the Parish Church of Outwell in the County of Norfolk by the space of 27 years all which time I have had a personal knowledge of John Fincham Esq and with whom being one of my Parishoners I have had both in Health and Sickness very particular Converse And in all my Conversation with him I have ever observed him to bear a great regard to the Commands of the Church of England Of which Church I do with great Reason believe him to be a true and obedient Son August 12 1679. John Leigh I question not the Truth of these Certificates for neither do I know nor ever said with the leave of the Observator and his Informers be it spoken that Justice Fincham was a Papist and yet had I no value for an Oath as the Observator pretends I might as readily have Sworn that and that I saw him at Mass for Mass was frequently said in Mrs. Hall's House but I did never see him so concerned and therefore only deposed what I knew and what I saw and heard therefore I again Repeat it that I never knew or said the Gentleman was a Papist or Roman Catholick or that 4 or 5 or any Romish Priests were in his House But this I will say That I conceive these Certificates might have been better worded in favour of the Gentleman than only by these Terms of his Complyance with and Regard to the Commands of the Church of England since it would have done well especially at such a Juncture as that was to have likewise expressed his Zeal in and for the Doctrines of our Church and to have Certified his Active diligence in Discountenancing and Suppressing Papists c. Trimmer And now we have done I hope Better never have begun Observator Within a Trifle Trimmer July 13. 1681 It happened That Prance and another with him came into the House of one Greenwood in the Isle where John Fincham Henry Oxburgh and Edm. Williamson Esquires were in Company Mr. Williamson having told Mr. Fincham which of the two was Prance Mr. Fincham upon this fell to talk with Prance at a distance of his being in the Country about two years before which he owned And he told him of a Neighbour of his one Mr. Fincham that complained of very ill Language he had given him But Prance denied it and desired much to know how the Story went So Mr. Fincham up and told France the whole Business according to the Informations who Swore heartily 't was no such matter and that he never spake an ill word of Mr. Fineham but knew him to be a Protestant and a worthy man This passed in a great deal of Company But Prances Eyes are as bad by Day-light as Oats are by Candle-light and he knew Mr. Fincham no more than the Man in the Moon till at last Mr. Fincham himself brought the Silver-Smith to a better unstanding I am apt to think Mr. Fincham will Con the Observator no thanks for this Paragraph for sure the whole Town of March who were almost all Alarm'd with this Accident have not quite forgot it However for their sakes and the Justices and my own I must set the Story right 'T is most true that about the time mentioned I and another or two happened to come to Greenwoods House being an Inn where several Gentlemen and amongst them Mr. Justice Fincham were as I afterwards understood about taking Horse to Ride away but Mr. Fincham having as I believe some design to expose me after they saw me come in they staid and Squire Williamson who was one of the Gentlemen came out and invited me into their Room I excused my self at first as being weary with my Journey but at last consented when I and my Company came in there were several Gentlemen in the Room and some that I did not know Presently some of them began to ask me what News I told them I seldome much minded any News but my own business and besides had been several days out of London and so could tell them nothing but what I believed they had already heard then one of them askt me if I knew Justice Fincham To which I answered yes I do and presently looking amongst the Company for I was but newly come into the Room I saw the Justice leaning on a Bench or Couch with his Mounteer-Cap placed in an odd unusual fashion viz. the corners not forwards and backwards but cross his Head sideways looking in that posture somewhat like a Country Morrice-dancer with a Cushion on his Head but for all that I knew his Worship well enough and addressing my self to him with the respect becoming me said Mr. Fincham your humble Servant At which all the Company fell a laughing and his Worships being deceived in thinking I should not know him in that posture became soon after a frequent talk in the Town And then and not till then Mr. Fincham did speak for before I was come into the Room he had not utter'd a word much less askt such questions and had such discourse with me as the Observator pretends but then indeed he did say that he never saw mebefore in his life that he knew of nor never told me that his Brother was a Priest But as I then to his face justified the latter so as to the first I gave him some tokens to refresh his memory as my coming to his House to