THat the necessirie, justice & conscience of the Par­liaments Armes did ingage me with the first (acording to my interest & calling) both in pri­vate and publique, to their abetment and vindi­cation) is a thing to be manifested with a large and ampie cloud of witnesses, especially in Linne, during the Siedge whereof, my sufferings by the adverse party were heavie upon me. And however the malignity and vitious conditi­on of my adversaries, hath indeavoured with all possible paines and subtilty, to traduce my credit, abuse my function, ingage me to the expence of that private meanes which God had blest me with, which was an annuity of 30. l. per an. in Linne and debarring me (as much as in them lay) from the injoying of that generall Salary, to which I was Lawfully appropriated, and into which I was legally inducted; yet I make no doubt so clearly to evidence my right and integrity, both in the acquisi­tion and prosecution of my Title to the Parsonage; as it will not only produce an easie concession to the truth and justice of my desires; but will also returne both shame and infamy in their faces, who so violently endeavoured the procurement of my utter ruine and disgrace.

To make this appeare, requires a look back to the very foun­dation of my interest, which did thus commence.

In Deeem. 1643. the right hononrable the Earle of Manchester (being sufficiently satisfied, not only in my abilities as to the Mi­nistry, but also in [Page 2]my assured and constant affection to the Parliament, by seve­rall testimonies both of the well affected Clergie, and Gentry in Linne and thereabouts) did immediately issue an Order for my possession and settlement in the said Parsonage; which hath and will be fully testified by Col. Wanton (a Gentleman of undoub­ted credit and repute) In which I had not long enjoyed my self, before the County Committee did summon me to shew cause, why I possessed my self of the said Sequestration, and officiated and took to my use the Parsonage House, and Barn of Corne. To which my only answer, was a presentation of them with the Order of the Conlonel; whereunto they said, that Or­der was their security, and thereupon did not only keep it, but also made seisure of the Barne of Corn, yet did not prohibit me to officiate.

In this beginning of trouble, my only & proper addresse was to Col. Wanton; (who after my recitall of severall passages with the Committee) was pleased to repossesse me of the Corne, in the threshing whereof I proceeded as before; but the Commit­tee (being no wayes willing to leave their pretension of an in­terest therein) after they had sent for me againe, desired to know, whether I would rely on them, or the Col. for my further establishment; to whom I relpyed: upon the Co. to which though they cryed God speed me, yet they seized the barne of Corne againe.

Vpon this (my only relief being in the Col.) I repaired to him, who againe advanced me to a repossession of the Corne, and after a strong and tedious contest in the businesse betwixt him and the Committee, about June following, the matter was referred to the Earle of Manchester, who returned the Ar­bitration of it totally to the Col. and he againe restor'd me to my former interest and possession; so that for the present the controversie was ended; but (in the interim by the misfortune and inconvenience of this contention) the vast fabrick of the Parsonage house submitted to downfall; and the lead thereof (to the proportion of 6. Tun) was taken away by Col. Wanton, to make into bullets, for the use and service of the State.

Neverthelesse, in March. 1644. (when the Col. left this com­mand in Linne (to my evident misfortune and disadvantage) [Page 3]the Committee (being willing to revive their quarrell against the Col. and revenge it for present upon my felt) did againe command my appearance, to shew them cause, why (according to the Order of the said Earle) I had not paid a fifth part. To which when J came intentionally to resolve them, they waved their summons in lieu whereof they produc'd and read an in­formation as related to me,See Order of 8. March, 1644. The particular Orders related to this narra­tive are accor­ding to the ci­tation in the margent ex­pressed at full in the end of the Papers. and signed (as they pretended) by twenty of mine own Parishioners; wherein they charged me with the seizure of a barne of Corne in 1643. And with the sale of about 7. Tuns of lead, belonging to the old & ruined Parsonage house, & whose downfal valued by them at 300. l they did not only lay to my charge, but did also demand security of me, for the rebuilding of the same. Wherin my innocency in the occasi­on, became my justice in the refusall. And because I could not produce the Col. aforesaid Orders for my possession (by them as shamefully demanded as detained) in stead of relief, they com­mitted my to the custody of a Trooper for a moneth, to my great charge and disgrace, nor would they suffer me to go home to visit my wife, distressed at the newes of their hard usage of me unlesse I would set my hand to an acknowledgement of a forfeiture of 300. l to the Speaker of the house, upon a non re­turne within 5. dayes, which I did, and for ought I know, yet remains inforce against me; they seized my profits to the value of 80. l they turned me out of my Church, not only unjustly, but disgracefully; and suffered (if not countenanced) the entertain­ment of notorious Malignants to officiate (in my vacancy and absence) in my proper cure.

