A postscript to the Observators first volume, or, The answer of Miles Prance to several of those papers wherein he finds himself most traduced and slandered with some notes to be added to Observator Numb. 8 of the 2d volumn [sic].
         Prance, Miles, fl. 1678-1689.
      
       
         
           1684
        
      
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             A postscript to the Observators first volume, or, The answer of Miles Prance to several of those papers wherein he finds himself most traduced and slandered with some notes to be added to Observator Numb. 8 of the 2d volumn [sic].
             Prance, Miles, fl. 1678-1689.
             L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704.
          
           [2], 20 p.
           
             Printed for the author and are to be sold by R. Janeway,
             London :
             1684.
          
           
             Signed: Miles Prance.
             Reproduction of original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Observator in dialogue.
           Popish Plot, 1678.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           POSTSCRIPT
           TO
           THE
           OBSERVATORS
           First
           Volumn
           .
           OR
           ,
           THE
           ANSWER
           OF
           MILES
           PRANCE
           ,
           To
           Several
           of
           those
           Papers
           ,
           Wherein
           he
           finds
           himself
           most
           Traduced
           and
           Slandered
           .
           With
           some
           Notes
           to
           be
           added
           to
           Observator
           Numb
           .
           8.
           of
           the
           2d
           .
           Volumn
           .
        
         
           
             Psalm
             LII
             .
          
           
             Thy
             Tongue
             imagineth
             Wickedness
             ,
             and
             with
             Lies
             thou
             Cuttest
             like
             a
             sharp
             Razor
             .
          
           
             Thou
             hast
             loved
             to
             speak
             all
             words
             that
             may
             do
             hurt
             ,
             O
             thou
             false
             Tongue
             .
          
           
             Therefore
             shall
             God
             destroy
             thee
             for
             ever
             ,
             he
             shall
             take
             thee
             and
             pluck
             thee
             out
             of
             thy
             Dwelling
             ,
             and
             Root
             thee
             out
             of
             the
             Land
             of
             the
             Living
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           the
           Author
           ,
           and
           are
           to
           be
           Sold
           by
           
             R.
             Janeway
          
           in
           Queens-Head-Alley
           in
           Pater-Noster-Row
           .
           1684.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           TO
           THE
           LOYAL
           Protestant
           Readers
           .
        
         
           HAving
           made
           so
           long
           an
           Apology
           in
           the
           first
           pages
           for
           the
           Necessity
           as
           well
           as
           Justice
           of
           my
           appearing
           now
           in
           Print
           ,
           I
           intended
           not
           to
           have
           troubled
           my self
           or
           you
           with
           any
           particular
           Address
           ,
           till
           finding
           new
           Scandals
           dayly
           sprung
           upon
           me
           ,
           the
           Refuting
           whereof
           ,
           Rendred
           these
           Papers
           more
           tedious
           ,
           then
           at
           first
           designed
           ,
           I
           must
           therefore
           begg
           pardon
           for
           their
           Bulk
           ;
           But
           ,
           why
           all
           this
           stir
           and
           so
           many
           Sheets
           ?
           What
           is
           it
           to
           us
           ,
           you
           'l
           say
           ,
           whether
           Prance
           be
           a
           Cheat
           ,
           or
           the
           Observator
           a
           Lyar
           !
           Not
           much
           perhaps
           to
           you
           ,
           but
           of
           great
           Importance
           to
           me
           ,
           I
           'le
           assure
           you
           Gentlemen
           ;
           since
           I
           perceive
           my
           Dayly
           Conversation
           is
           beset
           with
           Spies
           ,
           and
           no
           man
           (
           though
           never
           so
           honest
           and
           Loyal
           )
           That
           comes
           into
           my
           Company
           ,
           but
           is
           presently
           in
           danger
           of
           being
           exposed
           as
           a
           Phanatick
           ,
           and
           markt
           out
           (
           right
           or
           wrong
           )
           to
           the
           fury
           of
           the
           Rabble
           ,
           and
           destruction
           of
           his
           Fortune
           and
           Family
           :
           And
           Considering
           that
           this
           usage
           may
           be
           any
           other
           mans
           Case
           to
           morrow
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           mine
           to
           day
           ;
           whenever
           the
           Observator
           for
           his
           own
           Glory
           ,
           or
           on
           any
           secret
           design
           ,
           shall
           think
           fit
           to
           proclaim
           War
           against
           him
           ;
           I
           thought
           it
           high
           time
           to
           give
           all
           the
           World
           satisfaction
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Case
           between
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           and
           my self
           ;
           That
           all
           persons
           of
           this
           Age
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           shall
           write
           Histories
           in
           the
           next
           (
           which
           I
           find
           our
           Observator
           much
           values
           his
           Numerous
           Sheets
           upon
           ,
           as
           the
           just
           Standard
           for
           them
           to
           take
           measures
           from
           )
           may
           have
           the
           Cognizance
           as
           well
           of
           the
           Defence
           as
           of
           the
           Charge
           ;
           For
           he
           that
           has
           a
           Tongue
           to
           Condemn
           ,
           before
           he
           imploys
           both
           his
           Ears
           to
           hear
           either
           Party
           ,
           deserves
           to
           be
           Appeal'd
           from
           ,
           as
           an
           incompetent
           Judge
           .
        
         
           The
           Observator
           makes
           large
           Professions
           ,
           that
           his
           Engagement
           is
           for
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           Establisht
           Church
           ;
           But
           I
           humbly
           Conceive
           ,
           't
           is
           no
           Honour
           or
           Service
           to
           either
           ,
           That
           he
           Intermixes
           so
           much
           his
           own
           Personal
           Piques
           and
           Animosities
           ,
           
           &
           takes
           Liberty
           meerly
           on
           the
           Tales
           of
           his
           Busy
           Emissaries
           ,
           to
           Expose
           any
           Honest
           Loyal
           Subject
           ,
           that
           gives
           not
           up
           all
           the
           Faculties
           of
           his
           Soul
           ,
           to
           a
           Blind
           Admiration
           of
           ,
           and
           Acquiescence
           in
           his
           Papers
           ,
           which
           are
           in
           many
           Particulars
           (
           For
           I
           Speak
           only
           as
           to
           what
           I
           am
           Concern'd
           in
           )
           as
           False
           and
           Malicious
           ,
           as
           Triffling
           and
           Illogical
           .
        
         
           The
           Gentleman
           has
           Liberally
           bestow'd
           on
           me
           the
           Titles
           of
           Cheat
           ,
           Rogue
           ,
           Rascal
           ,
           Blasphemer
           ,
           almost
           always
           Drunk
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           I
           thought
           it
           below
           the
           Gravity
           of
           a
           Citizen
           ,
           or
           any
           Moral
           Man
           ,
           much
           more
           of
           a
           Christian
           ,
           to
           Reply
           in
           the
           Scurrilous
           Language
           of
           an
           Oyster
           Boat
           ;
           and
           therefore
           as
           far
           as
           the
           matter
           would
           possibly
           bear
           ,
           I
           have
           Abstained
           from
           any
           Vndecent
           Terms
           ;
           how
           much
           soever
           deserv'd
           .
           Nor
           dare
           vye
           with
           so
           great
           a
           Master
           in
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           Buffoonery
           and
           Fooling
           :
           Soft
           Words
           and
           hard
           Arguments
           ,
           as
           little
           Droll
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           Reason
           as
           may
           be
           afforded
           ,
           is
           the
           best
           method
           for
           all
           Controversies
           .
           Yet
           to
           divert
           the
           Reader
           ;
           I
           have
           now
           and
           then
           descended
           to
           answer
           the
           Gentleman
           a
           little
           in
           his
           own
           way
           ,
           to
           shew
           that
           what
           some
           men
           so
           highly
           Admire
           ,
           is
           no
           such
           Transcendent
           Quality
           ,
           but
           it
           might
           be
           Imitated
           .
        
         
           
             A
             Little
             Wit
             ,
             joyn'd
             with
             a
             Vast
             Ill
             Nature
             ,
          
           
             And
             qualify'd
             for
             Lyes
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Satyr
             ;
          
           
             May
             easily
             Commence
             an
             Observator
             .
          
        
         
           But
           not
           to
           enlarge
           the
           Porch
           to
           a
           building
           which
           is
           already
           too
           bigg
           —
           The
           whole
           matter
           ,
           Loyal
           Readers
           ,
           is
           before
           you
           ,
           and
           having
           first
           considered
           impartially
           ,
           you
           are
           at
           Liberty
           to
           pass
           your
           Judgments
           as
           you
           find
           Cause
           .
           If
           any
           object
           the
           following
           Leaves
           are
           not
           all
           of
           my
           own
           Composing
           ,
           It
           shall
           readily
           he
           granted
           ;
           Nor
           can
           I
           find
           any
           body
           will
           swear
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Observators
           are
           wholly
           of
           Mr.
           L'Estrange's
           own
           handy
           work
           ;
           Let
           it
           therefore
           suffice
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           nothing
           here
           said
           on
           my
           behalf
           ,
           which
           I
           do
           not
           approve
           ,
           and
           know
           to
           be
           true
           .
           And
           therefore
           am
           Ready
           to
           justify
           every
           Tittle
           ;
           Witness
           my
           Hand
           ,
        
         
           
             Miles
             Prance
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           POSTSCRIPT
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           THE
           Noise
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           has
           laboriously
           (
           and
           even
           to
           many
           of
           his
           own
           Admirers
           ,
           nauseously
           )
           made
           about
           Brass-Screws
           ,
           &c.
           was
           in
           it self
           so
           improbable
           as
           well
           as
           false
           ;
           and
           his
           naked
           Suggestions
           (
           unconfirm'd
           with
           the
           least
           proof
           ,
           or
           his
           being
           able
           to
           vouch
           any
           Authors
           or
           Witnesses
           for
           so
           heinous
           a
           Charge
           )
           having
           been
           already
           refuted
           by
           the
           positive
           Affidavit
           of
           an
           uninteressed
           Person
           ,
           and
           a
           Romanist
           too
           ,
           disproving
           the
           same
           ;
           That
           ,
           as
           I
           doubt
           not
           ,
           but
           most
           sober
           considerate
           Persons
           ,
           are
           long
           since
           satisfied
           of
           the
           Injustice
           of
           
             that
             Accusation
          
           ,
           so
           I
           had
           the
           Charity
           to
           hope
           the
           
             Observator
             himself
          
           ,
           however
           at
           first
           Misinform'd
           ,
           might
           e're
           this
           be
           asham'd
           on
           't
           .
        
         
           But
           finding
           that
           Gentleman
           ,
           in
           his
           
             Observators
             ,
             Numb
          
           .
           470
           ,
           and
           471
           ,
           Challenging
           all
           the
           World
           to
           Instance
           wherein
           he
           has
           misreported
           ,
           or
           
             partially
             represented
             any
             one
             matter
             of
             Fact
             ,
          
           and
           particularly
           reviving
           this
           
             Thred-bare
             Story
          
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           the
           Trophies
           of
           his
           Atchievements
           ,
           and
           consigning
           the
           same
           over
           ,
           as
           a
           matter
           undeniable
           to
           the
           Belief
           of
           Posterity
           :
           I
           should
           be
           wanting
           to
           Truth
           and
           my
           own
           Innocency
           ,
           if
           I
           should
           not
           publickly
           Check
           ,
           and
           yet
           further
           Detect
           those
           Scandals
           ,
           which
           tend
           not
           only
           to
           the
           blasting
           of
           my
           Reputation
           ,
           spoiling
           of
           my
           Trade
           ,
           and
           
             Ruin
             of
             my
             Family
          
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           can
           prove
           ,
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           with
           his
           own
           Mouth
           ,
           most
           unchristianly
           own'd
           to
           be
           his
           Design
           )
           but
           also
           (
           which
           I
           conceive
           the
           first
           Forgers
           of
           this
           Scandal
           principally
           intend
           )
           the
           Discrediting
           
             that
             Evidence
          
           ,
           I
           have
           faithfully
           given
           touching
           the
           manner
           of
           Sir
           
             Edmund-bury
             Godfrey's
             Murther
          
           :
           That
           
             indelible
             stain
          
           ,
           which
           all
           the
           Popes
           Holy-Water
           shall
           never
           be
           able
           to
           wash
           off
           .
        
         
           I
           foresee
           under
           what
           Disadvantages
           I
           appear
           ,
           and
           am
           sorry
           I
           cannot
           avoid
           a
           Contest
           ,
           with
           a
           Gentleman
           of
           
             known
             Abilities
          
           ,
           and
           
             reputed
             Loyalty
          
           ,
           so
           high
           in
           Popular
           Esteem
           ,
           of
           so
           large
           an
           Invention
           ,
           and
           
             taking
             Expressions
          
           ,
           and
           one
           who
           will
           be
           sure
           to
           have
           the
           
             Last
             Word
          
           ;
           nor
           do
           I
           forget
           his
           Character
           ,
           as
           now
           qualified
           ,
           
             a
             Magistrate
          
           ;
           but
           Truth
           is
           Truth
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           Courser
           Language
           of
           a
           Silver-Smith
           :
           And
           Falshoods
           and
           Calumnies
           are
           no
           better
           than
           Lies
           and
           Devices
           of
           the
           Devil
           to
           be
           abhorr'd
           by
           all
           Christians
           and
           
             honest
             Men
          
           ,
           though
           dressed
           up
           in
           never
           so
           rich
           Embroideries
           of
           Craft
           and
           Oratory
           .
           And
           though
           God
           and
           Nature
           have
           not
           endued
           me
           with
           equal
           parts
           ,
           nor
           Fortune
           with
           so
           liberal
           an
           Education
           ,
           (
           which
           the
           Loyalty
           of
           my
           Father
           to
           his
           King
           ,
           was
           the
           chief
           occasion
           that
           disabled
           him
           to
           afford
           me
           )
           so
           that
           I
           may
           not
           be
           so
           useful
           ;
           yet
           I
           am
           bound
           to
           be
           ,
           and
           by
           Gods
           Grace
           ,
           will
           never
           fail
           to
           approve
           my self
           as
           
             Honest
             a
             Man
          
           ,
           as
           Faithful
           and
           Obedient
           
             a
             Subject
          
           ,
           and
           as
           Hearty
           and
           Dutiful
           a
           
             Son
             of
             the
             Church
          
           of
           England
           ,
           by
           Law
           Establisht
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Wittiest
             Observator
          
           in
           Christendom
           .
        
         
           The
           Veneration
           I
           have
           for
           His
           
             Sacred
             Majesty
          
           ,
           my
           Soveraign
           ,
           guides
           my
           willing
           Duty
           to
           pay
           all
           JustRespects
           to
           every
           Person
           (
           though
           never
           so
           much
           my
           particular
           Enemy
           )
           that
           is
           vested
           with
           any
           subordinate
           Authority
           under
           him
           .
           'T
           is
           not
           with
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           the
           Justice
           ,
           but
           L'Estrange
           the
           Observator
           my
           Dispute
           lies
           ;
           if
           he
           send
           out
           
             a
             Legal
             Warrant
          
           ,
           I
           will
           readily
           obey
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           publish
           things
           false
           and
           scandalous
           of
           me
           ,
           I
           see
           not
           ,
           why
           I
           may
           not
           Answer
           it
           ,
           without
           being
           Taxt
           as
           guilty
           of
           any
           Disrespect
           to
           the
           Government
           .
           His
           Gracious
           Majesty
           imploying
           any
           in
           the
           
             Commission
             of
             the
             Peace
          
           ,
           does
           not
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           thereby
           intend
           to
           priviledge
           Him
           ,
           to
           injure
           the
           meanest
           of
           His
           Subjects
           .
        
         
           What
           I
           attempt
           is
           no
           more
           than
           all
           Laws
           Divine
           and
           Humane
           allow
           ,
           viz.
           The
           
             liberty
             of
             an
             unblamable
             Defence
          
           ;
           to
           wipe
           off
           Dirt
           (
           or
           rather
           Venom
           )
           causelesly
           thrown
           upon
           me
           :
           In
           doing
           which
           ,
           if
           any
           of
           it
           shall
           ,
           by
           the
           Beams
           of
           Truth
           ,
           be
           reflected
           back
           on
           the
           first
           Author
           ,
           who
           can
           help
           it
           ?
        
         
           For
           whatever
           Service
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           has
           done
           the
           Government
           and
           the
           Church
           ,
           against
           the
           Factious
           ,
           or
           the
           Enemies
           to
           either
           ,
           I
           Cordially
           applaud
           and
           thank
           him
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           Repine
           at
           his
           (
           reported
           )
           Presents
           and
           New-years-Gifts
           of
           a
           1000
           (
           nay
           ,
           were
           they
           ten
           
           sand
           )
           Guineys
           ,
           since
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           ,
           he
           has
           deserved
           them
           ;
           for
           in
           this
           Close-fisted
           Age
           ,
           People
           are
           not
           apt
           to
           part
           with
           their
           Money
           ,
           but
           on
           good
           Considerations
           .
           However
           I
           am
           pleased
           to
           hear
           that
           Charity
           or
           Gratitude
           (
           call
           it
           which
           you
           will
           )
           is
           so
           great
           and
           General
           amongst
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           hope
           we
           shall
           hereby
           silence
           the
           Papists
           ,
           upbraiding
           us
           for
           neglect
           of
           
             Good
             Works
          
           :
           I
           like
           a
           Chedder-Cheese
           (
           to
           borrow
           the
           Metaphor
           from
           a
           well
           known
           Author
           )
           never
           the
           worse
           for
           being
           made
           Great
           by
           the
           Milk
           of
           the
           whole
           Parish
           ;
           nor
           shall
           I
           ever
           envy
           any
           Mans
           growing
           Fat
           on
           the
           Alms-Basket
           .
        
         
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           I
           have
           as
           good
           an
           Esteem
           for
           the
           Active
           and
           Ingenious
           
             Squire
             L'Estrange
          
           ,
           as
           I
           ought
           to
           have
           .
           And
           if
           (
           as
           the
           Author
           of
           
             The
             Pacquet
             of
             Advice
             from
          
           Geneva
           ,
           *
           Numb
           .
           2.
           p.
           10.
           affirms
           .
           
