slanders fars'd and stuft indeed with nothing more then fables and falsities Intituled A true and exact Relation of the great and heavie pressures and grievances the well-affected of the Northern bordering Countries lye under by Sir A. H. Misgovernment c. is offered to the consideration of judicious men from their due observation of the notorious falsities therein specified and the base miscarriages in several instances of the said Mr Musgrave rendering himself in truth according to his Charge against another in falshood That little acquaintance that I have with him hath quit my desires of increasing the same whose distempered temper chollerique countenance troublesom tongue and slanderous Pen do render him Solomons froward man with whom we must not converse for fear of the infection of frowardness and the companion of fools shall be destroyed The truth is he hath little in him worthy emulation and sufficient want of all things lovely for the exercise of mens comiseration did he not quench the Spirit thereof in all his acquaintance by a violent voluntary precipitancy thereinto he is not the object of my hatred for though he be intolerable yet I hope recoverable nor yet of my envy for he neither is or hath any thing worthy thereof I could love him and pity him had he but the least of either towards himself Sir Arthur Hasterig is more known unto me and to thousands then I or they to him and although there is not the least obligement upon me by any dependance upon him the least particular courtesie or favour received from him engaging me unto this service yet considering his courage and resolution his constant and faithful adhesion in all viciscitudes and turns of affairs to the honest party engaging himself at all times unto the highest degree against the contrary party though never so great and likely to prosper and knowing also in mine own present knowledg and experience the notorious falsities and untruths of some things asserted in the said scandulous Pamphlet I could not withstand those impressions of spirit that were upon me to vindicate his integrity unto the best of my ability How injuriously and irreparably Mr Musgrave hath abused the said Sir A. H. contrary indeed to the very A. B. C. and first Principles of Righteousness Justice and common Honesty by publishing him abroad in print for a Deceiver an Oppressor a Friend to the worst of Malignants an Enemy to the Well-affected a Promoter of the Scottish Interest against the English a proud covetous Oppressor a Tyrant a Traytor to God and his Country and that after the said Musgrave had applyed himself unto the Councel of State for audience and reception of his Charge against the said Sir A. H. and had all due encouragements that he should have a fair and regular hearing how dishonestly and wickedly he hath thus accused arraigned condemned and executed the said Sir A. H. in his name honor and repute before the determination of those to whom he complained is most obvious to all his Readers but it is no marvel for it is most common that such men who have out-lived the credit and repute of their own names care not what wreck they make of the honor of others with whom they are not worthy to be nam'd the same day But it is a constant character of such ranting Railers and flourishing Need-nots to make loud boasts in propatulo of their great zeal of Justice and Righteousness Countries Liberty and common Honesty and yet to act in such ways as the dullest eye may well perceive to stand in a perfect inconsistancy with their profest Principles Is not the plain English of these foul Fables thus printed and published by this bold Boaster and busie Scribe to dictate unto the people according to the daring Dialect of that scribling Faction such clamorous calumnies and aspersions of Tyranny Pride Covetousness and Oppression in our present Governors the very repetition whereof is an offence to all but Malignant ears and all this managed under the vail of publique Liberty and common good But O that we were Judges in the Land lies at the heart of these pathetick Zelots whereunto were they once advanced the ignoble dispositions virulent tongues furious spirits and mean capacities of these men would quickly reduce us to as much Peace and Happiness Justice and Liberty as Saints may expect where Satan hath his Throne and his Vice-Roys bear Rule For if the green tree will burn what will the dry And they that will tyrannize over the names honour and repute of their Superiors what would they do over their inferiors and wo be to that people whose Princes are peasants a spice of such spirits you may perceive in Mr Musgraves proceedings against Sir Arthur Haslerig at the Councel of State which though the just Judgment and Order of the said Councel may be a sufficient Vindication of the said Sir A. H. yet for better satisfaction take the particulars thus Upon the 23 Ian. 1650. the said Mr Musgrave did appear at the Councel of State according to appointment and being examined touching a Book with his name unto it importing many and very great Charges against Sir A. H. being at first demanded whether he would acknowledg that Book there presented to him to be his Book he did acknowledg the whole Book to be his excepting the Errata's which he did proffer to amend with his pen and that he would justifie it after a full hearing of both parties and this Musgrave not being able to make good his Charge