The Accompt Clear'd: IN ANSWER TO A LIBEL, INTITULED, A TRUE ACCOUNT FROM CHICHESTER, Concerning the DEATH of Habin the Informer, &c.
By Roger L'Estrange.
LONDON, Printed for Joanna Brome at the Gun at the West-end of St. Pauls. M.DC.LXXXII.
The ACCOMPT Clear'd, &c.
LE [...]t th [...] Vain and Sh [...]m [...]less Author of the P [...] [True Account from Chichester, concerning the death of Habin & [...]] should valu [...] himself upon th [...] Noise that lab [...]l has m [...]d [...] in the World; It is th work of This Paper to lay him op [...]n, as a Duty I owe to God, to the King; to the Church, to a Rev [...]rend Prela [...]e; to a Wor [...]hy Friend, to Truth, and to my [...]elf. For nothing s [...]apes him, and whoever Considers the Calumny, the Scandal, the Malice, the Contuma [...]y, the D [...]liberate Forgeries, the N [...] falshoods, and Imp [...]stur [...]s of That Ven [...]mous Pamphlet, will find it to be rather the Character of the Spirit of a Phanatique, than a Relation of what Pass'd at Ch [...]chester, And a Bratt to li [...]e th [...] Fath [...], as if Lu [...]ifer himself had [...] for the Picture for Ord [...]rs sake we'le begin with the Title.
The Two Infamous, and Impudent Lyers ar [...] Divided, it seems, about the Murder of Habin. One lays it to the [Page 4] Dissenters at Chichester; The Other to Mr. Farrington's Coachman, They do [...]oth Agree, however, that he was Barbarously Murder'd, w [...]ich the Relates Dentes: But whether he Denies the Simple Murder, or the Barbarous Murder, remains a Qu [...]st [...]on, Only One would think by his Account of it, that, at a venture, neither the Chichester Dissenters, nor Mr. Farringt [...]n' [...] C [...]t [...]hman had any hand in't. Now as I my self have the Honour to be Celebrated for One of the Two Infamous, and Impudent lyers, I shall only speak to my own Part, and bring my self off the best I can
As to the Malicious Design upon Mr. Farrington, do but shew me any One Man of Those that the Faction calls True-Protestants, that has ever yet been Expos'd to a Legal Prosecut [...]on, without a Charge of Malice, or Subornation in the Case; And I will yield This to have been a Malicious Design upon Mr. Farrington.
But it is Pub [...]ish'd, however, for the sake of Truth, he says, And we shall see now what it is that he Calls TRUTH.
In the Third Page of his Introduction (after his Complements upon the Obs [...]rvator; as [A Notorious Son of the Father of Lyes. A Papist, Impress'd with Deep, and Indeleble Roman Sanguinary Characters; A Favourer of the Popish Plot, to Massacre Protestants; The First-Begotten of him who [...]s a lyer, as well as a Murderer from the Beginning.) In the Third Page I say of his Introduction he has this Paragraph.
[I] will Produce (he sayes) And This same [I] may be the Common Hangman for ought we know, The Headman of the Late King, &c. And there are those that understand Men and Styles, that upon Violent Presumptions Conclude This Author to be a Certain Person that's very little better. But suppose This Undertaker (to do so and so, upon such and such Conditions) should not keep Truth now, where shall we find him? or how shall we do to put his Bond in Sun against him? But These Niceties apart. We'le Close with him however upon his Defiance, and Publish the Names of those that sent the Information, together with the Ground, and Warrant of what the Observator has Printed concerning the Horses, and the Enformer, denying Absolutely the Report of Killing the Horses, which is [...]alsly charg'd upon him. We'le see now how he Proceeds.
Take notice now, that in this Plenary and [...]mpl [...]at An [...]wer, he has spoken all that he has to say. The [...]nd, as he pretends) is to Undeceive and Satisfie People for fear they should believe That to be True which is most False Now whether of the Two is in the Right, The True Accountant, or the Impudent Lying Observator, shall be left to the Reader to Judge. He passes next to the Character and History of this Habin.
Touching These Two Pretended Per [...]uries, we shall speak to them at large, in their Proper Places: But instead of his Remarque upon This Poor Creatures being taken off by Divine Justice, on the very same day, wherei [...] he had so long Practis'd his Villanus: Methinks he should rather have Reflected upon the Devils entring into a wretch at a Conventicle, and then Pushing him on immediately at That very Instant, to This Inhumane Murder. But what does he mean then, by saying that Divine Justice Arrested him? Will he have God to be the Auth [...]r of Sin, or that Horrid Assassin to have been directed by a Divine Impulse? And he has not yet done with him neither.
