his Zeal my Lord. Yea I have observed that he and Carry-tale that lives under his Roof have strove to out-run each other to carry the bad News as Ahimaaz and Cushi did 2 Sam. 18. 21-23 this was their Zeal and endeavour to ease their minds my Lord. Judg. Old Gentleman you are rightly named but I fear you never learned rightly to distinguish about what your Zeal should be exercised in Gal. 4. 18. It 's good to be zealously affected always in a good thing What if it be all false and thou in censuring another dost but sentence thy self like David in Nathan's Parable 2 Sam. 12. 7. and thou shewest thy self rather to be an Accuser of the Brethren than a Reclaimer of them that are supposed to have falled such a Zeal will appear to be but diabolical Application should be made to the supposed Sinner Gal. 6. 1. 2 Tim. 2. 25. to regain him in a spirit of Meekness but it 's evident that Backbiter carries his Teeth in his Tongue I remember I have read that Bernard said of himself that he never saw another Man sin but he was distrustful and jealous of his own Heart Ille heri tu hodie ego cras he was faulty yesterday thou to day and I may be so to morrow But I do not speak this that Sins should be connived at or dispensed with but that the Order and Discipline of our Corporation may be observed Clerk of the Sess My Lord here is another Evidence for the Prisoner Judg. Let him be called into Court Crier Mr. Prejudice O yes O yes Mr. Prejudice Here I am ready Sir Judg. Pray what are you capable to say in behalf of the Prisoner Do you know him Prejudice Yes my Lord he is my old Acquaintance I am his near Neighbour Judg. What other Neighbours have you that are his and your Associates Prejudice There is one Mr. Fawning that lives in Dissembling-Alley next door to him Mr. Ill-will Mrs. Carry-tale that lives under his Roof and a Relation of his that is much with us one Mr. Liar And if I may speak for the Prisoner I never knew him backbite any of us but he is very friendly to us all and if he backbites any there is Mr. Ill-will and my self are both commonly with him and they are such as we have no affection for my Lord that he backbites and we are sure they do not love us at all Mr. Liar My Lord I am desired by the Prisoner to speak in his behalf and if I may be permitted to swear I will take my corporal Oath that Whispering-Backbiter and his Friends are all good People Judg. Hold Sirrah your Oath is not to be taken Attorny-General My Lord and you Gentlemen of the Jury it is evident there is not one Person of any Repute that appears to justify Whispering-Backbiter What Prejudice hath said is invalid What is Concord amongst the vilest of Men in their Wickedness to the true Peace and Unity of Christ's Church Herod and Pilate were made Friends that they might be joint Enemies to our Sovereign Luke 23. 12. Yea the Insernals are at an Agreement amongst them Satan is not divided against Satan Luke 11. 18. Judg. I shall proceed to sum up the Evidences Attorny-General Here is one Evidence more that appears against the Prisoner Judg. Let him be called Crier He is here ready my Lord. Judg. I know him Pray Mr. Divine Knowledg do you know the Prisoner Knowledg Yes my Lord but I am a Stranger to him I suppose Judg. Backbiter Do you know this Gentleman Backbiter No my Lord I never had any real acquaintance with him in all my Life Knowledg My Lord he is an ignorant shallow Soul had he but a dram of sanctified Wisdom or Divine Grace he would have learned of Mr. Morality the Porter of our City to do as he would be done unto And I would have taught him and shewed him that Frowardness was in his Heart and that sowing Discord among Brethren is that which our Sovereign hates But my Lord he scorned acquaintance with either of us would put his Finger in his Ear and scorned Prov. 6. 14 19. to hear Counsel How could he expect to keep his Place and Privileges in our Corporation who hath so long abused them and his Brethren Judg. You have given a very cogent Testimony against him Mr. Knowledg I shall sum up the Evidences Gentlemen of the Jury you have heard what Mr. Heathen Mr. Love-truth Mr. Vnity and now Mr. Knowledg have said as also what scandalous Persons appeared in the Prisoner's behalf but care will be taken to purge all such out of the Suburbs of our Corporation Gentlemen you have heard some of those Statutes mentioned that Whispering-Backbiter hath broken that Statute Exod. 23. 