is those Meetings there my Interest ingaged me thereunto as much as any mans And that those Meetings were there it was not long of me it is wâ—ll known that there was a Room at the Church-house reserved for that purpose which Room William Pinchin 't is like thought not so fit to carry on his Contrivances in and therefore it might be a design in him to remove those Meetings thither because he was resolv'd if swearing would doe it that to that place with safety I should not come 'T is well known that within these few years William Pinchin hath been a great Rate-maker and seldome out of Offices that he hath brought in large Accounts and in those his Accounts it will be made appear that he hath made but little Conscience either of Honesty or of his Oath section 13 The next thing in the Deposition is That I have there drank hard in Mr. Speke's and Mr. Long 's Company As touching the first of these Gentlemen Mr. Speke I shall say that as I have heard this was not the first tâ—me wherein William Pinchin forswore himself to wrong him And it is not unlikely but that this consideration that Mr. Speke was my Patron and now he is gone and so in no capacity either to be pleased or offended with any thing which I shall say I assure thee if ever any was such he was to me verè Patronus a Patron indeed one who most freely bestowed the place upon me and I think he never repented that he had so bestowed it and I his Clerk that he was loving to me and I as in duty bound respectfull toward him might move VVilliam Pinchin a profess'd Enemy Pareâ—tibus Patronis to Parents of all sorts to levell at us both And I believe â—t that William Pinchin and I should have been better friends if I had done by my Patron as he hath done severall times by his Parents Cousen them curse them and beat them out of dâ—res section 14 But further touching Mr. Speke I could never hear it reported by any one unlesse by him who will swear any thing that this Gentleman was ever given to intemperate Drinking no not in his healthy and â—â—â—â—ger years but now in his latter dayes and this was the time to which this Deposition refers and in which I had any knowledge of him it is well known that he was so valetudinary and crasie that his own Infirmities would have constrained him to have kept a temperate Diet although he had not been disposed to it section 15 And then as touching the other Gentleman Mr. Long that he should be within two years that is within two years of the time wherein William Pinchin thus deposed which was April 28. 1656. in such a place and with such Company drinking hard will seem very strange to any one that shall peruse the Register Book of the Parish of Corsham for there it appears and so much was certified to the Commissioners at their last sitting at Lavington under the hand of the sworn Register of Corsham that this Mr. Long was buryed December 9. 1651. So that if William Pinchin swore truly it must needs follow that this Mr. Long was drinking hard at Box more then two years after he was in his Grave at Corsham Another Circumstance for Mr. Blisset There is in the close of this part of the Deposition That he cannot say that ever he saw me drunk Which Clause I would have the Reader to bear in his minde untill the Transactions of the next day section 16 Passe we now to the last part of his Deposition which refers to the third Article of Charge exhibited against me it is this That Mr. Bushnell have alwayes baptized Infants by the form of Common Prayer till the last Sabbath day excepting the Sign of the Crosse To which for present I shall say but only this that for any thing William Pinchin knew it might be so or it might be otherwise for excepting the Sabbath which he speaks of in his Deposition whereon he staid for a godly purpose no doubt it was none of his use in those few times he came to Church to stay so long till Children were Baptized section 17 The next Deposition taken was the Deposition of Peter Webb in these words That he have often seen Mr. Bushnell at Ale-houses but only about Parish businesse And saith further That at Michaelmas was Twelve-Moneth he Baptized this Deponents Childe by part of the Book of Common Prayer and that about four or five years since he saw him playing at Cards at Mr. Speke ' s. This Deposition because it hath nothing singular in it but playing at Cards which will fall under another Deposition I shall at present passe over section 18 Next comes Obadiah Cheltenham and swears That he have often seen Mr. Bushnell at Clarks Alehouse in Box and at the George at Corsham from five years past till within two years but never saw him drink to excesse No nor so much as drink neither for his words were That at Corsham he did only look into the Room where I was belike he means the Room where after the Sermon was ended the Ordinary was kept I wonder he had not charged me with frequenting Inns and Alehouses at Lavington Caln Marlburrough in attendance to these Commissioners For I can assure thee that since I came to Box I never lodg'd so many nights in Inns and Alehouses nor have spent a Tenth part of Money in those Inns and Alehouses as I have parted withall in this businesse And perchance some body who knows the pulse of the Marlburrough Commissioners very well will when I have told him all which I intend say that my Discharge might have been procured at a much easier rate then mine undoing section 19 But I must tell thee that Obadiah Cheltenham was far more fierce at Lavington then his Deposition represents him For beside that he there thwarted with one witnesse and prompts another he then upon Oath informs the Commissioners That I had used a Prayer before Sermon so often that the very Boyes of the Street could repeat it and laugh at it Which passage it seems Mr. Chambers noted for as I have been told he reported it in another place Now since Obadiah Cheltenham had alwayes free admission to them and a gratious Countenance from Mr. Chambers and Mr. Byfield I may conjecture that in private at least this was look'd upon as matter of Charge against me section 20 In order to my Vindication in this particular I shall offer to thy consideration these things 1. That I conceive it not to be any crime in a Minister to use a Set Form of Prayer 2. That I conceive it not any crime in a Minister to use the same set form of Prayer more then once I am not the first that sayeth That the gift of Prayer doth not exclude means and endeavours of our own as premeditation diligence study both of matter order words Nor did I ever
