there would be murther or some other mischief follow it and did thereupon turn away his aforesaid servant and forbid his wife to meddle or make with Mistress White or any of her businesse And further saith that his wife told him that the said Webb and Morris were the greatest part of that afternoon in the chamber together with Mistress White And this Informant further saith that the morrow after being Saturday about one or two of the Clock in the afternoon of the same day M. White and his sister being then from home and this Informants wife likewise at Chippenham he saw the said Webb and the said Morris walk in the Church-yard together and after a little while slipt into the said M. Whites house the back way through the said Orchard and Garden and towards the evening he saw the said Webb come forth of the said house again the same way And the next day being Sunday in the evening this informant asked of the said Elizabeth Briscow how it chanced that the said Morris had not preached there that day to which she replied that the said Morris intended to have preached but she would not let him and that she told him that he should not come thither roguing and whoring and yet make people believe he was godly The Examination of the said Mistress Mary White taken the 9. day of Decem. 1650. before the three aforesaid Iustices she the said Mistres White being then and thither brought and charged with the felonious committing of the said act of Adultery with the aforesaid M. Webb as followeth Who being examined whether she this Examinant Thomas Webb aforesaid and one Iohn Morris were together at her said husbands house on any Saturday betwixt this and Michaelmas last past or not denieth that ever they were but saith that the said Webb and Morris were on the Friday next after Michaelmas day there in her own chamber at her said husbands house and that all the same time Elizabeth Briscow this Examinants maid-servant was also in the same room and during all the while that they continued there and further saith that the said Webb and Morris have been divers times severally at her husbands house since Michaelmas last past but never both together except that one time And this Examinant doth also utterly deny that the said Thomas Webb had carnall knowledge of her then or at any other time or that she the aforesaid Tho. Webb the said John Morris and Edith Lewis aforesaid ever danced together or that she or the said Webb or either of them are any waies guilty of the things wherewith they are charged in the Information of the said Edith Lewis The Examination of the said Thomas Webb taken before the said Justices as aforesaid Who saith That there being some suits at Law depending betwixt the said M. White and him this Examinant he the said Examinant and one John Morris a souldier at Gloucester went to the house of the said M. White the Friday before Michaelmas day to talk with him and his wife about reconciling the said Law-suits and Mistress White lying in about the same time sent for him this Examinant and the said Morris into her Chamber and there had discourse of the businesse And being further asked whether he and the said Morris were ever together in that or any other chamber of the said Mr Whites with the aforesaid Mrs White at any other time since the said Friday before Michaelmas confesseth and saith that he this Examinant and the said Morris have been severall times together in that house with the said Mistress White but denieth that they were together in any of the chambers of the said house with the said Mistress White ever since that time and doth also deny that he had then ever before or since any carnall knowledge of the said Mistress White or that he the said Examinant with the said Mistress White and the said Morris and the said Edith Lewis danced together or spoke such words as they are accused of by Edith Lewis aforesaid After the aforesaid Informations and Examinations were taken the said Mr Webbe and Mistress White for their said offence were both committed by the three afore-named Justices to the common Goal for the said County of Wilts where they remained prisoners till the Assises following When the fellow creatures understood their mittimus and saw whereto they must trust they seem to be somewhat milder then before and more moderate in their language then formerly but after a little pause Webbe being a better Scribe then Parson imploys his pen and tumbles out of his treasury of self-confidence and impudence expositions of the Parliaments Act of Adultery in Folio and sends them to M. Stokes amongst which he asserts these particulars 1. That no Parson though made a felon by that act is to be proceeded against till after Presentment or Indictment at Assises or Sessions and the verdict of twelve men is to be the leading card to sentence or any other proceedings upon this new Law 2. That no Justice of Peace or other Officer is to imprison or secure the felons mentioned in the said Act till after Indictment and Conviction 3. That the Justices had no power to summon Tho. Webbe nor Mistress White before them nor power to hear the complaints nor to send them to Goal though offending against the said Act according to what is charged against them 4. That the Parliament would rather a man should fly for such an offence then suffer death and therefore they have provided that no other proceedings are to be then upon Indictment wherefore saith he the Parliament would be glad to be rid of them so 5. That old Laws are not a rule for Justices to walk by in their proceeding against offenders as are made so by modern and late Acts 6. That Judge Nicholas can give no councel upon this Act more then another man for first it is a new Law and he is as young a Lawyer in the knowledge of it as another 7. It is distinct from all other Laws for it both afflicts and affords that which no other Law doth Then he laies down his own verdict upon the Justices proceedings and saith That they are Acts of inhumanity and injustice That they are beyond all Law equity reason president and common respect that one creature oweth to another That neither Reason nor Wisdom was called to their Councels or Consultations That their present proceedings were to gain aplause amongst the multitude and that nothing hath more served the enemies designs then their cruel and tyrannicall proceedings against them That such dealings are not amongst Turks and Infidels that are acted against him and his c. Then he fals to these Queries 1. Who shall secure the Tithingman for what he doth upon the Justices unjust proceedings 2. What provision is made for conveying him and his c. to Goal for a foot they cannot go and horses they will not hire 3. Whether seeing
