ABSTRACT
I Did not think to give you any more Papers (and indeed no more I cannot, for you were then Conventioners) but since you have given your Selves a New Name, which I admire you did not do at the first, for then you would have been more capable for the Great Work you have to Do; for such Works are usually Done by Parliaments; It was once in my thoughts to have flung you off and to have nothing more to do with you, because some of you I found was so piteful and malicious, as if they were possessed with the Devil, pouring out threatnings, and speaking such filthy words as I never heard before,and telling all the lies as ever mortals could invent; and if they can belie me, a Woman so innocent, that I never knowingly did an ill thing, but one, and that was when I beg’d Roswel’s Life, for which I am heartily sorry and beg pardon for it; the World thought it was good, but I was smitten, to make me to know that I should not have meddled in that Matter, and therefore I have greater cause then ever, not to love Dissenters, for I am mistaken in them; for I thought they were innocent harmless people, and those that loved God, and to do his Will, in yielding obedience to his Commandments, but Instead of this, they act quite contrary; they are for Revenge and not for Pardoning, they are for Ruin and not for Reforming; I deed they hate Popery with their mouths land their Bloody Cruelties ) but how willingly they would practice it their hearts, God that tryeth the hearts, knoweth : I am sorry that Wise Men are so ignorant, that they have no regard to the Word of God, for that says, As you do, so you shall be dealt unto: and the merciful shall obtain mercy : But all men are apt to think when they are in Power, that they are Safe; not considering that the Wheel of Providence moves swift, and that God Almighty is pleased to suffer men to swell against his little Flock for their own ruin, as he was pleas’d to suffer Korab, Dathan and Abiram, against Moses, for whom the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and all their substance. And surely they shall not prosper that disturb the Peace of Sir John Moor, the Innocentest Man that I know upon the Earth, and of a Good Life and Conversation, and would not willingly do an ill Thing, and if the Laws over-power’d him, could he help it? I am sure they would not submit to the Instrument the King sent down,which I would have had them, for I thought of two Evils ’twas Best to chuse the least, but they would not give any Thin away that was not their own: But I find if Men Walk never so Careful, Envie knows where to pick a hole: But for ought I know, if they had satisfied the humour of some Men then, we should have been in Consusion and Blood long ago; none was persecuted with evil tongues more than Sir John Moor, and yet how patiently did he bear it, he never reveng’d a Quarrel, but did good for evil. And as for Sir James Smith, I am well satisfied in his Life and Conversation, that he is an Honed Man and hates Bribery,, and if he gave too much credit to Sir William Waller,Why should you be angry? Don’t you all give credit to him ? Is he not a Man of Renown amongst you ? And as for the Recorder, Is he not a Man of Parts ? Doth he not Understand his Business ? Who could think that any should miscarry that asked Counsel at his Mouth ? And as for Sir William Pritchard, he is a Good Man and behaved himself Well, and it don’t become the Wisdom of the Nation to pick Quarrels, but rather to apply such Plaisters as may Heal the Wounds, that you may be accounted Wise Physicians. For it will gratify the Roman Cathodicks to have you unkind to your Brethren; for if they cannot pervert us, nor destroy is, they will be glad to have us destroy one another. It has always been my Care and Business to divert Judgments, but I find now they come even to our doors : Some people are like grey hounds, the more blood they have,the more they desire; therefore I would not have any mans blood spill’d in this Quarrel; no, not the word of your Brethren, my Lord Chancellor, not yet the Judges, that has been the Great Instruments to help the Ring to undo himself; for I can assure you that your Lives are dear unto me though you are Enemies, but how much more dearer than are the Lives of my Friends; and I know that I have more amongst you than Economics, for all Good Men will Love me, and for Ill Men they can’t understand me; but when God Almighty shall open their understandings, they cannot but Jove me; for there is none but Devils that will hate me; for I desire not any Thing but the Good of every Body, nor do I thirst after Blood or Revenge.