see his Brothers Son and his particular Entertainment of me there But he spake not a word about my calling him Papist nor was there any the least mention of these Informations nor any swearing heartily or unheartily as the Observator suggests And I believe Squire Williamson will do me the right to justifie this to be in substance the truth of all that then past between us and there were also present two other Persons who will be ready to attest it Novv since Mr. L'Estrange has the Conscience so grossly to pervert and falsifie a matter thus Notorious vvhat esteem his Writings in other Cases as relateing to me I mean for I meddle no further may deserve let the World judge In his Observator Numb 10. of the 2 d. Volumn he has some touches at me and reckons up several Affidavits of mine and says they took no effect yes Sir they took all the effect I desired which was only to acquaint the Magistrates with the Truth of what they examined me about as far as I knew and no further and the tenderness I used strongly argues the candor and sincerity of my Evidence no way casts any disparagement upon it if the Law in some Cases require two Witnesses and for want thereof some I justly accused were released or if perhaps others were not prosecuted what is that to me The Author of the late Paper pretending to be a Reply to the Observations on the Lord Petre's Letter argues the veracity of the late Evidence because so many that they accused are at liberty Mr. L'Estrange for the very same reason would render mine unworthy of belief These two Authors should best consult together and reconcile themselves But I fear I have wearied the Reader as well as my self in taking so much notice of and detecting the malice the falsities the shams and idle Tales which the Observator has invented or pickt up and spread about me which of themselves sufficiently appear to every judicious Eye to be mere Calumnies and the effects of a cankered spleen However to undeceive all the World if they are not resolv'd to believe his Fictions in defiance both of Truth and Reason I have once for all taken this pains resolving never to trouble my self further with the noise he shall make about them henceforth he may talk his pleasure I shall take no more notice on 't than to hear a Serpent Hiss or an Ass Bray Only I desire all Persons to bind up this my Answer and Defence with their Observators and that as oft as Mr. L'Estrange shall repeat the same Stories for he has much of the Cuckow in him and sings an hundred times over the same Note they would be so just as to turn as ofen to these Papers where I doubt not but every impartial peruser will find a sufficient Answer thereunto And so I take leave of Mr. L'Estrange who being an Antient Gentleman and by the Course of Nature on the brink of the Grave I wish he would better regulate his Conduct and not spend his precious time and abuse those Great Parts God has given him in such trifling false mischievous and scandalous Stories against a Neighbour a Parishioner and a Member of the same Protestant Church if he be really what he professes who as I never wrong'd him so I am ready on his acknowledgment heartily to forgive him all these injuries And pray God to give him the Grace to Repent before he be called to that dreadful Tribunal before which we must both shortly appear Miles Prance FINIS * A Pamphlet lately suppressed by the Order as I am informed of the Right Honourable and Reverend my Lord the Bishop of London as Scandalizing the whole Reformation under pretence of exposing Presbyterians The Author of which was one Mr. Pratt that calls himself Doctor one that heretofore was always not only a professed but virulent Papist and I never heard of his Conversion
Parish which of the two Mr. L'Estrange or I have most constantly frequented Divine Service or been oftnest at receiving the Holy Communion there But let us go on with the Observator This was mighty kindly taken let me tell ye and if Mr. Prance goes on with a certain business this Term Mr. Claxton will stand by him as far as 100 l. goes for his Civility Observ. And what may that Business be Trim. He 's resolv'd to try a touch with you about the Scandal of the Screws you 'd give an Hundred Guinneys Composition for it with all your heart he says This is still the dreams of the Observator he first Charges Claxton with Champerty and Maintenaire Crimes highly punishable by our Laws and then Avers that I should say He that is the Observator would give mea 100 Guinneys Composition 'T is most true I believe that his Papers I mean wherein I am Concern'd are most justly Indictable for Libels and besides the Author answerable on an Action of Scandal but that I then threatned it or had any discourse tending that way is false what if formerly I declin'd suing him on Advice of a good old Proverb or what if I still have a mind to be reveng'd on him by forgiving him the Gentleman is not to prescribe to me either the time or measures I shall take for