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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A83515	The third part of Gangræna. Or, A new and higher discovery of the errors, heresies, blasphemies, and insolent proceedings of the sectaries of these times; with some animadversions by way of confutation upon many of the errors and heresies named. ... Briefe animadversions on many of the sectaries late pamphlets, as Lilburnes and Overtons books against the House of Peeres, M. Peters his last report of the English warres, The Lord Mayors farewell from his office of maioralty, M. Goodwins thirty eight queres upon the ordinance against heresies and blasphemies, M. Burtons Conformities deformity, M. Dells sermon before the House of Commons; ... As also some few hints and briefe observations on divers pamphlets written lately against me and some of my books, ... / By Thomas Edvvards Minister of the Gospel.; Gangraena. Part 3	Edwards, Thomas, 1599-1647.	1646 (1646)	Wing E237; Thomason E368_5; ESTC R201273	294,455	360

Maidstone and had a mind to have promoted a Petition among our Sectaries June 15. 1646. OUr common friend M. Edwards his last Book Gangraena of the Second Edition I received this last post together with his Letter I pray let him understand as much and withall let him know I shall my self God willing thank him for both at better leisure and when I have read his Book thorough Surely he spake Prophetically that usually cald him in Cambridge young Luther Faxit Deus that the Sectaries may never be able to deal with him as I doubt not many of them desire whose words would willingly be turned into swords both against him and us all An Extract of a letter written from a godly Minister to me YOur Books I can assure you I find gain savour with all but the common adversary who much increaseth and multiplyeth in these parts where I heard last week at an open ordinary in presence of two of our Deputy Lieutenants that since Kiffen and Lamb have been here re-baptizing now there 's a third man come that contradicts them both and re-baptizeth again So that the poor people begin to stare and stand amazed to think what their deluded disciples will do in the end Many of the Brownists fall to them however their doctor Turner keeps his ground who dispited as some say with Kiffen and drowned him in the red sea till at last they fell both from reasoning to down right railing Poor people I pitty them as also those others then and there spoken of also as one a very honest man otherwise that affirmed lately he thought the Apostles themselves never had more excellent gifts then a company of tradesmen that now preach in private at Sandwich Another it was said there was at A●ch neer Sandwich who was said to say he was Christ but being questioned Answered no he was only Christs mouth and could feed such as were hungry c. though as some say he can hardly feed himself Surely I often now think on Matt. 24 Except in the Wildernesse or in Chambers where is Christ as they think We should gladly see you here I remember it was one of Don Perdroes devices about his first coming into this Country to bring down with him some Ministers out of your City to preach up the Parliament and why should not you to preach down Heresie Schisme Prophanesse that the Country may know of what Religion the City is Certainly I am for such a change of courses as they call it Propheta in patria c. Thus in haste I heartily rest Yours July 6. 1646. A Copy of a Letter from a godly minister in Yorkshire to a friend of his in Lancashire SIR I Returned from York June 3d. Our meeting proved very successesse one of the prime York ministers being the main Remora to our desires which were to write to the Assembly that we would joyn with them in the Presbyterian way according to Gods word to the utmost of our power and to declare against the Erastian principles when it was put to the vote he desired to stay till he had further light I know not whether he meant from the word or from the State There 's so much policy now in the world that it hath eate out if not much of conscience yet very much of our care and zeale in promoting the work of Reformation according to our Covenant nay so far are we degenerated now as I am informed from a good ●and that to be forward and zealous in the Covenant is the sole character of malignancy and only badge of disaffection but I hope it will prevaile in despight of those who having formerly been takers are now the only tramplers upon it We have appointed another meeting at Pomfret on munday seven-night M. R. hath promised to meet the West riding ministers there Some passages taken out of a Letter written from a learned and godly minister in Devonshire to a friend in London I Am resolved to disgest all abuses and contempts and insultations of Sectaries and frustration of hopes so I may honour Christ You will easily see by the inclosed what work is here The Sectaries are grown so confident and insolent that we may say of them as Rivet of Mountague I● quo desideramus hominem for they seem so farre from Religion that they put off humanity A Relation of some stories and other remarkable passages concerning the Sectaries THe 16. of June 1646. It was related to me by a Justice of Peace who was an eare and eye witnesse and by a godly Minister in Northamptonshire that there is one Kendall who in the Bishops times was a great creature of Sir John Lams a bower at the Altar and for all the Innovations but since these times of Sectarisme is turned a great Sectary having renounced his Ministery This man is now a Captaine in Whitlesey the Isle of Ely that Iland of Errors and Sectaries and a great Preacher who comes sometimes to visit Northamptonshire where formerly he was a Curate Now the last Trinity Munday as the day is commonly called on a Faire day in that Country where a great resort of people was Master Basely a godly Minister in those parts being spoken unto to preach and being provided for it this Kendall stept