TO Your three Queries, touching

• 1. Non-resi­dency,
• 2. Exchange of Churches,
• 3. And my Pluralities,

I pray ac­cept (in this my haste) this short answere. For the first, I am still the same (whether you speake of the Locus or Officium) that then I was, when I Preached and Published that my Concio ad Clerum in your hands.

For the second, I conceive that a Pastor in his removes should be rather Passive then Active, and fit downe by the conclusion of old [...].

For the third, I must needs say more then ever I inten­ded, by reason of a fresh charge upon me from Oxford this instant Aprill. I acknowledge a double error.

• 1. That I yeelded so farre, as to beare the name of some livings, 'till some unwelcome suitors were slaved off, and others more desired were wrought in.
• 2. That I was too confident, that no man would con­ceive that I intended to hold foure or five livings at these years, being so neare my grave, and at this time, When pluralities are so decryed and damned, especially seeing in my younger daies, I satisfied my selfe with one small [Page 3]Benefice, though then I had offers of more, and that then when Non-residency was more in fashion and credit, and more dispensable then now it is. Thus farre I have erred, and for this I crave pardon. But now whereas it is pre­tended that filthy lucre hath so farre transported mee that I have heaped Living upon Living to a great num­ber, and to no lesse a value, then 14. or 1500^l per annum, I doe professe unto you in the words of Truth and Sobrie­ty, I never yet received 300^l per annum declaro in one yeare from any Church Living or Livings, and whereas an audit is made of the very particulars, be not weary if I touch upon each particular. The first instance is Hanwell, there I lived forty years, and there had died, had I not been called away by publique Order, and before I might returne, my Living and Goods seized to anothers use. During which my absence, I was never called to any set­led, though invited to many sequestred places, The first place I undertook, when Hanwell was taken away, was that at Bhishops-gate (not daring to venture upon that at the Temple) there I was (at the Parliaments pleasure) till Hanwell was againe opened unto mee, touching which I cannot give you a full account without some trouble to you, and some reflection upon dearest friends, only this in summe. I am so willing to owne that for my old love (as Pegasus tearmes it) that I preferre it to any place in the World, were there sutable accommodations, but the parsonage house being defaced, the Mounds and Standards removed, many of my Goods, Books, and o­ther implements and utensils Pillaged, my own proper Houses thereabouts, turned to ashes by the fury of flame and Sword, It was not in my power to repaire my selfe, nor in the Peoples to recruit me: true it is; some over­tures have been made, some time spent in projecting a re­settlement, but obstructions have been very great. Mean­while, what offers have been made on my part, what suits on the Peoples part, how the place hath been sup­plied [Page 4]what monies have come at any time to my purse (Souldiers, Assistants and other emergencies answered) I had rather the most knowing Inhabitants would speake then my selfe, who (I believe) will smile at Pegasus his A­rithmetique in summing all up to 160^l per annum with an &c.

The Second place is Bishops-gate, how neare that reach­eth to 400^l per annum, M. Fuller (there setled) by this time finds, would this Auditor help me to my arrear's for times past, he should have my now hundreds thence, for one of his Pegasus shooe-nailes.

The third is Hanbury, It pleased Oxford-shire Committee, out of their good thoughts of me and desire of my Neigh­bourhood, to designe that for me, yea to send me (with­out my suite) an order for it, this I kept by me a while, and in fine desired them to excuse me, and how ever I might (if I would) have made some profit of the place, yet I assure you, and the Parishioners will attest the same, the place was never worth 3^d to me; whether in it selfe it a­mounts to towards 300^l or no, M. Rogers (the Incum­bent) best knowes, and this reporter (within sixe miles of the place) may know the truth in the premises, if it be not grievous to him to know the truth and my inno­cency.

Now comes sequestred Peterfield, then to be left when I goe to Oxford: this is not above forsooth 5. or 600^l per annum, warily spoken, he might have made another re­move, and said not above so many 1000^l, what 'tis in this negative and indefinite way it skilles not much, what I have received, the Sequestrator hath asserted under his hand, and if Pegasus will give me 150^l for my 500^l per an­num (all things discharged) I will give him Bridle and Saddle into the bargaine.

As for his 4^s per diem in the Assembly, he understands as little how and to whom that is paid, as I doe of his 10^s for Apostle-ship in Oxford vaine man, who is at leisure [Page 5]thus to throw away time, and to please himselfe in his own froth) knowes he better then I what I have received or doe intend, whether I settle upon Garsington (an other instance annexed to the Colledge) or no: whether it were possible for me (if I were willing) to hold many Parsona­ges now or not: or say I could and would, knowes he ne­ver a man (never a worthy man in his eye) who hathhad 15. or 1600^l per annum, and how comes he to be so angry with one, and so indulgent to another in the same cause, but the Lord forgive his keenes, not against me only, but against more deserving men. Sir I returne to you, I crave pardon for this digression, if this little will satisfy you, or any with you, I am glad, if not, I shall doe more at more leasure, for I am resolved that no Pluralist shall justly quote me. I am now a dying man, and I had rather dye this day, then live one more therein to give just offence to the Church of God, to his Grace I now leave you, and

YOUR Letter overtook me in my Jorny, you will pardon me, if I answer the Con­tents currente calamo.

