Of These Blasphemous, and Seditious Maxims, (though Charg'd upon Mr. Baxter by the Bishop of Worcester) the Libeller takes no notice, otherwise then by a Tacit Allow­ance of them; his Agreement with Mr. Baxter in These [Page 21] Particulars being sufficiently intimated in his express Acknowledgment wherein he dissents. Nor in Summe, are they any other then the pure result of his own Opinions, only Digested into a more Popular, and Intelligible Me­thode. What Judgements may not That Nation expect from Divine vengeance, where This Spirit of Treachery and Imp [...]sture reigns in the Pulpit? Or if This be L [...]yalty, what is it which the Law calls Treason?

If Mr. Bags [...]aw had been very wise, he would have forborn the Justification of so great a Guilt, as under his own Hand appears against him (and indeed his fate is hard, that his Testimony which goes for nothing against any m [...]n else should yet stand good against himse [...]f) He had been wiser yet, if he had totally declined the Con­troversie, and spent Those Hours in Gratitude, and Repen­tance, which he has rather chosen to Employ in O [...]stinacy, and further Disobedience. But to cast himself at once, out of all Terms both of Christianity, and Humanity; nei­ther to Regard his Duty to God, his Neigh [...]our, or Him­self: To lash out beyond all bounds of Piety, Loyalty, Mo­desty, Truth, and Prudence: (even to the forfeiture of his own safety) This is a Prodigious heap of Miscarriages, and yet no more then the Just Measure of his Confidence, F [...]lly, and Wickedness. To dip into the Immoralities of his Life, were to stir a Puddle; and in Truth, rather to Gra­tifie my Revenge, then my Duty: so that I shall rather ad­haere to my Purpose of Discovering a Publique Enemy, then exercise the Sting of a Private Passion.

Those Pamphlets of his which in this Discourse I have made use of against him are Thus Dated [De Mon. A [...]s. 1659.] [The Great Question, 1660.] (After the Act of Indempnity) [Pars 2^a. of the Great Quest. Sept. 10. 1661.] [Pars 3^a. Of Heresies Jan. 10. 1661.] [Brief Treatise, &c. Feb. 15. 1661.] [Two Li [...]els against the Bishop of Worcester, Jan. 21. & Feb. 26. 1661/2]. [Signs of the Times, Jan. 28. 1661/ [...]] [Letter to The Lord Chancellour, May, 10. 1662.]

Only the First of These can, in the very poynt of [Page 22] Time, pretend to any favour from the Act of Pardon; but That will not much avail Mr. Bagshaw, who by Justifying Now, what he Did Then, does it over again, and stands ac­comptable for the same Fault upon another Score.

But methinks the Case is not here, whether This Pam­ph [...]et, but whether or no the very Authour of it be Par­don'd? and This Question (if any there be) arises from the very Letter both of his Majesties Declaration from Breda; and of the Act it self.

Decl. from Breda.His Majesty, in his Declaration from Breda, Grants a Free and General Pardon to all that shall lay hold upon that Grace and Favour, and by any Publique Act Declare their doing so, and Return to the Loyalty, and Obedience of Good Subiects: (Exceptis Excipiendis). Which Loyalty is to be Manifested, by not Persevering in Guilt for the Future, and by not Oppos [...]ng the quiet, and happiness of their Country, in the Restoration both of King, Peers, and People, to their Just, Antient, and Fundamental Rights: Here's the Promise and Condition of the Pardon: Persuant to which Promise, and Correspon­dent to which Condition, the following Pardon is said ex­presly to be Enacted, i. e. [In Performance of his Roy­al and Gracious Word signified by His Letters to the several Houses of Parliament now Assembled, Act of Par­don. and His Declarations in that behalf Published.]

Now the Q [...]estion is, first, Whether Those that Per­severe in their Guilt, and oppose the Restoration of the King to any of his Just, Antient, and Fundamental Rights are not by This Limiting Condition excepted from Pardon? And the next Question is,

Whether His Majesties Supreme Authority in Causes Ec­clesiastical, be not One of His Just, Antient, and Funda­mental Rights? If so: Whoever Persists to oppose the Pre­rogative Royal in This Particular, has no Right or Title to the Intent or Benefit of the Act of Indempnity.

The Extent of his Majesties Power as to the matter in Question, may be seen in King James his Ratification of The [Page 23] Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, in 1603. Annexed to the Book of Canons.

We do not only by our Prerogative Royal, and Supreme Au­thority in causes Ecclesiastical, ratifie, confirm, and establish by These our Letters Patents, the said Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, and all, and every thing in Them contained, as aforesaid; but do likewise propound, Publish, and straightly enjoyn, and Command by our Authority, and by These our Let­ters Patents, the same to be diligently observed, executed, and equally kept, by all our loving Subjects of This our Kingdom, &c. — Straightly Charging, and Commanding all Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within This Realm, every man in his place to see and procure (so much as in them lieth) all and every of the said Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions to be in all Poynts duly observed, not sparing to execute the Penalties in them severally mentioned, upon any that shall wittingly or wil­fully break, or neglect to observe the same, as they Tender the Honour of God, the Peace of the Church, Tranquillity of the Kingdom, and their Duties, and Services to Us their KING and Soveraign.

If the King's Authority in Church-Matters reaches Thus far: And if His such Authority be a Just, Antient, and Fun­damental Right. And finally, if a perseverance in Guilt and the Opposal of the Restoration of His Majesty to His Just, Antient, and Fundamental Rights, be a Delinquency, which is in Terminis Excepted. And that the express Condition be, [a Return to the Loyalty and Obedience of Good Sub­jects.] In what a Case is Mr. Bagshaw, who has Con­stantly and Openly defi'd the very Letter, Intent, and E­quity of that Gratious, and Incomparable Act of Mercy? As is already made appear from his own Writings.

Nor is it Mr. Bagshaw's Case alone, but every mans, who either by Word, or Deed, Publiquely and obstinately opposing the Ceremonies of the Church of England, denyes his Maje­sties Just, Antient, and Fundamental Right of Imposing.

[Page 24]I speak This with Reverence, and Submission to the bet­ter-Enform'd; and to Correct Those Slanderous Tongues, that have the Confidence to Tax his Just, and Gratious Majesty, for being less then his word, when They Themselves by a Persevering, and Incorrigible Contumacy, and Disobedi­ence, Rejecting the Conditions of the Kings Pardon, can lay no Claim to the Benefit of it.

Having Thus far unmasqu'd my Adversary, I am now to Defend my self, and to Prove, that I am not that wretched Thing which I have prov'd him to be: and so I proceed from his Defence, to his Libel, That being the Division of his Pamphlet.

^[1.] A Publique Memento, though from a Private per­son,R. L.'S. is both Lawful, Conscienti [...]us, and requisite, where the Honour, and Safety of the King are the Q [...]estion: And That I take to be the Case, where his Majesties blessed Fa [...]her is ill spoken of, his Regal Authority questi­on'd, his Government Reproach'd, and the Resolutions of this present Parliament, Despis'd, and Trampled upon. This shall I prove to be the Common Subject of the Press, and by the very Letter of the Oath of Allegiance, I am ty'd to Discover it: So that my Crime is but the keep­ing of my Oath; and the Performance of my Duty, in the Vindication of the King and his Government.

It was the Compleynt of King Charles the Martyr, [That the minds of many of our weak Subjects have been, Exact. Coll. Pag. 173. and still are poysoned by scandalous seditious Pamphlets and Print­ed Papers, and that so general a terrour hath possessed the minds and hearts of all men, that whiles the Presses swarm (and every day produceth new Tracts against the Established Govern­ment of the Church and State) most men want the Courage or the Conscience to write, or the opportunity and encourage­ment [Page 25] to publish such composed sober Animadversions, as might either preserve the minds of Our Good Subjects from such Infection, or restore and recover them when they are so infected.] Here's my Warrant, and my Justifi­cation.

^[2.] Observe here, upon what Occasion This was spo­ken.R. L'S. Under the Head of The Tokens and Prognostiques of Seditions [Memento Cap. 2.] I quote Sir Francis Bacon who (in his Essay of Seditions, Memento, pag. 5. and Troubles) reckons Li­bels, and Licentious Discourses against the Government, when they are Frequent, and Open, amongst the Signes of Troubles. In agreement with That Judicious Person, and without any Particular Instance, I take notice that Li­bels were not only the Forerunners,Ibid. pag. 6. but (in a high degree) the Causes of our Late Confusions. And a little Lower; that the Press is now as Busie, and as Bold; Sermons as Factious; Pamphlets as Seditious; the Government De­fam'd, and the Defamers of it (if Presbyterians) scape bet­ter then their Accusers.

