Wherein are discovered the Design, Means, and Instruments of his Sequestration, which happened on the 28 of De­cember 1652. at the Committee for Plundred Ministers, Mr. Gilbert Millington being in the Chair.

WHen I consider the carriage of my life, even from the first dawnings of reason and consideration, that eve­ry man ought to have of the end he is to aim at in this World. I cannot but observe how that Provi­dence, which disposeth every man to be an instru­ment of good or evil, according to its decrees, hath carried me on in all my actions, to indeavour the promotion of the publick good, before any private interest of mine own.

And this I must acknowledge was that, that made meat once forsake my friends and Countrey, and insensibly drew me on to be one of the earliest ingagers in that cause, which for its enemy had an usurping power in Church and State. Wherein I can give no greater evidence of my forwardness than my Personal ingaging in fifteen Battels and Skirmishes in England and Ireland, not to mention my sufferings otherwise, and particularly, my inprison­ment at Durham and York, by the late Kings forces, where after the Torment of 24 hours Neck and Heel's, I remained without any [Page 2]allowance near four moneths, and of 200 English and Scots pri­soners, was one of the last exchang'd.

However, I continued in my fidelity and service to the Parlia­ment, till the beginning of the year 1645. when it pleased that spi­rit which bloweth where it listeth to call me to the exercise of those gifts, which my engagement in the Wars had somewhat smothered; and that this also was the work of the fame providence I cannot doubt, when I consider it happened in such parts of York-shire, as had not yet shaken off the darkness and implicity of Episcopal times, and observe the success it pleased God to grant my teach­ings and instructions, to the advancement of piety, and his Go­spel.

In this imployment I spent my self till the year 1647. at which time God put it into the hearts of the Inhabitants of Whitbey, to desire my removeal from the part where I then exercised to come among them, whither, to satisfie the importunity of the well-affected of that place, I consented to come, and there I officiated as Lecturer (onely on Wednesdays) till 1649. requiring nothing towards my subsistance but the free Contributions of the well-affe­cted, while one Mr. Wood (formerly sequestred for his misde­meanours and malignancy) intruded into the office of preaching on the Lords days.

These things being observed by one Mr. Richard Conyers, he by the strength of his friends and interest in the Parish obtains ad­mittance to officiate there, till some one were lawfully settled in the place, not doubting to receive the profits thereof for the time he should continue so doing.

But the said Conyers having at no great distance a benefice of 100 Marks per ann. and not able to discharge himself of both, he desired my assistance at Whitbey, so far onely as to preach the morning Sermon, he himself being oblig'd to preach in the after­noon, promising me, before divers of the Parish for my said assi­stance, the sum of 24 lib. by the year, whereto I consented, as being not yet publickly called to the Ministry, and living on the private allowances of the well-affected, whose intreaties had brought me thither.

But so far was the said Conyers from performing either part of [Page 3]the Covenant betwixt us, that as to the former, I must confess, he observed it for about three moneths, but for the remainder of the year, he hardly appeared on the place; And for the latter I had fair words, but not one peny satisfaction to this day.

These crooked dealings of the said Conyers moved the inhabi­tants of Whitbey, to draw up a Petition to the Committee for plun­dred Ministers for my setlement among them. Having the Peti­tion of the Town and Parish put into my hands, I was told that there was requisite withall a Certificate from some neighbouring Ministers to testifie my abilities and good conversation. Now it happened through my little acquaintance in affairs of this nature, that I had delayed my applications to the neighbouring Ministers of my acquaintance till the day of my departure; which being to be by Sea, and that the ship wherein I was to embark was to set sayl the same day, I was perswaded by Mr. Levingstone & Mr. Young, (whose subscriptions I had then obtained) to make use, in this ex­tremity, of the hands of one Mr. Hicks and one Mr. Bushel, which upon confidence of their condescention I consented should be done, and accordingly Mr. Young put down their hands to the Certificate, while I writt a Letter to each of them, wherein was inclosed a Copy of the Certificate to acquaint them what I had done. VVhich presumption of mine Mr. Hicks owned since by a Letter to me, and acknowledged this my confidence of his frind­ship as a favour, before Mr. Luke Robinson, and Mr. Thornton at Pickering, and for Mr. Bushell, though I must confess I received nothing from him in return to my Letter, yet I believe he had not disavow'd it, had he not been surprised in the business by the said Conyers.