was commanded to withdraw and being cal'd in again was desired to take the Book and to mend the said Errata's with his pen but then he denyed to own the Book but said he would stand to his Charge and make that good and being withdrawn and Sir A. H. also he did after that publiquely deny to own the Book whereupon the Councel of State made this ensuing Order Saturday 25 January 1650. At the Councel of State at White-Hall Ordered c. Vpon information given to this Councel by Sir Arthur Haslerig that one Mr John Musgrave had caused a Book to be printed and published and that in the Epistle and Charge the said John Musgrave did accuse him the said Sir Arthur Haslerig of breach of promise and engagement to the Councel and for acting contrary to the same and contrary to the Councel of States Declaration the said Mr John Musgrave being called before the Councel did acknowledg the whole Book excepting only some Errata's of the Printer which he offered to amend with his pen and said he would justifie it and offered to put in security to make it good Thereupon the said Mr Musgrave being fully heard as to the particulars of the Epistle and Charge in his Book against Sir Arthur Haslerig for a supposed breach of trust and engagement by him to the Councel and also for acting contrary to the Councel Declarations concerning the examining the Charge of Mr Howard late High Sheriff
very Throne of Scandal and Calumny is established doth charge Sir A. H. to have acted by a strong hand without Law yea against the fundamental Law of this Land most arbitrarily and tyrannically take from the now Sheriff of the Bishopprick one Jacksons goods taken in execution after judgment and restored the said goods c. Sir A. H. professeth that this whole Article is altogether false that he never heard word or tittle of this Jacksons riding up and down the Country in arms c. and as for this instance of goods taken from the Sheriff c. it was as Heathen Greek unto him he understood it not nor heard little or much of it until he read it in this railing Pamphlet since the publication whereof this ensuing Letter was sent unto him from the then Sheriff of the County of Durham touching this business Sir Having lately seen a Pamphlet flying about the Country and an aspersion in it thrown upon your self in that you should have taken some goods from the Sheriff of this County after they were taken upon execution I thought it fitting to let you know upon what ground these goods were delivered back which was thus After the goods were driven Mr Bruen sent a Letter to my Under-Sheriff to acquaint him that the goods taken were belonging to an Officer in the Army and not to Jackson the party mentioned in the Execution upon which the Under-Sheriff returned the goods to Mr Bruen having nothing to do with those goods This is the truth and shall in point of Vindication to your self be made good by him wheresoever you shall please to call I shall trouble you no further but rest Your most affectione friend Iames Clavering Durham 23 Ian. 1650. Whether the very unclean spirit of Impudence and slander hath not possess'd this loose and licenscious Pen-man and his Contrivers let all men judg Artic. 10. That the said Sir Ar. Haslerig is very familier and keepeth company with Thomas Wray a Papist in arms against the Parliament and upon search for a Popish Priest there was lately found in the said Wrays house Copes and other Popish Reliques and much gold and money most whereof Sir Arthur Haslerig caused to be returned back to Mr Wrays wife a Papist And the said Sir Arthur by his Souldiers put sundry honest men out of possession of the Colleries setled upon them by Law under colour the same belonged to the said Wray whose debts Sir Ar. Haslerig undertook to pay as Wray confessed for the said Colleries being worth 10 pounds per diem as the said sir Arthur giveth forth to the utter undoing of the Owners of the said Colleries Sir A. H. professeth he never had any thing to do with this Mr Wray but when he came unto him about Complaints against Mr George Lilburn and Mr George Gray for deceiving the Commonwealth of very great sums of money when they were of the Committee and trusted for the Parliament which business is sent up to the Commissioners of Goldsmiths-Hall and now lies before them and he is resolved that whilst he hath any power commited to him that he will do every man right to the best of his understanding be he Papist Delinquent or any other whatsoever and he is a very hypocritical and feigned Pretender of Righteousness and Justice that will be offended thereat especially complaining in the Commonwealths behalf And concerning the Gold mentioned in the Article there was a girdle brought to the Committee sitting at Durham which Mrs Wray did usually were about her wherein was quilted about 70. l. in gold of which there was 10. l. in old gold which the said Mrs Wray affirmed was her mothers her grand-mothers and great grand-mothers and that she never intended to make use of it and further with sore lamentations complained to the Committee that twice before that Sequestration she had all her goods seized on and taken away for her Husbands Delinquency and earnestly besought the Committee for her fifth part whereupon the Committee gave her back the old gold and a fifth part of the rest and this was publiquely done at the Committee Sir A. H. being then present he not acting at any time single