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
Antichristian Priests then the Devil fetch me away before all this company And being reproved for his execration he said If you be not all Antichristian Priests then I pray God to command the Devil to fetch me away body and soul before all this company So that it is now come to passe that M. Culmer may say with St Paul In journeying often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils by mine own countreymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren 2 Cor. 11. 26. But to conclude whatsoever the Adversaries of Mr Culmer suggest against him in their secret or publick accusations and calumnies as if he were such a Pestilent fellow c. yet he is still the same man as he was before attested to be both in his life and doctrine and good affection to the present Powers And of this assertion I will only set down some late Testimonials and conclude One of these Testimonials is from Captain Thomas Wilson who is the present Deputy Governour of Dover-Castle and a Commissioner for Ejecting of Scandalous Ministers as followeth For my very Loving Friend Mr. Richard Culmer Minister of the Word at Mynster in the Isle of Thanet These Worthy Sir I have herein inclosed sent you knowing your active and publick spirit some of the Armies Declarations which shew the grounds of the late Acts pray let Major Foach receive one with my due respects and use the best means you can to let them be published and made known to the honest people of the Isle as in your wisdom you shall judge meet In haste I remain Sir Dover-Castle April 24. 1653. Your assured Friend Thomas Wilson Another Testimonial is subscribed by nine of the said Commissioners in Kent as followeth We whose Names are here under written do hereby testifie that Richard Culmer Minister of Mynster in the Isle of Thanet in the County of Kent is of good Life and Conversation and a diligent Preacher of Gods Word and hath constantly and eminently shewed his good affection to the State and to Reformation Dated the 27th of June 1655. Henry Oxenden John Boys John Dixwell Thomas Foach Thomas Monius Francis Tayleur Preacher of Christs-Church Canterbury John Durant Preacher there likewise John Player John Swan Nicholas Thorowgood Minister of Muncton Robert Webber Minister of Sandwich Another Testimonial is from the chief Sea-Town in that Isle where Mr Culmer with others preacheth a weekly Lecture gratis as followeth We Parishioners of S 〈…〉 s in the Isle of Thanet in the County of Kent whose Names are here under written do hereby freely certifie that Mr. Richard Culmer Minister of Mynster in the said Isle doth with others freely preach a weekly Lecture in the said Parish to the good liking of the said Parishioners and that we receive much benefit by his Ministry to our Edification and Consolation In witnesse whereof we have hereunto set our hands this ninth Day of August 1656. Gregory Parker Stephen Bishop Churchwarden Richard Genuey William Rook William Prince John Busher John Piers John Tomlyn Humphrey Pudner William Grant Thomas Mussared William Terry Roger Wright Richard Omer John Biggs Thomas Watts c. And it may adde something to this Apology and defence for the continuing and upholding of Mr Culmer in his place that he being threescore years of age hath laid out besides Fifths and Taxes above 200lb in Reparations Buildings Gardens Orchyards Pond Fences c. at the Vicarage-house in Mynster which was an unfit habitation at his first coming thither There having lived no resident hous-keeping Vicar in fifty years before And he was at all this cost upon a Sequestred Vicarage chiefly relying on the Justice favour of his Highness knowing that Vicarage to be only in his Highnesses Personal Patronage and disposal after the death of the present sequestred Incumbent And all this Mr. Culmer often said he did In faith and confidence of Gods continuing to own his own Cause and the present Government under His Highness whom God preserve But that which doth especially blast and weaken the project and pretences for his removal from his place and station wherein he was setled by Authority and hath been upheld by the Justice of the Higher Powers and preserved by the special Providence of God is that there he hath edified souls Having maugre the Devil and all his Instruments the seal of his Ministry there by the beating down with the spiritual weapons of his warfare the strong-holds of Satan ignorance drunkenness c. He having by his Ministry there turned many from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God which the most obstinate Adversaries have confessed in divers places There was lately one of Canterbury who being with his Tenant at the Inne at Mynster heard one railing on Mr Culmer to whom he said I have heard you speak evil of Mr. Culmer I have known him better spoken of But have you no good to say of him Pray deal plainly Doth he no good