Being come to London, I was no sooner lodged, but one Mr. Wil­son having heard something of the occasion of my coming up, sent for me, pretending great readiness to further my business. And to perswade me how effectual his assistance might be to me, he pre­tended to be a constant Sollicitour at the Committee for plundred Ministers, and no less than Cosin to Mr. Gilbert Millington the then perpetual Chair-man there. By which pretences, my weakness and ignorance of the affairs of the said Committee being wrought upon and overcome, I delivered him what papers and instructions [Page 4]I conceived requisite for obtaining an Order of setlement at Whit­bey, having upon his undertaking of my business given him to­wards Clarks Fees, and other expences as he pretended was neces­sary 2 lib. 10 s. and left order for the payment of 7 lib. more when the order was taken out, for his Sollicitation therein.

Having thus referred my business to the said Wilson, I appeared not my self in it, and so within a short time he brought me the or­der and received the said sum of 7 lib: By virtue of the said Order, I officiated at Whitbey till September following, about which time, by an order of the Committee for plundred Ministers, directed to the Committee at York, I was sent for thither, where appearing, I was charged with the forgery of the foresaid Order, but having no other plea then that I knew nothing but that it was a true or­der, and that in the procuring of it I had imployed the Sollicita­tion of one Wilson (though Colonel Fairfax, one of the Commit­tee upon sight of it affirmed that he had seen many Orders in that hand before.) I was committed to York prison, where having re­mained some time, I desired to be translated to London, to answer what might be laid to my charge in that particular, which, having put in good security for my appearance before the Committee for plundred Ministers, with much ado, I obtained.

Appearing before the said Committee, I was afresh charged with the forgery of the said Order, to which my answer being the same as before, and that I could not produce the said Wilson, I was ordered into custody. Now it happened so that the aforesaid Co­nyers (a man of a very inquisitive, and active malice against me, for what reasons I know not) having by some means or other fished out, that Mr. Hicks, and Mr. Bushell's hands were onely by presumption at my Certificate (as I have before acknowledged) takes a journey to London, and brings it at the same time upon the stage before the Committee, which aggravating what was laid to my charge before, (for which I am obliged besides Mr. Co­nyers to Mr. Adoniram Byfield) rendered me the more criminal in the sence of the Committee, so that upon the charge both of the Order and Certificate I continued in custody the space of a moneth or better, till at last the Committee considering my weak­ness and surprisal in the one, and having some perswasion of [Page 5]my innocency in the other, ordered me to be set at Liberty.

But I cannot omit the advantage the said Conyers made of all this. During my restraint he Petitions the Committee for the pro­fits of the year 1649. (but 60 lib.) wherein I had born all the burden, but what is before mentioned, and for which by his own agreement I was to receive 24 lib. VVhat he desired was accord­ingly granted; but as for the Petition he brought up to the Com­mittee upon that occasion, as from the Town of Whitbey, I must confess I am much dissatisfied, it being subscribed by onely some nine or ten Malignants; and a greater miracle to me yet, was, to conceive how the Town-seal came to be at it, having, upon a strict inquiry, never yet met with any one of the Town that was privy thereto, it being a thing not granted, but on occasions that con­cern the whole Town, and that at a full convention of the 24 Bur­gesses.

But he was not content with the obtaining of the profits as aforesaid, though undeservedly, but to take a full and final re­venge of me, I do much suspect he indented with Mr. Phelpes, that the order for my Liberty should be so drawn up, as that I was to be bound in 300 lib. never to preach at Whitbey more; these being courtesies which Mr. Phelpes can do with a wet finger, though con­trary to the sence of the Committee, when he hath a minde to plea­sure a friend, and to draw a FULL order.