up into the Pulpit before him and preached on that text Rom. 8. For 〈◊〉 yee live after the flesh yee shall dye on which words he preached against humane learning as being flesh and that the Universities were of the Devill Secondly that Adams righteousnesse in Innocencie was but flesh and opposed to the spirit Master Basely in the afternoone preaching confuted his Doctrines this Kendall would have stood up in the Church and have opposed him but was hindred by a Justice of Peace who was present The 10th of June 1646. A godly Minister living in Lincolnshire told me and another City Minister that he hath in his Parish many Manifestarians Disciples and followers of one Thomas Moore spoken of in my First and Second Part of Gangraena who upon his knowledge will keep no dayes of Fast nor none of the dayes of Thanksgiving because they will not give thanks to God for one man killing of another He told me that some of the Manifestarians hold and he hath heard some of them say they had seen Christ and seen the Devill to This Minister related to us that there was a young maiden in his Parish about 16 yeares of age one who preaches to many young men and maidens he named her name and I well remember it but forbeare naming her because being so young happily she may be reclaimed This Thomas Moore comes often into this part of Lincolnshire and divers times to this Towne where he preaches in houses but the last time he was there he preached not and the reason some of the Sectaries give out was because this godly Minister is a persecutor others say because he could not have the use of a great house in that

hath lain bed-riden a long time who denieth the marrying of them that he had no Licence nor any Authority to marry them as by his Certificate may appear but as he confesseth took eleaven shillings and six pence of her to make show of something as if he married her to satisfie her humour the youth not knowing any thing thereof concerning het pretended marriage with him For at that time and six weeks after she pretends this marriage your Petitioners son was ignorant of things done and said unto him and was weak in his understanding and right judgement and without his memory and speechlesse as your Petitioner can prove And whereas she produceth a Certificate to show as married in Saint Georges Church in Southwark where she never was with him neither is there any such marriage in the Church Register book to be found the Lad taketh it to heart he should be so abused by her and that it may be a discontent to him for ever during his life And the said Mary hath done so in another house where she was a servant by one P. H. an Apprentise about three months before this and is not free from him to this day but by a bribe of ten pounds she received of him She the said Mary defending her practise in the streets to be lawfull saying It was commanded under the Law not to marry without consent of parents but that was but a ceremony to them that liyed under the Law it is now lawfull because we live under the Gospel He humbly prayeth if it might stand with your favour to grant unto him your Warrant to bring before you the said Mary that upon discovery of the Premises and lewd practise the Petitioners Son as he hath bin by her publickly disgraced he may be publickly discharged from her and she abide such further Order as shall be thought meet And the Petitioner and his Sonne as in duty bound shall and will daily pray for your Honours long and happy preservation This Mary Abraham before her coming to Master Clarks had intangled a young youth an Apprentice here in London and claimed a promise of marriage at his hand which businesse was heard before Master Jesse the Seeker an Independent Minister and some others and it was concluded he should give her ten pounds and so there should be an end between them which this youth gave her and there was a writing of discharge between them which ten pounds given by the boy M. Jesse received and faith it was since given to the Parliament Now though M. Jesse knew all this yet he recommended this Mary to Master Clark to be his house-keeper who knew nothing of her prancks when this old wench came to his house whilst the youth was well she tempted him not but when he was thus ill as above mentioned she tempted him and in the time of some intermission of his sits before he was perfectly recovered when the youth went with a staffe she carried him to that Stampe and when the boy was ill and weak would come to bed to him Now after Master Clark had put this Mary Abraham away he found this paper of agreement between a young Apprentize and this Mary by meeer accident in his sonnes chamber and with a great deale of paines and enquiry found out this Apprentice in London from whom he understood the whole businesse whereupon going to Master Jesse with this paper to taxe him that he knowing such a businesse would commend such a one to him who was a widdower Master Jesse desiring to see the paper Master Clarke letting him see it kept it and would never restore it againe but Master Jesse told him he must forgive her and he speaking of complaining of her for doing such a wicked fact for the ruine of his sonne Master Jesse wished him to take heed of prosecuting a Saint and to consider how Jesus Christ at the day of judgement would take it at his hands with such like words And this Master Clark tels me having spoken to him and some other Sectaries of that company why they suffered such a wickednesse and kept her company he told me I could not imagine the shifts and put offs they had among them to colour the wickednesse the affirming and denying sometimes saying she was not of their Church but only recommended by Letters Testimoniall sometimes affirming she had repented There is one Master Denne whom I have spoken of in my first Part of Gangraena this man goes still up and down the Countries spreading his corrupt opinions and dipping concerning whom I have lately received this Information from a hand that could not mistake in the relation and I have the examinations taken before the Justices of Peace who examined Denne and others about him which I here give the Reader The Examination of Anne Jarrat of Spalding Spinster June 22. 