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
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
but when the differences first arose between Webbe and his Mistress this Lewis and his wife assist Mistress W. and chargeth the Parson as you may see formerly expressed wherefore the Parson resolves to call them to an accompt for taking parties with the weaker vessell against the mighty male Ranter But Lewis being now jealous of this new friendship is become a strict observer of the waies of Parson Webbe and dislikes with his private approaches through bye waies and his long abode made upon his friendly visits early and late he now begins to have an evil opinion of his Landlady and thinks her as lewd as her fellow-creature Hereupon Lewis discovers his minde to his own wife she thereupon-declares to her husband what she both heard and saw Now the rage that was formerly in Tho. Webbe the Parson against his fellow-creature who likewise hers against him unite against Lewis and his wife and for telling tales out of school are threatned to be soundly whipt Fear now possesseth the wofull hearts of Lewis and his wife Mistress W. takes with others a journey to Glocester and to the whispering place or some better Oracle they repair where being advised home they return and in their company one J. M. for the better nodification of Goodwife Lewis upon whose aproach she is surprised with fear of what former threatnings would amount unto in the close and therefore though it was late in the night and the waters out yet as late as it was away runs Lewis and his wife to Justice Stokes and requires a Warrant of the peace against Thomas Webbe Mistress W. E. B. her servant and the said J. M. Mr Stokes knowing the aforesaid parties were Ranters all a row was very shie of medling with them and unwilling to hearken to any of their stories or complaints and the rather because the parties complaining as well as the fellow-creatures were his bitter enemies and expressed so much a good while before because as a Magistrate he had expressed himself as well as being a Christian against the Ranting principle as is before remembred Wherefore Mr Stokes demands of them why they trouble him about such complaints why at that time of the night why they did not rather get the assistance of some of their friends to reconcile them or if not wisht them to repair to some other Justice of the Peace To which William Lewis answers Sir although there have been some former difference between us in matters of opinion yet I take you to be a just man and that you will do Justice impartially which is that we desire He said we came this late because it was but even now that Mistress W. and her company came home with I. M. a most wicked and prophane man and that he was brought on purpose to do his wife or himself a mischief and had given out threatning speeches so soon as he was alighted from his horse the woman in the mean time seeming to be wonderfully affrighted Mr Stokes asked her how they fell at variance the woman replied that she had discovered some lewd actions of Thomas Webb and Mrs. W. which was come to their ears again and therefore they have threatned and sworn to be revenged upon me and my husband so that I dare not return home any more without danger of life and therefore I desire surety of the peace to be granted against them Mr Stokes replied again Surely I doubt 't is not fear brought you hither but rather revenge for I understand you were arrested at Mr Whites suit the other day William Lewis confessed he was arrested but the cause of that arrest was but a beginning of that revenge which the Parson and Mistress W. had threatned against them because they disliked their wickedness She said further she would not for a world go such a way to work as to seek revenge but she could take her oath that she was afraid of her life When nothing would serve to silence the parties Mr Stokes tenders her with admonition not to swear falsly the Oath which she takes and thereupon grants her a Warrant of the peace against the said Parson Webb Mistress W. I. M. and E. B. After the Warrant was perfected these persons make a full relation to Mr Stokes of all passages at Langley between the fellow-creatures and particularly William Lewis acquainted him with the foul act of Webbs being taken in the act of adultery with Mrs. W. a little after Michaelmas last past and this complaint to Mr Stokes was Nov. 23. 1650. William Lewis cals his wife and she makes good the Information and tenders to swear it divers questions Mr Stokes put to her tending to weaken if not stifle the Information but she stands boldly in the justification of it with a world of other most horrible and hatefull crimes and practices of theirs not to be named Two questions Mr Stokes desires them to satisfie him in one is Why the fact was concealed till now The second was Whether ever they took M. W. to be a good woman To the first query the answer falls in from the womans own mouth afterwards to the second he answers that they lookt upon M W. to be a godly religious and as wise a woman as any in the Country till of late they had found to the contrary but Webb had discovered himself to be a leacherous knave long ago Well Mr Stokes takes the womans Information but not upon Oath and so made no further proceedings upon it thinking perhaps the woman might be as Ranters usually are of another mind another day But they continue the same tune from day to day W. L. follows Mr Stokes for a prosecution M. Stokes acquaints two of his fellow-Justices with it and a day is appointed for a hearing of the business Well in the mean time the Warrant of the peace is served on M. W. and Thomas Webbe and they also meet on the 25. of Novem. before M. Stokes M. W. gives sureties to keep the Peace Webbs credit is so much cract that he must needs pretend that he will go to Goal yet rather then he should go alone and be in Loâ—s pound without a fellow-creature M. W. such is the tender love and pity of the woman to the Parson moves her husband to stand for one of Webbs sureties but some having more wit then some he refuseth and pleaded an ingagement to the contrary at which the little Gentlewoman seems angry And anon M. W. and his wife mount on horseback and are returning home but before they had rode a flightshot from the place M W findes better arguments on horseback then afoot prevails with her husband to become a surety for the Parson what will not love do So M. W. and his horse face about and he brings his wife with him for a witnesse that he himself with another Gentleman was surety for Tom. Webbe that he should not go to Goal nor stay at home to break the publique peace