But having obtained my Liberty without submission to this order, I had not been many days abroad, but Captain Bodelay being designed for Lisbone to reduce the ships there under P. Ru­pert, sent for me, and proposed to me the Chaplain-ship of the ship he then went in (the Happy Enterance,) which out of the zeal I ever had to serve the publick, and to give way to the storm of my misfortunes, I accepted of. And in that service (wherein we met with three very hot ingagements) I spent a whole year till the said ship returned.

Being come ashore at Detford, I came up to London, where I understood that Whitbey had all that time been unsupplied of a Mi­nister. But here I must take notice of a remarkable tract of provi­dence. The foresaid Wilson, who had betrayed me into all my ca­lamities, was by an Order of the Councel of State, for some noto­rious [Page 6]crimes, committed to New-Gate. Understanding of his being there I applied my self afresh to the Committee, producing an acknowledgement from the said Wilson of my innocency as to the forgery of the Order. Nay, he so far cleared me of the least concurrence thereto, that with many imprecations he avowched the same to be a real Order, saying, that if he were brought before the Committee, he was confident Mr. Millington would not deny the Order, which assertion I gave the greater credit to, for that some of Whitbey had told me, that they, out of a particular desire to be satisfied in that point, had, upon search, found that very Or­der entered into some of the Clarks books about Westminster, which if so, I may say that it is not impossible that Clarks may as well stifle Orders at their pleasure, as deprave the sence of the Committee, according as the parties shall sacrifice.

This acknowledgement being acccepted by the Committee, I produced this following Certificate.

This Certificate from the foresaid Ministers was back'd with this testimonial from Mr. Slater, and Mr. Kentish.

But further to inform the Committee how I had spent my self since I had last appeared before them as a Criminel, I produced this Certificate from Captain Bodelay.

But these Certificates were not yet sufficient, wherefore I was, for further Trial, referr'd to the examination of a Committee of the Assembly of Divines, who sent me back with this Certificate.

These Certificates and Testimonials being considered, and the acknowledgement of the said Wilson accepted, as also a Petition from the inhabitants of Whitbey, read, produced the following Or­der for my settlement, whereby I conceive my self cleared of all things formerly laid to my charge, and least the malice of my ene­mies might bring any thing in judgement against me afterward, it was moved by that publick spirited Patriot Mr. Luke Robinson, that they might be quoted in the Order.

VVith the foregoing Order I returned to Whitbey, where I had not long rested ere the spirit of envy entered the said Conyers, to make complaint to the Committee for plundered Ministers of my insufficiency, which procured an Order for another examination of me to be made by some neighbouring Ministers, but because it was by a subsequent Order discharged, without any thing done, I have the less to say to it.

Yet with this could I not be quiet, but such was the desire of my ruine in the said Conyers, and some others, that notwithstanding what had past, in July last, there were Articles exhibited against me at the Committee for plundred Ministers, subscribed by Rich. Conyers; to which, it was referr'd to three Justices in the Coun­trey, to examine, and cross-examine VVitnesses.

The Articles are too long, and too many to be inserted in this place, but what partiality was used against me at the examination taken at Whitbey, as also what hath been the issue of their return hither (though it be that which put me upon this extraordinary way of vindicating my self) I shall as briefly as I can lay down, and shew, through the whole carriage of this business, how op­pressive the interest of (not long since professed) Malignants may be to any honest man, though never so innocent, but more espe­cially when they are so fortunate in their insinuations as to corrupt those, who most immediately derive their Authority from the Parliament, and execute their malice on the well-affected by their hands that should protect them.

The first thing I shall note is the subtilty of my prosecutours in the choice of the Justices examinants, wherein I am particularly obliged to the industry of Sir Hugh Cholmeley, whom I have just reason to think the first wheel of this malicious prosecution against me, and to have set all the rest in motion, upon what grounds I shall in fit place mention.

One was Sir William Strickland, but a Brother in Law to the foresaid Sir Hugh. A second was Christopher Percehay Esquire, bro­ther [Page 10]in Law to Sir William, the third Henry Hall Esq; whom I must confess to have brought much indifferency to the discussion of the business.