It is acknowledg'd that he was a Common Bayliff, And so was Halsted too, before they became Enformers: And the only men in those dayes I warrant ye, that the True Protestant Lawyers and Att [...]rni s would vouchsafe to make use of. So that 'tis but crossing the Kennell to make a man a Rogue, of a Saint; or a Saint of a Rogue. I do not know but Habin may have been put in the Crown-Office too, as many an Honest man has been, purely out of Spigh [...], and Malice upon the [Page 7] undertaking of that Office. We'le speak to the Perjury hereafter.
Was ever any Creature to Fo [...]lish, and to Prophane in to few words! It was the breaking of Faringt [...]n's Windows that brought Habin to his Death, as a Iust Iudgment upon him for his Perjury, about the breaking of Captain Bickley's Windows. What a Mockery is This upon God Almighty! When neither did He break Farringt [...]n's Windows (as we shall prove by and by) nor was he so much as a Witness in the Case of Captain Bickleys Windows: But the Judgment is driven further Home upon him yet, in being murder'd upon the day, which he so much Prophan'd in frequenting Ale-houses, and Disturbing Private Meetings. Now do I take a C [...]nventicle, (even upon That day) to be much worse than a Tippling-House; as I take a Schism, that breaks Christian Unity, to be worse than a Personal Debau [...]he The one is a Plausible Conspiracy, that gets ground by the fairness of the Pretext, and Alienates the Hearts of the People from their Duty to their Sovereign; to the hazzard of the Publique Peace: The other is only a Beastly and an Odi [...]us Excess, that serv [...]s to keep other men sober, by the Loathsomeness of the Spectacle, and Example. But the Prophanati [...]n of the Lords day in Fuddling, is one of [...]ar [...]'s Common Places to a Hanging Speech And I dare Undertake, I [...] this C [...]nventicle had been Transported into the Desarts of [...]rabia, the Inf [...]rmer should not have wanted an Ale-House there to have Grounded a Judgment upon: But truly the matter being well Weigh'd, the stroke does not seem to Mee, so Judicial, upon him that suffer'd the Murther, as upon [Page 8] him that Committ [...]d it; And upon those that Encourag'd it: And that go on, to this hour, Continuing to Palliate, and Excuse, if not to Justify it. The Act was only the Coachmans; but the Countenance, and Approbati [...]n, makes it (in the sight of God) the sin of the Faction. And Effectually, of That Unlawful Congregation; Beside that it was done in the heat of a Phanatical Inspirati [...]n; and not Improbably, the Effect of That dayes Doctrine, and Impulse. For a Further Aggravation, He was taken away in his Wickedness, too. Here's Presbyterian Mercy for ye; without the least Touch of Regret or Remorse. What could he have said more? He had no time given him to Repent, neither; And yet you shall hear by and by, that he was bury'd alive. Now, for a Menace to his Brother Halsted.
It is worthy of Observation, that throughout the whole Course of the Successes of This Faction, there was never any Bloud spilt by Their hands, (from the Blessed Kings, to the Meanest of his Loyal Subjects) but the Murderers made a Providence, a Divine Justice, or Divine Vengeance of it. Still most Blasphemously Computing upon Those Execrable Sins that make the Devil themselves yet Blacker, as Acted by the Instinct, and Direction of the Holy Ghost. Now the short Meaning of All is This. Let Halsted have a care, We shall find Coachmen, as long as [...]ou'le find Enformers. And so soon as ever he has set himself a Tip-toe upon that Imagination, Do but see how Unmercifully he Worries Poor Halsted, Inexorable; Irresistibly; Reluctating, &c.) As if he were running the Poor Fellow to the Devil in High-Dutch.
So much for his Preamble; And we come now to the Account it self.
THE CHICHESTER ACCOUNT. OR, A Faithful RELATION of the DEATH of HABIN the INFORMER there, &c.
We may expect here as Faithful a Relation of the Fact, as the Account he gives us, is of the Crime. The DEATH of Habin. The Malefactor fled. The Malice Prepense; And the man's Brains beat out; And This is That which He calls the DEATH of Habin. And then see how softly he has Worded it. The Vnhappy Accident. As if there had been no more in it than the overturning of a Salt. But we are now coming, (if the man may be Believ'd) to the Naked, and Impartial Truth of the whole matter.