1. Thou shalt not raise or Hebr. receive a false Report Levit. 19. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer Yea it is condemned in our new Charter Luke 3. 14. Accuse no Man falsly This is expresly against Backbiter Yea how frequently is he ranked with the worst of Men 2 Tim. 3. 3. Without natural Affections false Accusers despisers of those that are good Traitors c. Yea when the question is put Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle or ascend the holy Hill of Zion He that backbiteth not with his Tongue or he that taketh not up or receiveth not a Reproach against his Neighbour Psal 15. 2 3. 24. 2. You see Gentlemen the Evil is so great that it shuts out of the Celestial City and the presence of our Sovereign for ever Yea that moral Precept that is a binding Statute of loving his Neighbour as himself is violated O but Backbiter he forgets himself never regarding that Precept if a Brother of the Corporation be overtaken in a fault to restore him in a spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou shouldst have the like occasion Gal. 6. 1. As Mr. Moral Heathen gave a hint of Plato's Precept to his Scholars if they heard a Report of Evil of another or saw some failing presently to ask themselves this question Num ego feci Tale Have not I done the like my self or worse So that you are to consider how short he comes of Morality who endeavours to eat out the Repute of his Neighbour as hath been witnessed Mischief is in his Heart yea They sharpen their Tongues like a Serpent the poison of Adders is under their Lips Psal 140. 2 3. So that Gentlemen as you regard the Honour of our Sovereign the Repute of the Worship and Devotion used in our City and the Peace of the Companies in our Corporation you must find for our Soveraign against the Prisoner at the Bar And so the Lord direct you all The Jury went out but soon agreed unanimously to bring Whispering-Backbiter in guilty according to his Indictment and the Evidences against him They return Crier Make way for the Jury make way there They are all come up to the Bar. Judg.
the North Wind driveth away Rain so doth an angry Countenance a backbiting Tongue Prov. 25. 23. I frowned upon him and told him he must go to the Person of whom he heard it and to the Person that was thus defamed and know the certain truth of the matter before he run about declaring it at Dan and publishing it at Askelon And upon this he takes up his Pack and away he goes and hath never come near me since Yea my Lord if he can hear of any fault that hath been committed if it were long since if it hath been heard determined remitted and buried yet this Backiter hath been for digging it up and reviving it verifying a saying in our old Charter Prov. 16. 27. An ungodly Man diggeth up evil and in his Lips is a burning Fire And this fearing I have intruded upon your Lordship's Patience is what I have to say at present my Lord. Judg. These are foul and unsufferable Practices Love-truth My Lord I could say much more of things of this nature how hasty and diligent he hath been in this Evil of Detraction Judg. There hath been enough said at present Mr. Love-truth The Bench ariseth and the Court is adjourned till two of the Clock in the Afternoon The Prison-Keeper Mr. Newman remands Backbiter to the Prison again not denying his Friends to come to see him So there came Mrs. Busy-body Mr. Liar Mr. Blind-Zeal Prejudice Hate-Peace and several others whose Names I took no account of so he sent for his Counsel Mr. Equivocator and gave him his Fee telling him he was afraid it would go hard with him if he did not speak and his Evidence did not swear to the purpose to justify his Proceedings The hour being come Mr. Newman hastens the Prisoner to the Court. When the Judg with the Mayor Recorder and Sheriffs with the Justices of the Peace and Quorum were sat Mr. Newman was commanded to put up Whispering Backbiter to the Bar which was done accordingly Attorny General Mr. Clerk of the Sessions What further Evidence have you against the Prisoner Clerk Here is Mr. Vnity subpaena'd to appear Judg. Let him be called Crier Vnity O yes O yes Mr. Vnity I am here my Lord but I dare not come into Court till Backbiter and his Friends are searched Judg. What are you afraid of Mr. Vnity Vnity Why my Lord I know they use to carry white Powder about them with which they use to shoot those they have a prejudice against and it murders a Man in his Name before he can hear the Report Judg. That is Treason by the Law there dare be no such an Attempt in Court Vnity My Lord They are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities 2 Pet. 2. 