his Lordship and such Words he told them as the Defendant himself ingenuously acknowledged Such a Rehearsal transpros'd would fright a Man from ever making an ingenuous Acknowledgment whilst he lived If a Man be not submissive then he is proud and obstinate and justifies an Aggravation an Aggravation as Mr. Withins said but if he be coming they 'll take him o' the Chaps and make him stand further off but this is the Policy The Judg said that the Defendant acknowledged that if he had said the Words modo formâ as they are laid in the Declaration the Jury could not punish him enough This 't is to be courtly and complemental a Man that is not us'd to it neither for really and truly the Words in the Declaration the Lawyers say are not actionable except the last Innuendo the Popish Plot had been proved and instead of an Innuendo Harris swore Plot against my righteous Name It is besides impossible to be prov'd by this Declaration because no preceding Colloquium is laid but this 't is to be civil and to make Concessions without which the Judg would have been put to 't to have directed the Jury as to the Scandal of them or the Law in that Point For 't is not Scandal Magnat the Learned say to say His Lordship is very ignorant because 't is true of him and of wiser Men and better Men than Henry Bishop of London and therefore cannot be Lies and scandalous or within that Statute The Bishop of London for Knowledg and Wisdom is not worthy to carry St. Paul's Books Cloak or Parchments after him if he were alive and yet that blessed Apostle that could cast out Devils with a word confesses he was very ignorant and knew nothing as he ought to know But not to insist of Divinity to come to Philosophy the wisest Man of Greece and the chief of the seven wise Men of Greece to whom the Oracle of Apollo awarded the Golden Tripos confess'd he was so ignorant that he knew nothing but only this namely he knew that he was very ignorant or knew nothing Hoc tantum scio quòd nihil scio 'T is Atheism to say that St. Paul made that ingenuous Confession of his Ignorance in that and many more Places only in Complement as some that are as proud as Lucifer or as the Devil can make them will yet say Your humble Servant For Shame Away with these Scandal Magnat.'s and undoing Men and Families for speaking nothing but the naked-Naked-Truth and which the Bishop of London cannot without blushing refuse to acknowledg that His Lordship is very Ignorant Which if he does acknowledg the Defendant and he are agreed in one certain naked-Naked-Truth But if his Lordship does not acknowledg that he is very ignorant all the wisemen of Man-kind must condemn him as very ignorant For none but he that does not know himself none but a Fool but must know and acknowledg themselves to be very ignorant 'T is true the Issue is Non-Culp because the Defendant never spoke those Words as they are modo formâ laid singly by themselves in the second Count of the Declaration and all the Witnesses except Harris nay Exton the Doctor 's Commons Man too says that the Word Ignorance had reference to the Law or Statute of which tho a Bishop be ignorant yet it is no blemish nor scandal to him Nay scarce a Bishop in England understands or ever read so much Law as the Defendant yet it is no Scandal to them nor disparagement Nay Harris himself at last confesses that the Ignorance and the Impudence had reference to the Printed Paper and the Canons of Forty and therefore these Words His Lordship is very Ignorant could never as laid in the second Count singly be spoken in Manner and Form as they are laid in the Declaration But were the Bishop of London really and truly wiser than Solomon St. Paul or Socrates yet it is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that he was ignorant in tanto whatever he might be in toto namely ignorant in so much and in that which occasion'd all this Discourse namely in sending Harris with a Sequestration of the Benefits and the small Tithes of the Parish of St. Buttolph's the place of this Contest and also the occasion too in Colchester when the said small Tithes and Benefits nay all Tithes both small and great Tithes of St. Buttolph's Parish appertain to the Defendant as Rector of the Rectory of All-Saints and has been enjoyed by his Predecessors since the Raign of Henry the 8th and so to continue for ever as is more fully declared pag. 27. of the Black-Non-Conformist and therefore it is no Lye and therefore not within the said Statute of Scandal Magnat but a great Truth tho a costly one Truth has been a dear Commodity to this Defendant but still it is too true that the Bishop was very ignorant in sending such a Sequestration it had been better for the Defendant by 2000 l. if he had been wiser and then this sad occasion had never come hard Case to be whip'd on another's Back and taken up at these Years for other Men's Faults and that the Bishop should without Law disturb the Defendant's Title to his Free-hold and then by the help of his Tool and Utensil and a good Jury ruine him for complaining when he is pinch'd The Itch the Scab the Morphew the Boyls the Uncombs the Carbuncles the Leprosy the Pimples a Pox and the Nodes are but Skin-Diseases and Deformities coming immediately from the vicious Ros and Gluten of the third Concoction at third hand poor par-boyling Function but it cannot help it for the Mischief the Mischief the Author and Origine of all this Mischief is the first Ventricle that 's erronious and out of order If the Bishop the Original Cause of all this Discourse and Stir in sending down a Sequestration of the small Tithes of St. Buttolphs the Defendant's Free-hold by this same Harris in hopes to do the Defendant a Mischief or Displeasure had not been mistaken in this his Attempt these Evils had not come they were but the third Concoction and necessary Consequents of the bishop's Error Except some thought perhaps that Mr. Hickeringill is as Heraclitus now calls him an Ass good for nothing but to be burthen'd or worse than a Worm and should say Prelate come tread me come stamp upon me I know such an Ass-like sottishness had been as it proves the wisest way because the cheapest way But what Patience can endure to be so nusled And so the Word Impudent if as it ought it have reference to that nonsensical at least Imposition upon the Clergy and to the Statute who can deny but that it is Insolence and Impudence too for a Bishop so to insult over the Clergy as either to recommend to them Articles to observe which are no where to be found or which interfere or are not warranted by the Statute And if the
large Defence and has told true that this Statute of 2 Rich. 2. upon which this Action of Scandal Magnat is brought was made when Popish Prelates bore a great Sway but it is not repealed remember that it is in force and is not yet repealed And tho as the Defendant hath alledged Religion now is not the same nor has the same Head nor the same Face consequently yet the Statute is not repealed The Defendant has produc'd six Witnesses to contradict the Bishop's single Witness they do swear contrary one to another both their Testimonies cannot be true They swear that some of them writ down the Words upon Mr. Harris his coming to them to have them subscribe his Paper which they refused saying soon after the Words were spoken that the Words were not so spoken by the Defendant but so and so as now they all unanimously still agree in and if you believe them you must find for the Defendant Thus have I given the Reader a true Account and also an ample and full Account of this Trial so much talk'd of nor have I omitted any one material Thing spoken by the Counsel or the Judg or given in Evidence on either side but without partiality have given a faithful Account But the Jury withdrawing and Dinner ready the Crier adjourn'd the Court but before he had fully cry'd out his Cry Hold hold cries Sir George Jefferies and Sir Francis Withens to the Crier and he obeyed whilst they whisper'd to the Judg and desired him to stay a little longer for the Jury would speedily return they knew their Minds and Resolutions belike with their Verdict thinking and intending to snap the Defendant in Court and have him committed to Prison if they knew how without Bail as the Statute enjoins in the Case if scandalous Words be found by the Verdict of Twelve Men to be spoken of a Prelate Make Room there Take heed Gentlemen take warning and if you will avoid hard Imprisonment and 2000 l. and an unmerciful and cruel Jury speak not against the Prelate not a Word no tho it be God's Word and therefore make an Index Expurgatorius and blot out of your Bibles Luk. 22 25 26 27. and 2 Pet. 5. 