ABSTRACT

Early modern men and women represented their lives very differently from twentieth-century autobiographers, sharing none of the current preoccupation with individuality and the unique self. The writers represented in this two-volume collection sought connections between particular events in their lives and the larger pattern of Christian salvation. The texts reproduced here are united in the way they interconnect personal experiences and feelings with scriptural passages in an attempt to understand daily life in spiritual terms. Almost all the women whose works appear in these volumes would have been considered religious radicals by their contemporaries. Living through the turbulent times of the English Revolution (1642-1660) it is unsurprising that their life writings are marked by a sense of persecution. Many of them spent time in prison: Katherine Evans, Sarah Cheevers and Barbara Blaugdane were all imprisoned for preaching the faith of The Society of Friends, while Mary Rowlandson spent several months as a captive of North American Indians. In her introduction to these writings, Elizabeth Skerpan-Wheeler provides brief biographical sketches of these writers, together with details of the publication history of each text. With the exception of Rowlandson's works, the writings in these volumes are the first complete, unabridged editions in modern times.

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rh& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & •& & &

\ " M'1’-C 0 O J E S 1 : ' . -'

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'«3

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atf 3

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?xk h eM CTT

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. ; T d tte lM tf.T '

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r. r[i"W€^ efe(a^ Ifaid fbrmcdy v^ery dcfirotfsrof - 'i\i£i SafcWmen^ inxnrdfcr to which^ our firft wock was to get a Minifte^ that might adminifter it. tb-Although was:with us, ‘yet the: people ofc 'Idnwgton claimed! anengagco from himithatTowrie having,been .vifited amththe plague’/ and' deprivod of .their Mini*?, milters maintenance. . Mailer stn who-was tHth’Minifter)fbi' thofereafoteleft themvbut with kpromifeof returning To foon.as the Lord ftoald remove his hand;' and fafficientmainte-f Hahceioc i Minify ihoiild be procured, .both whkljii^ifl^'actllis.tikeeft^d^wjeconldnot dr&fe hfm) id bevanXDfficcr y nntillilie wereby th -^frtedifroftihfeengagemenainrorderherc* urotftttuchweai{e?t&& ^ in^by^'ropi^adfethehi j;'>biic they . witn ©nrcbliferit! rearedit,.frying * thatfmng he hidpromire^cdtertrne,' they bxpe&ed that t i^hofaldi^ep^orailirwithtliea>/< sw :Ys6r3 \

■ abkbMl&eriflJthi}bn(iti iheiran?- {weM iofotir; ^ betters.) affirmed iftlaftfer

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their owne lioufes: and as for Matter Stuck j himfelfe , he was fo diftfafted with Law-futts, Intangled with the world and mony engage­ ments, as that he was feldomewithusatour fafts and times of prayer. Hence I began to fufpe&, that they intended nothing but reparation,and fetting up of them-felves and their owne interefts and defignes, which did exceedingly trouble mee. Upon our private faft dayes, when wee had done praying, it was our cuftome ( for the help of thofe that were to pray) to fpendalittle ^ time in Conference,and at fuch times did I tak'e occafion to fpeak of the diforders among us,& told the plainly,that Heard we did feparatcfrtf others more godly then our felves,as cW//,\vho went out,from the prefence of the Lord to build citties * that there was little regard had to what we at fir ft pretended, the fetting up of: pure ordin?nrcs •, I often told them that I never heard or read in Scripture, or other hiftory ,that the Lord did make ufe of a people of fuch earthly, luke-warme, and indifferent fpirit, in , any publique worke ofreformation'$ that it was not a party, or confederacy that I looked after, but -to have the Gofpcl more difcovered in greater light and beauty j and the ordinances to • be enjoyed in greater purity: the beauty o f . Gods ornament to be fet in Majeftie, and more purity and felfe-'dcniall to appeare in us,, who B had

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* '• ■ ^ *' :?■ •' ■ ■' \ is Papift, or little b6tter? very much addi&ed to . die ftudy of their bookes, the moft convi&ion that he had f as was reported ) was by J-on&s Wart; tince a Roman Catholique, who went.to. Rome, and then'turning to prelacy , ,and the, r booke of Common-prayer, and’afterward ah Independent, the fame perfon was very for­ ward at our meetings, and did often put forth himfelfeiri the duty of prayer,which was a great trouble to mee to heare how the name of God was taken in vaine by him, irtfomuch as that. I . earncftly defifed Matter Stucley to hinder him from engaging in. that duty, till he underftood the nature of it better. . • ^ “’ I acquainted him likewife of other diforders and mifcamages very frequent at our meetings^ dedaring how much I was troubled at then!* ’ fcr-redreffe of which, Iintreatcd him to be with us. But he endeavoured to

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. and finfuU infirmities, whiclTfnade me unfit to fpeak unto others, yet he prcfled 'it on me al? my duty.) And'when there was any Jarring, between them and my felfe, he defired me not to be troubled, though I met with oppofition^ that one was ofaSouldierly fpirit, another of a dull Spirit, that it was meere Envy, proihi ^ fing to fpeak with .them abput it himfelfe. Yea when I .refolved to be filcnt at fome mee-^ tings, Mr. Stuclcj himfelfe would fingle me • out, and even confhainfe me to fpeak. As concerning my Carriage at the Admif-, fion of members, I fhall give, a brtefe account * ofitasfolloweth. ~ . . r i( 1 They who defired admiflion into the Soci­ ety, were fometimes defiled in a. private mee-*:\ tihg to fpeak what experience they had of the worke of grace upon their Soules: after which, we were evevy °ne of us both men and women to declare our thoughts'of what was fpoken$ ^ it being laid down as a ground, that wemuft have an account’ of a change from a naturall'and lcgall eftate, into an eftate of grace and belie­ ving, of thofe whom we admitted into com­ munion with us. I among the reft did accor­ ding to my weak meafure declare my felfe a-, gainft that which I thought would- not ftand for grace.. I was fo far from delighting in this' work, as that it was a trouble to me, an Im-ployment from which I would willingly have • been

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]' e^ein ‘freed .* I Conceived it more heedful!/of k my felfe to ftudy the worrd, and compare.my1 . own heart with the rule,;then to be (o taken; up, about the coftdijion of others. But/this' \vas our principle, we were to keep the houfe of God pure, we were fet as Porters at the door, it was oUr duty, we were not to be wan-, ting at fuch times, yea it was our liberty, that 'we, who were to have communion withthofe . who came to be admitted, fliould give in our aflent, or diflent in reference to their admifli-on. I did therefore at fuch times declare my - thoughts afvvell as the reft, but left the deter­ mination to themfelves, as ifappeares in Gant-clci vvhQ was admitted, though I. was at the *firftagainfthisadmifiion. I mention him, be-, ’caufe he was brought by Mr. Evcleigby as art Inftance of my cenforioufnefTe. I was blamed • for dilliking him, vvhom they faid was one ' of the moft eminent among them, and yet ic w as not long after, before he difcovered him-felfe, by Renouncing the principles of Chri-’ ftianity, and turning He in fpeaking. ouc his Experiences pretended unto, much Joy and raviihment of Spirit, but (tlie l^ord knovvesj when he fpake of fuch enjp r^fiertts, he fpake as aftranger that never intermedled with this Joy, never declaring any pbvverfull efteiS thereof, but only, that which was,' 'only but zHdlams wifli. I the rather inftance'in him,

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him, becaufe he wasthe fir ft that kindled the,-fire of Contention, which then brake out'in. <; that manner, as it is not quenched, to this day*, here began the Quarrell oh their part. When-I was called by ■ the Elcler to give in my thoughts concerning a Perfon propofed, he. tnoft diforderly intercepted me , for which there was not the kaft admonition given him:: but not long after his folly was made manifeft, by his Caftingoff the very forme of godlineflei This is one and the Cheife one of thofe per. , tons whoml ciifliked, though approved Of by the Church. If I be contentious for oppofing • luch a one, let me be contentious ft ill*, though none among them will witnefte for me, yet . he doth, he ftandsto this day 'as d, fad witnefle between nte and them, whether I were conten-. tious in my.oppofitions; or they infallible in their determinations. Befides, as for'fome who continue among them,, if you look for . .. diftinguifliing Chara< 5ters, they are fcarcely .

vtfible, muchlefleeafy tobe difcerned.; . i ;i. Thus I did from time td time, whilft we without Officers and Ordinances, partly . through the great defire I had,to promote the . workc of Reformation among us, .partly ,

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ning towards my child, :I called to remem-v brance the Lords, tender bowels towards his children, for whom he had given his only Son? wheii I confldered the- breach that . the Lord*' had made in my family, I beheld how terrible ’ it was to make a breach in his family. Then the worke I was ingaged in, this Sin of Separation, appeared nakedly unto me to be no other then a wounding of Chrifts body; which is his Church, the.Chtuch vvhighhehath purchafed with his ov.vn blood: I then looked on Sepa­ ration to be a dividing of/Chrift. Trlily I be- , held it with terrbr, this fin of wounding of Chrift it made a wound in my foulQj which was kept open in a terrible manner* the Lord r;> bringing to my remembrance his Jufticeand fevewty, and vvrath revealed from heaven on families and nations, yea on his own people, ever fi.nee the beginning of the world: as alfo his Judgments which are in the earth to this day , from Gcnefts to the Revelation was brought to my remembrance, and kept hard upon me. Having thefe Impreflions on my -Spirit, I was almoft overwhelmed,and in mine own apprehenfion upon the Borders of Hell, ’ where the Lord made me to behold the Exe­ cution of-his vvrath upon finners:. I could then' have told what hel was, I felt the flafhings of . helfire in my foule, the vvrath of God that lay hard upon me, the effects whereof were very.

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then fpeakidg comfort to his difciples in fefe- . rcnce to that hardfliip they were to meet with' ki the world; among the reftqf their fuffe* rings this was one, that they. fhould be put out. . ' of the Synagogues, ye&the time would come that whofoever killed them, would think he" did God good fervice, which things Chrift ; ' told them that they might not be offended: ^ _ But yet the Sermon being in generall . of all '• the Enemies of the new Creature, I could not put it off* Furthermore the appearance of God was fo remarkable in the change of my fpirit,. as that I could.not but take it home, that Sins of the ris>ht hand and left hand, and feparation alfoj anti death and hell lhouldbecaft into the lake that burneth with fire and brimftone, that ' in the meane'time Chrift hath overcome the • world, the Prince of this world isjudged, con- * demned already, only the execution is. defer­ till the time appointed by the father. And

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to take me off from this pfa&ice, who at fitft -pretended that it did very much trouble him,-but iince he hath told me that he wiflied that he had never been put upon it. - ’ ' : He fent a Mefleneer unto me to perfwade* me to leave Mr. Ford s miniftry-. I then (hewed ray grounds for that practice, what provifion I found there, and how the Lord hadmade thaa miniftry efte&uall unto me, and withall that when I came among them, I took up a refolu- ‘ tion to attend upon that miniftry. 1 1 The fame day in a publique meeting they accufcd me firft of Contention, and fecondly for my hearing Mr. Ford, which (as the Eider faid)the Church neither could nor'woiild bear, however they would not medle with it for that time. ‘ '• ? As to the Article of Contention / appealed ( to the Church, and charged them to be faith-' full as they would anfwer it another day, - in making it known whether they had found me Contentious. . : ■■,: .Uponwhich, J having withdrawn my felfey they entred into a debate about it, every one declaring their thoughts of me: the refult' oi 'which debate was this. ’ That they neither could nor would charge me with contention for a world, but did fear -' that through a mixture of Corruption it might tend to contention. This bufineffe was ended

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depondaftce ohlyr*ion-thatrimiotftry ■ x^ ithoilo hearing any other." /■' I; . But when theyfaw ’that I could not be taken

upohvfudi a;fdalc{. it was agoirigout < of the bofome ot • Ghrift into tiie; ISofome ‘ ftran-t , gcrsj Rebellion' ngainftiChrifti and i tlwt'fucH / muft be id&dcWitft as‘T faytors’ond Rebellti:* rit

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any felfe, i f the, liberty, of hearing fotWr mini* fliers were denied ane, to. leave them* ButJhc and Mb. Study whom / found with him, in ftead of;tnforjning me feU into a difpute,about . true Churches, a Tub jell that I Was unskilfull in, and he by reafon of his deafnefle unfit,to ' treat of>Tand withall let fall Come ftrange Ex-preflions concerning the people o£God. /.told . him that I did delight in the^ image at God where ever I found it, in thofe that, were the Excellent of the Earth,, that did excel! in vir? tue: he then endeavoured to'perfwade me that , I was to have my aftedtions tyed up to thofe ©f.their Society^allcadging that / might afwell delight in another man that Was not my huf? band,Wcaufe the Image of God ftiined moreih v him then in my busba.d.1 being troubled at this grofie difcouife told him that thofe relations . were-of a different nature, and that I thought . I did O we more .duty where God in his Provit dence had caft me, and where I had the opport > tunity and. ability to peiiorme it, then Iw*s . engaged unto or could difcharge untoothers’; , where / had no fuch opportunities: yet/ dial not look upon (it. as that which could cutoff my^afl^ions frotivithe peopledGod*, from thofe who had the/dage of: God renewed ill. them; Something alfo was fpoken of Church ordinances, Mr. Stucley faid the preaching o f the vvord vvas not a Church ordinance, be- ” , < • caufe.

