Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prince_n	duke_n	emperor_n	saxony_n	2,316	5	11.6515	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90921	The vindication of Colonel General Poyntz, against the false and malicious slanders secretly cast forth against him; as in a letter to a friend of his, and a servant to the state doth appear.	Poyntz, Sydenham.	1646 (1646)	Wing P3137; Thomason E320_8; ESTC R200567	4,602	8

Gentleman of quality that honor the Parliament hath thought me worthy of stoop to any meannesse that way for if they mean by drink I must acknowledge the constitution of my body will not allow it as being much accustomed to another climat that very seldom or never admits it besides my disposition by nature I wil say nothing of my continual restles imployments doth oppose it if they mean by women I beleeve he that knows I have not bin in a bed these 4 months unles in my sicknes at Notingham would easily excuse me should I be so unjust to my own Innocency as not to deny it and moreover the daily Alarums and restlesse pains I undergo may be thought a sufficient cooling card for such folly for all those that know my custome and propension let it be by any creature living made appear that ever I used the least incivility or behaviour that might not square with the strict rules of temper and honour and will acknowledge my selfe guilty of what ever the malice of these people can invent against me and here I take God to witnes who knowes my thoughts as well as actions that even herein I am as clear and innocent as any man that lives and when the Reporter shal be found out I dare appeal to him to give judgment of his own falshood for seeing I am seldom I may say never alone I must challenge all or any usually with or about me to vindicat or accuse me of this Scandal which I do not more deny then scorn and abhor Yet as if these were not sufficient I am like to be rackt betwixt two contrarieties for I perceive some there are who dislike me as over civil to the adverse party when as the Enemy themselves have bound their companions under severe execrations never to give me quarter if they can take me in either sense I speak it with confidence I never did any thing which became not a Gentleman and a Souldier of trust Harshnes and cruelty to an enemy under mercy and power favours as much of a mean disposition as over-much courting and fawning doth of lenity and basenesse I hold a military lawfulnes in that which suits with the honour as well as the advantage of those to whom I am a servant Neverthelesse it seems my curtesie runs not throughout my actions for by some I am censured as over severe to those under my command whilst others are pleased to throw their criticismes upon my familiarity as proceeding from too much easinesse and how a man may serve these contradictory judgements I should be glad to learn especially seeing I am representd to a third man in as several Colours as the Glasses of opposite fancies can discover I shall confesse that being accustomed to a formal discipline so long beyond Sea I may seem hard to those who know no better yet seeing it hath pleased God to prosper the Force under my guidance I may say that unlesse discipline were sometimes used I am too sensible what the issue of those actions had long since been which hath in some measure rendred themselves acceptible There is yet one great mystery more concerning me revealed which is that I am a Papist Of all the rest I am least troubled at this Rumor it being in the power of so many thousands to Vindicate me who have been witnesses of my constant Profession which from my first years according to the Instructions of this my Native Countrey have been in the Reformed Protestant Religion and accordingly have for many years been an Elder of the Dutch Church as is very well known Neither indeed could I devise the reason of this suspition till of late I finde it to be because I served the Emperour against the Duke of Saxony and for my Service was Knighted in the Field wherein I must say That Duke carried Himself so distastful in that Quarrel to divers Protestant Princes that were I again a meer Souldier of Fortune and to chuse sides I should fight against so much falshood as the Duke shew'd in the prosecution of that Quarrel and of what Religion the Duke of Saxony was or whether of any is to me as yet unrevealed however the world might stile him for indeed his fighting was point of Interest not Religion In all Wars there are and will be Factions and even in this mine ears have heard several Contests managed with more height and ferver then became the merits of the Argument For mine own part I came with an intent to fight not to dispute for the State and so the Profession of Religion be rectified and the means of Salvation clear and open for the forms of external Discipline I am prepared to observe the Directions and Commands of the Parliament without interessing my self unnecessarily in such Contestations And however it hath pleased the fancy of these Defamers in such grosse untruths thus to Scandalize an honest man yet according to your Councel I will go on in this Service with all cheerfulnesse and though I have received such discouragements from my very first entring into this Command as will hardly be equalled yet when I observe the judgement of the Parliament to be right towards me I am resolved to break through all difficulties to advance their Service For as the Justice of that Cause they maintain is a sufficient spur to all honest intentions to put all to the last hazard so their particular favours and obligations to me shall force me through these petty obstructions to approve my self what you know me an Englishman and a Gentleman For my care and fidelity the Lord look upon me according to the honesty of my intentions and poor endeavors and discover truth from falshood and then I question not but the time will come when an honest man may be thought upon answerable to his trust and these Back biters and unprofitable Slanders receive their merits For your love and faithfulnesse in this businesse I desire you to perswade your self there is none who shall more thankfully acknowledge it upon the advantage of all occasions then Stoake Jan. 20. 1645. Your assured loving Kinsman and faithful Servant Sydnham Poyntz