Secondly, I expected the Justices should not have been courted at so great a distance; as Sir. William Strickland, who lives 24 York­shire miles from Whitbey; Mr. Percehay 19. and Mr. Hall 26. there being three, or more Justices within 14 miles of the place.

Thirdly, as to the VVitnesses against me, I expected they should have been such as lived within a proportionate distance, as being the more competent informers as to matter of fact, and such as had known my conversation; and made a conscience of their actions; But I found some faces I knew not, Malignants, Servants, or in some way Relatives to the Family of the Cholmleys. But I shall not Charactarize them till I come to the 8 Article, to which they most spoke.

Fourthly, I looked for an equal freedom to produce VVitnesses for me, as well as my prosecutours had to produce against me. All that they brought, though many of them precarious, and such as I shall hereafter describe them, were freely received, upon bare assertions; whereas of 40 that were come to the place on my be­half, though honest men, and such as proffered their informations upon Oath, there were admitted but 7 to testifie.

Lastly, I could expect no less than a true return of the exami­nation, but there I am also deceived; For I finde many things passed at Whitbey omitted, and some things sent up under my name as confessed by me, which I never affirmed.

The examination thus returned being to be debated on Thurs­day Decemb. 23. it so hapned that upon reading what was said to the 8 Art. I found (the more to surprise me in my defence as I conceive) that the Copy of the examination taken from Mr. Phelpes, wanted the informations to the 8 Art. all save one. Upon which it was moved, that I might have a true Copy of the examination, and that the debate might be referr'd to another day, which was to be the Thursday following.

I must confess, when I first understood that Mr. Millington was in the Chair, I promised my self the greater Justice, because he was the best acquainted with the business, I was now the third time [Page 11]to be charged with, & might have remembred my sufferings at York and London, and the Committees acquital of me by the foremen­tioned Order of Decemb. 11. 1650. subscribed Gilbert Millington. But should I have wanted that expectation, yet I flattered my self with the hopes of a patient and unprejudiced debate. But here also I reckoned before my Host. For upon the first calling of the cause Mr. Millington bursts forth into his ordinary laughter, and says, O this is my Cosin, a posture certainly not so becoming a Judge, when the thing in debate concerns the lively-hood of a man and his relations. But by those words I conceive he was well acquaint­ed with the business to be debated, and had not forgotten Mr. Wil­son. Nor can I omit a strange expression of his the Thursday be­fore, when it was said that Mr. Luke Robinson, and the well-affect­ed of the County appeared for me, and that I had a Petition sub­scribed by 140 of the best affected of Whitbey, Mr. Millington answered; He may be the greater Knave for that. And when the said Petition was again offered to the Committee by certain Masters of ships of Whitbey, Mr. Millington asked them, what will you make him worse than he is; Which expressions speak no small pre­judice in him against me, and argue a strange forgetfulness of what had past under his own hand concerning me before. I may add to this the shortness of the debate, which not lasting a quarter of an hour was for the most part laugh'd out, & abruptly cut off with Mr. Millingtons WITHDRAVV, the Committee having heard all that could be said against me, but very little of what was to be said for me. I do not say but Mr. Millington in others mens cases may be straight and unbyassed, but for my part I have just reason to fear my case was (in effect) judged before it was debated, and that I came up 200 miles, not to be heard, but to receive my doom.