piece of the Creation to be a wife for T. Webbe the Parson 2. Whether the said Webbe be not a man of a thousand to make a Parish Parson and publique Preacher in this time of Reformation 3. Whether all the godly people in Wiltshire ought not to admire the singular parts and gifts of this famous non-such Parson as the happiness of such as injoy him 4. Whether they ought not to be recommended amongst those that are eminent lovers of Liberty and Christianity that subscribe a Certificate of Webbs preachings and actings to help him to preferment for the future in a strange place But now to return and review this famous mock-Parson with his female fellow-Creatures you may finde him enjoying his liberty with all quietnesse and content and for a time without check or controul swimming down the stream of lust Yet the hand of Justice is pleased sometimes to fall upon and to affrighten even those that are lulled asleep in all carnall security and become senslesse in their lusts and so it happens to the unhappy Parson who thought erst while that he had for ever silenced his wives tongue and his own conscience but now findes himself deluded what ever his conscience doth yet his wife grumbles afresh and begins to look sad upon the businesse and to take to heart her husbands familiarity with his fellow-Creatures and so much is the poor woman perplexed with their doings that she seems willing to chuse death at any hand rather then her husband should continue in the tents of wickednesse whereupon Webbe is advised to have a care of his wife and to remove her from the aforementioned family otherwise evil would come of it Well the Parson seeing no other remedy prepares himself for a journey and takes his wife with him a great kindnesse that a man of his principle could so far humble himself and deny himself as to leave for a while his fellow Creature and cleave to his wife but Patience perforce is a medicine for a mad Dog the Cynicall Parson is necessitated hereunto for fear of and to prevent a worse inconvenience But it 's not long ere Webbe returns in hopes to be accounted a white boy as formerly and to be received as in times of Yore but he is deceived in his expectation He is to give an account of his idle journey of his pretended kindnesse to a simple thing call'd a Wife of going out and returning in as if he were at his own dispose and so high are these misdemeanours stretch that the silly Parson is at his wits end for being an English man and more a Parson he goes better led then drove he answers his fellow Creature somewhat sutable to her furious spirit and pretends more love to his wife contrary to his former promise or the rule of Ranting which was crime enough but 't is an ill winde blows no body good the poor woman is like to enjoy better times then formerly whilst on the other side the fellow Creature acts the part of jealousie even to distraction pretending she would be her own executioner and lay violent hands on her self Yet still the breach grows wider and the difference greater that God who sets bounds to the raging sea sets bounds also to the raging lusts of wicked persons The pitifull Parson is in a peck of troubles whilst things are thus disjointed he well knew he was the common table talk of the Country that the godly people grieved for him and were ashamed of him that the prophane made him their scorn and reproach and with the same wounded through his sides All that appeared for Religion or Righteousnesse in those parts therefore now the man resolves upon another way and though his fellow Creature causeth the P. to break the Parsons head yet afterwards she brings him a plaister in hopes to reclaim him yet he resolves to set up his flag of defiance against his own dear fellow-Creature Ranters are seldom long true to themselves or principles neither her strikings or stroakings nor frowns nor flatteries nor threats nor fawnings shall move him to hearken to her again So that the house is so foul and the much stirring hath caused so great a stink that the housholders must part P. W. to his Parsonage and the rest Gent. as you were Now the mock-Parson bethinks himself how to regain his lost Credit with the good people and such as are enemies to the Ranting way and to that purpose pretends a sight and sense of his sin cries out also upon the lewdnesse of his fellow-Creature She also ringing a Langley peal of Webbs wickednesse and uncleannesse both which follow in order briefly The spirit of a man seems to possesse the hatefull hearts of the late lustfull lovers and as great is the present hate as the former love so that the Magistrates are complained to and called upon to hear the businesse whereupon a day and place is appointed where two of the next Justices meet viz. Mr Stokes and Mr Shute But before the meeting Mr Stokes receives these ensuing lines on the behalf of Parson Webb Sir I have something to declare unto you which though I know not how to speak for my self yet I can hartily beg you for my friend