10. Being searched it appeared they had left those Instruments at home Judg. Mr. Vnity Pray how long have you known the Prisoner Vnity My Lord ever since there have been Swellings Tumults Wrath Strife and Debates they all came into our Corporation with Whispering Backbiter 2 Cor. 12. 20. Attorny General My Lord and Mr. Sheriff Order you know right-well the Confusion that hath been in some Companies in our Corporation of Christ Church and undoubtedly it hath been for want of regarding what you and I have endeavoured to maintain in conjunction with Mr. Fear-God namely Discipline and Order if it please your Lordship let Mr. Vnity give in his Evidence Judg. Mr. Vnity be as brief and express as you can Vnity I desire to have the liberty to speak in the presence of this honourable Court for he whose Hatred is covered by Deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation Prov. 26. 26 28. For a lying Tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it and a flattering Mouth worketh ruin It was accounted good and pleasant to dwell together in Unity Psal 133. 1. especially Brethren in one Society Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Ephes 4. 3. Till we all come to the unity of the Faith ver 13. But my Lord the Prisoner hath been a mischievous Instrument in setting particular Societies together by the Ears by him also neighbourly Union and Friendship hath been broken May be some different apprehensions have been about some Sentences in our Charter then Backbiter comes in and blows up the fire of Contention and sets them at work to smite one another on the backside with the Tongue crying out Hereticks Idolaters c. because they cannot see through their Eye-holes as tho it were possible yea the likeliest way to work a Reformation by Defamation like him mentioned by Dr. Taylor that seeing a Flea on his Neighbour's Forehead goes to knock it on the head with his Hammer and so knocks his Neighbour's Brains out Thus my Lord doth Whispering-Backbiter think to slander Men out of the faults he imagines them to be in when alas instead of healing The words of a Tale bearer are as Wounds that go down to the innermost parts Prov. 18. 8. Yea my Lord I have known when that great Union and Amity hath been betwixt two Persons yea and Companies in our Corporation till Backbiter hath been at work and In carrying his Pack with all he could pick up hath uttered or whispered what hath soon broke the Bond of Unity Prov. 16. 28. A froward Man soweth Strife and a Whisperer separateth chief Friends Yea my Lord such Prejudice and Inveteracy hath been begot by Backbiter's means that it hath appeared next to an impossibility to reconcile them as Mr. Sheriff Order and Mr. Church-Discipline know right-well And this is what I have to say at present my Lord. Attorny General My Lord I very well know what Mr. Vnity saith to be true and so doth Mr. Sheriff also There are other Evidences may be called if your Lordship please Judg. I think there have sufficient Testimonies been given in against him to prove him guilty according to his Indictment And if further occasion should be they shall be examin'd Mr. Backbiter what Reason canst thou give why Sentence according to the Law of our Corporation should not be passed upon thee Thou hast heard what evident Testimonies have been given in against thee Backbiter My Lord you were pleased to allow me Counsel to speak for me and plead my Cause for alas my Lord I know not how to speak for my self Attorny General No Mr. Backbiter you have spoken so much falsly against others that you have nothing truly to say for your self Judg. where is your Counsel What is his Name Let him appear Backbiter My Lord his Name is Equivocator a Kinsman of mine Judg. Where is he Crier Mr. Equivocator Here Sir Why do you not attend your Client's Cause Equivocator Here ready my Lord and I am fee'd to plead the Prisoner's Cause and I think my Lord he is a good Man in the main and tho it may be true what hath been said by these Gentlemen that have witnessed against him that he carries Reports from one