             He
             be
             one
             undoubtedly
             sent
             from
             above
             to
             Act
             here
             in
             his
             Generation
             ,
             for
             the
             great
             Good
             of
             his
             King
             and
             Country
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             vere
             Malleus
             Rebellium
             &
             Phanaticorum
          
           (
           which
           ,
           I
           am
           told
           ,
           signifies
           ,
           a
           
             Mawler
             of
             Rebels
             and
             Fanaticks
          
           )
           I
           only
           wish
           ,
           he
           had
           kept
           altogether
           to
           that
           work
           ;
           let
           him
           Mawl
           them
           O'
           Gods
           Name
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           he
           lift
           ,
           till
           his
           Observators
           out-swell
           the
           Volumes
           of
           Bellarmine
           ;
           and
           scourge
           them
           more
           severely
           than
           ever
           he
           did
           (
           as
           himself
           has
           told
           us
           )
           the
           
             Wicked
             Cats
          
           that
           haunted
           his
           Bird-Cage
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           till
           he
           has
           made
           them
           leave
           off
           their
           Rogueries
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           he
           will
           abandon
           his
           Province
           ,
           and
           pull
           me
           Head
           and
           Ears
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           not
           only
           make
           me
           a
           Phanatick
           in
           spight
           of
           my
           Teeth
           ,
           but
           also
           point
           me
           
             out
             as
             a
             Rogue
             ,
             one
             that
             have
             for
             sworn
             my
             se●f
             against
             him
             :
             And
             that
             I
             cheated
             Her
             Majesty
             with
             Brass
             Screws
             ;
             and
             design'd
             to
             defraud
             a
             Man
             of
             a
             Tankard
             ,
             and
             made
             away
             my
             Servant
             ,
             and
             sent
             for
             him
             ,
             the
             said
          
           L'Estrange
           ,
           
             to
             the
          
           Old
           Dog-Tavern
           ,
           
             and
             then
             d●n●●d
             it
             ,
             with
             such
             and
             such
             horrid
             Oaths
             ,
          
           when
           not
           a
           word
           of
           all
           this
           is
           true
           ;
           I
           hope
           I
           may
           have
           leave
           to
           say
           —
           
             Your
             Worship
             in
             these
             particulars
             is
             mistaken
          
           ;
           and
           to
           disabuse
           the
           World
           therein
           ,
           even
           in
           like
           publick
           manner
           ;
           since
           ,
           as
           himself
           says
           ,
           
             Observator
             ,
             Num.
          
           473.
           
           
             Nothing
             but
             Print
             can
             answer
             Print
             .
          
           Besides
           ,
           I
           have
           his
           own
           Allowance
           ,
           Observator
           470.
           
           
             You
             are
             at
             Liberty
             to
             shew
             the
             World
             my
             Errors
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           therefore
           to
           the
           matter
           —
           And
           first
           ,
           the
           old
           Job
           of
           Brass-screws
           —
           That
           which
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           affirms
           ,
           is
           —
           
             That
             I
             being
             imploy'd
             to
             make
             an
             Antependium
             to
             the
             Altar
             of
             Her
             Majesties
             Chappel
             ,
             did
             fraudulently
             either
             make
             Brass-screws
             and
             reckon
             for
             them
             as
             Silver
             ,
             or
             having
             made
             Silver
             ,
             and
             being
             paid
             for
             them
             as
             such
             ,
             did
             purloin
             the
             Silver
             ones
             ,
             and
             put
             Brass
             ones
             ,
             with
             only
             Silver
             Heads
             in
             their
             stead
          
           —
           Here
           's
           no
           less
           than
           Cheat
           ,
           and
           Felony
           ,
           and
           Sacriledge
           ,
           all
           Charg'd
           in
           a
           Lump
           ,
           but
           where
           's
           the
           Proof
           ?
           As
           for
           that
           ,
           you
           have
           only
           the
           bare
           Suggestion
           of
           the
           Observator
           :
           Now
           ,
           though
           that
           Authors
           Opinion
           ,
           when
           he
           talks
           of
           the
           Politicks
           ,
           may
           (
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           )
           be
           indisputable
           ;
           yet
           as
           to
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           if
           he
           shall
           tell
           us
           ,
           it
           Rains
           
             Butter'd
             Parsnips
          
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Thames
           is
           turned
           into
           a
           dish
           of
           
             Clouted
             Cream
          
           ,
           when
           we
           see
           nothing
           but
           Snow
           falling
           ,
           and
           Ice
           under-foot
           ,
           he
           must
           excuse
           ,
           such
           as
           wear
           Eyes
           about
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           demur
           a
           little
           to
           the
           Belief
           of
           those
           Miracles
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           Readers
           satisfaction
           ;
           who
           possibly
           may
           not
           be
           so
           well
           skill'd
           in
           Chappel-Furniture
           ,
           as
           an
           Observator
           ,
           that
           owns
           ,
           he
           has
           been
           
             forty
             times
             at
             Mass
          
           :
           I
           must
           here
           first
           describe
           what
           an
           Antependium
           is
           ,
           
             viz.
             An
             Ornament
             set
             before
             the
             Front
             of
             the
             Altar
             ,
          
           of
           which
           there
           are
           several
           sorts
           ,
           some
           more
           Rich
           for
           
             Great
             Festivals
          
           ,
           some
           more
           Mean
           ,
           for
           Ordinary
           times
           ;
           some
           Mourning
           ones
           used
           ,
           when
           Mass
           is
           said
           for
           
             Souls
             in
             Purgatory
          
           ,
           which
           (
           if
           I
           do
           not
           mis-remember
           )
           is
           every
           Monday
           ;
           and
           accordingly
           these
           Antependiums
           are
           frequently
           remov'd
           ,
           as
           occasion
           requires
           .
        
         
           That
           which
           I
           was
           concerned
           about
           ,
           was
           a
           very
           Rich
           one
           ,
           to
           be
           used
           on
           High
           days
           ;
           And
           
             Doctor
             Godden
          
           ,
           Treasurer
           of
           Her
           Majesties
           Chappel
           ,
           by
           the
           means
           of
           
             Father
             James
          
           ,
           (
           who
           was
           then
           my
           Confessor
           )
           imployed
           me
           ,
           it
           being
           proposed
           to
           me
           and
           Mr.
           M.
           (
           a
           Roman
           Goldsmith
           in
           Fleet-street
           ,
           )
           and
           both
           of
           us
           made
           Draughts
           or
           Models
           ,
           which
           ,
           the
           Doctor
           told
           me
           ,
           were
           presented
           to
           the
           Queen
           ,
           and
           Her
           Majesty
           was
           Graciously
           pleased
           to
           approve
           of
           mine
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           was
           pitcht
           upon
           to
           do
           it
           ;
           the
           rather
           (
           as
           I
           believe
           ,
           )
           for
           that
           the
           same
           Doctor
           told
           me
           ,
           Mr.
           M.
           ask'd
           a
           4th
           part
           more
           per
           Ounce
           ,
           for
           Work
           and
           Fashion
           ,
           than
           I
           offered
           to
           do
           it
           for
           .
        
         
           Being
           thus
           imployed
           ,
           and
           having
           made
           a
           punctual
           Bargain
           at
           fixt
           Rates
           and
           Prizes
           ,
           to
           make
           an
           Antependium
           ,
           and
           steps
           to
           the
           Altar
           ,
           and
           two
           large
           Flower-Pots
           ;
           I
           was
           furnished
           with
           a
           quantity
           of
           old
           broken
           Silver
           belonging
           to
           the
           Chappel
           ,
           which
           I
           
           spent
           several
           days
           time
           and
           labour
           ,
           in
           taking
           off
           from
           the
           Wood
           ,
           &c.
           
           Which
           Silver
           was
           intended
           both
           to
           supply
           matter
           for
           the
           Work
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           and
           with
           it's
           overplus
           to
           pay
           me
           for
           doing
           it
           ,
           and
           was
           all
           exactly
           weighed
           when
           delivered
           to
           me
           ;
           which
           was
           as
           near
           as
           I
           can
           remember
           ,
           about
           the
           Moneth
           of
           September
           ,
           1674.
           
           And
           I
           was
           enjoyned
           to
           smish
           against
           the
           Feast
           of
           our
           
             Saviours
             Nativity
          
           ,
           so
           there
           was
           a
           necessity
           to
           imploy
           more
           hands
           ,
           (
           in
           so
           large
           a
           piece
           of
           work
           )
           than
           my
           own
           and
           my
           Servants
           (
           yet
           the
           Observator
           objects
           as
           a
           Crime
           that
           I
           did
           not
           do
           it
           
             all
             my self
          
           ,
           whereas
           had
           I
           design'd
           a
           Cheat
           ,
           I
           should
           my self
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           do
           it
           all
           .
           )
           But
           I
           caused
           the
           old
           Silver
           to
           be
           melted
           down
           by
           others
           ,
           (
           who
           might
           be
           able
           to
           attest
           it
           )
           which
           ,
           tho'
           I
           confess
           I
           did
           not
           do
           out
           of
           any
           foresight
           ,
           yet
           't
           was
           happy
           for
           me
           ,
           since
           otherwise
           I
           might
           now
           have
           been
           liable
           to
           a
           far
           greater
           scandal
           of
           Embasing
           it
           ,
           (
           a
           more
           tempting
           bait
           to
           nibble
           at
           ,
           than
           this
           pedling
           business
           of
           a
           few
           
             Brass
             Screws
          
           .
           )
           Having
           thus
           caus'd
           it
           to
           be
           melted
           ,
           and
           several
           Assays
           to
           be
           made
           thereof
           at
           our
           Hall
           ,
           (
           whereby
           it
           appeared
           not
           to
           be
           worth
           above
           four
           Shillings
           an
           ounce
           )
           and
           shew'd
           them
           to
           Doctor
           Godden
           ,
           (
           who
           I
           must
           tell
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           was
           a
           person
           so
           Faithful
           to
           Her
           Majesties
           Interests
           ,
           and
           in
           himself
           so
           Curious
           ,
           Exact
           ,
           and
           Sagacious
           ,
           as
           not
           easily
           to
           be
           imposed
           upon
           )
           He
           thereupon
           by
           a
           note
           under
           his
           hand
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           have
           yet
           to
           shew
           )
           dated
           September
           28
           ,
           1674.
           
           Allowed
           the
           overplus
           to
           me
           ,
           towards
           my
           payment
           at
           four
           Shillings
           
             per
             Ounce
          
           ,
           expressing
           the
           Reason
           in
           these
           words
           —
           
             The
             coursness
             of
             the
             Silver
             ,
             and
             waste
          
           (
           which
           was
           not
           small
           )
           considered
           .
        
         
           The
           work
           going
           on
           ,
           and
           Screws
           to
           fix
           the
           Silver
           to
           the
           Wood
           ,
           which
           was
           to
           support
           it
           ,
           being
           requisite
           ,
           some
           few
           of
           those
           Screws
           were
           at
           first
           made
           of
           Silver
           ,
           but
           perceiving
           the
           Silver
           allow'd
           ,
           was
           not
           like
           to
           hold
           out
           to
           be
           enough
           to
           finish
           the
           work
           and
           to
           pay
           me
           ,
           as
           was
           designed
           ,
           I
           acquainted
           the
           Doctor
           and
           Mr.
           Plum
           (
           his
           Man
           )
           and
           Mr.
           Coupledyke
           ,
           one
           of
           Her
           Majesties
           Servants
           ,
           therewith
           ,
           withall
           advertising
           them
           ;
           That
           I
           thought
           Screws
           of
           Brass
           would
           be
           altogether
           as
           serviceable
           ,
           and
           so
           
             that
             Silver
          
           might
           be
           spared
           if
           they
           thought
           fit
           ,
           only
           on
           the
           outside
           to
           affix
           to
           them
           thin
           Silver
           Plates
           for
           heads
           to
           answer
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Work
           ,
           which
           they
           readily
           consented
           to
           ,
           and
           so
           those
           few
           Screws
           made
           ,
           were
           melted
           down
           and
           imploy'd
           in
           the
           Work
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Screws
           made
           of
           Brass
           ,
           or
           if
           any
           one
           were
           left
           in
           by
           over-sight
           ,
           't
           is
           more
           than
           I
           know
           .
        
         
           The
           Work
           being
           done
           ,
           Mr.
           Plum
           saw
           it
           
             all
             weighed
          
           and
           set
           up
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           the
           Screws
           being
           found
           to
           be
           too
           long
           ,
           Mr.
           Smith
           (
           a
           Workman
           employed
           by
           me
           ,
           and
           who
           made
           at
           least
           several
           of
           these
           
             Brass
             Screws
          
           )
           did
           cut
           off
           the
           ends
           to
           shorten
           them
           ,
           and
           soon
           after
           came
           Doctor
           Godden
           himself
           ,
           and
           would
           have
           it
           weighed
           again
           ,
           saying
           ,
           
             though
             he
             doubted
             not
             my
             word
             ,
             and
             his
             Mans
             Relation
             ,
             yet
             he
             could
             with
             more
             assurance
             satisfie
             Her
             Majesty
             ,
             when
             he
             had
             seen
             it
             weighed
             himself
             ,
          
           and
           so
           it
           was
           taken
           asunder
           again
           ,
           and
           weighed
           in
           parts
           ,
           (
           the
           Brazen
           Screws
           being
           apparent
           before
           him
           ,
           but
           not
           weighed
           ,
           only
           the
           Heads
           of
           Silver
           reckon'd
           for
           ,
           which
           were
           weighed
           before
           they
           were
           put
           on
           ,
           and
           being
           very
           inconsiderable
           ,
           were
           not
           disputed
           )
           and
           so
           the
           Work
           was
           sent
           home
           to
           the
           Chappel
           ;
           and
           tho'
           ,
           the
           surplusage
           of
           the
           Silver
           falling
           short
           as
           aforesaid
           ,
           I
           was
           not
           fully
           paid
           according
           to
           the
           Bargain
           ,
           yet
           considering
           how
           good
           a
           Mistress
           I
           had
           of
           Her
           Majesty
           ,
           from
           whom
           I
           had
           almost
           work
           continually
           ;
           and
           not
           doubting
           but
           in
           time
           I
           should
           be
           satisfied
           ,
           it
           rested
           all
           the
           years
           ,
           1675
           ,
           76
           ,
           77
           ,
           and
           78.
           
           Towards
           the
           latter
           end
           of
           which
           last
           year
           ,
           I
           having
           given
           a
           discovery
           of
           Justice
           
             Godfreys
             Murder
          
           ,
           most
           of
           the
           Romans
           began
           to
           be
           very
           much
           my
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           several
           Libels
           ,
           As
           the
           Compendium
           ,
           &c.
           were
           th●
           〈◊〉
           abroad
           ;
           reflecting
           amongst
           others
           on
           me
           ;
           but
           still
           not
           a
           word
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           nor
           any
           hint
           of
           my
           being
           an
           unjust
           or
           dishonest
           man
           ,
           before
           I
           forsook
           their
           Church
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           (
           almost
           eight
           years
           after
           the
           work
           done
           ,
           )
           viz.
           the
           first
           of
           April
           (
           the
           day
           Fools
           are
           wont
           to
           be
           sent
           on
           Errands
           )
           1682.
           
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           the
           
             first
             of
             all
          
           merliving
           (
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           learn
           )
           broacht
           this
           story
           in
           
             Observator
             ,
             Numb
          
           .
           117.
           very
           tenderly
           (
           forsooth
           )
           at
           first
           by
           way
           of
           Quaere
           or
           Advertisement
           ,
           but
           afterwards
           ,
           as
           some
           Witty
           People
           ,
           by
           heat
           of
           fancy
           ,
           invent
           
             pretty
             Tales
          
           ,
           and
           tell
           them
           so
           often
           ,
           that
           at
           last
           they
           themselves
           begin
           to
           believe
           them
           ,
           so
           he
           grew
           more
           positive
           in
           the
           business
           ;
           and
           now
           ,
           Observator
           471
           ,
           is
           pleased
           to
           scoff
           at
           all
           
             thoughts
             of
             Repentance
          
           for
           it
           ,
           which
           yet
           I
           hope
           God
           will
           give
           him
           ,
           e're
           he
           goes
           out
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           or
           else
           his
           account
           is
           like
           to
           be
           very
           dreadful
           in
           the
           next
           ,
           for
           if
           for
           every
           idle
           word
           we
           must
           answer
           ,
           much
           more
           for
           forging
           and
           promoting
           Lies
           and
           Scandals
           ,
           designed
           to
           Ruine
           our
           Neighbour
           ▪
           and
           all
           persisted
           in
           and
           boasted
           of
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           I
           shall
           first
           shew
           the
           unlikelyhood
           of
           the
           matter
           thus
           charg'd
           upon
           me
           ;
           which
           against
           Nude
           Averments
           (
           tho'
           never
           so
           confident
           )
           is
           a
           sufficient
           defence
           .
           Secondly
           ,
           I
           shall
           disprove
           his
           suggestions
           by
           Testimony
           upon
           Oath
           ,
           and
           undeniable
           demonstrations
           ?
        