Righting my self Observ. Yes yes I heard as much from whom I beseech you and that he had a Guinney for an Halter for me 't was ill husbandry a Two-penny one would serve as well And so Prance and Claxton took their Turns at the Ribaldry and you and your Spies were nobly imploy'd to make Observators on 't while a splay-fac'd Animal that was there made at third man and gave a wry-mouth Amen to 't This latter Clause may serve as an Index of Mr. L'Estranges Conscience Respect to Truth Honesty and Common Civility since therein with an Vnmannerly Bussconry bestows the Language of his oft Cited Authors Western Barg-men upon a Gentleman of as comely a Person as good Quality setting Commission aside and I believe I may say as fair an Estate as himself so over credulous he is to Reports and so rash in stinging abroad his Squibbs and Scandals in Print without the least Colour of Truth any appearance of Reason or pretence of Provocation For the truth of this matter was thus Claxton and I did go into the Grecian Coffee-House and sat Chatting there for some time two strange Gentlemen in the Room being officiously informed as I understand of my Name did it seems Eves-drop our talk and at last Removed to us and began to quarrel with me about Mr. L'Estrange alledging that I should say I would give a Guinney for an Halter for him Tho'l do not know nor to the best of my Remembrance believe that I said any such thing hereupon words being mutually Bandied and another matter of which by and by falling into debate the Gentlemen grew so furious that one of them threatned to Cane me and I observing he had never a Cane and unwilling a Gentleman should lose his Humour Civilly profer'd him mine but he was not pleas'd to make use on 't and so Claxton and I went out of the House as soon after the said two persons also did And tho' they were and are altogether Strangers to both of us yet by their Garb and Meen I take them still to be Gentlemen and consequently do not believe they were the Observators Mercuries but rather think that the little dapper Boddice-maker who possibly had no better Imployment might be the Observators Intelligencer only this is to be Noted that whilst the two unknown were Railing and Upbraiding me with several stories which I suppose they had taken up meerly on the Credit of an Observator there happening to be in the Room by Chance one Squire Penny and who was if he still be not a Roman Catholick he was Generously pleased to stand up and say to this Effect Gentlemen I have known Mr. Prance for 20 years and above and never knew or heard that ever he wrong'd Man Woman or Child For his late Actions I have nothing to say I pity him meerly for which Civil Attestation of truth from a Gentleman that had known me from my youth Mr. Observator falls foul upon him with the slovenly Epithets of Splay-fac'd Wry-mouth'd c. Now if this be sufferable I know not any Gentleman that can be safe from being exposed at the like or a worse rate in Print if he do not quickly Fee the Observator with a Present But Mr. Observator that feigns so many things as said there which were not omits one matter which was the chief subject of our Debate which was whether Mr. L'Estrange did not hand the Paper Intituled THE LORD PETRE's LETTER to the Press which no doubt his Informers told him of as well as the rest and I believe 't was that put him into such an heat tho' he prudently declines to mention it for I did tell the Gentlemen that I heard and doubted not to prove that Mr. Braddil in Bartholomew Close who Printed the Letter had declared that Mr. L'Estrange brought or sent the same to him to be Printed but withall gave him instructions not to Print his the said Mr. Braddils name to it Now if this should happen to be true that Mr. L'Estrange was the occasion of publishing that Paper wherein all our worthy Protestant-Writers and amongst them the most Learned KING IAMES and the Right Reverend the present Bishop of Lincoln who have charg'd the Church of Rome with holding and teaching the Doctrine of Deposing and taking up Arms against and Murdering of Heretical Kings are traduc'd as false Accusers and therein to have been Malicious and Ignorant Nay a Paper which on the same score flyes in the Face of the whole Church of England and directly gives her the Lye who for many years in her Publick Establish't Liturgy avow'd the Faith of the Church of Rome to be Faction and her Religion Rebellion I would demand of Mr. L'Estrange or any of his Guinney-givers whether the causing of such a Paper to be publish't be to be numbered amongst the Good-services he has done for the Church of England In the mean time go on But faith Trimmer remember Mr. L'Estrange is a severe Magistrate against swearing when Prance ' s hand is in he should do well to go through with his Work and I 'le give ye now a piece of History that is New to ye and yet this New-By-blow is of such a Ricketty feeble Constitution that it has been four years crawling in the dark before it could waddle abroad in the standing stool of an Observator and puts down forty of his Antependiums Some lies 't is acknowledg'd are heavier than others For 't were a thousand pities that a man that is so willing should want Materials Trim. We shall have some tedious Tale now but pray will you make it as short as