1646. before Master Thomas Irbie and Master John Harrington Commissioners of the Peace THis Examinate saith on Wednesday last in the night about 11. or 12. of the clock Anne Stennet and Anne Smith the servants of John Makernesse did call out this Examinate to go with them to the little Croft with whom this Examinate did go and coming thither Master Denne and John Makernesse and a stranger or two followed after And being come to the River side Master Denne went into the water and there did baptise Anne Stennet Anne Smith Godfery Roote and John Sowter in this Examinats presence Anne Jarrat W her mark June 21. 1646. Lincolne Holland Henry Denne of Caxton in the County of Cambridge examined before John Harrington and Thomas Irby Esquires two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace THis Examinate saith that he liveth at Caxton aforesaid but doth exercise at Elsly within a mile of his own house and saith that he took Orders about 16. years since from the Bishop of Saint Davids And that on Munday last he came to Spalding being invited thither by John Makernesse to come to his house And that he hath exercised his gifts about four times in severall places in Spalding viz. at the house of John Makernesse and Mr. E●stons As for baptising of any he doth not confesse John Harrington Master Harrington sent for Denn by a Constable on the Lords day with whom he coming Master Harrington confined him to the Provost Marshal who had been an Officer of the Committee for that day being the Lords day that he should not make a mutiny nor stir in the Town that day by people resorting to him This Maiden Anne Jarrat confesse● that she being by heard Master Denn or some of the company with him lay upon them at their Baptisme and require a promise of those that were dipped to hear none but of their own way This Denn in his travels about the country had two men attended him who live as they said with him they were clad like Farmem and they took upon them to question some in the Town of Spalding to give an account

the increase of Errors there and that there was a woman Preacher there who ●ents many Heresies as that the Scriptures were not the word of God that the drowning of the old World and story of Noah were not true there were no such things with other things of that nature July the eighth a godly Minister lately of this City told me in the presence and hearing of other Ministers as a certain truth this story That at a house in Red-crosse street or thereabouts there met some Sectaries where some forty persons being present one of then exercised his gifts and in his exercise preached these Doctrines 1. That Jesus Christ was not God not the Son of God 2. That the Scriptures were not the word of God and brought many arguments to prove it 3. That the souls of men dye with their bodies Now as he was delivering these points there was a woman present that wept bitterly speaking words to this effect If this Doctrine be true what shall I do I have many yeers beleeved in Jesus Christ and hoped to be saved but now what will become of me Which words this blasphemous Sectary taking notice of said good woman you need not be troubled for though Christ be not God neither any certainty of the Scripture being the word of God yet if you live honestly and modestly you shall do well enough besides this fellow said there are two Witnesses or Prophets coming shortly that will bring Scriptures with them and then you and I shall know what to do and to beleeve There is an Independent who came some yeers ago out of New-England and is made a Captaine here who left a wife and many children there and after he was come over never sends nor writes to his wife nor takes no care for the●r subsistence but as it seems by Letters written to New-England and from thence this Captaine hath been sometimes neer the marrying others here in England in so much as a Letter was written to him b●one whom I suppose an Elder at the desire of the Church to deale with him about it which Letter I have read as also a Letter from his wise wherein she wonders she could not hear from him and prayes him to consider in what state he left her and those children and how unable both she and they are for any inployment and for to show the truth of this Relation I shall give the Reader a true copie of the Letter sent him out of New-England which is as followes Captaine and beloved Brother HAving an opportunity I embraced it to write unto you being also desired by the Church we earnestly desi●ing your good in the Lord. I wonder that you would never sens a word neither to my self nor any friend of yours we knew not whether to write unto you untill this opportunity Your wife is yet a live and never received word nor penny from you And which is most sadde we are informed by two Letters that you have been sometimes ready to marry others which you know is very evill and condemned by the Law of England as well as by the Law of God we hope you will take it to heart together with your forgetfulnesse of your wife and children It showes that your heart is declined from God and we hold it our duty to recover you if we can by the blessing of God upon the meanes we shall use Good Sir take some time to consider of your wayes the time will come when you must give account for them to the great Judge of all We shall expect to hear an answer from you concerning this businesse for God calls us to purge his Church from such evils as these are Thus with my love unto you and prayers to the Lord to recover you and humble you I rest Your loving friend Richard Blinman Glocester in New-England December 4. 