poor Tho. Webbe which his fall it is true is exceeding great and by himself greatly lamented and to my knowledge so exceedingly beset by a pernitious woman and her perfidious bloudy company that did you know the particulars you would take her to be the only monster of that Sex And I hear you go anon where you will have the hearing of it for Gods love have no prejudice against him for former failings acted by him but answer the desires of an insatiable woman in her own folly and you shall a thousand times engage c. Fra. Bayliff Well the time appointed is come the Justices met and many Country people of all sorts are come together to see these rare persons and to be informed in the truth of things But by reason one of the Justices could not stay there was nothing done as to Justice that day only the parties charged each other with horrid crimes and misde meanours and Webb confesseth his folly and naughtinesse in one kinde denying it in another Preaching a Billingsgate Sermon as if he had met with all the Oister wives at once but was answered in his own kinde and so the company was dismist only another day afterwards appointed for a hearing which was the second day of Sept. 1650. at Chippenham where the aforesaid Justices met where Mistris Mary White and divers others appear and tender upon oath to prove against the prophane Parson these high crimes and misdemeanors following The Information of Elizabeth Briscoe taken against Tho. Webbe Clerk the second of September 1650. before Edward Stokes and William Shute Esquires She informeth That she hath heard the said Tho. Webbe say often times within this half year upon some private discourse in her Masters
produced as well for proof of the said Articles as of the defence of the said M. Webb and to certifie the said Articles together with the former Articles Answers and Examinations to this Committee close sealed up with all convenient speed and the profits of the said Rectory are to be secured according to the former Order of the 8th instant in the mean time Articles of Prophanenesse and Scandall against Thomas Webb the pretended Rector of the Personage of Langley Burhill in the County of Wilts. 1. THe said Thomas Webb never had any legall Order for his incumbency there but by the help and favour of his pretended Patronesse Mistress Mary White and some other Parishoners of the same Parish upon his promise unto them of non-taking Tithes obtained the Parsonage usurping the place of an Incumbent there contrary to the Orders made by the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers and the Committee of this County 2. The said Webb stands charged to be an Adulterous person and to have committed the detestable sin of uncl-annesse with divers women besides his pretended Patronesse Mistress Mary White and hath confessed the same and gloried therein and affirmed he could lye with any woman save his own Mother 3. The said Webb stands charged to have affirmed in his discourse that Moses was a Conjurer and that Christ was a deceiver of the People 4. The said Webb stands charged to have affirmed that Preaching and lying are both alike to him 5. The said Webb stands charged to have tearmed his hearers fools for coming to gape on him whilst he told them lies 6. The said Webb stands charged to have drank to the confounding of the Parliament and to have tearmed them Rogues and Devils withall saying that if he were by those that heard him accused for any of the afore-mentioned crimes he would for swear the same 7. The said Webb hath in an high nature scandalized and abused Judge Nicholas George Ivy Edward Stokes and William Shute Esquires and other the Justices of the Peace for this County for discharging their duties both in Law and Conscience according to the trust reposed in them 8. The said Webb hath done much waste and made great spoil and destruction upon the Gleab lands of the Rectory of Langley Burhill aforesaid by cutting down and selling at very low rates a great part of the Wood and Trees late growing and being upon the same which were before his coming thither much stored and better replenished with Wood then any Parsonage in those parts besides also he hath let fallen pulled down to the ground and sold away part of the housing belonging to the Parsonage-house there 9. The-said Webb stands charged by the most knowing Christians in his own Parish to have Preached false and unprofitable Doctrine WHereas we have received two several Orders from the Committee of Plundered Ministers purporting certain Articles heretofore to have been exhibited against Thomas Webb Minister of Langley Burhill in the County of Wilts referring the same to the Justices of the Peace in the said County or any two of them who are desired to receive the said Mr Webbe his Answer thereunto and to summon before them and examine and cross-examine the Witnesses that shall be produced as well for part of the said Articles as of the defence of the said M. Webb These are to give you to understand That we Justices of the Peace of the County aforesaid intend God permitting to execute the contents of the said Order at the house of Captain Taylor being at the sign of the White Hart in Chippenham on the 12th day of September next ensuing after the date of these presents between the hours of eight and nine of the Clock in the morning of the same day where if you think fit you may produce Witnesses to be examined on your part and behalf and we shall be then ready to receive your Answer according to the Contents of the said Order Witnesse our hands at Chippenham this 28. of August 1651. To Thomas Webb Minister of Langley Burhil This Paper following was delivered in by the said M. Webb unto the said Justices at their appointed meeting for the executing of the aforesaid Orders viz. Grounds of Exceptions against Sr Edward Bainton William Shute