IN the greatest Persecu­tions, the Christians ever set forth their Apologies; look upon Justin Mar­tyrs Apologie for the Chri­stians, look upon Jewels Apo­logie for the Church of Eng­land; And he that will not hear the Oppressed com­plain, is worse then that un­just Judge, that neither fear­ed God, nor reverenced man; [Page 3] It was lawfull amongst the Romans, if a man was unjust­ly dealt withall, to Appeal to Caesar; The great Turke walkes once a moneth in a certaine place to heare any man complain of injustice done to him, and he is sure to have satisfaction: Solomon himself was much given to do Justice to particulars, wit­ness that Case of the two Women striving for the Childe, and the glory of his Throne of Justice, sh [...]ws that he resorted to it, what should I speak of Moses, when he sate from morning to night judg­of [Page 4] causes; and Augustus, Caesar was so given to it, that Ovid wonders he could be at leisur to read a little Poem of his; Horace sets him out highly in this kinde, Qvum tot susti­neas ac tanta negotia solus, lib. 2. Ep. 1. What should I speak further, Justice is an Attri­bute of God, and Mercy is a higher Attribute; for al­though all Gods Attributes are equal in themselves, where Justice hath her Thousands, Mercy hath her ten Thousands; he punisheth the faults of the Fathers to the third and fourth generation of the Children of [Page 5] those that hate him, but shews Mercy unto thousands of those that love him and keep his Com­mandements; Mercy then is the highest Attribute in God; And thrice happy are we who have a Ruler whose Name implies that Attribute; Whence is Mercy expected to come, but from a PRO­TECTOR? And indeed it hath come unto us, and no question but will continue. That we may all say as Ter­tullus the Oratour said, Act. 20. vers. 2. Seeing that by thee wee enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done [Page 6] in this Nation by thy Provi­dence, &c.

There is nothing grieves a man more than a false ac­cusation laid upon him; but for an innocent man to con­tinue all his life time under the burden of it, and to let a Knave, nay rather a Devill, (for he is called the accuser of the brethren) to go away vi­ctorious and bragging over the ruine of a man, what pa­tience can beare it? Actum est de homine quando actum est de nomine; A man in an ill name is half hang'd.

The Case is thus, There [Page 7] came two or three ignorant lying men of my Parish to the Commissioners, and said I was insufficient for the Mi­nistery; there was no Oath given, the Commissioners without any tryall of me, e­jected me; at my next sum­mons, so soon as they read the Article to me, I desired to be tryed: without any Try­all they ejected me; The Or­dinance runs thus, There must be five Commissioners at the least; and five Ministers at least; and if upon Examination or proof made upon Oath, it shall appear, and be declared un­der [Page 8] the hands of the said Commissioners, or Ministers; who shall be present at such examination or proof, that the Minister or Schoolmaster is ignorant or insufficient, then to be ejected; it is repea­ted often that five Ministers should be there at least; now there was never a Minister there present, and the five Commissioners differed, but let them all agree, there must be five Ministers at least, and I desire but the Oaths of these five Commissioners present; now in this case, I think it necessary to set [Page 9] down the names of these five Commissioners, Mr: Harvey of Lincoln an Attorney, and Sequestrator for Lincolnshire when time was, the Major of Boston, Mr. Whiting the Chairman for this purpose, I should have named him sirst but only I saw him relye much upon the Attornies discretion, Mr: Yarborough, Capt: Tompson, Capt: Hart: Now Mr: Harvey received a great summe of money of my Parish some years before this Commission came down to put me and my Cu­rate out; and upon this score [Page 10] I except against him; I must needs be short, and so I bun­dle up all their cruelties as quick as I can. Before ever they call'd me to tryal, they took all my profits of Hay, and corn, for that was the time the fittest for them to begin; I was eighteen weeks after that before I was eje­cted; they left me not one farthing to maintain me all this while; now there is two things sticks in my stomach; first to have my goods taken away before I be proved to be guilty; secondly, when I come to my tryal, to be put [Page 11] out without any. Tryall or Examination at all; which is plum against the Ordi­nance; As they took my Tenths; take you but notice of the tenth part of their cruelties; they summoned me to Sleeford in Lincolnshire, when my Parish was in the Libertie of Lincolne, but two miles from my Personage at Waddington, and forced me to ride thirteen or fourteen miles, and to be there at eight of the Clock in the morning, and say two or three dayes, and have never a word said to me: All this [Page 12] while; they knew I had no money, nor a bit of bread to eate, nor drop of beer to drink, nor bed to lie on; all the relief that I had, was from a very poor Alehouse; and my enemies did strive to dry up that little spring, to starve me, or put me to flight.

Take a little of the witnes­ses, one being so poor a man, that he could not get to be a Souldier, & was but an Inne­mate lately come to Town; the other confessed he went to speak against me in heat of blood, because I would not take such a one for my [Page 13] Curate; and he being told how he was bred from a boy to be a Coachman to my Lady Grantham, and being charged of Ingratitude, he fell so mad, that he openly professed himself sorry for what he had done: there was another that would of­ten come to his Wife, and say, Wife let me cut thy throat, for now the evill spi­rit is upon me, and I must do it whether I will or no; and this he did very often; be­sides stranger things that I will not now speake of: to speak further of the Cruelty [Page 14] of these five Commissioners, and some of the dreggs of of my Parish: I forbeare at this time to do it; because that I will not spot this Pa­per, which I dedicate to my Lord Protector, onely let me end with this as I began, My Lord Protector hath found the hand and finger of God, in Gods Mercy of his deli­verance: and Gods finger, when he pointed him out to those that sought his ruine: I desire onely a faire tryall and proof against me, and not to be hang'd untill I be tryed.

[Page 15] Any man may guess, that I can write a volume of this; but I end now in brief, and will be bold to say, That those men shall be more ex­cusable before God & man; who have sought my Lord Protectors life, than these men who do Tyrannize un­der him, and do scratch and bite, and tear and worrie the lives & Estates of his peace­able Subjects; for God and man will defend him from treachery; but it was never known that oppressing hun­gry barking, sharking, hol­low bellyed Committee­men; [Page 16] of whom Pulpit and Plow hath complained of to every Government, that they brought ruine to it; Let them take notice but of one thing; it is in Gods Law, Thou shalt not be an Informer; and if there be a necessitie of such Vermin, yet be sure to cre­dit them as little as you can. If any thing can be proved otherwise, I shall think my self worthy of the hardest censure; I have just now done, and let them take this for the first Al­larm.

Gloria Deo in Excelsis.