1645. THere is one Sir Worts who being newly Bachelor of Arts came down into Norfolke and would have had such a place in Norfolke which some of the godly Ministers thought him not fit to take the Cure of upon him being so young having so lately commenced Bachelor whereupon this young youth being angry at the Ministers for missing the place the next newes the godly Ministers heard was that he was turned Independent had gathered a Church and people running eight or ten miles after him with a great deale of violence crying him up and amongst other of his converts that turned Independents and followed this Worts a godly Minister of that Country told me one of his Parish who would lie often in blind Alehouses and be often drunk being not admitted by him to the Lords Supper but being wished by this Minister to repent and give some testimonies of it before he came upon non-admittance turned Independent presently and followed this Worts but a while after this man was struck sick on a Munday dying on the Friday or Saturday after and would not admit his Minister to come at him but sent for Worts and in his sicknesse lay all the while speaking and extolling the Church-way to all who came to see him but not doing any thing which concerned a man in that case who had been guilty of so great sinnes and so died A godly Minister told me that he knew an old man an Anabaptist that lived at Ashford in Kent or thereabouts who will bee drunken and when he is drunk then he will weep much and bewaile the blindnesse of the Church of England About May last I was told it by two or three good witnesses that a Souldier belonging to the Army and one who had been a Dipper came not long before that to a Town in Bedfordshire called Ravensdowne and got up into the ●●lpit against the will of the Minister preaching for Universall Grace against Poedobaptisme against Tyths whereupon for preaching whether the Minister would or no one of the Town fetcht a Warrant for him against he came down from the Pulpit to bring him before a Knight a Justice of Peace of that County and when he came before him he gave him uncivill words and carried himself disrespectively telling him that if he committed him he should be fetcht forth with honour and to the Justices dishonour but the Justice binding him over to the Sessions and being brought thither desiring some exemplary justice against him for contempt of his authority a Letter came from some Commander I am not sure who for to send his Souldier to him and so as the story was told me the Justices released him and let him go An honest godly man of good understanding told me lately that one being spoken unto about sending the Army into Ireland he said there should not go six parings of the nails of Sir Thomas's Army into Ireland though it were lost ten times over better that lost then England hazarded by sending away the Army At Hampden in Buckinghamshire there is one Potter a Smith who hath been a souldier and is come out

the Kingdome and live like Kings and Emperors and like lawlesse men none such being of Gods creation there will never be an end of this Parliament which by its everlasting continuance by the abuses of lawlesse and rotten-hearted men will become the most absolute burthen and greatest oppression that ever was upon the people when as in times by past it used to be their only remedy from their oppression and oppressors In a Pamphlet entituled Yet another word to the wise there 's a Letter directed To Master John Musgrave chosen to present the Countries greivances to the House of Commons which Letter speaks thus But the House of Commons instead of hearing and redressing your greivances have added new greivances unto those which formerly you have suffered in their owne quarrell against the common enemy they have unjustly imprisoned you these last twelve moneths protected Traytors among themselves from the Law c. Yet we shall rather with tears seek their repentance then their persisting in such courses seeing they are placed in lawfull authority and have a good Cause though they seeke too much their owne c. And as for their lamentable submission to the Bishops servants the Presbyterian Synodians in establishing that wil-worship and Popish maintenance which now themselves doe well know to be jure diabolico through these blind guides their Diviners and Southsayers inability to answer their Queres whereby to prove themselves jure divino surely if they will notwithstanding obstinatly persist in such wilfull dangerous and unwarrantable courses they will doubtlesse show themselves to be fighters against God his truth and people to their owne destruction without speedy conversion In a Pamphlet entituled Liberty against Slavery there 's a Letter written by a Sectary call'd An e●cellent Letter written by a prisoner to a worthy Member of the House of Commons where are these passages O where is justice may not these royall plunderers as well justifie all their Robberies and Depraedations as either our House of Commons or the House of Peeres these kinds of imprisonments and commitments Nay is it not the greatest injustice when done under the colour of justice Sir I assure you it were lesse greivous unto us to die at once then to be thus inslaved and fami●hed in your cruell prison houses where we are exposed to all misery contempt obloquie and scorne of the worst men and thereby the hearts of our wives and aged Parents broken with greif Sir be pleased to consider how by these and the like doings the affections of many thousands of people is estranged from you who have formerly adventured all to uphold you in your authorities and if this course be continued we shall not we cannot thinke and say lesse then that the Parliament and not the Prerogative makes us a bondage and miserable people And some already do not spare to say that the Parliament is now become the burthen of the Kingdome You were intrusted by the people for their good and not for the continuation of their thraldome let us then have justice which without showing your selves to be most unjust men you cannot any longer deny us The Pamphlet entituled Englands Birth-right