Esq. c. and against the Examination intended 1. FIrst That the Charge to be examined is not the Charge exhibited before the Honourable Committee upon which the Orders were granted which occasioned this meeting 2. That most part of the Charge hath been already answered and the accused quit 3. That in some part of the Charge the Examiners themselves are concerned 4. The Examiners have manifested abundance of prejudice against the accused as will easily be made to appear 5. The accused stands bound in Judgement and conscience to prosecute the Examiners for neglect of doing of their duty for the Common-weal in the late time of danger whenever called thereunto and hath already declared against it as he believes is known to some of them 6. Lastly Such was the height either of ignorance or malice if not both that when the Warrant for appearance was sent they sent neither copy of Orders nor charge but I was forc't though not bound to it to send to them for the Charge and Orders and as yet have received but a part of the Charge and but a Breviat of the Orders These and other grounds are my Exceptions built upon which I humbly tender that they may be seriously considered and I have right done to me No more is desired by him who in the integrity of his own spirit subscribes to these his Exceptions Tho. Webbe Depositions of Witnesses taken at Chippenham in the County aforesaid the day of September in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred fifty and one against Thomas Webb Minister of Langley Burhill in the said County by George Ivy and William Shute Esquires two of the Justices of the Peace for this County by vertue of two several Orders unto the Justices of the Peace of the County aforesaid or unto any two or more of them directed from the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers the one of which Orders bears date Aug. 8. last past and the other bears date the 13th of the same moneth in manner following viz. Charles Aland of Langley Burhill aforesaid Yeoman aged thirty two years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the first Article this Deponent saith That the said M. Webb about a moneth since did confesse in this Deponents hearing that he had no Order from any Authority to possesse himself of the Rectory or Parsonage of Langley aforesaid or to Officiate there but that he did Officiate there by the consent and approbation of some of the Parishioners of Langley aforesaid And this Deponent further saith That he did thereupon shortly afterwards search in the Office of the Committee for Plundered Ministers to finde whether the said â— Webb had any such Order
which she perceiving and having attempted allwaies and means to keep me but finding all to be in vain she now proceeds in this way against me the truth of which our wise and al-knowing God knows and which all impartial and unbiassed judgements cannot but see for were there truth in what they say which there is not yet for as much as they have for a long time concealed it and notwithstanding none was so great and so much in her favour as I was so long as God gave me over to be one with her in iniquity it appear to be but malice Much more might be said to prove that it proceeds to be from malice they in telling their own tale bewray themselves as witnesse M. White who what he swore to the Jurors as the Jurors will testify upon oath when called thereto he denied before you nay though Uncles was by him and did justifie before him A fuller relation of the whole businesse between Mistress White and I ye shall hear upon the day appointed wherein I shall answer for my self and which I have provided to passe through the presse into the publique And if it be the will of God that through the malice of a strange woman I must suffer I dare not question my God for it it is the just wages of sin O that vile thing that hath been committed between us and that it will be made very good to me for I blesse my God for it who hath delivered my poor soul out of her hands for greater would have been my wo and misery if I should have continued and have gone on with her in our evil courses then now she can make me by all her false and malicious courses against me and therefore rejoyce that God hath called me home and not suffered me to go on in the waies of sin continually which makes me very much to slight and to be carelesse of what ever she can do against me and I much rejoyce in my present sufferings being fully assured and it 's that which I can testifie to the whole world that my present sufferings are because I will no longer serve the filthy lusts and desires of the flesh and this is no new and strange thing Solomon speaks often of it By the means of a whorish woman A man is brought to a piece of bread and the adultresse seeks for the precious life Well I had rather die through her malice then in her wickednesse and I blesse my God for it I speak it unfainedly that I had rather beg my bread from door to door and end my daies in sorrow then to sit down with her and serve the lusts and desires of the flesh as I have done and so the will of my God be done and according to the time appointed I hope I shall be come down from London and shall wait upon your worships This accompt I thought good to give you that so it should not be thought by any that I had withdrawn my self out of fear and for being guilty a thing which my very adversaries will be very ready to give out No I bless my God for it that as to those things which they charge me withall I am free from them all my enemies themselves being judges if they will speak but the truth However the Lord will judge between us and to his judgement I refer my self and am no waies afraid what they can do unto me Now I shall rejoyce for I account it 's better to suffer by sin and forsaking the way of uncleannesse then it is to suffer in sin and in the way of uncleannesse O bepity that woman for there is a most fearfull coming of the Lords vengeance and judgement upon her Gent. I am Your most humble servant Tho. Webbe Both the aforesaid Letters were received by the said Justices Septemb. 