I would willingly Consult the Reader's Ease, as well as my own; in taking the Clearest, and the shortest way to the End of my Bus'ness: which must be done, I find, by Marking the Falsities, Disguises, and Impostures of the Relation, in Order as I go along; with References to the Affidavits, and Certificates, which I am to Produce, to the Contrary; and in Vindication [Page 10] of the Truth. I should rather have Apply'd my Evidence to the Series of the Narrative as it lyes; but since That is not to be done, without running into a Tedious, and Intricate Confusion, I have Inverted the Method I Propounded, by Printing my Proofs altogether at last, and referring the Reader, from the Impudent Scandals, and Abuses of a False, and Unmannerly Label, to those Testimonies for satisfaction.
It may very w [...]ll be, that Halsted wore a Sword; and it would have been well for Habin, if he had worn a Sword too; as they had Both reason to do, Considering the Danger they were in from the Menacing Rabble; but the Cutting of the Boys Cloaths, is False, though the Out-rages they Endur'd might very well have provok'd 'em to't. The Boys being all the while set on, and Encourag'd by the Dissenters. Now to Prove that they were not Drunk, see the Margent; which way of Reference is the Course that I intend to Purslie.
It was well enough Contriv'd to have the Boys break Habins Head; and so to Excuse the C [...]ach-man, as if That Wound had been the death of him. But there was none of That Savage, and Barbarous Fierceness he speaks of No Br [...]ken Head That Bout; No Crying out, Farington shall Pay for all, No Breaking of his Parlour Windows; And the Window was Open; which is all Contrary to his Relation, see the References again. And it is a strange thing beside, for a man to go with a Cudgell to Revenge himself upon a Window, and to break but One Square, and from the Street-side; Force the Lead outward too.
Here's Lye upon Lye. The Coach-man was in the Perch; Habin broke no Window; Gave no Provocation, He drank nothing at the Palace; but only they try'd to make him take a little Aqua Mirabilis, and he could not get it down. Peachy the Surgeon, gave him something out of a Bottle, of which we can give no Account. 'Twas not the Bishop's Servants, but Two Strangers then in the Palace, that laid him in the Stable. He had not drank One drop of Brandy That day, to the best of my Enformation. And he was Certainly Dead, in despite of this Libeller. As is likewise Prov'd.
This Slander upon my Lord's Famil [...] lyes as Open as any thing else, for when Thi [...] Happen'd, the Bishop, and most of his Family were at Divine Service: And in short they took all Care of him that was Possible. Nay such is the Malice of this Scribling Falsifier, that he makes That to be done b [...] design, which was not done at all. See the Margent as before.
This Paragraph is an Apology for the Murder, a Quarrel to the Verdict; and raised upon a Wr [...]ng Ground too, as will be [Page 13] made appear upon the Proofs. Here was Menacing; Flying; Malice Forethought, in the Case; And yet he will needs have it Nonsense to call This a Murder. Beside, that if the Coachmans Name had not been Conceal'd, he had been b [...]und to the Behaviour, a Week or Ten days before.
Nay, divers affirm, That Cressingham was asleep at his Mothers House, in another quarter of the City, when this unfortunate Fact was done; and that Cressingham rose not up till it was told him what the Coachman had done to Habin. And among the rest, Cressingham's own Mother aver'd to Nine or Ten substantial persons, That if her Son had sworn he saw the Fact, he was a forsworn Rogue, for that he was asleep at her house till some Neighbours came in, and told him that Habin was dead; thô some say, That after old Goody Cressingham had been invited and Dined with the Bishop, she began to mince her Confession as much as she could. And Cressingham's Mothers house is as utterly out of sight of any thing done at Mr. Farington's Door, as if it stood in Cheapside.