Is it now become an Aspersion upon the Government, to lay open and complein of Those that Asperse it? Or am I mistaken in believing him to be a Defamer of the Go­vernment, that Charges This King with Usurpation; his Father with Tyranny: and that reports the Rites, and Orders of the Church, for the Institutions of the Devill? If I Prove what I say; and make appear that Defamers of the Government (if Presbyterians) do scape better then their Accusers, I am clear of Edward Bagshaw's second Ex­ception; If I fail, let the Infamy lie at my Dore. He Char­ges me Next, for saying:

[Page 26] ^[3.] Let the Reader take along with him the Con­nexion of my Discourse,R. L'S. whereupon he grounds This Cavil.

Memento, pag. 8.Sir Francis Bacon sayes, that [when Discords, and Quarrels, and Factions, are carryed openly and audaciously, it is a sign the Reverence of Government is lost.

Ibid. And are not Factions carryed Openly and Audaciously now! (sayes L' Estrange) when the Promoters, and Justifiers of the Murther of the late King, are still continued pub­lique Preachers, without the least Pretence to a Retraction? Dictating still, by Gestures, Shrugs, and Signs, That Trea­son to their Auditory which they dare not utter? What are their Sermons, but Declamations against Bis [...]ops: Their Co­venant-keeping Exh [...]rtations, but the Contempt of an establish'd Law? How it comes to passe, Heaven knows; but these H [...] ­nest F [...]llows can come off for Printing, and Publishing down-right Treason, when I have much ado to scape for Telling of it.

If I am now able to make it out, that such Preachers [...]here are, and such Printers, and Publis [...]ers, as are here spoken of; I do no more in Discovering them, then I have sworn to do.

For the Printers, and Publishers, I have allotted Them a place by Themselves; and concerning the Preachers, I shall only Instance in Mr. George Cokayn, of Pancras Soper Lane, and Mr. William Jenkin of Christ-Church, London. The former whereof Promoted and pressed the Mur­ther of the late King, in a Sermon before the Commons, N [...]v [...]mb. 29. 1648. and the Other, Justified That Murther, and applauded it in another Sermon before the Commons, Sept. 24. 1656. as follows.

[Page 27] Think not to save your selves by an unrighteous saving of them, who are the Lords and the Peoples known Enemies. George Cokain Flesh expiring, and the Spirit Inspiring, pag. 26. & 27. Printed for Giles Calvert. You may not imagine to obtain the favour of those, against whom you will not do Justice; for certainly, if ye act not like Gods in this particular, against men truly obnoxious to Justice, they will be like Devils against you. O [...]serve that place, 1 King. 22.31. compared with chap. 20. It is said in chap. 20. that the King of Syria came against Israel, and by the mighty power of God, he and his Army were overthrown, and the King was ta­ken Prisoner. Now the mind of God was (which he then dis­covered, only by that present providence) that Justice should have been executed upon him, but it was not, whereupon the Prophet comes with A [...]hes upon his face, and waited for the King of Israel in the way where he should return; and as the King passed by, he cryed unto him,Vers. 42. of Chap. 20. Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go a man whom I appointed for destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life. Now see how the King of Syria, after this, answers Ahab's love: About three years after, Chap. 22.31. Israel and Syria engage in a new War, and the King of Syria gives command unto his Souldiers, that they should fight neither against small nor great, but against the King of Israel. Benhadad's life was once in Ahab's hand, and he ventured Gods dispeasure to let him go: but see how Benhadad rewards him for it, Fight neither against small nor great, but against the King of Israel.

Honourable and Worthy, The Applica­tion. if God do not lead you to do Justice upon those that have been the great Actors in shedding innocent Bloud, never think to gain their love by sparing of them; for they will, if opportunity be ever offered, return a­gain upon you; and then they will not fight against the poor and mean ones, but against those that have been the Fountain of that Authority and Power which hath been improved against them.

[Page 28] Worthy Patriots, you that are our Rulers in this Parliament, 'tis often said, William Jenkins The Policy of Princes, p. 33. Printed for Samuel Gelli­brand. we live in Times wherein we may be as good as we please: wherein we enjoy in purity and plenty the Ordinan­ces of Jesus Christ. Praised be God for this, even That God who hath delivered us from the imposition of Prelatical Innovations, A [...]tar-genuflections and Cringings, with Crossings, and all that Popish trash and trumpery. And truly (I speak no more then what I have often thought and said) The removal of those in­supportable burdens,A tast of the Reforming Spirit.coutervails for the Blood and Treasure shed and spent in these late distractions. Nor did I as yet ever hear of any godly men that desired, The Kings Murther justi­fied by a Pro­fessour. were it possible, to purchase their friends or money again, at so dear a rate, as with the return of these, to have those soul-burdening, Antichristian-y [...]kes re-imposed upon us: And if any such there be, I am sure that desire is no part of their godliness, and I profess my self in that to be none of the number.

Mr. Bagshaw Taxes me, in the Fourth place, for saying that great Dangers are still remaining, &c.

R. L'S. ^[4.] I do not pretend, to hint any Danger, because the Kings Friends are not Preferr'd; but because divers of his Persevering, and Irreclaimable Enemies are: and This I conceive may be spoken without Offence either to Loyalty, or Good-manners. Are none preferr'd, but by his Majesties Special Nomination and Appointment? Or are none but Persons of unsuspected Loyalty Preferr'd? How comes Edward Bagshaw to be Preferr'd then? (a Libel­ler against Praelacy, and Church-Rites; and a Denyer of the Kings Authority.)

[Page 29]Touching the Danger, and Number, of Ill-chosen Justices; I do not speak of what People have been, but of what they Are; and if the Number of such be Great, I think no-body do ubts of the Danger. Is it not well, when men may be Bayl'd for Threatning another Change, and hinting that This King will not stand long; when the Person that gives Notice of this is forc'd to fly his Countrey for't? It is not long since a Compleint of This Quality was brought to his Majesties Chief Secretary; and, in Truth, there are but too many Instances of This Nature.

But Mr. Bagshaw (I perceive) is of opinion, that the King had better be Destroy'd by not knowing These In­dignities, then that the Government (in his Learned sense) should be Defam'd by Discovering them. Caesar was Mur­ther'd in the Senate; and his Murtherers were (in our Ad­versaries Phrase) of Unsuspected Loyalty. Had any man made Caesar Ridiculous, that had adverted him of the Con­spiracy? In short: Reason of State belongs to Ministers of State; but Enformation in matter of Fact, (where the Publique is Concern'd) is every Private mans Duty, and every Honest mans Business.

^[5.] To make short work,R. L'S, I think the Libeller deserves the Pillory, and I'm Content to stand the Issue, whether it shall be Bagshaws Eate, or Mine. Why does he not Name that same Former Pamphlet; and shew my Lord what 'tis he calls a Libell? I shall not make half the Ce­remony with Him, but immediately prove This same half-witted Levite to be the very Thing he would have Me Thought to bee.

In the Ninth Chapter of my Memento, Memento, p. 85. concerning Se­ditions; and shewing in what manner they arise from These [Page 30] Seven Interests. The Church; the Ben [...]h; the Court; the Camp; the City; the Country; and the Body-Representative: Treating of the Court, [...]. Pag. 100. I make use of a Judgment of Sir Francis Bacon's in his Essay of Couns [...]l, which is, th [...]t a Prince may be endangered in his Counsel; either by an Over-greatness in One Counsellour; or an over-strict Combination in Diverse.

According to the Quality, and Requiry of the Subject, under the Head of Over-greatness in One Counsellour, is handled the Humour and Working of a Vitious Favou­rite:Pag. 103, 104, & 10 [...]. If Scrupulous, he goes to work Thus; if Ambi [...]iciu, Popular, Fawning, Covetous, &c. So or so: And This doe; Mr. Bags [...]aw's Scurrilous R [...]verence, call an Abuse of the Lo [...]d Chancellour: sawcily imposing upon my Naked, and Political Discourses, his own Libellous, and Personal Applica­tion.

