Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	answer_n	letter_n	london_n	833	5	7.4937	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94042	Secret reasons of state in reference to the affairs of these nations, at the interruption of this present Parliament: anno 1653. discovered. Also, the power of parliaments, touching imprisonment, debated. With other matters worthy of observation, in Jo: Streater's case: this being a narrative of his two years troubles at the beginning of the late monarchie, erected by General Cromwel.	Streater, John, fl. 1650-1670.	1659 (1659)	Wing S5949; Thomason E983_24; ESTC R203671	14,755	20

you will do well to carry your self conformably to th● present Power and walk inoffensively Mr. Streater My Lord I ever have been and I hope shall be a Subject to Government so as the Law requireth me to be It is not my duty to be otherwise subject In Easter Term following the Prisoner was discharged of his Bail About six weeks after the Late Protector sent six files of Musqueteers they in compassed his house near High-gate but he having notice of it by one of the Protector 's Councel's Letter to him did escape and hid himself for 4 Months in private in which time he sent a Letter to the Protector wherein he desired to know what was the reason of his so violent prosecuting of him no answer could be obtained In the Interim of which time a Minister of London a friend to J. S. and one intimate with the Protector repayreth to him to mediate for J. S. who knew nothing at all of his proceedings herein He desired the Protector to desist from prosecuting of him Told him that he was but a dissatisfied friend that he was confident that nothing was in his designes but publick good and that such dealings would but make him stand at a greater distance To which the Protector answered that he would have him dead or alive unless he would come submit himself to him or else that he would go in the West-Indies Expedition the which if he would he should be well provided for J. S. his friend acquainted him with what passed and pressed him to comply in both of the aforementioned particulars but could not prevail for that J. S. in the first place was resolved not to trust to his Mercy nor in the second place to go into his Sink Jamaica where he would have been glad to send all Assertors of the Good Old Cause that he might never have had his Conscience grated with the reading of such pieces as his piece of the Observations upon Aristotle's Politicks for which J. S. was this time prosecuted vigorously In which discourse the Excellency of a free State was maintained and the Inconveniences of a Tyranny or Single Person were fully demonstrated At the end of the aforementioned 4. Months private and voluntary Imprisonment for the security of his Person he bethought of writing to General Disborow who with much Civility and Courtesy answered his Letters prevailed so with the Protector that if J. S. would promise not to write or publish any more books to the prejudice of the then Government he should live quietly and undisturbed General Disborow sent to him notice hereof withall desiring that he would come to speak with him promising by the Messenger he should come and go safely Accordingly at Kensington J. S. waited upon him where he promised not to write any more against that power his private Reason was because he saw all people sit quiet under the Power not resisting and therefore it was in vain to continue writing or further opposing the Corruptions of those Times and General Disborow promised he should be prosecuted no more But so it was that one moneth after in November 1654 again the second time the Protector sent a Squadron of Horse to his House near High-gate by them he was taken out of his bed at one of the clock in the morning and brought to the White-Hart at Chering-Crosse At day break J. S. sent to Gen. Disborow and acquainted him That contrary to his promise he was taken prisoner again Immediately the General went to the Protector to know the reason thereof being confident that J. S. would not break his word The Protector told him That he had been discoursing with some Parliament-men of matters of dangerous Consequence at such a time and place Worthy Gen. Disborow did acquaint Mr. Streater of all that he could learn touching that matter and sent a command to the Guard that was over him to bring him to Suffolk house where the General discoursed the whole matter to him and withall told him That Mr. Thurlow the Secretary was the Instrument of his Trouble To which J. S. replyed That he did remember the Discourse every word and repeated the substance thereof to him withall told him He would write it down and leave it to any to judge whether it would amount to the desert of a Restraint General Disborow approved of so doing and accordingly he did it being to this purpose viz. That being asked Whether one might lawfully sign the Recognition before he Entred the House and afterward oppose the same thing J. S. Returned answer One might And gave first this for a Reason That it did contain these words To be true to the lawfull power of the Protector of the which he knew not any that he had and therefore the Obligation was void because that unto which he engaged had no being He further Illustrated it both by the Opinion of divers Casuists and Civilians A Second Reason was That if he could dispence with it in point of Conscience it would consist well with Prudence for good minded men Not to scruple the signing thereof for that thereby they were kept or sifted out from whom good was to be expected and though they could not do the Good they ought yet they might prevent much Evill and be in a readiness to attend the opportunity that providence might offer to accomplish the Good they ought to do A Third Reason was from the Example of our forefathers who did swear to be true to the King and subject to the known Lawes yet so soon as they came into the House they Treated of the Alteration of several Lawes the which they could not do if they took the Oath in any other capacity then as private men For an Oath is not lawful to be taken that should bind private persons in any thing that is contrary to the Judgment and Opinion of a Councel of Legislators Another Question was askt J. S. What were the signs of a weak State He answered That they were purblind in their Counsels that they could not see one year to an end what the Effects of their Resolutions would be which begot uncertainty and Changes in Government The Remainder of the dangerous discourse before mentioned was about what Opinions in Religion were fittest to be promoted and will best suit with Monarchies or Tyrannies and what with Aristocracies and what with Oligarchies and what with Democracies Together with the Necessitie of promoting and encouraging Religion if it were for no other End the which God forbid than to make people easie to be governed If it be taken away they cannot be Governed Therefore the Heathens Institute Religion and give Divine Honour to Stocks and Stones This being the substance of what J. S. writ at large and sent it to General Disborow who immediately procured his Inlargement and stood between him and his Enemies prevented all future Trouble coming upon him with much Care and Readiness These troubles continuing two Years after the day of the Interruption of this Session of Parliament to his Damage and Expence many Hundred pound FINIS