Consent of Doctor Godden and his Man Plum and Mr. Coupledyke who were the lookers after the Work or chang'd them after they were reckon'd for as Silver now to this she swears positively that they all saw them and that she heard Plum and Coupledyke say those Brass-Screws would do as well as Silver ones But to take this off Mr. L'Estrange Observator Numb 126 tells the World That Plum and Coupledyke had drank many a pot of good Ale with me And what then Sir The Excise was paid and the good Wife that draw'd it had a License and therefore your Worship had nothing to do with it Ale especially good Ale is the old Catholick drink of England had we Carouz'd in other Puritanical Liquors you might have been offended and cryed out with little Doctor Edwards There 's Heresy in Hopps give Calvin Beer But without fooling who can think but the Observator who trades much in Hints and Innuendo's intends by this Reflection to possess his Readers with an Opinion that this Plum and Coupledyke were Confederates with me in this business of the Screws so that to support the Scandal here 's two dead men must be exposed as Drunkards and Treacherous Cheats to their Mistress the Queen But says he they were no Orderers as I assure you Now one would wonder this Gentleman who vows and swears so bloodily that he never was at Sommerset-Chappel since His Majesties Restauration should become so intimate with these two Men as to know what Liquor they lov'd and be able to aver so positively that he can assure us they were no Orderers But against ten thousand of his Assurances I tell him they were Orderers as well as good Ale-drinkers for they have several times given me Orders and brought directions for Work and particularly about this Antependium Mr. L'Estrange proceeds and says That she knows nothing who imployed Prance or that Brass Screws were consented to by the Persons concern'd all which is utterly false She swears the just contrary and names in particular Doctor Goddin Plum and Coupledyke and tho' she says that she then understood Plum and Coupledyke were SOME of the Persons that imployed Prance 't is not the least blemish to her Oath for so they were mediately under Her Majesty and Doctor Godden and seeing them frequently coming to enquire after the Work and give directions about and weigh it c. how could she then think otherwise Yet she says only that she understood them to be some of the Persons and presently adds that she also saw Doctor Godden viewing the same Brass Screws The Observator alledges further that This Affidavit was drawn from her upon pretence that she was to be a Witness in a suit at Law against a Woman that had Scandaliz'd me To which I answer 1 st That this is another contrived falshood there was no such pretence 2 ly 'T is absurd for all the World knows that Affidavits are not allowed in such Suits where the Witness is living and at hand able to testifie viva voce And 3 ly 'T is impertinent for had it been so it concerns not the Truth of what she deposes whatever use I intend to put it to And I cannot fathom the Gentlemans reach in this Objection unless it be to signifie that the Gentlewoman being a Romanist might needs have such a kindness for him that she would not have testified the Truth if she ' had known it would turn to his prejudice and confusion But if he had any such thoughts I must do her the Justice as to acquaint the World he was grosly mistaken for the Gentlewoman soon after went to him the said Mr. L'Estrange and expostulated with him about the Abuses put upon her in subsequent Observators and amongst the rest his affirming that she had been my Servant which had it been true had nothing impaired her Evidence but the same was altogether false for her Father honestly paid 15 l. a year for her Board whilst she lay at my House In which discourse of hers with Mr. L'Estrange another passage happened that might give some indications of that Gentlemans Temper For she rounding him up for broaching such false Stories against me which tended to the Ruine of my Family He answered as she has declared That he did it on purpose to Ruine me and wondered that SHE he understood her to be a Roman Catholick would appear in the behalf of such a Raskal But besides this full proof on Oath the Circumstances of these Brass-Screws undeniably evince the impossibility of any intended Fraud For first had I designed any such thing I must have been a Conjurer which I suppose the Observator does not take me for before I could have effected the Cheat and cast a Mist before Peoples Eyes for besides that 't is not pretended these Celebrated Screws were Gilt or Silvered over but plain open visible Brass