when he not only communicated a businesse concerning Col Hollis to Mr. Samuell Goose but afterward made it knowne to some Members of the House which saith he we did without any designe in the world saving the discharge of our duty Thus he speaketh in his Letter concerning himselfe and Master Goose Now if they thought it a discharge of their duty to informe the House of such things as concerned the State because Robinson said he would justifie it to the death why should any thinke it a crime in me to informe the Parâ—iament of those things that others affirmed with as great a probability of verity as Robinson did Especfally when it concerned the whole Kingdome Yea in the 8th page of his Letter hee speaketh of three Citizens that were come downe from London to Westminster namely Master Prity a Draper and one of his neighbours in Dowgate and one Master Worly that lives about Morefields and all these saith he were come downe to Westminster and did give information to 4. Members of the House of Commons namely to Colonell Râ—gby Sir Walter Earle Col. Long and Masterr Corbet concerning Sir John Lenthall and the Speaker as they had heard it from others and the which was knowne as he affirmeth to thousands of Citizens by the hearing of the eare and all this the Colonell in his Letter saith those men were informing the House of when he came to Westmin. And in all there so doing I do conceive he thinketh they did but their duty Why therfore should the very same men thinke it so hainous a crime offence now in me if I made the same information it to the whole House which they had done to some perticular Members of was it a vertue in them and a thing praise worthy and it is a crime and Pâ—aculum in me But it was against a friend and a brother to whom I was exceedingly beholding First therfore I shal desire you to take his own expression concerning the businesse and after my reply His words are these It seemes Doctor Bastwicke a man that stands obliged to me with as many tyes of friendship and respect as I am confident he doth to any man in the world for whom I have often both in England and Holland adventured my life and all that was mine and for whose sake and cause as an earthly instrument I underwent all the sorrowes and miseries that I suffered from the Bishops for diverse yeares together sâ—nt in a paper to the Speaker to informe him that I had accused him for sending threescore thousand pounds to Oxford though with the said Doctor Bastwicke to my remembrance I had not any discourse at all about any such businesse for the discourse I had about that businesse was with Leiutenant Colonell Roes the scout-Scout-Master Generall whom I brought up out of the Guarden to the aforesaid three Citizens that had newly given in their information under their owne hands Master Worley one of the three being Leiutenant Col. Roes old acquaintance told him more I am confident of it by many degrees then before hee had from me Yet as I am informed upon Doctor Bastwickes paperâ— barely the Speaker gâ—t a Vote before ever I knew any thing though I all day waited upon the Parliament to passe the House in these words Resolved upon the Question by the Commons assembled in Parliament that Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne â—ee forthwith taken into custody by the Sergeant as Armes attending the House and so kept till the House give further Order This is his owne expression by the which it is manifest that the information was made to four members of the House of Commons before my Paper was sent in to Master Speaker which was about three a clocke in the afternoone So that I did nothing but what had beene acted by the three Citizens before Now if they were not base and paultry feâ—lowes and Knaves for doing this then there is no just ground nor cause why either Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne and Mr. Worley and there companions should asperse me with those odious tearmes and many more calling mee an Apostate as they have beene often heard speake and for no other cause but for informing the House of that which they themselves had done before mee yet all these calumnies I now under go from these men and of all their fraternitie and for no other offence but for that they applaud in themselves for a vertue But now for answer to that which Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne chargeth me with and for a replication to your request know this Master Vicars that it is most false and that I may expresse my selfe in the words of a Parliament man when he had read the printed Letter it is a most impetuous lye for so said a Member of the House to me that Lilburne had printed a most impetuous lye against me whiles he upbraided mee and my ever to be honoured brother Master William Prynne of lying and to speake the verity I doe not thinke there was a more grosse and wilfuller untruth ever printed against any man for I understanding that Leiutenant Colonell Lilburn had given out that I had informed against him I sent him word by one Mistris Barber which told me that she was very sorry to heare that I should do such a thing against a brother and a loving friend and fellow sufferer to whom I meerely replyed that it was a groundlesse report and that I never did it and with all told her that it was one Hawkins and desired her to signifie it to my Brother Lilburne that he might be undeceived and fearing that she should not relate it unto him though she was then going to him and promised me that she would the next day finding him waiting on the Committee I blamed him that he should report such things of mee and told him that hee had exceedingly wronged me in so doing in raising such a report and withall signified unto him that it was his friend Hawkins that had accused him Notwithstanding all this such is his inveterat malice towards me because I writ against the Independents that he printed that falsehood against mee only as I suppose to bring an Odiâ—â—s upon me through the Kingdome for his Letter is now as publike as weekely newes and in every hands and I am induced to beleeve that this was the designe both of himselfe and those that are of his society because it hath ever beene their ordinary practice to abuse such in tongue and print withall manner of callumnies and blasting language as they think Malignant and Leiutenant Col. Lilburne by name is notorious and famous for this faculty of reviling as this his printed letter doth specifie and his many other Pamphlets and that which not long since he printed against Col. King a Lincolnshire Gentleman who had deserved as wel from the Parliament and his Country if famelye not as most of those that have bin in publike service for the State and who exposed himselfe to as