Judges such Witnesses such a sentence and such a Malefactor The Judges although most unjust yet pretending not only to Justice but Piety likewise The witnesses most infamous and yet countenanced and made use of by these Judges although they knew them to be such And although the sentence be not altogether the same yet the Malefactors crime being either the witnesses malice or else that he held something which they were sick for These things being premised by way of Caution I take my leave Gualt Bushnell THE TRANSACTIONS at the time when first I appeared before the COMMISSIONERS sitting at the Bear in MARLBURROUGH FEBRUARY 14. 1655. section 1 BY vertue of an Ordinance of OLIVER called the PROTECTOR and his Council intituled An Ordinance for the Ejecting of Scandalous Ignorant and Insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters bearing date Aug. 29. 1654 wherein certain Commissioners with Ministers assistant were impowred to proceed according to severall Instructions therein specified as by the said Ordinance whereunto for further satisfaction I refer thee appears I was by Warrant from Marlburrough delivered uâ—to me by Tho. Cox bearing date Jan. 21. 1655. under the hands and Seals of Tho. Bayly Tho. Hunt Gabriel Martin William Shute William Blisset and Richard Phelps summoned to appear before the said Commâ—ssioners at Marlburrough on the 14 day of February then next following in these words WILTS By the Commissioners for the ejecting of scandalous Ministers c. sitting at Marlburrough this 21 day of Jan. 1655. THese are to will and require you Walter Bushnell Clerk Minister of Box to make your personall appearance before us at the Sign of the Bear in Marlburrough upon Thursday come three weeks the 14 day of Febr. next coming to answere to a Charge of Articles purporting matter of scandal and insufficiency before us this day exhibited against you Hereof fail you not at your perill Given under our hands and Seals the day and year abovesaid To Walter Bushnell Clerk these On the outside Mr. Bushnell of Box. section 2 Which personall appearance I accordingly made and after I had waited till about Eight of the Clock at night I received a Copy of the Charge in these words WILTS ss A Copy of the Charge against Mr. Bushnell exhibited Januar 21. 1655. 1. That the said Mr. Bushnell is guilty of profaning the Sabbath day 2. That he is guilty of frequenting Inns and Ale-houses and drinking to Excesse 3. That he useth the Form contained in the Book of Common Prayer and Baptizeth with the Sign of the Crosse 4. That he is guilty of playing Cards and Dice 5. That he is guilty of severall attempts by him made on his servant woman to have committed uncleannesse with her 6. That he hath expressed his disaffection to the present Government in associating himself with severall persons who were chief Actors in the late Insurrection Ex. per me William Blissett Vera Copia To these Articles I pleaded not guilty which I subscribed at the foot of them adding further to Mr. Shute and Dr. Chambers the only persons that to my knowledge I had ever seen before that if those Articles were true then was I notoriously scandalous but if false then were the Informers Notorious Slanderers or words to that purpose To which Dr. Chambers replies to this purpose That the severall parties should be brought face to face So that waiting only for a Copy of the Articles for which I gave the Clark Mr. Blissets Son 2 s. 6 d. I was at that time dismissed untill further summons section 3 Now I must acquaint thee that these Articles were exhibited by one John Travers of Slaughtenford commonly then called Captain Travers This Trade of Information and such unworthy shifts being conceived to be almost all that he had to live by he being looked on as a Fellow meerly Mercenary framing Complaints against men for no other cause but that he might be hired to hold his peace and endeavouring to displace Ministers for this reason that he might have his reward for making room for others to come into their Livings And I make no doubt of it but that as it was hope of reward which moved him to act so at first it was indifferent to him from whom he had it A good Crust would have so charmed this Cerberus that he would not have opened his mouth unlesse it had been in my behalf Nor do I make a question of it but that as some reward from me would have kept him quiet or made him for me so that he had some promises given him or somewhat assured him in case he would appear against me The man whom they have put in my place hath complained of the Charges be hath been at in getting of it one must have 20 l. another 10 l. another 10 l. and 10 l. it cost him in such a businesse now there is no doubt but that John Travers had his share in this Dividend as well as in the Service Neither can I think that Mr. Sterne would have beknaved him ask William Blisset the younger and Tho. Cox how as he did some others if John Travers had travailed and swore for him upon his