The Venom [...]us Mal [...]e of This Libeller against the Bishop, is so Palpable and Open, that I shall not need to desire the Reader to take Notice of it. And then for the Notorious Falshood of [...] [...]lat [...]n, 'tis all of a piece, The Bish [...]p and the [...] ar [...] here Charg'd as Confederates in a Design of making [Page 14] [...], Master, as well as the Man a Murderer. If there be no Punishment for Scandals of This Infamous Nature, This Spot of Ground is Certainly the Place of the Whole Christian Earth, where Ea th and Int [...]g [...]ity are upon the Greatest Disadvantage. If it come once to be made a Conspiracy, for Persons in Offi [...]e, [...] Endeavour in a Legal way the Detecting of the Actors in so [...]oul a Murth [...]r, all the Rules of Law, and Religion are to be read backward; And we are to do Just the Contrary to what we are Commanded. There has not been any One False step on the Bishop's part, in This whole Transaction, as we shall in the Due Place Undeniably make Good; nor has his Lordship done any thing more in This Affair, than what in Honour, Conscience, and Common Justice he was bound to do. The Cal [...]mny of the Bishop's Attempt upon the Life of Mr. Farrington is as False, as it is Odious; and so is That of his Tampering with Cressingham; as will be seen by and by, when That very Practice shall be prov'd against the Other side: And the Pretended Inc [...]nsistencies of Cressingham's Evidence, shall be likewise Clear'd. It is False, that he was abed, as is suggested. His Mother did n [...]t Dine at the Bish [...]ps; neither did she M [...]nce her Confession; neither was Mr. Farington's House out of sight, where Cressingham had Posted himself.
Now as to the taking up of the Body again, which he sets forth to have been done by the Lord Bishop, and the Recorder, the Truth of the Story is This.
After the Jur [...] had found the Murder, and the Body was bury'd; Enformation was deliver'd upon Oath to the Magistrates, that while the Coachman was at work upon Habin, Mr. Farington, the Mas [...]er, call'd out to him over and over to beat him stoutly; whereupon the Magistrates order'd the Coroner to summon a Jury, and the Body to be taken up, and Review'd.
We shall see anon what it is that He calls Locking up the Inquest. The Bishop left all People at liberty: He did not thr [...]aten the Jury: And for the Practice which he pretends was put upon the Inquest in Mr. Farington's Wrong, in Adj [...]urning till Munday, It was, in Truth, a Contrivance on the Other side, for his Advantage. At least, if my Intelligence deceives me not, which comes from a very Good Hand.
The Jury being Called, there was a Scruple started by a Capricious Zelote, Whether or no according to Law, when One man is found Guilty, Another man can be Try'd, for the same Fact? And This Dose of Impertinence (That I may speak to his double Capacity) had such an Operation upon the People Concern'd, that it was some Four Hours before they could be brought to settle themselves in their Geares, and fit upon the Inquest, Mr. Farington being at liberty to take Good Advice in the Interim. Upon the 12th of August last, the Jury were Impannel'd, and the Number of at least Two Hundred People gotten together; And they boasted of Thirty Witnesses that they had, to appear for Mr. Farington against the King; with Four Attornies at hand, that they might not speak without Book; Insisting upon it, to have the Witnesses Against the King Examin'd before those For Him; which were a Plain, and Concurring Evidence, and the Other Clashing One with another: But however it was, the Greater part of the time was spent in Scruples and Delays; and the Multitude being very Clamorous, they Adjourn'd till Munday to the Town-Hall, being a Place of Greater Advantage for such People as had a mind to Tumult. My Correspondent says likewise, that the Proceeding was so far from being hard upon Mr Farington, that He himself, and his Attorney were permitted to be upon the Bench, which could not but have some Influence, both upon the Jury, and the Evidence.
The Libeller carries on the same Thrid of Calumny throughout the whole Discourse; and still Casts Those Aspersions of Practice, and Foul Play, upon the King's Magistrates and Officers, which were really Practis'd by the Other Party. There was No H [...]ling of the Boy away; No Art us'd to Gain his Testimony; No Dealing with him to Swear, and Unswear; No such Ravings, and Exclamations from the Boys Mother, as is Pretended. Though 'tis true, the Boys Mother finding that the Phanatical Party had got her Son, and Lock'd him up, was almost out of her Wits, for fear they should do him some mischief.
How far the King's Evidence Agreed, shall be lest to the Reader to Judge; And in the Other Particulars likewise, how far the Bare Word of so many People that are Partial, and Prepossessed, is to be Credited against the Oaths, and Certificates of so many Unbiass'd Witnesses, and Persons of Quality, and Known Integrity. As to the Ignoramus upon the Bill, we shall say Nothing more to that Point, than that it is no A [...]quittal.
This taking of the Boy from his Master, by the Bishop, was only my Lords receiving of him into his Pr [...]ction, with the Consent of the Boys Master, the Mayor of the City, and Two Alderm [...]n; And all the suggestions of Other Reasons for the Doing of it are only out of the Spirit of a Diabolical Slander.
'Tis true that the Coroners, and Inquest, had the Bishops leave to sit in an Out-room in the Palace; which was done, to Prevent the Danger they might have been Expos'd to by the Rabble, if they had sat in the Church-Porch.