         
           When
           a
           man
           is
           falsly
           and
           maliciously
           attacqued
           with
           Calumnies
           ,
           that
           which
           otherwise
           would
           be
           insufferable
           vanity
           ,
           becomes
           necessity
           ;
           and
           on
           
             that
             score
          
           ,
           I
           must
           crave
           the
           Readers
           excuse
           for
           mentioning
           some
           Truths
           ,
           which
           without
           such
           a
           
             forc'd
             putt
          
           ,
           I
           would
           have
           been
           far
           enough
           from
           relating
           of
           my self
           :
           As
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           having
           now
           been
           a
           Trader
           towards
           twenty
           years
           ,
           I
           dare
           appeal
           to
           all
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           had
           Dealings
           with
           ,
           (
           Papists
           or
           Protestants
           )
           if
           they
           can
           justly
           say
           ,
           I
           ever
           wrong'd
           them
           ,
           or
           can
           instance
           in
           any
           particulars
           ,
           wherein
           they
           found
           me
           addicted
           or
           inclinable
           to
           little
           
             sharking
             Tricks
             ,
             Injustice
             ,
             Fraud
             ,
          
           or
           Over-reaching
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           whether
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           it
           be
           not
           true
           ,
           that
           amongst
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ,
           (
           with
           whom
           my
           chief
           Dealings
           lay
           ,
           untill
           I
           left
           them
           ,
           )
           I
           were
           not
           generally
           call'd
           by
           the
           Name
           of
           
             Honest
             Prance
          
           ?
           If
           any
           such
           ill
           Practices
           could
           have
           been
           proved
           ,
           as
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           has
           not
           been
           wanting
           by
           his
           frequent
           Proclamations
           to
           invite
           Accusers
           ,
           so
           I
           want
           not
           Ill-willers
           ,
           who
           would
           be
           glad
           of
           the
           opportunity
           ,
           and
           you
           would
           e're
           this
           ,
           have
           heard
           of
           some
           other
           Pranks
           besides
           the
           
             Brass
             Screws
          
           ,
           yet
           no
           such
           thing
           has
           appeared
           .
           But
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           even
           since
           I
           have
           renounced
           their
           Religion
           ,
           Father
           Lewis
           the
           Jesuit
           ,
           and
           Father
           Hanslipp
           the
           Monk
           (
           upon
           my
           happening
           into
           their
           Company
           ,
           when
           brought
           up
           to
           Newgate
           ,
           )
           did
           declare
           before
           several
           Witnesses
           ,
           that
           they
           always
           lookt
           upon
           me
           to
           be
           as
           Honest
           a
           man
           (
           speaking
           as
           to
           my
           dealing
           )
           as
           any
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           this
           was
           spoken
           on
           a
           long
           experience
           too
           ,
           for
           with
           that
           Father
           Lewis
           (
           afterwards
           Executed
           upon
           a
           Conviction
           of
           Priesthood
           in
           Wales
           )
           I
           had
           very
           considerable
           dealings
           in
           the
           way
           of
           my
           Trade
           ,
           now
           't
           is
           very
           strange
           ,
           that
           I
           ,
           that
           had
           managed
           matters
           so
           squarely
           with
           all
           the
           rest
           of
           my
           Customers
           ,
           should
           so
           basely
           
             begin
             my
             Cheats
          
           upon
           Her
           Majesty
           ,
           who
           was
           the
           
             best
             Mistress
          
           I
           had
           ,
           or
           could
           ever
           hope
           for
           ,
           and
           whose
           Work
           (
           which
           was
           a
           considerable
           part
           of
           my
           Lively-hood
           )
           I
           must
           certainly
           expect
           to
           lose
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           the
           Cheat
           should
           be
           discovered
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           I
           shall
           prove
           presently
           )
           't
           was
           impossible
           (
           had
           it
           been
           so
           )
           to
           conceal
           for
           a
           day
           .
        
         
           2
           ly
           .
           Further
           ,
           as
           to
           my
           Integrity
           ,
           and
           Scorning
           to
           grow
           Rich
           by
           Unlawful
           and
           dishonest
           gain
           ;
           I
           might
           give
           several
           Instances
           ;
           but
           I
           shall
           trouble
           the
           Reader
           only
           with
           Two
           ;
           viz.
           Several
           years
           ago
           (
           about
           the
           time
           ,
           as
           I
           remember
           ,
           that
           I
           made
           this
           Antipendium
           )
           my
           Lady
           Gage
           lost
           a
           Jewel
           ,
           and
           long
           after
           ,
           near
           half
           a
           year
           ,
           when
           the
           Bills
           given
           out
           ,
           on
           the
           first
           missing
           it
           ,
           were
           forgot
           ,
           and
           the
           Lady
           despaired
           of
           ever
           hearing
           of
           it
           ,
           this
           Jewel
           was
           proffered
           me
           ,
           and
           I
           knew
           it
           worth
           about
           45
           l.
           and
           might
           have
           had
           it
           for
           10
           l.
           but
           reflecting
           on
           the
           Parties
           readiness
           to
           part
           with
           it
           on
           such
           terms
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           calling
           to
           mind
           the
           Bill
           ,
           I
           stopt
           it
           ,
           and
           restored
           the
           Jewel
           to
           the
           Lady
           .
           Now
           here
           might
           have
           been
           a
           secure
           Prize
           of
           30
           l.
           for
           the
           Reward
           in
           the
           Bill
           was
           but
           5
           l.
           (
           to
           the
           best
           of
           my
           memory
           )
           and
           if
           I
           had
           bought
           it
           for
           10
           l.
           I
           might
           have
           made
           above
           40
           l.
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           having
           taken
           out
           the
           Stones
           ,
           there
           would
           have
           been
           little
           fear
           of
           its
           ever
           being
           discovered
           ,
           but
           I
           detested
           any
           such
           lewd
           design
           .
           And
           of
           this
           ,
           that
           
             Honourable
             Lady
          
           ,
           a
           Roman
           Catholick
           ,
           and
           whom
           I
           suppose
           yet
           living
           ,
           will
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           ,
           afford
           me
           the
           Justice
           of
           her
           Attestation
           to
           any
           that
           shall
           enquire
           .
        
         
           Since
           that
           ,
           having
           an
           Accompt
           with
           one
           Mr.
           Ridge
           ,
           upon
           our
           Reckoning
           I
           perceived
           he
           had
           forgot
           to
           ●harge
           me
           with
           some
           Ounces
           of
           Gold
           ,
           amounting
           to
           about
           12
           l.
           and
           was
           so
           far
           from
           calling
           the
           same
           to
           mind
           ,
           that
           he
           allow'd
           himself
           a
           Debtor
           for
           about
           that
           Value
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           must
           have
           pass'd
           ,
           had
           I
           not
           
             voluntarily
             shew'd
          
           him
           his
           mistake
           from
           my
           Book
           .
           Now
           ,
           that
           I
           ,
           who
           used
           so
           much
           tenderness
           in
           these
           Cases
           ,
           should
           thus
           impudently
           attempt
           to
           defraud
           Her
           Majesty
           ,
           will
           I
           suppose
           need
           
             some
             proof
          
           before
           it
           be
           credited
           by
           Impartial
           men
           .
        
         
           Especially
           ,
           if
           they
           consider
           me
           then
           a
           strict
           and
           zealous
           Catholick
           ;
           for
           ,
           that
           so
           I
           was
           ,
           I
           appeal
           to
           all
           that
           know
           me
           ,
           being
           as
           Bigotted
           therein
           as
           any
           ,
           and
           meerly
           on
           that
           score
           ,
           the
           Priests
           Kelly
           ,
           &c.
           had
           the
           confidence
           to
           trust
           me
           with
           their
           Wicked
           Intrigue
           against
           Sir
           
             Edmund-bury
             Godfrey
          
           .
           Now
           being
           thus
           Principled
           ,
           tho'
           I
           had
           been
           so
           Immoral
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           wronged
           Persons
           in
           other
           Cases
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           hard
           to
           think
           ,
           I
           should
           do
           it
           here
           ,
           where
           fraud
           must
           become
           Sacriledge
           ,
           and
           no
           less
           impiety
           than
           
             Robbing
             that
             very
             Holy
             Altar
          
           ,
           before
           which
           I
           so
           constanlty
           pay'd
           my
           Devotions
           ,
           wherein
           the
           thoughts
           of
           the
           present
           instances
           of
           my
           Cousenage
           ,
           must
           continually
           upbraid
           and
           torture
           me
           .
        
         
         
           All
           this
           severally
           and
           jointly
           considered
           ,
           may
           amount
           at
           least
           to
           a
           
             Violent
             presumption
          
           ,
           of
           the
           falsity
           of
           the
           Observators
           
             simple
             Allegation
          
           ,
           to
           any
           man
           ,
           whose
           prejudices
           or
           interest
           have
           not
           made
           him
           resolve
           to
           believe
           any
           Scandals
           ,
           tho'
           never
           so
           unreasonable
           ,
           of
           Prance
           ,
           and
           blindly
           to
           swallow
           ,
           without
           chewing
           ,
           any
           thing
           he
           meets
           with
           in
           an
           Observator
           .
        
         
           For
           nothing
           can
           be
           more
           absurd
           ,
           than
           to
           imagin
           ,
           that
           I
           ,
           thus
           circumstanc'd
           ,
           should
           be
           guilty
           of
           the
           
             Grand
             Cheat
          
           he
           would
           now
           fix
           upon
           me
           ,
           so
           contrary
           to
           the
           common
           bent
           of
           my
           Inclinations
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           justice
           ,
           and
           so
           highly
           against
           all
           Gratitude
           as
           well
           as
           the
           apprehensions
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           attended
           with
           such
           apparent
           hazards
           and
           under
           a
           certainty
           of
           being
           discovered
           ,
           and
           all
           this
           for
           so
           
             paltry
             a
             profit
          
           ,
           as
           
             could
             be
          
           expected
           from
           such
           a
           business
           ;
           and
           also
           when
           I
           had
           not
           the
           least
           Temptations
           of
           want
           to
           prompt
           to
           it
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           well
           known
           ,
           that
           ,
           by
           her
           Majesties
           favour
           and
           the
           interest
           I
           had
           with
           the
           
             Roman
             Clergy
          
           ,
           and
           Gentlemen
           of
           that
           perswasion
           ,
           I
           had
           a
           very
           
             Competent
             Trade
          
           ,
           and
           tho'
           I
           always
           liv'd
           freely
           for
           a
           Person
           of
           my
           condition
           ,
           yet
           I
           may
           justly
           averr
           that
           when
           I
           fell
           into
           my
           troubles
           in
           78.
           
           I
           was
           worth
           a
           1000.
           l.
           And
           no
           less
           was
           attested
           (
           as
           I
           have
           been
           Credibly
           Informed
           )
           to
           his
           Majesty
           and
           Council
           by
           a
           worthy
           Gentleman
           ,
           still
           in
           the
           Commission
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           on
           his
           view
           of
           my
           Shop
           ,
           and
           House
           ,
           when
           I
           was
           first
           seized
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Observators
           suggestions
           are
           not
           only
           Improbable
           ,
           but
           Notoriously
           false
           ,
           which
           if
           I
           make
           appear
           by
           sufficient
           
             Testimony
             upon
             Oath
          
           ,
           and
           reasons
           necessarily
           Conclusive
           (
           than
           which
           two
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           amongst
           men
           any
           stronger
           proof
           )
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           convince
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           grosly
           abused
           and
           standered
           by
           him
           in
           this
           Matter
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           be
           pleased
           to
           read
           the
           following
           Affidavit
           ;
           and
           withall
           ,
           Note
           ,
           that
           the
           Person
           ,
           that
           made
           it
           ,
           is
           of
           the
           Roman
           Catholick
           Communion
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Sarah
                     Billing
                  
                   ,
                   wife
                   of
                   
                     Robert
                     Billing
                  
                   ,
                   of
                   the
                   Savoy
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   County
                   of
                   
                     Middlesex
                     Goldsmith
                  
                   ,
                   maketh
                   Oath
                   ;
                   That
                   she
                   this
                   deponent
                   about
                   eight
                   years
                   since
                   ,
                   did
                   Board
                   with
                   Mr.
                   
                     Miles
                     Prance
                  
                   Goldsmith
                   ,
                   at
                   his
                   house
                   in
                   Princess-street
                   near
                   
                     Covent
                     Garden
                  
                   ,
                   for
                   the
                   space
                   of
                   a
                   whole
                   year
                   and
                   upwards
                   .
                   In
                   which
                   time
                   ,
                   she
                   this
                   deponent
                   ,
                   knows
                   and
                   does
                   well
                   remember
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   said
                   
                     Miles
                     Prance
                  
                   was
                   imployed
                   to
                   make
                   an
                   Antependium
                   for
                   the
                   Altar
                   ,
                   with
                   steps
                   to
                   the
                   said
                   Altar
                   ,
                   at
                   her
                   Majesties
                   Chappel
                   (
                   then
                   )
                   at
                   Sommerset-house
                   ;
                   and
                   she
                   ,
                   this
                   deponent
                   did
                   diverse
                   times
                   see
                   and
                   observe
                   the
                   several
                   parts
                   of
                   that
                   work
                   ,
                   and
                   see
                   
                     the
                     Screws
                  
                   made
                   thereunto
                   ,
                   which
                   were
                   of
                   Brass
                   ,
                   onely
                   on
                   the
                   heads
                   there
                   were
                   
                     silver
                     Plates
                  
                   sodered
                   under
                   .
                   And
                   this
                   deponent
                   saith
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   making
                   of
                   the
                   said
                   Screws
                   of
                   Brass
                   in
                   that
                   manner
                   ,
                   was
                   with
                   the
                   knowledge
                   and
                   Consent
                   of
                   the
                   persons
                   concerned
                   ;
                   for
                   she
                   ,
                   this
                   deponent
                   ,
                   did
                   know
                   Mr.
                   Plum
                   and
                   Mr.
                   Coupledyke
                   ,
                   who
                   were
                   some
                   of
                   the
                   persons
                   ,
                   as
                   she
                   then
                   understood
                   ,
                   that
                   imployed
                   Mr.
                   Prance
                   above
                   that
                   worke
                   ,
                   and
                   she
                   hath
                   seen
                   them
                   
                     viewing
                     the
                     said
                     work
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   having
                   the
                   said
                   
                     Brass
                     Screws
                     in
                     their
                     presence
                     ,
                     looking
                     on
                     them
                     ,
                  
                   and
                   heard
                   them
                   discoursing
                   Mr.
                   Prance
                   about
                   the
                   same
                   :
                   They
                   saying
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   said
                   Screws
                   being
                   of
                   Brass
                   ,
                   would
                   
                     do
                     as
                     well
                  
                   as
                   if
                   they
                   had
                   been
                   Silver
                   ,
                   or
                   words
                   to
                   that
                   very
                   effect
                   and
                   purpose
                   .
                   And
                   also
                   she
                   hath
                   seen
                   
                     Doctor
                     Godden
                  
                   (
                   as
                   she
                   was
                   then
                   told
                   that
                   was
                   his
                   Name
                   )
                   viewing
                   the
                   same
                   :
                   And
                   the
                   Screws
                   were
                   Brass
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   only
                   the
                   fashion
                   ,
                   or
                   making
                   ,
                   and
                   Silver
                   on
                   the
                   heads
                   of
                   them
                   Reckoned
                   for
                   ,
                   was
                   Notorious
                   not
                   only
                   to
                   Mr.
                   
                     Prances
                     Servants
                  
                   and
                   Workmen
                   ,
                   but
                   to
                   the
                   Gentlemen
                   before
                   named
                   ,
                   and
                   several
                   others
                   or
                   Her
                   Majesties
                   Servants
                   ,
                   who
                   frequently
                   came
                   to
                   view
                   the
                   same
                   ,
                   being
                   a
                   very
                   fine
                   and
                   extraordinary
                   piece
                   of
                   work
                   ,
                   which
                   (
                   together
                   with
                   her
                   being
                   continually
                   about
                   the
                   house
                   and
                   shop
                   )
                   caused
                   this
                   Deponent
                   to
                   take
                   the
                   
                     more
                     particular
                  
                   notice
                   of
                   ,
                   and
                   better
                   to
                   remember
                   the
                   same
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     Sarah
                     Billing
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   
                     Jurat
                     .
                     Coram
                     me
                  
                   
                     
                       
                         10
                         die
                         Aprilis
                         ,
                         1682
                      
                    
                  
                
              
            
          
        
      
       
         
           John
           Frederick
           .
        
         
           The
           Observator
           ,
           Numb
           .
           129.
           undertakes
           to
           comment
           after
           this
           manner
           ,
           upon
           this
           Affidavit
           ,
           and
           says
           ,
           the
           Gentlewoman
           was
           
             imposed
             upon
             in
             the
             wording
          
           (
           which
           is
           a
           Civil
           way
           of
           telling
           her
           ,
           she
           was
           perjur'd
           )
           for
           says
           he
           ,
           
             she
             declares
             since
             ,
             that
             by
             seeing
             the
             Screws
             made
             ,
             she
             only
             meant
             after
             they
             were
             made
          
           —
           Now
           whether
           she
           did
           ever
           
             so
             declare
             ,
             I
          
           know
           not
           ,
           but
           however
           if
           she
           did
           ,
           't
           is
           nothing
           to
           the
           purpose
           ,
           the
           question
           in
           dispute
           not
           being
           whether
           she
           
             stood
             by
          
           ,
           all
           the
           while
           every
           one
           of
           the
           
             Brass
             Screws
          
           were
           
           making
           ,
           nor
           is
           it
           to
           be
           imagined
           she
           could
           ,
           since
           they
           were
           made
           at
           several
           times
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           by
           several
           hands
           .
           But
           whether
           I
           made
           ,
           or
           caused
           them
           to
           be
           made
           clandestinly
           ,
           and
           without
           the
           Privacy
           or
           Consent
           of
           
             Doctor
             Godden
          
           and
           his
           Man
           Plum
           ,
           and
           Mr.
           Coupledyke
           ,
           who
           were
           the
           lookers
           after
           the
           Work
           ;
           
             or
             chang'd
          
           them
           ,
           after
           they
           were
           reckon'd
           for
           as
           Silver
           ;
           now
           to
           this
           she
           swears
           positively
           ,
           that
           they
           
             all
             saw
          
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           she
           heard
           Plum
           and
           Coupledyke
           say
           ,
           those
           Brass-Screws
           would
           
             do
             as
             well
             as
             Silver
             ones
             .
          
           But
           to
           take
           this
           off
           ,
           Mr.
           
             L'Estrange
             Observator
             ,
             Numb
          
           .
           126
           ,
           tells
           the
           World
           ,
           That
           
             Plum
             and
             Coupledyke
             had
             drank
             many
             a
             pot
             of
             good
             Ale
             with
             me
             .
          
           —
           And
           what
           then
           Sir
           ?
           The
           Excise
           was
           paid
           ,
           and
           the
           good
           Wife
           that
           draw'd
           it
           ,
           had
           
             a
             License
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           your
           Worship
           had
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           it
           .
           Ale
           ,
           especially
           
             good
             Ale
          
           ,
           is
           the
           old
           
             Catholick
             drink
          
           of
           England
           ,
           had
           we
           Carouz'd
           in
           other
           Puritanical
           Liquors
           ,
           you
           might
           have
           been
           offended
           ,
           and
           cryed
           out
           with
           little
           Doctor
           Edwards
           .
           —
           
             There
             's
             Heresy
             in
          
           Hopps
           ,
           give
           Calvin
           Beer
           .
        
         
           But
           without
           fooling
           ,
           who
           can
           think
           ,
           but
           the
           Observator
           (
           who
           trades
           much
           in
           Hints
           and
           Innuendo's
           )
           intends
           by
           this
           Reflection
           to
           possess
           his
           Readers
           with
           an
           Opinion
           ,
           that
           this
           Plum
           and
           Coupledyke
           were
           Confederates
           with
           me
           in
           this
           business
           of
           the
           Screws
           ,
           so
           that
           to
           support
           the
           Scandal
           ,
           here
           's
           two
           dead
           men
           must
           be
           exposed
           as
           Drunkards
           and
           
             Treacherous
             Cheats
          
           to
           their
           Mistress
           the
           Queen
           .
        
