Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	faith_n	truth_n	3,438	5	6.0713	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54244	Truth rescued from imposture, or, A brief reply to a meer rapsodie of lies, folly, and slander but a pretended answer to the tryal of W. Penn and W. Meade &c. writ and subscribed S.S. / by a profest enemy to oppression, W.P.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.; Rudyard, Thomas, d. 1692. An appendix, wherein the fourth section of S.S. his pamphlet ... examined.	1670 (1670)	Wing P1392; ESTC R36662	46,879	75

Truth Rescued FROM IMPOSTURE OR A Brief REPLY to a meer Rapsodie of Lies Folly and Slander But a pretended Answer to the Tryal of W. Penn and W. Mead c. writ and subscrib'd S.S. By a profest Enemy to Oppression W.P. A Fools Lips enter into Contention and his Mouth calleth for Strokes Prov. 18.6 A Whip for the Horse a Bridle for the Ass and a Rod for the Fools Back Prov. 26.3 Printed in the Year 1670. To the READER I Take him to be an unhapy man that knows not an Enemy upon Earth and therefore judge my self not a little happy to be so ill reputed by S.S. that of all men I have reason to believe one of the most infamous Yet that I may be just to him as well as to my self I do beseech the Reader first to peruse his Fardle of Impostures and Abuse before thou read'st me lest thou shouldst think I have wrong'd him in citation So scurrilous so false and withal so ridiculous is he in his whole conceited Enterprize that but a little charity would make one think that no man could be so great an Enemy to Truth and to Himself Surely his Fondness of being in Print wholly blinded his discretion or else methinks he would have stopt't to give so great an evidence of his Folly One would have thought it Impudence enough to act such Tyranny without an Appology to defend it But as that 's an aggravation of his Gilt so let the man remember that Litera scripta manet I know it well become his Front and every part thereof bears exactly his resemblance 'T is pitty but all the Peoples Enemies should give as wise grounds of their abuse of them and their Laws as this Man has done I am concern'd in a double sence First in defence of my Conscience and therein the Liberties of my Country And next of the Reputation of my deceased Father by him injur'd beyond the instance of a Presedent or allowance of an Excuse Being then thus boysterously attaqu'd in my Religious Civil and Natural Capacity let not any wonder that I imply the force of all to my just defence And if I have so much credit with the Reader believe me I will without the least Scruple give him his compleat weight and measure for I desire not to hold my Life or Liberty on better tearms then whilst I am bold to justifie the Truth at any Cost against the false and peevish Essays of her Adversaries Truth Rescued from Imposture c. Part I. I Have to do with one who dares to profess himself a Patriot and that of so great importance to his Country as on his happy Cry of Miles noli regem ferire the Safety of King and Kingdom have their sole dependance But as I am perswaded that piece of Arrogancy was unexpected by most and his inability too notorious to admit any the least jealousie of such an Enterprize so has he given the greatest Stroke imaginable to himself and those he would seem to vindicate in offering at the poor Quakers for whom his weakness makes sufficient Appollogy and amongst them I am not the least that ought to account my self indebted The second discovery of himself is not less Incharitable then the first was Proud and Impudent He does not only take occasion to fall most foolishly upon our Tryal but as unwarrantably believes 't was I that writ it but should I grant him so much Faith for I believe him to have little I shall appeal to all impartial men If a bare Conjecture and more he proves not be ground sufficient for him to vent so many rank Reflections and that not only upon my self but my deceased Father It either argues he had better Intellegence in the following Pages or that his desire I should be Author of it had changed his Faith into a fancied Certainty which gives sufficient testimony of his Prejudice And as if he doubted there might have been another William Penn that might be an whole Quaker he is pleased to distinguish me from him with this diminitive Expression of William Penn the half Quaker thereby intimating how much worse he supposes half Quakers to be then whole Ones for none can think he said so out of Kindness to me when his Discourse not only singles me out for all Abuse but as not contented with that disturbs my Fathers Grave with his forg'd Aspersions and then places them to my Accompt But whilst I think not my self a little injured by his scurrilous Epethite believing he meant I was not a sincere but interested and turbulent One I heartily rejoyce that out of his own Mouth he has justified my Friends by preferring an intire Quaker before all half or mungril Ones yet if an half one be so fatal and heavy on the Shoulders of Oppressors that they do scarce dare to own their own Appologies