so away they went And for as much as William Lewis had expressed himself to be in a great fear of M. W. life by the fellow-creatures they sent M. White to another Justice of Peace where he swears that he standeth in fear lest W. Lewis Edith his wife c. will take away his life hurt and main his body or burn his houses Whereupon he obtains a Warrant and binds them to the Peace withall the better to effect the businesse viz. the design of the fellow-creatures he procures a Warrant to search for stoln goods by which means they search Lewis his part of the house and pretend they finde goods of M. W. there So they arrest Lewis as a felone and hale him and his wife c. before the Justice where whilst their Mittimus is making and M. White binding over to prosecute Parson Webb and his c. are imployed in getting Lewis his possession so they are turned out of doors and their goods secured to the totall undoing of the said Lewis The Information of Henry White of Langley Buriall Gent. against William Lewis and Edith his wife taken upon Oath before Edward Stokes Esquire Novemb. 26. 16â—0 He this Informer saith that of late he hath had certain houshold goods feloniously stoln from him the said Henry White out of his dwelling house and having obtained a Warrant from a Justice of peace he made search in a part of his own dwelling house at Langley aforesaid being in the possession of the said William Lewis where he found certain parcels of his goods 〈◊〉 lost viz One new Exe for a Wam never used certain Apples in measure about one bushel and a certain Table-board in length about ten scot whereupon he the said Henry White chargeth him the said William Lewis and his wife upon suspition to have feloniously stoln the said goods at severall times from the said Henry White Henry White The Examination of William Lewis taken as aforesaid He this Examinant saith that he is altogether guiltlesse of the felonies charged by M. White against him That the Exe mentioned in the Information was lying and being in the room where upon search it was found when he the Examinant first entered possession of that part of the house belonging to M. White in Langley aforesaid and there ever was at M. Whites command for his use For the Apples he this Examinant saith they were his own goods by vertue of a contract or bargain made with M. White about three weeks before the feast of Michaelmas last past As for the Table-board he this Examinant saith he borrowed the same of Mary the wife of Henry White and set the same upon two Tressles in a certain room of the said house not with any intent to defraud the said M. White and further he this Examinant saith the said M. White hath four or five times in a day frequented the said room and made use of the said Table and never questioned any thing till this very day and further he hath not to say The Examination of Edith Lewis the wife of the said William taken as aforesaid Shee this Examinant saith that the Information is altogether untrue that the said Exe was in the said room when she first came into possession thereof with her said husband That the Apples mentioned in the Information are her said husbands goods That the Table-board was in the house when they came to it and there they intended to leave it And further she saith the said M. White did every day resort into the said Room and made use of the same Table and till this day never questioned the same and further she hath not to say You see what the felony is which M. White through the instigation of the fellow-creatures charge against Lewis and his wife and you may easily guesse that the warrant of the peace was upon the same ground Notwithstanding the Grand jury at the triall findes M. Whites Bill of Indictment to be but an Ignoramus By what is past you may perceive what a spirit of giddinesse had possessed the primest actors upon the Ranting stage The Idolators of old having worshipped their Idol God through the just judgement of God Almighty fell out among themselves and sheathed each others sword in their brothers bowels So these having committed folly act the part of madnesse and enraged fury and resolve never to quit the stage till they have devoured each other and then the longest liver take all Lord how true is thy word Though hand joyn in hand iniquity shall not go unpunished 'T was wonderfull to see the love of the fellow-creatures but the other day what a union there was among these persons and others of the same kidney not yet named united in family living under one roof united in principle united in practice united in all things becoming fellow-creatures and lovers of community yet now like simple children which for a time delight in each other and laugh and play friendly together but anon fall out and fight with each other or rather like drunkards which for a while love each other intirely praise each other to the skies and despise all that are not as themselves pot-companions yet afterwards having added drunkennesse to thirst fall to boxes and blows amongst themselves wounding and tearing each other to pieces such was the behaviour of these who were drunk with folly and frenzy in the time of their Ranting Catterwalle You may perceive all the discovery made by the actors themselves and very remarkable it is that their own councels and their own tongues brought their horrid wickednesse to light loudly proclaiming that publiquely which before was but privately suspected and whispered Remarkable also it is that hitherto none prosecuted them to this day that were not of their own party except one warrant granted against the fellow-creatures at the request of one S. V. about August before to whom one of the faction and councell discovered their wicked waies and practices but the businesse being upon the stage the discoverer shrunk in the wetting only manifested that birds of a feather must hang together otherwise not a man moved towards their publique prosecution or any way sought their disgrace Neither need any man act that way seeing the parties concerned had entered upon the work as if they had taken it to task 1. So you have seen the breach first made between the most choice fellow-creatures after the highest expressions of love and L. 2. You have seen the breach made up again by the learned Parson in wickednesse alias mock Parson 3. You have seen the said Parson First in his seeming sobriety Secondly in his Ranting Thirdly confessing and repenting Fourthly Ranting as before 4. You have seen evil arising afresh against both Parson and fellow-creature from their own Sect and gang 5. You have seen the fellow-creatures furiously working the ruine and destruction of their accusers Now it remains that the charge of Lewis and his wife against Tho.