page 33. speaking of the Commons in Parliament saith By which manifest abusing negligent and not true using the Lawes oppressions mischeifes greivances are no lesse if not far more increased then they were before the Parliament began and many times by the powerfull interest of a faction in the Parliament to save some one two or three of their Members undeserving credits they so violate the knowne unrepealed and declared Law of the Land yea and their owne Votes Ordinances Declarations and Protestations as if they had never made them I say all these things considered ought not the free men of England who have laboured in these destroying times both to preserve the Parliament and their owne native freedomes and birth-rights not only to chuse new Members where they are wanting once every yeer but also to renew and inquire once a yeere after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen Lilburne in that Pamphlet of his call'd Innocency and Truth justified page 75. speak● thus of the House of Commons But it may be you will say the House of Commons is not at leasure by reason of publick I answer lesse then an hours time will serve my turne in this particular and t is very strange in 5. yeers space so much time cannot be found from the publick to transmit my busines sure I am they can find time enough to settle great rich plac● upon some of themselves and to enjoy them for al their owne Ordinances to the contrary yea and I know some of them hath plurality of places and I say the thing I desire of them is more justly my due then any of their great places are theirs and therefore I hope they have no true cause to be angry with me for craving justice at their hands And page 37. I am absolutely of this mind that neither a Committee of the House of Commons nor the whole House of Commons together can justly imprison me or any other contrary to a Law which at present there is not some Ordinance made both by them and the Peers publick at present to overthrow it But I have severall times been imprisoned by the Committees and by Vote of the House of Commons it selfe contrary to a knowne Law made this present Parliament by themselves against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peeres for the Cognizance of Ergo I say they are tied in justice according to tenor of this Law to give me reparations against those persons that were cheife instruments either in Committees or in the House of Commons it selfe to Vote and take away my Liberty from me contrary to this Law and for my part I doe accordingly expect my reparations for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments A pamphlet entituled A Remonstance to their owne House of Commons page 11. speakes thus to the Honorable Commons For we must deale plainly with you ye have long time acted more like the House of Peers then the House of Commons we can scarcely approach your doore with a request or motion though by way of Petition but ye hold long debates whether we break not your Priviledges The King or the Lords pretended Prerogatives never made a greater noise nor was made more dreadfull then the name of Priviledge of the House of Commons Your Members in all Impositions must not be taxed in the places where they live like other men Your servants have their priviledges too To accuse or prosecute any of you is become dangerous to the prosecutors ●e have imprisonments as frequently for either witnesses or prosecutors as ever the Star-chamber had and ye are furnished with new devised arguments to prove that ye only may justly doe those grosse injustices which the Star chamber High

doe to be tolerated and suffered nay in many places they cannot serve God quietly nor live in peace but are affronted molested thereatned yea their lives hazarded The Dommation and Insolencies of the Sectaries in England both in City and Country are unsufferable and beyond all example and let but all things be considered the nature of the Lawes and civill Government of England that all the people are subject to the same Lawes and all the Countries of this Kingdome under the obedience of King and Parliament none exempt not some parts under one and some under another as in the Cantons and some other Countries as also that great and solemne Covenant taken for the nearest uniformity in Doctrine Government c. and the extirpation of all heresie schisme c. with some other such like considerations I am ready upon my life to make it good at the Barr of both Houses that there is in England the greatest sufferance and countenance of a Dissenting party from what is held out and established by Authority that ever was in any age where there was a Christian Magistrate or that is in any part of the world whatsoever at this day the Toleration in Holland France Transylvania c. in many things falling short of that liberty the Sectaries here enjoy I had thought upon and drawn up twelve pregnant particulars with the proofes wherein the Toleration here is greater then in those Countries but I must defer them till the fourth part of Gangraena having enlarged this part already so much beyond the former parts and my intentions and shall conclude this seventh Corollarie that if the Sectaries shall be still suffered to go on and all kind of errors and opinions vented for the future as they have been for these three or foure last years this will be such a thing as never was read or heard of in any age or among any people that the end and issue of a solemne Nationall Covenant made with God another Kingdome and one another for Reformation should end in a universall Toleration and Confusion both in Church and State 8. Corollar Hence then we may plainly see by many speeches passages in Letters facts insolencies of the Sectaries related in this Book that the Sectaries hold not to their principles of Toleration and Liberty of Conscience but only in receiving it they will not give it when and where they have the power of giving it unto others The Sectaries in all their Bookes