2 3. and 1 Tim. 5. 21. 1 Tim. 3. 3 6. Acts 20. 29. For these and many more condemn a brawling proud young covetous Action-driver and Promoter tho a Prelate so much the worse condemn all Prelacy that insults over tyrannizes over or lords over the Brethren and like greedy and grievous Wolves entring in not sparing the Flock as if the Flock of Christ was made to be eat up and devoured not to be fed and as if the rich Bishops could not thank God and be content with their rich Palaces and Endowments but they must enrich themselves with the Tears Cries and Groans of the Widow and Orphans A blessed Time But some say That the Bishop of London intends to build Paul's with this 2000 l. when he gets it as far as 2000 l. will go I 'le speak more to that in the following Observations But first let us conclude the Trial. The Jury after some Consultation amongst themselves soon agreed upon their Verdict being soon resolv'd upon the Premises and the Conclusion not before-hand surely but they made no great Pause upon the Matter the Case was a clear Case as any thing not to be question'd and about a Trifle only 5000 l. Damages Who are you for a silly Question not to be nam'd Who are you for For the Defendant do you say a likely matter when there is a great Bishop and Privy-Councellor and great with the King and Court For the Defendant not a Man I dare say was so simple What! do you think wise Men do not know which side of their Bread the Butter lies on And yet one of the Defendant's Counsel for he had retain'd Counsel and fee'd them again at the Assizes rather to avoid the Imputation of Penury than of any Intent he had to make use of them came to the Defendant whilst at Dinner and whispering him in the Ear assur'd him that the private Verdict was given in and for the Defendant After him came another with the same Errand whether deceived through Weakness or designing to deceive the Defendant through Wickedness I shall not determine This is certain the Plot was to inveigle the Defendant into the belief of the Verdict which the Defendant did so far believe for neither he nor any unbiass'd Men could imagine any other Verdict than for the Defendant the Declaration being but stammeringly uncertainly variously and contrarily repeated by the Episcopal Implement little Harris himself prov'd infamous by a Noble Peer whose Oath not to credit was the greater Scandal Magnat of the two and ex abundanti six substantial Witnesses contradicting that infamous Engine of Wickedness Besides the Declaration not prov'd in the least namely that the Scandals were spoken before divers the King's Subjects Here was but one Subject and he none of the best And accordingly the Defendant was treating with his Landlord at the White-Horse how and with what suitable Accommodation to treat the Jury for that is the Custom belike but the Jury were wiser and expected a better Treat for a quite-contrary Verdict by a greater Purse The Plot was to cajole the Defendant into a good Opinion of the Privy-Verdict that so staying in Town the Adversary might snap him with a Caption ready cut and dried to hale him to Jail And if they had succeeded in that After-Game it had been to them worth ten such Verdicts for if they had got him into Lobs-pound for six Months I do not know but the Stone Doublet might have lasted him his Life-time But they were not more cunning than he was crafty and being inform'd by his faithful Friends that could see as far into a Mill-stone as the best of them and as privy as the nasty Verdict was they scented it And thereupon the Defendant with five more of his Friends took Horse and rid for London where he now is giving their Wiles the Go-by to their great Grief and will not appear till he list in good Time and when Time shall serve We 'll catch him We 'll pound him quoth Sir Sun My Friends it is not to be done For a Man that is in safe Harbour to put out to Sea 'till the Storm be over argues Folly indeed the Fool Solomon says goes to the Correction of the Stocks or puts his Neck into the Collar To abscond for Treason Murder Robbery Fellony or Debt would indeed be dishonourable to the Author of Naked Truth But blessed be God The Man-Catchers have laid nothing as yet to his Charge but Words spoken against their pretty-Courts and Prelates and these wrested too from their true meaning as shall be proved hereafter in the Supplicavit-Business If worthy Men and Men of great Reputation and Renown may be credited so much as Harris and the six Proctors And these accuse
and Impudence Yes replyed Sir Thomas you were discoursing of a Printed Paper and the Statute of 13 Car. 2. 12. which seems to disallow the Canons of Forty which Statute you said if the Bishop did not know it was his Ignorance but if he did know the same it was Impudence to oppose his Sense and Judgment to the Judgment of the King and Parliament And herein when it was almost too late herein when he had almost forgot his Oath which so lately he had sworn to speak the whole Truth as well as nothing but the Truth herein when the Jury and the Court was possest and prejudic'd with his Evidence first given of the Words Ignorance and Impudence three hours together then indeed upon further Examination the Truth was pump'd out of him Oh! the Policy of this wicked World Some are wiser than some at least some are crafty wise to do Evil but to do Good they have no Knowledg a Craft that is easily and readily learn'd for any Man that is not a very Fool may soon arrive to be a Knave tho none but a Fool will be a Knave any Fool has Head-piece enough to be a Machiaveilian if he have so little Wit as to be a Knave and so bad a Heart as to be hard or hardned in Mischief For scarcely any Man wants Wit enough if he have but Wickedness enough to be a Knave or perfidious Then the Defendant bid Sir Thomas Exton say upon his Oath on what occasion these Words were spoken to him by the Defendant in private with him in his Chamber To which the Doctor then and not 'till then replyed That the Defendant came to him as his old Acquaintance but a false Friend to be sure that he would use his Interest with the Bishop to accommodate those Matters which honest Office of a Peace-maker Sir Thomas undertook and promised to give the Defendant the Bishop's Answer with all convenient speed the Bishop being then at his Country-House at Fullham Ay But when the Defendant came again to his Chamber to hear the Bishop's Answer Sir Thomas begun with wrinckled Brows to tell this Defendant That Did he the Defendant think that after all the Mischiefs he had done to the Bishop's Courts Ay there there it pinch'd in his late Books all the Kingdom over that the Matter could be taken up with a private Submission in a parcel of fair and soft Words Will you quoth Sir Thomas publickly and in Print retract and refute your Books called the Naked-Truth Who I replyed the Defendant what The same Hand that gave the Wound give the Cure What Vulnus opemque tulit continued Mr. Hickeringill Nothing like it quoth Sir Thomas No no replyed the Defendant you are high enough already but I 'll see you all 〈◊〉 high as Pauls first whereupon the Defendant departed from him for ever parted And let all ingenuous Gentlemen judge how un-Knight-like ungenteel un-Christian and Inhumane it was in Sir Thomas to make his Table a Snare and to be an Evidence to improve tho he could not prove the present Action of Scandalum Magnatum from Words ingenuously confessed to him in private as a Common-Friend and Mediator betwixt the Bishop and the Defendant Can any Man imagine or can it be in the least probable that any Man should give more scandalous Words against the Bishop at the very time and to the very Man that undertook to be a Peace-Maker and did not so much as take the least Exceptions against what was spoken but went to treat the Bishop to terms of Accommodation until the Defendant peremptorily refused to retract