own Charges And for some such kinde of man was he looked upon by Mr. Chambers himself when he first delivered in these Articles against me who as he hath reported called for the Articles with a purpose to have torn them because they were Exhibited by such a hand section 4 And since I have mentioned the Articles and the person that delivered them in and the entertainment which they were like to finde from Mr. Chambers because they were delivered in by such an hand let me now tell thee what as he hath reported it was the cause which made the Doctor forbear tearing of them and that was because he saw there the Names of many whom he knew and took to be honest men And here for an Introduction to the honesty and discretion of the Dr. I shall observe this unto thee that as I have been told he observed it that although there were severall names subscribed yet they were all written in the same hand from which it must needs follow that by the Doctors confession the whole writing both Articles and hands might be all forged as indeed they were so that me thinks the Doctor hath very much overshot himself in point of discretion for he looks upon the Articles the more because subscribed with such and so many names and yet 2 he acknowledgeth all the names to be written with one hand which would have made any sober man the more to have suspected it But yet the Doctor had an evasion for this for at my appearing before them at Caln some of those whose names were subscribed desired a sight of the Paper that they might know who had thus abused them which they could not obtain yet the Dr. that we might not prove his Friends guilty of Forgery endeavours to preserve their reputation with a Salvo to some
an unwillingnesse to that which he most desires for I am assured that he would never have gone about so to excuse himself if he had believed that such an excuse would have been accepted of Somewhat it was which Mr. Blisset then spake unto him that he had been lately sworn before other Commissioners yea and there he approves himself a Valiant Knight which I conceive was spoken either out of wonder that William Pinchin should now be so calm who was lately so fierce or else by way of invitation to incourage him to go on section 3 But this hinderance being removed William Pinchin goes on in these words That about Eight years since when Mr. Bushnell came first to Box he feasted his friends on the Lords day and having drank liberally that day there one Thrift one of the Guests was killed in the Tower there but by what means this Deponent knoweth not And saith farther That he knoweth that Mr. Bushnell have usually till within this two years frequented Alehouses in Parish businesse and have there drank hard in Mr. Speke 's and Mr. Long 's Company and have saw him set there drinking after they have been gone but cannot say that ever he saw him drunk And saith further That Mr. Bushnell have alway baptized Infants by the form of the Common Prayer till the last Sabbath day excepting the Sign of the Crosse section 4 Where I shall offer to thy consideration 1. That although William Pinchin pretends he came unwillingly to swear yet we see he comes not unprepared I shall therefore desire the Reader to take some notice of this deposition which consists of three parts answerable to the three first Articles exhibited against me 1. Profanation of the Lords Day 2. Frequenting Alehouses 3. Vsing the Common Prayer at the Baptizing of Children I shall observe something to thee touching all these accordingly as they lie in order section 5 And first I shall tell thee that whatsoever William Pinchin deposeth touching my Feasting on the Lords day or drinking liberally on that day or of the death of John Thrift he hath only upon conjecture or else upon hear-say For he then upon Oath acknowledged before the Commissioners that he was not that day at Box but at Broughton which is some four or five Miles distant from Box and 't is like enough he was there at the Revel that being their Revel-day 2. He then deposed likewise that this Lords day was Midlent-Sunday 3. He then deposed that I preached not that Afternoon imputing it to Excessive Drinking And yet we have not one word of this in the Copy of the Depositions which we received from their Clerk Whether it were ever taken or if taken whether Index Expurgatorious hath dasht it out I will not say section 6 I must not forget to tell thee that whiles the Clerk was taking William Pinchins Dâ—poposition Mr. Byfield did often interpose as if it had belonged to him to teach William Pinchin how to swear and the Clerk how to enter it Adding that if he wrote so or so it would not amount to a Charge for that the latter part of it would contradict the former or words to such a purpose No Deposition pleased him but such as had poyson in it And here I must tell the Reader that this Mr. Byfield seemed wholly to have forgotten both the place and the purpose for which his Name was put into the Ordinance for by that it is cleer that neither Mr. Byfield nor any other Minister hath any thing to do but only to assist the Commissioners in their adjudging who shall be accounted ignorant and insufficient whereas it is well known that Mr. Byfield intermedled in the matter of Scandall more then all the Commissioners beside I appeared Nine times before them where Mr. Byfield ever made one and when the Pipe was out of his Mouth his Tongue was seldome silent but either dictating to the Clerk encouraging some Witnesses thwarting with and threatning and turning back others thrusting some out of dores that they might not hear how things past charging the Clerk that he should give no Copies of the Depositions making Orders which were for his purpose reversing others which were not