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icaufe that it might be pteached' b y , oiie that ; was not a Church officer ^artd itjrnight be ufed out of a Church, even in a fattiijy. >• For m y. own part/ knew not how to understand thefe diftinttions, but accourited them ftrange do-, ttrines. . ' ^ .f;- . ; , Mr. Stucley fome dayes after in a letter taxed ' jne for acknowledging an affembly o'i people' to be a Church. meeting, and the wedftfefday' meeting to be a Church meeting which for­ merly / lookt upon as Babylon. > To which returned Anfwer by letter ^that / accounted , thofe from whom we did fcparate ia true Church, as he had told me the .Newfc England minifters did*, that I lookt upon the wednef- . daics meeting to be a Church meeting, the Mi­ nifters as ambafladors of Chrift, the preaching of the word aJ Church ordinance, that which Chrift hath appointed for the gathering in, building up, and edifying of his body, which is the Church, that / did put no difference be­ tween hearing there and among our felves in point of efficacy, and that my reparation from • them was not in do&rine and worfhip, but in , difcipline . Much I wrote -likewile for the removing, of .fome prejudices ,.. complaining ■ how. I was preached againft,-and prayed againft; * informing him likevvife that /was neither'able to live in the fire of contention, nor fit down ' under a miriiftry that I could not profit by, and , » therefore'

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thefforefliotild willingly withdrawefrom them! lalfo defiredhlfrt that whileft wee contended for pure ordinances'we fliouldnot fuffer the Gofpell to be corrupted, and that I feared: we did not walke up to our Ovvne principles> and I liketvife defired dire&ionfrom him.'-•When the day appointed for the faft was come, I went to the meeting not knowing foe what it was intended, The pra&icebf the hear,-: . ing of other minifters was then made to be as . the Sin of Korab and D at ban And betweene the .feverall prayers Mr Stoncba propounded fome-what by way of queftion,how to know an heri-ticke.'one difcovery: was when perfons went a-* gainft their owne principles as thofe did,who al­ though they have given up themfelves on unto another (Hall notwithftanding fay they delight in the linage of God where ever they nnde it,in the Excellent ones of the earth,, which was cpnr trary'to their principles and deftrudive to the ;very fundementalls of the Church. * ; . .This being contrary in my apprehenfion t'o that of the Apoftle. 2 C0/, .wherehe telsus. .That he had greate conflict; not for them only which he knew, But alfo for as many (of .the Saints) as had not feene his face in the flefli,And in chap'. 'i . q. where he commends them for , their, love to all the Saints,-/ did in the conclufi,-;on tell fome of the- privately .Thercfwas that de­ liver’d which .could not be prov’d bv the woj'ds> ...............C ' . ' The

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*4)

The $acram«nt of the Lords Supper had • beene about this time omitted for necr halfea yeaie,fure I am it was very long, I enquired of fome thereafon thereof, who told me becaufe

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they fcotild charge me with; I toMhim that it jsfis mytdefiifc and endeavpur tdkeef?irw4 athfcience. *void *»/ offence both tdmrls Gcdand iotittds men r that if there/wiere any evUViwitb which they could <harge mcfyUpon; infprmatipn • jvhatit vvasjl would not;C0$;ifl\ic in the thereof, aud therefore defifed tom tp.teil mee What it was,throne had ag^gilmee: to vyhich .Mafter Stoncbam> then being ait Mafter StucUys houfe , anfvvel-cd,that l muft firft refolvetorfit down und&.thdir mintftry,and then they.wpujd ^onfcrre about that; l reply ed that id.idnQt.f'?-' parate* but; in idiftinguilhing ordinances ^r^nto which tliis arifwer was returned, that there, was as rfiiich reafon. for a woman to. goeaft£ranf>-! .ther man, becaufe of fruitfulnelTe , as to make. ufcofattod^erMihiftfy hecauGsofmore ;^Bnei . fitr At which groffe a*fcovqry of themfeivesjr refolded iwith niy. felfe to jtake my " leave,-of! them> , MaftorT^wf/fy iat .my going /came with mee to tliedoqrey.ana then me td deny .my; felfefholiiwfle loj?; Gody 3nd look for a- reward in heaven; This, was thelaft; ddtrcd vto!ityeak;with hirii^ japd* jra«t jtp. !j»:.. houfci andiifo&Cdhinv to; iofojm ^me^ what^ = •■ C a ■ 4 “they .

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flitty t Jft&to'-Chafgt wee vvkb,WhoiAfte'ad>«f tirtfw^ ribg - direftly 'to' my qtteftibn’ Tayd* tlteft! iy«uld^bee a Sacrament the 'nwrLordsvdajry vvhteh' (3sl ‘remember;1 was.-piitf of, andtfcrati f6trie:bady did ilefire mee to fdrbeare j'tiiy Ah* ' fwer was',th&t I’fhould riot giueoffettce toanyf he then told mee what a doe'th^y Had to pleafd mee, ihftancirig in his wife ^dead.and buried long before. ' : ’ M :This being all I cciuld learne of him, Iwent. al>oUt't6 feuertir perfons (at t -their, houfes/ to kribiv,f\vliat it vriis that they hart :againft mee, but they told" mee there was nothirtge'but my; . goeing to heart others ^then I asked whether the Church had any thinge againft mee, they did af-. fure me^ the Church had nothing againft mee,? Haviiig’ done this v l beheld the Uoore /landing' fo: wide open, as.that I might fairely take my, leave'which yet' I 'did not,‘'before /had;for; :T\Vhile feriouflyand fadly confidefedofthefb folI'6Win'gpartidulars; • '' *-• •»•*/: <--> f-Tlht ftr 3ngeneffe of their opinions and’pra*

<Stifes m reference to the ordinances1 ofjefus Chrift.-Preachirig was affirmed to be no Church5 Ordinance,-a's aHbCfitechi i^ng.'- • i . ‘ The ordinance ^ ; Farting exceedingly per ^ vert’ed'i •' iH.:\Vhidvr they walked iif.the 'wayes o

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r)jj^conCoilpfrf,o£. people by tdnJ *

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Hfiw*Engtaod; make to be the. fame for fab-fiance with that which is explicit, contrarietq what I believed at thefiift (viz.) That an-Bx-* f licit Covenant was neCeflary to. the C *

reparation did hinder. It made my heart bleed ' within me to think that I ihould have a hand in the hindering of Reformation , for which fo much precious blood had been fpilt in the lace Warre. :

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And his appointing a day of thankfgivingtet the Succesfulncfle othis defignes furthered by •ftich uftlawfull mdtaes* whether this were not abridging of Thank [giving with leaven, I leave it to others to Judge. I could not but with* drSw from that thankfgiving: I confidered with my ielfe, how unlike it was that he (hould 'be a faithfull minifter of Chrift, who dealt fo tiofaithfully with men, and therefbrc that it could not be fafe for me to continue any longer under his paftorall charge; efpecially feeing-1 could not be faithfull to them, becaufe of their -crafty feeking advantages to enfnate: All the remedy I had left was to withdtawe from -them. ■ ■ • \ ■ ; . . Thus being convinced of Separation and theevillthereof, and having pondred awhile . of theit UncbriJlian or rather Antichriflian 'pra&ifes, I W on the 2 4'of uwarch 1654.

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admonifliing Vs, of our negle&} in fufFei;irig.$.irt uppon Us.'- --6 ; <1 j :,‘i *h;;l 3a-word

To this Mi'Mubley reply.ed, wh&t! that.laW<} ;$£ Ghairitic was!(for .hisipart'j.the knew notlj.be knew noe.fHqh law, Mr KdlesXaiA ItWa haftily fpoken, and! fo it might be takent'Vi ’ After thifc.Mr. Studey asked me,r; hovvfI:

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. Mr. Roh theft turaittg bimfcifc.tojv^rd^^m <#r/

an untruth fpoken, and It. bcingvthingsi6ug before, and that every one fpake as Jthey re* membred:: andfarther'laid; that (he wondrcd heimdefotnucb adoe about nothings; .^v
ByStucUjf,.:faidpthat he believedtherc was nejwfi

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• Hid hot fedhinv at her coming away. ? I . thcit told her that it was re c i ted "by fome of them; /that they could not partake with me inr ordi­ nances nov^ f * v 1 ' ' ! ' For my part (faid flie) I was never of thac mind, neither do I know any who are, but on the contrary- we are all much troubled that ■ you will leave us. ’ - About two months after, Ezekiel Pace was Tent from Mr. Eveleigh, to tell me that I 'was fnftctidcdhy the Church. s ■ I told him that I had left their Society and . that I had no communion with them. .H e answered , they conceived that they could not othcrwife difcharge their dutie unto me, and as for what they had done, it was in order to my return. , I replyed that my purpofe was never to returne unto them. After I had made my Addrefleto the Mi-nifters of the City, defiring to be admitted into fellowlhip arid communion with them in ordinances. Mr. S/w j^runderiftanding thereof fent Mr. EveUigh unto Mr. tfohn Bart let Mi-nifter, to give him notice that they had feverall things againft me: upon which it was by Mr.'. Bdrtlet defired that they would produce their, charge, which they promifed to do, although it vyas long firft, • yet at length (after often defi­ ring of ic)a meeting was appointed atjVIr./W/ ' D .> houfe.

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; '■ Y W ) ' V - ; ;

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»ritoelTe-bet^ *ebn;US and: ;to all .