only Silver heads to them on the out-side And besides that they were made abroad by my Work-men you are to note that the use of them was as aforesaid to fix the Silver Work to the Wood that upheld it through which they came and were there made fast with Nuts and the Antependium being a Moveable only used on Solemn Festivals and then set aside into the Sacrastry for which purpose there were on the back-side two large Iron Handles to bear it away by as often as the same was so removed from the Altar these Brass Screws were to be seen on that side as plain as the Iron Handles or the very Nose on the Observators Face And I question whether I owe it not to the Gentlemans forgetfulness that when his hand was in he did not also Charge me with Transubstantiating these Handles into Iron as well as the Screws into Brass The Gentlewoman as you have heard Swears that the Screws being Brass was notorious not only to my Servants and Work-men but to the Gentlemen before Named viz. Doctor Godden Plum and Coupledyke and several other of Her Majesties Servants Now though in my Confinement in 78 and the Hurry and Confusion of my Family on that Account I had the unhappiness to lose a Shop-Book which would more fully have demonstrated it yet by good Providence I have one old Book still remaining in my Castody which enough Corroborates her Testimony there being entered a Memorial in these Words viz. For a Brass Screw for the Holy Ghost A Figure in the Antependium 10 6 that is weighing a Halfpenny weight and six Grains being the Hand-writing of Thomas Evely then my Servant and since Porter to his Grace the late Deceased Duke of Norfolk and though a Roman Catholick yet I have that Charity to believe he will not deny his own Hand which is ready to be shewn for any Gentlemans satisfaction Nor do I doubt to Appeal to Doctor Godden himself who I hear is still living tho' he cannot be presumed to have now any kindness for me yet I so much confide in his Generosity
most Wicked Oaths and Imprecations denyed that I sent for him This he undertakes to prove by the Testimony of three Boys of the Wonder-Tavern how they were induced to give it I will not enquire at present but can prove some of them have since disowned it But the Truth of the matter was thus I and one Thomas Jennings a Cloth-drawer a very Honest man and Ingenious above most of his Quality but frolicksome and apt to Droll went to the Old Dog Tavern and having seated our selves in the Kitchin no very fit Room for carrying on an Intrigue Jennings having an occasion to speak with one whom he thought might be at Sam 's Coffee-house ordered one Thomas Harris a little Boy in the House who has since own'd himself not to be above 12 years old tho' Thompson advanced him to 20. to go thither to Ask for him and knowing Mr. L'Estrange frequented that Coffee-house and what a kindness he had for me merrily added If he be not there Inquire for Mr. L'Estrange and tell him here are one or two would speak with him And tho' he spoke it with such an Air of Droll that it might be easily known to be wholly Jest nor was it imaginable a person of Mr. L'Estranges figure would on such a slight Invitation without sending any Name regard it yet the Messenger being a raw Boy not finding the Person he first ask't for there very formally it seems dispatcht the latter part of his Message and Mr. L'Estrange being in the Coffee-house and perhaps understanding from the Lad I was in the Company presently after several Persons came to us from Sam 's and began to quarrel with me for sending for Mr. L'Estrange which I being wholly innocent of as earnestly as justly denyed I having never had the least thought of any such matter For as I had no Business with the Gentleman so I had little reason to desire his Company but that I used any such Oaths and Imprecations is false And tho' of all mankind the Observator may be the unfittest to upbraid any body with swearing I shall here subjoyn the Affidavit of the said Jennings who sat close by me during all this time Thomas Jennings Citizen and Haberdasher of London maketh Oath that on Friday the 16 th of June Last about ten of the Clock in the Evening this deponent went with Mr. Miles Prance to the Old-Dog Tavern within Ludgate and sate down in the Kitching with him and this deponent sent one Thomas Harris Servant to Mr. Allen that keeps the said Tavern to Sam 's Coffee-house to enquire for a friend of this Deponent that he heard was there and if he was not there to enquire for one Mr. Roger L'Estrange to tell him there was one or two would speak with him and some time after there came three or four persons from Sam 's Coffee-house into the aforesaid Kitching where Mr. Miles Prance and this Deponent were and began to quarrel with Mr. Prance and using provoking words to him to know his Reason why he sent for Roger L'Estrange which he denyed he did but not with such Imprecations as by God's wounds and by Gods Blood and God dam ' me as this Deponent to the best