A IVST DEFENCE OF JOHN BASTWICK Doctor in PHISICKE Against the Calumnies of John Lilburne Leiutenant Colonell and his false accusations VVritten in way of Reply to a Letter OF Master VICARS In which he desires to be satisfied concerning that Reproch In which Reply there is not onely the Vindication of the Honour of the Parliament but also that which is of publike Concernment and behooves all well affected SUBJECTS to looke into Printed and published with License according to Order Printed at London by F. Leech for Michaell Sparke Junior and are to be sold at the Blue-Bible in Green-Arbor 1645 Mr. Vicars Letter to Dr. Bastwicke concerning Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne MVch honoured Doctor and my most worthy friend being abroad this Saturday I heard that Mr. Iohn Lilburne hath again printed another lavish Letter which I have not yet seen or read wherein together with others he hath sorely and I am perswaded most unjustly taxed you to have done him a great deale of wrong in his late miscarried businesse about the Parliament whereas I have ever observed that you have alwayes since you were first acquainted with him shewne your selfe his singular good friend ready to do him all good in word and deed yea and in these later times of his uncomely miscarriages have spoken very tenderly and friendly of him and therefore I cannot I say be persawded that you have given him any just cause so to complaine or exclaime of you I therfore humbly desire you most honoured Sir to vouchsafe to satisfie and certifie me in a word or two whither any such thing be betweene you or not at this time though I say for mine own part I am confident of the contrary but then I shall be the more groundedly able upon occasion to vindicate your integrity and innocency therin and the more fully to stop the mouths of any other traducers of you herein Thus most noble Sir whom from my Soule for your faithfulnesse to God and his Truth I can never sufficiently prize and honour praying pardon for this my boldnesse emboldned therunto by your own Christian Candor and even genuine ingenuity with the humble tender of my best services to your most worthy selfe and vertuous Consort I ever rest Yours in his best poore Services in the Lord to be commanded Aug. this 9th 1645. John Vicars A Iust defence of John Bastwicke Doctor In Physieke Against the Calumnies of Iohn Lilburne Leiutenant Colonell and his false Accusations Mr. VICARS AS I have ever found you a truly loving friend to mee and mine heather to and that in my greatest adversity and hottest conflicts which with all thankfulnesse I doe acknowledg and have with reciprocall affection answered your love So I hope there shall never on my part any just occasion bee given of violating this our mutuall affection for to the uttermost of my abilities I shall endeavour to keepe peace with all men especially my Christian acquaintance And so confident I am of your good opinion that there is not any calumny how high so ever it fly and how loud soever it speake and by what multitudes soever it be spread obroad and divulged that can in the least alienate your charity from me before you have heard my just defence And truly at this time though I should not returne an answer to your Letter in way of justification of my owne integritie so assured I am of your Love that alâ— those foule aspersions that are now causlesly published concerning me by reason of a Letter printed by Leiu Col. Lilburne should not in the least stagger your good esteeme of me or estrange you from me much lesse would they extort a censure from you before you had heard what I had to reply in my owne behalfe But seeing you have desired for the satisfaction of others to heare from me concerning the busines between me and the Leiut. Colonell I thought fit to gratifie you in a few lines not that I am sollicitous about that matter or that it doth in the least trouble my minde or disquiet my thoughts for such is my innocency in this cause that besides the testimony of my owne Conscience I have the witnesse of the whole Parliament the great Councell of the Kingdome to acquit and free me from the Colonells crimination so that all men may see that it was malitiously laid upon me onely to make mee hatefull to all good people You know that Calumny who is quicker then Martiall Law doth ordinarily arraigne accuse and condemne men before they have beene heard speake for themselves and men are usually put to death and murdered in their reputation and their fame taken from them before they know of it and thus at this time it hath hapned to me who am made as odious and infamous as the tongues of Revilers can make me and that upon no just grounds as you shall see by and by It is a sinne that many in this Nation are highly guiâ—ty of who deale not with others as they would be dealt with and easily receive a reproach against their Neighbour both which notwithstanding are against the Royall Law of love Neither is there any man that would not complaine if one should either spread an evill report of him or imbrace one against him yet that they condemne in others is the practise of too too many in these our dayes and they that sit at the Sterne of Government cannoâ— keepe themselves from the Obliques of such as owe their lives unto them for their care and watchfulnes for their good and therefore we that are of the low degree may not thinke our condition miserable when we see our Rulers and the chiefe Magistrates of the Kingdome and that not onely in tongue and word but in every scurrilous Pamphlet hourâ—â—â— traduced But now to the matter in hand You tell me you heard That Master John Lilburne hath againe printed another Letter where in together with others 〈◊〉 hath sorely taxed me to have done him agreat deale of wrong c. What he hath published concerning others I leave them to anâ—wer to that but what hee hath printed concerning my selfe it is most false and no way beseeming him a brother so to deale with one that had loved and honoured him more than he did himselfe and so farre I have ever beene from wronging him in the least measure as all that know me or ever heard me speake of him when he was accused of pride rashnesse malversation factiousnesse of spirit c. I say when I have heard many blaâ—â— him as well friends as enâ—mies they can all witnesse for mee hee had ever my good word either wholly to excuse him and vindicate his reputation or at least to extenuate his offence so that I am not in the lest thing guilty of disaffection to him much lesse of that hee layeth to my chrge yea had it beene true that hee chargeth mee with yet it had beene no more a cryme in me then it was in himselfe