         
           But
           says
           he
           ,
           they
           were
           no
           
             Orderers
             ,
             as
             I
             assure
             you
             ,
          
           —
           Now
           one
           would
           wonder
           ,
           this
           Gentleman
           who
           vows
           and
           swears
           so
           bloodily
           ,
           that
           he
           never
           was
           at
           Sommerset-Chappel
           ,
           since
           His
           Majesties
           Restauration
           ,
           should
           become
           so
           intimate
           with
           these
           two
           Men
           ,
           as
           to
           know
           what
           
             Liquor
             they
             lov'd
          
           ,
           and
           be
           able
           to
           aver
           
             so
             positively
          
           ,
           that
           he
           can
           assure
           us
           ,
           they
           were
           no
           Orderers
           —
           But
           against
           ten
           thousand
           of
           his
           Assurances
           ,
           I
           tell
           him
           
             they
             were
             Orderers
          
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           good
           Ale-drinkers
           ;
           for
           they
           have
           several
           times
           given
           me
           Orders
           ,
           and
           brought
           directions
           for
           Work
           ,
           and
           particularly
           about
           this
           Antependium
           .
        
         
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           proceeds
           and
           says
           ,
           
             That
             she
             knows
             nothing
             ,
             who
             imployed
          
           Prance
           ,
           
             or
             that
             Brass
             Screws
             were
             consented
             to
             by
             the
             Persons
             concern'd
          
           ;
           all
           which
           is
           utterly
           false
           .
           She
           swears
           the
           just
           contrary
           ,
           and
           names
           in
           particular
           Doctor
           
             Goddin
             ,
             Plum
          
           ,
           and
           Coupledyke
           ,
           and
           tho'
           she
           says
           ,
           that
           she
           then
           understood
           Plum
           and
           Coupledyke
           ,
           were
           SOME
           of
           the
           Persons
           that
           imployed
           Prance
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           the
           least
           blemish
           to
           her
           Oath
           ;
           for
           so
           they
           were
           mediately
           under
           Her
           Majesty
           and
           Doctor
           Godden
           ;
           and
           seeing
           them
           frequently
           coming
           to
           enquire
           after
           the
           Work
           ,
           and
           give
           directions
           about
           ,
           and
           weigh
           it
           ,
           &c.
           how
           could
           she
           then
           think
           otherwise
           ?
           Yet
           she
           says
           only
           ,
           that
           she
           understood
           them
           to
           be
           some
           of
           the
           Persons
           ,
           and
           presently
           adds
           ,
           that
           she
           also
           saw
           
             Doctor
             Godden
          
           viewing
           the
           same
           Brass
           Screws
           .
        
         
           The
           Observator
           alledges
           further
           ,
           that
           
             This
             Affidavit
             was
             drawn
             from
             her
             upon
             pretence
             ,
             that
             she
             was
             to
             be
             a
             Witness
             in
             a
             suit
             at
             Law
             ,
             against
             a
             Woman
             that
             had
             Scandaliz'd
             me
             .
          
           To
           which
           I
           answer
           ,
           1
           st
           .
           That
           this
           is
           another
           contrived
           falshood
           ,
           there
           was
           no
           such
           pretence
           ;
           2
           ly
           .
           'T
           is
           absurd
           ,
           for
           all
           the
           World
           knows
           ,
           that
           Affidavits
           are
           not
           allowed
           in
           such
           Suits
           ,
           where
           the
           Witness
           is
           living
           and
           at
           hand
           ,
           able
           to
           testifie
           
             viva
             voce
          
           .
           And
           3
           ly
           .
           'T
           is
           impertinent
           ,
           for
           had
           it
           been
           so
           ,
           it
           concerns
           not
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           she
           deposes
           ,
           
             whatever
             use
          
           I
           intend
           to
           put
           it
           to
           .
           And
           I
           cannot
           fathom
           the
           Gentlemans
           reach
           in
           this
           Objection
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           to
           signifie
           ,
           that
           the
           Gentlewoman
           being
           a
           Romanist
           ,
           might
           needs
           have
           such
           
             a
             kindness
             for
             him
          
           ,
           that
           she
           would
           
             not
             have
             testified
             the
             Truth
             ,
             if
             she
             '
             had
             known
             it
             would
             turn
             to
             his
             prejudice
             and
             confusion
          
           :
           But
           if
           he
           had
           any
           such
           thoughts
           ,
           I
           must
           do
           her
           the
           Justice
           as
           to
           acquaint
           the
           World
           ,
           he
           was
           grosly
           mistaken
           ;
           for
           the
           Gentlewoman
           soon
           after
           ,
           went
           to
           him
           ,
           the
           said
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           and
           expostulated
           with
           him
           about
           the
           Abuses
           put
           upon
           her
           in
           subsequent
           Observators
           ,
           and
           amongst
           the
           rest
           ,
           his
           affirming
           that
           she
           had
           been
           
             my
             Servant
          
           (
           which
           had
           it
           been
           true
           ,
           had
           nothing
           impaired
           her
           Evidence
           )
           but
           the
           same
           was
           altogether
           false
           ,
           for
           her
           Father
           honestly
           paid
           15
           l.
           a
           year
           for
           her
           Board
           ,
           whilst
           she
           lay
           at
           my
           House
           .
           In
           which
           discourse
           of
           hers
           with
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           another
           passage
           happened
           ,
           that
           might
           give
           some
           indications
           of
           that
           Gentlemans
           Temper
           :
           For
           she
           rounding
           him
           up
           for
           broaching
           such
           
             false
             Stories
          
           against
           me
           ,
           which
           tended
           to
           the
           Ruine
           of
           my
           Family
           :
           He
           answered
           (
           as
           she
           has
           declared
           )
           That
           he
           did
           it
           
             on
             purpose
             to
             Ruine
             me
          
           ,
           and
           wondered
           that
           SHE
           [
           he
           understood
           her
           to
           be
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           ]
           
             would
             appear
             in
             the
             behalf
             of
             such
             a
             Raskal
             .
          
        
         
           But
           besides
           this
           full
           proof
           on
           Oath
           ,
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           these
           Brass-Screws
           ,
           undeniably
           evince
           the
           impossibility
           of
           any
           intended
           Fraud
           :
           For
           first
           ,
           had
           I
           designed
           any
           such
           thing
           ,
           I
           must
           have
           been
           a
           Conjurer
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           suppose
           the
           Observator
           does
           not
           
           take
           me
           for
           )
           before
           I
           could
           have
           effected
           the
           Cheat
           ,
           and
           cast
           a
           Mist
           before
           Peoples
           Eyes
           ;
           for
           besides
           that
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           pretended
           these
           Celebrated
           Screws
           were
           Gilt
           or
           
             Silvered
             over
          
           ,
           but
           plain
           ,
           open
           ,
           visible
           Brass
           ,
           only
           Silver
           heads
           to
           them
           on
           the
           out-side
           ;
           And
           besides
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           made
           abroad
           by
           my
           Work-men
           ;
           you
           are
           to
           note
           ,
           that
           the
           use
           of
           them
           was
           (
           as
           aforesaid
           )
           to
           fix
           the
           Silver
           Work
           to
           the
           Wood
           that
           upheld
           it
           ,
           through
           which
           they
           came
           ;
           and
           were
           there
           made
           fast
           with
           Nuts
           ,
           and
           the
           Antependium
           being
           a
           Moveable
           ,
           only
           used
           on
           
             Solemn
             Festivals
          
           ,
           and
           then
           set
           aside
           into
           the
           Sacrastry
           ,
           for
           which
           purpose
           ,
           there
           were
           on
           the
           back-side
           two
           large
           
             Iron
             Handles
          
           to
           bear
           it
           away
           by
           ,
           as
           often
           as
           the
           same
           was
           so
           removed
           from
           the
           Altar
           ;
           these
           
             Brass
             Screws
          
           were
           to
           be
           seen
           on
           that
           side
           ,
           as
           plain
           as
           the
           Iron
           Handles
           ,
           or
           the
           very
           Nose
           on
           the
           Observators
           Face
           :
           And
           I
           question
           ,
           whether
           I
           owe
           it
           not
           to
           the
           Gentlemans
           forgetfulness
           ,
           that
           (
           when
           his
           hand
           was
           in
           )
           he
           did
           not
           also
           Charge
           me
           with
           Transubstantiating
           these
           Handles
           into
           Iron
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Screws
           into
           Brass
           .
        
         
           The
           Gentlewoman
           ,
           as
           you
           have
           heard
           ,
           Swears
           ,
           that
           the
           Screws
           being
           Brass
           ,
           was
           notorious
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           my
           Servants
           and
           Work-men
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           Gentlemen
           before
           Named
           ,
           (
           viz.
           Doctor
           
             Godden
             ,
             Plum
          
           ,
           and
           Coupledyke
           )
           and
           several
           other
           of
           Her
           Majesties
           Servants
           —
           Now
           ,
           though
           ,
           in
           my
           Confinement
           in
           78
           ,
           and
           the
           Hurry
           and
           Confusion
           of
           my
           Family
           on
           that
           Account
           ,
           I
           had
           the
           unhappiness
           to
           lose
           a
           Shop-Book
           ,
           which
           would
           more
           fully
           have
           demonstrated
           it
           ;
           yet
           by
           good
           Providence
           ,
           I
           have
           one
           old
           Book
           still
           remaining
           in
           my
           Castody
           ,
           which
           enough
           Corroborates
           her
           Testimony
           ;
           there
           being
           entered
           a
           Memorial
           in
           these
           Words
           ,
           
             viz.
             For
             a
             Brass
             Screw
             for
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
          
           [
           A
           Figure
           in
           the
           Antependium
           ]
           10
           —
           6
           ,
           that
           is
           weighing
           a
           Halfpenny
           weight
           and
           six
           Grains
           ,
           being
           the
           Hand-writing
           of
           
             Thomas
             Evely
          
           ,
           then
           my
           Servant
           ,
           and
           since
           Porter
           to
           his
           Grace
           ,
           the
           late
           Deceased
           Duke
           of
           Norfolk
           ;
           and
           though
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           ,
           yet
           I
           have
           that
           Charity
           to
           believe
           ,
           he
           will
           not
           deny
           his
           
             own
             Hand
          
           ,
           which
           is
           ready
           to
           be
           shewn
           for
           any
           Gentlemans
           satisfaction
           .
        
         
           Nor
           do
           I
           doubt
           to
           Appeal
           to
           Doctor
           Godden
           himself
           ,
           who
           I
           hear
           is
           still
           living
           ,
           tho'
           he
           cannot
           be
           presumed
           to
           have
           now
           any
           kindness
           for
           me
           ;
           yet
           I
           so
           much
           confide
           in
           his
           Generosity
           ,
           Veracity
           ,
           and
           Morality
           ,
           as
           to
           believe
           ,
           he
           would
           do
           me
           Right
           herein
           :
           Nor
           is
           it
           credible
           ,
           though
           I
           know
           not
           where
           that
           Doctor
           is
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Observator
           ,
           who
           could
           with
           a
           wet
           Finger
           ,
           bring
           Certificates
           from
           Salamanca
           in
           Spain
           ,
           and
           has
           shewed
           his
           Correspondence
           at
           Roan
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           Foreign
           Minister
           of
           State
           about
           Hubert
           (
           legally
           Executed
           for
           Firing
           London
           in
           66
           )
           that
           he
           was
           
             not
             Guilty
          
           of
           that
           flagitious
           Crime
           ,
           for
           which
           he
           Suffered
           ,
           or
           was
           a
           Protestant
           ,
           or
           Distracted
           ,
           could
           not
           but
           as
           easily
           have
           found
           means
           to
           procure
           a
           Testimonial
           from
           Doctor
           Godden
           ,
           had
           he
           not
           despaired
           of
           any
           relief
           from
           that
           Learned
           Gentleman
           .
        
         
           Let
           me
           add
           to
           this
           ,
           That
           ,
           when
           after
           the
           Antependium
           had
           been
           a
           considerable
           time
           in
           the
           Chappel
           ,
           some
           of
           the
           Nuts
           were
           lost
           ;
           Her
           Majesties
           Servants
           have
           brought
           the
           Brass-Screws
           to
           me
           ,
           to
           make
           and
           fit
           new
           Nuts
           to
           them
           ,
           which
           I
           think
           demonstrates
           the
           Brass-ness
           of
           the
           Screws
           could
           be
           no
           such
           new
           thing
           ,
           as
           that
           Monsieur
           Coquus
           (
           the
           Man
           the
           Observator
           means
           )
           should
           with
           such
           surprize
           ,
           like
           a
           second
           Archimedes
           ,
           magnifie
           his
           Discovery
           ,
           and
           cry
           out
           —
           
             Here
             's
             a
             damnable
             Cheat
             ,
             Brass-Screws
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           As
           you
           will
           find
           Romanc'd
           ,
           Observator
           127.
           
        
         
           The
           Gentlemans
           talk
           about
           
             Sodering
             of
             Brass
          
           unto
           ,
           or
           upon
           Silver
           ,
           and
           noise
           of
           Felony
           ,
           or
           a
           Pillory
           ,
           is
           altogether
           Impertinent
           here
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           to
           incorporate
           Brass
           ,
           or
           any
           base
           Metal
           with
           Silver
           ,
           or
           to
           Soder
           it
           to
           Silver
           ,
           where
           't
           is
           not
           visible
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Handle
           of
           a
           Tankard
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           ,
           is
           justly
           Criminal
           ;
           but
           to
           adjoin
           or
           affix
           an
           Head
           of
           Silver
           open
           and
           visible
           on
           a
           Screw
           or
           Pin
           of
           Brass
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           ;
           as
           it
           carries
           nothing
           with
           it
           of
           a
           Cheat
           ,
           so
           neither
           is
           it
           in
           any
           way
           punishable
           ;
           but
           daily
           practis'd
           ,
           as
           in
           Looking-Glass-Frames
           ,
           the
           Hafts
           of
           Knives
           ,
           and
           a
           thousand
           other
           things
           ,
           —
           And
           so
           much
           for
           Brass-Screws
           .
        
         
           Another
           matter
           the
           Observator
           would
           seem
           willing
           to
           have
           believed
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           a
           Tankard
           which
           I
           lost
           out
           of
           my
           Shop
           ,
           being
           brought
           to
           me
           to
           have
           some
           Bruises
           beat
           out
           ,
           was
           ,
           after
           I
           had
           pretended
           the
           same
           was
           Stoln
           ,
           found
           in
           my
           Wives
           Trunk
           .
           This
           is
           likewise
           absolutely
           false
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           proof
           brought
           for
           it
           ,
           is
           ,
           The
           Observator
           ,
           Numb
           .
           120
           ,
           says
           A
           
             Person
             being
             questioned
             by
             me
             for
             this
             Scandal
             ,
             did
             upon
             his
             Oath
             declare
             ,
             my
             Servant
             said
             —
             I
             thank
             God
             ,
             the
             Tankard
             I
             was
             suspected
             for
             ,
             was
             found
             in
             my
             Mistresses
             Trunk
             ,
             amongst
             other
             Plate
             :
          
           Now
           what
           Evidence
           such
           an
           Hear-say
           from
           an
           idle
           Boy
           amounts
           to
           ,
           is
           left
           to
           Consideration
           .
        
         
         
           The
           very
           same
           Observator
           acknowledges
           ,
           that
           I
           did
           in
           the
           year
           1678
           ,
           give
           out
           Bills
           of
           Notice
           ,
           That
           this
           Tankard
           ,
           mark'd
           at
           bottom
           
             R.
             B.
          
           and
           of
           such
           value
           ,
           was
           taken
           out
           of
           my
           Shop
           ;
           with
           an
           offer
           of
           Reward
           to
           the
           Discoverer
           ,
           which
           is
           true
           ,
           and
           therein
           was
           also
           promised
           ,
           That
           if
           any
           had
           bought
           it
           ,
           I
           would
           reimburse
           the
           full
           value
           ;
           and
           in
           getting
           these
           Bills
           Printed
           and
           Publish'd
           ,
           and
           otherwise
           about
           it
           ,
           I
           was
           out
           of
           Pocket
           above
           20
           s.
           Now
           to
           what
           intent
           I
           should
           do
           this
           ,
           if
           indeed
           the
           Tankard
           were
           
             not
             Stoln
          
           ,
           is
           a
           Riddle
           :
           For
           the
           Tankard
           was
           brought
           to
           my
           Wife
           at
           my
           Shop
           ,
           by
           a
           Servant
           of
           the
           Horse-shoe
           Tavern
           in
           Drury
           Lane
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           delivery
           easie
           proveable
           ;
           consequently
           stoln
           or
           
             not
             stoln
          
           ,
           lost
           or
           only
           concealed
           ,
           I
           was
           compellable
           by
           Law
           to
           make
           Satisfaction
           for
           it
           ;
           therefore
           so
           to
           hide
           it
           up
           in
           a
           Trunk
           ,
           and
           yet
           to
           be
           at
           the
           Charge
           aforesaid
           in
           Bills
           ,
           must
           be
           Madness
           as
           well
           as
           Dishonesty
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           so
           far
           were
           both
           I
           and
           my
           Wife
           from
           any
           thoughts
           of
           defrauding
           the
           People
           of
           their
           Tankard
           ,
           that
           nothing
           was
           more
           upon
           her
           Mind
           and
           Endeavours
           in
           the
           highest
           Disorder
           of
           our
           Troubles
           ,
           than
           to
           make
           satisfaction
           ;
           for
           ,
           she
           ,
           having
           upon
           my
           Seisure
           ,
           removed
           to
           one
           Madam
           Lees
           in
           the
           Pall-Mall
           ,
           a
           Trunk
           wherein
           were
           Eleven
           Silver
           Tankards
           ,
           and
           amongst
           them
           ,
           Two
           bought
           of
           one
           Mr.
           Strickling
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           paid
           for
           ,
           and
           another
           second-hand
           one
           ,
           which
           I
           had
           bought
           of
           a
           Gentlewoman
           living
           at
           a
           Dancing
           Masters
           in
           Duke-street
           ,
           my
           Wife
           before
           Madam
           Lee
           took
           out
           the
           said
           second-hand
           Tankard
           ,
           and
           two
           Tankards
           unpaid
           for
           ,
           telling
           her
           ,
           that
           a
           Tankard
           belonging
           to
           the
           aforementioned
           Tavern
           ,
           was
           lately
           lost
           at
           our
           Shop
           ,
           and
           she
           would
           not
           for
           the
           World
           ,
           but
           it
           should
           be
           made
           good
           ,
           and
           therefore
           she
           would
           allow
           them
           this
           second-hand
           Tankard
           for
           it
           ,
           tho'
           it
           were
           
             of
             better
             value
          
           ,
           and
           return
           Mr.
           Strickling
           his
           two
           Tankards
           again
           .
           But
           it
           being
           
             very
             late
          
           ,
           Madam
           Lee
           perswaded
           her
           not
           to
           carry
           them
           
             that
             night
          
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           business
           rested
           till
           after
           I
           had
           my
           liberty
           ,
           and
           then
           I
           gave
           the
           Tavern
           
             another
             Tankard
          
           in
           lieu
           of
           theirs
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           so
           stollen
           ,
           and
           the
           beforementioned
           Tankard
           which
           had
           been
           in
           my
           Wifes
           Trunk
           ,
           (
           and
           which
           
             must
             be
          
           the
           Tankard
           intended
           by
           the
           Boy
           ,
           if
           he
           did
           ever
           talk
           at
           such
           a
           rate
           ,
           for
           all
           the
           rest
           were
           
             new
             ones
          
           )
           I
           sold
           to
           one
           Mr.
           where
           the
           Owners
           of
           the
           other
           may
           easily
           satisfie
           themselves
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Observator
           ,
           not
           content
           with
           buzzing
           this
           sensless
           Scandal
           ,
           would
           insinuate
           further
           ,
           as
           if
           I
           
             made
             away
          
           that
           Servant
           of
           mine
           ;
           for
           thus
           he
           puts
           the
           question
           —
           
             But
             what
             became
             of
             this
             Prentice
          
           ?
           And
           shapes
           an
           Answer
           thus
           —
           
             The
             report
             of
             the
             Neighbourhood
             is
             ,
             That
             (
             tho'
             he
             was
             not
             out
             of
             his
             Apprenticeship
             )
             they
             never
             heard
             of
             him
             since
             .
          