1. To the exception against me and my Bretheren for Pluralities, this I say for them, I hope it is causelesse, I have often heard their defence, and know that diverse of them have bin hardly put to it, but somewhat. (I conceive) will be shortly done in their Vindication, and I will not anticipate. 2ly, For my selfe, I think I may say with­out breach of modesty, sum extra noxam sed non est facile pur­gatu, I was a little too confident of a faire and Candid in­terpretation of my actions and intentions, and therefore made not hast enough, and that which swayed me was this. It was told me that some places (offered me) would suffer, in case use were not made of my name for a season. 2ly, I was willing (an option being granted, and I be­ing now to settle once for all for ought I knew) to see what place would suit best with my strength for the Charge, and with my health for the Ayre, and thereupon some time runne out before I (who was not my selfe) could refolve, but it was never intended on any hand, that I should hold any more places then one, nay it never came into my thoughts. There is now from Oxford (as you seem to intimate) somewhat said with no good affection, nay all heightned, ad Conflandum odium & invidiam, things so re­presented as if I had no lesse then 4 or 5 Livings of great Value at one time, whereas you know that I never had any place (which I could call mine) but only one, the rest of­fered me were many (upon severall occasions) but all [Page 7]Sequestred, Tenable (yea and Tithable too) at the plea­sure of others. What reason I had to part suddainly with a more certaine, for a lesse certaine thing, doe you judge. All the rest of those places (so offered) are for ought I know disposed of, some I never saw, from others I never re­ceived Penny, the only Sequestred place that is in question is Peterfield, this was with much noblenesse at first conferred, with much feare and slownes undertaken, supplyed (by reason of my attendance elsewhere, and the Sequestra­tours and Parishioners refusing to take the means and please themselves in the choyce of the Assistants) with much difficulty, submitted to that honourable Committee againe upon my derignement for Oxford, and now (the re­sult of Oxford businesse being known) to be (according to a former engagement) for ever acquitted, or only resided up­on. As for Hanwell, when a Successour was named by the Patron, I thought the worke done, but it proved otherwise. At present I say this. 1. I was called thence 2. The place was taken from me. 3. Since it returned, I have made these offers, 1. That in-case the Parishioners would make the place habitable, I would (with leave) there live and dye, or 2. That I would resigne it to such a man as they (and others concerned) liked, so as I might be freed of Delapidations, nay Devastations made by Souldi­ers, and 3. In the meane, till Patron and People could con­curre in a man, I offered that he who Offciated should take all, Conditionally that he would doe and pay all, there re­maines but one thing more, and that's this, that I Petition the Parliament either to relieve me in my great losses and returne me thither, or else put in a suflicient man, in case there be not a speedy Concurrence, (as I truft there will be now) in such a man as I have ingaged my selfe to leave upon the place. Thus you have the naked truth represented here­in, what you dislike I desire to know that I may Correct it. Sir I am so little taken with great places, that my highest ambition is some private Hospitall, and so tyred with a Pa­storall Charge, that I dislike nothing so much in my lott at [Page 8] Oxford, as that. Hitherto I have bin passive in all the places I ever had, and now I would gladly sit down in silence, and goe to my grave in peace, and this is all I can stay to say to your first Quere.

Now for your second touching Oxford, it is not for me to say much: I love the place, I honour diverse there who are of a different Iudgment in some things, and could heartily wish, that they would have prevented our Journey thither, and taske there, by a timely Reformation of themselves, and free concurrence with the Parliament in that necessary work, for though you and I and a 1000 more, do honour that our dearest Mother and do unfainedly desire (aconcealement of her wants, yea) her greatest advancement, yet we cannot de­ny but that there is need of a further Reformation, and that without prejudice to our Oaths and Priviledges, (for ought I knowe) and had that beene done long might the Students for me have enjoyed their Mother, and their Mother them. I thinke I may truely say, that there is none put in there by the Parliament, who had not rather see the place Reformed, then himselfe preferred. For my selfe, if my places in City and Country be so many, so rich as they are reported, it may be reasonably thought, that it is no great preferment for me to quitt them all (as I must and will if I settle there) for Trinity Colledge, but the truth is, I do not think that Pegasus doth beleive that I have so much in my hands, nay I make a question whether he would not like it well enough, that I should keep more Li­vings, so I would leave one Colledge, and truely I am not ve­ry liquorish after one. Sir you see how apt I am to exceed whil'st I conferre with you. I conclude with these requests, beleive 1. That I am no friend to Nonresidency and Plura­lities, 2. That I have not husbanded mens kindnesses to mine owne advantage, 3. That I defire no place like my old place, si res esset integra, you will now present my best to all with you, and continue your prayers for