that I am a Pentioner to some forraign State which indeed is most falle and is invented for the end as all the rest are to make me odious And truly if men were not grown past all shame or care of what they said or heard of me it would be impossible to get belief for which way doth it appear I think nay am sure that in my house no man bred in that plenty I was ever contented himself with lesse which is easily known and for the apparell of my self my Wife and Children if it exceed in any thing it is in the plainesse where with we are very well satisfied and so in houshold stuff and all other expenses and for my charge upon publique voluntary occasions I rather merit a charitable construction from those I have accompanied with then any thanks or praise for any extraordinary disbursments and I am sure I go on soot many times from my house to Westminster when as I see many inferiour to me in birth and breeding only the favorites of the times on their stately horses and in their coaches and when I have been amongst my Friends in the Army as many times I have had occasion I must ever acknowledge that I have received amongst them ten kindnesses for one and yet not to wrong my self I think nay am sure there is not a man in the world that is of a more free or thankfull heart and have nothing else to bear me up against what good and worthy men whom I have seen in great necessities might conjecture of me when as I have administred nothing to relieve them when was the time and where the place I gave dinners or suppers or other gifts For shame thou black-mouth'd slander hide thy head till the light of these knowing times be out all that thou canst do is not sufficient to blast me amongst those with whom I converse or who have experience of my constancy in affection endeavour to the generall good of all men but to thy greater torment vexation know this they that entirely love me for the same are exceedingly increased and many whom thou hadst deceived return daily manifesting their greater love to me and the publique as willing to recompence the losse of that time thou deceivedst them And this imprisonment which thou hast procured me for my greater and irrecoverable reproach amongst good men thy poyson'd heart would burst to see how it hath wrought the contrary so far as I never had so clear a manifestation of love and approbation in my life from sincere single-hearted people as now to my exceeding joy I find And possibly for time to come these notorious falshoods with which the slanderous tongue hath pursued me may have the same effect upon these weak people thou makest thy instruments which they have had upon me and that is That I am the most backward to receive a report concerning any mans reputation to his prejudice of any man in the world and account it a basenesse to pry into mens actions or to listen to mens discourses or to report what I judge they would not have known as not beseeming a man of good and honest breeding or that understands what belongs to civil society But leaving these things which I wish I had had no occasion to insist upon it will concern me to consider the condition I am in for though I know nothing of crime or guilt in my self worthy my care yet considering how and in what an hostile manner I was sent for out of my bed and house from my dear Wife and Children the sense of that force and authors of my present imprisonment shewing so little a sencibility or fellow-feeling of the evils that might follow upon me and them by their so doing it will not be a misse for me to view it in the worst cullers it can bear As for the booke called The second part of Englands new chaines discovered for which Lieut. Col. John Lâ—lburn Mr Prince Mr Overton and my self are all questioned it concernes me nothing at all farther then as the matter therein contained agreeth or disagreeth with my judgement and my judgement will work on any thing I read in spight of my heart I cannot judge what I please but it will judge according to its owne peâ—ceverance And to speake my conscience having read the same before the Declaration of Parliament was abroad I must professe I did not discerne it to deserve a censure of those evils which that Declaration doth import but rather conceived the maine scope and drift thereof tended to the avoiding of all those evils and when I had seen and read the Declaration I wished with all my heart the Parliament had been pleased for satisfaction of all those their faithfull friends who were concerned therein and of the whole Nation in generall To have expresly applied each part of the boâ—k to each censure upon it as to have shewed in what part it was false scandalous and reproachfull in what seditious and destructive to the present Government especially since both Parliament and Aâ—mâ— and all wel affected people have approved of the way of settlement of our Government by an Agreement of the People Also that they had pleased to have shewed what part sentence or matter therein tended to division and mutiny in the Army and the raising of a new War in the Common-wealth or wherein to hinder the relief of Ireland and continuing of Free quarter for certainly it would conduce very much to a contentfull satisfaction to deal gently with such as have been friends in all extremities and in such cases as these to condescend to a fair corespondency as being willing to give reasons in all things to any part of the people there being not the least or most inconsiderable part of men that deserve so much respect as to have reason given them by those they trust and not possitively to conclude any upon meeâ—e votes and resolutions and in my poor opinion had this course been taken all along from the beginning of the Parliament to this day many of the greatest evils that have besalne had been avoided the Land ere this time had been in a happy and prosperous condition There being nothing that maintaines love unity and friendship in families Societies Citties Countries Authorities Nations so much as a condescention to the giving and hearing and debating of reason And without this what advantage is it for the people to be and to be votâ—d the Supreme power it being impossible for all the people to meet together to speak with or dâ—bate things with thâ—ir Representative and then if no part be considerable but only the whole or if any men shall be reckoned slightly of in respect of opinions estates poverty cloathes and then one sort shall either be heard before another or none shall have reasons given them except they present things pleasing the Supreme power the People is a pittifull mear helplesse thing as under School-masters being in