Recorder of our City and Corporation the honourable Mr. Church-Discipline who gave speedy Information to the Lord Chief Justice Fear-God who is one ready to right the wronged and to repair the damaged So he forthwith grants his Warrant issued out under the Great Seal and by the Authority of our Soveraign to seize and apprehend the Criminal The Warrant as I remember runs thus or to this effect TO all Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace Constables and Headboroughs in this our Corporation of Christ-Church and Country of Christianity Whereas Information hath been given in to the Recorder of our City and Corporation the honourable Mr. Church-Discipline of the unlawful Practice and ill-behaviour of a mischievous Member of our Corporation who is properly known by the Name of Whispering-Backbiter who for sometime hath gone about sowing Contention destroying of Vnity and breaking the Peace of our Corporation and Commonwealth This is therefore by the Authority aforesaid to will and require you and every of you upon sight hereof forthwith to make diligent search in your respective Liberties for the Criminal aforesaid And when you have seized him have him before the next Justice of the Peace in order to his Commitment to the next Prison to answer to such Crimes as are laid to his Charge the next Sessions of the Peace to be holden in our Corporation And herein you are not to fail Signed by me L. C. J. Fear-God This Warrant was sent to the High-Constable of the Hundred of Try-all his Name was Examination who having received the Warrant takes with him the Petty-Constable or Headborough whose Name was Prove-all So they search'd their own Houses first as resolving to see they were clear of Backbiter at home before they went to look for him abroad First Because they would give no offence to their Neighbours by any shew of Partiality And secondly Because they that are clear at home are the fittest to examine and prove others Thus they went taking the Houses in order till they came almost through the Suburbs of our Corporation they took up one on suspicion her Name proved to be Mrs. Busibody and a Man also for this Whispering-Backbiter goes sometimes in Mens Apparel and sometimes in Womens this Mrs. Busibody's House was all out of order and they asking her why she let her House lie so she said she had so much business abroad that she had no time to set in order things at home so the Constable reproved her telling her that the Lord of our Country allows of no such Custom Luke 6. 41. and will have his Subjects to cast away their own Beam before they look abroad for the Mote of others shewing her it was dishonourable to our Soveraign The Man they took up on suspicion his Name was Mr. Liar so they examin'd him and found him in many false Stories and then they asked him if he knew one Whispering-Backbiter that liv'd there or thereabouts Yes said Liar I know him to be a good orderly Person and a Christian too and is respected and entertained by several in our Suburbs he is my near Kinsman we are Brothers and Sisters Children my Mother was a Cretian and so was his Father good People saith Liar Constable Shew me where your Kinsman lives No said Liar I know you have some wicked design So they sharply reprov'd Liar and went on and as they passed along they met with a Freeman's Wife of the Corporation whose Name was Godly Jealousy they enquired of her for Backbiter's House she shakes her Head wishing that Corruption of the Flesh and Delusion of the wicked one were destroyed that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Constable That is design'd by our Soveraign Jealousy You must go towards the outside of the Suburbs and enquire for Prittle-prattlestreet and go up near the upper end where you will see the sign of two Faces under a Hood just at the corner of Dissembling-Alley So they gave her thanks for her Directions and went directly to Backbiter's House and seiz'd him but he huft and bounc'd and told them he valued none of them of a farthing Constable Mr. Backbiter the innocenter you are the better it will be for you So they had him along but he would fain have been let go and endeavoured to make his Escape but they were able to manage him Then he threatens them saying he was not the Person O said Examination the H. Constable search thy own Heart as we have searched for thee Ay said the Petty Constable Prove-all it will appear whether thou art the Man when thou comest to thy Trial. So they had him before