reading and explaining Acts and Ordinances concealing some other which were not for his purpose instructing and Catechising some of his Commissioners Of all which thou shalt have particular instances in the Sequel But now in the businesse which was properly his Examination my man was as mute as a Fish for I remember not that be proposed so much as one question unto me Indeed he hath not been so favourable in that particular to every body For he hath as I have been told press'd a Neighbour of mine with a Question very earnestly and closely and wot you what it was It was doubtlesse with Mr. Byfield a fundamentall one What was the yearly value of his Living and indeed when Mr. Chambers preaching at Bath on those words Joh. 14.22 made this Observation That Judas Iscarias proposed no Question but about Earthly things as What will you give me Might not this have been sold c. I could not choose but think of Mr. Byfield section 7 But to return to the Deposition William Pinchin acknowledgeth himself to be absent and yet he swears as if he had been at Box. I am not so much a Lawyer as to know how far forth an Oath will extend or to what it will amount if a man depose nothing but what he hath received by hear-say Amongst the people of God heretofore the matter was not established but at the mouth of two or three Witnesses they could not if absent send in their Testimony under their hands and then certainly much lesse could they give Evidence of a thing which they never knew In after Ages it is reported that they deponed after this sort 1. They must testifie from their own sight 2. What day of the Moneth such a thing was done 3. What Moneth of the Year such a thing was done 4. What Seaventh year of the Jubilee And sure enough it is that whatsoever is deposed in such a Case is no Testimony but a Report and so as to the Testimony and the Witnesse it is false although the thing reported were true Testis falsus est non is modo qui mendacium dicit sed qui etiam quod verum est testificatur cujus certam indubitatam notitiam non habet id est testatur quod nec vidit nec audivit nec expertus est I presume they will not dislike my Author He is a false Witnesse not only he who tells a Lie but he also who testifies a truth whereof he hath not a certain and undoubted knowledge that is if he testifie that which he hath neither seen nor heard nor hath had any Experience of which I speak not in any wise by way of granting that to be true which William Pinchin hath informed in this particular for I
take praying in or by or with the Spirit and Extempore unthought of unpremeditated Prayer for one and the same thing My present judgment is that as to the publique there is no such praying by the Spirit as when we have seriously considered and bethought our selves aforehand both of what we have to pray for and of whom we are to ask it Nor am I singular in it if I should say that the Spirit doth then help our Infirmities when as with due affections and requisite ardency of desire we pray as we have premeditated or have been taught And if it happen that the people are well acquainted with it it is so much the better the businesse is their own and of such a nature as that it is a businesse which neerly concerns them and as I conceive it the Ministers duty to fit his publique Prayers so as they may be most for publique use so I conceive it fit likewise that the Congregation be well acquainted with both the matter and order of them that both the one and the other may engage with the greater fervency because they all know how neerly they are concerned in it and can all joyfully say Amen unto it And to give me thy thoughts in this particular I say that as the Example of those who have attempted this unpremeditated way could never incourage me to attempt the like so neither have the Arguments which they urge against this premeditate way of Prayer prevailed so far with me as to make me change my minde section 21 But now as to mine own particular I shall say thus much That I have formerly made use of the same Prayer in Congregations far more judicious and numerous then is that of Box yet I could never hear any thing taxed in it as misbeseeming or ridiculous No nor at Box neither unlesse it were by William Pinchin and Obadiah Cheltenham or such like who may have the impudence to dislike what they have not the grace to practice Nay even at Box I am confident of it Obadiah Cheltenham may go throughout the whole Parish and be so far from finding Boye or Boyes that laugh at it as that he shall not finde any one that remembers so much as three lines of it And therefore I look upon this as a double slander against the Boyes and my self section 22 It was at this time and place likewise that Obadiah Cheltenham prompted Thomas Powell another Witnesse to inform That I had preached unprofitable Doctrine what it was we shall have when we come to Tho. Powels Deposition And doubtlesse Obadiah Cheltenham would have had the Commissioners believe that there was nothing but good meaning in all this that the desire of his heart and his utmost aims were that they might be fed with Food both wholsome and convenient for them and therefore I must be represented as an unprofitable Teacher and so to be laid aside so to usher in an expedience to these their Godly desires But see now how the event hath bewraid all Mr. Stern hath lately told me that these men William Pinchin and Obadiah Cheltenham invite him to Box with much importunity and many promises even beseeching him to come and preach Christ among them of which for a long time they said that they had a great want and therefore like the man of Macedonia in Paul's Vision they pray him to come unto them and help them But said he all this was but for some Interest of