HAd this great and zealous Pretenders Cause, been so good and he himselfe so cleare, as his specious, but false and cunning Insinuations would make it and him, his Case be­ing now stated, witnesses examined, a faire way made (and that by his owne Petition) for an impartiall hearing, he would not offer (at least he would not need, in this by and uncouth way of inveagling all the severall Members appointed for his Judges though in vaine) to indeavour the forstalling of the greatest Mart of Justice (for it was select and called out of the whole on purpose) that ever yet was in any particular mans cause, since this present Parliament begun; casting du [...]t [...]n the face (as much as in him lies) of a Mem­ber thereof whole integrity is so known, and he so cleare as I should wrong him in offering the least Apology, and therefore spare it: But would have stood or falne, according to the Allegata & Probata of his cause, and wholy relied on the merits thereof, as I my selfe shall doe on mine, (prosecu [...]ed with much more malice, and as I doubt not the effect will make appeare, much lesse truth, and meerely u­pon private spleene) yet in soe doing he [...]ath but beaten the Winds, the Rocks his si [...]ly and mightlesse waves beat against, will neither be worne nor moved with such impotent assaults; however le [...]t either his Accusations and scurrilous Aspertions of my selfe and friends, friends of mine meerely because of and for the truth) or his owne [Page 2] evasions may passe for currant, amongst those who either through non knowledge or prejudice are strangers both to us, our cases and ends, I shall briefely, but very truely (so truely as I shall appeare to the candid leasure and knowledge of our whole County, where all our transactions, waies, and designs are apparent) both offensively and defensively take up the Buckler against this Goliah of the peoples Li­berty and Idempni [...]y, viz. his owne dearely beloved selfe, and more dearely beloved Family, and now Mr. Lilburne to your Remonstranoe.

How serviceable you have been in your Generation for preserva­tion either of your Nations Interest, or indeed any other save your owne, your deare brothers, your kindreds and servants; let them speake that know it, for to any but your selfe, and those Ditto deare friends, it is a Ridle: But to your own and their Interest you have in­deed (to speak modestly) bin no way wanting. Your own injoyment of Foord field worth three hundreth pounds per An. due and p [...]yable to a Delinquent, without either account to that Delinquent, his wife or childrē, or indeed to the State in the least manner, for ought I know, for whose use it was sequestrable: your making use of Mr. Hen­ry Lambtons Delinquency to force him to a Composition inconsi­derable for Coles by you and your Agent, imbesled and intended to be concealed both from him and the State, by which you gained some thousands: Your farming of Delinquents Lands, and Col­lyeries of very great value, by your selfe or your Trustee sharers, at very low and inconsiderable Rates and yet paying all your Rents in Items & imprimesses, in or by such accounts as you pleased to make and allow of: For a great while you and your party swayed all the whole County, (and I believe it is both your greatest greefe and anger that you cannot do so still) to the oppressing of whom you pleased to call or make Delinquents, or cleare such as you deigned to cast a favourable glance upon: Your taking of goods, and disposing of them first, then making Delinquents of the owner, who upon evi­dence and full bearing being discharged, must either accept a third of the true value or lose all, as the Lady Tempests Case, to the very [Page 3] great scandall of the Parliament, who would have Iustice done with mercy, no [...] violence with rigour: The procuring your selfe and A­gent Husband into the Commission for surveying of Bishops Lands, and by that receiving ten sh [...]lling per d [...]em whilst you for your par­ticular sit at home in your shop vending your hard penny-worths of Soape and Rasins unlesse when for recreation you were pleased (once perchance in two Moneths) to ride halfe a score o [...] miles, and feede at the Trustees Charges, and then knowing what particulars were aymed at, and by whom making so much as in you and your man Husband lay the rates and returnes high or low, as your affecti­on or malice dictated, though you failed of your purpose in Sander­land and Newbottle, c [...]me to a more worthy hand; but intended to your selfe as you Agent Husband within few dayes confessed. Your imploying your po [...]re N [...]phew Blacket, and o­thers of your kindred Sequestrators who have by that means made their 000 hundreds, accounting for goods worth some hundreds at under 20l. as in Sir George Bakers C [...]se. You [...] brothers taking and buying much go [...]ds of that nature, never yet accounted for, as M [...]. P. his Pla [...]e, and the like will fully demonstrate that you have indeed been s [...]rviceable in but not to you [...] Generation.