how dreadful must an whole One be ⁏ He says in this Expression so much for us that he scarcely needs more against himself But because he believes I writ it therefore he can give it no other Name to use his own words but the Second Part to his Blasphemous Treatise called the Sandy Foundation shaken O egregious Nonsence This ridiculous Non sequitur either shews him to have been a man of a very stegmatick head or else that he has ill bestowed his time who can write no better sence yet for that these two Subjects are in the nature of them very different is manifest But perhaps he thinks it no small piece of Blasphemy to tell the World of the late irregular Proceedings at the Old-Baily Nor does he less wound his own Cause by acknowledging the Book entituled The Peoples Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted which designs to detect on what Foundation the Mayor Recorder c. did proceed to be the second part to the Sandy One manifestly implying theirs to be such His sense of my Faith or rather Disbelief of the Trinity is a wretched Mistake not to say a voluntary one for I never quarrelled the word Trinity it being borrowed of the Latine word Trinus in English Three but alwayes did and do believe the same But why should I insist upon a Point so abstruse and that to a man so unintelligent in more minute matters as that he hath not yet learnt a distinction betwixt Discourses of Civil Liberty and Divine Faith but ignorantly makes the one to be a necessary Consequence from the Supposed Mistake in the other I might here over-look his abusive Reflections upon me as Author of the Trial c. which he urges with no small Zeal by unconcerning my self in the matter But I confess to owe so much of Real Kindness to the Author and many parts of the Discourse that I shall gladly imbrace the occasion of making his Defence The Man resolving I must be the Author sets me up as such and then fights me or rather pelts Dirt at me He says that Penn does not blush to Vilifie

These words do no wayes justifie the Papists if these Libellers had but the least grain of Charity they would have construed the words cum grano salis as the Rule of Charity directs all words to be come strued And they will admit of no other construction but this viz. That if the Papists be so pollitick and prudent by their Inquisitian to maintain their false Religion surely it will be the Protestants prudence to find wayes for the preservation of their true Religion pag. 9. I have been very faithfull and patient in the recital of this poor Defence of which I can give no better Character then that t is like the rest 'T is manifest the words are granted I now hope they will not be longer dis-believed when confirmed by the hands of two Witnesses the Author of the Tryal and this priviledged S.S. But he says it ought to be construed cum grano salis with allowances and in the best sense which Counsel had been tollerable from any but from him that has shown himself so void of any and that which is the Master-piece of all his foolery is his ridiculous Construction he makes of it Himself as if that could be a good Way of preserving the Protestant Religion that is an Hellish ONE in the Papists But why an Hellish One Because it intends to force to an Hetrodox Religion and not rather by reason of the coercive barbarous Nature of the Punishment it self And can any think that an Inquisition to inforce Men to Confess to the Protestant FAITH is not equally Cruel with that of the Papists The Protestants would be so far from having any Advantage upon the Papists for the Inhumanity of his Inquisition that his own Practice would seem but The Second Edition of the Papists Cruelty It is not either of those Names that renders it more or less lawful but the Nature of the thing it self And had this Libeller but ever read the ancient Protestant Apollogies he might have better informed his peevish Mind of their Opinions The true Religion took ever Sanctuary to its own Innocency and Verity and not to the Dumb Materials of External Force But this Expression would make one think that under a Protestant Profession there lodgeth a Popish Spirit and that the same Interest which urged Spain to erect an Inquisition in the Recorders sence should obliege England to employ the same Hellish Tyranny to torture her poor Dissenters though Free-born Natives But if that were his Meaning and such Counsel should be taken it were endless to consider the unexpressible Miseries that would attend us All Law would be subjected to the zealous Anathemas of Ecclesiastical Officers and Religion speak no other Language then that of INQUISITION We have hitherto boasted much in the Self-evidencing verity of the Protestant Faith but this were to bring it justly into jealousie with all that having so long decryed Coercive Power should vehemently employ it to its own-promotion The Papists would not only have cause to believe the ground of primative Seperation was single Interest but an Example to their hand what measure they ought to meet to the Pootestants abroad which reduceth all Religion in a way of