Sermons Speeches Discourses contend for liberty of Conscience and that no man should suffer any thing from another for his differing in opinions from him or be hindered in printing and speaking his conscience and yet if the Reader do but remember the severall passages I have laid down of the Sectaries dealings with godly Presbyterians in City and Country Army and Ministry and in all places he must necessarily conclude when they are grown strong enough and where they can they will suffer none but themselves In all ages Hereticks and Sectaries at their first rising when but a few and weake have cryed for Toleration liberty of Conscience but when by being let alone they have grown to great numbers and by their industry subtilty and activity have got power in their hands then they have been the greatest persecutors of all others denying all liberty to the Orthodox and this the Ecclesiasticall Histories of all times both ancient and moderne show Thus the Donatists Arrians Anabaptists of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Holland with other such like maintained and pleaded for a Toleration ●anquam pr● aris focis and yet after a time that either they got Princes and Magistrates 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 or being increased in number got the sword into their 〈◊〉 they killed banished spoiled of their goods threw out of offices and places all those who were not of their opinions And thus our present Independents and Anabaptists notwithstanding all their pretences of liberty and conscience have and do where they are in power and can by any way or means suppresse prosecute Presbyterians to the utmost and indeed for this very end plead for liberty and worke night and day too get into all places of power and command both military and 〈…〉 It w●re too long to relate all the instances of godly Ministers and other worthy men troubled and complain●d of by them to Committees of honest Christians troubled by the● means for discharging their consciences in petitioning the Parliament and Common Councell of all the godly Ministers put by from preaching in their owne Churches by Sectaries and of their retusing to let godly Ministers of the Presbyterian judgement preach in any Chappels and Churches where they have power of the many threatning speeches spoken by them against the godly Ministers that they would leave never a Preist in England that the Presbyterians should be dealt with as Malignants sequestred ere long and such like of their not licensing any books or matters of Intelligence but stopping the Presse all they can to men not of their judgement of their incensing and strring up the Parliament in printed books to punish godly Ministers for laying open the Errors of the times of their labouring to keep out of all places in Parliament Armies Livings c. Orthodox godly men of their putting affronts upon hindring of pay turning out of places by one trick or other the faithfullest and worthiest men if Presbyterians yea going against all principles of Justice Honor Rules of Warre Gallantry What should I speak of all the affronts neglects complaints of troubles vexations which have happened to many gallant valiant faithfull Commanders and all because Anti-Independents by meanes of the Sectaries as Sir Willam Waller Major Generall Massey Major Generall Skippon Colonel Harvey Colonel King Colonel Whaley Major Fincher Adjutant Generall Gray Lieutenant Colonel Kempson Lieutenant Colonel Jackson c. besides the putting by of some from their places what gallant man almost is there but hath beene heaved at complained of some way or other affronted by some Sectaries and neglected by having men put over their heads into commands and they unpreferd though places void There are strange but true stories in the Army in this ●ind and some keepe a Register of them and when time shall serve may make them knowne though for the present because they see how strong the streame runs and for the quietnesse of the Army they are silent though they cannot but speak to their friends of these things I have been told from a good hand upon the occasion of Adjutant Generall Grayes being questioned at a Councell of Warre for reading the City Remonstrance that a great Commander of that Army writ a letter to another great Commander to this effect that he wondred that they who were so much for liberty of conscience and a Toleration for themselves would not afford the same to other men but that Adjutant Generall Gray because he was a Presbyterian and that according to his conscience should have

the Judges that there was in Monarchie and Aristocracy an enmity against Christ which he would destroy and as he was speaking some turbulent fellowes and Sectaries clambred up by the Bench and cryed out my Lord my Lord Mr Pr. doth it in malice we will maintaine our Minister with our bloud whereupon the Judge threw away the paper and said he would heare no more of it though he had before commanded Master Eldred to read openly all those Heterodoxies The Lords day following Master Feake in the Pulpit endeavored to answer all the Articles put up against him to the Judges in a great Auditory Many other things I have heard of him since his coming to Hartford but what I here set down of him besides the relation I have had by word of mouth of persons of worth 't is given me under hand in writing and that with this seale set to it what I have here written I will justifie and much more when I am called to it There is one Richard Overton a desperate Sectary one of Lilburnes Breed and followers who hath printed many scandalous things against the House of Peers and notice being given of him there was an Order granted for the taking of him and seasing of his Presse a Presse that had printed many wicked Pamphlets that have come out of late against the King the Lords the Presbyteriall Government the City and for a Toleration and Liberty destructive to all Religion Lawes and Government yea overthrowing by the principles