of his knowledge heard who was in the same Kitching with Mr. Miles Prance all the time this deponent saith further that he Enquired twice of the aforesaid Thomas Harris that he sent whether he ever heard Mr. Miles Prance swear such Oaths who denied he ever did as I this deponent can prove by witnesses Thomas Jennings Jurat 8 die Augusti 1682 Coram Job Charlton For further Confirmation hereof if the Attestation of a dying man may add any weight this Mr. Jennings being since dead in May 1683 during his sickness he voluntarily Endors'd the aforesaid Affidavit with his own hand which is known to hundreds for the man was acquainted with Persons of most Conditions in this City and ready to be produced to any that desire it in these words March the 7 th 1682 3 I Thomas Jennings being in a weakly state of Body not knowing whether I shall live a week do Attest all that I have sworn on the other side before Sir Job Charlton is truth witness my hand Thomas Jennings Written in the presence of John Horton Robert Pimm And on this Issue I must leave this matter there 's no sence against a Flail 't is plain we were in a Tavern Kitching the Boys say I sent for Mr. L'Estrange the most improbable thing in Nature and then deny'd it with Oaths Mr. Jennings swears that he sent for him and not I and on his death-bed Confirms that he who sat next to me heard me not Use such Lew'd Oaths as they pretend and that the Chief witness disown'd it afterwards which is further probable in that none of the Persons sent by Mr. L'Estrange and whom I discoursed who might sure have taken notice of it as well as 2 or 3 Ubiquitary Drawers have appeared to Attest it And this I think enough at present for that Business Another thing that Mr. L'Estrange often harps upon is That I should Swear he was a Papist and this he makes to be the ground of his quarrel with me Now if I never Swore nay never so much as Said any such thing 't is then plain that either Mr. L'Estrange has some other deeper and important design in his continual Out-cries and baiting me thus or else that he has troubled the World with so many sheets of Railing upon no Provocatiom and to as little purpose The words of my Affidavit were as follow Midd ss THe Information of Miles Prance taken upon Oath the 25 th of October 1680 before the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon and the Earl of Craven two of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County This Deponent saith That about three years since he saw Mr. Roger L'Estrange three or four times kneeling at Mass in the Queens-Chappel Miles Prance Here 's not one word of his being a Papist for he might have come out of Curiosity to observe whether the Ceremonies here were the same with those in other Mass-Houses beyond the Seas where he acknowledges he has been at that Idolatry forty times or it maybe being a Lover of Musick he came only to hear the delicacy of the Voices whatever brought him in thither there he was let him protest never so much and write a thousand Observators to the contrary He says indeed I could not say I saw him receive 't is very right and so I told His Majesty and the Honourable Lords of the Council for I saw no such thing and therefore I Swore to no more than I saw 't is the fairer Argument that what I Swore was Truth But as I never Swore so neither did I ever Say he was or is a Papist for I must avow I do not know what Religion the Gentleman has been is or may be of nor whether he have any
Prance being very intimately acquainted with him this Deponent he the said Mr. Prance did ask this Deponent where one Mr. Fincham was To which this Deponent answered He liveth very near me in the Country and thereupon he this Deponent did tell him it was reported that he should say he was a Papist to which Mr. Prance replyed He was a Papist and he would justify him to be a Papist and he believed that he had a Priest at his House at that time and that he knew him to have been in the Company of four or five Jesuits at a time And the said Mr. Prance did also give other reproachful Speeches which he this Deponent did not take any particular notice of Francis Bell. Thomas Edwards William Gent. As to all this I desire the Reader to observe 1 st That these Informatio◠〈◊〉 not said to be sworn to and truly for the Persons sake concern'd I hope they are not upon Oath 2 ly The two Informers like the two Witnesses in the Story of Susanna do not much agree Mr. Squire says that Prance was very earnest for chusing of one Mr. Partherich for Knight of the Shire for Cambridge-shire declaring that he was a fit man for that purpose Now Mr. Gent who was present all the time of our Cotloquy says nothing of that and so far is it from Truth that I do protest I do not know nor never saw that Mr. Partherich here mentioned in my whole Life And tho' possibly I might then have had some pretence to have concern'd my self in the Election of Parliament-men for that County yet I appeal to all the Inhabitants