or write against the Books called the naked-Naked-Truth the Second Part in lieu of which Retraction the Defendant did write again indeed but mended the Matter in the Black-Non-Conformist These are the dear dear Books that has cost the Defendant so dear and must be his Ruine if combined Clergy-Malice and Revenge-Ecclesiastical will do the Feat Barnaby Tak 't for a Warning neither write nor speak as this Defendant has against the vile Corruptions abominable Extortions of the Men of Doctor's-Commons Hem Heu Wo and Alas Devorat Accipiter vexat censura Columbas The Birds of Prey are never vext But the poor Doves must be perplext Or thus Make Rome there for the Birds of Prey But fright the poor Doves quite away Let the Vexations Citations Actions Articles Promotions Writs Supplicavits and Oaths of the Ecclesiastical-Men and Men of Doctor's-Commons the only Affidavit-Men against Mr. Hickeringill be Chronicled to all Posterity together with that unconscionable inhumane and outragious Fine of 2000 l. by a pick'd Jury pick'd and appointed on set purpose together with the Names of the precious Jury-men and let them pray that the righteous God do not deal as severely with them and theirs to their ruine as they have unmercifully and unchristianly ruin'd the Defendant and his Family Wife and Children God is Just not only hereafter but in this World wait and see the Finger of God in this Affair shall he not avenge his own Elect tho he bear long with them Yea he will avenge them speedily he must he will to vindicate his Word his Gospel his Christ and his Apostles publick Enemies to Prelatical Pride against all the Hypocrites that put on Religion Religion the Church the Church for a Cloak to their Tantivee-Avarice and high-flown Ambition Good God! Arise and let thine Enemies be scatter'd and let all that hate thee flee before thee A single Arm has done Wonders when upheld by God We read indeed Eph. 5. 11. that God gave some Apostles some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry c. But who the Devil brought that Man of Sin that Son of Perdition into the Church 2 Tim. 2. 3 4. that sits in the Temple of God and opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God viz. the Magistrate Away Away with these carnal millenaries the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World nor the true Apostles and Disciples of Christ ambitious to sit neither on the Pinnacle of the Temple nor the Pinnacle of the Palace When Bishops begun to be very Rich then then they begun to be high-minded and to trust in uncertain Riches rather than in the Words of the living God 1 Tim. 6. 17. the Words of our blessed Saviour and his Apostles against Tyrannical and Lordly Prelacy and when they left the Word then they to clap their hands upon the tame Magistrates Sword if one would not the other should this is the plain Truth on 't and observ'd by all that observe any thing For who heeds their Excommunications their Suspensions their Silencings their Ecclesiastical Mischiefs Curses and Anathema's if it were not for the old Writ invented first by Popish Prelates and since and now still made use of to this day to eeke out their Spiritual-Weapons which every Man can take the length of
for a silly villian Scroggs quoth a that was discarded or discharged honourably Scroggs that was questioned for as much as his life was worth in Parliament Scroggs quoth a a Rascally knave or fool I 'le warrant him to talk such non-sense does not the fool deserve to have a writ of Supplicavit sent after him to bind him to the good behaviour But I know not how to finish these observations till I have cast away one look more upon another ne're be good Heraclitus who sayes this week Numb 59. March 15. 81. where speaking of Hick as in good manners the blade is pleas'd in familiar-wise to stile the Gentleman he never saw at least never beg'd his leave thus to clip or new coyn his name in these words Ay cry they this is brave that a man must pay but a shilling that takes the Lords name in vain but if he do but abuse a Bishop a little he shall pay 2000l And yet 't is said Hick again himself so pleaded his own cause but I doubt he finds a great deal of truth in that forreign Proverb The Asse it 's well 't is no worse that supposes himself a Stag taking his eares I suppose for Hornes does find that he is deceived when he is to leap over a Ditch Formerly they gave him hard-names such as Knave Rascal convicted of Perjury The Great Soribler of the Nation mock not And now in all hast They make an Ass of him this is Language most suitable to such Mens Genius and way of Writings which slanders in time they may repent But as for his being an Ass Is it not too true For who but an Ass would write or speak so much plain and naked truth in a dissembling Hypocritical and lying Age Who but an Ass would discover the extortions and oppresitions wherewith the Ecclesiastical Fellows load the Kings Subjects and in hope to ease their shoulders be burthen'd 'till his back crack with actions upon actions Promotions Informations Supplicavit's Declarations Articles Verdicts Libels Suspensions Excommunications Power and Interest Nor would the late Essex-Jury have so unmercifully heaped such a heavy load upon him but they took him for an Ass 2000 l. why if a Minister live the days of Methusalem it is not to be Collected in Easter-Offerings 1000 l. is a Horse-Load they say if so then 2000 l. is too much in all conscience to put upon an Asses back Oh! But it is charitably designd for the building of Pauls if it be yet the work of building Cathedrals of Stone upon the ruines of Temples of Bone or living-Temples or as was said before to rob Peter to pay Paul can never be pleasing to Almighty God And thus the Hypocritical Pharisees for fear their hard hearted ness should be condemn'd by all for suffering their Parents to starve They made an Anathema of the Goods they should have had for such Relief calling it Corban Dedicating it to the Church and the pious Deodand devouerd their charity Thus making Charity without which all Religien is a Cheat and a Bawble to give place to a foolish and Hypocritical as well as impious Devotion For my part I wish Mr. Hickeringil was not so overburthen'd and made an Ass of because of such back-burthens of afflictions the Apostle Paul confesses We are Fools for Christ's sake and Truth 's sake And then however since Stultorum plena sunt omnia since Folly is so Endemical a Disease and Universal in my Judgment It is as good to be a Fool for Christ's sake and for Truths sake as to be like the weekly News-monger and rayling Pamphleteer a fool for the Devils sake or for the lyes sake besides the comfort of a good conscience and a sound mind attends innocence in the Streights-mouth For a great Soul like Heaven is Seated high And like Olympick-Top doth quiet lye The Middle-Region-storms come not her nigh So ne're to Heaven she seems to mate the Skye And with Top-gallant brave the Galaxye God Almighty always by some providence either takes off the Load or which is all one strengthens the back of all that trust in him Yet this does not at all excuse the malice the injustice the cruelty of men Which brings to my mind a most excellent Copy of Verses made by the ingenuous Mr. John Butler of Crouchet-Friars London and by him presented to Mr. Hickeringil on the occasion of his sufferings but Dedicated To the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Trinity-house upon that stately useful Light-house built upon St. Agnes to discover those dangerous Rocks called the Bishop and his Clerks AFisherman whose nets were torn By stormy Tempests and by Sherks At last near to the Rocks were born Called the Bishop and his Clerks But who those names did give and why Are Problems none resolved have But this is sure what Ships do try Their strength against them find a Grave Witness Bows rent Sides torn ' Backs broak Of many Ships that prov'd a Wrack Though made of Iron and of Oak Did by these Rocks asunder crack Are Neptunes Clerks and Bishops such No mercy from them can be found As whosoever doth but touch Upon them sinks unto the ground Or were the Flamens in the time Of Pagan-worship so renownd For Cruelties Was it their crime And only theirs And not since found Or did the Bishops who did