It is not either for Mr. Farington's Credit, or Service to imply him as deep in the Death of Habin, as the Dissenters were in the Wounding of my Lord's Horses; Nor will the Frivolous Pretence of their being Gor'd, serve the Turn: But now for the Author of this Libel, to talk of the Duty of Common Charity; and that we are not to believe so Ill of any without Proof! Where is His Charity now, that let's him run on at this Infamous, and Barbarous Rate of Lyes, and Defamations against a Reverend Prelate, without so much as any Colour for the Truth of the Report; or any Shame, or Remorse for the Lewdness of it? What does He talk of Christianity, that plays the Advocate for the Devil himself, in the Person of a Murderer; and sets himself up [Page 19] in Defiance of all that is Sacred, either in Truth, or Justice? Let not This man, after the Writing, and Publishing of these Two Sheets, ever Pretend to Argue the Incredibility of any thing, because it may be contrary perhaps to the Methods of Christian Charity, and Humane Reason; for never did any thing stand in a more Direct, Audacious, and spiteful Opposition in the Terms of Religion, Good Faith, or Society, than this True Account (as her calls it) from Chichester, concerning the Death of Habin the Enformer.
I have heard nothing of any Design to swear against Mr Nevil. If he knows the Thing to be True, methinks he should know the Person too, that was to have done it; And then methinks again, he might have told the world his Name; Especially being so Prostigate a Fellow as he Represents him: But This Wretched man is given over to Believe Lyes, as well as to Make, and to Report them. If That False Oath had gone on, he would have believ'd it to have been as much a Truth as any has been Publish'd concerning the Horses; And yet I Defie either the Libeller himself, or any other for him, to Disprove any One word, the Observat [...]r has deliver'd upon That Subject.
It remains now only, to speak to the Calumnies Call upon Habin in the scandalous Introduction to the False and Impudent Account.See Num 10 11.23.2 [...]He makes him the most Prostigate Wretch in Nature, Perjur'd, or Swearing Falsly against People for Breaking Captain Bickley's Windows: Perjur'd for Swearing to a [Page 20] Ministers Preaching at Stockbridge, when he never came nearer the Meeting-House then the London-Exchange is to the Bridge. The Reader will receive Full Satisfaction to these Slanders, as well as the rest, from the Papers mark'd in the margent.
We shall now Proceed to our Proofs, and make it appear, that there is not One True Syllable in This Libellous Narration, that signifies any thing to the matter in Controversie, which will abide the Test; And that it is no more, in short, than a Fardle of Virulent Falshoods.
I. Certain Affidavits, and Certificates, in Disproof of an Insolent Libel, Entituled, [A True Account from Chichester, Concerning the Death of Habin the Enformer, &c.
MEmorandum, That Mr. William Peachy [...]f the City of Chichester Chirurgeon, did declare to me Freeman Howse of the same City Esq; on Monday the 4th day of September 1682. That Mr. Richard Farington of the same City, did desire him to go and look after the Wounds of one Richard Habin, wounded by his Coachman on the 6th day of August last, being Sunday; and that he did accordingly go to my Lord Bishop's Palace, (my Lord, and most of his Family being then at Quire Service;) and that he did ask one of the Servants remaining at home, to see Richard Habin, whom he did then see, and examine his Pulse, and used all means possible to perceive whether he had any Life remaining in him, but found no motion of Pulse, or any sign of Life in him: whereupon he privately departed, and after the Prayers were ended, did come to my Lord's Palace, and desire to see the Body, hoping, as he said, by Blood letting, or some other means, to rec [...]ver him, notwithstanding his being before with him privately; and that he did then see him the said Richard Habin accordingly, and at the same time used some means to the dead Body to u [...] purpose, being dead some t [...]me before as he well knew, and confess [...]d to me. This attested by me
II. The Information of Henry Halsted of the said City Labourer,Civitas Cicest [...]' Comitat' Sussexiae. taken upon his corporal Oath the 12th day of August 1682. before Henry Peckham Esq; Sir Richard May Kt. Stephen Penford, and William Costellow, Justices of the Peace for the said City.