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           Observator
           126
           ,
           says
           ,
           
             this
             imports
             no
             more
             than
             that
             he
             had
             left
             the
             Neighbourhood
             ,
             and
             that
             by
             all
          
           the
           other
           Story
           ,
           
             I
             was
             not
             accused
             of
             saying
             a
             Tankard
             was
             stoln
             ,
             when
             it
             was
             not
          
           ;
           But
           then
           I
           pray
           ,
           to
           
             what
             purpose
          
           were
           these
           Stories
           told
           in
           Print
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           the
           usual
           Artifice
           of
           a
           Base
           and
           
             Cowardly
             Malice
          
           ,
           to
           cast
           Scandals
           and
           Calumnies
           on
           those
           they
           have
           a
           spight
           against
           ,
           by
           
             sly
             Hints
          
           and
           Insinuations
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           seeming
           praise
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           pretended
           
             good
             wishes
          
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           dark
           Items
           ,
           &c.
           
           All
           which
           wound
           as
           deep
           ,
           and
           both
           more
           certainly
           ,
           and
           irremediably
           ,
           than
           the
           most
           broad
           fac'd
           Aspersions
           :
           Thus
           the
           same
           
             Observator
             Numb
          
           127
           ,
           affirms
           ,
           
             he
             has
             not
             charg'd
             me
             with
             changing
             the
             Screws
             .
          
           Here
           I
           appeal
           to
           all
           serious
           Readers
           ,
           if
           this
           be
           not
           the
           
             grossest
             shuffling
          
           and
           prevarication
           ,
           for
           what
           then
           is
           it
           he
           
             would
             be
             at
          
           ?
           Or
           to
           what
           intent
           has
           he
           amused
           the
           World
           with
           all
           this
           Bustle
           and
           Clamour
           ?
           But
           I
           think
           Mr.
           L'Estranges
           Design
           herein
           is
           
             not
             unknown
          
           :
           And
           I
           am
           sure
           I
           have
           in
           my
           Trade
           deeply
           felt
           (
           tho'
           most
           causelesly
           and
           unjustly
           )
           the
           Effects
           on
           't
           .
           And
           I
           know
           no
           Man
           that
           can
           promise
           himself
           security
           from
           having
           his
           Reputation
           fly-blown
           with
           the
           most
           
             damnable
             Scandals
          
           ,
           if
           he
           happen
           to
           fall
           under
           the
           Observators
           displeasure
           ,
           and
           such
           lewd
           Practises
           be
           suffered
           to
           pass
           with
           impunity
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           to
           the
           
             Old
             Dog-Story
          
           ,
           which
           as
           the
           Observator
           tells
           it
           ,
           runs
           thus
           ,
           That
           I
           ,
           June
           16.
           1682
           ,
           sent
           to
           
           Sam
           's
           Coffe-house
           for
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           to
           that
           Tavern
           (
           which
           he
           will
           have
           to
           be
           with
           a
           design
           of
           some
           
             horrid
             Plot
          
           against
           him
           )
           and
           soon
           after
           ,
           he
           being
           a
           Man
           of
           foresight
           ,
           not
           thinking
           fit
           to
           come
           ,
           but
           sending
           some
           Friends
           ,
           I
           with
           most
           
             Wicked
             Oaths
             and
             Imprecations
             denyed
             that
             I
             sent
             for
             him
          
           —
           This
           he
           undertakes
           to
           prove
           by
           the
           Testimony
           of
           three
           Boys
           of
           the
           Wonder-Tavern
           ;
           how
           they
           were
           induced
           to
           give
           it
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           enquire
           at
           present
           ,
           but
           can
           prove
           some
           of
           them
           have
           since
           disowned
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           matter
           was
           thus
           ,
           I
           and
           one
           
             Thomas
             Jennings
          
           a
           Cloth-drawer
           ,
           a
           very
           Honest
           man
           ,
           and
           Ingenious
           above
           most
           of
           his
           Quality
           ,
           but
           frolicksome
           ,
           and
           apt
           to
           Droll
           ,
           went
           to
           the
           
             Old
             Dog
          
           Tavern
           ,
           and
           having
           seated
           our selves
           in
           the
           Kitchin
           ,
           
           (
           no
           very
           fit
           Room
           for
           carrying
           on
           an
           Intrigue
           )
           Jennings
           having
           an
           occasion
           to
           speak
           with
           one
           ,
           whom
           he
           thought
           might
           be
           at
           
             Sam
             's
             Coffee-house
          
           ,
           ordered
           one
           
             Thomas
             Harris
          
           a
           little
           Boy
           in
           the
           House
           ,
           (
           who
           has
           since
           own'd
           himself
           not
           to
           be
           above
           12
           years
           old
           ,
           tho'
           Thompson
           advanced
           him
           to
           20.
           )
           to
           go
           thither
           to
           
             Ask
             for
             him
          
           ,
           and
           knowing
           ,
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           frequented
           that
           Coffee-house
           ,
           and
           what
           a
           kindness
           he
           had
           for
           me
           ,
           merrily
           added
           —
           If
           he
           be
           not
           there
           ,
           
             Inquire
             for
          
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           and
           tell
           him
           here
           
             are
             one
             or
             two
             would
             speak
             with
             him
             .
          
           —
           And
           tho'
           he
           spoke
           it
           with
           such
           an
           
             Air
             of
             Droll
          
           ,
           that
           it
           might
           be
           easily
           known
           to
           be
           wholly
           Jest
           ,
           nor
           was
           it
           imaginable
           a
           person
           of
           Mr.
           L'Estranges
           figure
           would
           on
           such
           a
           slight
           Invitation
           ,
           without
           sending
           any
           Name
           ,
           regard
           it
           ,
           yet
           the
           Messenger
           being
           a
           
             raw
             Boy
          
           ,
           not
           finding
           the
           Person
           he
           first
           ask't
           for
           there
           ,
           very
           formally
           (
           it
           seems
           )
           dispatcht
           the
           latter
           part
           of
           his
           Message
           ,
           and
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           being
           in
           the
           Coffee-house
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           understanding
           from
           the
           Lad
           ,
           I
           was
           in
           the
           Company
           ,
           presently
           after
           ,
           several
           Persons
           came
           to
           us
           from
           
           Sam
           's
           ,
           and
           began
           to
           quarrel
           with
           me
           for
           
             sending
             for
          
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ;
           which
           I
           being
           wholly
           innocent
           of
           ,
           as
           earnestly
           ,
           as
           justly
           denyed
           ,
           I
           having
           never
           had
           the
           least
           thought
           of
           any
           such
           matter
           ;
           For
           as
           I
           had
           no
           Business
           with
           the
           Gentleman
           ,
           so
           I
           had
           little
           reason
           to
           
             desire
             his
             Company
          
           ;
           but
           that
           I
           used
           any
           such
           
             Oaths
             and
             Imprecations
          
           is
           false
           ;
           And
           tho'
           of
           all
           mankind
           the
           Observator
           may
           be
           the
           unfittest
           to
           upbraid
           any
           body
           with
           swearing
           ,
           I
           shall
           here
           subjoyn
           the
           Affidavit
           of
           the
           said
           Jennings
           ,
           who
           sat
           close
           by
           me
           during
           all
           this
           time
           .
        
         
           Thomas
           Jennings
           ,
           
             Citizen
             and
             Haberdasher
             of
          
           London
           ,
           
             maketh
             Oath
             ,
             that
             on
             Friday
             the
          
           16
           
             th
             .
             of
          
           June
           
             Last
             about
             ten
             of
             the
             Clock
             in
             the
             Evening
             ,
             this
             deponent
             went
             with
             Mr.
          
           Miles
           Prance
           
             to
             the
             Old-Dog
             Tavern
             within
          
           Ludgate
           ,
           
             and
             sate
             down
             in
             the
             Kitching
             ,
             with
             him
             ,
             and
             this
             deponent
             sent
             one
          
           Thomas
           Harris
           
             (
             Servant
             to
             Mr.
          
           Allen
           ,
           
             that
             keeps
             the
             said
             Tavern
             )
             to
          
           Sam
           's
           
             Coffee-house
             ,
             to
             enquire
             for
             a
             friend
             of
             this
             Deponent
             ,
             that
             he
             heard
             was
             there
             ,
             and
             if
             he
             was
             not
             there
             ,
             to
             enquire
             for
             one
             Mr.
          
           Roger
           L'Estrange
           ,
           
             to
             tell
             him
             ,
             there
             was
             one
             or
             two
             would
             speak
             with
             him
             ,
             and
             some
             time
             after
             there
             came
             three
             or
             four
             persons
             from
          
           Sam
           's
           
             Coffee-house
             ,
             into
             the
             aforesaid
             Kitching
             ,
             where
             Mr.
          
           Miles
           Prance
           
             and
             this
             Deponent
             were
             ,
             and
             began
             to
             quarrel
             with
             Mr.
          
           Prance
           ,
           
             and
             using
             provoking
             words
             to
             him
             ,
             to
             know
             his
             Reason
             ,
             why
             he
             sent
             for
          
           Roger
           L'Estrange
           ,
           
             which
             he
             denyed
             he
             did
             ,
             but
          
           not
           with
           such
           Imprecations
           ,
           as
           ,
           by
           God's
           wounds
           ,
           and
           by
           Gods
           Blood
           ,
           and
           God
           dam
           '
           me
           ,
           
             as
             this
             Deponent
             to
             the
             best
             of
             his
             knowledge
             heard
             ,
             who
             was
             in
             the
             same
             Kitching
             with
             Mr.
          
           Miles
           Prance
           
             all
             the
             time
             ;
             this
             deponent
             saith
             further
             ,
             that
             he
             Enquired
             twice
             of
             the
             aforesaid
          
           Thomas
           Harris
           
             (
             that
             he
             sent
             )
             whether
          
           he
           ever
           heard
           Mr.
           Miles
           Prance
           swear
           such
           Oaths
           ,
           
             who
             denied
             ,
             he
             ever
             did
             ,
             (
             as
             I
             ,
             this
             deponent
             can
             prove
             by
             witnesses
             .
             )
          
        
         
           
             Thomas
             Jennings
             .
          
           
             Jurat
             .
             
               8
               ,
               die
               Augusti
               .
               1682
            
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           Coram
           Job
           Charlton
           .
        
         
           For
           further
           Confirmation
           hereof
           ,
           if
           the
           Attestation
           of
           a
           dying
           man
           may
           add
           any
           weight
           ,
           this
           Mr.
           Jennings
           ,
           being
           since
           dead
           in
           May
           1683
           ,
           during
           his
           sickness
           ,
           he
           voluntarily
           Endors'd
           the
           aforesaid
           Affidavit
           with
           his
           own
           hand
           ,
           which
           is
           known
           to
           hundreds
           ,
           (
           for
           the
           man
           was
           acquainted
           with
           Persons
           of
           most
           Conditions
           ,
           in
           this
           City
           )
           and
           ready
           to
           be
           produced
           ,
           to
           any
           that
           desire
           it
           ,
           in
           these
           words
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 March
                 the
                 7
                 th
                 .
                 1682
                 /
                 3
              
            
             
               I
               Thomas
               Jennings
               
                 being
                 in
                 a
                 weakly
                 state
                 of
                 Body
                 ,
                 not
                 knowing
                 whether
                 I
                 shall
                 live
                 a
                 week
                 ,
                 do
                 Attest
                 ,
                 all
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 sworn
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 ,
                 before
                 Sir
              
               Job
               Charlton
               
                 is
                 truth
                 ,
                 witness
                 my
                 hand
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Thomas
                 Jennings
                 .
              
               
                 Written
                 in
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 John
                 Horton
                 .
                 Robert
                 Pimm
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
         
           And
           on
           this
           Issue
           ,
           I
           must
           leave
           this
           matter
           (
           there
           's
           no
           sence
           against
           a
           Flail
           )
           't
           is
           plain
           we
           were
           in
           a
           
             Tavern
             Kitching
          
           ,
           the
           Boys
           say
           ,
           I
           sent
           for
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           (
           the
           most
           improbable
           thing
           in
           Nature
           )
           and
           then
           
             deny'd
             it
             with
             Oaths
          
           .
           Mr.
           
             Jennings
             swears
          
           ,
           that
           he
           sent
           for
           him
           ,
           and
           not
           I
           ,
           and
           on
           his
           death-bed
           Confirms
           ,
           that
           he
           ,
           who
           sat
           next
           to
           me
           ,
           heard
           me
           not
           Use
           such
           
             Lew'd
             Oaths
          
           ,
           as
           they
           pretend
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           
             Chief
             witness
          
           disown'd
           it
           afterwards
           ,
           which
           is
           further
           probable
           ,
           in
           that
           none
           of
           the
           Persons
           sent
           by
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           and
           whom
           I
           discoursed
           ,
           who
           might
           sure
           have
           taken
           notice
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           2
           or
           3
           Ubiquitary
           Drawers
           ,
           have
           appeared
           to
           Attest
           it
           .
           —
           And
           this
           I
           think
           enough
           at
           present
           for
           that
           Business
           .
        
         
           Another
           thing
           that
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           often
           harps
           upon
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           I
           should
           Swear
           he
           was
           a
           Papist
           ,
           and
           this
           he
           makes
           to
           be
           the
           ground
           of
           his
           quarrel
           with
           me
           :
           Now
           ,
           if
           I
           never
           Swore
           ,
           nay
           ,
           never
           so
           much
           as
           Said
           any
           such
           thing
           ,
           't
           is
           then
           plain
           ,
           that
           either
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           has
           some
           other
           deeper
           and
           important
           design
           ,
           in
           his
           continual
           Out-cries
           ,
           and
           baiting
           me
           thus
           ,
           or
           else
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           troubled
           the
           World
           with
           so
           many
           sheets
           of
           Railing
           upon
           no
           Provocatiom
           ,
           and
           to
           as
           little
           purpose
           .
        
         
           The
           words
           of
           my
           Affidavit
           were
           as
           follow
           .
        
         
           
             
               Midd
               ss
               .
               
                 THe
                 Information
                 of
              
               Miles
               Prance
               ,
               
                 taken
                 upon
                 Oath
                 ,
                 the
              
               25
               
                 th
                 of
              
               October
               ,
               1680
               ,
               
                 before
                 the
                 Right
                 Honourable
                 the
                 Earl
                 of
              
               Clarendon
               ,
               
                 and
                 the
                 Earl
                 of
              
               Craven
               ,
               
                 two
                 of
                 His
                 Majesties
                 Justices
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 said
                 County
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 This
                 Deponent
                 saith
                 ,
                 That
                 about
                 three
                 years
                 since
                 ,
                 he
                 saw
              
               Mr.
               Roger
               L'Estrange
               
                 three
                 or
                 four
                 times
                 kneeling
                 at
                 Mass
                 in
                 the
                 Queens-Chappel
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Miles
                 Prance
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           Here
           's
           not
           one
           word
           of
           his
           being
           a
           Papist
           ,
           for
           he
           might
           have
           come
           out
           of
           Curiosity
           to
           observe
           whether
           the
           Ceremonies
           here
           ,
           were
           the
           same
           with
           those
           in
           other
           Mass-Houses
           beyond
           the
           Seas
           ,
           where
           he
           acknowledges
           he
           has
           been
           at
           that
           Idolatry
           forty
           times
           ,
           or
           ,
           it
           maybe
           ,
           being
           a
           Lover
           of
           Musick
           ,
           he
           came
           only
           to
           hear
           the
           delicacy
           of
           the
           Voices
           ;
           whatever
           brought
           him
           in
           thither
           ,
           there
           he
           was
           ,
           let
           him
           protest
           never
           so
           much
           ,
           and
           write
           a
           thousand
           Observators
           to
           the
           contrary
           :
           He
           says
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           I
           could
           not
           say
           ,
           I
           saw
           him
           receive
           ;
           't
           is
           very
           right
           ;
           and
           so
           I
           told
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           the
           Honourable
           Lords
           of
           the
           Council
           ;
           for
           I
           saw
           no
           such
           thing
           ,
           and
           therefore
           I
           Swore
           to
           no
           more
           than
           I
           saw
           ;
           't
           is
           the
           fairer
           Argument
           ,
           that
           what
           I
           Swore
           was
           Truth
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           I
           never
           Swore
           ,
           so
           neither
           did
           I
           ever
           Say
           ,
           he
           was
           ,
           or
           is
           a
           Papist
           ;
           for
           I
           must
           avow
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           know
           what
           Religion
           the
           Gentleman
           has
           been
           ,
           is
           ,
           or
           may
           be
           of
           ,
           nor
           whether
           he
           have
           any
           Religion
           at
           all
           .
           I
           Confess
           ,
           I
           have
           seen
           him
           sometime
           since
           he
           was
           questioned
           about
           being
           a
           Papist
           ,
           at
           his
           Parish-Church
           ,
           and
           once
           met
           him
           at
           the
           Blessed
           Sacrament
           ;
           (
           to
           which
           he
           came
           ,
           under
           such
           Circumstances
           as
           might
           justly
           make
           any
           sensible
           man
           tremble
           )
           but
           I
           have
           not
           met
           with
           any
           of
           the
           Parish
           that
           can
           say
           ,
           That
           they
           ever
           saw
           him
           at
           Sacrament
           ,
           or
           Church
           in
           times
           past
           ;
           though
           he
           had
           liv'd
           ,
           I
           believe
           ,
           a
           dozen
           years
           before
           the
           Discovery
           of
           the
           Popish
           Plot
           ,
           in
           that
           Parish
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           will
           be
           objected
           ,
           There
           is
           a
           Book
           with
           my
           Name
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           wherein
           this
           Affidavit
           of
           mine
           is
           recited
           ,
           and
           the
           Title
           ,
           
             L'Estrange
             a
             Papist
          
           ;
           The
           Matter
           of
           the
           Book
           I
           own
           ;
           but
           that
           Title
           was
           added
           by
           the
           Book-Seller
           ;
           for
           all
           the
           Title
           I
           intended
           was
           ,
           
             Depositions
             and
             Animadversions
             upon
             Roger
             L'Estrange
             ,
             Esq
          
           ;
           as
           evidently
           appears
           under
           my
           Hand
           ,
           on
           the
           left-Hand
           Page
           of
           the
           Title
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           first
           Page
           of
           the
           Book
           ,
           and
           in
           several
           places
           of
           the
           Animadversions
           ,
           and
           expresly
           ,
           fol.
           18.
           in
           these
           Words
           —
           
             Whether
             Mr.
          
