o most_o odious_a and_o malicious_a slander_n with_o the_o high_a indignation_n imaginable_a yet_o have_v bring_v my_o action_n at_o law_n for_o vindication_n of_o myself_o in_o this_o point_n i_o shall_v not_o in_o this_o place_n discourse_v any_o thing_n of_o that_o subject_a lest_o i_o shall_v seem_v to_o anticipate_v public_a justice_n or_o in_o any_o sort_n gratify_v my_o adversary_n by_o let_v they_o know_v what_o i_o have_v to_o give_v in_o
evidence_n to_o prove_v the_o wilful_a malice_n of_o those_o that_o cast_v this_o reproach_n upon_o i_o or_o what_o i_o have_v to_o offer_v in_o aggravation_n of_o this_o scandal_n nevertheless_o i_o shall_v take_v that_o liberty_n here_o to_o say_v i_o be_v bear_v a_o gentleman_n and_o have_v have_v my_o education_n according_o and_o be_o of_o too_o great_a a_o spirit_n to_o stoop_v to_o a_o office_n of_o so_o base_a a_o nature_n to_o serve_v the_o great_a prince_n or_o state_n in_o the_o world_n four_o that_o i_o be_v 〈◊〉_d only_o one_o of_o the_o late_a king_n judge_n but_o one_o of_o those_o two_o person_n in_o vizard_n that_o assist_v on_o the_o scaffold_n at_o his_o death_n this_o i_o may_v call_v a_o home_n thrust_v a_o blow_n level_v not_o at_o my_o honour_n and_o reputation_n only_o but_o since_o the_o person_n so_o characterise_a be_v except_v out_o of_o the_o act_n of_o general_n pardon_v and_o oblivion_n at_o my_o life_n and_o fortune_n also_o and_o aught_o more_o deserve_o to_o be_v vindicated_n by_o some_o solemn_a course_n of_o law_n than_o the_o forementioned_a scandal_n but_o the_o promoter_n of_o this_o loud_a cry_n be_v lose_v in_o a_o crowd_n of_o people_n i_o can_v give_v myself_o or_o other_o that_o public_a satisfaction_n that_o the_o merit_n of_o the_o cause_n require_v and_o therefore_o i_o be_o necessitate_v to_o give_v myself_o and_o the_o world_n the_o best_a satisfaction_n in_o this_o point_n that_o i_o can_v and_o since_o malice_n be_v so_o bold_a and_o dare_a i_o do_v bless_v that_o good_a providence_n of_o god_n that_o set_v i_o in_o such_o circumstance_n at_o that_o time_n when_o such_o matter_n be_v charge_v to_o be_v do_v that_o although_o i_o be_o of_o the_o negative_a part_n i_o be_o able_a to_o convince_v the_o author_n of_o that_o report_n to_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o all_o mankind_n of_o a_o most_o foul_a and_o malicious_a slander_n and_o it_o be_v short_o thus_o except_o i_o can_v be_v at_o hambrough_n in_o germany_n and_o at_o westminster_n in_o england_n at_o one_o and_o the_o same_o time_n which_o all_o will_v agree_v be_v whole_o impossible_a the_o odious_a matter_n charge_v upon_o i_o in_o this_o article_n can_v be_v true_a and_o to_o prove_v that_o i_o be_v at_o hambrough_n at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o the_o matter_n charge_v in_o this_o article_n be_v transact_v at_o westminster_n i_o vouch_v the_o same_o evidence_n which_o i_o have_v cite_v in_o my_o defence_n upon_o the_o second_o article_n and_o as_o the_o malice_n of_o this_o design_n against_o my_o honour_n will_v plain_o appear_v by_o what_o be_v already_o say_v so_o that_o these_o several_a slander_n be_v broach_v and_o send_v abroad_o on_o set_a purpose_n to_o waylay_v i_o in_o my_o election_n for_o one_o of_o the_o burgess_n for_o southwark_n will_v yet_o further_o appear_v by_o that_o scandalous_a libel_n that_o go_v abroad_o under_o the_o name_n of_o how_o and_o rich_a wherein_o the_o author_n pretend_v to_o give_v a_o impartial_a account_n of_o that_o election_n after_o he_o have_v give_v a_o worthy_a character_n of_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o competitor_n sume_v up_o all_o the_o forementioned_a report_n which_o be_v sound_v forth_o at_o large_a against_o i_o in_o a_o few_o soft_a word_n be_v please_v by_o a_o elegant_a irony_n to_o characterise_v i_o as_o a_o person_n sufficient_o eminent_a for_o the_o figure_n i_o make_v in_o the_o late_a revolution_n and_o that_o this_o character_n may_v find_v the_o better_a credit_n with_o the_o world_n and_o that_o i_o may_v be_v think_v still_o a_o man_n of_o the_o same_o spirit_n the_o libeler_n add_v that_o at_o the_o election_n i_o threaten_v to_o pull_v one_o of_o the_o king_n watermen_n coat_n over_o his_o ear_n and_o that_o he_o thereupon_o reply_v to_o i_o ay_o sir_n so_o perhaps_o you_o will_v my_o master_n too_o if_o it_o be_v in_o your_o power_n all_o which_o be_v most_o notorious_o false_a and_o without_o any_o colour_n or_o ground_n of_o truth_n five_o the_o next_o exception_n they_o take_v to_o my_o nomination_n to_o serve_v as_o a_o burgess_n in_o the_o present_a parliament_n be_v that_o be_v one_o of_o