Your opposing of ship-money (if any such) was probably an in­nate disposition (which you have extraduce) of thwarting what your selfe was not imployed in; and yet making use of you power in this Parliament; you gained a considerable sum by forcing Constables then impl [...]yed to distrain for ship money [...]o compound with you for feare of further trouble, as may be instanced in Rich Sm [...]th, Rob. Pattison▪ Ralph Holmes, and seven or eight more. For Proj [...]cts name any of them you ever withstood, till the whole Vogue went against them. And for Bishops, you may call to minde it was a Bishop who first made you Right worshipful, and enabled you from Mr. Humphry Whartons fitter, to si [...] upon the Bench as a Justice of Peace (no grea [...] signe of opposition as I take i [...]) yet I confesse with one Clergy man you had some squable about a Doctrine you under­stood [Page 4] not, and with another you fell out, for revealing how gross­ly you abused him in a bargaine of Coales under trust, full 6l. in 20l. Do not therefore thinke by your pretended blowing of the dust cast upon you to besmeare Mr. Iohn Blakiston, he will appeare in his splendor, and I hope I shall in time make you appeare in your Colours, so right as beleeve it if you strive to absterge (there I am quit with you for one of your hard words) you will but wash the Ethiop. Onely let me tell you (by the way) it is a new and odde kinde of defence to Calumniate one of your Judges, who was as far from any such indirect and underhand procuring either of a false Certifi­cate, or favourable Abatement as you are from truth and honesty; and for Mr. Coulston and others, scandalously by you made his In­struments to that purpose, the truth of that will I doubt not appear upon his Tryall in the Action of the Case brought, or intended to be brought against you by him, for that grosse and false slandering of him in the execution of his office; but he is big enough to answer for himselfe. Non ad me pertinet ole.

To what purpose Mr. Thomas Midfords Certificate brings up the Van of your impertinencies I confesse I understand not; yet since it is crouded in, the truth of that story will very little advantage you (no more then the credit of your Certifier (who stands at this day legally indicted of) & the truth is this, that such information about Papists mustering, and riding Armed was given to the then Depu­ty Lievetenants, of whom the Knights named probably were two, is true, and a Letter procured as I verily beleeve from the Honou­rable Speaker of the Parliament. It is as true that they instantly fell into inquiry and search of the truth of it, finding no colour for it, urged the informer to make proofe of it, and after many fay­lings, they were ashamed to have taken such paines upon & from so triviall an information and informer: what honour this was to th [...] cause and Parliament to abuse the Speaker and House so grossely and falsly, let the world Judge.

What power Judge Heath had to put any man out of Commission [Page 5] or whether he did so or no, it concernes me not, neither will I dis­pute it, probably the Jndictment hath been for some other matter, &c. from the Bench to plead to it; neither is it impossible, it is not the first time you were at the Barre you know it.