2. 1650. To the Worshipfull William Shute Esq. this Worthy Sir ACcording to my promise I have been with M. Stokes to whom I have given satisfaction as by our tithingman I have sent M. White word more then once or twice but he cannot tell how to leave his old way of contention and therefore out of a malicious spirit he troubles your Worship seeking thereby to make you an instrument to execute the base and wicked desires of his wife and her wicked confederacy But I know not what the will of our wise God is to do with me I have no heart to stir but to sit still and see his salvation which he will work for me and patiently take his present hand that is upon me for it 's just and I have deserved it by my great folly wherein with that woman M. W. I have caused the name of Christ to be evil spoken of and his dear Saints reproached for which the Lord give us both hearts to be truly humbled and to repent with a repentance that may never be repented of which is truly the hearty prayers of him who is worthy Sir Your Worships most faithfull friend and servant Tho. Webbe Nay besides all the foregoing signs and tokens of repentance the Parson proceeds further and desires all persons to take warning by him to beware of a whorish woman and not only was this advice to single persons or to persons in private but his zeal carrieth him farther even into the pulpit where in the face of the whole Congregation at Langley aforesaid he Preached upon that Text mentioned Proverbs 6. 26. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a morcell of bread and the adulteress seeketh for the precious life From whence he admonished his Auditory to beware of such persons telling them that Solomon was experienced that the adulterous woman tended to the ruine of all those that followed them and likewise though he was no Solomon yet he brought in his own experience and by that also urged the Parishioners not to follow the way of uncleannesse with such as he had done c. Upon the view of the aforesaid Humiliation Confessions and Letters being acted to the very life by this Jugling Parson many were in expectation of a great change and began to think he was real and so truly sensible and sorrowfull for his evil and unclean life and therefore he was received again into favour amongst many good people who exceedingly rejoyced in his returning who were but lately grieving for his Ranting and wickednesse Neither can his seeming repentance be parallel'd by any Converts though sincerely returning home to God especially in the former part and outward appearances But as the joy of the hypocrite is short so the repenting of wicked and unclean hearts is but as the crackling of thorns under the pot as lightning fils the room with light but suddenly leaves it as dark as formerly or as the morning dew dried up with the rising sun or as the early summer-fruit is soon ripe and soon rotten so is the repenting noise of the Ranting Parson whose crackling is extinguisht with
Webbe and M. W. and the proceedings of the Justices thereupon be also made manifest as it lieth upon record which is here made publique upon this account only to manifest to the world that the ruine and distraction of this people arose from among their own selves and not from the Justices as Tom Webb in his masse of malice most untruly gives out The Information of Edith Lewis wife of William Lewis of Langley Burhill Yeoman given the 23. of Novemb. 1650. unto Edward Stokes Esq against Thomas Webb of Langley aforesaid Clerk and Mary White wife of Henry White of the same Gent. for and concerning the felonious committing of the horrible and crying sin of adultery together and now again taken upon oath this 9th of Decemb. in the year aforesaid before George Ivy the said Edward Stokes and William Shute Esquires three of the Justices of the Peace within the said County as followeth Who saith That her husband and she living in part of the said Henry Whites house in Langley aforesaid she this Informant was sent by the said Mistress Mary White to Chippenham upon a Saturday between Michaelmas and Alhallontide and making more haste from thence then she usually did at other times she went into that part of the house wherein the said Mistress White lived and finding no body in any of the lower rooms she went up stairs and a chamber-door near the stair-head being open she stept into the said chamber and there saw the said Thomas Webbe lying upon the body of the said Mistress Mary White and being in the very act of adultery with her upon the bed there And further she this Informant saith that there was in the same room at the same time one John Morrice a souldier of Gloucester who hastily came to the said chamber-door to put back her this Informant he supposing as she conceived that she had been Mr Henry White aforesaid husband of the said Mary but she being in the chamber before he could shut the door against her he let her alone where she stood as one amazed and in exceeding great fear Then the said Thomas Webbe arose from off the bed and place where he lay to one side and the said Mary White to the other side and afterwards they two together with the said Morris fell to dancing using in their said dancing much filthy and unclean language worse then ever she this Informant heard from any others with whom she this Informant complied in dancing for the time for fear they should do her some mischief but was glad when she was gon from them And this Informant being asked why she concealed it so long saith that she told her own brother Thomas Riley of Calve of it the next day after it was done and that she durst