Why does he not charge me with Flattery too, for asking what can be more Desirable, Pag. 188. then for a Prince to have a Watchful, Wise, Faithful Counsellour; and the People a Firm, Prudent, Patriote, in the same Noble Person? Why did he not as well make mee mean the Bishops, the Judges, The General, the City-Magistrates, the Gentry, and the Com­monalty, in my Reflections upon the Other Six Interests? Truly upon the whole, if Mr. Bagshaw will agree to it, let the Libeller be Gibbetted. After diverse Rhetoricating Exclamations; If He should have said Thus or so (in his little Pedantique way.)

[Page 31] ^[G] TRuly I should be loth that Mr. Bagshaw's Friends should speak Well of Mee, R. L'S. for I must Do Ill to de­serve it, and Purchase their Kindness by Betraying my Countrey; so that Their Ill-will shall never break My Heart. But do they speak so very Ill, as to make Mr. Bagshaw Thank me for Defaming him? In Truth, the Man is somewhat a Preposterous Christian; and it may be, 'tis his Method, to be Thankful to his Enemies, as well as Un­grateful to his Friends. Whoever doubts of the Latter, may be satisfi'd from Dr. Pierce his Letter to Dr. Heylin, at the end of his Discoverer Discovered. And I must Add, that in the poynt of Reviling his Superiours, and A [...]u­sing his Friends, his Life has been all of a Piece.

Touching My Defamations of him; Alas; save in my Memento, I never Mention'd him. Nor There Neither, but upon a fair and Prudential Accompt; for it concern'd me to procure, that the World might not take Him for an Honest Man, that had Reported Mee for a Knave. In fine, he talks, in General, of Defamations; but let him, if he dares, put me to prove the Particulars. See now in what follows, the Confidence, Lewdness, and Weakness of the Gentleman.

He says, that I confess my self Guilty of Drunkenness ▪ and Prophanen [...]ss, which Discredits my Testimony; Impiety lead­ing easily to Forgeries. (The last 'tis possible he speak [...] upon Experience.) My Words are These:

I do here Publiquely confess my self not Absolutely Free from Those Distempers, Memento Pag. 41, 42. which (not to cast either upon Good Nature, or Complexion) I am both Sorry for, and a­sham'd of.

If I have but Once drank my self to a Distemper; or if I have taken Gods' Name in vain but Once in my Whole Life, I may confess my self not Absolutely Free, and yet [Page 32] not charge my self with Drunkenness, and Prophaneness: for (under favour of Mr. Bagshaw's Philosophy) One Act does not make a Habit; and I defie the World to Tax me with it, So That in This Particular, my Adversary has streyn'd a poynt of Modesty: His next slip is a Lewd one.

All Men have their Sins to answer for; and without Repentance, no flesh shall be saved. I have here made a Pul­lique Confession, and as Publiquely Declar'd a Penitence, and Shame, so far as I am Guilty. Now what can be a greater Scandal to Religion; or a greater Affront to Chri­stianity? then for a Profess'd Minister of the Gospel, to turn the Confession of a Penitent into Libells: The most Necessary Duties of a Christian into Reproches; ☞ and to make Repentance it self, shameful, and Ridiculous. And This is the Disingenuous Dealing of Mr. Bagshaw, which if it were not menaged with a large Proportion of Simplicity, were indeed Unpardonable: he would not otherwise have argued, as if the speaking of Truth were a Discredit to my Testimony. I suppose it needless to desire the Readers Notice, that in his 7^th Page, he resolves not to Defend himself; and Page 9. he sayes he has done it; (without saying any thing of Himself, Between).

[Page 33] ^[H] If Mr. Bagshaw were as Zealous for the Honour of the Publique, R. L'S. as he is Careless of securing his own Fame, This Nation would not afford a better Subject, or Pa [...]riote. ('Bare him but his Mistakes) He writes my Lord Chancellour [The Great Conservatour of our Laws] (by his Place) That's his Errour: For the Chancellour is the Con­servatour of the King's Conscience; and the great Modera­tour of the Positive, and Li [...]eral Rigour of the Law, accord­ing to the more Favourable Dictate of Pi [...]us Equity. This for his Instruction.

Betwixt Zeal and Ignorance, in a Sawcy, Menacing fa­shion, he does as good as tell my Lord, that He had best do Justice upon L'Estrange; for, if he does not, there are men of Honour, — and so forth. My Crime (it seems) is the Dedication of a Bo [...]k, in Contempt of the Act of Oblivion. I Call the Late Warr a Rebellion, he sayes. 'Tis right, I do so; and the Rebels Names are Excepted in the Act it self. He will have it too, that I call the Lords and Commons As­sem [...]led in Parliament, a Company of Schismaticks, and Re­bels. Herein,Memento. Pag. 65. & 250. is Mr. Bagshaw (which is a Miracle) as good as his Profession; that is, exceeding Careless of his Fame; for I say no such thing. Our LEGIONS of the Reforma­tion (say I) were raised by CERTAIN Rebellious Lords and Commons. That SOME such there were,Mem. Pag. 65. the very Act Allows. In Page 250. I cannot find what he means, unless my calling of The Covenant a Rebellious League, and in That Expression, I suppose, This Parliament will warrant me. The Gentleman brands me next, for Aspersing the whole City of London. My Words are, that the Faction was [Seconded by the City of London] which Expression refers to a Powerful, and Leading Party in it, which was Then Pack'd, and Tumul [...]uary. Where was That Freedom, Exact. Collect. Pag. 557. and Privilege (says the late King) when Alderman Pennington, [Page 34] and Captain Ven brought down their Myrmidons, &c.] And where's the Crime now (say I) of Naming the Kings Judges?

R. L.'S. ^[I] BLess me, how it works upward and downward with him! Phrensie] — Cromwell's Spy, the Protectours Ear-wigg] — Condemn him to the Beadles to cure his Lask.] These are the Flowers of Edward Bagshaw's Modesty; take him now in the shape of D. E.

Second Letter of Animadv. Pag. 1. Ibid. Pag. 2. ‘A Person so lost to all Good Breeding, of so forfeited, of so undone a Reputation, in point of meer Morality, &c.] A Hog playing upon the Organs] A Sc [...]venger was [...]ing a Surplice] a Morrice-dancer] a Fidler in all Governments, and would have been a Fidler in the worst of them, for which end he knows how many pitiful Leggs and Faces he made to Scrape acquaintance with the Tyrant Oliver] a Common Barretter] a Mercinary Songster] that for two Crowns more would change his Note, and Rayle against his Patron] A whiffling Thin-soul'd Adversary] Who hath not let any Thing Sacred, Ibid. Pag. 3. whether Person, or Do­ctrine, escape his venomous Pasquils.’

Would not any man that did not know This Fellow for [Page 35] a Levite, take him for a Buffon, or an Affidavit-man? Is This the Temper of an Evangelist, or the Dialect of a Go­spel-Minister? It makes Religion look like a Fable, to see a Common Libeller in the place of a Preacher, a known Se­ducer in the place of a Guide. What Agreement is there with Christ and Belial? The Spirit of Love, and Truth, and That of Slander, and Imposture? or in fine, what pro­portion betwixt the Duties of a Divine, and the Practises of Mr. Bagshaw?

Of all the Ill he says, I Challenge him to Prove One Syllable, it is not my part to prove a Negative. Yet Thus far I'll adventure.

For my Moralities, I dare refer my self to any man that knows Mee, and has not been an Enemy to the King: For my Quality, and Application, which he represents for Mean and Mercenary, I must enform Mr. Bagshaw, that L' Estrange has been in the same Seat in Norfolk, Cambden's De­scription of Norfolk. almost thrice as long as Presbytery has been in the World: And for my Loyalty, he gives himself the Lye, in calling me Crom­well's Spy; for he Confesses in the very next Page, that the Crafty Tyrant would not admit me. Now if Mr. Bagshaw will stand the Hazzard of Calling Mee to a Particular Proof of what I have said concerning Him (which in his rayling Pamphlet he has yet so much wit in his Anger, as not to make any words of) if I make it not good, let me abide the blame of it.

But why should I think my self Ill-used, when he has scarce treated any man better? In his fore-mentioned Libel against the Bishop, he has These Expressions; beside the Abominable Untruths which he Fathers upon the Right Reverend B [...]shop.

‘The Fatal Example of That one Bishop's Usurpations [Pag. 3.] Impertinent and False, [Pag. 5.] Most False, Letter of Ani­madver. Pa. [Ibid.] If any are Cholerick and Teasty enough to be of his mind, [ibid.] As to Christian Charity the whole thing is but a Letter of De­fiance against it, [Pag. 6.] There can be nothing more [Page 36] false, [ibid.] This Malitio [...]s and ill-grounded Fan [...]y, [ibid.] It is bold and Impious, [Pag. 7.] Were he either Christian or Man enough, [Pag. 9.]’