whether ever I endeavoured to move any one of them except only this worthy Squire if he say true to give their Votes for Mr. Partherich or any other person whatsoever For indeed I living elsewhere never thought it fit to concern my self with any such matters 2 ly Mr. Squire says I said Mr. Justice hath a Priest now in his House but Mr. Gent says I said I believed he had a Priest at his House at that time Now he that forgot so much and took no particular notice of our talk as he says might possibly misremember all the rest 3 ly Mr. Gent says I askt him where one Mr. Fincham was To which the Deponent answered he liveth very near in the Country a likely business as if I that was born within five miles of Mr. Justice Fincham and have been so frequently in that Country I that was so well acquainted with Richard Fincham so intimate with his Brother the Goldsmith and with another Brother of theirs the Sea-man I that have visited their near Relation Fincham in Wisbitch-Goal besides my familiarity with the Justice in London at his House at Well c. should yet be such an Ignoramus to ask the advice of this small Lawyer where forsooth one Mr. Fincham was and receive for answer as News That he liv'd near in the Country Let all Mankind judge of the probability of such an Information Fourthly Mr. Squires own words as here Printed for if either of the Gentlemen are wrong'd they must seek satisfaction from their Over-officious friend the Observator I say by his own words it appears there was a fewd and something of Malice in the Case for at the same time he charges me tho' falsly with saying That I wondered the Justices of Peace should be so much Fools or had so little Wit as to make him Chief Constable And I might add that Mr. Gent the other Informer as they are here styled was not likely to be Guilty of any good will to me retaining so this day a Bond of mine about the surrender of some Land the Condition whereof is satisfied and the whole Story of which I am not willing to tire the Reader with unless further provok'd These Remarks being premised I shall next subjoin the Truth of the matter of Fact not in my own words but attested by the Person that was then with me viz. Mr. Pask a Citizen of London one well known to be far from any suspicion of Disloyalty who immediately after this bustle happened at March did with his own hand write down and deliver to me this following Attestation viz. Memorandum On the 8 th day of August 1679. Mr. Miles Prance and my self were at the White-Heart Inn in March asking for Mr. Gent The Landlord answered he was in the House Mr. Prance went to the Company 's Room desired leave if not business where he was received seemingly in kindness and also desired me to walk in Where presently Mr. Squire and Mr. Harrison asked him if he was come to choose Esq Partherich Parliament-Man intimating he was a dissaffected Person and not fit to be chose Mr. Prance made answer to Mr. Harrison he was an Ass for to tell him such a thing and he was not to acquaint him what he came about Mr. Squire and Mr. Harrison made answer that Prance was a Rogue and Esq Patherich a Phanatick Rogue so was all that stood for him They abused Mr. Prance with the Language of Rogue a fellow not to be trusted a murthering Rogue and what he had said was all false bid him make haste home and give the King Confession But further most true it is that this Mr. Squire and one Mr. Harrison did not only use ill Language to me but pursued me to one Mrs. Walsomes House threatned to knock me o' th' head and throw me into the River and afterwards offered to Assault me in my Lodging so that Mr. Pask was forc'd to draw his Sword to keep them down For which I did as justly I might tell them I would call them to an account which it seems he is pleased to express by the Phrase That I would have most of the Gentlemen in the Country up But whether this Titular Squire and Mr. Harrison the Tape-seller be Gentlemen or most of the Gentlemen of the Country I leave to the Heralds This is certain I had sought Reparations from the Rioters for the abuse had not Squire Williamson interceded alledging they were in Drink and so I civilly pass'd it by and never heard more of that matter till now I found the Gentlemens Information in Print Le ts go on the Observator next brings to light two other Papers in these words You shall now have Two Certificates of August the 12th 1679 in Justification of M. John Fincham WE whose Names are hereunto subscribed do humbly Certifie That we have known John Fincham of Outwell in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge Esq by the space of twenty years during all which time we have had a frequent Converse with him as being our Neighbour and of whom we have observ'd a constant and dutiful Complyance with the Commands of the Church of England of which we do believe him to be a true member August 12. 1679. Francis Bell. Thomas Edwards THis is Humbly to Certifie That I John Leigh Clerk have been Rector of