not acquaint any other with it for that she lived under the same roof with the said Mistress White and did not know what injury they might have done her if she should have spoken of it But not being able to hide it long from her husband at length she acquainted him with it who as soon as he heard of it caused her presently to go to Justice Stokes and inform him of it And this Informant appearing again before the said George Ivye the 17. day of February following saith further that the day wherein she took the said Thomas Webbe and Mary White in the act of Adultery and left uncertain upon her former Information was the very next Saturday after Michaelmas last past as she doth now perfectly remember The Information of William Lewis of Langley aforesaid Yeoman taken upon Oath the 17. day of February 1650. before the said George Jvy against the said Thomas Webbe and Mary White as aforesaid Who saith That about the 10th or 11th of June last past there being a great falling out between the said Mr Webbe and Mistress White she the said Mistress White did in the presence and hearing of this Informant and divers others charge the said Mr Webbe that he had many times indeavoured to ravish her force her chastity to which the said Webb replied that he needed not to do so for that he had oftentimes had carnal knowledge of her with her own consent and that she had sent her own husband Mr Henry White to fetch him four mornings in a week out of his bed of purpose to ly with her that she had formerly told him that the childe where with she then went was his and that he begot it on her on S. Stevens his day at night last past and that her servant Elizabeth Briscow was as good as her self for that she lay with John Morris and young Organ of Castle-combe Which things being bruted up and down the Country some honest and religious people of Calve sent one Thomas Riley of the same to this Informant to learn the truth of it to whom he the said Informant gave this answer That the said Mr Webb and Mistress White had charged each other as aforesaid not only in the hearing of this Informant but also in the presence of M. White and Mistress Webbe being the husband and wife of the said Mistress White and M. Webbe and that he conceived them to be both naught and further saith that this quarrell continued between the said M. Webb and Mistress White untill the said Mistress White was delivered of the childe wherewith she then went and it grew to that height that there were above twenty suits in Law depending betwixt Henry White aforesaid and the said M. Webb and that shortly after Mistress White was brought to bed and indifferently well recovered of her childe birth the aforesaid Elizabeth Briscow told him this Informant that her Mistress had a great desire to speak with M. Webb and had appointed her to bring him unto her Whereupon this Informant remembring what had formerly passed betwixt them and fearing that they would grow as familiar again as they had been before did the more strictly observe their doings and the Thursday following being the next Thursday after Michaelmas last past he saw the said M Webb and the said Iohn Morris walking athwart the grounds towards M. Whites house and coming near the said house they stood still under an Oke and lookt about them and after a little pause they went a by-way through the Orchard and Garden into the said house through a door seldom used and the said Morris continued there all that night and for the greatest part of the night the said Morris and the aforesaid Elizabeth Briscow drawing a servant of this Informants into their Company did nothing but curse and swear sing lewd songs and drink such prophane and blasphemous healths as this Informant never heard the like before and the next morning being Friday the said Riley whose sister he this Informant married coming again to his house he the said Informant told the said Riley that he feared that M. Webb and Mistress White would grow too familiar again and that
Webb told this Deponent that if he did come to be examined against him that he would bring his Action for the same against him Deborah Clerke late servant to the said Robert Jeffryes aged Seven and twenty years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the second Article this Deponent saith That in some short time after Mistress White was delivered of her childe the said M. Webb came to her said late Masters house and asked her Dame how Mistress White and her childe did and withall did thereupon say in a boasting way That the childe which Mistress White had then brought into the world was his the said Webbs childe or no Edith Lewis wife of William Lewis of Langley aforesaid Yeoman aged Forty years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the second Article this Deponent saith That about Whitsuntide last was twelve-moneth the said M. Webb this Deponents husband and she this Deponent being conferring together concerning matters of Religion she this Deponent did then and oftentimes since bear the said M. Webb say That he did live above Ordinances and that it was lawfull for him to lye with any woman And at one time above the rest the said M. Webb Mistress White this Deponent and divers others sitting in the Gate-house of the dwelling-house of the said Mistress White there being tame Pidgeons in the Court the said M. Webb observing a great Cock Pidgeon to tread divers of the Hen Pidgeons there said unto those that were there present that it was lawfull for every man and woman and that they ought to take that liberty and freedom one with the other as those Pidgeons did although they were not married the one to the other To the fourth and fifth Articles this Deponent saith That upon a Lords day in the afternoon about Whitsuntide last was twelve-moneth the said M. Webb being asleep in a room of the dwelling-house