THis Informant s [...]ith, That upon Sunday the sixth day of this instant August this Informant and Richard Habin went to Stockbridge, to take notice of such persons as were assembled at the Conventicle usually held there, and as thi [...] Informant and the said Richard Habin returned back again between 2 or 3 of the Clock in the afternoon of the same day, and just as the said Richard Habin came against Mr. Richard Farington s Porch, John Davies, Coachman of the said Richard Farington, fell upon the said Richard Habin, and struck up his Heels, and took the Cudgel but of the said Richard Habins Hands, and gave him several great Blows on the Head, of which Wounds the said Richard Habin dyed within about an hour, and the said Richard Habin gave him the said Davies no provocation, nor broke, or offered to break any of the Windows of Mr. Farington, or any other; And that the said John Davies did wound the said Habin, because the said Habin used to take Notice and Inform against such Persons as went to the Conventicle. And this Examinant did [...]ear the said John Davies about a week before, threaten the said Habin to beat out his Brains, if he did not let the Conventicles or Meetings alone.
- HENRY PECKHAM Mayor
- RICHARD MAY.
- STEPHEN PENFORD.
- WILLIAM COSTELLOW.
III. The Information of William Crossingham of the said City Barber,Civitas Cicesti Comitat' Sussexiae. taken upon Oath the day and year aforesaid, before the persons aforesaid.
THis Informant saith, That upon Sunday, the sixth day of this instant August, between Two and Three of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same day, this Informant was sitting upon a bench in the South-street near over against Mr. Farington's Porch, he saw Richard Habin walk in at South-gate very civilly, and as he came by Mr. Richard Farington's house, he saw Mr. Richard Farington look out of a Window in a lower Room of the said Richard Farington's house, and heard the said Richard Farington say to his Coachman John, Beat him stoutly, Beat him stoutly, and then the said Richard Farington went out of the said Room into his Porch in the said street, and encouraged his man John again with the said words, Beat him stoutly, Beat him stoutly. And this Informant saith, That the said Coachman John did throw the said Habin upon the ground, and took away his Cudgel, and beat him violently with the said Cudgel about the head, whereupon the said Habin before six of the Clock the same Night died.
- HENRY PECKHAM Mayor.
- RICHARD MAY.
- STEPHEN PENFORD
- WILLIAM COSTELLOW.
IV. Katherine Crossingham of the same City Widow maketh Oath.C [...]itat Cic [...]sti' ss.
THis Examinant saith, that her Son William Cressingham, dined at her House upon Sunday the sixth day of August, 1682. and went out of the Doo [...]s about twelve of the Clock the same day, and did not return home, until about half an hour past two of the Clock in the Afternoon; and this Examinant farther saith, that Mary the Wife of Thomas Hurst came to her, and informed her, that if her Son would recall his Oath, they would be very beneficial to him and her, for they made Gatherings, and gave considerable Sums, and she and her Son should have a good part of it.
- WILLIAM BALDWIN, Junior.
- JOHN WILLIAMS
V. The Examination of John Burley of the City of Chichester aged fourteen years or there about,Civitat Cicesti' taken the 6th. of August 1682.
THis Examinant [...]aith, That Richard Habin gave no Provocation to John Davis to strike him, yet the said John Davis took away the Stick of the said Richard Habin, and gave him five or six blows upon the Head, two or three of them being upon his bare Head.
- WILLIAM B [...]LDWIN Cor [...]ner.
- JOHN WILLIAMS Cor [...]ner.
VI.
JOhn Wilson of the Parish of Sidlesham Farmer, one whose Father was an eminent Farrier, and imployed ab [...]ut the late [...]ord Duke of New-castle [...], Horses, as was also the said John his Son, who hath done great Cures upon Horses since he came into this County, being sent for to be imployed in the Cure of the lard Bishop of Chichester's Horses, who were, as it was supposed, mortally wounded the last St. James's day, by some Enemies to the Church of England, doth voluntarily make Oath before me Stephen Penford one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace, that having se [...]n the two Horses immediately after the Wounds; he doth from his heart believe, and upon evident Demonstration can manifest, that the said Horses were not gored by Beasts, as is falsely affirmed in a late Libel, but were rip'd, cut and stab'd in a most cruel manner, by some sharp instrument by a man, and one who came to Chichester after the Fact, as one of his neighbors can and will prove in due time. And the said Deponent doth for instance inform the World upon his Oath, that one of the Horses had a wound in his side, about a Foot in length, which was so deep, that his Lights appeared, and the wind came out as if a great pare of Bellows had been blown; the other Horse had a wound about half a foot in length, but very deep under the fore shoulder, both of which seemed at first dangerous and incurable, and that a piece of one of the Horses bones was cut off, which could not be by goring of a Beast.
VII.