hee himselfe in his letter signified so much that Pendrid had told him such a thing and therefore I could not informe against him and in the first paper that I and Colonell King put into the House wee were so carefull of preserving others reputations that we named none in it but Haukings But after we had sent in the first paper and understanding from others that Hawkins varied in his relation and whereas to us he had only by name accused Master Speaker and Sir Robert Harlow saying that many more were equally guilty and hearing that to others hee in his relaton said there were ten more specifying a certaine number upon this new intelligence we conceiving that if he would communicate these things to us which were strangers unto him hee would much more impart his mind to his familiers and those of his owne faction and seeing him in the company of many of that way from whose sosiety hee then immediatly came and related those things to us we verily persvvaded our selves that hee had told them also the same things and thinking vvith our selves if Hawkins should deny his words as probably hee might that then we might the better corroberat and strengthen our witnesse with their testimonies which would also have added great force and life to our information as being men of reputation and of good esteeme and credit in the Parliament and against whom there could be no just exception or suspition of hatred to that party they being Independents and no Presbiterians I say for the strengthening of our witnesse in the next paper wee sent in to the House wee put in the names of some of those that were in Hawkins company as Colonell Iretâ—â— and Lieutenant Coloâ—â—ll Lilburn for such was the honour we then bare to them as we had thought to have had their testimony and witnesse joyned with ours in case that Hawkins should have jugled with us or denyed any thing he spake to us and truly Colonell Iretâ—n might as well have pickt a quarrell with none at Lieutenant Colonell Lilburne if he had beene of a malitious and contentioâ—s spirit for all that wee intended by naming of them in the paper presented to the House was for no other end but to produce their testimonies with ours if as I said before Hawkins should have denyed his words And whether the naming of these men were any wrong to them or any just cause of a quarell from Lieutenant Colonell Lilburne I referre it to the judgment of any Sober and discreete man But for the saitisfaction of your selfe Master Vicars and all good men teke the information as it was put up in its formall words which I am not now affraid to publish because the businesse is now in print by Iohn Lilburne Lieutenant Colonell and is now publikely knowne and because also the innocency of the parties accused is novv vindicated and commonly taken notice of there being nothing made good against them so much as vvith any seeming probability much lesse proved it being vvell knowne also that there vvas not any one of reputation that vvere either the accusers or prosecutors of the businesse But the last information that vvas put up into the House of Commons vvas this COlonell Ireton Lieutenant Colonell Lilburne Havvkins and others having beene serious in discourse in the Court of Requests Havvkins comming immediatly from that company said there were strange things discovered against many Members in the House of Commons and went as high as the Speaker against whom it would be prov'd that hee had with his owne hand sent threescore thousand pounds to the King to Oxford and that many Members had made their Peace and done strange things amongst whom Sir Robert Harlovv was one and that if God had not blest our Army to be in a good condition the very discovery of these things would have beene enough to have undone us all These words were spoken by Hawkins before us and we are ready to witnesse the same Edward King John Bastwicke These Mr. Vicars are the very words wee put up to the House now I appeale unto the judgment of all juditious and moderate Christians whether there be any one word of accusation either made by me or Colonell King against Lieutenant Colonell Lilburne so that it may now appeare unto all men that it was a most malitious lye fained against me by my good Brother Lilburne and published only to defame mee and which is more to bee taken notice of that howsoever there were many more besides my selfe thaâ— put up informations to this purpose against Hawkins and in this very paper Colonell King by name joyned with me and that in the first place yet hee baukes them all and singles me out to make the Theame of his scurrillity and expose mee to the hatred of all good men So that now M. Vicars I am confident that you all who shal see this are satisfied by my just defence for this first point and so you will all free me from his accusation and accompt him for his paines a meere calumniating lyer as hee most justly deserveth And now I will answer to his other cryme of ingratitude But that you Master Vicars and all to whom you shall communicate it may the better see into the temper of this man and all that are of his faction I shall now communicate unto you first the originall and beginning of my acquaintance with Mr. Iohn Lilburne and of the mutuall affection and reciprocal Offices that passed betweene us untill hee fell into the boysterous way of seperation did prosecute it vvith such violence and then I will relate unto you his carriage of late towards me besides his aspertions in his Letter of lying and ungratitude and with all tell you some words and passages also of those of his faction and how causlesly they have abused me in word and deed When I was a prisoner in the Gate-house I lay there a whole yeare a halfe to my best remembrance before I saw any Citizen in London saving my owne kindred and such people as in whose Houses I had Lodged when I was forced by the tyrany of the times and my malitious enemies to wait upon the Courts of Iudicature all the tearme time for there was scarse a Court in the Kingdome where Tom Newcomin Danet and Richard Daniell those impious and treacherous fellows out of the rancor and hatred had not put me notwithstandiug I had bin a meanes to preserve the said Daniel the Brother of Thomas Newcâ—min from the jawes of famine as all the people of Colâ—chester can witnesse yet all they conspiring against me out of malice hoysted me up into the Court of Chancery Kings Bench High-commission c. so that I was constrained to dance attendance all the Terme long upon one Court or other for many yeares together untill I was by their prosecution cast into Prison so that of necessity I was forced into some acquaintance at for my freinds