but with the whole Committee And for the remaining part of the Article concerning the dispossessing of honest men of the Colleries under colour of Mr Wrays right unto them and Sir Arthurs undertaking to pay his debts read this ensuing Certificate under Wrays own hand and seal in the presence of Thomas Scot and Col. George Fenwick Thomas Wray of Benish in the County of Durham Esquire declares That he was formerly and is Owner of the Colleries at Harraton in the said County and that the said Colleries were sequestred for the Papisty and Delinquency of the said Thomas Wray first by Sir William Armyn in the year 1644. and also by the Committee of Durham 1645. of which Mr George Lilburn was then a Member and present and that the said Mr George Lilburn in the year 1647. entered into the possession of the said Colleries at Harraton and converted the Profits to his own use for which wrong done both to the State and the said Wray he the said Wray complained to the Committee at Durham in the year 1649. and the Committee thereupon ordered upon full hearing of both parties That the said Colleries should be again taken into the possession of the State and employed for the use of the Commonwealth according to the first Sequestration and so it now remains And the said Thomas Wray further declares That Sir Arthur Haslerig neither by himself nor any other from him did ever treat with the said Wray for the buying or dealing in the said Collery or paying any of the debts of the said Wray neither did the said Wray ever say to any man that Sir Art Haslerig undertook to pay any of the said Wrays debts all which he will be ready to testifie upon Oath as cause may require In witness whereof he hath hereunto set his hand and seal the 9 of Ianuary 1650. Signed and sealed in the presence of Tho. Scot Geo. Fenwick Artic. 11. That the said Sir Arthur Haslerig doth comply with and countenance Colonel John Hilton a Delinquent in Arms both in the first and second War and assists the said Hilton to defraud the poor in sundry Parishes in Bishopprick of great Legacies given by the said Hiltons elder brother Whatsoever Hiltons brother gave to the several Parishes concerns not Sir A. H. but what estate Col. Hilton had in possession when he was a Delinquent and sequestred it concern'd Sir A. H. as trusted for the State not to suffer such an estate upon pretence of the poors right to be taken out of the States hands by any of the States Agents but in a legal way or by the Command of those that were intrusted by the Parliament to take off Sequestrations and for Col. Hilton himself he did never speak in private with him in all his life And surely
their Grievances and Oppression and crave Relief in their behalf as appears by their Letters Copies whereof are hereunto annexed Whereas this proud Boaster glories that the well-affected in his Country did become so many Sollicitors unto him that he would be pleased to be their Sollicitor-General to present their Grievances and Oppressions c. and in the Title-page of his Book takes in the Northern bordering Counties I thought fit to let you see how the County of Northumberland do throw the falshood of it in his face as appears by this ensuing Letter from the grand Jury of that County occasioned by the sight of this scandalous Pamphlet and sent up Post unto the Councel of State Right Honorable We the Grand Jury for the County of Northumberland at the now Sessions of the Peace having seen a Book published by one John Musgrave who therein pretends the great and heavy Pressures and Grievances the well-affected of the Northern bordering Counties lie under by Sir Arthur Haslerigs Misgovernment and placing in Authority men disaffected to the present Government and having perused the Book and finding our selves therein much concerned as being the most Northern bordering County to Scotland we presume humbly to acquaint Your Lordships That as the Author of the Book is altogether unknown to us so also all his Relations Complaints and Petitions without our consent And we cannot but wonder that any man durst assume so much boldness as to present to this Honorable Councel in the name of the well-affected in the four Northern Counties such false and scandalous things We shall not trouble your Lordships with the particulars in his Book few of them concerning our County but having diligently perused the Book we find it chiefly endeavors to make the world believe that Sir Arthur Haslerig is a Countenancer of Delinquents a Friend to the Scots and an Enemy to honest men and the present Government We hope we need not say any thing to wipe off those seeming stains Sir Arthur is well known to the Parliament and his actions have sufficiently testified his affections and faithfulness to the Publique Interest and good of this Nation yet we being his neighbors and having seen his just and equal dealings and being partakers of exceeding much good by him cannot hold our peace and we dare say if all the four Counties may have leave to speak their own words they would tell your Lordships more then we can say on his behalf It is strange to us that Sir Arthur should be counted a Friend to Delinquents surely he is not so in these parts We very well remember that long before the Parliament made an Act to restrain Papists and Delinquents Sir Arthur Haslerig caused those that had been in Arms against the Parliament in our County especially the Gentlemen