subserviency to the Government and Conscience to its Conveniency But this had been forgotten as well as it is forgiven had not the Inadvertency of S.S. brought it the second time upon the Stage Part III. A Vindication of my Deceased Fathers Reputation from the False and Unworthy Reflections of this Scandalous Libeller SInce to Disturb the Grave and Rake into the Ashes of the Dead was ever held detestable with Infidels we may on easie tearms inform our selves to what an ebb of Vertue this man has brought himself who is so dry of all Christianity that there remains not the least Drop of that vulgar Decency eminently in vogue with very Heathens For as with them such might justly be accus'd as were not disabled from answering for themselves so Death having dislodged the Persons of any their Charity esteemed it a protection to their Names from whence came that common Saying De mortuis nil nisi bonum Let us speak no ill thing of the Dead But though this be urg'd yet that it s as ill observ'd by S.S. I shall proceed to shew He takes occasion in the close of his defence of S. Starling to fall thus heavily upon me and my Father as if he could not do the one without the other But I suppose this wild rambling Colt W. Penn mistakes when he chargeth these things upon the late Lord Mayor he means his SEIR deceis'd Doubtless the Man was toucht What course Similitudes are these Did ever man so Brute himself in Print But I dispise his Drayish Terms and apply my self to scan the matter leaving him to wipe himself of that Dirt he thought to cast on others I had so little reason to doubt my Fathers constancy that in the sense debated I know few of greater 'T is true He was actually ingaged both under the Parliament and King but not as an Actor in our late Domestick Troubles his Compass alwayes steering him to eye a National Concern and not Intestine Wars and therefore not so aptly theirs in a way of opposition as the Nations His Service therefore being wholly Forrain He may be truly said to serve his Country rather then either of those Interests so far as they were distinct to each other and for this Evil I hope he may be held excusable But the Rayler proceeds Who from a Captain was made Oliver's High Admiral for his great Service in promoting that new Instrument Which is a Lye so impudent as both his Commission and Men of note can prove That First he made no such extempory leap as is suggested to have been his Recompence for promoting Crumwells Interest but past through many known Offices as of Rere-Admiral Vice-Admiral and Admiral of Ireland and Vice-Admiral of England before he had the General ship conferred on him And Secondly That Oliver was but then General himself and not proclaim'd Protector till several Moneths if not above a Year after the death of General Dean whom my Father immediately succeeded And therefore a very Forgery that for promoting that new Instrument he first was advanced to the Office of High-Admiral I would that this Libeller should know that from a Lieutenant he had past through all the eminent Offices of Sea-Imployme●t and arrived to that of General about the Thirtieth Ye●r of his Age in a time full of the biggest Sea-Action that any Story mentions and when neither Bribes nor Alliance Favour nor Affection but Ability only could Promote I write not this to Vaunt it is below my Principle and Practise but to defend an abused Relation I could say no less He adds Who afterwards did eminent service for the English Nation at Hispaniola when he delivered the Flower of the English-Souldiery a Sacrifice to the Cow-killers This is an Untruth so manifest that no man making Conscience

appear to all impartial Men unworthy of those Reflections and hard Names S.S. is pleased to heap upon me I shall conclude the Vindication of my Innocency with his own Relation of my Tryal And truly when I weigh his frank Confessions concerning Passages the most notorious I should be amazed at his Indiscretion did I not know how usual it is with God to leave such men under strong infatuations For to give it a short Character it s almost Verbatim The Second Edition of our own Tryal I mean that part which related to the Transactions of the Court and Prisoners And whether he has vindicated them from those Expressions which to all sober men are most detestable or backt the Accusation of the Author of our Tryal by his publique acknowledgement of them let any but S.S. and his Juncto judge How then the Author of that Tryal could justly be condemned for his Relation as scurrilous and malicious which is so exactly copied after by S.S. will be hard for any man of Sence to think unless he brings his own Account under the same imputation But he tell us That he thought good to set down the Names of those Justices who were present Honoris Causa with all their Additions and Titles that so the World may know that the City of London wants not worthy Patriots who dare call to an account these vile railing Rabshekahs of this Age. And the rather because the Libeller hath in a disgraceful way prefixt their names without any Additions to his Narative thereby