that he could neither make a legge with grace nor put off his hat seemly till I had polished him and taught him all his postures of courtship and now he is become a very gallant Fellow and hath commenced Lieutenant-colonell Lilburne and who but John among the controleresses of dripping-pannes the Independent sisters Besides by my society he bettered himselfe and that not a little in his language and dialect and is still beholding to me for many of his best and choysest expressions as all that know him can say and all these were obligations which many a gratefull man would have thought he could never have cancelled though John has forgot all which makes me therefore though it be contrary to my complexion to enumerate them that every indifferent and intelligible man may see that lieutenant-Lievtenant-colonell John Lilburne is not alwayes to be beleeved though he be in print And that Master Vicars you may see how fairly I deale with him I will conceale no curtesie that ever he did me that all men may behold the extremity of my engagementâ— towards him Whilest he was in a good mood he was very loving and kind unto me in word and deed and when I was a prisoner in York-shire he laboured much for my exchange and writ many Letters to my Wife about it and sent his Drum once or twice to me to Knarsbrough castle which was two miles or thereabouâ—â— frâ—m the place where he billited and one of those times he sent me ten shillings which I esteemed of as a great favour and in way of thankfulnesse I gave unto his Drum eleven shillings as the Captaine and Souldiers there can witnesse who stood by all the time he or any man talked with me But by the way Master Vicars I will say thus much that this ten shillings was the first and last money that ever I received from Iohn Lilburnt and withall I professe unto you that notwithstanding all our acquaintance I never yet brake my teeth with any of his capons or ever eat of his bread yet at that time especially he shewed his readinesse to pleasure me and through his meanes as I conceive many other great commanders laboured my exchange and sent their Drums and Trumpets about it to me as the Earle of Manchester and Generall Crumwell to both which Honourable Personages I stand still ingaged for that excellent favour of theirs And at my returne he came lovingly out of the city with others to bring me into London But here let me tell you also Master Vicars and what I shall say I am able to prove that all this time my brother Iohn Lilburne shewed me so much kindnesse and was so solicitous for my liberty and came so friendly out to meet me he not onely conceived me to be an Independent but reported it that I was of their way and one of them and this I say I can prove so that it was not pure charity and unfained love but all under the notion that I was of his judgement that he shewed me so much favour For since that I declared my selfe that I was of a contrary opinion it is well knowne that he hath not onely relinquished and abandoned me but in words most reproachfully abused â—e with all manner of calumnies behind my backe calling me base fellow paltry fellow knave apostate an enemy of the Generation of the just a persecâ—ter and all this before his Letter was printed wherein he hath to the purpose rayled both upon me and my highly honoured brother Master William Prynne but it is his usuall custome thus to asperse the very Nobility and Peers of the Kingdome if they doâ— not in all things humour him as the Illeistrious Earle of Manchester yea he spares not the King his Highnesse nor the Parliament And for his complices all that Rabble rout tagragge and bobtaile that followed him in these his needlesse and sought for troubles as Worly by name and others they told me and that in a crowded assembly that I was very high but they had knowne me low enough and that not long since I lived on their almes and affirmed that they had kept me from hanging but now I was turned an Apostate a persecuter and an enemy of the godly party and joyned with the wicked against the Saints it seems they are all Saints and that I had ever been factious insomuch that they could not entertaine me in their hearts nor so much as pray for me All these reproaches and a greaâ— many more they cast upon me in the presence of many when they were in a tumultuous manner attending upon the Committee of Examinations and that without the least occasion on my part given them any more then my presence in that place whether I was summoned to be a Witnesse And for these men that did thus ignominiously and injuriously relvile me they were all Lieutenant-colonell Lilburnes followers and abettors and seconded by him and all of them unknowne to me and such as I had never seen to my best remembrance so much as the very face of any one of them before that day neither did I ever amongst christians behold such odde complexions and strange looks if ever you had seen the picture of Hel M. Vicars in York-house where all the postures of the damned creatures with their grisly lookes are described and had also taken notice what ghastly ugly sower and musteds faces out of dolour paine and anguish they made and had been amongst this company and had seen what grisly looks they out of malice rancor and envy to the Presbyterian party and especially to my selfe had made and had withall heard their confused hiddious noyses calling for the liberties of the Subjects and for the benefit of Magna charta and the Petition of Right and for a publike hearing you would have thought your selfe in the very Suburbs of Hell and that these had been the sonnes of Pluto or Pinus ascended out of Orco the complexion also of many of them being like the bellie of a Toad and to speake the ttuth Worly was one of the properest Gentlemen amongst them all and he was the most remarkable and taken notice of by reason of his habit and busie diligence he went that day in a great white and browne basket-hilted beard and with a set of teeth in his head much like a Poâ—-fish all staring and standing some distance one from another as if they had not been good friends it may be conjectured he picks them twice a day with a bed-staffe they looke so white and cleare he was mighty diligent about the Common-wealth that day and the Priviledges of the Subject and all the fraternity came flocking about him upon all occasions as a company of Turkyes doe about a Frogge wondering at her as at a strange sight Without doubt when the Parliament comes to be recruted the Independents will make him a Member and I am confident he will prove a rotten one for he looks as if he had gotten a