come In place when these were dead and gone Retain their Cruelty to doom Men unto ruine that not one Who touch't upon them could evade Their anger fury and their rage As if to sink men were their trade Which they did use from age to age Or did some Satyrs who had sinn'd And by the Bishops sentenc't were In Linnen white up to be pinnd To give these Names together swear Or did the Gondeliers who see Romes Bishop with insulting feet Tread on great Fredricks neck that he In Venice City shame might meet For which th' Old Doge doth every year With Madam Adriattique make A Marriage And they tell you there That for her Lord she doth him take Or was it they that did behold Henry the fourth to seek the Grace On his bare feet in Winter cold Of that proud Pope who hid his face In Miss Matildas-Lap till she Did rub his Ears and him awake That so poor Henry being free He other measures then might take Or was 't Tom Becket in a huff With his most right and lawful King From whose posteriors came a puff That him upon his Knees did bring After he sainted was for Treason Yet then the King unto his shrine Did barefoot go against all reason And scourged was by filthy Swine The Monks which in that Cloyster dwelt Such great disgrace in days of Yore The greatest Princes oft have felt By Prelates may they never more It may be this or that or t' other Gave the first rise unto the name And cruelties they could not smother Did afterward confirm the same But that these Rocks no longer may Be unto Seamen cause
Scandalum Magnatum Or the GREAT TRIAL AT Chelmnesford Assizes Held March 6 for the County of ESSEX BETWIXT HENRY Bishop of LONDON Plantiff AND EDM. HICKERINGILL Rector of the Rectory of All-Saints in COLCHESTER Defendant FAITHFULLY RELATED Together with the Nature of the Writ call'd SUPPLICAVIT seldom granted against any in these Days more seldom granted against any but common-Rogues and common-Barreters and common-Villains yet granted against Mr. Hickeringill Who was thereupon bound to the Good-Behaviour at the Court of King's-Bench Westminster Octab. Pur. xxxiv R. R. AS ALSO The Articles sworn against him by six Proctors of Doctors-Commons the Reverend Proctors Names are like-wise according to the Record in the Crown-Office particulariz'd With large Observations and Reflections upon the whole Published to prevent false Reports LONDON Printed for E. Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhil 1682. THE INTRODUCTION WAS there ever more need than now to prevent false Reports when every Coffee-House Table instead of a better Carpet is cover'd and pester'd with false News False Rumours and News the Epidemical Plague that our Ancestors were so careful to prevent that as the Laws Oracle Cook cap. 39. Institut 3. tells us that the Law before the Conquest was That the Author and Spreader of false Rumours amongst the People had his Tongue cut out if he redeemed it not by the estimation of his Head Int. Leg. Alveredi cap. 28. If this Law had been reviv'd Thompson Heraclitus and the Observator had much better be Tongue-ty'd For tho Wise-Men and Good-Men in a just scruple of Conscience scorn to read such nauseous Ribaldry in Reverence to that of the Wise-man Prov. 17. 4. A wicked Doer giveth heed to false Lips and a Lyer giveth Ear to a naughty Tongue knowing that the Resettor is as bad as the Thief and that the Ear that loves to hear is as bad as the Tongue that loves to speak false News and equally Guilty and he that loveth as well as he that maketh a Lye is rank'd amongst Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters Rev. 22. 15. Yet the depraved Nature of Man is novitatis avida greedy of hearing Tales from the very Cradle and many Englishmen now like the Athenians Acts 17. 21. spend their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new-thing The Lydians punish'd these false News-Mongers with Death as if a Man's Reputation was as dear to him as his Life and the Assassinate of a Man's good Name was accounted a Murderer The Grecians and the French have but one Name or Word to signify the Devil and his Son the Slanderer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diable or Devil who was a Murtherer from the beginning that is a Lyer and the Father of Lyes And to delight in hearing or reading false and scandalous News is an Accessory which in Murder and all Assassinations is equally punish'd and equally guilty with the Principal Prudent Men tho' and Men of Courage like a Lyon or a right English Mastiff stalk and walk on when little Currs bark at them answering their yelping only with Contempt Convicia si irascaris tua divulgas spreta exolescunt saith Tacitus If you seek to revenge Slanders you proclaim them as your own But if you despise them they vanish of themselves There are but few Bishops like Arch-Bishop Cranmer who was so much revil'd that he might have made work enough for the Lawyers if he would have ply'd their Courts with Actions upon the Statute of Scandal Magnat â—ut he chose rather to win Men with his Goodness not rendring Evil for Evil â—â—t so usually Good for Evil that it became a Proverb in those Days Do my Lord of Canterbury a Displeasure and you have him your Friend ever after that 's more Christian-like and Bishop-like than if Men had cause to say Do my Lord of _____ a Displeasure and you have him your Enemy ever after Sure the World is near its end and drawing its last Breath Charity is so cold now a Days old and cold God knows as for Example and woful Experience Ecce Signum The Pressures that this Defendant has undergone since he writ the Naked Truth above a Year ago are almost insupportable and enough to make his Back crack at least enough to fright Men from writing or speaking any more Naked-Truths It was always so the great Prophet of old made the same complaint to small purpose God wot amongst some Men Isa 59. 14 15. Judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for Truth is fallen in the Street and Equity cannot enter Yea Truth faileth and he that departeth from Iniquity maketh himself a Prey and the Lord saw it and it displeased him that there was no Judgment How has this Defendant been pester'd within this Twelve Months Four and twenty great Heads of Barretry preferr'd against him in the Crown-Office about fifty Witnesses subpoena'd to prove them yet scarce ten of them sworn and some of them that were subpoena'd profest before they were subpoena'd that they knew nothing of the Matter and yet subpoena'd What run Men down with a Noise Is that such Policy or is it Piety And when the Defendant's Innocence appear'd and a Verdict to that purpose by the Worthy Jury yet afterwards How was he visited and vex'd in the Ecclesiastical-Court of Arches Henry Bishop of London Promoter there against him and for some of the same Barretry too of which he had been honourably acquitted And when the danger appear'd of prosecuting him in that Ecclesiastical-Court for Barretry against the Statutes of Praemunire and Provisors though Witnesses were sworn to them yet it was upon second Thoughts adjudg'd unsafe to insist upon them and five of the Articles were laid aside wherewith they had long made a loud noise and only five clandestine Marriages insisted upon or Marriages without Banes first published in time of Divine-Service and how can that be where there is no Divine-Service but the old Rule Necessitas vincit Legem would not pass Currant against a Law of Man though it prov'd a good Dispensation to Holy David against a Law of God But in all haste suspended and silenc'd he must be I do not know when whether the Ecclesiastical Court have Wit in their Anger and will not do all the harm they can or whether they think there is more in Matrimony than a matter of Money or whether they think it hard to silence a Minister from Preaching the Gospel though the Register's had not the nine or ten Shillings as formerly from the Defendant for a Blanck-Licence whilst scarce a Man in an Age is silenc'd for Drunkenness Ignorance Laziness Fornication or Debauchery or whether they resolve to be merciful in Conclusion or if that be not so probable whether they suspend the execution of the Suspension that the longer the blow is a heaving it may fall the heavier I cannot tell But they have found the Defendant work enough this twelve-Month last