Justice Order who was also Sheriff for the Corporation and County that year who takes him into Examination but Backbiter denies his Name and saith he scorns it And please your Worship said he I had that Name given me by my Parents but I renounced it Justice Pray what may one call your Name now Prisoner Christian and please your Worship Ay said Justice Order and a disorderly one too I have heard you changed your Name but your Nature was never changed as your immoral Actions have demonstrated I find you are the Person and to Prison you shall go Backbiter I intreat your Worship to accept of Bail Justice Who are your Bail Mr. Backbiter Backbiter Sir I have a Kinswoman Madam Fawning Widow and Henry Hypocrite Esq Justice No Sirrah I shall accept of no such Bail Clerk write his Mittimus which runs to this effect To Nathaniel Newman Prison-Keeper of the Corporation and County of Christ-Church and Christianity This is to require you to take into safe Custody the Body of the Prisoner Mr. Whispering-Backbiter and you shall keep him in close Confinement till he shall be discharged by due course of Law for the which this Mittimus shall be your Warrant Backbiter I pray your Worship to accept of Bail I have a third Person my near Kinsman he is worth a thousand Pounds and he is willing to be bound Body for Body for me Justice Where doth your Kinsman live and what is his Name Backbiter And please you Sir his Name is Mr. Levi Liar he lives in Prating-Row Justice If he were worth ten thousand Pounds I would not take his word for a farthing The Constable and Headborough conduct him safely to Prison and deliver him with the Mittimus into the hands and care of the Prison-Keeper c. Now Backbiter is much dejected if you had been there and put your Ear to the Key-hole you might have heard him mutter out these melancholy Verses Alas alas have I backbited many And whisper'd Falshoods into others Ears I little thought it should be known by any Alas on the House-top it all appears The Mask I wore is pulled off my Face I think upon the Evil I have done I see there 's coming on me great Disgrace And from it I can see no way to run THE Sessions being come the Right Honourable the Lord Chief
3 4. A deceitful Tongue and a false Tongue are sharp Arrows of the Almighty with Coals of Juniper which are the hottest Coals of all Wood must be their Portion It 's one that by false or true report doth hurt the Name or Credit of another behind his back and is expressed in our Charters both old and new under these six acceptations a Slanderer a false Accuser a Whisperer a Backbiter a Tale-bearer or Defamer c. and is ranked with the greatest of Criminals Rom. 1. 30. Backbiters haters of God despiteful proud Boasters c. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Envyings Wrath Strife Backbitings Whisperings Swellings Tumults these go in conjunction This is the Person that would fain be called Christian the effects of whose Actions are so fatally hurtful to the Peace and Prosperity of our Corporation of Christ-Church to the destroying of Christian Friendship as further will appear Judg. These are intolerable things not to be suffered in the City or Country of Christianity yea the permitting such may be of a dangerous tendency For he that bridles not his Tongue his Religion is vain James 1. 26. Sheriff And please your Lordship let the Evidence against Backbiter be called Judg. Mr. Clerk let the first Evidence be called Clerk Crier call Mr. Moral-Heathen Crier Mr. Heathen O yes O yes Mr. Moral-Heathen Here Ready Sir but I cannot get in Make way for the Evidence there He is sworn Judg. Mr. Moral-Heathen Do you know the Prisoner at the Bar Heathen Yes my Lord. Judg. How long have you known him Heathen But since I came into the Coast of Christianity And I have wondered to hear him defame others and be suffered so long Socrates one of our Philosophers saith there is not a worse thing than a deceitful and defaming Tongue Yea my Lord the Life and Acts of Whispering Backbiter contradict the Doctrine taught us Plato saith We must not believe him that slanders or tells a Lie of another for in like manner will he bely thee to another Man It 's the Caution of Philotas to beware of Spies and Tale-bearers Yea when that Alexander the Great heard of another's Defamation he clapt his Finger on his Lips conjuring as it were a strict silence of another's Disgrace Theophrastus