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thv.^trigrcgatittiAU wsf* i i

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‘ 1 In this Cafe oiir chnrshts did ftiutoally and piAbdj Church^ as well as particular ihen ai‘a bound CO give no offence, neither to^fU or GmiUi nor ths Churches o f God thdy liva amongft; ,fo that in all trafeS of fuch offences or difference, by. the obligation of ldtp of Ctthmanisii of Churchts^ and for thevin-4 diatton of the glory of cfaijl^ which in com-* IttOn thfcy hold forth, the Ghurch or Churches challenged to offend or differ ait to,fubtflit thcrrifelvtey .upon the challenge of- the Offence or complaint of the perfon wronged#' (6'thi. woft fall aftd open trial! and exdminiitiort - by other rtfcighbour churches offtti'd^d-thereat,'bf what fcver hathgiveft the offence. And- fofthei ' that by Vertue of the fame and like law o f ftOt partaking of other mensrfins.i the Ghtireh^ .off’endbd tftiiy & ought(tipoti the Iiiip^tfitehcy of thoteG hatches perfitting in thcir error and b ifc^m g^to' pronounce'tha'theavy ftrsxence sgtrfrift ilsettPo'f -withdtmVin^'^fenbiittett^ 4ll> Ctoriftkh •Gbmmuniort with thentp"liiwitt.

univerfally acknowledge and fubmit to tliis aSaciednrtd undoubted Principle and fupreiiVo Law to be ■ obferved ntriong all' Chut'ches. That to by vertue of that' Aj>oJldU*ll Cdw

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(47):':

igive .no? account , ■> or be fubje& tono"others> , tbotigh accufcd ajna challenged for,erring grofly in’poiht of their Arbitrary unjuft proceedings againft us* whichis. plainly manifefted, in Ma­ tter Aliens booke,called (
ByTruths mantfcflre­

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the iQry^e which he; and: hlipartyefpedalljr> charge me with both in C*V*i Valid County3 '^I. crying.out every where,; I am a lyar*: yea art ‘ egregious dne; and therefore juftly Bxcomm\i*; rt/Var^.Th'is is! in fine,the Atticle on which the: whdWc/rir^ depends.... .•><■ ::;c . . ' . I c GbargiI ’

deformities thetebfr as that I alwaies came to ydares bf (Jifi^etion) abhorred, and fie- tefted It, both in. my felfe and otheri ^ v > ’< r. • ; /; \>laccoufita/jMrcunfitnOt onely iot Chfifttitt
ByGe&mvniMibuttilfothillComfnercs. ;

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‘v. ^

whicbi the Lord had: madc fd profitablc Mfttlo mee, and with’all gave hifritny grounds fo'r.thac pradfcice;At lerigthat the dofe of our^ifeoWfej he faid,we fliould ink difagree about itj'andyie? fcftefwards M tfkwStevchAm was put Dponittp

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. •" ' " . • • ),' ■ , .7

tnc ?

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Iaifthe^brotight In andin other pages of hisfbook he laith

with this charge becaufe it .doth differ from the which I was charged with by .them, which was this, namely for fpeaking againft Mr Allen , becaufe he did partake of the ordi­ nance of the Lords [upper with the Presbyters*

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Iong;t|ifie;(he‘ppenly contendedagainft it to .theg^icfe0fthe,Church. a-?-:-. I havemaryeiklmany times , why they ftiould queftion me.aboutoppofirig of nef, who was long before in her grave, . and' With whom 1 had loving and Chriftianconvcrfe ' . to her. dying day.; ....

-■ a’y ,: . That / affirmed ’ that / never fpake againft her is falfe, neither could / get any ad-, vantage by it, feeing others of the Church did the like, in whom it was not looktupon as an ; evill, 7 might fay more, but that / am unwil­

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■ (64)- v-'-' ■ : Refol‘ ^ ) xi.t \anfwetred ‘Mtvi/fld^wheii he did in a manner reprove me for acknowledge . ing that to be a true Church, which for trier ly ' I had called Babylon, appeares in the Narrative/-' To which 1 fhall farther adde ....

1 Suppofe it were true, that I had id the heat of Contention at our fai\ feparatfan Vented fome rafh and ihconfiderate exprelfioris in re- , ference to the Presbyterian < Churches, ■ or the
ByVrefbjterians them (elves, yet it ill becomes

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ihee fufpettedthofe thdt had Kirtdredarid’ Re' litions among thtfres byteriAns,vvtiejeas mariy ; vvitnefled the contrary ' • !* " . ; . yvRefol, ;i. If. the contrary were-triie,; then I muft have, fafpeiled my felfe; having Kindred, and acquaintance that were Presbyterians,v-vith vvh had daily fvcietie^c intimate tmtnantorty . '&f ........ ' A*f.

and whom I did highly honour ,• foy the image of God (hiningin them‘,though olir judgments differed. . \ jo.'.-ri: •/ Let them fliew me the perfons whom I fufpfe£led,and I w ill (hew other grounlds of my

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~ ’■ As to'.this / dnfvver ^ ihat / -cleared bythe yvhole Church of this Impeach* ptent, ‘ (as in my narrative/ which', all of them , can vvitnefleit they vrill*, fince thiit tim£ itone bfthern ever. Undertook to. prove it ten Hty • face* . •••. . 1 was fo fat from delighting in Cmention'^ as that I d>mplained of it to Mr. Sfk/fjrfeveridl times, and alfo in a letter ttold him! plainly* that I was not able to live in the fire of Cinttti* tion, nor fit down under. amitiijlrj that I i'ould not profit by, and therefore I fliould willingly withdraw from them* which I did accordingly for* this .and other reafons,& therefore he hath little reafon to accufe me'of Cwtenthri. .But be faith it was provediin thefe particulars.' : Jnftance i. in very manyv if not in moft of thofe debates whichJjave been in the Gharchi fince our- firft coming together,- (he hathibeen ufually fileiit, until! the Church have b^en'rea* dy to comc tofome determination> ;oif had de­ termined, and-then fbe would obje& againft what (he perceived was th6 Judgment of the Church and purfued it with! muchviolence* This the generality of the th^a Church wi{rte£< fed. ■ ■' ..iirV ; Sol. l. Wasi filent till the laft? why may not Elihut Apologie be mine? ; $ob. $ , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 l. , • • 2 My Affentms required to their deter* m/natiwfy

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: 1$\i; He was the firft that unfitted mec‘ as to this pratiife,by Speaking igainftit himfclfe, ■ > 3. The generality of the People that were tot operation. every whereScrupled; Singing, as to. the matter, manner, place or time: So that it was a vaine thing at. fuch a time to Ex-pe&ynioh as to this ordinance, much more to , prefle itfo eagerly, as to make ita neccfl’ary • qualification of Church member fliip,. when . as the Apoftle fayth, H'mthat ismakcin the faith receiue you,but not to doubtfulldiffutationsi whereupon \ did oppofe, not union, fo milch . as the pride and-irregularity of three rtlembersj ; Mr Otvehf and fohn Whitehorne (then fervanc to Mr (JMayne) who tooke upon them to deny Xdmifiion unto two perfons who propofed ,themftlves, becaufe they differed in judgment about the Circumfiance of this ordinance, and ' that before it was debated by thcChut ch (con-fifting at that time onelyof eight or nine per­ fons Jwhen as admitting or refufing of perfons Was then accounted a Church aft, that which was to bedebated by the whole. Thefe perfonsdid ; F affe^ :

2. Some of his members have fpoken - more ' ilightingly ^ this ordinance then evei J,didj in • afiitming that one who was pofleflipd of the di- yell Would finge Pfalmes, thit they who .funge
Byffalmes,(nngc lyes. &

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(7i) ■ ~ -V V /V . , -sffe&ionately declare, that they were in the . -darke about the manner of ftnging,. not know-r ■ irig whether.it were a praifing of God in a n$-ficall tune, or praifing ofhim in prayer: one of them being asked,whether fhee looked on fwg-ingof ? [times as an ordinance of God, fiieeari-:' fwered, that fbe lookt on praifing of God, as an 1 ordinance of God, and as for fingtng, as now u-fed, fiie could not fay but it might dc an ordi­ nance of God, however it was doubtfull to her:, This perfon was afterwards received into the Churchy and hatbattefted tbisunderherOwrie hand*, fo that its evident, thefe words Were fpo-ken by others, and if I did afterwards fpeake ' them, it was on the behalfe of thofe perfons whofe judgement I fpake,more theiwnine own. And farther , the defire I had to be informed' . concerning it, put mee upon objecting many things againft it, efpecially when MrStucley was prelent: for thiscaufe alfo wasIVery ear­ ned with ttiiem to procure an able Mmifter, as all the then church can vvitnefle. : ’ * Inflame Thirdly, flie hath oppofed feve­ rall perfons in their Admffton, who have beene knovvnc to bebfapproved godlineQe atid trite-' grity-, and thofe who have beene moft ; lyable : to Exccptiopyihzhzxh moft contended for,info-much that the Church, having refpited thead-* miflion of a perfon concerning who(e conver-T fatten they vverehot fflfficiently fatisfied * fhe

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••• ( °) ■ • .- \ if */■'

did openly declarc iagainftit, in thefe words* v That it was an Hnrigbtcons fcmcncc ;his parti­ cular vvas witnefled by foure perfofts. ; ' ■
ByRefcl. As to the former part of the \Jfccni fatioa, my oppofing perfons (reputed godly)ia

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\ : (7 *) i v ' . • godly, yeaMv Stucleyhimfelfehathgiventhis Ttflimow] of her often, that flie.vvould oppofe S/wvvhereeverflie.foundit, t^hatfliee would not feare to Reprove itr where ever, /lie came, • fhee being in fcllotvjlrip with us from the firft beginning, did at length propofeher felfe.tq be admitted a Church-mcmber,but thisv vas denied • her, bccaufe of her unvvillingnefle to declare her £ xpcriences in a publique meeting ,: this was thConely reafon ( that eve? /heard ) why flic was then kept-off. • • Afterwards, when thzAdmijJionXjtmem­ bers began to be in private ^ iliepropofed her felfe againe, but was.refufed the fecond time, becaule that fome had a prejudice againft her, dor which (as/ conceived) they'had little rea* Ton, the things whereof flie was accufedwere , triviall, neither were they fufficiently proved, yea Mr Stucley himfelfe cleared her, as to fome one of the particulars .• and although flie was in with us for fome yeares, yet fhe was not

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' ( V ) . : • v • " , : them* flie likewtfe grieved very much that Me # came not unto her when (he fent for him

* Legacies: the morning after Ihe dyed Mr R. (as . I heard) came to the houfe, and did with tearcs

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me'mfptkking in the. Churchy ^d beirlg^W ? ftedfor praftifing accordingly, (he did openly *prbfefle. that (he would not. be - prefentat church meetings when matters were debated, uhleffe-.fhe might have that liberty y and being denied, (lie ever fince contemptuoufly negle- • &ed church meetings, and flighted theofficers ofthQ-.Church. ■ .In^pa§. 20 of Mr. UMail’s bbok,'he-laies * downthe charge in thefc words. She tookliber-t) cffyehkingjn the Church for, fome time; And being reprised by me for ity from time to time there rvjs a viftble deed) of affetfion to me &C. ■ Solut. , .That .it is falfe, as to the whole charge taken together, appeares, in that there arc none (as in the. former particulars) menti­ oned who did witnefle it, neither will he ever find any (unlefle they be defperateli bardned) that dare affirme it, which.Knall mane evident in my Anfwers to the feverall particulars there • o f.'. ■. ! '■■■ ■ '■ . ' . As to the firft particular (viz.) (he took the the liberty of fpeaking, and Hie did along time contend tot womens [peaking &c. \ To this Ianfvver, i . As for womens fpeaking itwasufually pradHfed amongft us by thdreftof my Sex. And it is well known that the power was pre­ tended at firft to be , in the body of the people, in the multitude, fo that every one had the li-' *» , berty

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berty of affenting otdiffentingi of arguingsoft .'•; debating any matter propofed, whether men or women: If women Svere denied _ the liberty, of /peaking, how could they declare their Expert-cnces: yezA .P * was kept off for rehifing this.. •• - :. • 'a .. It is felfe that I took, the liberty of [pea--king, it wasTnot only given»me, but tne liberty of being ftlent was denied me, and that by Mr-^fac/fjrliimfelfe, who would fend for me the meetings,* even; then, when there was never a woman of the Church but myfelfe: and after­ wards many " times he would fingle me out in the' meetings, and urge me very earneftty to dedare my judgment in reference to what had been propofed. • ' ‘ , 3. As :to my contending for mmens [pea­ king, by my former Anfwers it appeares, that Mr Stucley hath little reafon to charge me with it, unleffe he expe&ed that I fliould be as fickle as himfelfe, in taking up, and laying down opinions and pra£ti[es, as they fuitedwith, or thwarted his humeur’znd intcrejl. As to the fecond particular, whereas he faith he admonijhed<and reproved m e.foritfrom time to time, I anfwer, That all the Admonition and Reproof< I had from him, was that mentioned in. my Nar,ra-tive, viz: that my fpeaking was difreliflid by fome, whereupon I refolved Silwce fo t the future,