obedience and that has taken the Covenant and Protestation is tyed in as much as in him lyes to preserve and defend them in their lives and reputation And if any be informed concerning any one in that Councell that he should either doe practice or attempt any thing that tends to the ruine of the rest and of the whole State and Kingdome he is in conscience bound to reveale it that if false the divulgers of such calumnies may receive condigne punishment if true evill may be prevented and this I say he ought to doe though it should be to the prejudice of his nighest alies and intimatest acquaintance and this I conceive among the Independents may be thought no unjust act which this information of mine could not have done 〈◊〉 I by name put it up against Lieutenant-Colonell Lilbure as he falsly 〈◊〉 me for he might as well have freed himselfe from all danger and 〈…〉 reputation if he had told me those things as well as Hankins who 〈◊〉 â—ithstanding he related them unto us not as hear-sayes and 〈…〉 others but as truths which he said should be proved yet this 〈…〉 questioned about it and but relating that he received and heard it 〈…〉 Colonell Lilburne he was forthwith discharged even so might he have been if he had modestly told where he had heard that report and not in a disguised rebellious and proud manner behaved himselfe And it makes all men wonder to see the inconsiderable rashnesse of all that party who fall so violently upon me for but putting up my paper against Hankins when Saint Worly and his associates for so they would be accounted made the same information to four Members of the House before and have ever since with Spirit Sprat been the onely prosecâ—tors of that but businesse especially they ought not to have been so furioâ—s against me when Hankins reported it that he related it to Colonell King and my selfe for this very end that the whole matter might be fully searched into saying after I had lodged it with the Doctor and Colonell King I left it desiring that the naile might be droven to the head and that the truth might be found out This was his expression Now when I have gratified Master Hawkâ—ns desires who is the Sagamore of the Independants and done but my duty what he and his company would have me to doe and what they themselves do act may it not seeme a strange thing both to your selfe Master Vicars and all that shall understand the true relation of these things that the Independants should thus clamour against me and that for no other cause Lievtenant Colonell should accuse me for lying and ungratitude in the face of the Kingdome I am almost of opinion that many of the Independants when they shall heare the truth will condemn all their rashnesse in this point and truly if ever there were not onely temerity and uncharitablenesse but unjustice in an action it doth appear in their dealing towards me and the Parliament for their malice extends not to me onely but to many Members of the House yea it redounds upon the whole Parliament every particular Gentleman of the same that are Presbyterians for Lievt. Col. Lilburn blams them al as guilty of unjustice unrighteous dealing and so did all his company spak it openly in the presence of hundreds that there was no just proceeding amongst them and that they had not the liberty of Subjects and their priviledges according to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right and this they with one accord affirmed openly at the Committee doore so that Lieutenant-Colonell Lilburne is but their mouth and the foreman of that Tribe and what he did they all owne and to this day persevere in it and not onely so but labour to spread his Letter through the Kingdome that so they may with the more facility spread abroad and publish the sentence given by the Lieutenant against the whole Parliament the better to bring an Odium upon them all for in his book he pronounceth sentence against them all being party witnesse jury and judge in his owne cause and in his so doing whiles he cals to Heaven for justice against the Parliament he shewes himselfe very unjust and behaves himselfe rather like the wicked Judge that neither feared God nor cared for men then the most righteous Judge of the whole world who would not condemne the innocent 〈…〉 wicked as we may see in the 18. of Genesis 〈…〉 doe beleeve that the Lieutenant conceives very worthily of his own party in both Houses and thinks that they are just upright righteous men and the onely godly party in the Parliament for so I have heard the Lieuten. Col. speak and I perswade my selfe also that he is not so uncharitable as to think all the Presbyterian party in both Houses unjust and unrighteous now then if there be any either of the Independent party or of the Presbyterian that are truly just and righteous in their proceedings he ought to have spared them there is an old saying we ought not per lutum uniâ—â— totam gentâ—m perstrâ—â—gere he should indeed if he had knowne any guilty of crime and if he would have dealt justly have singled them out as he did me and by name have aspersed them and not have condemned the whole Councell in one blast and with one dash of his quill Any as he deales unjustly with the Parliament so he he dealeth not very righteously with me and my Brother Pryn for he condemnes us both of lying yet never convinced me of a lye nor I hope never shall be able for I writ nothing in my books against the Independents but what upon my owne knowledge I can affirme to be true yea depose it having had what I wrote from the Independâ—â—ts owne mouthes but that which coroberates what I say I can prove all I wrote against them by a cloud of witnesses the worst of them being better then the best of those witnesses they produced against Sir Iohn Lenthall and Master Speaker and therefore that which I writ against their Faction is so far from being a crime 〈◊〉 a lye as I stand upon my justification undertake upon my life to make good the charge in my postscript against the Independents or whatsoever I writ in any other book against them Nay I undertake to prove a great deale more then I have yet published and that that may concerne all Presbyterians especially and make them looke to themselves for if they get the day and prevaile they will spare none of them for they have a purpose to put downe all the Nobility and Gentry in the Kingdome I speake nothing but what I know howsoever their designe is carried very cunningly but let them once attaine unto their purpose at the recruting of the Parliament which is to bring in out of all the Countyes the Independent country Courtiers to whom they will give instructions for this purpose and you