their own their gain belike being their godlinesse William Pinchin of late coming but seldome to Church and Obadiah Cheltenham being as 't is said a frequenter of the Meetings of the Anabaptists section 23 Next comes Thomas Powel and deposeth That sometimes till within Four years past he have seen Mr Bushnell in Raynalds and Baylies Alehouses in Box but knowes not what drew him thither but never saw him drink to excesse And saith That till within three or four years past Mr. Bushnell have baptized by the Form of Common Prayer And that about two years since Mr. Bushnell preaching against Malice said That Malicious persons were the Devils Nymphs and wished them with him for their wages section 24 To which I shall say that if Thomas Powel had been then demanded when he had been last at Rainalds he would have been made confesse that he had not been there in six years before and therefore possibly he could not see me there within four year But now whereas he adds he knew not what businesse drew me thither I doubt me that he wilfully forgets himself for he cannot but remember that the businesse which once drew me to Baylies was his own to compose a difference then depending betwixt himself and a Neighbour whom he then maliciously and spitefully prosecuted about which we spent the greater part of the night and I believe that he cannot forget that the businesse which drew me to Bailies at another time was to beg relief for Marlburrough where on the Lords Day we found him sitting at a Table with a Jug before him when and where with some adoe he bountifully advanced a Groat towards that charitable work which was not so much as we received from some who lived in the Church-house and received Alms of our Monethly Collection Nor had our Benevolence to Marlburrough amounted so high as it did unlesse some amongst us had been far more liberall then Thomas Powel was Now I cannot readily remember that I ever saw Tho. Powel at Baylies but only at those times section 25 And since I have on this occasion mentioned Marlburrough I must tell thee that some of that place such whom I believe had their share in the Dividend have since made me but a very sorry requitall either for my pains for them or my Charity towards them I little thought it when I went about from house to house throughout our whole Parish and Tythings for severall dayes together with much importunity too to beg for Marlburrough that Marlburrough men within three years after sitting in their stately houses built at the Countreys and other mens Charges should be with the first that should turn me out of dores That those who had it not been for the Benevolence of the Countrey which was much advanced by the industry of the Ministers might have sate without dores should with a breath leave us in as sad or a sadder condition then the fire left them And thus much will I say more as to mine own particular that my Purse as well as my Pains went very far for them for they received more from me and my little Family then from all those 22 whom they countenanced and encouraged to swear against me I recorded it in our Parish Register Book both the sum which was collected for them as also the names of the persons who bestowed their pains in Collecting of it Which one of the Marlburrough men Mr. Tho. Bayly perusing the Register Book noted how he liked it
I know not perchance not so well I have read of those of that disposition that being once aloft cannot endure to be told that ever they went or sent a begging but when they were on their leggs again their main Endeavours should be to remove or crush them who lifted them up for fear it should be known that they had been down Now whether I incur'd the Marlburrough mens displeasure in being so saucie as to commit their sometime indigent and begging condition to Posterity they though most willing to receive yet as unwilling to be told of it I will not judge I have not now our Register Book at command but for want of that let these Papers remain as a record to testifie to the present and future times how these Marlburrough men have requited me section 26 But to return the next thing in Powel's Deposition is That he never saw me drink to excesse Which I shall desire the Reader to keep in his memory till the Transactions of the next day Next he swears That till within this three or four years Mr. Bushnell have baptized by the Form of Common Prayer To which I shall reply only this that as this was nothing to the Ordinance by which these Commissioners sate and acted so it was more then Thomas Powel knew for he was a man that seldome came to Church nor do I remember that I ever saw him stay the time during the Administration of that Sacrament For present I shall desire thee to observe how Thomas Powel treads in William Pinchins track and swears as if he had taught him his Lesson section 27 The next branch in his Deposition is That about two years since Mr. Bushnell preaching against Malice said That Malicious persons were the Devils Nymphs and wished them with him for their wages And where lies the matter of Charge here or to what Article doth this Deposition refer Is Malice become a Vertue and if a Vice is it so rare in the Land that it is unseasonable to reprove it And what have we next I said that Malicious persons were the Devils Nymphs Risum teneatis Indeed I could not forbear which doubtlesse had he seen it would have much offended Mr. Byfield as he was on the like occasion at another time The Clerk as wondering at the Expressions for some time withheld his hand belike conceiving that Tho. Powel might mistake but he continuing earnest and often iterating those words Nymphs Nymphs the Clerk enters it accordingly Doubtlesse Tho. Powel conceived these to be some stabbing words