At the beginning of the Earle of Newcastle Arraying of men, you were so long present and acting with them, till some small distast of your not having equall respect or power made you petted as is beleeved, and sent you perchance privately into Scotland; you say you were there, and I will not gainesay it; but I am confident you see them in a posture likely to prevaile ere you stirred, and yet both went and returned so privately as you had a reserve, at least a design to make sure what side soever should prevaile. A trick which pro­bably you had not forgot at their very last invasion, however you acted with such seeming Iehu like Zeale against them, as even be­ing out of Commission and imployment (a thing you could never in­dure) you still drove on with the rest; who neither needed nor I beleeve thanked you for that your double dilligence. I will tel you a short story. There was one T. C. your neighbour drove in those times beyond Seas by your violence: Warrants signed by you for Attaching him; it seemes he met with some friends about the then Princes Court in France, advised and incouraged him (upon hea­ring his case) to repaire back to his habitation, and do his service to you; he did so, met you on the Key, stood a volley of your frownes, at last accourted you with a private commends from the party you wot of, was dismist, your Warrant recalled, and had not death prevented it, probably might still have lived quietly, your Malignant Neighbour: But dead men can tell no tales; how­ever you know this is more then a vision: But to Scotland you went, and that by your Brother in Law Mr. Levers perswasion. It is strange his opinions should so soon alter as from an high Preacher and Practiser too, and all Tenents and Ceremonies (then even in their height) to fall to a Classicall way; but since you have beene both inspired, he with Dr. Cosins his fat living, and you with pro­fit and imployments.

At your returne, it seemes after (some small interruption by Ba­ron Lyddall (a Baron by the way never heard of before) you used such meanes with Colonel Carnaby, as to have the Earle of New­castles protection, and I doubt not it will appeare in the close of your Case that you did somewhat to deserve it. What your ing [...]ge­ment was (for he was not very forward in admitting suspected men without ingagement, as I have credibly beard) I will not take u­pon me to discover, time will doe it. Truth is, your play was al­wayes to save stakes, and now you have run through C [...]val [...]er, rid­ged P [...]esbyterian, Independent, and arrived at — and I doubt will never prove a Martyr, if yet there should be a further G [...]da [...]i­on or Charge.

You were indeed made a Prisoner and ill used, and I believe ( [...]he Cause on the other side being almost desperate) did no little Glo­ry in it: For any losse in your esta [...]e I wonder you are not ashamed to allege it: Your best things were conveighed safe to Scarborough, and nothing considerable of the [...]st lost, I could name you friends on the other pa [...]y, who did protect and conceale them.

What courtisies Mr. Ralph Lamb [...]on did for you, I know not, but I believe your arresting him without C [...]use, was but a meane requitall, examine him to that point too. It is not denyed you were imp [...]isoned and exchanged, you l [...]st nothing by the bargain, nor by your dearely beloved imploym [...]nt in the Committee of Sequestrations; a place it seemes you are lo [...]h to part with, by your so often desiring to continue in it. I know not whether the States will owne Iohn Husband for their Agent; sure I am he was yours, and meerly instrumentall that frivolous p [...]e [...]ended Charge against me, contrived by your selfe and party, and managed by him according to your directions: that good man some twelve days since, sayd that this Parliament had sit too long, and he see corrup­tion in that Court as well as others, we will have it d [...]ssolved and another Parliament chosen and that he would j [...]yne wi [...]h the Soul­diers indissolving of it, and assure himselfe, when the cries of Wid­dowes [Page 7] and Fatherlesse, and others wronged by him shall appeare, he shall hardly escape justice. But the truth is, the envy grew on your side against me (who ought you none) I durst not with you & your brother go so high as make Orders against verdicts in law, as in Iohn Adamsons Case, or declare you were in a power above Law, as in Mr. William Powers. I never held it fitting to sit as Judge & Accuser, nor to vote a Gentleman a Delinquent in October, and after in February to prosecute and make him so by your endea­vours and Oaths: Nor crosse an Order of Lords and Commons of Sequestrations in denying a fifth part where it was allotted, and giving no other reason, but it is my pleasure and it shall be so, as your Brother of late did in another businesse: I went according to the Dictates of my conscience impartially, and I hope justly.