           L'Estrange
           
             be
             a
             Papist
             or
             no
             ,
             I
             will
             not
             determine
             .
          
        
         
           The
           other
           Affidavits
           there
           mentioned
           ,
           are
           as
           follow
           .
        
         
           
             
               Midd.
               ss
               .
               
                 THE
                 Information
                 of
              
               Lawrence
               Mowbray
               ,
               
                 taken
                 upon
                 Oath
                 the
              
               25
               
                 th
                 of
              
               October
               ,
               1680
               ,
               
                 Before
                 the
                 Right
                 Honourable
                 the
                 Earl
                 of
              
               Clarendon
               ,
               
                 and
                 the
                 Earl
                 of
              
               Craven
               ,
               
                 two
                 of
                 His
                 Majesties
                 Justices
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 for
                 the
                 said
                 County
                 .
              
            
             
               This
               Deponent
               saith
               ,
               That
               about
               the
               first
               or
               second
               Sunday
               in
               June
               ,
               77.
               
               An
               Acquaintance
               of
               one
               Anderson
               (
               which
               Anderson
               was
               Servant
               to
               Mr.
               Allabon
               in
               Grays-Inn
               )
               being
               with
               him
               in
               the
               Queens-Chappel
               ,
               saluted
               ,
               immediately
               after
               Mass
               ,
               a
               Person
               ,
               whom
               he
               told
               this
               Deponent
               ,
               was
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               ,
               who
               Licensed
               Books
               .
               This
               Deponent
               saith
               ,
               
               that
               he
               hath
               once
               since
               seen
               the
               said
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               at
               Mass
               in
               the
               Queens-Chappel
               ,
               and
               saw
               him
               to
               be
               the
               same
               Man
               he
               formerly
               saw
               there
               .
            
             
               This
               Affidavit
               was
               voluntarily
               made
               by
               Mr.
               Mowbray
               ,
               and
               I
               knew
               nothing
               that
               be
               would
               or
               could
               swear
               it
               ,
               till
               he
               had
               done
               it
               .
            
             
               
                 The
                 Information
                 of
              
               Richard
               Fletcher
               
                 of
                 St.
              
               Vedast
               alias
               Foster
               ,
               London
               ,
               Physician
               .
            
             
               Who
               saith
               ,
               That
               about
               3
               years
               ago
               ,
               he
               met
               
                 Roger
                 L'Estrange
              
               ,
               
                 Esq
              
               at
               the
               Half-Moon
               Tavern
               in
               Cheap-side
               ,
               about
               Licensing
               a
               Book
               Intituled
               ,
               
                 The
                 Works
                 of
              
               Geber
               ,
               an
               Arabian
               
                 Prince
                 ,
                 and
                 Philosopher
              
               ,
               and
               gave
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               a
               Guiney
               for
               his
               License
               ;
               and
               a
               Discourse
               happening
               about
               Religion
               ;
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               asked
               ,
               of
               what
               Religion
               this
               Informant
               was
               ?
               Who
               answered
               ,
               
                 A
                 Catholick
                 L'Estrange
              
               Replyed
               ;
               
                 Are
                 you
                 a
                 Roman
                 Catholick
              
               ?
               This
               Informant
               answered
               ,
               
                 That
                 was
                 Nonsence
                 ;
                 Catholick
                 being
                 Vniversal
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 Circumscrib'd
                 .
              
               Then
               L'Estrange
               bid
               this
               Informant
               explain
               himself
               .
               I
               answered
               ,
               
                 That
                 Faith
                 ,
                 that
                 wrought
                 the
                 Fear
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 to
                 do
                 Righteously
                 ,
                 doth
                 declare
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 of
                 the
                 Catholick
                 Church
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 take
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 Church
                 of
              
               England
               .
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               then
               declared
               himself
               to
               be
               a
               Catholick
               of
               Rome
               ,
               and
               to
               believe
               the
               Faith
               of
               that
               Church
               ,
               and
               told
               this
               Informant
               ,
               that
               his
               Definition
               was
               too
               large
               .
               This
               Informant
               then
               asked
               the
               said
               
                 L'Estrange
                 ,
                 Whether
                 the
                 Pope
                 were
                 the
                 Head
                 of
                 that
                 Church
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 he
                 acknowledged
                 himself
                 a
                 Member
              
               ?
               Who
               answered
               ,
               
                 He
                 was
                 ,
                 and
                 hoped
                 e're
                 long
                 ,
                 many
                 others
                 would
                 return
                 to
                 that
                 Church
                 ,
              
               or
               to
               that
               effect
               ,
               and
               further
               saith
               not
               .
            
             
               This
               Mr.
               Fletcher
               was
               to
               me
               altogether
               a
               Stranger
               ,
               nor
               can
               I
               imagine
               ,
               why
               he
               should
               come
               in
               to
               Testifie
               such
               a
               thing
               ,
               if
               it
               were
               not
               true
               ;
               but
               for
               my
               own
               part
               't
               is
               plain
               ,
               I
               swore
               no
               such
               matter
               ,
               as
               that
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               was
               a
               Papist
               ,
               nor
               will
               I
               trouble
               my self
               about
               it
               ;
               at
               his
               own
               everlasting
               Peril
               be
               it
               .
            
             
               There
               is
               yet
               another
               Scandal
               brought
               ,
               
                 Observator
                 ,
                 Numb
              
               .
               226
               ,
               with
               this
               Title
               —
               
                 Prance
                 Cures
                 the
                 Kings-Evil
              
               ;
               where
               he
               tells
               a
               Story
               ,
               That
               I
               ,
               offering
               a
               Woman
               a
               Pint
               of
               Wine
               ,
               should
               tell
               her
               ,
               she
               had
               
                 the
                 Evil
                 ,
                 and
                 Sware
                 by
                 G
                 —
                 I
                 had
                 Cured
                 several
                 Families
                 my self
                 of
                 that
                 said
                 Evil
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 great
                 Faith
                 I
                 have
                 in
                 the
                 King
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 could
                 do
                 any
                 thing
                 at
                 Court
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 if
                 she
                 had
                 ever
                 a
                 Neighbour
                 she
                 would
                 oblige
                 ,
                 I
                 would
                 see
                 it
                 done
                 .
              
               And
               then
               should
               say
               to
               her
               ,
               
                 Come
                 ,
                 prithee
                 let
                 me
                 stroke
                 thee
                 a
                 little
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               Now
               suppose
               it
               had
               been
               true
               ,
               that
               I
               had
               play'd
               the
               Fool
               to
               talk
               at
               this
               rate
               ,
               yet
               I
               conceive
               ,
               it
               would
               not
               have
               been
               absolutely
               necessary
               to
               the
               preservation
               either
               of
               Church
               or
               State
               ,
               that
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               should
               take
               the
               pains
               to
               Print
               it
               .
               But
               the
               whole
               Truth
               was
               thus
               ,
               I
               and
               my
               Wife
               and
               some
               Neighbours
               being
               at
               the
               Horse-shoe
               ,
               a
               Woman
               that
               was
               also
               a
               near
               Neighbour
               ,
               happening
               to
               come
               in
               ,
               I
               askt
               her
               to
               drink
               ,
               she
               began
               to
               complain
               to
               my
               Wife
               ,
               how
               she
               was
               troubled
               with
               the
               Evil
               ;
               I
               advised
               her
               to
               be
               touched
               by
               his
               sacred
               Majesty
               ,
               which
               she
               said
               had
               been
               done
               ,
               I
               replyed
               ,
               then
               I
               doubted
               you
               have
               not
               Faith
               ,
               but
               for
               my
               own
               part
               ,
               I
               verily
               believe
               ,
               that
               thousands
               by
               that
               means
               have
               received
               Cure
               ,
               and
               thereupon
               told
               her
               ,
               how
               once
               an
               acquaintance
               of
               mine
               ,
               that
               was
               of
               a
               contrary
               Opinion
               ,
               and
               had
               argued
               against
               me
               ,
               as
               if
               there
               were
               nothing
               in
               it
               ,
               but
               conceit
               ;
               it
               pleased
               God
               soon
               after
               to
               visit
               Him
               ,
               his
               Wife
               ,
               and
               Child
               ,
               all
               with
               the
               same
               Disease
               ;
               then
               he
               was
               willing
               to
               apply
               himself
               to
               His
               Majesties
               healing
               Hands
               ,
               and
               I
               was
               an
               instrument
               to
               facilitate
               their
               access
               ,
               and
               they
               were
               all
               three
               in
               a
               very
               short
               time
               after
               Cured
               ,
               which
               Relation
               is
               a
               known
               Truth
               ,
               and
               the
               Parties
               still
               living
               to
               justifie
               it
               .
               Therefore
               I
               told
               the
               Woman
               she
               should
               have
               Faith
               ;
               this
               was
               all
               that
               pass'd
               (
               my
               Wife
               and
               several
               others
               being
               all
               the
               while
               there
               .
               )
               There
               was
               no
               swearing
               ,
               no
               boasting
               ,
               that
               I
               had
               Cured
               several
               Families
               my self
               ,
               or
               that
               I
               would
               do
               any
               thing
               at
               Court
               ,
               nay
               ,
               nor
               no
               Kissing
               ,
               nor
               no
               stroking
               in
               the
               case
               ;
               so
               that
               here
               are
               at
               least
               five
               notorious
               Lies
               all
               on
               a
               heap
               in
               one
               Column
               ,
               and
               yet
               the
               Challenges
               the
               World
               to
               instance
               his
               mistakes
               in
               470
               Papers
               .
               But
               it
               may
               be
               ,
               the
               Informer
               was
               to
               blame
               ;
               for
               a
               dull
               Tool
               of
               a
               Razor-maker
               happening
               to
               be
               in
               Company
               ,
               tho'
               he
               drank
               most
               of
               the
               White
               Wine
               call'd
               for
               by
               the
               Woman
               ,
               yet
               refusing
               to
               pay
               his
               Club
               ,
               was
               taxt
               for
               spunging
               ,
               who
               ,
               in
               revenge
               ,
               't
               is
               like
               ,
               ran
               to
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               with
               a
               Tale
               ,
               and
               added
               as
               much
               as
               his
               sorry
               invention
               could
               furnish
               ,
               and
               the
               Man
               of
               Observations
               the
               rest
               .
            
             
               Now
               ,
               who
               can
               but
               blush
               ,
               to
               see
               a
               Gentleman
               of
               his
               Parts
               and
               Figure
               ,
               a
               man
               of
               the
               Age
               of
               threescore
               and
               ten
               or
               thereabouts
               ,
               if
               not
               upward
               ,
               a
               Person
               that
               besides
               Quevedo
               and
               Politicks
               ,
               has
               read
               
               Seneca's
               Morals
               and
               Cardinal
               Bona
               ,
               to
               see
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               such
               an
               one
               spending
               the
               last
               minutes
               of
               his
               Life
               in
               blowing
               of
               Sope
               bubbles
               ,
               in
               exercises
               more
               Childish
               ,
               but
               only
               somewhat
               more
               mischievous
               than
               Taw
               and
               Span-farthing
               ;
               and
               in
               making
               himself
               
               a
               Common
               Pack-Horse
               to
               bring
               to
               Town
               two
               or
               three
               times
               a
               Week
               in
               Form
               and
               Method
               the
               idle
               Tales
               of
               every
               malicious
               Cockscomb
               ,
               and
               in
               Printing
               Stories
               that
               carry
               neither
               Truth
               nor
               Salt
               with
               them
               ,
               but
               would
               be
               a
               Disgrace
               to
               the
               very
               Conversation
               of
               a
               Gossiping
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               ,
               I
               thought
               ,
               as
               in
               pag.
               35.
               
               I
               had
               done
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               Screws
               ,
               the
               Tankard
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Old
                 Dog-Story
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               had
               been
               competently
               accounted
               for
               ,
               and
               the
               first
               
                 Volume
                 of
                 the
              
               Observators
               enough
               explained
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               I
               am
               materially
               concern'd
               ;
               for
               ,
               as
               my
               protestation
               was
               before
               receiving
               of
               the
               Holy
               and
               Blessed
               Sacrament
               ,
               (
               which
               I
               here
               again
               most
               solemnly
               avow
               to
               be
               in
               all
               points
               true
               )
               I
               think
               it
               not
               necessary
               to
               repeat
               any
               thing
               further
               ,
               since
               all
               that
               the
               Observator
               has
               replyed
               thereunto
               ,
               will
               appear
               to
               every
               considerate
               Reader
               ,
               altogether
               sham
               and
               prevarication
               .
               And
               as
               I
               am
               not
               
                 at
                 leisure
              
               to
               play
               the
               fool
               with
               the
               Observator
               ,
               meerly
               
                 for
                 Company
              
               ,
               so
               I
               should
               lose
               by
               the
               Game
               ,
               he
               getting
               Money
               (
               and
               perhaps
               Love
               and
               Credit
               with
               some
               people
               )
               for
               abusing
               of
               me
               ;
               whereas
               I
               must
               defend
               my self
               wholly
               at
               my
               own
               Charge
               ,
               and
               have
               no
               small
               difficulty
               to
               get
               a
               few
               
                 Innocent
                 Sheets
              
               printed
               ,
               such
               is
               the
               dread
               of
               his
               Name
               ,
               whilst
               he
               ,
               besides
               the
               Elemosynary
               Guinyes
               in
               abundance
               ,
               makes
               a
               Revenue
               weekly
               ,
               by
               flurting
               out
               Papers
               fill'd
               (
               amongst
               other
               things
               ,
               with
               which
               I
               meddle
               not
               )
               which
               most
               egregious
               Scandals
               upon
               me
               ,
               designed
               for
               the
               Ruine
               of
               my self
               and
               my
               Family
               .
            
             
               But
               still
               here
               's
               new
               Matter
               ,
               an
               Observator
               of
               the
               Second
               Volume
               attacques
               me
               —
               I
               find
               I
               am
               to
               be
               made
               a
               continual
               Subject
               of
               Mr.
               
               L'Estrange's
               Wit
               and
               Malice
               ,
               
                 an
                 everlasting
                 Incom
              
               to
               Madam
               Broom
               and
               her
               Author
               ;
               And
               as
               a
               pleasant
               Lady
               defied
               her
               Gallant
               to
               frame
               a
               Letter
               ;
               barring
               him
               only
               the
               use
               of
               half
               a
               score
               Modish-Words
               [
               As
               Flames
               ,
               Divinity
               ,
               Passion
               ,
               Stars
               ,
               Darts
               ,
               &c.
               ]
               so
               I
               scarce
               know
               ,
               whether
               it
               be
               possible
               for
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               in
               his
               present
               mood
               ,
               to
               Compose
               an
               Observator
               without
               mention
               of
               ,
               or
               some
               squint-Reflection
               upon
               Oats
               or
               Prance
               .
            
             
               But
               let
               us
               review
               the
               Paper
               ,
               and
               I
               think
               the
               fairest
               way
               will
               be
               ,
               to
               Transcribe
               it
               ,
               and
               only
               add
               a
               few
               Notes
               .
               —
               .
            
             
               Vol.
               2.
               
               
                 The
                 Observator
                 .
                 Numb
              
               .
               8.
               
            
             
               
                 With
                 the
                 leave
                 of
                 Mr.
              
               Claxton
               
                 the
                 Phanatical
                 Tayler
                 in
              
               Exeter
               Court.
               
                 This
                 is
              
               Miles
               Prance's
               Observator
               ?
            
             
               This
               is
               the
               Contents
               of
               the
               Chapter
               ,
               after
               a
               new
               Fashion
               ;
               the
               Parade
               to
               the
               Prize
               .
               The
               dreadful
               hundred-handed
               Gyant
               of
               High-Holbourn
               ,
               arm'd
               with
               
                 more
                 Quills
              
               than
               a
               Porcupine
               ,
               is
               setting
               himself
               in
               Battel
               Array
               against
               the
               Taylor
               of
               
                 Exeter
                 Court
              
               ,
               and
               resolv'd
               to
               confound
               
                 a
                 man
                 of
                 Fashion
              
               .
               Behold
               how
               Indignation
               sparkles
               at
               his
               Eyes
               ,
               like
               a
               Turky-Cocks
               at
               the
               sight
               of
               a
               
                 Red
                 Herring
              
               ,
               How
               
                 Grim
                 Wrath
              
               ,
               more
               fierce
               than
               a
               School-Master's
               ,
               sits
               upon
               his
               storming
               Brow
               ,
               and
               he
               breaths
               nothing
               but
               Fire
               and
               Tow
               ,
               Then
               ,
               wo
               to
               the
               Knight
               of
               the
               Thimble
               and
               all
               his
               Host
               ?
            