he was so zealous for them and yet to any understanding man they will not amount to any Charge unlesse it be of simplicity falshood or malice in the Reporter of them For 1. Few that know me will believe it that I should ever say so And 2. In case I had said so the most that I could have been charged with had been impropriety or incongruity of speech although we read of the Devils Children often yet of his Nymphs never untill in Thomas Powels Deposition Give me leave to adventure my conjecture how this might come to passe I told thee a little before that Tho. Powel in his Depositions did tread in William Pinchins steps I doubt me that he had William Pinchin for his tutor here and that he taught him to say that I had said that malicious persons were the Devils Imps which Thomas Powel misapprehending or remembring might swear that I said Malicious persons were the Devils Nymphs I have read of a Guide that by mistaking Casilinum for Casinum was likely to have hazarded Hannibals whole Army What hazard Thomas Powel hath brought upon his soul by this I leave it to him who will one day call vain and unadvised Swearers much more false Swearers to an account section 28 And although at first I smiled at the ridiculousnesse of the Expressions yet afterward considering that Thomas Powel was upon his Oath and so bound by that Sacred tie whereâ—n our great God was called in as a witnesse to the truth and consequently an Avenger if he spake false and he bound to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth should then depose such words as spoken by â—e which never were spoken and I believe â—ooked on by many even of the Commissiners themselves as even impossible to be true I say â—hat this did much sadden my spirit and sorry â— am that it was so much or no more looked upon â—y these Commissioners But indeed conâ—idering what kinde of Testimonies they reâ—eived against me as likewise what use they made of those Testimonies I much doubt it â—hat they made use of such Testimonies against â—e which they in their Consciences knew to be â—alse And this they might doe although without Equity or Conscience yet not without presidents such as they are both from the Old and the New Testament but me thinks the Example and the Ends of these men are enough to frighten any others to adventure the same â—ray Hast thou marked the Old way which wicâ—ed men have troden section 29 I have often proposed it unto my self what and when and where any words should â—e spoken by me which Thomas Powel could â—rest to such a sense at length I lighted upon this conjecture wherein from some words which Thomas Powel hath formerly let fall in some company I am confirmed Some yeaâ— past I am sure more then two twice told took for my Text those words of our Blessâ— Saviour Math. 12.32 But whosoever speakeâ— against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven hiâ— neither in this world nor in the world to comâ— Where having told them the usual definitâ— of this sin unto death towards the conclusioâ— of my discourse by way of Caveat I adviseâ— my Hearers that as they desired not to coâ—â— at it so neither to come neer it no nor sâ— much as toward it neither In order whereunto after severall other Caveats I told them thâ— men must take heed of raising and reporting malicious slanders such which their own Consciences cannot but tell them are false and yet soâ—â— base by-respect will put them on both to report anâ— justifie them Adding further that a man mighâ— come towards this sin against the Holy Ghost by slandering or maliciously reporting a known falshooâ— of but a Man For I had told them before that the sin against the Holy Ghost was not sâ— called because it was against the person of thâ— Holy Ghost but because it was against thosâ— Graces whereof the Blessed Spirit by way oâ— Appropriation is said to be the author or giveâ— which I cleerly manifested unto them from the case in the Text for otherwise with what congruity could our Blessed Saviour have noâ— taxed them with this sin when as their Malicious slanders were against himself 'T is without doubt that these Pharisees with whom our Blessed Saviour had now to doe came neerâ—t â—t And therefore they came neer it Peterâ—alls â—alls it
conclude him to be guilty of the crime and I shall tell him further that I have read of such a one yea and a good one too heretofore Master thus saying thou reproachest us also where you may observe that the Lawyer freely acknowledgeth himself guilty of those crimes which our Blessed Saviour there reproves and yet the impudent proud thing counts himself slandered or reproached in that he is told of them section 33 We have no more to say touching the Depositions which were taken at this time But yet for a Conclusion to the Transactions of this day give me leave to observe a few things unto thee 1. That the Deposition of Mary Workman who was examined upon all the Articles and that Deposition carefully taken for said Mr. Blisset she was a Midwife and so might know much is wholly left out section 19 2. I told thee before that Obadiah Cheltenham then thwarted with a witnesse which was this Mary Workman he then affirming when she had denyed it that I had within a quarter of a year signed two Children with the sign of the Crosse she holding them in her arms which he said were the Children of Mr. Speke and Mr. Snell This made the poor woman amazed considering that Obadiah Cheltenham being sworn with her self but a little before to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and she rightly conceiving that the same Oath bound him still all the while he was before these Commissioners and speaking to my businesse I say it made her amazed that he should swear that I signed two Children within a quarter of a year when as one of those Children Mr. Speke's was Baptized Octob 28. 