He that would know more of him, needs but enquire of any Honest man that knows him; unless he had rather read him further in Himself, and Then his Narrative against Dr. Busby does the Business: A Perfon, not only Eminent and Exemplary for Piety, Justice, Learning, and Hospitality, but his most Indulgent, and Bountiful Master; One that Comforted him in his Disgrace (he knows what I mean; That, which made him quit the Proctorship to Carpinder) One that Relieved, ☞ and Entertain'd him in his Distress: and yet This Venerable Person, does Mr. Bagshaw endeavour to supplant by his Interest with Bradshaw, (and had well-nigh Effected it) Reproaching him at last, with Perjury, Trea­chery; as a man Covetous, Cruel, Void of Conscience, Violen [...], Dissembling, Corrupt, Am [...]itious, Tyrannical, &c. In his Preface to This Pamphlet, he falls foul upon Dr. Pierce: And to conclude; after his Invectives against Majesty, Episcopacy, The Right Reverend, and the R [...]ver [...]nd, his Learned Indignation Descends upon Mee; Recommending me to mine own Whip; which, if his Forehead were not Wainscot, he would not Name without a Blush, it being only a Temperate Reply upon a Scurrilous Li [...]el of his against the Bishop of Wor'ster.

Truly the Quality of my Adversary might very well dispense Mee the Trouble of a Vindication; and yet me-thinks it looks like something; to be charged with Wickedness by so competent a Judg of it, as Mr. Bag­shaw; and it is not without Colour, that Bradshaws Property should be able to give some Accompt of Cromwel's Intelli­gencers. Wherefore to stop the mouth of Calumny it se [...]f; or which is more, to Silence Mr. Bagshaw: I defie the whole world to Contradict any One Syllable of This En­suing Relation, which I make a little Tedious, to save my self a further, and a double Labour.

[Page 37]FRom the first Expedit [...]on of the Scots, in 1639. to This Instant, I never declined any Hazzard, Travail, or Expense, within the Compass of my Nature or Power, in reference to my Duty to the Royal Interest. In 1644. I was Condemn'd to Die for his Majesty. Dr. Mills (then Judg-A [...]vocate of the Court, and now Chancellour to the Bishop of Norwich) pronounc'd my Sentence; (None of my Friend, either Then, or since) let him say, if at the B [...]rr I disowned the Cause for which I was adjudg'd to Dy. Being thrown into Newgate, I was Visited by Mr. Thorow­good, and Mr. Arrowsmith, (Two of the Synod) who very kindly offer'd me their utmost Interest, if I would but make some Petitionary Acknowledgment, and submit to take the Covenant. These Gentlemen (if Living, as I suppose they are) will acquit me, that I Refus'd it. In Order to my Reprieve, I wrote several Letters, to The Earl of N [...]r­thumb [...]rland, the Earl of Stanford, (and others of the No­bility that are since Dead) From which Noble Persons I received all Honourable Justice, and F [...]v [...]ur. In the House of C [...]mmons, I was Partic [...]larly Obliged (among others) to Sir I [...]hn C [...]r [...]et, and Sir H [...]nry Ch [...]mond [...]y: who can bear me witness that I used no Unworthy means to save my Life: But Reprieved I was, and in Order to a Further Hearing, in appearance; though eff [...]ctu [...]lly, during Pleasure.

After almost Thirty Months spent in vain Endeavours either to come to a Hearing, or to put my self into an Ex­changeable Condition; I Printed This following State of my Case, and Dedicat [...]d my Charge and Defence, as an Appeal fr [...]m the Court-Martial, to the Lords and Comm [...]ns. Entituled,

Sir John Corbet, I have now done with the Evidence, I shall only crave leave now to make some few Observa­tions.

First, That this Commission of the Prisoner, is not the Com­mission of a Souldier, to raise, or conduct any strength, or men of Warr; but a Commission of meer Bribery and cor­ruption, to make a party with Money and Preferment.

Secondly, The Prisoner came with this Commission from the Enemy, into the Quarters of the Parliament, without Drum, Trumpet, or Pass; which alone brings him within the danger and penalty of a Spy.

Thirdly, Hee came attended with no manner of Forces as an Enemy, but alone, in a secret maner, and made choice of a so­litary place (near Lynne) to obscure himself, the better to effect his Treacherous Design.

Fourthly, That he relyed not on the strength of his own Party, to have surprized Lynne, but used unwarrantable and treacherous means to accomplish the s [...]me, promising Leman 1000 l. and Corporal Haggar 100 l. and a Canoniers place, (both of the Garrison) if they would contribute their as­sistance therein.

Lastly, His Design was of that nature, and carryed on in so clandestine a way, as that himself thought not fit to Treat upon it, without a strict Obligation of Secrecy.

By all which it appears, that as the Prisoner came not into our Quarterss as a fair and open Enemy, but with Treache­rous ends and practises; so being now taken in the manner, [Page 40] hee may not expect the priviledge of a just Enemy, but ra­ther the condigne punishment, which by the Law and Custom of Armes, belongs to Spies and Treacherous Con­spirators.

FIrst, This Commission is the Commission of a Souldier, enabling me to raise and conduct such a Party, as should attempt the surprizall of the Town. The matter of Money and preferment is in the Commission expresly propounded by way of reward; and to pay the Souldier, is neither Bribery, nor Corruption.

Secondly, The Article runs, Within the Quarters of the Army, not Parliament. But I was not apprehended within the Quarters of the Army, therefore no Spy.

Thirdly, I came attended as an Enemy; that is, enabled to any Act of Hostility whatsoever.

Fourthly, I relyed upon the strength of mine own Party, and used warrantable means to accomplish the surprize. Leman was not of the Garrison; Haggar was, but appeared not to me under that Notion. Admit them both, what you would have them; I could have justify'd it. They voluntarily proffered to assist me, and I had been a Traitor or a Fool, if I had either discouraged, or disswaded them.

Lastly, The Design was of that nature, that if discove­red it were lost, (the quality and hazzard of all surprises) I therefore thought fit not to Treat, without a strict Obliga­tion of Secrecy.

By all which it appears;

First, That I came not into your Quarters at all; that is, not the Quarters of the Army.

[Page 42] Next, That I came as a fair and open Enemy (never preten­ding to be any other than I was.)

Lastly, That I had no Treacherous ends.

Being thus apprehended, by the Laws and Customs of Warr, I am a just Enemy, and Prisoner of Warr; no Spy, or Treache­rous Conspiratour.

Sir John Corbet, whereas the Prisoner desires time to make his Defence, alledging that hee hath Witnesses to purge him­self, that are necessary for his Defence; I conceive that al­together unnecessary, because we proceed only upon his own confession, and there being no Witnesses against him, wee take the Case as hee hath set it forth, and committed it to your judgment; you may perceive, and he might have remem­ [...]red, that his Charge was founded not only upon the special Articles, and Ordinances of Parliament, but upon the gene­rall Rules and Customs of Warr, which every Souldier ought to be knowing of. And (Sir) so farr as I understand any thing of the Customs of Warr, It's a known Rule, that for any to come into the Enemies Quarters, without a Passe, Drum, or Trumpet, that makes him a Spy; and then to Treat with them of the Garrison, or to draw them to Treat to betray the Garri­rison, this makes him a Treacherous Conspiratour.

If my Charge be founded upon mine own Confession, pro­duce those clauses, thence, whereupon this Charge is to be made good. My whole Confession is (in substance) This; that I had ever been of the Kings Party, and that I intended to ex­ecute this Commission.

I urged then, the impossibility of Betraying a Trust I ne­ver received; and to my self; and that I should be both Enemy, and Traytor: And again; how inconsistent it was with the Equity, and Reason, of the Law of Armes, (which is uniform, and universal) that the same Law which punishes [Page 43] the Deser [...]our of his Trust with Death, should with Death also punish the Assertour of it.

To This

Sir, the Prisoner mistakes the Poynt, he is not charged with breach of Trust: It is not said, he had any Trust, or broke any, [...]ut that he did endeavour to procure them to betray, which had a Trust, and so he did plot, and those were to be his Con­federates.