Vpon which commitment (the Earle of Manchesters power being then determin'd and expir'd) In August following (my injuries and indurance being above sufferance) I made my Ap­peale to the Honourable Committee for Plunder'd Ministers at Westminster; See Order the 4. Aug. 1645. who having received both information and satis­faction converning my title, they did nobly and iustly confirme me in it; and therewith ordered the County Committee to re­turne a Narrative, why I stood committed, and from whence the severity used against me received occasion? which by them was not only neglected, but in stead thereof Articles of infamy and scandall promoted, under the politicall pretension whereof, [Page 4]my repossession was delayed, and my profit detained untill June 1646 since when, (as also before) every slender and frivolous occasion administred plentifull matter to them, for my further vexation and imprisonment.

For the proof whereof (amongst the variety of affronts, (es­pecially in that intervaile from August 1644. See the war­rant the 15. Iuly 1645. untill Iune 1646. Let this one (for brevity) be the evidence and conviction o [...] their inveteracy. For presenting my self to officiate on the Lords day by vertue of the fore recited Order of the 4. of Au­gust 1645, the strength of their spleen was so predominant, and they so remote from any sufferance of me therein, that rather then faile they revived an antiquated warrant of their own gained while I was in London, by the authority whereof I was arrested by one Iohn Flemming, and committed into the only and proper custody of one Nich. Smith an Ale-house keeper, whose Ale-house for his extravagant and notorious deboish­ments I had formerly procured to be put down. Jn revenge whereof, the feare of my escape, as he pretended, ingag'd him to secure me with a strong guard in the next roome, but in the interim afforded me a visit, which brought this comfort only to me, to expect no more favour, then could be prepared in the Stocks or the Spitle-House. In order to which the very next morning, though they failed in the manner, they did not in the matter of their calumny; for I had a Convoy to the Commit­tee, with staves and swords and such revilings, as might easily prompt me to the remembrance of a more primitive persecuti­on, and consequently ingage me with much more patience, to be silent and yeelding to those reproaches, whose only end principally aimed at was a malicious exposure of my credit and fortune, into an utter disgrace and falling. Give me leave to al­lude to that saying of David. Ps:35.15.23.25. In mine adversit they reioyced and gathered themselves together against me, yea the ab­iects gathered, themselves together against me, they did tear me and ceased not. Stirre up thy self and awake to my indgement, ever unto my cause,See Order 4: Iune, 1646.my God and my Lord, Lee them not say in their heart ah. so we would have it, let them not say we have swallowed him up.

But to leave this digression (as though they were resolved to deny obedience to all manner of Rule and orders) and though severall orders for repossession and confirmation did daily issue [Page 5]and were as daily cotemned: In Iune 1646. (notwitstand­ing their pretension of Articles.) Yet the honourable Commit­tee for plunderd Ministers, did order mee possession with the Tythes in Arrears, as also a stay of prosecution, untill the ac­complishment of that Order; wherein my Prosecutors were likewise sentenced to imprisonment.See Order 4. Iune 1646. But in that (as in the re­mainder) their obedience was equall, and my self, as in the rest as totally defeated, of what was legally awarded me.

Succeeding to this, was their severall indictments of me, at the Sessions at Norwich, their suits at law to exigents, their severall procuremēts of me under the custody of the Marshal at Norwich, and their neglect or rather waving of their Articles upon the validity of which they durst not depend; yet (rather then want an aggravation) they ingag'd one Devil in my prosecution, upon a presentation that had reference to the death of Mr. Dobbs the outed Delinquent; but the pretence of that was so visibly delu­sive, that the Committee being convinced, & the said Devil not daring to appeare,See Order 13. Sept.; 1646. I had a dismission and confirmation there­upon.