little-Evidence-Man They did earn their Guinies to give them their due The Lacedominians a wise People banish'd all Hackney-Orators out of their Dominions as pernicious to their Common-Wealth because they could like old Ladies paint and bedawb their Wrinckles could black-patch their Pimples and Sores and make them Beauty-Spots Candida de nigris de candentibus atra Could disguize the Truth and cast Dirt and asperse when and where and whom they list an Effeminate-Trade yet for Calumny these Lawyers are usually out-done by every Fish-Wife and Butter-Quean But to go on with the famous Trial some Men are bound to the Good-Behaviour as the Defendant told Sir George Jeffries in the midst of his Harrangue wishing that his Tongue also was as fast ty'd and bound to the Good-Behaviour as is the Defendants And withal told the Gentlemen that were sworn that the less heed was to be given to Sir George's Words because he was not a Man of his Word for that Sir George had promis'd the last Assizes at Brentwood a Year and half ago that he would never be retain'd nor plead against the Defendant tho any Man should give him an hundred Guinies no not against Curse ye Meroz But comes me out before the next Assizes the poor Book called the Naked Truth the Second Part. And then stand clear from a common-Barretor the Knight had forgot his Promise to Curse ye Meroz So fickle a Passion is this same thing called Love as this Defendant now told him neither Man nor Woman knows well when they are sure on 't If I were his Lady I should be jealous of him nay I should if he were as inconstant in his Love to me as he has prov'd to this Defendant I say again at this rate his Lady will scarce know when she can be Cock-sure of his Love inconstant Man Well perhaps she may give him a Rowland for his Oliver The Punishment the usual and just Punishment of a Liquorish Tongue a luscious wanton extravagant Tongue is to be plagu'd with a liquorish T But enough of that at present I am in his Debt and I 'll certainly pay him off with celebrating in Heroick Verse the Merits of the noisy-Hero and his Lady to perpetuate them to all Posterity Let him shake his Head and stare with open-Eyes how he pleases 't is strange if he should not some time or other meet with his Match we are told A Poet should be fear'd When angry like a Comets flaming Beard He shall repent his Inconstance He shall let him do his worst A time may come yet and a Day of Reckoning God is Righteous and he usually shows his Justice in this World against the greatest Atheists that live Hectoring and Torying in defiance of him as if God had forsaken the Earth and where is the God of Judgment To support the Credit of their little Witness-Man which they craftily foresaw would be shrewdly shaken by all the Witnesses they had provided ready for the work five Clergy-men to adorn the little Black-Coat with five Circingles more Men of the same stamp and if possible swore as boldly and venturously for him and the Bishop as Harris himself and brought for the very nonce But Good Sir George Jeffries that never before had told a Lye at the Bar if you 'll believe him or any Hackney Breath-sellers they come not for the sake of the Guinies but purely in Devotion to Justice and love to their Clyent and his Cause tho Pro or Con who comes first to retain them right or wrong Tongue waggs in the Cause if it be retain'd and if the Angel appear then the A opens his Mouth a very pretty World nay many of them do not read their Breviats 'till the Cause be call'd and then with two Eyes in all haste they are busy to spy out Vantages poor Clients are well help'd up and what with an ignorant Jury or a Pick'd-Jury for that very purpose as this was by Order of the Court of King's-Bench the last day of the last Term upon the Motion of Sir Francis Withins just such another Man Poor Country-men have a fine time on 't to go to Law as Tinkers mend Kettles to remedy one hole in their Estate they make two is not this Remedy worse than the Disease What do you think a Lawyer will tell a Lye But the Good Knight Sir George Jeffries told a Whisker at this time when the said Black-Coats swore so heartily in Vindication of Harris his Reputation One Mr. Powell swore he had known Harris a Twelve-month and more and He never knew any ill by him so swore one Mr. Kiddier and Mr. Grove I think his Name was of London and so swore also one Thompson and one Shelton two Colchester Ministers Look you my Lord quoth Sir George here are Clergy-Men swear to the Reputation of the Witness for the Bishop Clergy-Men that here come by accident and spying them in Court we make use of them Whereupon the Defendant ask'd the said Colchester-Ministers Thompson and Shelton whether Sir George was a Man to be believ'd herein or a Man of his Word when he said these Clergy-Men came by accident c. Speak Sirs you are upon your Oaths Did you come by accident or for set purpose subpoena'd to give this Testimony They answered for they durst not do no other being publickly subpoena'd That they came on purpose being subpoena'd Then Good Sir George retorted the Defendant Where is your Veracity your Truth good Sir George But Sir George sat down very angerly his Mouth was stop'd for once Is it not a Wonder and the good Gentleman was silenc'd his Welsh-Blood flying into his Face and answering for him only with a Blush Nay 't is well he had the Grace to Blush he is not much given to it but this was put upon him from his own Witnesses the said Black-Coats who had all of them more cause to blush than Sir George but they blush'd no more than a Black-D Nay I 'll trust such Black-Coats with an Oath as soon as poorer Men if there be a Bishop in the case and hopes of Favour and Preferment what Can any Man think they will not stretch it for a Bishop when one says they will ride down Sun and Moon for a Benefice a Prebendary or a Dignity The Men were true Sons of the Church and knew the virtue of the Oath of Canonical Obedience but unhappily the Defendant snap'd them with one single Question and made them all swear in effect Tongue thou liest and contradict themselves and one another and all upon Oath too The Question put to every one of these Clergy-men who swore so thorow-stitch to Harris his Reputation was this namely Is it not an ill thing in a Clergy-Man and a Vicar who is sworn to perpetual Residence in his Parish to be Non-Resident for three quarters of a Year minding only the Fleece but not the Flock This gravell'd them for they knew the danger of Perjury and knew
Good Word and Recommendation But the Defendant gave them such smart such nimble and such home Repartees and so free from all Passion and unmov'd that even his Enemies and all the Hearers could not but acknowledg that as he never spoke more at one time so he never spoke better in his Life And yet to no more Fruit than if he had preach'd as St. Bede did to a heap of Stones for the Jury were resolv'd-Men never Men better tutor'd better cull'd and obsequious Paedagogue said to his Imps Ye 'ave con'd your Lessen well stroke them o'th'Head Call them good Boys and buy them Ginger-Bread There is cunning in Dawbing and a Cause slenderly witnessed had need be well-Jury'd or else the 2000 l. had not been worth a Gray-Groat no not worth a Brummingham A plain Countrey Yeoman has neither Hopes nor Fears at Court the wiser and happyer Man he He is neither fearful a Commission to lose nor in hopes of a Commission to get But values his Oath his Soul and his Conscience above all You talk of an Ignoramus-Jury in London we 'll match them in Essex with Billa-vera-Men you talk of a Whigg-Jury we can match them with a Tory-Jury Does not the London-Juries Idolize the Men of Doctor's-Commons Bring Doctor's-Commons-Men into Essex and tho most abominable contemners of Statutes Oppressors Extortioners Buyers and Sellers of Offices and they know all this is true except their Consciences be hardned yet let them come into Essex and as the common Strumpet said to the Fellow that call'd her Whore which she knew as well or better than he you Sirra Villain I would you would prove me a Whore Sirra Bear Witness Neighbours Scandal Magn. he calls me Whore Scarlet Whore bear Witness Sir Thomas Exton must be call'd too as a Witness for his Master the Bishop a very good Witness said the Judge and the Council a Man untainted they meant unattainted unconvicted as yet a Blot is no Blot 'till it be hit if I live it shall be as well as Betts and Morris But what had Sir Thomas to do at a Parish-meeting in the Parish of St. Buttolphs in Colchester No that 's true But he was not produc'd as a Witness to prove the Declaration No no a good reason why he could not swear when he was not there But he was call'd to prove some private Discourse that the Defendant had with him in his private Chamber whither the Defendant came in Doctors Commons they being old Acquaintance and the Defendant desired the said Doctor Exton to mediate an Accommodation betwixt him and the Bishop as a common Friend to both which Sir Thomas undertook to do when the Defendant had ingenuously made a private Confession to him of the truth of the Case to the very same effect that the Defendants Witnesses unanimously swore it namely that the Defendant did speak of a Printed Paper which the Plantiff sent down to every Clergy-man beginning with these Words Good Brother c. and ending with these Words Your Lo. Brother H. London In which Paper the Bishop recommended to the Clergy the Observation of the 65. 