What was done in the Businesse of the three Ministers, was by Ordinance of Parliament; It is strange how you knew by whom procured; however not one of the three have been convinced of or for Malignancy. The Charge you pretend against me you did indeed so imminently appeare in, as by your parties meanes and power, I then a Committee man, and suffered to act with you by Au­thority of Parliament for three yeares together, which you ought not to have done; but rather to have sequestred me (take your owne words, with the clauses following in your Remonstrance most true against your selfe) at least an English-man, was bebarred of hearing or seeing the Witnesses produced against me, kept forceably out by that your pretious Agent, whom I could touch [...]arrowly, should I tell him that to have two Waves at once is Fello­ [...]y, or that Mr. Stockdale the Minister of South-Church dyed of a wound he gave him in Auckland, with the Iron of his staffe under [...]he [...]are; but these belong to another Iurisdiction: How consist­tent this was to a free borne English man to be debarred of Legall [...]xception to the Witnesses produced against him, or to make his [...]efence against; what was sayd against him, I will not [...]etermine.

For the long and impertinent story of M. Blackistons, and his wives solicitations and transactions, with you and others about the surveigh; as it is most false, scandalous and unsufferable, so is it nothing at all either to your defence or my charge, but only in slaunders you know alwayes something sticks: It had beene proper to have made a Lega [...] Charge against the Gentleman, to which he might have answered; but it concernes him [...] one I doubt not in due time both can, and will right himselfe, though his fello [...] Members (equally all ingaged in the scandall of one) would (as I hope they will not [...] passe it over.

Are your Crimes of seaven yeares standing? Pray what are those you so eminen [...] appeare in against me? but for my part if they be true, I will never quote them in [...] Moneth, or stand upon their Age▪ However yours had not been thus long in dispatching bad not your party b [...]en so potent that wee could not have hop [...]d for Justice, till wee [...] a man both of Worth and Honour amongst us; who without partiallity durst and wo [...] doe right against the Greatest and for the Meanest.

And is not a word of your Charge proved to this day? Let the event judge of the tru [...] or falsity; of that I hope enough is proved to put off your F [...]x [...]k [...], though not the [...] part of what may: if Commissions be issued into the County, and men not affrighted [...] perswaded from speaking their conscience.

As you are not carefull what to answer; so I thinke you are carelesse what you [...] so many impertinencies, so little truth; so much malice and shewing of teeth where y [...] cannot bite, were never crowded into two innocent sheets of p [...]p [...]r.

You feare not Justice, you beg not Mercy truely I wish you both, and am co [...] you will stand in need of the last of them. Your uprightnesse in all mens opinion h [...] been no lesse; h [...]d not your selfe proclaimed it; you know who it was, cast up hi [...] eye [...] and cryed, Lord I thanke thee I am not like this Publican, &c. Neither will your innocen [...] shine any brighter by your making it a blazing star, probably a falling one. Y [...]u a [...] bold indeed to say you will doe so in spite of Mr. Blakistons Complices, who never though [...] you worthy of his envy, nor yet does of his revenge. He hath not such Complices [...] one of your prime ones, who both in his owne, and other mens Cases hath witness [...] ready for any Instructions, which made him tell an Agent of his, finde but you [...] will doe it, I will finde Oathes: and in another Case instruct his servant into an app [...] perjury, almost to the ruine of a Gentleman.

In this you [...] concluding resolution of asserting of reputation, having done it with [...] many unprobable untruths, avoyding that Scylla, you have falne into a worse Ca [...]y [...] and if you did not doubt (what you seeme to be confident on) what need you pressent obt [...]ine a faire and legall tryall, or implicitely taxe your Court by appealing to all ra [...] onall men to be your Judges, or beg that Justice might take place, and Truth be ma [...] fest, which very thing in doubting, you doe tac [...]tely deny, or at least feare, which is [...] make up the totall of spleene and causelesse jealousies, in inducing th [...] World to belie [...] either that Mr. Blackiston (on whom you would cast all you [...]) can sway [...]he [...] or that they are all as partiall as you would besmatter him to be; but Magna est veri [...] & prevalebit.