themselves telling them when they forcibly crowd into their seats that the Saints have more right to those places then they and therefore partly for the stinking of them out of their seats as Baggars doe Foxes out of their holes by defiling them these Independent Country Courtiers scummer and pisse in their Pewes and partly also they doe it out of hatred to the very structure of the poore Churches which say they having been consecrated to Idolatry ought to be demolished or else made a Tophet on and a place of easement and therefore it is now growne an ordinary â—hing with the Independents thus to pollute Churches and some of them would have given seven thousand pound not long since for Pauls that they might have demolished it as an Idol Temple and so in their judgements the Gentry and Nobility are Idols and have too long been adored and venerated and they now desire that honor themselves and therfore if once they have the power in their hands and get into the Parliament then out go all the sons of Belial fot so they call the Gentry Therefore if you have any acquaintance with those that are to choose Burgesses for the Parliament give them a speciall caviat to take heed how they make any of that fraternity Parliament-men let them have an eye to the godly and truly religious without faction and understanding Gentlemen in the Country that know what really belongs to government For consider what a deale of misery all the Countryes through the Kingdome are involved in by reason of the Committees that are composed of those independent Country Courtiers who generally domineer over the very Noble-men and Gentlemen every where where they are in authority and exercise more severity over the Parliaments very friends then the Lords and Peers of the Kingdome and the great Counsell doe ever against Delinquents as all the poore Countries can testifie therefore perswade your friends againe and againe that they make choyce of no Independent Country Courtiers to he Members for then all the Kingdome will be made Linfie-Woolsie for they will have all Religions and give a greater talâ—â—otiâ—â— then the Devil himselfe for he will not tolerate all Religions for you know he persecuted the Woman the true Religion in the Wildernesse but these would tolerate all and therefore in that point they are worse then satâ—â— Therefore if you would avoyd an inevitable confusion perswade your friends to take heed of the Independeâ—ts who have made a combustion in Church and State already It is said of our Saviour that he would not commit himselfe to 〈◊〉 because he knew them John 2. now we have some experience already of all these men let us therefore take heed of them Others you know will not commit themselves unto men because they know 〈◊〉 not and 〈…〉 is very good reason why they should not now for my part I doe beleeve that there is no man can ever know the Independents and therefore they ought to shun them for they themselves professe that they keepe a reserve dâ—â—es ad triariorâ—s redierit res and tell us that we put them upon too unreasonable a task to satisfie us in all things they doe or desire Now when we know them already by all their actions to be disturbers of Church and State and violaters of all the Lawes of God and humanity and enemies of all good people and notorious lyars and they themselves confesse unto us that they have yet a reserve of grolleries they justly ought of all people to be abominated for they professe openly we shall never know them And thus much I thought fit in way of answer to reply unto John Lilburnes false accusation and to speak of all the Independents practises One thing I may not passe by before I shut up my Discourse Lievtenant Colonell Lilburne complaines of some affront given him by some of the Parliament as that they slighted him and made themselves merry with him which intimatest friends usually doe with their familiars and that much troubled his patience What would this man have done thinke you Master Vicars if he had beene openly abused as I was by some of the Independent party and favourers of their way 〈◊〉 I but wriâ— for the Presbytery and in defence of the Parliament and the reverend assembly of Divines against the Independents who had Printed most scurâ—ilous Books against them all and I was not onely roughly reproved but threatned also that they would complaine of me to the Parliament for undertaking to prove the Presbytery to be jure divinâ— which they told me was against the sense of the House and therefore punishable in me telling me also in a very furious manner that I was an incendiary and a maintainer of the Kings party and whereas they had me in their Catalogue intending upon occasion offered to have preferred me seeing they said I tooke this way I should never have their good word If he bad 〈…〉 party as I was by the Independents and that at the Parliament doore what daggers would not this man have writ and spake thinke you For my part if all the Independents in the Parliament should have spake that which two or three of them did it should not have moved me so much as the biting of a Flea much lesse should it have made me 〈◊〉 any thing in disgrace of the whole Councell or in the least to have impeached their dignity nay had I suffered as much for the Parliament and from it as any man I would not for some mens miscarriages or some necessitated failings have writ any thing to the dishonour of the whole House and God forbid that any Presbyterian in England should either doe such wickednesse or favour it in any I shall 〈…〉 or for some 〈…〉 for offences 〈◊〉 come and therefore I neither thought nor never shall thinke the lesse venerably of the Parliament for the affront that was put upon me by the Independent party for as there 〈◊〉 no Family though never so honest that hath not a Whore or Knave of their kindred so it is impossible in such a great Councell as the 〈◊〉 is but they should have some ninnyes and grols and men that have no 〈◊〉 wit then will reach from their nose to their mouth and are onely sensible and therefore people ought not for a few mens sakes to traduce the 〈◊〉 Parliament Neither will I ever suffer it in any whiles I live but shall ever 〈◊〉 my life defend the honour of the parliament against all Independents notwithstanding the failings of some Members And although John Lilburâ—â— Master Vicars be valiant yet in defence of my Religion and the Church of England and for the honour of the Parliament and great Councell I shall not onely dispute with all the Independents though I understand by some of that fraternity that they have Gyants for learning as well as Pigmyes 〈◊〉 I shall also dare in the quarrell of either fight with John Lilburne with 〈◊〉 weapon from a Bodkin to a Pike But leaving him to his A. B. C. which is a great deale better imployment for him then the grave and weighty matters of State and the study of poâ—â—â—ticks and the great Mysteries of Divinity and commending you and yours to his preservation who is the keeper of Israel that neither slumbereth 〈◊〉 sleepeth with my earnest prayers for a happy peace in this Kingdome 〈◊〉 the establishing of the true protestant Religion and of the Parliament I remaine Yours JOHN BASTWICK FINIS