of her this Deponents husband and sitting in a chair this Deponents husband came to him and awaked him and then said unto the said M. Webb that it was time to go to Church for the Bell had done ringing and there was a great audience of people come to hear him whereunto the said Mr Webb answered her husband in her this Deponents hearing Alas poor fools why do they come so far to hear me and stand gaping upon me whilst I tell them lies Whereupon this Deponents husband asked the said Mr Webbe What do you tell them lies in the Pulpit whereunto he replied That lying and Preaching was all one to him To the eight Article this Deponent saith that when the said M. Webb entred into the Rectory or Parsonage of Langley Burhill aforesaid the Glebe-lands thereunto belonging were very well stored and replenished with Timber-trees of all sort and other Under-wood and that since that time the said M. Webb hath hewed cut down burnt and sold all or the most part of the said Timber and Under-wood which were any thing worth and hath mored and grubbed up about the one half part of the Copice-ground belonging to the said Rectory And that in summer last was twelve-moneth the said M. Webb did hire Workmen who did by his appointment pull down an handsome Barn belonging to the said Rectory and sold away the materials thereof Robert Powell of Langley Burhill aforesaid Husbandman aged Fifty years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the last Article this Deponent saith That the next Sunday after the Lent Assises being the first Sunday after M. Webbe came from Salisbury Gaol he heard the said Webbe in his then morning Sermon Preach and declare to his Auditors then assembled in the Parish-Church of Langley aforesaid these words following that is to say That the works of Jesus Christ and his Apostles were dead works and carnall and ended when they died and served but for their time only and that people might live unto God without Jesus Christ yet said I must confesse that Jesus Christ was the greatest Ordinance that ever God set up and yet the Saints may live unto God without that Ordinance Nicholas Gale of Langley aforesaid Miller aged Five and twenty years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the last Article this Deponent saith that about Whitsuntide last upon a Sabbath day he did hear the said M. Webb in his morning-Sermon Preach and declare in the said Parish-Church of Langley to his Auditors these words following that is to say that the doctrine and practice of Jesus Christ and his Apostles were dead works and ended when they died and that Preaching and Praying cease for the Lord hath no ears to hear And this Deponent further saith that at another time afterwards upon a Sabbath day he heard the said M. Webb deliver in a Sermon in the said Parish-Church of Langley that Ministers ought not to be believed though they did Preach the truth except they could work miracles as Christ and his Apostles did Hugh Wastfeild of Langley Burhill aforesaid Yeoman aged Forty years or thereabouts Sworn and Examined deposeth as followeth TO the eight Article this Deponent saith That when the said M. Webb came and entered into the Parsonage of Langley aforesaid the Glebe-land thereunto belonging was very well stored and replenished with Timber-trees and other Under-wood and that since that time the said M. Webb hath hewed cut down burnt and sold a great part of the same Trees and Wood and hath grubbed and mored up a great part of the Copice-ground thereunto belonging and that since the said M. Webbs coming to dwell in the Parsonage-house of Langley aforesaid there hath been a great Barn or Hay-house appertaining to it pulled down and the Material's thereof were either burnt or conveyed a way To the last Article this Deponent saith That he hath heard the said M. Webb deliver in severall Sermons these things following that is to say that the Baptisme of water was only John's Ministry and was a legall washing and to be reckoned amongst legall things that Gods reaching his people is not by any outward Ordinance or Ministry or means but by the inward unction and anointing and that all preaching all conference or speaking one to another is but meer declaring to each other what we are taught and not any Ministry as for the teaching one of another and that he knew not whether Pauls Epistles do concern us or no And further this Deponent saith that he did hear the said M. Webb deliver in a Sermon That he did hope to live so long and that it was now in working that there should be no such thing as a Parsonage or Minister in England The Certificate of George Ivy and William Shute Esquires to the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers after they had taken the aforesaid Depositions WE do humbly Certifie your Honours That we being the two next Justices of the Peace for this County of Wilts unto Langley Burhill
aforesaid that are unconcerned in this businesse did in pursuance of your two several Orders hereunto annexed prefix a time and place for the execution of the same whereof the said M. Webb had sufficient notice and upon his appearance before us this present day we did shew unto him the said Webb the Charge and Articles exhibited against him and required his answer thereunto and withall offered to examine and cross-examine any Witnesses that he should produce unto us for his defence but the said Webb after much uncivil carriage used by him in the presence of us and divers others and many frivolous and unfitting discourses tending only to the diminution of your Authority and the disparagement of our selves and the rest of the adjacent Justices as not being fit to examine that or any other businesse that concerned him instead of an Answer did at length deliver us the afore-recited scandalous Exceptions and withall told us that he would give us no other answer