GEorge Butterly Farrier in the City of Chichester, being imployed by the Lord Bishop in the Cure of his Horses lately wounded, in all probability mortally by the largeness and depth of the Wounds, did come before me Stephen Penford one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace, and voluntarily make Oath that the said Horses were so miserably wounded (as he believeth) by some man with some sha [...]p Weapon, and that there doth not appear to him any circumstance that the Horses were gored by a Beast, as is asserted falsely in a late label.
VIII. The Information of Thomas Bairnes of the said City,Civitat Cicesti' aged about fourteen-years, taken upon his Corporal Oath the 12th. day of September 1682. before Stephen Penford and William Costellow two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester.
THis Informant saith, that upon Sunday the sixth day of August 1682 between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same day, his Informant being in the South street near Mr. Farington's House, he saw Richard Habin walk in at South-Gate very civilly, and as he came by Mr. Richard Farington's House, he saw the said Mr. Richard Farington look out of a Window in a lower Room of the said Mr. Farington's H [...]use, and heard the said Richard Farington say to his Coach man, beat him stoutly, beat him stoutly, and this Informant saith, that the said Coach-man [Page 27] did throw the said Habin upon the ground, and took away his Cudgel, and beat him violently several times upon the bare head, whereupon the said Habin, before six of the Clock of the same night dyed, and this Informant further saith, that he saw William Crossingham of the City of Chichester Barb [...]r, n [...]ar the House of Mr. Richard Farington, at the same time when Richard Habin was wounded by the abovesaid Coach-man.
- STEPHEN PENFORD.
- WILLIAM COSTELLOW.
IX.
WHereas it is published in a late label [...] that the Jury of Inquest for the Murther of Richard Habin, were looked up in the Bishop's Palace from eleven of the Clock till four, and none permitted to go to them but whom the Bishop pleased, and some of the Jury threatened by the Bishop, that if the [...] did not find Farington Guilty, he would have them before th [...] King and Council, He who were of the said Jury, do hereby certifie, that the door was n [...]t shut by his l [...]rdship's order, but by the Coroners, to prevent the tr [...]uble or tumult of a great Rabble very numerous, then gathered together in the Church-yard, and about the door of the Palace. Which we had liberty (by his Lordship's permission) to open or shut, let in or out whom we pleased, especially any that were needful for Evidence; and the said Lord Bishop was so far from directing or threatening the Jurors, that he did not come near them all the time,
- John Floyd
- William Sh [...]
- Christopher Br [...]k [...]
- Richard Faithful
- Francis Fleshmonger
- Nathanniel Allen
- Edward Ansell
- William Hall
- Robert Phillips
- George Butter [...], Jun
- William Floyd
- Francis G [...]
- James Gardner
X.
WHereas it is maliciously and falsely reported in a late Libel that Habin with his Brother Halsted, swore that a Minister preached at Stockbridge near Chichester, where the Dissenters meet, and were never nearer the place, than is from the Exchange to London-Bridge. I Samuel Carleton Gent. do testifie to the World, that the same is a most notorious Lye to my own personal knowledge, who have seen them on the Lords day, at the time usual for the Conventicle, at the door of the said Stockbridge-house, and this I will aver upon Oath,
XI.
I Sir John Farington Knight, do hereby testifie, that so often as Habin and Halsted two Informers, came before me for the Conviction of the Conventicle held every Sunday at Stockbridge, even by the Confession of the Libeller, they behaved themselves modestly, and seemed to me to be very tender of an Oath, and cautious and considerative in what they swore,
XII. An Inquisition taken at the Guild-hall of the same City,Civitas Cicestr' ss. the 14th. day of August 1682. upon the view of the body of Richard Habin Labourer, before William Baldwyne and John Williams Gent. Coroners there, and the Jury Impannelled and Sworn.
THE Jury do find upon their Oaths, that upon the sixth day of August 1682. John Davies of the same City a Coach-man, and Servant belonging to Richard Farington Gent. with a Stick held in his hand, at the Parish of St. Peter's the Great, alias Subdeanry within the said City, did give the said Richard Habin a mortal Wound upon the right side of his head, about an Inch long and half an Inch deep, of which wound he lay languishing from about the hours of three of the Clock in the Afternoon, until about five at Night, and then died: And the said Richard Habin was then and there killed and murthered by the said John Davis; and they further find, that he said John Davies was incouraged by some unknown Person, to beat the said Richard Habin, and they know of no Goods or Chattels.
- WILLIAM BALDWINE Coroner.
- JOHN WILLIAMS Coroner.
- Edward Ansell
- William Hall
- Christopher Brooke [...]