             
               
                 Fly
                 Claxton
                 !
                 
                   Fly
                   ,
                   the
                
                 Observator
                 comes
                 ,
              
               
                 
                   Beating
                   his
                
                 Printers
                 Balls
                 for
                 Kettle-Drums
                 ,
              
               
                 
                   And
                   mounts
                   at
                   thee
                   the
                
                 Dead-doing
                 Gun
                 from
                 Bromes
                 .
              
            
             
               Why
               ,
               
                 Phanatical
                 Taylor
              
               ?
               The
               man
               I
               believe
               will
               be
               found
               as
               much
               a
               Church-man
               as
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               —
               But
               he
               must
               and
               shall
               be
               a
               Phanatick
               ,
               for
               as
               you
               'l
               hear
               presently
               ,
               he
               was
               such
               an
               impudent
               Heretick
               ,
               as
               to
               talk
               against
               Transubstantiation
               ,
               even
               over
               against
               Sommerset-House-stairs
               .
            
             
               
                 Trim.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Don't
                   you
                   know
                   one
                   Mr.
                
                 Claxton
                 ,
                 
                   a
                   Taylor
                   in
                
                 Exeter
                 Court
                 
                   yonder
                   by
                
                 Exeter
                 Exchange
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Observ.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Yes
                   ,
                   yes
                
                 .
                 —
              
               
                 [
                 Hold
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 afraid
                 this
                 is
                 a
                 Whisker
                 ,
                 for
                 I
                 believe
                 ,
                 the
                 Observator
                 knows
                 Claxton
                 no
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 Pope
                 of
                 Rome
                 —
                 but
                 let
                 's
                 go
                 on
                 ]
                 —
                 
                   A
                   great
                   Crony
                   of
                
                 Miles
                 Prance
                 [
                 no
                 more
                 his
                 Crony
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 little
                 Bodies-Maker
                 ,
                 that
                 carried
                 this
                 idle
                 Tale
                 ,
                 is
                 to
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 ,
                 whom
                 he
                 then
                 affirmed
                 to
                 have
                 seen
                 but
                 the
                 day
                 before
                 ]
                 
                   They
                   were
                   at
                   the
                
                 Grecian
                 
                   Coffee-house
                   together
                   ,
                   upon
                
                 Saturday
                 
                   last
                   ,
                   in
                
                 Catherine-street
                 against
                 Sommerset-House-stairs
                 ,
                 [
                 very
                 true
                 ]
                 
                   and
                   they
                   went
                   afterwards
                   to
                
                 Hudsons
                 
                   Coffee-house
                   in
                
                 Drury
                 Lane
                 [
                 right
                 again
                 ;
                 for
                 I
                 love
                 to
                 acknowledge
                 all
                 the
                 Truths
                 I
                 find
                 in
                 an
                 Observator
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 so
                 Rare
                 .
                 ]
              
            
             
               
                 Trim.
                 
              
               
                 
                   I
                   heard
                   'em
                   upon
                   a
                   discourse
                   of
                   Transubstantiation
                   ,
                
                 [
                 I
                 told
                 you
                 why
                 he
                 branded
                 the
                 Honest
                 Man
                 for
                 
                   a
                   Phanatick
                
                 ]
                 
                   one
                   would
                   not
                   think
                   ,
                   that
                   Two
                   plain
                   Fellowes
                   should
                   
                   talk
                   so
                   shrewdly
                   about
                   Religion
                   .
                
                 [
                 Your
                 Worship
                 must
                 excuse
                 me
                 ;
                 for
                 since
                 I
                 left
                 the
                 Roman
                 Church
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 read
                 the
                 Bible
                 ,
                 whereby
                 I
                 find
                 not
                 only
                 Transubstantiation
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 meer
                 Fiction
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 that
                 
                   back-biting
                   and
                   slandering
                
                 are
                 very
                 grievous
                 sins
                 ,
                 and
                 without
                 Repentance
                 damnable
                 .
                 Let
                 me
                 beg
                 of
                 you
                 to
                 read
                 that
                 Good
                 Book
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 if
                 well
                 heeded
                 ,
                 will
                 profit
                 you
                 more
                 than
                 all
                 your
                 Collected
                 Guinneys
                 .
                 ]
              
            
             
               
                 Observ.
                 
              
               
                 Oh!
                 
                   There
                   's
                   no
                   body
                   understands
                   the
                   Transubstantiating
                   (
                   as
                   a
                   body
                   may
                   say
                   )
                
                 [
                 pray
                 observe
                 by
                 this
                 Parentheses
                 ,
                 how
                 tender
                 the
                 Gentleman
                 is
                 ,
                 lest
                 he
                 should
                 profane
                 that
                 
                   accursed
                   word
                
                 ,
                 which
                 has
                 been
                 the
                 occasion
                 of
                 destroying
                 above
                 a
                 
                   Million
                   of
                   Bodies
                
                 ,
                 and
                 God
                 knowes
                 how
                 many
                 Millions
                 of
                 Souls
                 ]
                 
                   of
                   Silver
                   into
                   Brass
                   ,
                   better
                   than
                
                 Prance
                 .
                 [
                 This
                 Scandal
                 is
                 already
                 Answered
                 ]
                 
                   And
                   then
                
                 Claxton's
                 
                   Old
                   Dog
                   at
                   the
                   light
                   within
                   .
                   But
                   I
                   'me
                   afraid
                
                 Prance's
                 
                   Religion
                   will
                   never
                   carry
                   him
                   to
                   Heaven
                   ;
                   for
                   he
                   's
                   almost
                   always
                   so
                   damnable
                   Drunk
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   narrow
                   way
                   will
                   hardly
                   hold
                   him
                   .
                
                 [
                 As
                 to
                 my
                 being
                 almost
                 always
                 Drunk
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 only
                 an
                 Observatorism●
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 a
                 Scandal
                 without
                 proof
                 or
                 pretence
                 ;
                 not
                 that
                 I
                 will
                 Phar●saically
                 excuse
                 my self
                 from
                 a
                 Vice
                 which
                 in
                 this
                 Age
                 is
                 grown
                 almost
                 Epidemical
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 to
                 take
                 up
                 one's
                 Cups
                 freely
                 ,
                 is
                 enough
                 to
                 brand
                 one
                 with
                 the
                 Title
                 of
                 a
                 Phanatick
                 .
                 And
                 those
                 that
                 shall
                 peruse
                 the
                 Observators
                 Writings
                 ,
                 shall
                 find
                 him
                 elsewhere
                 Apologizing
                 for
                 such
                 Debauchees
                 ;
                 but
                 as
                 to
                 my
                 own
                 Guilt
                 or
                 Innocence
                 this
                 way
                 ,
                 I
                 appeal
                 to
                 my
                 Neighbours
                 and
                 those
                 I
                 convers'd
                 with
                 for
                 five
                 years
                 past
                 ;
                 in
                 the
                 mean
                 time
                 I
                 doubt
                 not
                 but
                 the
                 Christian
                 Reader
                 will
                 be
                 astonisht
                 to
                 find
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 whilst
                 he
                 's
                 charging
                 me
                 with
                 Drunkenness
                 ,
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 wallowing
                 himself
                 
                   in
                   Profaneness
                
                 ,
                 by
                 such
                 an
                 unseemly
                 and
                 irreverent
                 abuse
                 in
                 scurrilous
                 Drollery
                 of
                 the
                 words
                 of
                 our
                 blessed
                 Saviour
                 —
                 
                   straight
                   is
                   the
                   Gate
                   ,
                   and
                   narrow
                   is
                   the
                   Way
                   ,
                
                 &c.
                 ]
              
            
             
               
                 Trim.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Come
                   ,
                   come
                   ,
                   keep
                   a
                   good
                   Tongue
                   in
                   your
                   Head
                   ,
                
                 [
                 good
                 advice
                 ,
                 but
                 I
                 am
                 affraid
                 the
                 Observator
                 will
                 never
                 observe
                 it
                 ]
                 
                   For
                   Mr.
                
                 Claxton
                 
                   I
                   can
                   tell
                   ye
                   is
                   a
                   rising
                   man
                   ,
                   Come
                   to
                   me
                   at
                
                 8
                 
                   a
                   Clock
                   to
                   morrow
                   morning
                
                 ,
                 says
                 Mr.
                 
                   Prance
                   ,
                   (
                   on
                   Sunday
                   that
                   is
                   )
                   and
                   thou
                   shalt
                   take
                   measure
                   of
                   my
                   Wife
                   ,
                   my
                   Daughter
                   ,
                   and
                   my
                   Cozen
                
                 ;
                 Miles
                 Prance
                 
                   says
                   it
                   ,
                   and
                   thou
                   shalt
                   have
                   my
                   Custom
                   ,
                
                 Claxton
                 ,
                 [
                 this
                 is
                 Mr.
                 Observators
                 Dream
                 ,
                 I
                 never
                 talkt
                 of
                 Wife
                 ,
                 or
                 Cozen
                 ,
                 or
                 
                   my
                   Custom
                
                 ,
                 only
                 I
                 might
                 perhaps
                 bid
                 the
                 man
                 come
                 
                   one
                   Morning
                
                 ,
                 and
                 take
                 measure
                 of
                 my
                 Daughter
                 ,
                 that
                 being
                 the
                 only
                 business
                 I
                 had
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 but
                 since
                 the
                 Observator
                 is
                 become
                 so
                 great
                 a
                 Zealot
                 for
                 the
                 strict
                 observation
                 of
                 the
                 Sabbath
                 ,
                 I
                 being
                 a
                 plain
                 Fellow
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 so
                 great
                 a
                 Casuist
                 ,
                 would
                 gladly
                 be
                 resolv'd
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 the
                 greatest
                 Sin
                 —
                 Suffering
                 a
                 Taylor
                 to
                 take
                 Measure
                 at
                 8
                 a
                 Clock
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 so
                 before
                 Divine
                 Service
                 )
                 on
                 a
                 Sunday
                 ,
                 or
                 imploying
                 (
                 and
                 upon
                 the
                 matter
                 inforcing
                 )
                 a
                 Printer
                 to
                 work
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 of
                 that
                 Sacred
                 Day
                 ?
                 And
                 as
                 to
                 my
                 own
                 keeping
                 thereof
                 ,
                 I
                 dare
                 appeal
                 to
                 the
                 Reverend
                 
                   Doctor
                   Sharp
                
                 (
                 in
                 whose
                 Parish
                 both
                 I
                 and
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 dwell
                 ,
                 and
                 whose
                 worthy
                 pains
                 in
                 the
                 Ministry
                 ,
                 I
                 can
                 never
                 enough
                 acknowledge
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 that
                 Parish
                 ,
                 which
                 of
                 the
                 two
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 or
                 I
                 have
                 most
                 constantly
                 frequented
                 
                   Divine
                   Service
                
                 ,
                 or
                 been
                 oftnest
                 at
                 receiving
                 the
                 Holy
                 Communion
                 there
                 ?
                 —
                 But
                 let
                 us
                 go
                 on
                 with
                 the
                 Observator
                 .
                 ]
                 —
                 
                   This
                   was
                   mighty
                   kindly
                   taken
                   ,
                   let
                   me
                   tell
                   ye
                   ,
                   and
                   if
                   Mr.
                
                 Prance
                 
                   goes
                   on
                   with
                   a
                   certain
                   business
                   this
                   Term
                   ;
                   Mr.
                
                 Claxton
                 
                   will
                   stand
                   by
                   him
                   as
                   far
                   as
                
                 100
                 l.
                 
                   goes
                   ,
                   for
                   his
                   Civility
                
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Observ.
                 
              
               
                 
                   And
                   what
                   may
                   that
                   Business
                   be
                   ?
                
              
            
             
               
                 Trim.
                 
              
               
                 
                   He
                   's
                   resolv'd
                   to
                   try
                   a
                   touch
                   with
                   you
                   about
                   the
                   Scandal
                   of
                   the
                   Screws
                   ,
                   you
                   'd
                   give
                   an
                   Hundred
                   Guinneys
                   Composition
                   for
                   it
                   ,
                   with
                   all
                   your
                   heart
                   ,
                   he
                   says
                   ,
                
                 [
                 This
                 is
                 still
                 the
                 dreams
                 of
                 the
                 Observator
                 ,
                 he
                 first
                 Charges
                 Claxton
                 with
                 Champerty
                 and
                 Maintenaire
                 ,
                 Crimes
                 highly
                 punishable
                 by
                 our
                 Laws
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 Avers
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 should
                 say
                 ,
                 He
                 (
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 the
                 Observator
                 )
                 would
                 give
                 mea
                 100
                 Guinneys
                 Composition
                 .
                 'T
                 is
                 most
                 true
                 ,
                 I
                 believe
                 that
                 his
                 Papers
                 (
                 I
                 mean
                 wherein
                 I
                 am
                 Concern'd
                 )
                 are
                 most
                 justly
                 Indictable
                 for
                 Libels
                 ,
                 and
                 besides
                 the
                 Author
                 answerable
                 on
                 an
                 
                   Action
                   of
                   Scandal
                
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 I
                 then
                 threatned
                 it
                 ,
                 or
                 had
                 any
                 discourse
                 tending
                 that
                 way
                 ,
                 is
                 false
                 ;
                 what
                 if
                 formerly
                 ,
                 I
                 declin'd
                 suing
                 him
                 on
                 Advice
                 ,
                 of
                 a
                 good
                 
                   old
                   Proverb
                
                 ,
                 or
                 what
                 if
                 I
                 still
                 have
                 a
                 mind
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 reveng'd
                 on
                 him
                 by
                 forgiving
                 him
                 ,
                 the
                 Gentleman
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 prescribe
                 to
                 me
                 ,
                 either
                 the
                 time
                 or
                 measures
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 take
                 for
                 Righting
                 my self
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Observ.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Yes
                   ,
                   yes
                   ,
                   I
                   heard
                   as
                   much
                   ,
                
                 [
                 from
                 whom
                 I
                 beseech
                 you
                 ?
                 ]
                 and
                 
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   a
                   Guinney
                   for
                   an
                   Halter
                   for
                   me
                   ,
                
                 [
                 't
                 was
                 ill
                 husbandry
                 ,
                 a
                 Two-penny
                 one
                 ,
                 would
                 serve
                 as
                 well
                 ]
                 
                   And
                   so
                   Prance
                   and
                   Claxton
                   took
                   their
                   Turns
                   at
                   the
                   Ribaldry
                   ,
                
                 [
                 and
                 you
                 and
                 your
                 Spies
                 were
                 nobly
                 imploy'd
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 
                   Observators
                   on
                   't
                   ,
                   ]
                   while
                   a
                   splay-fac'd
                   Animal
                   that
                   was
                   there
                   ,
                   made
                   at
                   third
                   man
                   ,
                   and
                   gave
                   a
                   wry-mouth
                   ,
                
                 -
                 Amen
                 to
                 't
                 :
                 (
                 This
                 latter
                 Clause
                 may
                 serve
                 as
                 
                   an
                   Index
                
                 of
                 Mr.
                 L'Estranges
                 Conscience
                 ,
                 Respect
                 to
                 Truth
                 ,
                 Honesty
                 ,
                 and
                 Common
                 Civility
                 ,
                 since
                 
                 therein
                 with
                 an
                 
                   Vnmannerly
                   Bussconry
                
                 ,
                 bestows
                 the
                 Language
                 of
                 his
                 oft
                 Cited
                 Authors
                 ;
                 Western
                 Barg-men
                 ,
                 upon
                 
                   a
                   Gentleman
                
                 of
                 as
                 comely
                 a
                 Person
                 ,
                 as
                 good
                 Quality
                 (
                 setting
                 Commission
                 aside
                 )
                 and
                 I
                 believe
                 ,
                 I
                 may
                 say
                 ,
                 as
                 
                   fair
                   an
                   Estate
                
                 as
                 himself
                 ,
                 so
                 over
                 credulous
                 he
                 is
                 to
                 Reports
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 rash
                 ,
                 in
                 stinging
                 abroad
                 his
                 Squibbs
                 and
                 Scandals
                 in
                 Print
                 ,
                 without
                 the
                 least
                 Colour
                 of
                 Truth
                 ,
                 any
                 appearance
                 of
                 Reason
                 ,
                 or
                 pretence
                 of
                 Provocation
                 :
                 For
                 the
                 truth
                 of
                 this
                 matter
                 was
                 thus
                 ,
                 Claxton
                 and
                 I
                 did
                 go
                 into
                 the
                 Grecian
                 Coffee-House
                 ,
                 and
                 sat
                 Chatting
                 there
                 for
                 some
                 time
                 ,
                 two
                 strange
                 Gentlemen
                 in
                 the
                 Room
                 ,
                 being
                 officiously
                 informed
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 understand
                 )
                 of
                 my
                 Name
                 ,
                 did
                 ,
                 it
                 seems
                 ,
                 Eves-drop
                 our
                 talk
                 ,
                 and
                 at
                 last
                 Removed
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 began
                 to
                 quarrel
                 with
                 me
                 ,
                 about
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 ,
                 alledging
                 that
                 I
                 should
                 say
                 ,
                 I
                 would
                 
                   give
                   a
                   Guinney
                   for
                   an
                   Halter
                   for
                   him
                
                 :
                 Tho'l
                 do
                 not
                 know
                 ,
                 nor
                 to
                 the
                 best
                 of
                 my
                 Remembrance
                 ,
                 believe
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 said
                 any
                 such
                 thing
                 ;
                 hereupon
                 words
                 being
                 mutually
                 Bandied
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   another
                   matter
                
                 (
                 of
                 which
                 by
                 and
                 by
                 )
                 falling
                 into
                 debate
                 ,
                 the
                 Gentlemen
                 grew
                 so
                 furious
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 threatned
                 to
                 
                   Cane
                   me
                
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 observing
                 ,
                 he
                 had
                 never
                 a
                 Cane
                 ,
                 and
                 unwilling
                 a
                 Gentleman
                 should
                 lose
                 his
                 Humour
                 ,
                 Civilly
                 profer'd
                 him
                 mine
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 was
                 not
                 pleas'd
                 to
                 make
                 use
                 on
                 't
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 Claxton
                 and
                 I
                 went
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 House
                 ,
                 as
                 soon
                 after
                 the
                 said
                 two
                 persons
                 also
                 did
                 .
                 And
                 tho'
                 they
                 were
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 altogether
                 Strangers
                 ,
                 to
                 both
                 of
                 us
                 ,
                 yet
                 by
                 their
                 Garb
                 and
                 Meen
                 ,
                 I
                 take
                 them
                 still
                 to
                 be
                 Gentlemen
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 ,
                 do
                 not
                 believe
                 ,
                 they
                 were
                 the
                 
                   Observators
                   Mercuries
                
                 ,
                 but
                 rather
                 think
                 that
                 the
                 little
                 dapper
                 Boddice-maker
                 ,
                 (
                 who
                 possibly
                 had
                 no
                 better
                 Imployment
                 ,
                 )
                 might
                 be
                 the
                 Observators
                 Intelligencer
                 ,
                 only
                 this
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 Noted
                 ,
                 that
                 whilst
                 the
                 
                   two
                   unknown
                
                 ,
                 were
                 Railing
                 and
                 Upbraiding
                 me
                 ,
                 with
                 several
                 stories
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 suppose
                 ,
                 they
                 had
                 taken
                 up
                 ,
                 meerly
                 on
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 an
                 Observator
                 ,
                 there
                 happening
                 to
                 be
                 in
                 the
                 Room
                 ,
                 by
                 Chance
                 ,
                 one
                 
                   Squire
                   Penny
                
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 who
                 was
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 still
                 be
                 not
                 
                   a
                   Roman
                   Catholick
                
                 )
                 he
                 was
                 Generously
                 pleased
                 ,
                 to
                 stand
                 up
                 ,
                 and
                 say
                 to
                 this
                 Effect
                 —
                 
                   Gentlemen
                   I
                   have
                   known
                   Mr.
                