1653. and almost a year older then the Ordinance by which these Commissioners sate and acted Another Circumstance for Mr. Blisset section 34 Nor must it be forgotten that at such time as William Pinchin was giving in his Testimony touching my use of the Form of Common Prayer he having informed that I began with the Lords Prayer and afterward read some Psalms Mr. Byfield asks him whether after the end of the Psalms I said Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost He then asked likewise whether after I had Baptized Children I said Forasmuch as this Childe is regenerate I remember not what Answer William Pinchin made to one or other But to me Mr. Byfield seems to intimate by his Questions that it should have been matter of Charge against me if I had used either I assure thee Reader that this made me wonder And what may there be in that Doxology that should offend Mr. Byfield the thing it self and is it a crime to give glory to the Blessed Trinity or will he be angry with us because we say as the Heavenly Host did Glory to God in the Highest Were we not all Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Which I conceive to mean more then Beza's Invocato nomine Dei Patris c. and to import as much as to devote our selves unto or to resign our selves up to the service of the Blessed Trinity And are we charged for this that we now make publique profession of it or was it disliked by him because looked upon now as altogether uselesse it being composed by the Council of Nice in confutation of the Heresie of Arrius But now what if I should prove it to be more ancient then that Council and formerly put to another use and that those Fathers did not so much constitute as quote it and quote it thereby to overthrow the Blasphemy of the Arrian because it was contrary to that Doxology which was appointed in the Apostolical and Primitive times But yet admitting that Heresie to have been the cause of it is it therefore now a crime such a crime as may deserve ejectment to continue it is our Field our Church so free from those Tares is the Orthodox Doctrine of the Trinity so sincerely taught and believed and so unanimously Tell me you Reformers have you never since you began your Reformation heard of some that have pluckt off no lesse then two of three of the persons of the Blessed Trinity stripping one of his Being another of his Deity and indeed had I not found it by experience I should not have believed it that the use of this Doxology should be imputed to a Minister as a crime or that a man should be reputed scandalous for this because he made publique profession that he was no Arrian section 35 And as touching Mr. Byfields next Query Whether I said forasmuch as this Childe is regenerate I answer that I believe that Mr. Byfield had small minde to ingage himself or me in any of the publique Schools on that Question touching Baptismal Regeneration possibly he might have read what Dr. Burges and Mr. Bedford have said upon the same Argument yea even Mr. Baxter himself doubts not but that Baptisme is an Instrument of relative Regeneration and Sanctification But to put this matter as to Mr. Byfield out of doubt In that Confession of Faith set out by the Assembly whereunto there was no doubt Mr. Byfields consent and approbation as well as his hand we have these words Baptisme is a Sacrament of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the Visible Church but also to be unto him a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace of his ingrafting into Christ of Regeneration Doth Mr. Byfield under his hand acknowledge it to be a Sign and Seal of Regeneration and yet is it in his judgement a crime in me to say so If it be among men when once a man hath put to his Sign and Seal the person so ingaging as to all purposes and Covenants expressed in that Instrument stands obliged to make them good and the person to whom the Grant is made will from that day rest himself assured of his Bargain because he hath it under hand and Seal And dares any say that the Covenant of God is not Authentick when as he hath put his Sign and Seal to it and if it be Authentick can it be a fault in a Minister to publish so much I shall sum up all into an Argument thus Baptisme is a Sign and Seal of Regeneration to Infants of Believing Parents But the Childe or Children by me Baptized were such Therefore it is a Sign and Seal of Regeneration to them Mr. Byfield hath under his hand acknowledged the major Proposition and the minor he dares not deny and yet he was angry with me for inferring and pronouncing the Conclusion Certainly his Spleen conceived against the Liturgy had now so far prevailed upon him that in his Passion he forgets what he had formerly written and published for Orthodox So that me thinks Mr. Byfield might have then done as did one of whom I have heard heretofore