THE FOUNTAIN OF SLAUNDER Discovered By William Walwyn Merchant WITH Some passages concerning his present Imprisonment in the Tower of LONDON Published for satisfaction of Friends and Enemies LONDON Printed by H. Hils and are to be sold by W. Larnar at the sign of the Blackmore near Bishops-gate M. DC XLIX The Fountain of Slander discovered c. FFom my serious and frequent consideration of the goodnesse of God towards man the innumerable good things he created for his sustenance comfort that he hath made him of so large a capacity as to be Lord over other creatures ever testifying his love by giving rain and fruitfull seasons feeding our hearts with food and gladnesse That he hath made him as his own Vicegerent to see all things justly and equally done and planted in him an ever living conscience to mind him continually of his duty I could not but wonder that this should not be sufficient to keep mankind in order and the world in quiet But when I considered the infinite obligations of love and thankfulnesse wherewith men as Christians are boâ—nd unto God and yet how extremely averse all sorts of Christians were to the essentiall and practicall part of Religion so great ingratitude did quite astonish me And made me with much patience passe over the many injuries I have suffered for my own endeavours after common good and to resolve within my self that for any man to give good heed to the voyce of God in his own conscience and vigorously to appear against the unrighteousnesse of men is certainly the way to affliction and reproaches And hereupon when of late I have been hunted with open mouth and could appear in no place but I was pointed at and frown'd upon almost by every man I was but little moved for why should I expect better measure then my Maker and Redeemer And so with patience sate me down and considered whence so many undeserved aspersions should proceed against me at a time too when I was most secure all power being then in the hands of such from whom I had merited nothing but love and friendship I was sure any man that had a mind to know what or where I was might easily trace me from my present habitation in Moor-Fields to Newland in Worcestershire where I was born of no unknown or beggarly parentage as some have suggested to disparage me but such as were both generous as the world accounts and ingenuous too as wise men judge and to whose exemplary virtue I owe more then for my being I knew an exact accompt might be taken of me in lesse then one daies time and that this may gain belief I shall refer the enquiry of my birth and breeding to Mr Sallaway a Member of Parliament for the County of Worceâ—ter and for my first eight years in London to Mr Crowder another Member of the present Parliament The truth of whose relation I suppose none will doubt and I shall be obliged to them to satisfie as many as desire it For 15 years together after that I dwelt in the Parish of Saint James Garlick hill London Where for all that time any that please may be satisfied since which time I have lived in Moor-Fields where now my Wise and Children are and what my demeanour there hath been my neighbours will soon resolve I have been married 21 years and have had almost 20 Children my profession hath been Merchandising but never was beyond the Seas but my Brother died in Flanders in my imployment and cosâ— me near 50 pounds rather then he should want that buriall accustomed to Protestants which one would think might suffice to prove me no Jesuite In all which time I believe scarce any that ever knew me will be so dis-ingeruous as to spot me with any vice and as little of infirmity as of any other having never heard ill of my self untill my hopes of this Parliament encouraged me to eâ—gage in publique affairs being then 40 years of age 20 of which I had been a serious and studious reader and observer of things necessary But then in short time I heard such vile unworthy things as I abhorred and made me blush to hear and ever since reproaches have pursued me like rowling waves one in the neck of another All which being groundlesse as my conscience well knew I soon concluded they were devised purposely by some Politicians whose corrupt interest I opposed to render me odious to all societies of men and so to make me uselesse to the Common wealth which my long experience and observation told me was a common practice in all ages So as to me it is evident that corrupt interests are the originall of Politicians for a just course of life or interest needs no crafts or policies to support it And it is as clear to me that Politicians are the originall of reproaches and the fountain of slander for that it being impossible to desend an ill cause by reason reproaches necessarily must be devised and cast upon the opposers to discredit what they speak or it were impossible for any corrupt interest to stand the least blast of a rationall opposition Most miserable unhappy therfore are those men who are engaged and resolved to continue in any kind of corrupt interest or way of living since they are thereby all their life long necessitated to become meer Politicians devisers of lies slanders falshoods and many times to perpetrate the most honest civilities that can be imagined for supportation of their interest And upon this accompt I am certain and upon no other so much dirt hath been cast upon me for when art and sophistry will not seem to vanquish truth and reason asperrion generally wil do the deed Which hath made discreet and considerable men to make a contrary use of aspersions For whereas the rash and weak when they hear either man or Cause asperst they presently shun the men and abhominate the cause upon little or no examination as being affrighted therewith Wise and discreet men â—kilfull in the common rules and practises of the world and so far from prejudging either the man or cause of evil that without prejudging or partiality they make an exact enquiry how things are and determine nothing but upon good and reall satisfaction And there is good cause for every man so to do for if all stories be well searcht into it will be found That unjust cruel covetous or ambitious men such as were engaged in corrupt interests or in some wicked designs were ever the aspersers and honest just and publique spirited men the aspersed That this is a certain truth examples need not be brought out of common histories whilst the Scrâ—ptures abound therewith It was the portion both of the Prophets and Apostles and of all the holy men of all times yea our blessed Saviour who spent all his time on earth in doing good was neverthelesse tearmed a Wine-bibber a Friend of Publicans and sinners a Caster out of Devils by Beelzebub the