By this Rule, he that Summons, Assaults, or Besieges a Place (because in so doing, he endeavours the surrendring and yielding it up to the Enemy) shall be arraigned as an Apostate, or a Traytour: The very Article involving him in the same danger with him that endeavours the betraying of it. Again, the Article sayes expresly, it must be contrary to the Rules of Warr: Rules (certainly) preceding this, and which it self is not: Rules positive and known, not Arbitrary. Now shew that Positive, known Law, which I have Transgrest. In one word: The Court-Martial by its own Laws cannot Try an Enemy.

Sir you see the Case, it is not what hee sayes is Law, nor what I say is Law; but what you judge to be Law. You see the Case is plain, he came without Trumpet, Drum, or Pass, into our Quarters from the Enemy; There, he dealt with the Gar­rison of Lynne, and in that case, he came not with the face of an Enemy, but as a Spy.

To the Business of a Spy, Thus.

First, I was no Spy.

Next, I had not been Tryable in this Court, if I had been one.

I was none, being apprehended neither in your Garrison, nor Quarters; for by the Quarters of the Army, is intended the place where the Army lyes enquarter'd at the time of the Ap­prehension of such a person; but where no Forces are, there is neither use, nor possibility of a Spy.

[Page 44]Upon this Assertion, that this Court took no Cognizance of Spies. The Judg-Advocate, thus:

Sir John Corbet, the Gentleman might have saved a la­bour, and not limited the Power of this Court: for they pro­ceed upon a Law, common, betwixt the enemy and us.

If this Court-Martial proceed upon a Law common betwixt the two Armies, what mean those restrictive Clauses, so fre­quent in those Ordinances, by virtue whereof they sit and determine; where they are expresly The letter of of the Ordi­nance. limited and appointed, to proceed according to the Articles there specified? Again, what needs the annexion of five particular Articles of the Earl of Essex his, with Ordinances virtuating them to proceed according to those Articles? what need these Ordinances, if the Court could proceed without them? And why are but five Articles exprest, if their Power extends to all? Now if the Court be limited to those Articles, there being no Article a­gainst Spies among them, I have proved what I desire.

Sir John Corbet, to take away all Dispute about the Power and Authority of the Court, and the rules upon which they proceed, I shall read the last Ordinance of Parliament that was made in this particular case of Mr. L'Estrange.

By this Ordinance you are not limited to any particular Article, but are left to the latitude and scope of Martial-Law [Page 45] in general, and this Court hath made choyce to proceed a­gainst the Prisoner upon a known and common Rule of Mar­tial proceedings, by which the other side proceed against ours; therefore he hath no cause of complaining against the equity of this Rule.

True, this Order refers mee to the Commissioners for Martial-Law, to be proceeded against according to the pro­ceedings of Martial-Law; that is, Such Martial-Law as they are Commissioners f [...]r; and what that is, those Ordinances which enable them, will best determine; they are there, as well as here, stil'd Commissioners for, and Executors of Mar­tial Law, yet not in the latitude; now if they be not Com­missioners for Martial-Law in the latitude, neither must their proceedings be in the latitude.

Something more, to the same purpose, was (a while) ban­dyed and retorted, but (in substance) the Dispute closed here. The Commissioners with-drew to Weavers-hall, whence (after some half-hours Debate) returning, the Judg-Advo­cate admonis [...]ed mee to acknowledge the fair respects of the Court, in that they had afforded mee till Saturday at three afternoon, to form and strengthen my Defence (this being Thursday.) Upon Saturday late at night, I was brought to the Barr, not suffered to speak, Condemned, For endeavour­ing the Betraying of the Town and Garrison of Lynne, &c. Adjudged to be hang'd; and many persons contributed to this Vote, who had not heard one syllable of my Tryall. After I had received my sentence, I threw a paper among them, adding with-all, that it was my Defence; which, since they would not hear, they might read: A Wilts. Gentleman burnt it. I was thence conducted to Newgate; and here the story fals in­to a Circle, Sir John Corbet was President of the Court, and in that relation, I have often to do with his Name, I would leave it as fair as I found it; I never believed the Gentleman my Enemy.

Newgate June 1647.

[Page 46]After almost Four years Imprisonment, (with [...]y Keeper's Privity) I slipp'd into Kent; and after the Dis­solution of That Affair, with much difficulty I got Be­yond-Sea. About the Latter end of August, 1653. The Long-Parliament being Routed by Oliver, I returned into Eng­land. And now I come to Mr. Bagshaw's Particular Charge.

^[K] R. L'S. 'TIs Truth, I bear my self so much upon my Inno­cence, that I disclaim the Benefit of the Pardon; and (if I know my self) the Punishment would be less Grievous to me then the Crime, if I were Guilty. B [...]t Mr. Bagshaw says, I am; tells his Story; and has the Face to affirm, that 'tis no more then to his knowledge, my Lord Chancellour is fully acquainted with. To which in An­swer;

I must enform the world, that my Lord Chancellour has, not long since, upon his Honour, profess'd himself a Stranger to the very Rumour of what is here laid down in charge against mee. (Yet (with my Libellers Leave) to be fully acquainted with a Matter, goes further then the hearing of a Report; and Implies, so to know a thing, a [...] to [Page 47] know the Truth, and Bottom of it.) His Lordship was pleas'd likewise at the same time, to Declare, that he never did, or could believe me Capable of so great a Baseness: and that he thought me a very Honest man. So that Mr. Bagshaw stands now upon his single Testimony, to prove what he has said.

He will have it, that I frequently sollicited a Private Conference with Oliver. I would not care if I had done so; for I could make twenty fair Pretenses to warrant it; But I do utterly, and to all purposes deny it. In sooth his next is a choise Piece. He says, That I often brought my Fiddle under my Cloke to facilitate my Entry.

Surely this same Edward Bagshaw has been Pastor to a Graves-end-Boat, he has the vein so right. A Fiddle under my Cloak? Truly my Fiddle is a Base-Viol; and that's somewhat a troublesome Instrument under a Cloak. 'Twas a Great Over-sight he did not tel my Lord to what Company I belong'd too; but a man may see what a Libeller is when the Devil leaves him to himself. In earnest, This Device, is not worth a Serious Word. But wee'll to That that is.

Behold the Glorious Champion of the Pretended Holy Cause, and by what Crooked Shifts The Miserable Wretch strives to Mainteyn it: Think Then what kind of Cause it is that needs or owns the Ayd of so Infamous a Methode, or so shameless a Patron. Take all that ever dropt from his Pen upon This Subject; What is it but a Flux of Poy­son? and totally directed either to Propagate Error, or Deprave Virtue; to make Some Really Wicked, and to make Others Appear so. Is This the Office of God's Minister, or of Satan's? or, Whether is it God's Cause, or Satan's, that supports it self by Forgery, and Scandal?

I am now to accompt for the little Bribes I bestowed upon Cromwell's nearest Attendants. I suppose, Those People had Names that received Them. Let him say, Who, What, When, and let the Infamy stick upon me if he Proves what he says. Let it Rest upon him, if he does not; and yet I [Page 48] am of Opinion, that I might have requited a Common Ci­vility with a Common Gratuity, and that with a very good Conscience. In fine, the Tyrant would not vouchsafe to Employ me, and from thence, Bagshaw infers, that I was Cromwell's Spy. Now hear the Truth in a plain Tale.

Upon the Dissolution of the Long Rump, in 1653. I re­turn'd from beyond-Seas into England, and presently ad­vertised the Council then sitting at White-Hall, that find­ing my self within the Protection of the Act of Indempni­ty, I thought it Convenient to give them notice of my Re­turn; This was about the Latter end of August, soon after which time, I was serv'd with This following Order, the Copy whereof I have still by me.

This Order brought me under a Necessity of Attend­ing for my dispatch, but perceiving my Business to ad­vance very slowly, and my Father lying at that time Ill of his Death-Sickness; I did my endeavour to hasten my Discharge what I could, that I might pay my Duty to my Father, (whom I had not seen for many years before) and receive his last Blessing. Mr. Strickland was one of the Commissioners appointed for my Examination; and the Person from whom (in the Judgment of my Friends) I was to expect the least of Courtesie. Wherefore the better to dispose him to my Convenience, I gave him the Respect of a Visit, telling him franckly, that I was re­turn'd upon the Invitation of the Act of Indempnity; and laying before him how much it concern'd me both in poynt of Comfort, and Interest, to see my dying Father. In­stead [Page 49] of Complying with my Proposition, his Answer wa [...], that I would find my self mistaken, and that My Case was not Comprehended in That Act: My Reply to him was, that I might have been safe among the Turks, upon the same Terms: and so I left him.