taught us that it were safer to trust an unbridled Horse than an untempered Speech or an unbridled Tongue It 's foolish to let Words want Excuses or Apologies afterwards For our Zeno taught that we should dip our Tongue in our Mind before we permit it to speak And Plato taught his Scholars that if one observed another commit a fault he must first ask himself whether he had not done as bad or worse and not proclaim it abroad Tho we were allowed to hate our Enemies by some of our Philosophers yet always to love our own Society But the Prisoner cuts with the Tongue those in the same Profession Our Scipio could say that he had rather Hannibal should eat his Heart with Salt being his Enemy than that Lillius his Friend should give him an ill word So hatefully do we resent the backbiting Slanders of our professed Friends And this is what I had to say at present my Lord. Judg. Your Testimony is very clear and much to the case in hand Mr. Heathen and I give you thanks for these Instances you have said enough I desire you to withdraw Crier Make way for the Evidence to go out there Judg. Dost thou hear Mr. Backbiter thou wouldst needs be called Christian and keep thy Freedom in our Corporation but here is a moral Heathen hath quite shamed thee Are they tender of one anothers Disgrace and dost thou dip thy Tongue in Gall and whet it as a Sword and bend thy Bow to shoot thy Arrows even bitter words Psal 84. 3. to wound and grieve thy Brother Backbiter My Lord as to what Mr. Heathen hath said he may speak it in spite against me for the Heathens were great Enemies to us Christians formerly and used to clothe us in Bear-skins He hath only said this to make me odious my Lord. Judg. Thou hast made thy self odious in the sight of the Heathen when they persecuted us they could say this of us Behold how they love one another But now they may say Behold how they hate backbite and belie one another Attorney General And please your Lordship let Mr. Love-truth be examined I know he hath suffered much by the Prisoner as well as my self in that relation I stand to our Sovereign Lord. Judg. Call Mr. Love-truth into Court. Crier Love-truth O yes O yes Mr. Love-truth Here. Ready But I cannot get in O Murder Murder Judg. What 's the matter there Love-truth My Lord here is one of Backbiter's Friends had almost strangled me Judg. What is his Name Church-Discipline I know him my Lord his Name is Carry-Tale he dwells under the same roof with Backbiter Judg. Mr. Newman take him into custody Attorney General Mr. Love-truth pray as you are on your Oath acquaint my Lord and the Jury with what you know concerning the Prisoner at the Bar. Judg. Mr. Love-truth look upon the Prisoner Do you know him Love-truth Yes my Lord to my damage but as for the wrong he hath done me I could freely forgive him tho as he hath been an Enemy to our Sovereign and hath dishonoured the Truth which should be dear to us and hath grieved and wounded our Brethren I shall give in my Testimony against him Judg. Mr. Love-truth be as brief as you can Love-truth My Lord he is a Person full of Prejudice and very credulous believes any lying or flying report especially against one that is not in his Affections as few are that sincerely love the Truth And when he hath got a false Report or Slander by the end he makes it up so that besure it loseth nothing by carriage Thus like a grievous Revolter he walks with Slanders Jer. 6. 28. And where he comes if there be any in the Room that will not hear nor take up Reports then he puts his Mouth to the Ears of them that will and whispers it into their Heads and then lifts up his Eyes and Hands as tho he were sorry and so begets a belief in the Judgments of the ignorant which have never rightly considered the Charters of our Corporation And many times he enjoins them to secrecy so that when they meet the Persons slandered they cannot get open their Lips but they look a squint as tho they were casting their Eyes over the Beans to see if the Barley were ripe for Suspicion is always pictured squint-eyed Yea my Lord he hath come with his Pack to my House as Mr. Church-Discipline hath observed out of our old Charter Levit. 19. 16. that a Tale-bearer or Backbiter is compared to a Pedlar that goes up and down with his Pack So he hath offered his Wares to me but I being tender of Truth and my Neighbour and remembring what an antient wise Preacher hath said that as