- Richard Faithfull
- George Butterley
- William Short
- Robert Philips
- Francis Fleshmonger
- George Wheeles
- John Floyd
- Francis Goater
- George [...]ylley
- William Floyd
- Nicholas Clousley
- James Gardner.
XIII.
Civitas Cicestr' ss. JOhn Fo [...]ben [...]h Gent of the City of Chichester, came before me William Costelow Alderman, and one of His Majesties Justices of Peace for the [...]aid City, and did voluntarily make Oath, that upon Sunday evening after the Murther of Richard Habin, he went and curtously vi [...]wed for the discovery of Truth, the Windows of Mr. Farington, whi h are falsely reported in a late label to be broak by Habin; and saith that he doth verily believe and think, by reason that the Lead of the Window was bended outward, and from other Circumstances, [...]hat the only Quarre which was then broke, had been broke on the inside of the Parlor, and some time before that day.
XIV.
WHereas it is f [...]lsely published in a late label p 4 that W [...] dow Crossingham since her [...]ning at the Pal [...]e in Chichester, had minced her Evidence [...]n [...]e [...]ning her Son's Testimony, relating to the Murther of Habin The [...]arl Katherine Crossingham Widdow, came before me Stephen P [...]ford one of the Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, and did voluntarily make Oath, that she neither hath not wi [...] l [...]ssen th [...] Eviden [...] she hath already made, and d [...]th now made, [...] that h [...]r Son dined at home about tw [...]lve of the C [...]ock, and then w [...] imm [...]diately abroad after Dinner, and did n t [...]eturn h [...]me again until at least half an h [...]ur after tw [...] of the Cloc [...] [...] th [...], and that she hath n [...]t been [...]ampered with b [...] any [...]f [...]he [...]d Bish p's Family, to alter or speak any thing any way, and [...]ha [...] she [...] dined it the Lord Bishop's B [...]t one Mayor Hurst's Wi [...]e, [...] and k [...]pt the late King Pr [...] soner [Page 31] in the Isle of Wight, came to the said Widdow Crossingham, and tempting her, told her, that if her Son would withdraw his Evidence, they gave (meaning the dissenting Party, and Mr. Farington) considerable Sums, and she should have part of it, and her Son should have a good part of it.
XV.
MRIS Mary [...]ynvin volun [...]aril [...], makes Oath before me Stephen Penford Alderman, and one of his Majesties [...]ustices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that Richard Habin immediately after the receiving his wounds, came to the Palace of the Lord Bishop, and had a small quantity of Aqua Mirabilis offered him, of which she believeth he s [...]arce swallowed any, and that he had no other Liqu [...]r given him there
XVI.
THomas Wood Cook voluntarily maketh Oath before me Stephen Penford Alderman, and one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that one William Peachy a Chyrurgion of the City aforesaid, a Friend to Mr. Farington and the Party, came to the Palace of the Lord Bishop in time of the Divine Service at the Cathedral, and went into the Stable where Richard Habin lay upon dry Hay in a warm place, where all the care imaginable was taken of him, as well by others of the Bishops Family, as by his own Wife, and that he the said Habin had no str [...]ng Liqu [...] given him, as it falsely suggested in a late label, except a little Cordial, only th [...]s Dep [...]n [...]nt saith upon his Oath, that Peachy aforesaid, pulled out a lit [...]le Batle, and in a Spoon gave the said Habin some kind of Liquor, of what Nature this Deponent knoweth not.
XVII.
HEnry Elems voluntarily maketh Oath before me Stephen Penford, one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that Richard Habin lately murthered, immediately after he had received his mortal wounds, cam [...] to the Palace of the Lord Bishop, very w [...]ak with the loss of much blood, but n [...]t at all distempered with drink, as is falsely suggested in a late label, and the said Habin told this Deponent, that Mr. Farington's man had given him his deaths wounds.
XVIII.
WHereas it is falsely suggested in a late Pamphlet p. 5. that the Mother to Thomas Barnes a Boy above fourteen years, a Witness against the Murtherers of Richard Habin, did run like a mad Woman, crying, my Son shall swear for the Lord Bishop, &c. for I have most of my Livelihood from my Lord, the said Widdow Barnes came before me Stephen Penford, and did voluntarily make Oath that she never spoke any such words, and that she was never tampered with by the Bishop or any other, to perswade her Son to swear any way, and that she hath no other relief from the Bishop, than other poor People, and that she had not seen her Son Thomas from Sunday at night when Habin dyed, until the Saturday after, after he had taken his Oath.