From That time, matters beginning to look worse and worse, I concluded upon it as my best course to speak to Cromwell himself. After Several disappointments (for want of Opportunity) I spake to him at last in the Cock­pit, and the Sum of my Desire was either a Speedy Exami­nation, or that it might be deferr'd till I had seen my Fa­ther. ‘Hee told me of the Restlesness of our Party; that Rigour was not at all his Inclination; that he was but one Man, and could do little by Himself; and that Our Party should do well to give some better Testimony of their quiet and Peaceable Intentions.’ I told him, that every man was to Answer for his own Actions, at his own Perill: and so he went his way. A while after, I pre­vail'd to be called, and Mr. Strickland, with another Gentleman (whose name I have forgotten) were my Ex­aminers; but the Latter press'd nothing against me: Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon my Condemnation, and would have cast me out of the Compass of the Act; tel­ling me at last, that I had given no Evidence of the Change of my mind, without which I was not to be trust­ed. My final Answer was to this Effect: That it was my Interest to Change my Opinion, if I could; and that when­ever I found Reason so to do, I would do it. Some few dayes after This, I was discharg'd according to the Tenor of This Ensuing Order.

During the dependency of This Affair, I might well be seen at White-Hall, but that I spake to Cromwell of any other Business then This; That I either sought, or pretended to any Privacy with him, or that I ever spake to him after This Time, I do absolutely disown; and Mr. Bagshaw will find as much Difficulty to prove the Contrary, as to Deny Those Treasonous and Schismatical Principles which I have now raised in Judgment against him, out of his own Papers.

Concerning the Story of the Fiddle, This I suppose might be the Rise of it.

Being in St. James his Parke, I heard an Organ Touch'd in a little Low Room of one Mr. Hinckson's. I went in, and found a Private Company of some five or six Persons. They desired me to take up a Viole, and bear a Part. I did so; and That, a Part too not much to advance the Reputa- of my Cunning. By and By, (without the least co­lour of a Design, or Expectation) In comes Cromwell; He found us Playing, and (as I remember) so he lef [...] us. This is it which Mr. Bagshaw Amplifies to the Report of Often bringing my Fiddle under my Cloke to Facilitate my Entry.

[Often] he says; which is False, for 'twas never but This Once. [Bringing of my Fiddle] That's Right again. I neither Brought it, nor was it My Fiddle. [Under my Cloke] That's Licentia Presbyteriana. [To Facilitate my Entry] Whereas instead of my going to Oliver, Hee came to Mee. After All; I do profess here, that I would have made no Scruple on the Earth to have given Cromwell a Lesson for my Liberty. But I affirm, that I did it not however.

As to the Bribing of his Attendants; I disclaim it. I never spake to Mr. Thurloe but Once, in my Life; and That was about my Discharge. Nor did I ever give Bribe, Little or Great, in the Family.

[Page 51]In These Late Revolutions, I dare undertake to make it appear, that I have Engag'd my self as Frequently, and as Far, upon the King's Accompt as any Subject his Majesty has of my Condition in his Three Kingdoms; and This I can Prove by Several, and Eminent Persons in the City; and elsewhere: Only having been Honest through the whole Course of his Sacred Majesty, and his blessed Father's Ad­versities; It is held convenient, that I should pass for a Raskal in the King's Prosperity. But I shall remit my Innocence to Justice, Time, and Reason.

^[L] MR. Bagshaw makes his Boast here of his Defence, R. L'S. and his Discovery; but so far is he from defend­ing himself, that he does not so much as mention his Charge: and so far likewise from uncasing Mee, that he only casts his own Cloke upon My Shoulders, P [...]tting L'Estrange his Name to Bagshaw's Character.

His Moderation, of begging only leave to plead; I must con­fess, is laudable: but he mistakes the Bar; for his Business lyes at Common Law, not in the Chancery.

He is pleased to Implore on my behalf, rather Mercy, then Justice; I'll do as much for him. I have the Charity [Page 52] to look upon his Rayling, but as a fit of Vomitting: His Stomack's foul, and it must up. Nor would I understand his Seditious, and Bold Imposings upon Law, and Govern­ment, to be any Other then the Ebullitions of his Pride. And his Phantastiques in Religion, what are they, but the meer Dotages and Resveries of a conceited Feavour? Most certainly, his Crimes narrowly Scann'd would Endanger his Head; but (without Malice to his Life) when Preach­ers become Libellers, Some marque, in earnest, were not amiss to the People, that they might distinguish betwixt a Church-man, and a Buffon: And to comply with Mr. Bagshaw in his own way, methinks a Yellow Coat would become him as well as a Black; and much more suitable, it were to his Employment. I speak with Reve­rence to his Function.

We come now to his Master-piece, where very slily he winds off, as if the Reconcilement of Differing Opinions about Religious Matters, to a Candid Persuance of the same Civil Interests, were the Thing in Question. But that's a Juggle. He takes the power from the King, and gives it to the People: He Charges his Majesty with Usurpation: Reckons Him among Impious Pretenders: Contradicts and Op­poses Him even against the Confessed Dictates of his Proper Con­science. And what's all This now to difference of Opinion about Religious Matters?

We have brought him now to his last Complement, where, (with Sir Philip Sidney's Spaniel) he bemires with fawning. Yet see with what a face of Dignity, and Vir­tue, the Servile Trifle Menages his Bold, and Vain Preten­sions. 'Tis not with Him you'll find, as▪ with [the greatest part of my Lords followers]. In Truth, if it were so with Them, as 'tis with Him, my Lord would have great Cause to be ashamed of his Retinue. But Mr. Bagshaw's Picture is best drawn by his own hand, and His Humour best express'd in his own words.

Here's Mr. Bagshaw's Glo­sing Reverence to my Lord Chancellour; now let the Rea­der only cast his eye upon the next Column, and he shall fee this very Edward Bagshaw do­ing more Honour, and Professing D [...]per to the most abominable Monster in Nature.

[Page 54]I shall now give Mr. Bagshaw leasure to Reconcile his Contradictions; and to Prove that the Enemy of Hierarchy is a Friend to the Order of Bishops: That the Disclaymer of the King's Authority has a most Affectionate Esteem for his Ma­jesties Person and Government; and that his Adorations of the Late King's Murtherer, will admit a fair and equitable Plea, under the Government of his Royall Successour.

I am still in Mr. Bagshaws Debt for an Answer to his Se­cond, and Third Exceptions, to my Memento; Concerning the Defamers of the Government, that scape better then their Accusers; and Those that can come off for Printing, and Publi­shing down-right Treason, when I have much ado to scape for Telling it.] That shall be Clear'd in due Season: Only there lies a General Cavil in my way to it, and I shall speak [...]o That First; for since my Pen is in Course, I think I had as good do all at a Heat.

I am suspected to Write, out of a Love of Scribling; and Traduc'd, as if I medled further then belongs to me, with the Government of Church and State. Those very Persons that Think so, I am content to make my Judges; and here's my Case.

Upon his Majesties Return, there were Printed, and Re­printed, New and Old, divers Seditious Pamphlets, of most Pestilent Reflection upon the Kings Honour and Justice; and directly Libellous against the Government of the Church. Some of the Fouleft of them I delivered into the Hands of certain Parliament-men, (naming the Stationer for whom they were Printed) and, as I am enform'd, Compleint was made of them in the House of Commons, which notwith­standing, they were still publiquely sold in Westminster-hall, and There the matter rested without any further Prosecu­tion. This Freedom of the Press, had so manifest an In­fluence upon the minds of the People, that in a short time, That Unanimous Proneness of Affection, which upon the [Page 55] Kings Restauration was most remarqueably evident in the Generality of the Nation, was so far alter'd, and wrought upon, by the means of these poysonous Discourses, that the Presbyterian Ca [...]se was grown to be the Common Argu­ment of Publique Meetings, and the Power of the Two Houses Co-ordinate with his Majesty not obscurely defe [...]ded. Finding so many Bitter and Infectious Writings to escape, not only unpunished, but unanswered, to the dayly Encourage­ment of the Faction, and the Scandal of the Government: I reckon'd it my Duty (since no body else would meddle) to supply the Place of a Better Defendent.