And now I come to the Articles, which are in number 10. I shall pitch onely on those to which informations are given, and they are in a manner but two of the number, the 2 and the 8. The 2 concerns the forging of Mr. Hicks, and Mr. Bushels hands to a Certificate, to which I can make no other answer then what I have said pag. 3. which I think is sufficient. Upon the charge of the Order pretended to be forged by Wilson, and that Certifi­cate I suffered imprisonment at York and London, and conceive [Page 12]my self acquitted by the aforesaid Order of Decemb. 11. 1650. Unless a man may be charged a new for an offence he hath once suffered for. And here I am to take notice of an Affidavit of the said Conyers, made before a Master of the Chancery to that pur­pose, viz. That Mr. Hicks, Mr. Bushel, Mr. Bradley had disavow'd to the said Conyers, the giving of their hands to one William Knight of Whitbey, and that therefore his making use of the said hands to a Certificate was forgery in the said Knight. To which I answer, that as for Mr. Hicks, and Mr. Bushel, I have already cleared up how it was, but as for M. Bradleys hand it was not at all at it, and he himself being at the examination at Whitbey, testified that he had never spoken with the said Conyers about any such Certificate. Therefore to requit him for his Affidavit, I say, that whereas Rich. Conyers maketh Oath that Mr. Bradley disavow'd a thing to him, whereof he had never any discourse with him, but sweareth it to be so upon other mens relations, the same is perjury in the said Conyers. And this perjury of his I must confess indeed, was so much ob­served at the examination that the Justices shook their heads at it, and utterly dismissed the Affidavit, yet by some means or other finde it shuffled into the examination returned.

To make this Affidavit authentick, there stands up a Letter­carrier, alias an Atturney, who affirmed the subscription of the Affidavit to be Conyer's own hand, and the Master of Chancery's to be his hand, and of another thing subscribed by John Phelpes, af­firms that to be the proper hand of the said John Phelpes; in all which there is no great miracle, for the man hath of a long time been so well acquainted with other mens hands, and their seals too, that some body did penance for it with a piece of white paper on Whitbey-cross.

The heaviest charge against me, is what is said to the 8 Article, which at first sight seems to be very horrid. The words are. That he is a notorious drunkard, a Libeller, a persecuter of the growing light, and very deficient both in Morals and Intellectuals.

And to this Article there speaks first one Thomas Redhead of Stantondale, who says he saw me drunk about six or seven years since (where he hath forgotten) to omit that he speaks at six and seven; thus much I must say of him, that he was ever a very zealous [Page 13]Malignant, a creature of Sir Hugh's, and brought him constant in­telligence when he kept Harborough for the late King; as for the Testimony, it is absolutely false.

A second is one Robert Dove of Newton, who sayes he saw me drunk about five years since. This is a Souldier under Sir Hugh for the King, a prophane idle person, and a false witness, and this is he, speaks to libelling, viz. that I should write these words in a Bible.

VVhich is equally true with the former.

A third, is one John King of Newton, another of Sir Hugh's Ma­lignant Souldiers, a drunken licentious person, and therefore fit to make a false witness.

The fourth is John Brignel of Lamyston, in the County of Dur­ham, one I had never seen his face before the examination at Whit­bey, and this man makes me drunk at Scarborough, and to make his information seem more authentick, he sayes it was the 10 of Novemb. 1651. and that I made great remembrances of one wid­dow Stevenson, to omit that he was a Captain, (forsooth) in the Kings Army, and very famous for his plundering of the well-affected of Bishoprick, I answer to the Testimony that I was not that whole VVinter at Scarborough, and for widdow Stevenson, I am yet to learn whether there be any such woman in the world. This man for old acquaintance sake was often intertained at Sir Hugh's, about the time of examination, which certainly he the more deserved that he would take the pains to come near 50 miles to bear false witness to do him a courtesie.

The next is Rob. Hickson of Sunderland, in Bishoprick, an Of­ficer also as the former and his co-plunderer, and one famous for his fornications, &c. in Holland, and is come as far as the former, and to break the ninth Commandment.

The next is Marmaduke Newton of Whitbey, who taxes me about four years since for reeling as I went into a boat at London. [Page 14]This is a Tenant of Sir Hugh's, and therefore more easily drawn on to bely his conscience and bear false witness against his neigh­bour. But was not this man, who by saying a few words, did pre­serve the favour of Sir Hugh, and got a Cow's summer grass into the bargain, wiser in his generation, than another Tenant of Sir Hugh's, who for refusing to subscribe a Petition against Mr. Knight was within an hour after warned out of his house and farm?