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t o ) future, although I had looked on the Contrary as my duty formerly* which refolution I ac-cordinglie kept alwaies afder the Officers were. chofen, unlefleit were when I was required to give in my thoughts concerning a perfon, pro-pofed or asked a queftion* yea Mr. Stucltf witnefleth forme in the charge it feljfe9> where he faith, it was a longtime that I Contended for womens fpeaking,and in Mi* Matt’s- book for fome time &c. By which it is evident that I did not continue in the pra<3ife thereof to the laft: how can then my fpeaking.be brought as an Inftancc to prove me contention (one ground of their Sufpenfion) neer three yeares after /had left of this pra&ife. > ; • ■ ! As for what he faith followed on his Repro~ ving and admonifbing me, viz* I A decay of jiffeftion to him.' • ; / anfwer , if there were fuch a vifible de£ay' ofuffe ft ion, hemiftookthecaufeofit. /twas not his reproving ofme,: no, the reproof was (o mild and gentle, and at fuch a diftance, as that / had litic reafon to bs angry with him for it». But k was his [elfe-fecking, and minding ^his civn things more then the things of Chrift &c„. againft which / did declare my diflike both before arid after this reproof anaadmonitiifi. • , JAs to what he faies, that after their denying me the liber tie of fpeaking, I contempt uoujlf neg­ lected Qhurch meetings, and flighted the vffi-ccrs'. - ... A

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-' v \ . W . '■ ■. anfwer that it is a grtffc he, a lye fo egre~ ghut, as that the whole church can vvitnefle (if . they pleafe) againft it. . For I was after this conftantly at church met-tings) the liberty of (peaking bv a Brother be*», ' jng allowed me; yea I declared that I was very muchfdilfatisfied, becaufe the meetings (after , the Officers were chofen) for conferring. one with another, were not continued as formerly, I never abferited my felfe, but upon fome ne- ' cdfary hindrance which was not often; -t ’ As for fighting of the officers-— • ^ ' - I anfwer* that I gave them fo nauch honour as was due unto them according to my power* , if they had not fo much as they dewed, let them confider whether theydid not defire .‘more then they deferved, They that rale tv ell, are worthy of double honour, ’ ^Charge.Thc Ce»(crio*fneJf of hertyo'&tVas . evidSced in her uncharitable language cocerning > the Prefbytertans, and’ ns alfo.* reporting One to be fallen from theftith, another to have mthingofGodiriher^&wxQna lAt.Stontham to have-walked contrary to x.\\cApo(lles/eunfell ^ i Cfr.4* z+ ■ And to have fuch expreffions int preaching fend prajer+zs were but aschaffeto the wheat. And imputing the affli&ions of fome of the chnrchto their unworthy receiving of the Lords body,, Thefe were proved by: many wiendfes, and her own letters. ^•

; ............ - ■........ " y

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, . ■ -x 8o'5

• : 'Qfnf. As to the firft c/fr*kfc»whicWcori-' cemes thz Presbyterians, I anfvver, I muft«fCr knowledge & confcfTe^hat differ enceinj»^-', that I vvas too much fvvayed vvith zjpirit of
Byment did likewife caufc fome breach in affettton,

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it as walkifig in Craftinejje, contrary to that of theAj>pfile9 2 Cor . a. ,

And as to his Expreflions in preaching &C. /conceived Mr. Stuclcj the fitteft to admonifli him of his weaknffle*, and therefore in a letter, I wrot unto him thefe following words. “ 1:

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~ (S4) v on of fome of the church to their unworthy, re­ ceiving See. . ’ ' ' Rejol. For anfwer hereunto, I fhail here fet down what I wrote in the fame letter concer­ ning it, viz. * . tf ft is and hath been a great trouble to me, that there is no meancs of inftru&ing by Cate-clnfwg, which is like, in my apprehenfiori,to put a flop in the way of the Gofpell. And ^con­ ceive the ordinance of the Lords fuppcr cannot be kept pure, without inflru£lin^ thofe that are of the Church, younger ones especially, in - the myftery of difcerning the Lords body for this many are weake and fic'k, the Apoftle laies it down as a Caufe of that fickmffe and death that was amongfl them. For my part it is my feare that the Lord hath a contr over fie with us for not difcerning the Lords body, and not judging our felves. Surely the Lords hand that, is upon us, and thofe afflictions that have been upon me, hath put me upon ferious enquiry after the Lord in his word-, and / am afraid we do not walk up to our own principles, and keep the ordinances pure. \ Behold Mr. Stuclejs difcretion and ingenu­ ity in cenfuring me for cenfuring my felfe, which I did in that letter as well as others. I did impute the *tjflitfions on my felfe and them, either to the omitting of the adminittration of the Lords fnpper for a long time,without giving any

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• •• • (

, You cannot tell this without.telling any fin that I continued jn after admonition, either before my leaveing you or fince. Not before. This you acknowledged to me
By* lye,, for I was never admonifhed by you for

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.<*7V * ^ ' ‘ ' ' them thanks feverall times for their (pretended love) tome* I never baulkt difcourfe with them. And altoaieS at theii* departing, faid, let me be convinced fi’om the word what ray duty is* tttid I ftialHiibmif. ' . I defired the 'Elder before the faft in order to their Efccommumcdtion, arid Cmcc that fajt others alfo*that they Would bring the bufinelle to a hew Triall before the miniftets, whom they themfelves had acquainted with it former­ ly ^ and with whom I was then in cmmumom had the Inceftuoiis perfon done fo, I am per- , fwaded1 he would never have been delivered to Satan.*-> • The letter likewifefent Mr. stucleiby Mris.‘ \Jflltn m d my felfe makeSit evident, that neither of us corttemptuoafl'i refufed admonition according to the rule of Chrift. 3 As for his referring the leader to pag.' io . s j. of the trite Account, as if there were other Crimts mentioned there, for brevities fake he omitted here, I fay. That in pag. io of the True (which yet fome thinkto be fivety defttfivi) Account $ there is only ohe crime mentioned, which he hath n ot: a^ cufed me of here in this bther Bookj and that is ttiy*»f4itbfnlritf[e in not reproving privately. I am confident (faith he) that

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m though Hie fo much Blazon'd abroad

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■’ ; ■ Y " ‘V'"; By reafori of their intimacy and familiari­ And for this very reafon did I feveral times ad- anfwer.

ty with the cffettdors might in all probabili­ ty prevaile, more with them then 1 could. dreffe my felfe to Mr. Stuclcy,which he acknow­ ledged a litle before this charge, though,

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' The letter IilcewifeMm^//*# and my felfe fent the Church, dothwitnefTe fufficictitly, thac neither of os refufed to heare the church* Unto this Charge he addes that offcparathn. Charge,A nd though fbee had lifted up her right hand to heaven to walk in fellowfhifS with us, yet hath flie fcparated from us, arid to this dayfought not reconciliation vneither hath fhetf cxprefled Rtpmartcc foe her Sime^&c iR e fo l. This is likewife Coiifeft and acknow­ ledged that IScpcratfd fromihemjThe grounds of my Septrdtwn are layed downe in myrtartA* five.T0‘which'/(halltetheradde. i. That there vvas aclaufe in our firft g'agement binding every one of us not to reft in thelight then received,but to Studieto knoWe the minde of God, and live up*to it, and fo ac­ cordingly'haveing Studied the minde of God, concerning bur feptration fromotherChurches of Qhrift, I founds ic to be SinftM, and' there­ fore durft no longer to»concinuc therein. , •' ' 2. J( l . engaged fo to walke iff fellcrvflup with you as to deny it othersot Gods fcoptei

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■

blight I know) as any other ordinance, (fcix) the And as for the /lighting exprefton concer­ ning this ordinance,with which he charged ^me. <'

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( t .

. Refol. That this Safptnfion was for nd other

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p fl

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(»S) \

After' the prayer, Mr. E-utletgh and my felfe , wefcto withdraw ^ but Mr Ewhigh (befoirfe he went out) told them, he left it to the Church to determine, whether I were not cmtemivttu

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' ( 9 9 ) r ' V ^ f ftis true) accufed me , thereof at this meeting* but (as I am informed ^feme of them did very much diflike his mentioning of that particular * and refufed to medle with it, becaufe they thought it fitter to be concealed, then that it , fliould be publickly taken notice of. ’ z That it is very probable they had a re-folutibn. (fome of them) to ejuarretl with me . about Mr. Eveleigb’s maid , in cafe I could > not . be prevailed with to leave off hearing of ‘ other minifters, Why elfc fhould they be fo earneft with me (after I had given a(ufficient Excufe for my aofcnCe) to be prefent at the meeting? why elfe fliould Mr. Stonehm ufe fuch expreffions in his prayer. . 3 That although Mr Eveleigb at this time * (when the Jguarrcllbrake out) liccufed me of Contentionj yet that the J2jtarre[( did not be­ gin in my contentious fpirit, and fowing divifi-ons* is apparent, i Becaufe I did no more then Mr* Stonsham. approved of,and Mris.* Stonebam defired me to. do* fo that I could be no mote contentious in oppofing Mr. Eveltigbs ' mavd, then they. Thisbufineflfe wasen-. ded in three daies*/ they had nothing after this agdinft:mei but;m^ hearing other minifters, .... as Mr. Eveleigb himfelfe told me. > - 4-i And therefore notwithftanding thct qnar-: ; f rell'brake out.at the time, when I oppofed Mr.: . i :Evel(igh’iim idyyct it is very apparent that it :V;';rV' "; ‘ ' ■' ‘ , begqn,'

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' (100) " :■ began, was continued, carried on, and !increafed even to a breach, only for my hearing of ano­ ther minifter.* for as to the charge o

that he did not fooner excite the church t.o their duty, as to the laft Remedy for the healing of this woman,&c. . t k , /believe in the end he will fee more caufe to take frame to unto himfelfe, in that lie

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■ (101)

' ' 2, Mr. Stuclty doth not in plain tertiies deny it. And thdtieh that which follows conccrning the unquietncjse ofhisfpirit about my not Re* • s it is f that which he hath in a manner ac-
Bypenting may imply a deniall, yet

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o f my lying inS*0<,wkho{it icvitfendng &<•/*»-taritt) then his ctiiftittict is either hUvd ot baf~ fled-, eife why had not checrct him, when hedifcoVercd no ktale againft lying? when he was fo often preft unto it by; me? why 'had not: his confcicnte troubled, him, ' /wfecta there was a Ijt affirmed with .fo nlwich CottfL dcntc by $cbn Wkitebirne when heoffered to ciepofe it upon Oath, andyetthtre was cle.tr T cflimony brought by fome of: their members to prove it to be a lye} this pettfoa is fimdef hi§ chrge, yet here his confdenes hath not difqnk> ted him, .....