I see no cause why he should make so loud a complaint for if there should now in the City of London a conspiracy be discovered and some of the Conspirators should be appprehended under reformation I conceive it will not stand with the wisdome of the City Officeâ—s and with the discretion of those that are in authority to set down the cause of their apprehension and sending them to prison for if their complices should have intelligence of this that their plot was discovered they would all either escape away or attempt some desperate thing that might be destructive to the whole City and that that might endanger the whole Kingdome therefore in such a case as this it is for the wisdome of the Officers to conceale the conspiracy till they have apprehended all the Delinquents and in such a case as this is and many more the Magistrate may as I conceive send any man to prison without signifying the cause why unto the prisoner For I read in many places of the Scripture that prisoners have been committed and there was no cause given either to him that was committed or to the Goaler wherefore he was committed and yet they are not condemned of unjustice for so doing But when men have been condemned without hearing or by false witnesses this hath made it a crime Neither hitherto have I ever read that it was counted a crime in a Magistrate or an unjust thing or a thing against the Law of God nature or Nations to ask any man that is apprehended a question or to demand of him whether he either spake any such words or heard any such or did such a thing or did it not for none of both these proceedings were counted a crime in either Ioseph or Ioshua or any other of the Rulers in Israel for Ioseph cast his brother into prison upon suspition and questioned all his other brethren upon a pretended jealousie and yet they accused not the Governour of Aegypt of unjustice to their good old Father Neither was it a crime in Ioseph to question his brethren if the businesse had been reall or in Ioshua to aske Achan whether or no he had taken the wedge of gold And if either Iosephs brethen or Achan had refused to have answered to the question propounded unto them til either Ioseph or Ioshua had told them the cause of their apprehension or commitment I beleeve they might have laine in prison till Dooms-day in the afternoone the time that Iohn Lilburne thinks the Parliement will pay him what they owe him and no wise man would have condemned the Governour of Aegypt for so doing and therefore he most shamefully abuseth the Parliament for their proceedings against him which stand very well with the Lawes of God and all well governed Nations and the Scripture that he citeth concerning Paul was nothing to the purpose for Paul stood committed and that upon suspition But the Judge thought it unjustice to proceed to sentence before that they had heard what Paul could say for himselfe in his owne defence and so the Parliament will doe to him and I am most assured he shall have all the faire hearing in the world but all this is nothing to Lieutenant-Colonell Lilburne's cause who might have been released as Hawkins was and without any dishonour unto him if he had not disobediently behaved himselfe to the honourable Committee For they demanding of him a question which by all the lawes of God and nature and Nations they might doe and to which without offending he might well have answered he contemptuously not onely refuseth to answer but asperseth them with unjustice which was the cause of the contiâ—uation of his commitment and then his publishing of a libellous and a most dangerous Letter was a cause of his new commitment to New-gate And in all this that the Parliament hath done I am confident when the people shall have a full hearing of the same and be rightly informed they will be abundantly satisfied of the justice of the Honourable House Much I confesse I could say for the justifying of the Parliaments proceedings not onely in this businesse about John Lilburne but all their other grave and weighty imployments to free that great Councell from those aspersions that not onely John Lilburne layeth upon it but all his complices but I shall leave this worke to those that it concerneth onely by the way let me say thus much both to John Lilburn his confederates that they ought alwaiâ— to have speciall care that whiles they study and labour to offend their enemies they doe not destroy their preservers and abuse those men causelesly as wish them as much good as they doe themselves though they tell them of their faults and errours and amongst others all the Independents have most injuriously in word and deed abused my ever honoured brother M. Prynne and John Lilburne in this his Letter in speciall to my knowledge hath most basely and falsly belyed him for it is well knowne he was never a favourer of Malignants and such as betrayed strong Holds as the businesse of Bristow can well witnesse for the prosecuting of that so cordially inraged many of the Independents against him and there be many that can witnesse for my brother Prynne that he was not the cause of the loosing of Gernsey for had his counsell beene followed both those Ilands at this day had bin under the command of the Parliament and what he published concerning the two Captaines it hath been proved by sufficient witnesse whatsoever they say to the contrary and Sir Samuel Luke a man of honour and approved integrity would never have questioned them without sufficient witnesse for what he chageth them with and as I have bin credibly informed every thing he accuseth them of is abundantly proved by two or three witnesses But this is the practice daily of the Independents that they will owne nothing of that they have said or done but put men upon the proofe and then asperse all those that justly question them for lyers and persecutors as at this time that confounded taylor Paul Hobson and Richard Beawmon a sucking Apothecary doe who snip and dose out their Sermons by weight and measure to the infecting misleading and seducing of the poor people and the making a disturbance in Church and State and these seducers notwithstanding would perswade the world they are sent from heaven when as it is most apparent they are meere juglers and imposters and onely make a pray of the people and lead them captive to liberty and licenciousnesse such Teachers as these are so farre from a just call from heaven as they runne before they were ever sent so that a man may truly say of such Teachers and Ministers Diabolus caccavit illos and therefore my reverend brother Master Prynne hath writ nothing but the truth concerning them and is most maliciously and causelesly abused by Lievetenant Colonell Lilburne and therefore this that he speaketh concerning him it not