and that we should not examine or crosse-examine any Witnesses for him by these Orders or used words to that effect We humbly conceive it necessary to signifie these things by themselves and have also herewith sent the Execution of your Orders so far as Witnesses come in but we did not examine upon the Article wherein we and other Justices are concerned because we would avoid all cause of exception and we did inform the said M. Webb of so much before we examined any Witnesse Upon the Articles and Depositions aforegoing the most famous Parson was ejected the Parsonage of Langley Burhill in September 1651. by the Honourable Committee of Plundered Ministers where the said Webb appeared in his own defence being armed cap a pe pe with his wonted silly self-confidence impudence and ignorance who notwithstanding though he had over-stood his Market refusing to examine or crosse-examine Witnesses in the Country yet now propounds to the Committee of Examination as aforesaid only he desires two other Justices of Peace to be joyned with those whom he termed his adversaries with such like frothy conceits as vain as himself but they hold no water the mock-Parson is reduced to his pristine purity viz. a Priest without a Parsonage which act of Justice operates much upon the Parsons foul stomack and therefore though the Parsonage be evacuated yet the dregs remain which are brought up and disgorged at severall times or by degrees First The unsavory salt was no sooner cast to the dunghill but the ejected quondam Parson lays about him and seeing his tongue was too short to tell of his misfortunes and to bespatter his persecutors he betakes himself to his Pen and writes his black Parson-like Epistles to the honest alias Ranting Party acquainting them what had fallen out and then rails Parson-wise against Mr Stokes giving him such titles as can belong to none save mock-Parsons and withall promiseth his fellow-creatures to write a book and publish it against Mr Stokes and others and then sets down such particulars as he intended to Print against M. Stokes which he hath with some alteration performed Secondly He abuseth the Honourable Committee of Plundred Ministers taxing them with injustice and tels his friends that he will indeavour to turn the stream assuring them that if not this yet another Representative will do it Thirdly He makes them believe he is very near a very good settlement in another place and presseth them to gain him with speed a Certificate from the honest party So after this non-such Parson had a while lain his wits a soaking in the stinking puddle of envy and Revenge and bent his tongue like bows for lies he composeth a certain ill-shapen Libell as full almost as the Author of untruth and error Which monster so far resembles a well-formed creature that it runs upon two legs The first whereof is to inform the world That Tho Webb is a man of excellent parts and full of piety an enemy to uncleannesse to blasphemy to Parsonages to Tithes and whores a man of a publike spirit of sound judgement of great temperance and a sufferer for righteousnesse sake The second is That all those that did not flatter him in his wicked and unclean waies or did in any thing dislike his Rantings and counterfeit repentings were unjust cruell tyrannicall malitious and bloudy minded men and amongst the rest M. Stokes being the greatest opposite to the Ranting Parson is to be numbered amongst the worst of men he is now a blasphemer of the highest rank a deceiver and what not c. upon these two legs the Libell comes into the world the father whom it resembles gives it a name and the witnesses names being in number a hundred and four are fastened to a silly certificate to justifie the father that by their credit the monstrous birth may travell the Common-wealth without being questioned or dealt withall as a runnagate or base born brat The Name or Title is A Masse of malice against Tho. Webb late Minister of Langley Burhill in the County of Wilts discovered IN the Title you may note that this Parson hath often times in publique and private denied that he was any Minister yet here writes himself Late Minister of Langley B. Secondly Whilst he was possest of a Parsonage he said there were no Ministers in England yet now being spewed out of the same he prints himself Late Minister of L. B. He saith of his work It 's a true relation which indeed is most untrue as also are those six severall Heads attending the relation though they all walk upon two legs as before mentioned as in the catalogue afterwards will appear Then he most prophanely abuseth two several Texts of Scripture applying that which is true in David the Type or Christ the Anti-type unto his unclean and most graceless self The first is Psalm 35. 11. False witnesses did arise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not He hath been charged to be a whore-master and he hath acknowledged himself so to be see his Letters before and yet here he saith in a Scripture phrase They laid to my charge things I knew not The second Scripture to support the Masse of malice and the Author is Psalm 38. 20. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries because I follow the thing that good is It seems all those that disliked Webbs wicked waies are such as render evil for good he justifies his own actions and by a Scripture phrase saith they are good and he follows the thing that good is Surely the thing that the Parson follows is not good unlesse Ranting Revellings Whorings and counterfeit Repentings be good these he hath followed to the heels as the relation makes manifest But it seems these are good and so followed by T. W. late Minister of Langley B. and such as dislike him are his adversaries and render evil for good But let the mock-Parson alone to condemn all others and trumpet out his own praises saying Stand further