66. and 3. Canons or Constitutions of Forty which the Defendant said again in open Court were so far from being according to Law that it was Non-sence forasmuch as the Constitutions of Forty have not 65 nor 66 Canons nor above eleven and therefore it was Insolence or Impudence to lay upon the Clergy Burdens not to be born and Duties impossible to be observ'd forasmuch as it is Non-sence to bid them observe the 65 and 66 Canons and 3d of the Constitutions of Forty there is not so many and yet there is enow of those Lambeth-Canons which the Defendant said do seem to have a mark of Non-allowance by the 13 Car. 2. 12. For if the Words of that Statute leave those Canons of 1640 only just in statu quo then the mentioning the not confirming them c. in the said Statute signifies nothing at all for so those Canons would have been in statu quo altho that Statute had never been made which Law the Defendant said if the Bishop knew not it was his Ignorance if he did know it it was Insolence to oppose his Sence and Judgment to that of the King and Parliament and to impose impossibilities upon the Clergy And this Defendant confessed again that those Words he did say and if the Bishop be aggriev'd thereat he is at Liberty if he have not enough of this to bring another Action of Scandal Magnat if he pleased but not being the Words of the Declaration that and what Sir Thomas Exton witnessed was nothing as the Judg fairly told the Jury to this present Action But this must be said for Sir Thomas Exton he did his good Will and no doubt but he will reap the Thanks for the same and perhaps be the better for the Defendants Money when they can catch it but no Jusuite could equivocate more than Sir Thomas did when he first gave his Evidence against the Defendant upon Oath For he had the Words Ignorance and Impudence spoken of the Bishop which come pretty near to those Words in the Declaration Impudent Man and Ignorant Man but being not the same could not affect nor ought not to affect the Jury as the Judge honestly told them and less he could not say as to the proof of the Declaration for the all the stress and weight of that lay solely and singly upon little Harris his Evidence And for that cause The Defendant neglected Sir Thomas his Evidence as impertinent to the matter in hand but I thank you Latet Anguis in Herbâ When Sir George perceived that the Defendant had and willingly slighted it and neglected to examine Sir Thomas Exton about the Colloquium and foregoing Discourse preceding the Words Ignorance and Impudence which when afterwards confessed by Sir Thomas upon the Defendants reexamining him and quite altering the Sence to see how Sir George when he thought the Defendant had done and said all and the Plantiffs Counsel claim'd the Privilidg that a sort of Females claim of having the last Word to see and hear I say how Sir George and Sir Francis did mouth and open upon 't Here is Sir Thomas Exton Gentlemen a Man of untainted Reputation he speaks in effect the same thing and almost the same Words And yet the Judg had said before that what Sir Thomas witnessed was nothing to the proof of the Declaration but Sir George spent many Words upon it notwithstanding Whereupon the Defendant interrupted him at which he stared and storm'd and fretted at a great rate but to little purpose for the Judg very mildly bid the Defendant go on to examine Sir Thomas Exton more strictly since they endeavour'd to make work with his Testimony declared Impertinent to the present Cause now in Question as aforesaid Sir Thomas Exton said the Defendant was there no Colloquium no Discourse preceding nor subsequent to to the Words Ignorance
The bloody and numerous Sect of the Donatists in Africa what Mischief brought that Heresy to the Christian-World and all the quarrel arose because Donatus that Diotrephes that lov'd to have the preheminence 3 Ep. Joh. 9. or was ambitious of being a Prelate as the Original properly signifies ruffled with Cecilianus for the Bishoprick of Carthage Solomon says from Pride comes Contention for a Man ambitious to sit perking upon the Pinacle of the Temple the fittest place the crafty Devil thought to insinuate his Temptations upon our blessed Saviour he will endeavour to break that Man's Neck that says come down into the Seat of the Church amongst your Brethren where our Saviour has plac'd you nay and the honest Canons too What inhumane Cruelty did the Prelates in the Council of Constance exercise to poor John Wickliff our Country-man Rector of Lutterworth in Leicestershire and his Naked-Truth in 45 Articles that cut them to the very Hearts because it cut their Combs for them and not content with killing him after he was buried one and forty years they caused his Bones to be digged up barbarous and cruel Ecclesiasticks and to be burn'd inhumane Divines Nay That great Advocate for Prelacy Sir George Jefferies in this Assizes took notice that of all the Witnesses that swear at the Assizes the Clergy-men the Clergy tell the strangest Tales and the most oddely and most impertinently of all other Witnesses perhaps 't is because they are forced to preach at the Assizes without Book But of all the Clergy-VVitnesses never did any thing look so beshrimpen and appall'd as that same little Harris the Bishop's special Witness truly the Man has reason to go snips and have half of the 2000 l. given in Damages to the Bishop For neither the Bishop nor any Man alive had to this day ever heard of those scandalous Words in the Declaration if he had not broach'd them and been the Author of them for after the Defendant was gone little imagining as neither any in the Company that any Offence was taken or any Exceptions made no not so much as by Harris the Man-catcher The little Blade goes to another Room writes what he lists or what he remembers and such a Man had need of a good Memory but 't is treacherous and out he brings his own Scandalum Magnatum hoping to get some one in the Company to be if possible as wicked as his little Clergyship But by God's good Providence missing his Aim away he trudges lest he should be called to an account for his own devised Scandals and be forced to find the Author away trudges he as fast as his wicked Legs could tremblingly carry him to that old Piece of Malice Sir J. S. that has always an open Heart as well as open Ears at a Piece of Mischief against the Defendant Harris could scarcely on this side Hell have met with a fitter Tutor whose Friendship is Artifice and superficial but his Malice Revenge and Wickedness is natural innate deep as his own own Self Nor could any Present be more welcome to the Bishop it seems by the consequence than Articles against the Man that finds such fault with his illegal Confirmations Visitations Vexations c. Therefore call a Court come to the Cabal all the Breath-sellers whose Trade also is endangered by the wicked Defendant Search old Statutes for the promoting whereof Empson and Dudley were hang'd vex and ruin by the Aid of a good Jury the Defendant and his Family and only for a supposed Transgression