and those that had been Officers to be apprehended and those that were active and dangerous he continued under strict bond not to go from their own houses and others about a mile from home none above five and none of them to keep Arms in their houses nor to speak or do any thing against the Authority of the Parliament and divers desperate men he kept prisoners in Newcastle and we suppose he took the same course in other Counties and for his being an Enemy to honest men we must needs tell your Lordships those that fear the Lord bless God for him and the mercies they enjoy by him Those that love the Parliament amongst us will acknowledg his care and tenderness of them and his unwearyed Endevors to preserve them and the Interest of the Parliament and all the poor people will confess the happiness and benefit they have received by his means they are exceeding sensible of the Miseries and Oppressions they long groaned under and of the Ease and Freedom they are now partakers of And for those Gentlemen now intrusted by the Parliament with the Power of this County we know not how nor by whom they were placed in Authority whether by recommendation of Sir Arthur Haslerig or others but we are sure they are those that have been most active in promoting the Parliaments Interest and have kept firm through all changes to the service of their Country and their righteous dealings in their Trust have made their Names famous among the people and we hope they are not afraid to give an account of themselves when Authority shall require it And for Sir Arthur Haslerigs being a Friend to the Scots Faction let his activity care and industry to raise men against them speak for him and after our Army was gone into Scotland his pains and labor to furnish them with Provisions and Supplies without which they had been forced to retreat as we have heard My Lord We could renumerate our late last Grievances and our present Mercies and instance in many particulars what benefits we have reaped by Sir Arthur Haslerig and those in Authority amongst us but it would too much trouble your Lordship onely we make bold to say we exceedingly wonder that such scandalous Complaints should be suffered to pass in print which though they receive not much credit in our days yet may lay a stain upon the posterity of those whose Names are precious and deserve to be had in perpetual remembrance We doubt not of Your Lordships Justice in acquitting the Just We are my Lord Your Lordships most faithful and humble Servants Richard Hearon Robert Pearson John Midford Rich Dawson Thomas Pye William Lawson Thomas Watson George Marshal Henry Lawson Robert Dalton Thomas Megison Cuthbert Fenwick John Shafto Thomas Fenwick Ro Megison George Hoslop George Wharton Morpeth in Northumberland 16 January 1650. Arric 17. That Your Petitioner hath lately discovered sundry concealed and sequestred Delinquents of great Estates which will bring in to the State ten thousand pounds and more if the Commissioners for Sequestration made by Sir Arthur Haslerig were honest and faithful men but in regard most of the said Cōmissioners are Delinquents and Sequestrable themselves and all of them disaffected to the present Government they do what in them lies to hinder Your Petitioner in the prosecution thereof Whereas this Musgrave boasts of his discovery of Delinquents Estates to the value of 10000 l. if the Commissioners made by Sir A. H. had been honest and faithful the truth is this Musgrave came with Mr Can to Sir A. H. his Chamber the last time he was in Town which was about April last and gave the like Information whereupon Sir A. H. conceiving that if Musgrave had power he would be the better enabled unto a through discovery and bringing in unto the State those great sums of Mony thought fit to move the Commissioners for Compounding to make him one of their Commissioners for Sequestration for Cumberland which accordingly they did and Sir A. confesseth that he was exceedingly mistaken in Mr Musgrave and if there was any dishonest and unfaithful that he put in or was an occasion of being put into Commission
it was this Musgrave And Sir A. doth acknowledg that he never suffered so much disgrace by preferring any man to any place of Trust as he hath received by him for the Commissioners of Goldsmiths-Hall have most justly turned him out of Commissions for his corrupt and wicked actings and that you may see a true character of this John Musgrave his great Zeal for this Commonwealth and against Papists-Delinquents and who is the truer Friend unto Papists and Malignants and more faithful to their Trusts Sir A. H. or this John Musgrave read this ensuing Letter from his Fellow Commissioners of that County For the Worshipful Tho Craister Esq Major of the City of Carlisle haste haste in Newcastle SIR About the 15 day of October Mr Clement Skelton brought in an Order from the Commissioners for Compounding to the Commissioners for Sequestrations in Cumberland to examine the validity of a Deed produced to them touching the clearing of Andrew Huddleston's Estate a Papist in Arms worth 120 l. per annum The said Mr Skelton bringing the said Order before us and the said Deed was demanded wherefore he did not seek his Interest in that Estate before that time the same being under Sequestration for four or five years The said Mr Skelton replyed He could never get a man for his purpose until he met with Mr John Musgrave