And for what headdcs> That tm^eiei h&ttn-
Byfcience he tmke advice with ftvcr.sllMinifitrsi ^nd fo concluded ibe matter by them and his mvn <Confdence. : Hefol. i .Why did he go fo fatre awayp had hfc

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(I0T) weight of this Ordinance, and fcheprfttojifnfcffG ofl f/fUis forWhidi Chrift did SweAt,8letd'atid:fdMd, ifor lyhkh hee ever livcs to make irirerrtfliMrVx^frtibey: gpoivchc Report of one partie without Ejmnlo&ijkm** give fucb advice in a corner? thc;Lord lay nbtthis fi«; to.'Sheir; ehargtj YTis not the. firll time that faum hgth made iufc of fuch *wjf?r«» f^ i^yGhriIV:faw hiidj matPder. <&c 'Xconfdfe ;it woiiM havti been; mow ea-r f fily Jxw:oe,iftfteyJiaclbemYticHns have notJujoWne-theiFdthSr, tsori tbo jLord^ir/kf.yithat had gitfeq this; wicked advke bnttfaat it Ihoulllfcoms from 'them,; who have ( or at lealt pretend to)morc *cqmrni&itct\ mtb.Chrtft thcnothers,., this i$''a^thcVirieger-.wd the> G4lti V v- ■! I 1 :! '•< > .’ -g vA.C^r^«47. Irt theIaft place tiec; gives the tvovld a. Catalogue of fyi'figdtfamaiioqs'y 'fpojten by fricev fince,

om .a£i he Jiall piove to,proceed from mee,farre bettei: the^ ; Mr.$WtywUL\be nble to mafce g6od ( in,a >rfigular' artd orderly proceeding) thofe flanderws reports conn cernin» mee,\yith which he hath filled the .warld,nott yvithftanding hc.hafls fo rfiuch of mtntflh * ;afc the

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Xif.Ay heart do n6t deceive"me) w k my defireiini Joining with them ,- and in my withdrawing-'fiom theniyl finding not a Sufficiency in their M/W/frj for tfltficatien znMitildtng #/>•, and being difapointed of yciylzxpctfdttenhi the mint(try, and continuing ray prd&ice of hearing Mr Fwdjfometimes once a Lords dayjmecrly out of necefltty>and obfcrving what they did .aft* they , were; in office and fetled themfelves* in ftead of difcovering their love and faithfulnefle to the peoples foulesin their diligent circumfpellton and wdtcbfulneffe. over, them , and difcovering to them thfc bidden myflcries of the Gofprfl, they were very remifie, the worke they were imploycd in : was to ix alt themfelves, and bring the people into Subjeifi~ on unto them, ftlenccing fome, and cenfuring others vyithout allowing them any liberty to clear , them*" felves, fuch as. they fuppofed flood in their way, and when this was effeded, then they proceeded farther? to take- them off from hearing any other minifler making that practice' of -hearing another miniflery, when themfelves preached, to be a going out of the* Bofome of Chrifl into the Befome of Strangers*, and fuch. perfons were Traytorsznd Rebells to jefus' Chrift,and fliould be fo dealt withall* and what-be*1 nefit was received by another miniller to be a. delu-lufion and a Temptation, and a judgment of God upon' the foule, And ingaging the people at their admilfion* to believe it as an Article of their faith* thata grea­ ter blefling was to be expc&ed on their mini fry , then on any others j as if they preached another Jefus, or * another Spirit, or another Gofpelh wheti the Apo-- H 3 ‘ i file

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' .( ) 1 : ‘ . H - • ..;iafciiv

from wUh tjticm in their evils I not onto ’ . she libersy oijpotking hut ofdifienting being deniea, vales it w m p iy ^ w d vpan fuch tcrmps as theif;
Byenfaarwg of roe, sod fif loofcing peace and a good name, Inot daring to make it known to other mem-

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...£”lfk(be fo^vhy flraft’hc'ital^libercv^V r^ £ m ;^ j

defame me in my namcy ifitweifethey?^:oWyh^!' ayiiid at?&why 'did he ufc fad\Jlf>itbitcJ^$$'dtfcMic- when as his confcitntc mult needs tell hiirij-that he nevenaccufed me^ofond

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.that obe&eatfd flight lyteg, and that J&y lying wfaJtkefrcpfrtjofavvamaQ* „ :; ^ ^Wljcreas thetrath is*thatwhen Mr Ford and Mr .pyu^ffMinifters, Mr Sticky and Mr Evthigk were Ipct at M r Xcxds houfe, Me Stntkf and Mr. JBmbigh acaiCcd.mc' of Scandal! ^ und brought in a charge of lying i^ainft me, inftandnf in Mris Evt* higb and . my (peeking againft thu F^tttyteriam (wfriixb I bavq allready anfwered) Ms Ford i d ^ald Joe more,more charge; then to makeup their accufa. tion, they faid that I was fickle, Mr Ford anfwered than, that is as much as to fay, fhe is a woman, this ‘ I know co he the truth * and yet the report is fprcad foythem in City ami Country, that fie faid that lying Wss the property, of. a woman x and herein have they difcovci cd their falfchood and rage againft fuch an E-rtfimnt labourer in chrifts Vineyard, who hath given abundant Teftimony that he fecks nothimfelfebut the things of Chrift. V- And as for Contention, how hath MtStuelej dif-covercd him felfe guilty to all the world,Doeg like, foilingon (JttAgsflrates and Minifttrs whom he fup-pofeth (lands in his way, as his Sermon and printed books do’witnefle. Give me leave to take notice ofit,as David> when lie heard how Saul had cut off the Lords Frit (Is ( faith lie)I have occafioncd the death of all thefe. And for CenferiaufneffeJ.iow doth itappeare ?not by fecret Icarch, but upon theirieverall Accnfations, wherein the greateft ground of their proceedings againft me, hath been a ctnfaring of the ends of my ............... • ' * : words

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■ .. •• < " » ■ ) .. . . r the rather take notice of iti' b£&iile; tfojy itaay confideithat whiles tliey are ;

fdfgct them Pelves,and theiir Bngagemihi^t6 Chrift* ?and ttf his Lawes * that \vliercas they^avc profeft tht* taking Chrift for t h e i i r a r t c f X i w *

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( 114) : i

yaine and fcolifli pleas, now,,- !wby how dared he aft upon foch grounds fiow/Ht? only Way therefore will be to repent.ofthjs his^/c
ByAnd pfay Cod) if perhdPs the thought $ of,his { heart fit*) ht for given him % which will be more to his hp#ovr\

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Of fome of the K E $ £ S

In the Inquifition in the - Ipv \ Who have fuffercd there above three years, t>y the Pc>%^ * Authority, there to be deteined till they dye.- Which R( IwP. on of »heir fufferings is come from their owa ltat^^,»rt,d ■ moufhsi,as doth appear, by the following* Thdotwo Daughters of •

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r r -, -l ! avt /. u

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AuEpiftletotheReaders . s4nj there bea^ tokg the Nations in the world) that in their hafte have unjujlly condemned the ixndcent, gHilileft sfnd hat mlIfS people vf V the Lord of Hofts (fcm fully c .^'WQiu-Jh» ^erS ) yi7* they are P-ApiftS) JtfuitSyApd what elfa adhiring to the Whotifb faljft Chnr(h of tVjowie ; / /*; to fuch on this wifey which is my advice as an}an tihi*fricud% jo whom this maj <ome, Be not hajty f* judge' before the time, 04 ’ mny do to their own hurt5guilt AvdconderNfiatien # before they jiAvc a cle^ r and right underftanding of the things tJ>at differ fr om 4<]mtyandtrutb%and fo the nobility of the mwd which fliould toeigff 4xd pafi true fentence offeuud and perfett judgment % the fame itbtg vailed with ahafly darh^ fpiritoffrejudice » er.% eyil furmi? fingjthicJ) gets up into the feat of enmity, and tbereinpaffoth fat• . ttncwf the pure way ayd things if God as evil, ^ herejie■* and what , <lfe\ ahdthm itcomstopajsy and- indeed it cannotbe of berm fe . with fuch that hfiue wt their rmndsftaied wd fixed }n that which is ptrfett and true), and clear %#id fingU+M is the clear manifefta^ tmofthe grace of life? 'which is the Light fiftfo Lord Jefhs jhU *' *iw in the heart and confcience of the Soris and Daughters ofmeny am the fame Light of the Lord which lightneth the poor andde-ctitfnl man's eyes% H the true me*far4 am equal ballancet which nS istotriei and prove ^ a^ w'eighwotAs^ thought^ intents %vcays# (mdd}i<Mfywkether tiny 1>C\flip able or condemna^ le^ and here*, - ty witkthofamemcaftire of the true Spirit of God who is Light'% n true fentsfice to be puffed accordingly : For if that which is per^ ft^htrae be meafured with a f l^fe meafure, or with an unequal EfUmtce, itvloth appear fo to all that behold the fame with an r-t tyc} or npfifutb that with the fame meafure^ fave onely t* # thmtbdl dtfcern the rrx«{rteftciflht} et bMwc* I as for wflauct,, « *• the thing natural if 4 deceitful man with a falfe mcafure% A 2 being

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"7 (4 ) , . :

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chapter 5|3 pages

Katharine Evans to her Husband

•____________ ,y' - «'f;‘ Bor the hand of $OHN EVANS * my right dear and precious Huiband, with iny tender-hearted Children, who are tftorc dear and precious unto trie, than the ap*
Byand Children•'

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her Husband and Children.

BySarah Chevers to

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(« *) opera*

chapter 37|2 pages

^- •

chapter 7|7 pages

4 parefcip

ByAmin.

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glory* to bear rule,**-

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chapter |9 pages

ttfce j ourheadsand

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COURTEOUS READER.

chapter |3 pages

'Ckrifli&n Wmans experiences

chapter |5 pages

ofthe glortomworking of Godsfret7,

chapter i|6 pages

i > A QmJlidH Wmans experiences

chapter |2 pages

Cbrifttan, Womansixpertencts^

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gtds

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go *'v< ^ ChrlJlitn W

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. ... r 7AChriHian Wpmant experie»cer

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* • * Qhrijtlan Womans experiences

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^ ; *'■'^ COURTEOUS READER,

'^ChrBUn mnanf expMmc*,''
Byart not

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'the 41

chapter 42|2 pages

- <A Qhri&

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TOTHE

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( 5 )

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(<S) deavour (though fruftrate) to get over into France, his Return to Trem\ his final DeA parture thencc in order to his happy Trani-portation, are the fub je& of this prefent Relation. A Story, in which the Conftel-lations of Providence are lo refulgent, that their light is fufficient to confute all the Atheifts of the world, and to enforce all perfons (whofe faculties are not pertina-cioufly depraved) to .acknowledge a watchA ful Eye of GOD from above, looking upon all A&ions of Men here below, making even the moft wicked fubfervient to his juft and glorious defigns. And . inA deed, whatfoever the Antients fabled of Gyges’s Ring, by which he could render himfelf Invisible, or the Poets fancied of their Gods, who ufually carried their chief Favourites in the Clouds, and by drawing thofe aerial Curtains, did fo conceal them, that they were heard and feen of none, whilft rhey both heard and faw others, is here moft certainly verified. For, the AlA mighty fo.clofely covered the King with the wing of his Prote&ion, and fo clouded the Underftanding of his cruel Enemies,

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K 7 ) that the moft piercing Eye of Malice could not fee, nor the moft Barbaroufly-bloody Hand offer Violence to his Sacred Perfon: God fmiting his purfucrs (as once he did the Sodomites) with blindnefs, who with as much eagernefs fought to facrifice the Lords Anointed to their fury, as the other did to proftitute the Angels to their luft. But before the feveral Particulars of this Story are laid open, two Queftions (eafily forefeen ) which will be readily asked by every Header, call for an Anfwer. The one is, Why this Relation fo much expectA ed, fo much longed for, has been kept up all this while from publick view ? And the other, How it comes to pafs, that nowit takes the liberty to walk abroad ? ConA cerning the firft, it muft be known, that a Narrative of thefe Paffages was (by efpe-ciai command from his Majefty ) written by the Colonels own hand, immediately after the Kings return into England} which ( being prefented to his Majefty ) was laid up in his Royal Cabinet, there to reft for foait rime, ip being the Kings pleafure ( for reafons