proved by a slender and self-contradicting Evidence that swore three times and every time varied and yet I 'le warrant he had said them over and over since last Easter oftner than he had said his Prayers but he was not suffered to swear by Book tho he prayes and preaches all by Book For if at the first time he swore the Words true the other was false and he a false Varlet and not to be believed by any Jury that were not resolved and some would not have been suffered to attempt the third time especially 1. He was but a single Evidence and therefore neither the Bishop ought to have believed him at first nor the Jury now swearing against a Presbyter because the Holy Scripture as the Defendant urged ought to have some respect and observance from a Bishop especially who is commanded against an Elder not so much as to receive an Accusation but under two or three Witnesses 2. This little Witness was not to be believed because point-blank contraried by six substantial Witnesses who were not negative Witnesses only but affirmative and positive for they did not only swear they did not hear any such Words but all jointly and positively affirmed that they heard the whole Discourse heard all the Words and well remembred them because Harris after the Defendant's departure not before going into another Room and writing other Words than the Defendant spake and bringing them to the rest of the Company to subscribe they writ down the true Words whilst fresh in their Memories and all turn'd Abhorrers of so vile a Man and so wicked a Design And all this was upon Oath made appear to the Judg and Jury by the Oaths of all the six Witnesses but no notice was taken of it by the Judg when he summ'd up the Evidence otherwise than that he honestly said the Evidence on both sides was quite contrary one to another and could not be both true And who could imagine that an unbiass'd Jury should judg six honest Lay-men that had no design but Truth should swear false in compliance with a puny Clergy-man not worthy a Name or Company amongst honest Men such Man-catchers should be avoided by all Men as Enemies to all Commerce and Conversation and such a Fellow too as swears for himself indeed for he is the Author of the Scandalum Magnatum if he could not father his Lies upon the Defendant as he has done thank a good Jury by special Orders of the Bench to the High-Sheriff himself to pick them and empannel them throughout the County And the Jury-Men for Estates and Quality were well enough but not one of them any other than such as know who and who is together and all or most of them in Commission and Dependance for their Places and Offices at the Arbitrement of 3. How improbable is it that the Defendant should put a Dagger into his Enemy's Hand the Hand of a Creature that came to take his Benefice from him and to eat the Bread out of his Mouth 4. How probable is it that one single Evidence may and must forswear himself in this Case when six Men contradict him at the same Time and Minute soon after the Words were spoken 5. How improbable it is that a Man should truly repeat another Man's Discourse that cannot repeat his own Discourse and Words off-Book in Sermon or Prayers or now upon Oath 6. How improbable it is that one Man should swear Truth
converted art ' tic well Thour't in the way to Heaven they to Hell And what tho' many of the Saints do fear Thou do'st dissemble because they do hear How thou did'st persecute the Saints and hale Their Persons innocent unto the Jayl What tho' at present they be shy of thee Yet thou proceeding in thy Zeal to be A Convert true it will rejoice their Hearts That God hath raised thee to take their parts And what tho' Priests do wait by Writ of Cape Yet by some Basket thou shalt have escape Their Ruffins sworn to take thy Life away By Providence shall miss their hoped Prey Tho' some may question thinking that thou art No true Disciple from thy very Heart Yet when it shall be known what thou hast writ And preached too thou wilt be quite acquit When by thy Naked-Truth the Church hath ease It will the Brethren in all places please But let me tell thee Mr. Hickeringill Tho' many Grave Divines approve thy Pill Prelats and proud Priests say thou hast no skill The Gout the Strangury and such Disease May by a Velvet Couch receive some ease And Golden Chariots rocking them doth please A Body full of Humours all can tell Disgusts that Physick that will them expell Because it makes them keek and vomit up Their sweetest Morsels like a bitter Cup. Sick Physick they don't like tho' that must cure This they resolved are not to endure Thou purgest Head the Reins and Liver too Fluxeth the Body and makes such ado That all their Rottenness will be discovered They like not this thy way to be recovered But will keep rather their Distemper still Than Purge and Vomit thus to make them ill Diseases foul Physicians will conceal And gross Distempers they will not reveal The Credit is the Patient's Gain's their own This thou regardest not but makes all known Tho' they tormented are and full of pain Yet they have Riches Profits Honour Gain And they are courted too have great Retinues To wait on them and they have great Revenues Now this they love and will not change their state For all thy Pamphlet-printing and thy prate They say a Mungrel-Mountebank thou art That mounts the Stage but hath no real Art Thou runs from Town to Town to show thy Feats And vend thy mouldy Drugs which are but Cheats Thou railst against the Cross but dost purloin Picking Men's Pockets both of Cross and Coin Thou hast no Licence to be thy Defender Therefore against the Law thou art offender If this be true there 's ground enough I trow By Scandalum Magnatum to o're-throw And bring thee down upon thy bended Knees To ask Forgiveness and to pay thy Fees Therefore the Scribes do lay for thee their Snares And do consult to take thee unawares The Officers of Doctors Commons meet Together often and their Heads do beat What course to take The Learned Chancellors Crafty Civillians foul-mouth'd Registers Arch-Deacons Surrogates are in a Huff The Proctors and Appariters do snuff Our Wealth is gone if we let this alone We must with th' Irish cry Ohone Ohone They all combine and never will give out Until they have giv'n Hickeringill the rout Their Cobweb-Canons and their Lime-twig-Laws Thou valuest no more than rotten Straws Thou fearest not their hollow Pot-gun noise Being good for nothing but to fright the Boys They therefore now appeal and crave the aid Of Statute-Laws to help them in their Trade Look to thy self they are resolv'd now in To lose the Saddle or the Horse to win They strive to make Pilat and Herod Friends And then the Consistory have their Ends. Now Velvet Saddl's offer'd with Gold Fringe Richly adorn'd with splendid Trappeling And when the Saddle's on their Back they 'l get A Snaffel in their Mouths with Iron Bit Except God give them Grace and better Wit For when they 'r mounted they will spur them on Unto their own and thy destruction It is by this means they support their hope To get thy Neck into a Hempen Rope The Cross thou likest not and will not have A Gibbet's good enough for such a Slave If they can get the Learned Lawyers in To take their part as they now do begin This was the way they dealt with Christ him kil'd And poor St. Paul his Back with stripes was fill'd But it is hoped that will be forbidden For honest Lawyers will not be Priest-ridden For they will show no Mercy switch and ride Till they have got unto the Romish side Lawyers themselves at last will yoaked be Becoming Traitors to their Liberty For if the Statute do their Canons draw They 'll keep the King's Liege-Subjects in such aw By raising up a Spanish Inquisition Bringing all down to ruin and perdition They 'll set the Mitre up above the Crown And bring all Law and all Religion down O the Confusion that will follow then But I forbear and will hold in my Pen And so conclude with England's Letany Defend us Lord from French and Popery And God send thee a safe Delivery SOL. SHAW We are commanded to love the Truth and Peace well put together for Truth seldom meets Peace without tho it always makes Peace within Truth seldom gets in this World external Peace but never misses internal and eternal Peace The