Yet the practises of this Devill were rather altered then de­termined. For his second summons cald me (coram) againe up­on a presumption of a Lapse by the said Delinquents non resi­dence, which comming to a hearing the 8. of May following, and Devill neglecting this as the former, it was deferred to the next 11. of Iune, and in the interimmy self was ordered to of­ficiate and receive profits: which day being come, still Devill did play the least in sight; yet with a naturall and fraudulent subtilty, by the aduantage of my absence. he possessed himselfe by order from the Bishop of the Diocesse, and challenged the tythes of the Parishioners with great threatnings and (to keepe me the better from the hearing of my cause, or the ap­pearing at my cure) the height of their malice, brake in upon me: for Nicolas Smith (the former recited prosecutor of mine) being made an instrument for the subornation of one Jo. Atkins of London, his main part and agency was layd in the prosecution of me upon an inditement at the Sessions in the old Bayly, for words pretended to be spoken against the King, two yeares be­fore the prosecution, for which I was committed to Newgate [Page 6]the 14. of Iuly last, fined a 100. l. and imprisoned during the Kings pleasure, and being once confined, there needed no insti­gation for the reviving of their Dormant articles, in the strange and unheard of prosecution of which, it is observable that on the 16 of that instant Iuly while I was absent both in person and councell, was their day of hearing, against the justice of no­tice or Summon'; that the Articles were not at all transmitted; that neither a defence or a cross-examination was at all put in; And that the Narrative (so long before Commanded) was not returned, which is course should have preceded all the former charges, by the recited Order of the 4 of August; by which unjust and indirect proceedings, a Sequestration (The only means to expose me to an utter impossibility of subsisting) (in a manner tacitly and surreptitiously) was gained against me.

For the reversing of which, both common equity and my proper interest, became my civill instigation; in order to which (after 13. weeks imprisonment) upon my motion to the Com­mittee for plundered Ministers my prosecutors were accor­dingly summoned to make their appearance the 9. of November following,See Order. 23. October. to shew cause why the order of sequestration should not be reversed; wherin as they neither did not could depend up­on other reason, then the Articles themselves, so the sequenstrati­on was illegally procured, and therefore ought in all conscience and reason to be made null.

And because upon the Hindg of this, the essence of my cause hath materiall motion; it cannot be amisse (as shortly as may be) to exhibit my Reasons for the fuller light, and inforcement thereof.

First the Articles (their only plea) were notoriously false, the witnesses suborn'd, and once suppress'd; and therfore the seques­tration procured upon them was by evident supprisall, and by the advantage of my imprisonment, as formerly I have noted.

Secondly, admit the articles true; yet is it justice to reverse that Order, because it crosses, and is meerely antipode to the Custome, the Practise and Judgment of that honourable Committee.

First, the custome, because their proceedings are in course, [Page 7]and in course there was a Narrative to precede the Articles in order whereunto (when I made a punctuall complaint of my wrongs) and from the gratious consideration of them by that honourable Committee a narrative was not only commanded, but demanded from the Committee of the Country, they tho­row Art or disability neglected the Narrative, and exhibited Articles; and so consequently not only perverted the foresaid custome, but by that and their former tedious preventions, per­version, and anticipations, &. have unavoidably ingaged me into the expence of at least 500 l

Secondly, the justice, because it is the constant practice of that honourable Committee, to retract and reverse all surreptiti­ous and stolne Orders, upon a hearing of one side only; upon Councell on one side only; or in the absence of the Defendant. In all which three Particulars it is palpably visible, I was against my will a wanting;See Order the 29. Ian. 1645. by the working of their subtilty and confe­deracy.

Thirdly, the judgement, for when the profits, and the posses­sion of the Parsonage were violently detained and kept from me; it was he judgement of that honourable Committee (in my proper right and regard) that notwithstanding the Arti­cles were objected,See Order 4. Iune 1646. See Order the 8. May. 1646. yet present obedience should first be given to their former Orders, for possession and profits detained. Nor was it the controversie in hand, I being to shew cause only a­gainst a title claimed by Mr. Devill, as by order of the 8. of May appeares.