to be beleeved it being an untruth And as little credit is to be given to that he relateth of himselfe how he dared Master Prynne to dispute with him but the Simpleton as he calleth him durst not If Lievetenant Colonell Lilburne had really challenged him in that place it had bin very incivily done in him for the Committee as it is well known doth not sit there to heare Disputations and I beleeve if he should have shewed himselfe so vaine and light as to have vented his folly in this kinde they would not onely have sharply reproved him for his temerity but have clapt him by the heeles as they might not have done but as I have beene credibly informed it is nothing so he never challenged him and therefore it is a notorious lye although it be in Print And whereas he sayeth my brother Prynne is besotted and out of his wits in collecting and publishing Martyâ—â— Books and the scurrilities of the Independent party with many of the blasphemings and railing speeches against the great Councell of the Kingdome and their proceedings and against the reverend Synod and Assembly and indeed against all Authority I conceive he hath done a very good and acceptable worke in reducing their railings revilings and blasphemies into a volumne that they may be left to all postity and future ages that in times to come the following generations may heare what a hideous and monstrous Sect in these last and worst times of the world is now risen up which speake evill of dignities and all government at pleasure Neither hath my brother Prynne in this transgressed but hath imitated all the Prophets and the blessed Apostles and Evangelists who have lest upon record all the blasphemies of Senacharib and of all the wicked men in their severall ages David hath done the same concerning the enemies of God and his people in his dayes the Evangelists also have recited all the blasphemous speeches they spake against Christ and Saint Iohn Baptist and all the other Apostles have done the same as Peter in speciall and Iude so that by their writings all men may see what a wicked generation of men were then living and what judgements of God lighted upon them for their so doing to lesson all people in future ages to take heed by their examples lest they provoke God by the like wickednesse for whatsoever was written was written for our instruction upon whom the ends of the world are come Now when my brother Prynne hath in this done nothing but what he hath presidents for and that out of Gods Word he is neither besotted nor out of his wits as he maliciously and falsly asperseth him but they rather are besotted that either write read or entertaine in their houses with delight such wicked Bookes as tend to no other end but to the corrupting not onely of good manners but the adulterating of the true Religion and perverting of mens judgements and yet Bookes of this nature are continually to be found in the hands and houses of all the Independents and I know few other that are by them either regarded or looked after so that it is just with God to give such as they are over to fearefull errours who leave the fountaines of living waters and digge unto themselves such broken cesternes that hold nothing but puddle and sâ—inking filth This I thought by the way to speak in my brother Prynnes behalf nothing doubting but himselfe or some friend for him will shortly publish his just defence against all other reproaches to the world And now Master Vicars I hope you are satisfied concerning Iohn Lilburnes calumnies against me and my brother Prynne but for a corolary let me say thus much that whereas Iohn Lilburne would accuse me of ingratitude I may justly complain of his unthankfulnes uncharitablenes toward me who hath rewarded me evil for good for all that know me can testifie for me that I was ever his friend to my power but it is not he alone that would make me an ungratefull man but all of that way asperse me with the same crime many of the which notwithstanding have for smal favors done to me in the time of my imprisonment been six times over requited for it as I can prove and yet they cry out of my unthankfulnesse and others of them that sent me now and then a Piece as a token of their love and as a free gift when they turned Independents demanded it all of me againe and I have paid them every penny four pounds at a time according to their asking and yet they cry out of my ingratitude and have to my face most basely upbraided me with their kindnesses Solomon sayth he that contends with a foole whether he rage or laugh there is no peace so he that hath to doe with the Independents can have no peace with them if in the least they differ from them for if ye be merry with them in telling them of their grolleries then they say ye jeere them if ye be serious then they say ye raile so that no man can tell how to please or humour them or how to enjoy the lawes of civility amongst them or to have any peace in their societies neither the Parliament nor Synod nor Presbytry or any government can please them for if the Parliament will have them fast then they will feast and if they would have them feast and be merry then they will mourne and set dayes apart for humiliations and say they are sad times nothing can please the Gentlemen as their practises can witnesse And truly if ever there were a contradicting people and an ungratefull generation of men to all sorts of benefactors these are if a man consider things either in generall or in speciall As for the Parliament it is well knowne that they have honoured that Sect as much as ever any authority did any for they have the principall Offices in the Army and through the Kingdome places of chiefe trust and government put in their hands the prime places of gaine and emolument likewise bestowed upon them through all Counties and are ordinarily as well paid for their service as any and yet none speak more unreverendly of the great Counsell more harsh more bitter invectives against them and their proceedings then they and more asperse their authority by their practises then they doe as all their words pamphlets preachings and actions can witnesse As for their ingratitude towards our brethren the Scots and it is notorious to all men for they cannot give them a good word for all their love to us no not at this time of their diâ—â—esse when it appeareth to the whole world that they have by assisting us not onely exposed all their lives to perill but endangered their whole Country and now lye wallowing in their blood at home for being friends to us and yet for all this their love they cannot neither think nor speak well of them such ingratitude was never seen in any