amongst you The answer was We think the Parish is better for him in two things One is That there is more knowledge because besides his Preaching he doth constantly c 〈…〉 chise And the other is That there is not half so much drunkenness in the Parish as there was before he came to be Minister here And if any should maliciously and impudently deny this Seal of his Ministry and clamour whisper or suggest that he ought to be removed because he doth no good there nor never will because he is opposed which as is shewed before is the usual plea of Persecutors to have their wils without the merits of the cause in an arbitrary way and move the Christian Magistrate to joyn in the Persecution yet the thing it self doth speak and confute that untruth For many in the Parish the chiefest are convinced by the power of the Word in his Ministry and are come in freely to the wayes and Government of Jesus Christ in Church-fellowship giving a particular account of their Christian knowledge and promising to be willing to be admonished c. And the number of visible Saints increaseth in that Parish daily blessed be God And there is not only a very great Reformation in that Parish but in the whole Isle as to good affection to the Present State and to Reformation since the establishing of a Godly Well-affected Magistracy there and since the settling of a faithfull Ministry almost in all the seven Parishes of that Isle Wherein as in Zabulon and Napthali by the way of the Sea the people that sate in darknesse see great light FINIS
bed a moneth after she was married we are like to have a good band I hear either whores or with childe before marriage And upon this occasion I cannot but recount what fell out lately in a Vestry there at a Debate about putting out Apprentices it was voted by Mr Culmers adversaries and set down in the Seffe-book That such a Girl a Bastard should be Mr Culmers Apprentice But he afterward addressed himself to the Justices and desired them that such an affront might not be put on him and said further There were yet but eight bastards since his coming thither and desired he might be excused until the tenth fell The Justices smiled and ordered him another Apprentice I rehearse this because I hear the accusation against Mr Culmer is his rehearsing of a same of words of the feminine gender But the band of women never advanced nor charged but with their sharp tongues But the 500lb man with others went presently before Mr Culmer came down with his Order with a Petition to divers Peers of the Realm which were then in the Isle upon pleasure of Hawking and Hunting and lay there But when the Earl of Warwick had read their Petition against Mr Culmer he said I know Mr Culmer well he is an honest man I pray receive him according to Order If need be I have a better Living for Mr Culmer But we must not oppose Authority c. A little after a chief Parishioner of another Parish brother-in-law also to the said Curate since a sequestred Cavalier went with two of Mynster to Canterbury to a Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants and there they clamoured against Mr Culmer who was thereupon sent for to the Chequer-Inne But after they had heard him speak Sir James Oxinden said Now we have heard Mr. Culmer speak all that you have said against him falls from him as water from a tiled house And Mr. Boys of Bettishanger then Knight of the shire for Kent said their allegations were of no weight and would not prevail and he said I pray oppose him not I am confident you will never prevail against him to remove him he hath been so eminently active for the common Cause and you have nothing to alledge against him I pray receive him he is sent unto you by Authority I dare ingage for him he will be an honest quiet man amongst you if you will be quiet But he that was of another Parish said They had Scouts out against Mr. Culmer and would finde enough against him He were better leave them quietly And indeed they sent out to all places where Mr. Culmer had lived or had any dealing to find matter against him The chief thing which they then alledged against him was that he was a contentious man at Harbledowne whereupon the Committee sent to Dr Austin who is an eminent godly Minister to know the truth of matters concerning Mr Culmer at Harbledowne The Doctor returned them an answer in writing as followeth Octob. 11. 