The last is Thom. Hodgson of Sneton, who sayes the same thing as the former, about five years since; Though they speak both of the same time, yet their Testimonies agree within a year. But for the latter; to omit a double desertion of the Parliaments forces, he is one so leavened against the present Government that his ordi­nary profession is, That he had rather serve the Turk than the Par­liament.

There was another witness against me, touching the point of drunkenness, though not returned in the examination. And that is one William Wiggoner. Though I cannot say this man did any thing out of any affection to Sir Hugh Cholmeley, who being for the Parl. had sent him prisoner to Hull, for having with his son Bagwith brought over Arms out of Holland, for the use of the late King. Yet his relation of Father-law to Conyers may excuse him for being a little cheuril conscienc'd. But the reason why his Testi­mony is concealed I conceive is, that, as he is himself a very habitual drunkard, so that very time he taxed me to have been drunk, he himself was so frolick, that as he sate at the Table he fell back­wards and broke his head. For his Testimony to the 4 Art. It is true, onely he hath mistaken a year or two.

Here are eight, and 'tis great pity they could not make up twelve, and so have made a Jury, they are such good men and true, and I think as well cull'd. Of this number there are but two of Whitbey, and what they are I have also expressed; But certainly had I been guilty of any inclination that way, the experience of almost 6 years could not but have furnished enemies to observe it. But it seems those who knew my conversation could charge me with no such thing, and therefore persons of lew'd lives, disaffected, and necessi­tous Souldiers of the Kings Army, and such as I had never seen their faces, must be pick'd even out of other Counties to inform [Page 15]against me. But alas! they were such honest men at the examina­tion at Whitbey, that when I desired some of them might inform upon Oath, it was refused as a thing contrary to the rules of the Committee, and when I desired to speak what I could alleadge against them at the debate here, all such motions were confuted with a withdraw, the informations and Articles laugh'd at, and ta­ken as granted. But though I whom it most concerned, could not be permitted to speak much in my own case, yet I could perceive Mr. Phelpes had a liberty to aggravate, and suggest, for which I must say black to his tongue, since Mr. Millington sayes he is such an honest man, as no man can say black to his eye. But for this I must excuse him since it was but gratitude to carry on their de­signs whose free-will-offerings to him had been greater then mine. And that this is no slight suspition, let a discovery of Mr. Conyers speak, who acquaints his Father-in-law Wiggoner in a letter dated from London in 1649. that his prosecution of me had then cost him above 100 lib. (besides the 60 lib. he did emungere the Committee of for his non-residence in 1649. which if so, I onely make this question whether this man would not rather spend a noble to de­stroy the Gospel then nine pence to promote it. But what shall I say then, who, by reason of the troubles he hath created me, have spent the like sum in the necessary expences of journeys of 200 miles, inprisonments and attendance, when I have received for all my of­ficiating at Whitbey from 1647. but one 50 lib.

And now I think I have made good what I promised, as to the witnesses against me, and yet done them no injury in the least. Yet by these and such like Testimonies, though taken, as I said before, without any attestation of Almighty God (which many times strikes terrour into the most impenitent heart) was I on the 28 of Decemb. last sequestred of all I could pretend to at Whitbey, where­in how fully the malice of my enemies hath been satisfied, and with what precipitation the business was carried against me may be soon judged by the perusal of this relation, in which I have neither ad­ded nor dimished, either to advantage my self, or wrong my pro­secutours.

As for the VVitnesses produced for me, it will not be amiss to let the world know what they are, least my enemies might say I [Page 16]had as bad on my side. The first is John Newton of Whitbey Gent. a person whose activity and fidelity to the State had recommended him to the trust of a Sequestratour, an honest conscientious man, and stedfast to the interest of the Common-wealth in the most re­lapsing times.

William Jackson of Whitbey an honest godly man, and Lieute­nant at Sea, under Captain Lawson.

Hen. Noble of Whitbey once Head-Constable, and one hath been much persecuted by Sir Hugh Cholmeley for his not contri­buting to the Kings forces.

Rob. Bushel of Whitbey, a knowing and religious man, and a suf­fering [...] to the State.

Hen. Awlder of Whitbey, a man of great reputation for his god­liness, and his early appearances for the Parliament in those parts.