laid down in them the power of the House of Commons whilst they seeme to cry up and invest that House with the Monopoly of all the power of the Kingdome who being apprehended by the Messengers sent out for him was brought before a Committee of the House of Lords where he refused to answer any questions and carried himself with a great deale of contempt and scorne both in words and gesture and after this being brought before the House of Lords he refused to answer any questions propounded by the Speaker as in the name of the House and to that question whether he were a Printer or no hee would not answer but told them he was resolved not to make answer to any interrogatories that should infringe his propertie right or freedome in particular or the rights freedomes and properties of the Nation in generall Besides he gave saucie and peremtory words to the House of Lords and appealed from the House of Lords to the House of Commons whereupon the Lords committed him to Newgate as he most justly deserved Now since his commitment to Newgate there are some wicked railing Pamphlets come out in his name and sold openly Pamphlets venting a company of cursed principles both against Religion and civill Government tending to nothing else but the overthrow of the fundamentall constitution of this Kingdome in King Lords and Commons and setting up the body of the common people as the Soveraigne Lord and King denying King and Lords any power and the House of Commons any further then the peoples Deputies and at the pleasure of and will of the people and to the ruine of Religion by pleading against the Ordinance for punishing Blasphemies and Heresies The first Book of this Overtons is call'd A defence against all Arbitrary Vsurpations of the House of Lords and a Relation of their unjust and barbarous proceedings against that worthy Commoner stiling himself so The second is An Arrow against all Tyrants and Tyranny shot from the prison of Newgate into the Prerogative Bowe●s of the Arbytrary House of Lords by Richard Overton Prerogative Archer to the Arbitrary House of Lords The third is A Petition and Appeale to the House of Commons calling them the High and mighty States the most Soveraigne House and himself their leigo Petitioner In all which he most audaciously and unsu●●erably abuses the House of Lords charging them with Tyranny ●surpation invading the Liberties of the people denying them all legislative power desiring due reparations against them scoffing and scorning them and their power descanting upon by way of con●utation the Order of the House of Lords for his commitment and stirring up the House of Commons and all the people against the House of Lords to free the people from their oppressions tyrannies c. I will give the Reader a taste of this Anabaptisticall spirit by transcribing a few passages out o● these wicked and cursed Pamphlets In page 5. of his de●iance against the Lords he speaks to English-men thus Ye in speciall be encouraged against all opposition and incroachment of Kings Lords or others upon the House of Commons their rights and properties derived from the people And acknowledg none other to be the supreame Court of Judicature of this Land but the House of Commons and in this gall●●t resolution live and dye and acquit your selves like men For my part I 'le trea● upon the hottest coales of fire and veng●ance that that parcell of men intituled the House of Lords can blow upon me for it Page 15. 17. He makes the Lords to be s●bordinate and subject to the Commons the great Representors of the Land and calls the Knights and Burgesses Assembled the upper House and the Judges of the House of Peers as well as his Page 19. 20. speaking of the power of the Commons hath these words Therefore these Lords being none of the peoples Vicegerents Deputies or Representors cannot legally passe upon any of the Represented to 〈…〉 y sentence fine or imprison but such their actions exceeding the soveraigne compasse must needs be illegall and Antimagistraticall and therefore as by that soveraigne power confer'd from the people upon the House of Commons I made my appeales to the said House refusing altogether to submit unto that usurpation of the Lords over the peoples properties c. In the same page speaking of the House of Lords in a scoffing manner faith Their Lordships might do well to send me to Doctor Bastwicks School of complements that I might have a little more venerable Courtship against the next time I appeale in their presence In page 17. 18. relating how the whole House of Lords derided him upon his refusing to answer the questions of the speaker of the Right Honourable House of Pee●s he sets down that he replyed to them Gentlemen it doth not become you thus to deride me that am a prisoner at you● Barre And thereupon speakes of the House of Lords such ca●riage such Court for indeed Comedies Tragedies Masks and Playes are farre more fit for such idle kind of men In page 6. Overton speaking of the House of Lords writes thus And these are further to let them know that I bid defiance to their injustice usurpation and tyranny and s●●rne even the lest connivance glimpse jot or tittle of their favour Let them do as much against 〈…〉 e by the rule of Equity Reason and Justice for my testimony and protestation against them in this thing as possibly they can and I