That about one year and a half since he and some others that went to school with Mr. Bushnell plaid at Cards in Mr. Bushnells house when Mr. Bushnell took up one of the Boyes games and plaid it out for him at Slam after which some difference happening between the boyes about their game he snatched up the Cards and threw them into the fire and burnt them and said he would have no more playing at Cards in his house section 31 And as touching this Deposition I would fain know where the matter of charge lies is it in this That they played at Cards in my house I know nothing all circumstances duly considered and it was my care it should be so that makes it either unlawful or inexpedient The time was after Supper the company mine own scholars the stake for any thing I knew Apples or Nuts whereat in an harmless manner for some short time they might recreate themselves If it happened otherwise as the Deposition here sayes that it did the beginning of the differences put an end to the Game As I remember Mr. Byfield disliked it that I had not burnt the Cards before but delaid it till the end of the Game To which I shall say only this that had they been filling or smoaking with a Tobacco pipe I should have looked upon it as a thing so disingenuous and misbeseeming Scholars that I should have snatcht it away and broken it without any more adoe section 31 Next follows the Deposition of John Gibbons in these words John Gibbons of Box being sworn saith Thâ—â— about three quarters of a year past he plaâ—â— twice with Mr. Bushnell at Tables in his own house for good will only and no moneys But saith that he was induced so to do at the request of this Deponent To which we have neer in place and substance the Deposition of Peter Webb in these words Peter Webb before sworn saith That sometimes before two years past he have plaid with with Mr. Bushnell at Tables in his own house but for no moneys section 32 Now I would willingly be satisfied touching the matter of Charge in these Depositions For 1. Are these Games illiciti in se unlawful in themselves or in their own nature Then are they such at all times in all places and to all persons Never man did never man can use them but in the very use of them he offends But perchance they will say that they are Illiciti quia prohibiti and though indifferent in themselves yet in being forbidden they become unlawful To this I shall subjoin and if they be thus forbidden it must be either â—y some old Law or else by some new â— believe that Mr. Byfield would not say By any â—ld Law and if he had said by the New that is â—he Ordinance by which they sate and accorâ—ing to which they were to act I shall anâ—wer that then these two Depositions signifie â—â—thing against me for the ordinance in this â—articular makes only such Ministers to be deemed â—â—ilty of Scandal who shall be found frequent players 〈◊〉 Cards or Dice and certainly then no man â—ill say that I played frequently with these men â—hen as they depose that I never played with â—hem but once a piece I am confident that Mr. â—â—field and the Doctor would not be termed â—â—equent Preachers if they had Preacht no â—ftener then it is proved that I plaid at Cardsâ—r â—r Tables There was beside a concurrence of â—ll circumstances which being duly observed know not the Casuist so strict which accounts â—hem absolutely unlawful For 1. We made it matter of recreation 2. We used them sparingly And 3. Covetousness which is usually the poyson â—f all games so far as to distemper and enrage â—he passions becauseâ—as â—as it is in their Depositions we plaid for noâ—â—ing One thing more let me now add touching â—ohn Gibbens and his Deposition of which he â—old me since I came to London which was this â—hat the Clerk Mr. Blissets son had written â—omewhat as his Deposition which he never spake as that we plaid at Tables on the Lords day to which he would have had John Gibbens to set his hand which he refusing he takes the Deposition as is aforesaid on which let me observe only this that if John Gibbens had not read the Deposition over he should have been made to testifie that which was most false which possibly some who could not read what he had written have done This pretious Clerk having that faculty that the witnesses shall say no more nor lesse nor any other thing then he will have them So it might be to my prejudice what they never spake shall be inserted but if for my advantage then what they spake plain and distinctly shall be left out He told me likewise that Obadiah Cheltenham bestowed a kind of a rebuke upon him telling him that he swore but faintly and that by his Deposition he had done them more harm then good section 33 Next follows the Deposition of Thomas Hayward who deposeth That about Pauls-tide last was two year Mr. Bushnel did use some of the formes of Common Prayer at a Funeral To which I say only this that for any thing appears to the contrary he might mean that I read 1 Cor. ch 15. section 29 Next follows the Deposition of Nicholas Spencer who being before sworn saith That oft-times till within three quarters of a year past there have been Stabbal playing upon the Sabbath in the Parish of Box and playing at fives upon the same day in the Church-yard and that this Deponent have oft complained to Mr. Bushnel thereof who have replyed that it was the Officers and none of his business but saith that the said Mr. Bushnel have often reproved and rebuked his Parishners for the same in his Sermons section 34 And he might have sworn that oft-times within three quarters of an year the widow Pinchins and her Sons fulling Mils had been set on work on the Lords day and that on the same day their servants have usually hanged out their clothes in the rack That on the same day Obad. Cheltenham came usually from Marlborough to his own house That on the same day William Cottle and Nicholas Nowell have kept tippling in their houses That Thomas Powel have set it aside for a day to make bargains in because he would not spare the time on the Week dayes Nor have there that I know of been greater profaners of that day then were those very persons that appeared against me But what Dâ—d Nâ—choâ—as Spencer see these men at Stabbal Why hâ—d not he complained of them upon Oath he could have informed of his own knowledge I only on hear-say as from him and whatsoever the practice of these Commissioners were I knew that our Justices were so worthy as that they would not look upon such an Oath as a sufficient ground for a conviction And whereas he said that he complained to me of it was I a Magistrate