the hand of the common Hangman wherein with thousands of wel-affected people I was engaged and to which I stand being no more for Anarchy and Leâ—elling then that Petition importeth the burners thereof and the then aspersers of me and my friends having been since taught a new lesson and which might be a good warning to those that now a fresh take liberty to abuse us but no heart swoln with pride as the politicians nor so scornes advice spurns and jeers and laugh at all yet for all their confidence few of them escape the severe hand of Gods justice first and last even in this world Indeed it hath been no difficult thing to know my judgement by the scope of that Petition and truely were I as deadly an enemy unto Parliaments as I have been and still am a most affectionate devotant to their just Authority I could not wish them a greater mischief then to be drawne to use Petitioners unkindly or to deny them things reasonable upon suspition that they would be emboldened to ask things unreasonable by which rule no just things should ever be granted wishing with all my heart that care may be speedily taken in this particular the people already being too much enclined to be out of love with Parliaments then which I know no greater evill can befall the Common-wealth Another new thing I am aspeâ—â—t withall is that I hold Polygamie that is that it is lawfull to have more wives then one I wonder what will be next for these will wear out or returne to the right owners and this scandall would intimate that I am addicted loosely to women but this is another envenomed arrow drawne from the same Pollitick quiver and shot without any regard to my inclination and shewes the authors to be empty of all goodnesse and filled with a most wretchlesse malice for this is such a slander as doggs me at the heels home to my house seeking to torment me even with my wife and children and so to make my life a burthen unto me but this also loseth its force and availeth nothing as the rest do also where I am fully known nay it produceth the contrary even the increase of love and esteeme amongst them â—â— from those whose goodnesse and certain knowledge can admit no such thoughts of vanity or vilenesse in me one and twenty years experience with my wife and fifteen or sixteen with my daughters without the least staine of my person putting the question of my conversation out of all question There are also that give out that I am of a bloudy disposition it s very strange it should be so and I not know it sure I am and I blesse God for it that since I was a youth I never struck any one a blow through quarrell or passion avoyding with greatest care all occasions and provocation and although possibly nature would prevaile with me to kill rather then be killed yet to my judgement and conscience to kill a man is so horrid a thing that upon deliberation I cannot resolve I should do it And though to free a Nation from bondage and tyranny it may be lawfull to kill and slay yet I judge it should not be attempted but after all means used for prevention wherein I fear there hath been some defect and upon extreme necessity and then also with so dismall a sadnesse exempt from that usuall vapouring and gallantry accustomed in meer mercinary Souldiers as should testifie to the world that their hearts took no pleasure therein much lesse that they look't for particular gaine and profit for their so doing and I wish those who have defamed me in this did not by their garnisht outside demonstrate that they have found a more pleasing sweetnesse in bloud then ever I did Now some may wonder why those religious people that so readily seem â—he Polliticians turnes in catching and carrying these aspersions from man to man have not so much honesty or charity as to be fully satisfied of the truth thereof and then deale with me in a Christian way before they blow abroad their defamations or why the taking away of my good name which may be the undoing of my wife and children should be thought no sin amongst them but truely I doe not wonder at it for where notionall or verball Religion which at best is but superstition is author of that little shadow of goodnesse which possesses men it s no marvell they have so little hold of themselves for they want that innate inbred vertue which makes men good men and that pure and undefiled Religion which truly denominateth men good Christians and which only giveth strength against temptations of this nature And as men are more or lesse superstitious the effects will be found amongst them nor is better to be expected from them untill they deeme themselves no further Religious then as they find brotherly love abound in their hearts â—owards all men all the rest being but as founding brasse and tinkling Simbals nor will they ever be so happy as to know their friends from their foes except they will now at length be warned against these cunning wayes of Polliticians by scandals and aspersions to divide them and be so wise as to resolve to beleeve nothing upon report so as to report it againe untill full knowledge of the truth thereof and then also to deal as becommeth a discreet Christian to whom anothers good name is as pretious as his own being ever mindfull that love covereth a multitude of sins But I have said enough as I judge for my owne vindication and discovery of the infernall tongues of Pollititians that set on fire the whole course of nature and am hopefull thereby to reclaime some weak wel-minded people from their â—odain beleeving or inconsiderate dispersing of reproaches and so to 〈◊〉 the polliticians ends in this dangerous kind of deluâ—ion As for those who know me and yet asperce me or suffer others unreproved all such I should judge to be polliticians their hirelings or favourers and I might as well undertake to wash a Blackmore white as to turne their course or restore them to a sound and honest mind â— However I shall no whit dispaire of the prosperity of the just cause I have hitherto prosecuted because though at present I be kept under yet I have this to comfort me that understanding increaseth exceedingly and men daily abandon superstition and all unnecessary fantastick knowledge and become men of piercing judgements that know the arts and crafts of deceivers and have abillity to discover them so that besides the goodnesse of the cause which commands my duty I may hope to see it prosper and to produce a lasting happinesse to this long enthraled Nation A good name amongst good men I love and would cherish but my contentment is placed only in the just peace and quietnesse of my own conscience I may be a man of reproaches and a man of crosses but my integrity no man can take from