My first Engagement was a Reply (by way of Observation) upon a Treatise; Entituled, The Interest of England in the Matter of Religion: Written by I. C. Wherein, without any Provocation, He Justifies the Presbyterian Cause of 1641. [Pag. 10.] He excludes the Royal Party that serv'd the late King from having any hand in the Restoring of This, [Pag. 13.] He revives the Pretended Misdemeanures of the Bishops, as Oc­casional to the last War, [Pag. 31. & 32.] He mainteins the Actings of the Presbyterians according to the Covenant, [Pag. 44.] He makes the Two Houses Participant of the Sovereignty, [Pag. 49.] He denies the Lawfulness of the English Ceremo­nies, [Pag. 88.]

These Positions, and Others like These, over and over urg'd, were the Occasion of my Holy Cheat.

The next Pamphlet I wrote was call'd a Caveat, &c. and Drawn from me by a desire to clear the Cavaliers from some Officious and well-meaning Imputations cast upon Them by I. H. in His Cordial. Some Passages therein be­ing otherwise Rep [...]esented then I meant them; and to my Disadvantage, I was forc'd to follow it with Another, by way of Explanation, and that I call'd A Modest Plea, &c.

My Relaps'd Apostate, was an Answer to a Seditious and Schismatical Pamphlet, Entituled A Petition for Peace; with the Reformation of the Liturgy. And the following Supple­ment, was only a Discovery of the Malice of Some Other Presbyterian Pamphlets.

[Page 56]My next Discourse was a Vindication of the Bishop of Worcester, from a Libell of Mr. Bagshaw's. And This, now under my Hand, carries the Necessity of it along with it: So that Thus far, my Pen has only been Defensive, either of the King, the Church, or, in the last place, of My own Ho­nour.

My Memento, it's Truth, is a Mixt D [...]scourse, and the Greater part of it, Effectually, rather a Paraphrase upon Sir Francis Bacon, then my Proper Text. It is written with more Honesty, then skill; and it has (the Common Fate of other Things) Friends, and Enemies. He that understands it as I meant it, shall do Mee no hurt; and he that takes it otherwise, is the more likely of the Two to miss my Mea­ning. Such Venemous Natures there may be, as to Blast All they Touch; Draw Poyson from the Holy Writ, and Turn the very Decalogue into a Libel. If it Displeases Such, the mat­ter is not great, for it was beside my Purpose to Oblige Them.

I shall now be as good as my word concerning Defa­mers of the Government, &c.

Since the Burning of the Covenant; was Publish'd a Book, Entitul'd, A PHAENIX; or The Sole [...]n LEAGUE and COVENANT; Pretended to be Printed at Eden­burgh; and Dated [In the year of COVENANT-BREA­KING] The Drift of the Whole is to Justifie the last War; to disaffect the People to his Majesty now in Be­ing; and to Enforce the Obligation of the Covenant, out of an old Sermon of Mr. Edm. Calamie's, call'd, The Great Danger of COVENANT-REFUSING, and COVENANT-BREAKING. This Book being brought to my Hand, I procur'd a Warrant to search for it, and Retriv'd about 120 Copies, which I seiz'd, together with the Printer, Disperser, and One Stationer (of the Three that were Partners in the Impression) I Brought These People to His Majesties Principal Secretary, Sir Edward Nichola [...]; by whose Order, the Printer, and Stationer were Commit­ted; [Page 57] and the Disperser, being Poor to Extremity, was up­on certain Conditions left at Liberty. Concerning the Printer, it appear'd that he acted rather upon Necessity, then Malice: but for Two of the Three Stationers, to wit, Giles Calvert (who was Apprehended) and Livewell Chap­man: (who was now fled) No men whatever of their Pro­fession have more Constantly, and Malitiously prosecu­ted the Destruction of the Royal Family. The Third Stationer's Name is Thomas Brewster, who absented him­self for a while, and is since return'd. Francis-Tyton was one of the Pu [...]lis [...]ers (as Right as any of the Rest). At the same Time, I Seiz'd the first Two sheets of the Book of Prodigies, then newly put to the Press, and for the same Booksellers.

Giles Calvert did not only come off for This, but during his Imprisonment, (which cont [...]nued till the Adjournment of the Parliament) his Wife went on with the Prodigies; up­on Proof whereof, She was likewise Comm [...]tted, and is come off too. See now the Temper and Design of These Pamphlets.

A King abusing his Power, to the overthrow of Religion, Phoenix Pag. 52. Laws and Liberties, which are the very Fundamentals of this Contract and Covenant, may [...]e Controlled and Opposed: and if he set himself to overthrow all These by Armes, then they who have power, as the Estates of a Land, may and ought to resist by Arms; Because he d [...]th, [...]y that opposition, break the very [...]onds, and overthrow the essentials of this Contract and Co­venant. This may serve to justifie the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King,☜ who in an Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion, Parliaments, Laws, and Liberties.

Among the H [...]llish rout of Prophane, and Ungodly men, Praeface to the Pr [...]digies. let especi [...]lly the Oppressours and Persecutours of the True Church look to themselves, when the hand of the Lord in the strange Signs and Wonders is lifted among them; for then let [Page 58] them know assuredly that the day of their Calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. Deut. 32.35. The retale and final overthrow of Pharaoh and the Egyptians (those cruel Task-Masters and Oppressours of the Israelites) did bear date not long after the Wonderful and the Prodigious Signs which the Lord had shewn in the midst of them. ☞

Prodigies Pa. 1. Two Suns seen ne [...]r Hertford, &c.] The like in the Be­ginning of Queen Mary, and about the Time of the Persecu­tion in Germany. It portends a [...]s [...] the Fall of Great men from their Power.

Ibid. Pag. 11. & 12. Armies were seen in Sussex, &c.] This happened a while be­fore the King of Swede routed the Imperial Army: — and here in England in 1640.

A Terrible Tempest and Raging Tides] This in the Low-Countries, Pag. 42. a little before they threw off the Yoak of the King of Spain.

A River dry'd up, &c.] This portends a Revolt and Division of the People. Ibid. Pag. 53.

Let what I have said, serve to satisfie Mr. Bags [...]a [...], that Defamers of the Governmen [...], and the Publishers of Tre [...]son may c [...]me off; and better too then their Accusers: for I am ex­pos'd to dayly Menaces, Libels, Violences, only for Asserting the Kings Interest, and Discovering his Enemies.

It's time now to draw to a Conclusion, and I cannot end better then with giving the World a Particular View of some few of Those Many Treasonous, Seditious, and Schismatical Pieces, which have been Published Since his Sacred Majestie's Return: and with That I shall wind up my Justification. Wherein, I shall observe in Order, how they Treat the Church, and the King's Cause, and his Au­thority.

Upon the Restoring of the King, Mr. Manton Publishes Smectymnuus, The Smectym­ [...]ns. and in his Preface to the Reader, [I suppose (sayes he) the Reverend Authors were willing to lye hid under this ONOMASTICK; partly that their work might [Page 59] not be rec [...]ived with prejudice; the Faction, against which they dealt, arroga [...]ing to themselves a Monopoly of Learning, and condemning all others as Ignorants and Novices not worthy to be heard, &c.

Now see the Judgment of his Reverend Authours, and what Stuffe Mr. Manton Publishes for the Reception of His Majesty, he himself calling the Episcopal Party a Fa­ction.

Do we not know, the Drunkenness, Profaneness, Superstition, Popishness of the English Clergy rings at Rome already? Smectym. Pag. 58. Yes undoubtedly; and there is no way to vindicate the Honour of our Nation, Ministry, Parliaments, Sovereign, Religion, God; but by Causing the Punishment to ring as far as the sin hath done; that our A [...]versaries that have triumph [...]d in their sin, may be confounded at their Punishment. Note. Do not your Honours know that the plastring or palliating of these rotten Members, will be a greater dishonour to the Nation and Church, then their cutting off; and that the personal acts of these Sons of Belial, be­ing connived at, become National sins?

Here's Episcopacy, Root and Branch, with all Circum­stances, Suitable to a Presbyterian Modesty, Publish'd by a Pardon'd Non-conformist, for the Welcome of H [...]s Sacred Majesty.

How com [...]s it to pass that in England there is such in­crease of Popery, Superstition, Arminianism, Ibid. Pag. 66. and Prophane­ness, more then in all other Reformed Churches? Doth not the Root of These Disorders proceed from the Bishops, and their adherents?

We have chosen rather to subjoyn by way of Appendix, Ibid. Pag. 68. and Historical Narration of those bitter fruits, Pride, Rebellions, Treason, Unthankefulness, &c. which have Issued from Epis­copacy, while it hath stood under the continued influences of So­vereign Goodness.