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C8J ) reafons beft known to his Sacred felf ) that it ftiould not then be publiihed. And as his Majefties command to keep it private, is a fatisfa&ory anlwer to. the firft} fo, his licence now obtained that it might travel abroad, may fufficiently refolve the fecond queftion. But befides this, many prevalent reafons there are, which plead for a publication \ the chief of which are briefly thefe. That the implacable Enemies of this Crown may be for ever filenced and afhamed j who having neither Law, nor Religion to patronize their unjuft under-, takings, conftrued a bare Permiffion, to be a Divine Approbation of their A&ions and (taking the Almighty to be fuch a one as themfelves) blafphemoufly entitled God to be the Author of all their wickednefs. ' But the arm of God ftretched out from heaven to the refcue of the King , cutting off the clue of their Succefs, even then when they thought they had fpun up their thred, hath not left them io much as an apron of fig-leaves to cover the nakednefs of their moft fliameful proceedings. * The next is, That the Truth of his Ma-

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every jot and title of Truth being Truth, not one grain of the treafure, nor one beam of the Iuftre of this Story might be loft or clouded j it being fo rare, fo excellent, that aged Time out of all the Archives of AnA tiquity can hardly produce a Parallel. SinA gularly admirable indeed it is, if we conA sider the Circumftances and A&ors.- The. Colonel ( who chiefly defigned,and moved in this great Affair) could not have had the freedom to have ferved his Majefty, had he not been a Prifoner} his very Confinement giving him both a liberty, and prote&ion to aft. For, coming home from Weymouth upon his Parole, he had the opportunity to travel freely and fafely, without fear of beA ing flopped, and taken up : And being newly removed from Sherborne to Treaty the jealous eye of Sonterjetjhire Potentates • "had f'carce then found him out, whofe maA levolent Afpeft afterwards feldora fuffered

jefties Efcape ( being minced by fome, lpif- taken by others, and not fully fet forth by any) might appear in its native beauty and fplendor: That as every duft of gold is gold, and every ray of light is light; fo

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(r°) him to live at home, and too too often fur-nifhed his houfe with very unwelcom guefts. Others, who contributed their afiiftance, were perfons of both fexes, and of very difA ferent conditions and qualities: And alA though their endeavours often proved fuc-cefslefs, though they received difcourage-ments on one hand, were terrified with threats on the other *, That a feal of filence fliould be imprinted upon the lips of WoA men, who are become proverbial for their garrulity That faithfulnefs and conftancie fliould guard the hearts of Servants, who are ufually corrupted with rewards, or afA frighted with punilliments} That neither Hope nor Fear (moft powerful palfions, heightned by Capital animadverfions proA claimed againft All that fliould conceal, and large Remunerations promifed to fuch as fliould difcover the King ) could work noA thing upon any fingle perfon,fo as to remove him or her from their refpedive durv, but that all fliould fo harmonioufly conc enter,

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. 0 vered by the moft exquifite art and cunning, till the blefTed Reftaiiration of his Majefty to his glorious Throne, fo filled their hearts with joy, that it broke open the door of their lips, and let their tongue ioofe to tell this Miracle to the amazed World, would ( were not the Perfons yet alive, and the Story frefh in memory) rarifie it into a Romance. The reproaches and fcandals, by which fome envious perfons have fought to dimiA nish and vilifie the faithful fervices, which the Colonel out of the integrity of his foul performed unto his Majefty > (hall not here be mentioned : Becaufe by taking up dirt to befpatter him , they defile their own hands, and the gun they level at his RepuA tation , recoils to the wounding of their own. Thefe. things thus premifed, by way of Introdu&ion, open the Gate, through which you may enter, and in the enfuing Pages ( as in feveral Tables,) take a full view of the Particulars. The Dilguife his Majefty put on,fecured him from the Cruelty of his Enemies; but B could

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( l l ) Colonel, together with an exa& information of the fcituation of Trent, fought an opA portunity to fpeak with Mr* Lane ^( from whom, the better to conceal himfelf, he then kept at a diftance ) and by means of Mr Laffels ( who accompanied the King in this journey) obteining his defire, his MaA jefty with much contentment imparted to M” Lane what Pope had informed him conA cerning Colonel Wyndham, and his habitaA tion *, telling her withall, That if {he could bring him thither,he fhould not much doubt of his fafety. In this very point of time comcs the Lord ' Henry Wilmot (fince Earl of Rochejier) from Dirham in Gloucefierjbire (the feat of John WintcrlLfqi a perfon of known loyalty and integrity) to Leigh. My Lord had attendA ed his Majefty in his paffage Weft ward, and on Friday morning (September the .) met accidentally Captain Thomas Ab'wgton of Dowdfwell in the County of Gloncefta\ at Pinbury Park \ and being known by the Captain, ( who had ferved under his Lord-fhip. in the W ars) was that night by him conduced to Mr Winter s} from whom his Lord (hip

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Ch ) Lordftiip (ashe hath often fince acknowA ledged) received great Civilities. MtS Lane presently reveals to the Lord Wilmot the Kings refolution to remove to Trent: where* upon my Lord demanded of Henry Rogers ( Mr W inters fervant, and his Lordfliips guide from Dirham to Leigh) whether he knew T rent ? He anfwered, Thac Colonel Wyndham and his Mafter had married two Sifters, and that he had often waited on his Mafter thither. Thefe things fo happily concurring, his Majefty commanded the Lord Wilmot to hafte to Trent, and to afcertain the Colonel of his Ipeedy ApA proach. His Lordfhip took leave, and continuing Rogers for his guide, with one Robert Swan,, arrived at Trent the fixteenth of September. 'Rogers was fent in forthwith to the Colonel to acquaint him, that a Gentleman a friend' of his, defired the favour of him, that he would pleafe to ftep forth and fpeak with him. The Colonel enquiring of Rogers', whether he knew the Gentleman or his bufinefs > anfwered, No, he underftood nothing at all, but only that he was called by.

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( • 5 ) by.the name of Mr. Morton; Then without further difcourfe the Colonel came forth, and found the Gentleman walking near the Stable ; whom as foon as he approachA ed, (although it was fomewhat dark ) he faluted by the Title of My Lord Wilrnot. His Lordfliip feemed to wonder that he fhould be known,but it was nothing ftrange, confidering the Colonels former acquaintA ance with him, being one of thefirft that engaged under his Command, in his late Majefties fervice: Befides, his Lordfhip was not in the leaft. altered, except a Hawk on his fift, and a Lure by his fide might pafs for a Diiguife. This Confidence of his Lordfhip really begat admiration- in the Colonel, calling ta mind the great danger he; was in,, and whofe Harbinger he was *, For he advertifed the Colonel, that the King himfelf was on his way to Trent, inA tending that very night to lodge at Cajile-Cary (a Town fix miles 'thence ) hoping by Gods afliftance, to be with him about ten of the clock next morning. . At this joy fill news the Colonel was transA ported, , (there having run a report, that his Majefty

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oo Majefly was flam in the Fight at Worcefier) and giving God thanks for his wonderful mercy, he affured his Lordfhip, That for his Majejiies preservation he would value neither his life, family nor fortune^ and would never hi jure his Majejiies confidence of him j Not doubting, but that God who had led his Ma-jejiy through the midji of fuch inexprejpble dangers, would deliver him from all thofe barbarous threats, and bloody intentions o f his Enemies, With thefe and fuch like ex-preffions, the Colonel brought the Lord Wilmot into his parlour, where he received an exa& account of his Majefties condition, and prefent affairs. Next morning, the Colonel found it neceffary to acquaint the Lady- Wyndham ' his mother, and alfo his own Lady, with the particulars the Lord Wilmot had overA night imparted to him,concerning the King. The relation he gave them,did not (through the weaknefs of their fex) bring upon them any womanifh pailion, but furprized with joy, they moft cheerfully refolve (’without . the leaft (hew of fear) to hazard all, for the fafety ofthe King. Andfo (begging Gods blefling

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blefling upon their future endeavours) they contrive how his Majefty might be brought into the houfe, without any fufpition to their family, confiding of above twenty perfons. Among them therefore, M" Julian Conihgsby (the Lady: Wyndkams NecccJ) Elianor Withers, Joan Halfenoth, and Henry Peters ( whofe loyalty to the King, and fidelity to themfelves^ they had fufficiently experienced^, i are made privy to their de-fign. Next they, confider what Chambers arefitteft foc his Majeftics reception. Four are made choice of * amoilgft which, the Lady Wyndhams was counted moft conA venient lor the day-time,where the fervants might .wait with moil freedom upon his Majefty. Then a fofe place is provided to retreat unto, ih cafe offearch, or imminent danger : And.laftly, Employments are de-figned to remove all others out of the way at the. inftant/ of his . JVfajeftics arrival. All whith after a while, anfwered their dcfircs, even beyond their expectation. . Between nine and ten the next morning, the Colonel and his Lady walking towards the fields adjoining to the hopfe, efpied the C King

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King riding before Mrt Lane, and Mr LaJJeh in their company. Affoori as his Majefty came near the Colonel, He called to him, FranFranks1 how doji thou do ? By which gracious pleafance the Colonel perA ceived, that though his Majefties habit and countenance were much changed, yet his Heroick fpirit was the fame, and his mind ilnmutable. The Colonel (to avoid the jealous eyes of fome neighbours ) inftantly conveyed the King and M rt Lane into the Lady Wyndhanis Chamber, where the paf-jfibiis of Joy and Sorrow did a while combat inthem, Who beheld his Sacred Perfon': For what loyal Eye could look upon fo Glorious a Prince thus eclypfed, and not pay unto him the faomage ^»f* tears ? But the confidefration of > his Majefties fafety, the gracious 'words of his own mouth conA futing the fad report's of his untimely death, together With ‘ the hope ’ of) his; future preA fer vatton, fobndried therri up.j In a'lhbrt time the Ooloner brought the Lord Wilmot to tHe King, aridthett the Ladies withdrew into the Parlour^ having firft; agreed tto call MrtT,knc Coufin, !a)ad to entertain'licr with the

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( l ? ) the fame familiarity as if flie had been their near Relation. That day; flieftayed at Trent, and the next motning d ir ly M r LaJJels and Khe departed. , His Majefty, after he had refreshed him-felf, commanded the Colbriel in the pre*^ fence of the Lbrd Wilmot y to propofe,. What way he thought moft probable for hisEfeape into France j for thither he deA fired with all fpeed to be tranfported. Th£ Colonel (the King giving him this opporA tunity) entertained and encouraged his Majefty with this remarkable paflage of Sir Thomas Wyndbam (his Father) Who, not long before bis death C in the Tear %63

tfaid hejtfjf the long Peace
Bycalled nnto him his fiv e Sons, ( having not feen them together in fome years before ) and difconrfed nnto m and Projferity this1 Kingdom had enjoyed m - der its lhree (aft Glorious Monarchs: O f the

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( ? ° ) hotfr ip pkafed> God in lovcjpoiir Nath# t*. tgfy fa'fjioRegalThrone;,.Me mentioned'the.. healing Conjunction o f the two tJoufes of York 'uittfi. L.ancafter, and the bkffedfchion ofthe.tfflQ CrowMSiofEnghvd ^^.^cotland,, ftopping. fp , tfoje-. fyftntainf. of BJ$ody which, by National feuds and quarrels kept ofienj had liket to hav$drowned the whole Ifldnd. : H efaid}Jje feareef.t'he beautiffd gatment of Peace. vponld fyortly jbe torn. m pieces through\ the ‘NegleSl o f Magistrates^ the general Cor­ ruption o f mannersa and the prevalence ofa. Pnri^atticaf.fyfyonj w h jc h ^ 'm t prevented Would n n ^ m ^ . th^ very pillars of ^ Govern-m/int., :.My fons j . We -have hitherto jeen fe-reite and quiet Tim es: but now prepare your felveq for\cl^dy fnefc tr<ppjMef?mt[[l WWmatick

Byyou to honour Mndsobev tf iir GraciowSo&e- raign ^and m all times to. adheye t^o the frownr, keifiQ fyvkest. ■with, much earnefineTs]. both in