Hen. Linlay Gent. Collectour of the Customes at Whitbey, a constant well-willer to the State, and a great enemy to all vice and licentiousness.

These with divers more, to the number of near 40 men of honest lives and conversation, would have vindicated me as to the 8. and other Articles, had they been admitted to testifie; whereas had my prosecutours produced twice the number, they should not have been refused.

Thus having shewn what the VVitnesses on both sides were, I am now to express what discoveries I have of Sir Hugh Cholmeley's being in the head of this prosecution.

Having as I said before prick'd down the Justices, the first thing I observed, was, his sending for divers of the inhabitants, desiring them to be present at the examination to testifie what they could against me; but it happening they were such as would not, to gra­tifie any man, bely their consciences, he dismissed them with threat­ning intreaties that they should say nothing for me.

A second thing was that which is related in answer to the Testimony of Marmaduke Nuton, pag. 13.

A third was the intertainment of two of the Justices, viz. Sir William, and Mr. Percehay, and most of the VVitnesses against me, before and after the examination, but especially that night, when he caused all to be drawn up, and to his own house what intertain­ments, [Page 17]congratulations, acclamations, and Triumphs insued, the in­habitants of Whitbey are not ignorant.

But you will say what ends had Sir Hugh in all this? VVhy should he be at the expence of bringing VVitnesses 40 and 50 miles? These questions I confess may very well be made, for certainly it cannot be supposed he should put himself to all this trouble (besides a chargeable sollicitation at London) to cast out a poor man, which being a stranger to him could never have so far disobliged him, out of a living of 60 lib. a year. Therefore to answer the question more fully I must put the Ax to the root of the Tree, and disco­ver somewhat, which, though it be well known to many, is not to all, and among them, it may be, not to those whom it most concerns.

You are then to note that there lived once at Whitbey, one Mr. Jacob Hodgson, who being of the most forwardly affected for the Parliament commanded in the Town of Whitbey, this man Sir Hugh Cholmeley, after his base desertion from the Parliaments cause ever looked on as a thorn in his sides, for maintaining the Town of Whitbey, for the use of the Parliament. Such a burden I say was he to Sir Hugh, that he became immediatly a persecu­tour of him, and all that related to him, nay, the Town and Countrey thereabout suffered for his sake. This Tyranny he ex­ercised not onely while he commanded the Countrey about, but especially upon the taking of Whitbey by his forces, turning the aforesaid Hodgson's VVife out of doors, destroying all he had, and threatning that if she went not to Hull after her Husband, she should be tied to Horse tails with other Masters wives. But now I speak of the taking of that Town, I cannot but quote a famous ex­ploit of the aforesaid Conyers. This Conyers being at that time in the Town seemed to be very much for the Parliament, willing to oppose Sir Hughs forces, but pretending withall to be a person of some conduct, this Mr. Hodgson intrusted him with the Abbey, which he promised to make good with the number of men allowed him. In the mean time Letters were sent to Sir Hugh to advance with his forces at such a time, and that this Conyers was privy to the design may be judg'd by this adventure. The night that Sir Hugh was to come on, in stead of acquainting his men with the [Page 18]danger of the enemies advance, to make them more secure, he sends up to the Abbey a Barrel or two of strong Beer; wherewith having laid some asleep and made the rest secure, he valiantly comes down the Hill alone into the Town, leaving both men and place to the mercy of the Enemy; And this courtesie I conceive is that which had so much ingratiated him with Sir Hugh, that there was no person thought fitter to manage my ruine, as being one more apt to destroy a Citizen then an enemy. But I return again to Sir Hugh. Now it pleased God to take away this Mr. Hodg son, in a Tempest upon the Coast of Holland, which accident laid his wife, and others related to him, more open to Sir Hugh's persecu­tions, and that this train of malice is laid against me upon these old scores, I need not much labour to make appear, for Hodgson being dead, my sad fortune was to have married his VViddow, who being before the mark of Sir Hugh's malice, brought me into his disfavour so much the more, as appears by an expression of Mr. Conyers after my sequestration, who said that my Wife had brought me to all this calamity. To this I may add that the yearly Stipend of Whitbey, as also the Augmentation being to be paid by Sir Hugh, as being the impropriatour, it concerned him somewhat, there should be such a Minister as would suffer his allowance to be carved out to him as he pleased, which had I been content with, Sir Hugh might have been my very good friend to this day.