intending to make them odious to the People The Persons Nam'd are Sr. Sam. Starling Knight then Lord Mayor Sr. Jo. Robinson Kt. and Bar. Sr. Tho. Bludworth Kt. and Alder. Sr. Wil. Peak Kt. and Alder. Sr. Jo. Howell Kt. and Recorder Sr. Rich. Ford Kt. and Alder. Sr. Jo. Shelden Kt. and Alder. Sr. Jo. Smith Sheriffs Sr. Jam. Edwards Sheriffs To which I must needs say I knew a time when the City of London had a better Advocate What man in his Wits would not despise the Folly and Meanness of this wretched Pedagoge The weakness of whose Discourse eminently shews the ricketted constitution of the Author First He has but little of Religion that dares to lie in the common Field of every mans knowledge since he denies that ever the Author of the Tryal gave the aforementioned Persons any Additions when Alder. is to every one of them that really is so Next I cannot chose but observe his vanity as if the omitting of the Title Sr. had been a robbing them of their Honour I am sure they have very little that have no more But if to give them their own Names be matter of Disgrace it is worth our while to consider how disgraceful those Persons were in this Libellers account before they had that Title given them though I am apt to think they were not less reputed before then since and because they write not themselves so much as that Author Printed them and that none can suppose them to omit those Titles disgracefully to themselves it is both ridiculous and false to charge such a Design upon the Author But whilst he calls me and my Fellow-Prisoner the vile and railing Rabshekahs of this Age and ventures to load us with Slander and Reproach methinks he proves himself to be of that ill-bred Tribe in accusing us for such But to his Nota's upon the Tryal Nota 1. page 13. THE Prisoners in stubborn manner refusing to take their Hats they were put on again by the same Person Answer This is a Lye to be confirmed by hundreds we never did nor never shall refuse to take our Hats and put them on too which we had no time to do for having been taken off by the Keepers I suppose in Kindness seeing the Cour● displeas'd or rather some in it the Mayor I think it was cryed out Sirrah Who bid you pull off their Hats Put on their Hats again At which the same Keepers put them on of which the Author of our Tryal has been more particular Nota 2. pag. 13. The court observing that the Prisoners standing on the Leads behind the Bar with their Hats on facing the Court all that day as it were daring the Court to a Tryal so that the Court and all the Spectators lookt upon them as offering a great Affront to the Honour of his Majesties Court the Justices were resolved to chastize them for the same Answ His second Nota is his second Lye For first we were not upon the Leads any time of the day as many can attest but in the Bale-dock or within the Bar attending upon the Tryals of Thieves and Murderers to the displeasure of the Spectators but not on our part Besides that this was done upon meer design is evident because neither were the Goaled nor we so hardly treated the first day of our appearance when there was equal ground for it Nota 3. pag. 14. This is a great Falshood for their Hats were put on behind the Bar before they came into Court Answ But it is a great Truth that we were not behind the Bar at all until towards the Evening when cast into their stinking Hole and there indeed they stay'd us behind the Bar three Hours And for mine own part I do declare my Hat was clapt upon my head by the Keepers hand within a very little space of the place in which we usually stood during the whole time of our Tryal Nota 4. pag. 14. This is insignificant Canting Answ What Wil. Mead saying Fear God and dread his Power O stupendious Impiety That ever any profest Protestant should have so much out-sinned all Sence of God and his Dreadful Power as to repute that Seasonable Exhortation Insignificant Canting But this makes us the less to wonder at our Sufferings from such Nota 5. pag. 14. It was by Sr. John Robinson observed that Bushel the Tender Conscienced Jury-man made an offer to kiss the Book but did not wherefore he was called upon by the Court to be Sworn again Ans How much that quick-sighted Lievtenant had more Jealousie and Prejudice then others in his Eye the many Spectators present can best decide or mine own share I did not observe him to gratifie the common Custom of the Court more in the latter then former tender of the Oath unto him But with what prepenst Unkindness and disdainful Ketch he was treated was obvious to those about him I perceive it is as Criminal to be Tender-conscienced as it is esteemed Canting to bid men Fear God For as that Religious Advice was made matter of Mockage so this good quality is not less rendred Suspitious But how Tender-conscienced such persons are that make so ill use of such Expressions is best manifest in their severe Prosecutions of men that really are so Nota 6. pag. 17. As clear Evidence as ever was offered to any Jury Two Witnesses prove the Fact against both the Prisoners and the Prisoners confess the whole matter