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C20 where Sir John dwelt. No fooner was he come thither , but he met with Colotiel Giles Strangways, and after ufual falutaitk>ns, they walked into the Park adjoyning to the houfe, where Colonel Wyndham ijmparted the reafoh and end of his prefent Vifir. Colonel Strangways ‘his anfwer was, That he was infinitely grieved, becaufe he was not able to ferve his Majefty in procuring, a Veffel according to expectation *, That he knew not any one Matter ofaShipr or f<* much as one Mariner that he could truft: All that were formerly of his, acquaintance in Weymonth, being for their loyalty banifh-ed, and gone beyond the fea V and m Pool and Lime he was a meer ftranger, having not one Confident in either. A hundred ^pounds in Gold he delivered to CdlbrVtl Wyndham, to prefent fo the King ', which at his return, by command was deposited in the hands of the h o td Wilmot, fof his Majefties life. * About this time the Forces undet Vroifi-rvell were retreated from Worcejler into the feveral Quarters of the Country j fome of which coming to Tra#, proclaimed the Over-

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( n ) Overthrow, of the Kings Armyc, and the' Death of the King, giving out that he was certainly killed \ And one of themaffirntcd that he faw.him.clead,and that he was bliried among the reftxlf the ikiri,no injiiry feng offered to his body* becaufe he was a ValiA ant Soldier, and a Gallant man. This‘welA come News fo tickled the Se&airies y that .they could -not hold from' expitf fling their >joy by making Bonfires,Bring of Gtins, Drinking, and other jollittes : And fot a clo& kaf ally to t&eGhurchthey and thereirlng the Kings knell. ^Thete i-iid'dE x1-5 trsntagancibs ^iftovfed -ttOt-his tUa^efty ait all ,1 )1

but onely. o(ais if he W£re more troubled for their maidnels,' than his OWrimisfoitune {his-'inoffi iGhrtftt n^a^fcotti|iafli nite Exf .priSHIon,;.:i$a$\p<)bfl f ; i - :1 ; r• Now though fhe Kiftg valued riot the

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Oh ) • his;,Majefly, that one Captain William El­ k/den of Lime ( formerly well known unto him) with his Brother John EUefdeny ( by: means pf CplonelZfo/Ze/z Keymes of: Wadden in Dorfetjbire ) had conveyed over, into France, Sir John'Berkley (now Lord Berhjey) in a time of danger. To this CapA tain therefore his Majefty fends the ColoA nel, who lodging at his houfe in Lime, took: an opportunity to tell hitn^ That the Lord Wilmot had made his efcape from Worcejier \ that he lay priyatply; near to him j< and that bisLordfliip had earneftly foliated him to ufe his utmoft endeavours to Iccure iiiin from the. hands of thepurfuers. To this purpofe he was:cpme totown* andaffured thes Captain, if he, Wpuld joyn ;in this, affair* ' his courtefie fliouldnevfcr, be forgotten.; The Captain very cordially embraced the motiA on, and went with the Colonel, to Char-mouth ( a little place near .tarn J) .whereat an Inrie, he brought to him a Tenant of his, one Stephen Limbry, a (Turing the Colonel that he was a right honeft man, and a perA fect Royalift. With this Limbry Colonel Wyitdham treated under the name of CapA tain

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( * S > tain Norris, and agreed with him to tranf-port himfelf and three or four friends into France. The conditions of their Agreement were; That before the two and twentieth day of that inftant September JLimbry (hould bring his VefTel into Cbarmoutb-Rozd, and on the faid two and twentieth, in the night fhould receive the Colonel and his company into his Long-boat from the Beach near CbarmoHtb, from thence carry them to his Ship, and fo land them fafe in Franco. This the Colonel conjured Lirnbry to perform with all fecrefie, becaufe all the PafTengers were of the Royal party, and intended to be (hipped without leave, to avoid fuch Oaths and Engagements, which othenvifc would be forced upon them : And thereA fore Privacie in this tranfa&ion would free him from Danger, and themfelves from Trouble, the true caufe why they fo earneftly thirfted (for fome time) to leave their native Country. Limbrys Salary was Sixty pounds, which the Captain engaged to pay at his return from France, upon fight of a Certificate under the Paflengers hands of their landing there. To the performance D of

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( * « > of thefe Covenants, Lhnbry with many vows and proteftations obliging himfelf, the Colonel with much fatisfa&ion, and fpeed came back to his Majefly and the Lord Wilmot to Trent, who at the narratiA on of thefe pallages expreffed no fmall conA tentment. The bufinefs being thus far fuccefsfully laid, the King confults how it might be prudentially managed, that fo there might be no mifcarriage in the profecution. Necef-fary it was that his Ma jelly and all his AtA tendants (contrary to the ufe of Travellers) ; fhould fit up all the night in the Inne at Charmoutb j that they ought to have the command of the houfe, to go in and out at pleafure, the Tide not ferving till twelve at night. To remove therefore all fufpicion and Inconveniencies r this Expedient was found out. Henry Peters ( Colonel Wyndharns fer-vant) was fent to Cbarmowtb Inne, who inA viting the Hoflefs to drink a glafs of wine, told her, That he ferved a very gallant Mafter, who had long moil affe&ionately loved a Lady in D evon,, and had the happi-nels

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OS) was his Majeflies Guide, whilft the Lord Wilfnot with Peters kept at a convenient diflance, that they might not Teem to be all of one company. In this manner travelling, they were timeA ly met by Captain Elefden, and by him condufted to a private houfe ofhis Brothers among the hills near Cbarmontb. There his Majefly was pleafed. to difcover himfelf to the Captain, and to give him a piece of forein Gold, in which in his folitary hours he made a hole to put a ribbin in. Many like pieces his Majefly vouchfafed the CoA lonel and his Lady, to- be kept as Records of his Majeflies favour, and of their own fidelity to his moft Sacred Perfon in the day of his greateft Trial. All which they have moft thankfully treafured up as the chiefefl Jewels of their Family. This Royal Company from thence came to the Inne at Cbarmontb,a little after night; where Captain- Elefden folemnly engaging to fee the Mailer of the ftiip readyv (the wind blowing 'then fair, for France) took leave of his Majefly; About! anlhour after came Limbry to. the Inne', and affured the . (; Colonel

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* 9 ) Colonel all things were prepared, and that aHout midnight his Long-boat fliould waic at the place appointed. "The fet Hour dravV-ing nigh, the Colonel with Peters went to the Sea-fide (leaving his Majefty and the Lord Wilmot in a pofture to come away upon call) where they remained all night expe&ing j but feeing no Long-boat, neiA ther hearing any meffage from the mafter of theftiip, at the break of day' tlitColonel returns to the Inne, and befeeclies the King and the Lord Wilmot to hafte from thence. Hisi Majefty was intreated j but the Lord Wilmot wasdefirous to ftay behind a little, promifing to follow the King to Briclpert, where his Majefty intended to make a Halt for him.:. . . When the King was gone, the Lord Wil­ mot fent Peters into L/we , to demand of Captain Elejdcn the reafori why himbry broke his prbmife, and forfeited his word ? He feemed -.much furprifed: with' this n?ef: fagej and>(aidj .-He ikfreWnorea'Con,' fcxcept it being Fair-day, the Stamen Were drunk in taking tlieir; Farewell^ and-withall ad-y.jfe &sLordftiip to>bd gorW, betaufe his

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( 3 ° ) Ray there could not be fafe. But iince that, Limbry himfelf hath given this account unA der his own hand: —— That according to an Agreement made at Chatmonth, September the 1 . beA twixt himfelf and one Captain Norris,(fince known to be Colonel Francis Wyndbam) Jhe put forth his Ship beyond the Cobs-month into Char month-rode, where his fervants on the . of the fame moneth were all ready in her, waiting his coming \ That he going to his houfe about ten that night, for linen to carry with him, was unexpe&edly locked into a chamber by his Wife, to whom he had a little before revealed his intended Voyage with fome Paftengers into France, for whofe Tranfportation, at his return, he /was to receive a confiderable lum of money from Captain Elefden. This woman (it (eems) was frighted into a panick fear by that dreadful Proclamation (of the tenthof September) fet out by the jMen of Wefiminfier, and published that day ' at Lime, In this, a heavy Penalty was thun-dred out againft all that (hould conceal the King, or any.of his party who were at Wor-cefler .

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( 3 « ) eejier Fight*, and a Reward of aThoufand pounds promifed to any that fliould betray him. She, apprehending the Perfons her husband engaged to carry over, to beRc/y-alifts, refolved to fecure him from danger, by making him a Prifoner in his own chamA ber. All the perfwafions he ufed for his liA berty, were in vain: For the more he inA treated , the more her violent paflion in-creafed, breaking forth into fuch clamors and lamentations, that he feared if he fliould' any longer contend, both himfelf and the Gentlemen he promifed to tranfport, would be caft away in this ftorm, without ever goA ing to Seai. Thus a Defign in abufinefs of the higheft nature, carried on with induftry and pruA dence, even to the very, laft, ftill promifing full hope of a happy production, by one mans fingle whi(per (the bane of A&ion) proved abortive. For no doubt, had Lim-bry kept his counfel, he had gained the hoA nour of Conveying over his Majefty , of whofe Noble Courage and Vertue, God was pleafed to make yet farther trial, as the-fequel will inform.

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CaO The King palling on upoif London Road from CharmoHtbfntt many travellers,among whom was on.e of his Fathers fervants, well known both to his Majefty and the ColoA nel* who were very .well pleafed that he was not guilty of fo mifch Civility, as to give either of them the complement of a Salutation. As they drew near to Bridport, the Colonel riding a little before, and entring the town, perceived it full of SoldiA ers : whereupon flopping his horfe till the King came up, he inreated his Majefty to keep on, and by no means to put himfelf into the mouth of them, who gaped greeA dily after his deftru&ion. Neverthelefs, the King having engaged to the Lord Wilmot to expe& him there, (without the leaft ap-^ prehenfion of danger) rode into the Gmge, and alighting in the Court, was forced to ftay there, and in the Stable, near half an hour, before the Colonel could procure a . Chamber. All this while his bloody EneA mies were- his onely Companions,. with whom he difcourfed freely without fear* and learned from them their intended VoyA age for Jerfey and Gnernfey r and their Defign

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( 3 3 )

Defign upon thofe Iflands. Here may you fee the Purfuers overtaken, and the bittereft of Enemies friendly difcourfing with Him, whofe utter Ruine they accounted would compleat their Happinefs. He that fate in

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( 3 5 )

-arid that days travel. The Colonel ( while the horfes were put up)defired Mr (hew him the moft private roomsjthe reafon he gave was, Becaufe his Brother-in-law Colonel Reymes ( whom the Lord Wilmot
By.Jones to

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(30 befieged, there being no paflage from a-bove, but through thofe fufpe&ed Guards. Thus every place brought forth its troubles, and every period of time difclofed frefli dangers! Shortly after the Soldiers had taken up their Quarters, a Woman in their company fell in labour in the Kitchin. The pangs (he endured, made the Inhabitants of that place very ill at eafe, fearing left the whole Parifli fhould become the reputed Father, and be enforced to keep the Child. To avoid this charge, the chiefeft of the Parifli poft to the Inne, between whom and the Soldiers arofe a very hot conflict conA cerning provifion to be made for the mo-? ther and the infant. This difpute continued till fuch time as (according to orders) they were to march to the Sea-fide. This quar-relfom Goflipping was a moft feafonable diverfion, exercifing the minds of thofe troublefom Fellows, who otherwife were likely to have proved too too inquifitive after the Guefts in the houfe} the fad con-fequences of which , every loyal heart trembles to think on. Surely we cannot, except we wilfully fliut