Word of Truth Truth it self our blessed Saviour and his Apostles never failed of inward Peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy-Ghost never fail'd neither of external Ruffles and War from without and therefore he said He came not to send Peace on Earth but a Sword It always was so from the beginning is now and ever shall be that War should be betwixt the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent But there can be no Peace saith my God to the Wicked neither Peace external internal nor eternal For Truth is the Essence of Peace the Life and Soul of Peace it ceases to be Peace when Truth is absent and is meer War Confusion and Conspiracy How I have studied the Way of Truth let good Men judg and how I have studied the Way of Peace this following Letter to Henry Bishop of London will evince And not further to displease Sir George Jefferies for I hate this vain Jangling about Words and Titles and Genealogies as it happens the Welsh Knight will now be pleased for the last Letter sent from this Defendant to the Bishop was as smooth docile courtly and Alamode as the best Courtier of them all can write And that the Defendant absit invidia verbis has been as great a Traveller as St. Taphee or as that great Welsh-man and Kill-Cow Hero Capt. Jones himself that said he had a Priviledg or Patent whereby he could lie by Authority wonderful Preferment the Welsh-man was proud on 't tho The Letter verbatim thus Viz. To the Reverend Father in God Henry Lord Bishop of London at London House in Aldersgate-Street May it please your Lordship THis is the second humble Address that
Caitiffs that have lost all Bowels of Humanity and Compassion with a Vengeance That Atheists may know that there is a God that judgeth in the Earth and pays men in their own Coin This Adonibezek too late acknowledg'd when his Thumbs and great Toes were cut off the very same Cruelty which he had inflicted upon others And thus the Merciless that without remorse delight in the Ruin of a Man and his House palliating Revenge with an Hypocritical Deodand to ruin a Man and his Heritage when God has rewarded them in their own kind each of them over their own Ruines shall say with Adonibezek Judg. 1. 7. As I have done so God hath requited me For Truth hath said it They shall find Judgment without Mercy who have shewed no Mercy Tho this must be said in the behalf of that Jury that tho it was reported in London before the Trial what the Issue has prov'd yet it is also said that the Jury in so great a Fine as 2000 l. intended nothing therein of Prejudice to the Defendant but to bring him to a Submission in vindication of the Bishop's Credit which how true it is is Time will discover But in truth the Bishop's Reputation had been sufficiently and better vindicated if they had given credit to six substantial Witnesses who acquitted the Defendant that the Words in the Declaration were not spoken as they are laid rather than to that little Body who was prov'd upon Oath to be so infamous a Person by that Noble Earl and by his own Vouchers prov'd to have so little regard to his Duty which he ows to God to his own Soul and to his Parishioners and to his Oath of Residence in his said Perpetual-Vicarage as to leave them utterly and forsake them taking another Cure and Flock and leaving his own to the Care of one that was lately a silly Log-river and knows not well how to discharge his own Cure nor to read his Accidence And all this when not only all the said Witnesses for the Defendant did swear negatively that they did not hear such Words but positively swore that they heard the whole Discourse and writ down the Words immediatly upon Harris his false Recital of them and his bringing them in Writing to the Witnesses for them to subscribe which with abhorrence and astonishment they refused the Defendant being gone out of the Room before and knowing nothing thereof and also gone out of Town and the Witnesses of their own Accord writing down the true Words which they swore to and several more of the Company might have been brought to testify the same for tho there wanted no Endeavour by all means possible to gain but one Witness to back Harris his Evidence yet found they none At last came one single false Witness who will as 't is said be Indicted thereupon for Perjury for his Pains and Witnesses substantial Witnesses to prove it upon him let him claw it off as well as he can or his Friends to help him No Man is too great for the Law such Fellows must be made Examples of that swear thorow-stitch and become false Witnesses to get Naboth's Vineyard from him when it can be done no other way must it be done by a single Son of Belial Naboth had yet the Honour to fall by two Sons of Belial Hard Case Must the Defendant be ruin'd by one alone and such an one and one so infamous Nay there was not only two against Naboth but also there was not six positive Witnesses for him as there was for this Defendant to swear positively that they were in Company all the Time and heard all the Words which were not so but so and so And lastly were this little-Blade of Fortune rectus in Curiâ nor had any Design upon the Defendant's Vineyard and never so honest yet it is against positive Scripture and God's holy Word for the Jury to bring in a Verdict thereupon against the Defendant as the Defendant well told them because against an Elder an Accusation ought not to be received but at the Mouth of two or three Witnesses And neither Common-Law Statute-Law Civil-Law Canon-Law no nor the Bishop of Rome himself can give the Jury a Dispensation against God's holy Word and that they will find one Day for so wilful a Sin and so fairly forewarn'd thereof by the Defendant God forgive them It is ill for Men that are but Worms-meat to sin wilfully and in defiance of the Holy Will and Word of their Creator In the Interim tho the Sabeans and Caldeans ruin'd Job yet they were but Instruments the Defendant sees the Finger of God therein and says with Job The Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. The World shall find in this World God's righteous Justice that 's my Faith and in this Case particularly wherein God's Truth is concerned against the Cruelties Oppressions and apparent bold and impudent Extortions and illegal Fees of the Ecclesiastical Fellows so unanswerably revealed by the Defendant in relief of the Kings Subjects who are in behalf of their Souls plagu'd with their Anathema's and Excommunications in behalf of their Bodies hurried afterward to Jails in behalf of their Purses Liberties and Estates so mangled by this Nest at Doctors-Commons and all the Kingdom over by Birds of the same Feather that no wonder they flock together to ruine the Man that will be the Ruine of their wicked Trade and all the Powers on Earth will not long uphold them to live thus as they do in publick and daily defiance of the King's Laws in Oppressions illegal Fees and Extortions in open contempt of the many Statutes made against them and now in force if any be in force surely they are as much in force as that of 2 Rich. 2. about Scandal Magnat made when the Prelates Popish Prelates were rampant alas alas too rampant both Laymen and Clergy-men little Clergy-men were more afraid of them than of Serpents Toads Tygers or Wolves and well they might for those venemous Creatures and ravenous Brutes were less dangerous less mischievous and less fierce and cruel than those Prelates when they got a Man at advantage Do you mark me I say those Prelates do not catch mind the Colloquium before-going of Popish Prelates we are speaking of Popish Prelates that were more mischievous more inexorable and hard-hearted than Snakes Tygers Bears Dogs or Wolves or any other persecuting Worry-Sheep or cruel Blood-hounds And yet those mind what I say Popish Prelates with all their Suspensions Curses Anathema's and Excommunications and such kind of Thunder were esteemed by wise Men even in these Days saving your Presence Sir-reverence a meer Crack-fart Pope Paul the Third excommunicated our King Henry the Eighth with such a Pope's Bull that the Historian says the like was never known before nor since No wonder he bellow'd and roar'd so for take a greedy Ecclesiastick by the Pocket and hinder his Cheat and Extortions as Hen. 8. did and you