Here's Presbyterian Gratitude for his Majefties De­claration from Breda, See now a seasonable, and Modest Quaere.

[Page 60] Covenanters Plea, Pag. 52. Whether the Lords and Commons of England assembled in Parliament, have not a power to make a new Oath, and impose it upon the People, unless the King first consent.

Now see Gelaspies D [...]spute against the English Popish Ceremonies; a Book formerly condemn'd by the Secret Counsel in Scotland to be burnt by the Hand of the Com­mon Hang-man, and now lately Published by Philip Chet­wynd. In his Epistle to the R [...]form'd Churches, Thus.

Pag. 9.1. Be not deceived, to think that they who so eagerly press this Course of Conformity, have any such end as Gods Glory, or the Good of his Church, and profit of Religion.

2. Let not the pretence of Peace, and Unity, cool your fer­vour, Pag. 11. or make you spare to oppose your selves unto those Idle and Idolized Ceremonies, against which we dispute.

3. If once you yield to these English Ceremonies, think not that thereafter you can keep your selves back fr [...]m any greater e­vils, Pag. 16. or grosser corruptions, which they draw after them.

Ibid. Pag. 20.4. Among the Laws of Solon, there was one which pro­nounced him defamed and unhonest, who in a Civil up­roar among the Citizens sitteth still, a Looker on, and Neu­ter: much more deserve they to be so accompted of, who s [...]un to m [...]ddle with any controversie which disquieteth the Church, wher [...]as they should labour to win the Adv [...]rsaries of the Truth, and if they prove obstinate, to defend and propugne the Truth against th [...]m.

Pag. 245.5. Whensoever you may omit that which Princes enjoyn, without violating the Law of Charity, you are not holden to obey them, for the Majesty of Princely Authority.

Pag. 266.6. The Lawfulness of our conforming unto the Ceremonies in question, can be no way warranted by any Ordinance of the Su­pream Magistrate, or any Power which he hath in things Spiri­tual, or Ecclesiastical.

Here's first the very Intention of Authority uncharita­bly D [...]fam'd. Secondly, the People Animated to Disobe­dience. In the Third place Here's a Jelousie injected of more Mischeives to follow. Fourthly, Not only Argument, [Page 61] but Violen [...]e it self not obscurely Encouraged. Fifthly, Here's the King's Prerogative render'd dependent upon the Good Pleasure of his People. And Lastly, here's an Ab­solute denyal of his Majestie's Supreme Authority.

The same Things over again are Mainteyned in The Old Non-conf [...]rmist. The Tryal of the English Lyturgy. Mr. Crof­ton's Pamphlets; The Interest of England; The Presbyteri­an Accompt from the Savoy. Their Petition for Peace, and Their Two Pap [...]rs of Proposals, Mr. Bagshaw's Treatises; and final [...]y, Where not? See next Mr. Watson's Word of Comfort, of but the other day.

Now (saith he) because the Church of God appears in his Cause, and loseth Blood in his Quarrel, Pag. 8. therefore God is in the midst of Her.] This was Calculated for Corbet, and Berkstead, &c.

Take h [...]ed of Idolatry; yea, and of Superstition too, Pag. 28. which is a Bridge leading ov [...]r to it. Superstition is an intermixing our fancies and inv [...]ntions with Divine Institutions; 'tis an Affront offer'd to God, as if he were not wise enough to appoint the manner of his own Worship.]

Is not God upon the Threshold of his Temple ready to fly? Pag. 30. Are not the Shadows of the Evening Stretch [...]d ou [...]? And may we not fear the Sun-setting of the Gospel? And again.

The Lord may let his Church be a while under Hatches, Pag. 39. to Punish her security, and to awak [...]n her out of her slumbering fits; yet surely the storm will not continue long.

What can This Gentleman mean here now by Super­stition, but the Rites of the Church? What by the Sun-setting of the Gospel? but the Approaching settlement of Con­formity? And what by the short continuance of the Storm? but the speedy Subversion of The Present Authority? And in Truth, their Pulpits do Generally speak the same Lan­guage. [Christians: (says Mr. Jenkins, some five weeks since) you do not know what God has Reserv'd to be done For you, and BY you; only wait the Lord's Leisure. David had [Page 62] Sauls life in his Power, but far be it from him (he would not say to lift up his hand against the Lord's Anointed, but) to an­ticipate God's time. Who knows but the Lord may smite him, or he may descend into the Battle, and fall by the Edge of the Sword. Look behind ye, and ye must All confesse that God has relieved ye in your distresses, when ye have most desponded.] In short; he might as well have said to his Congregation, Remember the last Turn, and Rely upon Another. Nor is This any Uncharitable Glosse upon his Meaning, who may very well be suspected to be no great Friend to the Son, ha­ving Publiquely absolv'd the Nation of the Bloud of the Father.

Observe now, in the Last Place, how Bold the Presse is with the King's Cause, and Authority.

When as a part of the Legislative Power resides in the Two Houses, Interest of Eng. Pag. 49. as also a Power to redresse Grievances, and to call into Question all Ministers of State and Justice, and all Subjects of whatsoever degree, in case of Delinquency, it might be thought that a Part of the Supreme Power doth reside in them, though they have not the honorary Title.]

Here is Coordination asserted, which is Destructive of the King's Imperial Title. Hear now the Publishers of the Speeches of some of the late King's Judges, viz. Harrison, Carew, &c. — In his Praeface to the Reader, He calls them the Servants of Christ; and Publishes the Story, (as he sayes) that men may see what it is to have an Interest in Christ, ☞ in a dying hour, and to be faithful to his Cause.] If These People Suffered for God's Cause, by what Authority did They Act that put them to Death?

Pag. 11. Mr. Carew could have Escap'd (he sayes) but would not; knowing how much the Name and Glory of God was concern'd in his Faithful Witness to the Cause of Christ, for which he was in Bonds.] In another Place, a Letter is pretended to be written to a Christian Friend by Mr. Justice Cook.

[Page 63] I look upon it as the most Noble and High Act of Justice, Pag. 41. that our Story can Parallel, and so far as I had a hand in it, never any one Action in all my life comes to my mind with lesse Regret, or Trouble of Conscience, then that does: for the Bloud must ly upon Him (meaning the King) or upon the Parliament.] More of This Stuffe there is, but it would be too tedious. Pro­ceed now to the Narrative of John James.

If there hath been any undue Combination against this poor man, Praeface. if for some Reason of State, rather then for any real Guilt on his part, he was made an Example; if his Judgment and Conscience, rather then any Just Crime, were the cause of his Condemnation, as he so often declared; if, su [...]mitting to a Tryal by the Word of God, he was judged contrary thereto; the Lord in his due time will Manifest, and his Bloud will most certainly be required, &c.] And again,

He was Tryed in so high a Court, Pag. 36. there being sev [...]ral Judg [...]s before him, and four of the King's Counsellours, besides the At­turny, and Solicitour General, pleading against him to take away his Life; and a Jewry of Knights and Gentlemen, all of the same spirit, thirsting after his Bloud, &c.]

Take now for a Close, the Miserable Madness of ano­ther Pamphlet, against the King's Proclamation Prohibiting Conven [...]icles.

Oh it is sad to Consider, that the Proclamation of a poor Worm, should not only Command mens persons, Loud Call, Pag. 16. [...]ut their very Spirits also.

If any King or Powers dare off [...]r to intrench on men's Con­sciences, to their utmost Peril be it; and if men give way to their Usurped Authorities, to their uttermost Perils be it also; No Governours nor Rulers have any more Power as from God, to give Laws in matters of Religion, or to Rule over mens Consciences, then they have to sit in Gods Throne in Heaven, Ibid. Pag. 17. or to pluck him from his Throne.

[Page 64] Stand up for your Meetings, and holy Services, let Men and Powers Decree never so Contrary. Ibid.

I might Insist upon divers other Seditious Pamphlets, but let This Suffice. Here is the Sacred Government of the Church Vilify'd; the Rulers of it Revil'd; the People Ani­mated and Enflam'd against the Magistrate. Here is the Prerogative of his Most Gratious Majesty, not onely question'd, but Disclaim'd; his Indulgence Trampled upon; and the Execrable Murtherers of his Royal Father Sain­ted.

Let the World now Determine, Whether it be not highly N [...]c [...]ssary that These Bold and Pestilent Defamations, should be either Punished, or Confuted.