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'( 37 J) (hut our own eyes) but clearly fee,and with all reverence and thankfulnefs adore the Divine Goodnefs for his Majefties fignal Deliverances in this Voyage. Efpecially if looking back upon Char mouth, we confider the dangers that threatned him, occasioned by the Lord Wilmot*s ftiort ftay there, after the Kings departure. For one Hamnet a Smith, being called to (hoe his Lordfhips horfe, faid, He well knew by the fafliion of the (hoes, that they were never fet in the Weft, but in the North. The Hoftler ( a bird of the fame feather) hearing this, began to tell what Company had been there, - how they fate up, and kept their horfes fadled all the night j and from hence they conclude, That either the King , or fome Great Perfons had certainly been at the Inne. The Hoftler (whofe heart was foured againft the King ) runs prefently to one Wejlley (of the fame leaven) then Mi-nifter of Char month, to inform him of thefe Paffages, and to ask counfel what was to be done. This Wejiley was at his Morning Exercife, and being fomthing long-winded, {A nd by the way it w ay be observed, that

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long Prayers proceeding front a Traiterous

the Hoftler, unwilling to lofe his reward at the Gentlemans taking horfe, returns withA out doing his errand. As foon as my Lord was mounted and gone^Hamnet tells Wefiley
Byhearty once did good, but by accident onely

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( 3 P )

and purfuing the King upon London-Road. But God preferved his Majefty by divertA ing him to Broadwindfor, whilft Maffey and his hot-mettled company outran their Prey as far as Dorchefter. And indeed, the report

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( 4 ° ) Sir Hugh and his Lady for the King and CoA lonel, confidently affirming that they muft needs be there. His Majefty having with an evennefs of fpirit gotten through this rough paffage, fafely anchored at Broadmndfor: Where at length enjoying fome reft, he commands the Colonel to give his opinion what courfe was to be taken, as the face of affairs then looked. The Colonel (feeing Forces drawn everywhere upon that fhore) thought it very hazardous to attempt any thing more in Dorfetjhire; and therefore humbly beA fought his Majefty,that he would be pleafed to retreat to Trent: He hoped his Majefty was already fatisfied in the fidelity .ofhis fervants j and that he doubted not, his MaA jefty might lie fecurely in that Creek, till it was fair weather, and a good feafon to put forth to Sea. He humbly advifed,that Peters might conduft the Lord Wilmot to Mr Huit’s houfe-at the Kings-Arms in Sarum, where he and many of his friends had beeniheltered in the time of troubles. That Peters (being at Sarnm ) fhould by a private token bring his Lordfhip to Mr John Coventry (his Kink man)

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man) ‘a Perfon Noble, Wife, and Loyal, with whom he had kept Intelligence in order to the Kings fcrvice, ever fince his Majefty had fet foot in Scotland j That he was affured would think himfelf highly ho­ noured to Correfpond in this matchlefs' em­ ployment, The K ings Preservation. He de­ fired the Lord Wilmot to be confident of ly­ ing concealed; And likewife to treat with Mr Coventry, 'and by Peters to return his Ma­ jefty an account how he found that Gentle­ man affe&ed towards this fervice. This counfel being well relifhed and ap­ proved, ’twas refol Ved, That between Sarnm and Trent (lying 30 miles diftant and better) an Intercourfe (hould be kept by trufty mef-fengers, and a fecret way of writing, to avoid danger in cafe o f interception. All things being thus concluded, the'King left his jovial Hoft at Broadwi?tdjor, and returned with the Colonel and Mrt Coningsby to Trent. The with Peters went that night to

ByCoventry

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(40 things fully anfwering his Lordfliips enpc&a-tion: And (the a$.of September) Peters was Tent back with this joyful mefiage from the Lord Wilmot to his Majefty,That he doubted not ( by M ' Coventrys, affiftance, and thole recommended by him ) to* be able in lome £hort time to effe& his defires. Whilft his Sacred Majefty enjoys his peace at Trent, and the Lord Wilmot ( with thofe other Worthies) is bufied at Sarum to proA cure its continuation,. It cannot be impertiA nent to mention a Circumftance or two, which inferted in the midft of the web and' texture of this Story would have looked un-handfom, but added, as a.fringe,may prove ornamental.. Upon the. Sunday morning after the King dame to Trent, a Tailor of the Parifli informA ed the Colonel, That the Zealots [ which fwarmed in that place dilcour fed overnight, that Perfons of Qyality were hid in his houfe, and that they intended to: fearch and feife them ; and therefore he defired the Colonel (if any fuch there were) to convey them thence, to avoid furprilal. The Colonel ('reA warding the «good‘man fox his care and kind-

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. . ( 4 3 ) nefs towards himfelf and family) told him, T-hat Jiis Kiftfinan (meaning the L. Wilmot) was not private, but puoiick houfe, ('for fo his Lordfhip pleafed to be ) and that he believed he would ihew himfelf in the Church at the time of Prayers. Whein the honeft fellow was gone, the Colonel acA quaints the King what had pafled between himfelf and the Tailor, and withall befought his Majefty to perfwade the Lord Wilmot to accompany him to Church, thinking by this means not only to leflen the jea!oufie,but alfo to gain the good opinion of fome of the Fa-naticks. who would be apt to believe, that the Colonel was rather brought to Church by my Lord* then his Lordlhip by the CoA lonel, who leldom came to that Place, fince Fa&ion and Rebellion had juftled out, and kept poffefiion againft Peace aod Religion. He alledged moreover, that he fate in an lie diftin& from the body of the Congregation, fo that the Parifhioners could not take a full view of any ofhis company; Thefe reafons, joined with his Majefties command,prevailed with his Lordfliip*, and (though he thought it a bold adventure,yet) it not only allayed the F fury,

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C4 + ; fury, but alfo took out the very fling of thofe wafps-, infomuch that they who the laft nmhr talked of coming but learching, began now to fay, that Crowrvelh late fuccefs againft the King, had made the Colonel a Convert. All being now quiet about home, the CoA lonels Lady(under a pretence of a Vifit)goes over to Sherborn to hear what news there was abroad of the King, And towards, evening, at her return, a Troop of horfe clapt private^* ly into the town. This filent way of entring their Quarters, in fo triumphant a time, gave a ftrong alarm to this careful Lady,: whofe thoughts; were much troubled concerning her Royal Gueft. A ftop.flie made to hearken out what brought them thither, and whither they were bound: But not one grain of InA telligence could be procured by the moft in-duftrious enquiry. ; Wheq (he came home,(he gave his; Majefty an. account of many ftories, which like.flying.clouds were blown about by tJietreathtOf the,people•ftr.iving to cover h<?n i trouble; with: the. vajl > jpf cheerfulnefs. 'But this the King, perceiving to be rather forced then free,as at pther times, was earneft to know the caufe. of her di.fcompofure* And ■! to-

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to fatisfie his Majeftie As im

tunity, (he gave him a full relation of the Troop at Sherborn: At which his Majefty laughed moft heartily, as if he had not been in the leaft concerned. Yet upA on a ferious debate of the matter, the Colonel and his Lady fupplicated the King to take a view

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■ ( 4 0 was hid atTmtf a farther order. Upon

jiights together, That the King near Sherbom, in a houfe nigh to which .ftood Grove or patch of trees, and that thither he fhould go and find him. This fuggcftion thus reiterated, was a powerful fpur to prick him forA wards : But the hand which held the reins and

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( 4 7 ) Upon the firft of Ottober, M r. John Sellic\ (Chaplain to Mr.Coventry) brought a Letter to his Majefty. In anfwer to which the King wrote back, That he defired all diligence might be ufed in providing a VefTel; and if it ftiould prove difficult at Hampton, trial fliould be made farther: That they fhould be afcertained of a Ship before they fent to remove him, that fo he might run no more hazards then what of ne-eeflity ht muft meet with in his paffage from Trent to the place of his Tranfportation. OBoberthe fifth, Colonel Phelips came from the Lord Wilmot and Mr.Coventry to his Majefty with this affurance, That all things were ready And that he had informed himfelf with the moft private ways, that fo he might with greater probability of fafety guide his Majefty fo the Sea-fide. Affoon as the King heard this mefl'age,, He refolved upon his Journey. Colonel Wynd­ ham earneftly petitions his Majefty; that he might wait on him to the£hore: But his Majefty gave no grant, faying, It was no way neccflary, and might prove very inconvenient. Upon the renewing his requeft, the King commanded the contrary, but fweetned his denial with this pro-mife, That if he were'put to apy diftrefs, he would again retreat to Trent, A bout

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( 4 « > -- About teji next morning (O&oberthe fall) his Majefty took leave of the old Lady Wynd-ham, the Colonels Lady and Family-, not omitA ting the meaneft of them that ferved him.. But to the good old Lady he vonchfafed more then an ordinary refpeft,who accounted it her fiigheft honour, that (he had three Sons and one Grand- ’ child Haiti in the defence of the Father* and that flie her felf in her old age had been inftrumental in the prote&ion of the Son, Both Kings of England. '•; ' * • • v . . .. ; Thus his Sacred Majefty, taking M rt Juliana Coningsby behind> him, attended by Colonel Robert Pbelips, and Peters, bade Farewel to ' Trent the Ark in which rGod (hut him up, when the Floods of Rebellion had covered the face of his Dominions. Here he refted Nine-’ teen 'days, to give his faithful Servants time to work his deliverance : And the Almighty crowned their endeavours with fuccefs , that his Majefty might live to appear as Glorious in his A&ions, as Couragious in his Su£»;

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// /

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T o all fort of Readers*,

4rt into wha$ bdtn<4 provicfcnoc may cafttbi fmail.pcice Ihave : thee that tfiotl woMlafl; .iig difpifo it before pertifed' ijr ple f^ctK

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'io all fort

the dwelling of the Spirit, in fan8ified believers is denyed and called a delufion •1 i'ayjinfuch anhour of blafphemy 3 rhe appearacce of the clear en- lightnlng, and excellent werkings, in a weak

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Of'Readers.

and'a carnal heart fuggefts) here thou haf a full confutation thereof • as alfo the e* perienccofall the holy people of Godir the world) in this precious ioul who rcai lized that rich confoktion and holy plea;

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O f Headers.

the fulntfs that Hiall fatisfie rheej the ptact ahd/#/in believing that fhall. quiet and
ByLove that iltall for ever endear thee, . the Life thatYhallquicken thee, thvpoxert&ii fpirit that {hall convert and change- theea

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^ To 'allfort :

Particularly; let youngerperfoni (efpe- cially jtrng Qjntltmmen) be greatly af- perfwaded of the/'oy and fweetnefs this blelfed Soul did find inf eeking the. Lord in
ByfeSed with this prctioas example and be

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O f 'Readers',

jnents, praying meditating feeding an the word, making the day of the Lord a holy delight, go, tender ioul, and .through gracc, be Found in all theie bleffed practi­ ces, and thou maift live delightfully here,

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QfifFeaders,

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allfort \

lightful, prctious ways, which this peice and Jbf that lived it hbldsforth iw- cothee. • • • •• * In order hereunto how fhould the Soul of Parents.(ualefs they will be Soul Mur-

chapter |2 pages

To all fcrt

when llifc eti/oyed flic exprcffed thofe ' bleffed delights llie had in ?cllov^fhip with the Lord Jelus, the I iffes. if Che there toei with hisbleflcd OcdinaJi*
ByCongregAtionalChwhi (fo cafle<U which his Lip

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To airfirt? ' ,

b: -her, great' bufinefs' till taken up unto him* 5. The reft eonfifts otoccafiondl Medi--

chapter |1 pages

Of'Readers*

Surely by iuch a defjpiied Teftimony, , and every Soul t tat pcrujfeth it, {hould-be provo­ ked to take theKingdom of Heaven by the fame 'violence j And Profefjorsof&od•

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Soallfon'

chapter |16 pages

Of deaders7 ' A, P. The

what it is to live and dye, comfortably^ which is the great concernment before thee9 which the Lord in his rich grace give unto thec3and blefs the reading here­ of for the ends for which it is publifhed;

chapter 01|2 pages

further difeoveries of • Chrif^

chapter |4 pages

: ( p )

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