shall be content and rest In this Arrow against all Tyrants written as it seems to some Member of the House of Commons page 6. he writes thus Sir We desire your help for your own sakes as well as ours cheifly for the removall of two most insufferable evills daily encroaching and increasing upon us portending and threatning inevitable destruction and confusion of your selves of us and of all our posterity namely the encroachments and usurp●tions of the House of Lords over the Commons liberties and freedomes together with the barbarous inhumane blood-thirstie desires and endeavours of the Presbyterian Clergy O the desperate wickednesse of this man and some other Sectaries who have writ such like passages against the Lords and the Ministers and that for no other cause as appeares by this Pamphlet and divers others themselves being witnesses but because the Lords questioning some men for printing the most abominable sedicious cursed libells against all Royall Authority and the fundamentall ●awes and Government of this Kingdome that ever in any age were published and they in the most unparralleld manner of which I beleeve no presidents can bee shewn in any Chronicles or histories of this Kingdome carrying themselves contempruously and scornfully they committed them to prison and because an Ordinance to punish damnable Blasphemies and Heresies hath been brought into the House of Commons by two worthy Members and that by the pr●curement of the Clergie as the Pamphlet saith Now for what the Lords have done against Lilburne O●erton Larner and such f●llowes in labouring to suppresse ●uch ●editious Presses in punishing them as also in their speedy admitting into their House and thankfull acceptance of the Remonstrances and Petitions of the City of London County of Lancashi 〈…〉 c. And for what Master T●●t and Master Bacon have done in presenting such an Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies they are highly accou●●ed of by all the godly and Orthodox Ministers and people in City and Country and their names will be famous in all generations when the names of Lilburne Overton c. yea and of all their great Patrons whether in the Army or out of the Army will be a by-word and a curse and canonized in the Kalen●●r of such Saints as John of Leyden Thomas Muncer K●ipperdoll●●g c. In page 10. of this poysoned Arrow Overton writes th●s Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakened arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious career for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall Soveraignty the Represented have convayed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of Judicature in the Land as was claimed by the Lord Hounsden when I was before them which challenge of his was a most illegall Anti-Parliamentary audacious presumption c. Behold Reader this wicked Sectary labours to set the House of Commons against the House of Lords to make division between them All the hopes of these sonnes of division lie in breaches which they f●ment all kind of wayes and in all kind of things wherein there is union as between the Houses the Scots and ●he Parliament the Parliament and the City the Parliament and the Ministry of the Kingdom They have no hopes but in wars fishing in troubled wa●ers keeping all things in confusion from being setled In pag. 11 12 hee speaks thus Therefore the soveraign power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors all this kind of soveraignty challenged by any whether of King Lords or others is usurpation illegitimate and illegall and none of the kingdomes or peoples neither are the people thereto oblieged Thus Sir seeing the Soveraign or Legislative power is only from the Represented to the Representors and cannot possibly further extend the power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive and he can communicate no more then he hath himselfe and the Soveraign power not being inherent in him it cannot be convayed by or derived from him to any so that his meer Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their lord and creator never hath had or can have namely the Legislative power Many other strange passages there are both in his Pamphlets and Petition and Appeale made up of intolerable Arrogancy Impudency and Anarchy point blanck against the Fundamentall constitution of the Government of this Kingdom but by these the Reader may judge of the whole ex ung●e leonem and so I leave him to the justice of the House of Lords There is one John Lilburn an Arch Sectary the great darling of the Sectaries highly extolled and magnified by them in many Pamphlets called The Defender of the Faith A Pearle in a Dung-hill That Worthy Sufferer for his Countries Liberty this Worthy man a precious Jewell indeed of whom I had thought to have given a full Relation in this Book and to have laid him open in all his colours by following him from place to place and shewing how time after time he hath behaved himself since he came out of his Apprenticeship as by declaring what set him first on work to print Books against the Bishops how hee carried himselfe in the Fleet whilst he was Prisoner there how since this Parliament both before the warres begun and since the warres how whilst hee was Prisoner at Oxford how in the Earle of Manchestors Army how in the City at many meetings about Petitions since he left the warres how before the Committee of Examinations how the first 〈◊〉 he was in Newgate by order of the House of Commons how hee behaved himselfe before the House of Lords and how the second time of his imprisonment in Newgate and how since his last commitment to the Tower but because this Narration alone will take up some sheets there being many remarkable things to be written of him of his insolent loose ungodly practices and of his Anarchicall Principles destructive to all Civill Government whatsoever and I have already filled up that number of sheets I a● first intended when I resolved to write this Third Part though I have many things yet to put in this Third Part therefore I must de●erre it till a Fourth Part and shall then by the help of God doe it so largely and fully that I shall make his folly and wickednesse known to all men and vindicate the honour and power of the House of Peers from his and all the Sectaries wicked Libells shewin● the weaknesse of those Principles That all power in Government is founded upon the immediate free election of all those that are to be Governed And of a necessity that all who are to be subject and obey must be represented And that all who have power in Government must be Representers which I shall doe for the