1644. Whereas I am desired to testifie what I know concerning Mr Culmers carriage and behaviour at Harbledowne especially for matters of contention between him and some there I doe hereby truely testifie that having heard all that hath any wayes been objected against him I judged it rather to proceed out of malice than from any ground of truth and the contention spoken of to have been rather out of his zeal to the cause of God than any private cause of his own And though they did alledg matters against him yet I judged them but frivolous And I have been thanked for his ministry there which many of the City of Canterbury also thought so well of as they took the pains to travell thither to enjoy it and that for many years And I also testifie That I have had much dealing with Mr Culmer for at least twelve years yet if he were now mine enemy I must say I have never found him but an honest man both in word and deed In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Name Robert Austin About that time the Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants for Kent made the Order following viz. Whereas we are informed that there is a weekly Lecture at St Johns in the Isle of Thanet in the County of Kent we think fit that Mr Culmer being a very well-affected man and put in by the Parliament into a Cure in the said Isle shall take his turn in preaching the said Lecture Alsford 12 June 1645. Richard Hardress Anthony Welden Robert Scot William Miller John Boys William Kenrick But after this Order and Mr Culmers preaching there that Lecture soon ceased because it seems Mr Culmers preaching was not pleasing to the Cavaller party The Minister there was afterward sequestred for malignancy and not one of the seaven Ministers of that Isle but was neuter or two pockets at the best or rather the worst at that time and could make his Mill goe with any winde But the ceasing of the Lecture did not satisfie them but their chief project was to remove Mr Culmer out of that Isle They as the event proved having a designe to raise a new Warre they knew that Isle to be a fit place for landing an Enemy There is Ramsgate alias Roman-gate where the Romans landed when they conquered this Nation And not far from thence there is at this day found after a great rayne Romane Coyn with the Title and Effigies of Romane Emperours And they considered Mr Culmers disposition activeness and resolution against them and their Cause Thereupon they procured divers to go to Sandnich to a Committee of Deputy-Lieutenants where Sir Edward Boys a Parliament man and Governour of Dover Castle was Chair-man there at least fourty in their best cloathes and with their best friends and Sollicitors did earnestly petition and clamour as for life that Mr Culmer might be removed from Mynster But Sir Edward Boys asked them What they 〈…〉 ad to object against Mr Culmer It was answered They had nothing for the present but they might have in time Non ame to Volusi nec possum dicere quare Hoc tantum possum dicere non ame tc They clamoured that they could not edifie by him and desired the Committee to pity their souls c. But Sir Edward Boys answered them saying I have known Mr Culmer many years to be an honest man and zealous for God in the worst times and a good Preacher you do ill to oppose a man sent unto you by Authority without shewing cause if he should be removed upon such opposition it would open a flood-gate to ruin all good Ministers and encourage opposition against them I am a plainman and love to deal plainly I like not these courses and untill you have matter against him I shall engage for him and engage all the friends I have in England for him against you therefore pray honest men be quiet untill you have just and sufficient cause to complain of him At another time they came to a Committee at
Eastry and the 500lb man spake against Mr Culmer a long time Then Sir Edward replyed saying He had heard him patiently and all was in their own commendations but nothing alledged against Mr Culmer but said he when you have said all Mr Culmer hath lent more voluntarily to the State than all your Parish besides his personall actings pray trouble us no more with your clamours till you have cause And afterwards Sir Edward Boys hearing of some potent agents which they had procured against Mr Culmer at Westminster wrote a Letter as followeth To the Honourable Committee of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament for plundered Ministers present these Honoured Sirs I and many of the Deputy Lieutenants of Kent have heretofore written earnestly unto you in Mr Richard Culmers behalf whom you have since setled in the Vicarage of Mynster in the Isle of Thanet in Kent for which I amongst others heartily thank you Some of which Parish being men of note for Religion and activeness in the common Cause have this day been with me earnestly moving me to be a means that he may be upheld and continued there against a few violent opposers who having begun to oppose him endeavour to make good their own wills and acts and leave no stone unremoved to that purpose although I have once and again shewed my dislike upon good grounds I doubt not but when you understand the truth of things you will be sensible of this cause which is of great concernment and will be such a president if his enemies prevail as will be of very ill consequence and I am certified that there is no such cordiall opposition in the most of the Parish as is pretended but if