and being asked How the said Order was got He answered Mr Musgrave knew better then himself whereupon Mr Musgrave was called and at his coming in said 'T is true he had 10 l. to sollicite that business It being replyed He was not sent for to know what he had for so doing but what the Commissioners for Compounding said to the matter in dispute and what he thought of it himself To the first he answered That Mr Winslow did engage to send the said Order and that he conceived if we could not prove the said Skelton to have made away the Estate to the said Huddleston the Deed was valid and so it did behove us to certifie whereupon he withdrew The said Mr Skelton being further asked When he had the aforesaid Estate in possession and what Rent he had received of the said Mr Huddleston He thereupon was silent whereupon we told the said Mr Skelton That if any man went about to conceal a Delinquents Estate that same Act made him liable to Sequestration and further we produced before him the late Committee Book wherein it did appear the said Mr Skelton had farmed the said Estate of the late Committee in the year 1647 and payd the Rent due for the same without claiming any Interest therein whereupon the said Mr Skelton withdrew and never since appeared to claim any Title therein But since the said Mr Andrew Huddleston paying in his Rent due for the same confessed that he had given to Mr John Musgrave himself 10 l. and sent him up to London 5 l. more and about the day aforesaid Mr Musgrave being asked Why he would take 10 l. for solliciting a business of that nature against the State and his Conscience at the very time when he was Commissioner for Sequestrations for the State contrary to his Trust and Oath which he either had or should have taken He replyed He was a Sollicitor as well as a Commissioner and would not forego his Solliciting for being a Commissioner It is to be noted That about the 27 of April 1650. the said Deed was produced before Mr Craister Tho Langhorn and Mr Musgrave then Commissioners for Sequestration The said Commissioners returned the Deed with this Answer That it was to be cleared above whereupon the said Mr Musgrave by his expressions seemed to undertake that business as it appears he did and also at that time spoke in other Delinquents behalf so much as gave occasion to his Fellow-Commissioners to have some Jealousies of his actings and presently after the said Tho Langhorn saw the said Mr Musgrave receive a sum of Mony from the said Mr Huddleston and the said Mr Musgrave went presently after to London and stayd there above three moneths which caused Mr Craister and Tho Langhorn to desire the Commissioners for compounding either to joyn with them such as would act faithfully and fully for the Publick or else excuse them from the service the affairs of Sequestrations speedily requiring diligence and action upon which desire of theirs the said Musgrave was outed and others put in before the said Mr Skeltons Order was examined but Mr Musgrave took his discharge so ill that he did vehemently threaten that the said Tho Langhorn and others should have Lex Talionis and further that Sir Arthur Haslerig to stop his mouth had made him a Commissioner but now being outed his mouth was open To which one replyed It seems a great place will stop your mouth Also at that time he was outed of being Steward of the honor of Penrith and the said Mr Musgrave being poor his Estate not being possible to be made worse we do verily beleeve put him upon printing his Book notwithstanding we desire to forgive him and the Lord to give him Repentance which is all we can offer to you at this time The truth of what is said shall be sufficiently by our selves and others proved We desire you to finish that Letter to the Commissioners above whereof you took Instructions at Carlisle with the tender of our Service to all the honorable persons with you We remain Your Friends and Servants Tho Langhorn Tho Sewell Pearith 6 Januar 1650. Thus have you the several Articles exhibited by this Northern Article-Maker against Sir A. H. with particular Answers thereunto and that you have compleat satisfaction touching Sir A. his innocency in respect unto them all is my perfect presumption I had almost said that a doubt herein all things considered renders the doubtful not so much a man as a Musgrave And although it is beneath a man advanced but one degree in ways of wisdom and discretion to waste his time in setting forth the vileness and baseness of the principles and practices of so worthless a person it being but actum agere he himself having been his own Limbner in this very Pamphlet which he made against Sir A. H. where you may see as in a glass as many ill qualities as can likely croud together in one man yet if you can bear the savor see him anatomized in some few Instances First Observe his covetousness dishonesty and to speak it out his plain knavery in this Instance following in a Certificate under the hand of a Minister and an eye-witness thereof A Certificate from a Minister touching Mr Musgrave's base offering to compound to desist prosecution of an honest man by him accused for a certain sum of Mony About the beginning of February 1648. Captain Crakanthorp and John Musgrave procured an Order from the Committee for Complaints at Westminster to summon several Gentlemen within the County of Cumberland to appear before the said Committee to answer