Finally, upon the 16. of Novemb. last, the cause arrived at a kind of hearing, wherein the Sequestrators (as in the totall progresse of the businesse) exalted their subtilty and industry in­to all the vatious shapes and evasions, that could possibly be ex­pected from the utmost cunning of such artificers: for they had not only made provision of some very strong and powerfull friends within the House for their further incouragement and countenance; but their other mysteries and inticracies did work in so hidden and obscure meanes, that (though the face of truth was palpably ore'clowded) it still supas'd all possible scrutiny of mice, to tender her beauty and vigor cleare, or otherwise to ex­plicate their other Engines. For in stead of pertinencies to the [Page 8]matter, they quaintly flew to the questioning of my title, so of­ten resolved, not only by the recited, but also by many other orders; by a strange putting me upon the proof of Dobbs his Sequestration; by severall mysterious and questionable testimo­nies of theirs; and by the utter over ballancing and suppressing of those more pregnant truths, which I both offer'd, and had ready for my vindication. Nay, which heightned my grief, and their Malignancy, the Delinquent Dobbs (though present there upon command) was not so much as questioned for his con­tempts, meerly by favour of my adversaries procuring; a dan­gerous discouragement to well affected and honest men, and too great a promotion to such pernitious, turbulent and Anti-Par­liamentary spirits. And now oh the scornefull insults of an un­godly and reprobate enemy! Give leave humbly to advise with Salomon, Prov. 22.10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall goe out, yea strife and reproach shall cease.

To conclud at length, by their only subtilty, I was constrain'd to joyn issue, to make defence & crosse examin; but in regard of the extremitie & sense of my poverty (having expended al my temporal Estate my spiritual being sequestred, & my Tythes in arrears in my adversaries hands, and more executions for tres­passes, and another prosecution by indictment, for words a­gainst the King (as I am credibly informed, and timely adverti­sed) ready to be imposed upon me at my first arrivall into Nor­folke, I am totally disabled for the present in, and shall be debar­red for the future from any further prosecution.

I confesse my rights are granted me by Orders from that ho­nourable Committee for plundered Ministers,See order 23. Octo. 1647. but yet with so easie and mild a demand (viz, the Sequinstrators are required to pay) that my crafty adversaries (inurd to the gaine) will rather afford them their (come then obedience; nay, I am confident, that presuming upon their aid and protection, which they doe expect, and have not wanted from some in the House it will sooner move their laughter then their feare: having done so formerly, and told me to my face, they would not give obedi­dience to the orders, but bad me in more uncivill language make them usefull for my back side.

Notwithstanding all which injustice of their protectors, and [Page 9]all their other recited pollicies, circumventions, contempts, opressions and unparaleld severe dealings with me, they cannot pull down my hope, though they have my fortune, nor shall they aftright me out of my principles, thogh they have bereav'd me of my estate. Which are to doe the law of my God, and the law of the Parliament of England even un­to death, having already tasted of Banishmens, viz. Sequestiation, confis­cation, viz. seizure of goods, and imprisonment. The law (I say) of the Parliament of England, smeane that law. 1. in oposition to the law and personall command of the King, in this distance and estrangement hoth of person and mind, from his great Councell in Parliament. 2. The law in distinction from the law of will and pleasure. And 3. The law in exposition by all the learned, radically, fundamentally, and su­perlatively the law of the Realme or kingdome of England, viz. Mag­na Charta, and the Petition of Right.

Now for the present raising both of my hope and fortune & for that duty which I owe to truth and a good conscience, as I doubt not but to make manifest the particular charges of misdemeanors in this Nar­rative, so I feare not by the serious consideration of them in the judg­ment and prudence of this Honourable House, but to obtaine that justice from your hands, which will not only resolve my establishment in my rights, the consideration of my losses, and the reparation of my credit, but will likewise impose so iust a punishment upon my adver­saries, and al their accomplices, as wil forever deter them for the fu­ture from all attempts of any such nature or condition.