two or three would surcease all were at an end his life and Doctrine being such that it hath prevailed already with divers I shall not trouble you further only I intreat this honorable Assembly to continue him there untill be shall give just cause to be removed or outed in a Legall way which I presume to crave at your hands for him that in the worst times suffered under the tyranny of the Archbishop and for a man which to my knowledg hath been most famously active for the Parliament many wayes from the first of these distractions and for a man so well attested as he is by so many godly Ministers and others So I rest Your humble servant Edward Boys Dover Castle this 27th of January 1644. A little after this when Mr Culmer had ended his morning Sermon at Mynster on the Sabbath day one R. H. came crouding up to his desk door and clamoured saying Neighbours You that have set your hands against Mr Culmer for a more abler man pray stand to it against him we have had no Communion this blessed Nativity nor Prayers all this Christmas Holydayes Whereupon one or two clamoured but Mr Culmer went out presently and the afternoon Sermon being ended the clamourer came and cried out as in the morning then a chief man of the Parish cryed all all and the clamourer said aloud in the Church to the forenamed Scout who was of another Parish and then present Captain I hope you will joyn with us The Scout answered aloud in the Church saying I will both ride and write but Mr Culmer soon left them clamouring and talking Not long after that they raised a slander against him that he said they were Malignauts which I have often heard him say they meerly forged against him and that he only said he knew it was a plot of Malignants to incense them against him Upon this the 500lb man and some others went to the Committee of the County at Alesford and there accused him of that saying which they indeed had forged for their own ends to strengthen themselves to get a Certificate from that Committee That some of them being of the Trayned bands did advance towards Arundell and that they conceived them to be no Malignants The Certificate was drawn up by the Clerk of that Committee and upon debate about it Colonel Blunt said I see you have cloathed Mr Culmers opposers but you send him away stark naked one Mr Culmer I dwell far from him yet I have observed his activeness in the common Cause and once I made a Speech in the Lords House and he presently made another there to good purpose What say you Gentlemen of East-Kent who are his neighbours Whereupon they cloathed Mr Culmer so well with Commendations that his adversaries were unwilling to make use of their Certificate A little after that Mr Culmer was advised to call the Parishioners together after evening Sermon and to read his Certificates unto them which he did accordingly But so soon as they were read the 500lb man clamoured saying Mr Culmer Mr Culmer Now the people have heard your papers they are as much against you as ever they were if you be not speak ho whereupon only one man J. W. spake he cried out all all all all Then the 500lb man and some others spake against Mr Culmer to incense the people against him The 500lb man fell a jeering him about his little flock at Mynster because he had mentioned that day Fear not little flock And one accused him saying Mr Culmer you make dissention in the Parish you say when you begin your Sermons you that fear God hearken to the Word of God as if some in the Parish did fear God and some in the Parish did not fear God and so you divide the Parish and set us all at difference Another cried out Mr Culmer you may preach but you get no Tythes of me but by Law if you can come by them by Law so it is Nor of me but by Law said another c. Then said one Mr Culmer you gave thanks for a Lye for taking of Scarborow Castle which is not yet taken But Mr. Culmer did indeed give thanks for the taking of Scarborow Town and regayning of Weymouth Then the clamourer J. W. said he would take his Oath on it although it was false which he would so attest against Mr. Culmer But J. W. that so clamoured all all and offered to swear falsly about a week after being drunk fell in his drunken reel under the wheels of a wagon laden with 1500 house-tyles and was crushed to death vomiting up his bloud at his throat and mouth God is known by the judgments which he executeth But some notwithstanding continued after that to revile Mr. Culmer publikely calling him devillish roundheadid Priest and Ha Blew Dick the devil break your neck and roaring out of the Alehouse window as he went by You sirra Jack Priest c. And some came of purpose from other Parishes to jeer the Priest and affronted him at his door in such a manner as is unfit to be named much less committed to paper And because he used not the Service-Book they called it the Round-headed kinde of Service Come will you hear the Roundheaded kinde of Christning too