But (to give the Devil his due as the Proverb speaks) I must here confess, that Sir Hugh is guilty of some Justice, though he will have it acknowledged as a favour, and measure it by his will. For about June last, he imployed his son Mr. Hugh Cholmeley to compound with me for my Arrears, for which he profered me 112 lib. which being not half of what, by several Orders, both of the Committee for plundered Ministers, and of the Trustees for maintenance of Ministers, was due to me I was advised to refuse. And this refusal (though just) hath cost me all the trouble, ex­pence, and inconveniences I have been at since, and consequently of the present sequestration I ly under. But that wherein I am to justifie Sir Hugh's proceedings in, is this, that he in June last, would willingly have taken up all differences and accounts with the foresaid sum, whereas after my sequestration, when I applied [Page 19]my self to the Trustees for my Arrears, they found them to amount but to 60 lib. (which yet I cannot receive) as appears by their Or­der of Jan. 12. last, as if my sequestration had made me incapable of what was due to me for my former officiating.

But alas! he that knew Sir Hugh before, will not wonder at these transactions. He that before walk'd by no other principles than those of his will, should he startle at an action which he could justifie by his power? The story of one Thompson, nick­named Beef, is not yet forgotten at Whitbey, one hang'd up in cold bloud by Sir Hugh's Command, without any advice of Offi­cers. 'Tis true, the man had served under Sir Hugh, when he was for the Parliament; but when he became an Apostate he left him and listed himself under Col. Bointon, for which Crime Sir Hugh ha­ving now taken him a Prisoner, disparches him. If there be holes in the Act of Oblivion to let lesser fish escape, I hope there is none big enough for this Leviathan of Whitbey; For I see no reason but in­quisition may be made for this bloud.

And now I have done with Sir Hugh, having made good what I had promised in the former part of this relation, and shewn by what means and instruments, and upon what crimes and misdemea­nours my sequestration hath been brought about.

That which I beg of this Honourable Assembly, is to consider with what a strong hand this design hath been carried on, both here and at Whitbey; and thence observe how dangerous it is to suffer private Gentlemen to be Bashaws in their Countrey, and do things upon the bare score of their power and interest, and upon confidence that those whom they oppress, are unable to call them to account, or if they are, that things will be so disguised by false re­presentations that the weaker will be still over-ruled.

And this brings me to consider that there is a dormant humour of Malignancy, which upon opportunity awakens to the persecu­tion of honest men, which what it cannot do (as formerly) by a professed hostility, it does by ruses and supplantations; wherein good men are the further from redress, by how much they are crushed by their hands and Authority, who are intrusted to protect them.

They are the minings and insinuations of these men that de­praving [Page 20]Courts and Committees secretly persecute the honest, and well-affected of the Land, who now are they that most cry out of oppression. These are they that make secret wounds in the Com­mon-wealth, and insensibly bring an Odium on your Govern­ment, while they make the World believe that you are fallen from those Principles of Reformation & protection of honest men, which you professed before, even to the cutting off of that head which was the great anvile of all malicious and oppressive designs.

By these minings am I wrought out of my profession, rendered in­capable of doing that good which I have devoted my self unto, and made a spectacle of Misery and Calamity to honest men, and of scorn to the plotters of my ruine. And in this condition must I still remain, unless your Honours taking the business into your cognizance, and considering, and weighing both my offence and punishment, order me that redress which you in your high Wis­doms shall think meet, which, if I may obtain, I doubt not of the concurrence of all honest men to bless God with me for your Ju­stice, in breaking the designs of unrighteous and powerfull, and coun­tenancing those, who though poor and obscure, desire to do good and to live quietly in the Land.