the_o present_a sheriff_n for_o the_o renown_a city_n of_o london_n i_o live_v in_o a_o garret_n and_o keep_v no_o house_n be_v this_o admit_v to_o be_v whole_o true_a yet_o will_v it_o not_o be_v allow_v as_o i_o conceive_v for_o a_o good_a exception_n in_o the_o case_n of_o a_o burgess_n to_o serve_v in_o parliament_n if_o i_o be_v otherwise_o qualify_v for_o so_o great_a a_o trust_n it_o be_v a_o maxim_n that_o those_o that_o be_v most_o save_v of_o their_o own_o estate_n will_v be_v most_o careful_a of_o the_o people_n but_o since_o it_o do_v cast_v some_o reflection_n on_o i_o in_o the_o office_n i_o now_o bear_v i_o confess_v it_o will_v require_v a_o further_a answer_n i_o say_v then_o that_o though_o this_o be_v not_o altogether_o true_a yet_o have_v less_o of_o malice_n than_o the_o former_a i_o can_v the_o better_o bear_v it_o in_o the_o former_a matter_n charge_v my_o adversary_n run_v upon_o i_o as_o if_o they_o design_v nothing_o less_o than_o to_o tear_v i_o in_o pieâ—â—â—_n by_o this_o they_o seem_v desirous_a only_o to_o pull_v i_o down_o and_o degrade_v i_o by_o those_o they_o give_v i_o the_o character_n of_o a_o very_a bad_a subject_n by_o this_o they_o will_v have_v i_o think_v no_o good_a citizen_n and_o as_o i_o have_v disclaim_v those_o with_o that_o just_a abhorrencie_n that_o the_o merit_n of_o the_o case_n require_v so_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o upon_o a_o due_a consideration_n of_o so_o much_o of_o the_o aforesaid_a exception_n as_o shall_v be_v find_v true_a as_o also_o of_o that_o which_o follow_v they_o will_v admit_v of_o so_o fair_a a_o apology_n as_o will_v not_o leave_v i_o under_o the_o guilt_n of_o any_o misdemeanour_n but_o before_o i_o enter_v upon_o the_o examination_n and_o answer_n of_o particular_n i_o shall_v here_o enter_v my_o protest_v that_o i_o have_v a_o true_a and_o real_a veneration_n and_o esteem_n for_o that_o renown_a city_n and_o have_v be_v ready_a to_o express_v the_o same_o upon_o all_o occasion_n both_o at_o home_n and_o abroad_o even_o before_o i_o have_v the_o honour_n to_o be_v call_v to_o the_o office_n i_o now_o bear_v among_o they_o that_o i_o be_o always_o ready_a to_o pay_v that_o due_a observance_n and_o respect_n to_o the_o government_n thereof_o that_o the_o law_n ordain_v for_o that_o purpose_n do_v require_v that_o though_o for_o many_o year_n last_o pass_v i_o have_v not_o have_v any_o private_a interest_n and_o concern_v by_o way_n of_o trade_n not_o expect_v hereafter_o any_o benefit_n or_o advantage_n thereby_o yet_o i_o have_v as_o hearty_a good_a wish_n for_o the_o trade_n welfare_n and_o prosperity_n of_o the_o say_a city_n as_o any_o citizen_n whatsoever_o and_o as_o i_o have_v be_v always_o ready_a and_o willing_a in_o my_o place_n and_o station_n to_o promote_v those_o good_a end_n so_o i_o bring_v the_o same_o resolution_n with_o i_o into_o that_o office_n which_o i_o now_o bear_v and_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o discharge_v with_o all_o integrity_n govern_v myself_o therein_o so_o far_o as_o i_o be_o able_a by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o city_n and_o of_o the_o land_n to_o both_o which_o i_o acknowledge_v myself_o to_o be_v a_o servant_n as_o my_o best_a warrant_n as_o well_o as_o safe_a guide_n and_o if_o in_o any_o thing_n i_o shall_v chance_v to_o fail_v or_o fall_v short_a of_o this_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v through_o any_o wilful_a miscarriage_n or_o neglect_n but_o from_o mistake_n which_o may_v easy_o happen_v to_o one_o of_o my_o education_n in_o the_o manage_n of_o a_o office_n of_o that_o importance_n and_o now_o to_o return_v to_o that_o which_o be_v object_v to_o my_o disparagement_n it_o be_v say_v that_o i_o live_v in_o a_o garret_n and_o keep_v no_o house_n and_o this_o they_o aggravate_v by_o suggest_v that_o for_o this_o reason_n i_o have_v be_v deny_v several_a privilege_n grant_v to_o other_o sheriff_n not_o have_v do_v the_o city_n that_o honour_n in_o this_o respect_n as_o other_o in_o my_o place_n have_v do_v ill_o will_v as_o it_o never_o speak_v well_o so_o it_o seldom_o speak_v true_a as_o it_o make_v the_o worst_a construction_n of_o all_o action_n so_o it_o common_o misreport_n all_o person_n against_o who_o it_o have_v any_o pique_n or_o prejudice_n this_o seem_v to_o be_v my_o case_n and_o how_o i_o come_v to_o fall_v under_o these_o circumstance_n will_v best_o appear_v by_o that_o which_o follow_v the_o truth_n be_v be_v a_o single_a person_n as_o i_o have_v be_v for_o many_o year_n and_o have_v neither_o the_o concern_v of_o a_o family_n nor_o of_o trade_n lie_v upon_o i_o