                 Prance
                 for
                 20
                 
                   years
                   and
                   above
                   ,
                   and
                   never
                   knew
                   ,
                   or
                   heard
                   that
                   ever
                   he
                   wrong'd
                   Man
                   ,
                   Woman
                   ,
                   or
                   Child
                   :
                   For
                   his
                   late
                   Actions
                   ,
                   I
                   have
                   nothing
                   to
                   say
                   ,
                   I
                   pity
                   him
                
                 ;
                 meerly
                 for
                 which
                 Civil
                 Attestation
                 of
                 truth
                 ,
                 from
                 a
                 Gentleman
                 ,
                 that
                 had
                 known
                 me
                 from
                 my
                 youth
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 
                   Observator
                   falls
                   foul
                
                 upon
                 him
                 with
                 the
                 slovenly
                 Epithets
                 of
                 
                   Splay-fac'd
                   ,
                   Wry-mouth'd
                   ,
                   &c.
                
                 
                 Now
                 if
                 this
                 be
                 sufferable
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 
                   any
                   Gentleman
                
                 that
                 can
                 be
                 safe
                 from
                 being
                 exposed
                 at
                 the
                 like
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 worse
                 rate
                 in
                 Print
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 do
                 not
                 quickly
                 Fee
                 the
                 Observator
                 with
                 a
                 Present
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 Mr.
                 Observator
                 ,
                 that
                 feigns
                 so
                 many
                 things
                 as
                 said
                 there
                 which
                 were
                 not
                 ,
                 omits
                 one
                 matter
                 which
                 was
                 the
                 chief
                 subject
                 of
                 our
                 Debate
                 ;
                 which
                 was
                 ,
                 whether
                 Mr.
                 
                   L'Estrange
                   did
                   not
                   hand
                   the
                   Paper
                   ,
                   Intituled
                
                 THE
                 LORD
                 
                 PETRE's
                 LETTER
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Press
                 (
                 which
                 no
                 doubt
                 his
                 Informers
                 told
                 him
                 of
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 the
                 rest
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 believe
                 't
                 was
                 that
                 put
                 him
                 into
                 such
                 
                   an
                   heat
                
                 ,
                 tho'
                 he
                 prudently
                 declines
                 to
                 mention
                 it
                 )
                 for
                 I
                 did
                 tell
                 the
                 Gentlemen
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   I
                   heard
                
                 ,
                 and
                 doubted
                 not
                 to
                 prove
                 ,
                 that
                 Mr.
                 Braddil
                 in
                 
                   Bartholomew
                   Close
                
                 ,
                 who
                 Printed
                 the
                 Letter
                 ,
                 had
                 declared
                 that
                 Mr.
                 
                   L'Estrange
                   brought
                   or
                   sent
                
                 the
                 same
                 to
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 Printed
                 ,
                 but
                 withall
                 gave
                 him
                 instructions
                 
                   not
                   to
                   Print
                   his
                
                 (
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 
                   Braddils
                   )
                   name
                   to
                   it
                
                 :
                 Now
                 if
                 this
                 should
                 happen
                 to
                 be
                 true
                 ,
                 that
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 was
                 the
                 occasion
                 of
                 publishing
                 that
                 Paper
                 ,
                 wherein
                 all
                 our
                 worthy
                 Protestant-Writers
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 amongst
                 them
                 ,
                 the
                 most
                 Learned
                 KING
                 IAMES
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Right
                 Reverend
                 the
                 present
                 Bishop
                 of
                 Lincoln
                 )
                 who
                 have
                 charg'd
                 the
                 Church
                 of
                 Rome
                 with
                 holding
                 and
                 teaching
                 the
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 Deposing
                 and
                 taking
                 
                   up
                   Arms
                   against
                
                 ,
                 and
                 Murdering
                 of
                 Heretical
                 Kings
                 ,
                 are
                 traduc'd
                 as
                 
                   false
                   Accusers
                
                 ,
                 and
                 therein
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 Malicious
                 and
                 Ignorant
                 ;
                 Nay
                 ,
                 a
                 Paper
                 which
                 on
                 the
                 same
                 score
                 flyes
                 in
                 the
                 Face
                 of
                 the
                 whole
                 Church
                 of
                 England
                 ,
                 and
                 directly
                 gives
                 her
                 the
                 Lye
                 ,
                 who
                 for
                 many
                 years
                 in
                 her
                 Publick
                 Establish't
                 Liturgy
                 ,
                 avow'd
                 the
                 
                   Faith
                   of
                   the
                   Church
                   of
                
                 Rome
                 
                   to
                   be
                   Faction
                   ,
                   and
                   her
                   Religion
                   Rebellion
                   .
                
                 I
                 would
                 demand
                 of
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 of
                 his
                 Guinney-givers
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 causing
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 Paper
                 to
                 be
                 publish't
                 ,
                 be
                 to
                 be
                 numbered
                 amongst
                 the
                 Good-services
                 he
                 has
                 done
                 for
                 the
                 
                   Church
                   of
                
                 England
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 mean
                 time
                 ,
                 go
                 on
                 .
              
               
                 
                   But
                   faith
                
                 ,
                 Trimmer
                 !
                 [
                 remember
                 Mr.
                 L'Estrange
                 is
                 a
                 severe
                 Magistrate
                 against
                 swearing
                 ]
                 when
                 Prance
                 '
                 
                   s
                   hand
                   is
                   in
                   ,
                   he
                   should
                   do
                   well
                   to
                   go
                   through
                   with
                   his
                   Work
                   ;
                   and
                   I
                   'le
                   give
                   ye
                   now
                   a
                   piece
                   of
                   History
                   that
                   is
                
                 New
                 
                   to
                   ye
                
                 ,
                 [
                 and
                 yet
                 this
                 New-By-blow
                 is
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 Ricketty
                 feeble
                 Constitution
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 four
                 years
                 crawling
                 in
                 the
                 dark
                 ,
                 before
                 it
                 could
                 waddle
                 abroad
                 in
                 the
                 standing
                 stool
                 of
                 an
                 
                   Observator
                   ]
                   and
                   puts
                   down
                   forty
                   of
                   his
                
                 Antependiums
                 .
                 [
                 Some
                 lies
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 acknowledg'd
                 are
                 heavier
                 than
                 others
                 ]
                 
                   For
                   't
                   were
                   a
                   thousand
                   pities
                   that
                   a
                   man
                   that
                   is
                   so
                   willing
                   ,
                   should
                   want
                   Materials
                   .
                
              
            
             
               
               
                 Trim.
                 
              
               
                 
                   We
                   shall
                   have
                   some
                   tedious
                   Tale
                   now
                   ,
                   but
                   pray
                   will
                   you
                   make
                   it
                   as
                   short
                   as
                   the
                   matter
                   will
                   permit
                   .
                   And
                   without
                   any
                   Jesustical
                   Equivocations
                   ,
                   Shifts
                   ,
                   or
                   mental
                   Reservations
                   .
                
                 [
                 This
                 Trimmer
                 ,
                 I
                 find
                 ,
                 is
                 an
                 honest
                 foresighted
                 Fellow
                 ,
                 he
                 knows
                 ,
                 this
                 sly
                 Gray-bearded
                 youth
                 the
                 Observator
                 ,
                 is
                 much
                 given
                 to
                 tell
                 meer
                 Tales
                 ,
                 and
                 long
                 ones
                 ,
                 season'd
                 for
                 Fools-Palates
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 them
                 to
                 go
                 merrily
                 down
                 ,
                 with
                 Jesustical
                 Sawce
                 .
                 ]
              
            
             
               
                 Observ.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Why
                   ,
                   then
                   be
                   it
                   known
                   to
                   all
                   men
                   ,
                   That
                
                 Miles
                 Prance
                 
                   Silver-Smith
                   ,
                   Screws
                   and
                   Nails-maker
                   ,
                   Sacrament-protester
                   ,
                   Old
                   Dog
                   Blasphemer
                   ,
                   and
                   Evidence
                   for
                   the
                   cutting
                   of
                   the
                   Duke
                   of
                
                 York
                 '
                 
                   s
                   Picture
                
                 .
                 [
                 Thes
                 shews
                 you
                 the
                 Rhetorick
                 of
                 an
                 Observator
                 ;
                 only
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 last
                 words
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 fit
                 to
                 acquaint
                 the
                 Reader
                 ,
                 that
                 some
                 time
                 after
                 the
                 grand
                 insolence
                 committed
                 in
                 cutting
                 the
                 Picture
                 of
                 His
                 
                   Royal
                   Highness
                
                 in
                 Guild-Hall
                 ,
                 I
                 being
                 in
                 company
                 with
                 several
                 others
                 ,
                 there
                 happened
                 to
                 come
                 in
                 ,
                 one
                 
                   John
                   Brooks
                
                 formerly
                 (
                 if
                 not
                 still
                 )
                 a
                 Papist
                 ,
                 who
                 in
                 discourse
                 own'd
                 and
                 avow'd
                 more
                 than
                 once
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   he
                   cut
                   the
                   said
                   Picture
                
                 ;
                 now
                 I
                 appeal
                 to
                 all
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 what
                 I
                 could
                 do
                 less
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 Publick
                 ,
                 and
                 His
                 
                   Royal
                   Highness
                
                 my
                 Soveraigns
                 Brother
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 matter
                 on
                 a
                 fair
                 legal
                 Tryal
                 might
                 be
                 further
                 examined
                 and
                 discussed
                 ?
                 Accordingly
                 I
                 and
                 another
                 person
                 present
                 ,
                 gave
                 Information
                 thereof
                 (
                 viz.
                 that
                 such
                 an
                 one
                 had
                 to
                 said
                 and
                 acknowledg'd
                 )
                 and
                 thereupon
                 Brooks
                 was
                 bound
                 over
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 person
                 attended
                 at
                 Sessions
                 to
                 Evidence
                 his
                 Words
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 third
                 Witness
                 present
                 ,
                 was
                 ready
                 to
                 have
                 deposed
                 the
                 Words
                 ,
                 if
                 it
                 had
                 proceeded
                 to
                 a
                 Tryal
                 .
                 But
                 when
                 we
                 desired
                 an
                 Indictment
                 to
                 be
                 drawn
                 ,
                 could
                 not
                 procure
                 it
                 .
                 And
                 so
                 the
                 matter
                 was
                 pass'd
                 ,
                 tho'
                 the
                 party
                 accused
                 did
                 not
                 (
                 as
                 far
                 as
                 I
                 could
                 understand
                 )
                 
                   deny
                   the
                   Words
                
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 pretended
                 he
                 was
                 drunk
                 when
                 he
                 spoke
                 them
                 .
                 Upon
                 which
                 whole
                 matter
                 ,
                 whether
                 I
                 did
                 any
                 thing
                 unbecoming
                 a
                 
                   Loyal
                   Subject
                
                 ,
                 tender
                 of
                 the
                 honour
                 of
                 the
                 Royal
                 Family
                 ,
                 is
                 left
                 to
                 Consideration
                 .
                 ]
                 Go
                 on
                 ,
                 
                   Did
                   ,
                   in
                
                 February
                 1679
                 ,
                 
                   accuse
                   Mr.
                
                 Richard
                 Fincham
                 
                   of
                   being
                   a
                   Priest
                
                 [
                 he
                 means
                 Popish
                 ]
                 
                   which
                   said
                   Mr.
                
                 Fincham
                 
                   was
                   taken
                   into
                   the
                   Custody
                   of
                   a
                   Messenger
                   upon
                   that
                   Information
                   .
                
                 [
                 Here
                 are
                 several
                 falsities
                 ;
                 I
                 did
                 not
                 accuse
                 Mr.
                 
                   Richard
                   Fincham
                
                 of
                 being
                 a
                 Priest
                 ,
                 nor
                 secondly
                 ,
                 was
                 he
                 taken
                 on
                 my
                 Information
                 ;
                 but
                 as
                 he
                 was
                 apprehended
                 upon
                 suspicion
                 ,
                 so
                 I
                 was
                 examined
                 whether
                 I
                 knew
                 him
                 ?
                 and
                 what
                 account
                 I
                 could
                 give
                 of
                 him
                 ?
                 ]
                 
                   brought
                   before
                   the
                   Council
                   to
                   answer
                   the
                   Charge
                   ,
                   and
                   Mr.
                
                 Miles
                 Prance
                 
                   Silver-Smith
                   there
                   present
                   to
                   make
                   good
                   his
                   Information
                   ,
                   The
                   Council
                   askt
                   him
                   how
                   became
                   to
                   know
                   Mr.
                
                 Fincham
                 
                   to
                   be
                   a
                   Priest
                   ,
                   The
                   Silver-Smith
                   did
                   there
                   upon
                   his
                   Oath
                   declare
                   ;
                   That
                
                 John
                 Fincham
                 
                   the
                   Brother
                   of
                   the
                   said
                
                 Richard
                 
                   told
                   him
                   so
                   ;
                   upon
                   this
                   the
                   Earl
                   of
                
                 Essex
                 
                   demanded
                   of
                   what
                   Religion
                   and
                   what
                   sort
                   of
                   man
                   the
                   said
                
                 John
                 Fincham
                 was
                 ?
                 Prance
                 
                   replyed
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   was
                   a
                   good
                   Church
                   of
                
                 England
                 -
                 
                   man
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   very
                   honest
                   Gentleman
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   Justice
                   of
                   Peace
                   in
                   the
                   Isle
                   of
                
                 Ely
                 ,
                 
                   whereupon
                   she
                   said
                
                 Richard
                 Fincham
                 
                   was
                   continued
                   in
                   Custody
                
                 .
              
            
             
               [
               This
               is
               a
               whole
               scheme
               of
               of
               untruths
               twisted
               up
               ,
               and
               ,
               to
               unravel
               it
               ,
               I
               must
               rightly
               state
               the
               matter
               of
               Fact
               ;
               The
               Question
               before
               the
               Council
               was
               ,
               whether
               
                 Richard
                 Fincham
              
               was
               a
               Popish
               Priest
               ?
               And
               I
               was
               examined
               to
               it
               ,
               and
               tho'
               with
               a
               common-knowledge
               grounded
               on
               the
               most
               violent
               presumptions
               ,
               I
               did
               not
               question
               but
               he
               was
               so
               ,
               as
               having
               made
               him
               a
               Chalice
               and
               other
               Priestly
               Utensils
               ,
               and
               knew
               he
               was
               generally
               reputed
               amongst
               Catholicks
               to
               be
               my
               Lady
               
                 Savils
                 Priest
              
               ,
               tho'
               passing
               (
               as
               't
               is
               common
               )
               under
               the
               notion
               of
               her
               Steward
               ,
               yet
               ,
               not
               being
               able
               positively
               to
               swear
               him
               to
               be
               a
               Priest
               ,
               because
               I
               had
               never
               been
               present
               ,
               when
               he
               
                 officiated
                 the
                 Mass
              
               ,
               I
               was
               so
               justly
               tender
               in
               a
               Case
               ,
               where
               a
               man's
               Life
               was
               concern'd
               ,
               that
               I
               only
               deposed
               as
               to
               my
               belief
               grounded
               on
               hear-say
               ,
               and
               that
               his
               Brother
               acknowledged
               it
               to
               me
               ,
               which
               is
               most
               true
               ,
               and
               if
               the
               Gentelman
               have
               a
               bad
               memory
               ,
               I
               cannot
               help
               it
               .
            
             
               And
               being
               hereupon
               interrogated
               by
               some
               of
               the
               Honourable
               Lords
               (
               that
               it
               was
               by
               the
               Earl
               of
               Essex
               may
               be
               true
               ,
               but
               do
               not
               remember
               it
               )
               touching
               the
               said
               Brother
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Fincham
              
               ,
               I
               answered
               ,
               That
               he
               
                 was
                 a
                 Justice
                 of
                 Peace
              
               in
               the
               Isle
               of
               Ely
               ;
               and
               't
               is
               possible
               I
               might
               add
               ,
               
                 a
                 very
                 honest
                 Gentleman
                 ,
                 as
                 far
                 as
                 I
                 knew
                 .
              
               But
               whereas
               the
               Observator
               averrs
               ,
               that
               I
               then
               deposed
               he
               was
               
                 a
                 Good
                 Church
                 of
              
               England-man
               ;
               (
               though
               for
               ought
               I
               know
               ,
               or
               ever
               said
               ,
               he
               may
               be
               so
               )
               yet
               that
               I
               
                 then
                 swore
                 it
              
               ,
               is
               false
               ;
               for
               how
               should
               I
               assert
               such
               a
               thing
               ,
               that
               never
               had
               an
               opportunity
               to
               see
               him
               in
               
                 a
                 Protestant
                 Church
              
               in
               my
               life
               ?
               And
               besides
               ,
               it
               thwarts
               that
               Evidence
               which
               I
               then
               truly
               gave
               ,
               (
               and
               which
               I
               should
               not
               ,
               but
               upon
               this
               provocation
               recite
               )
               for
               my
               own
               Vindication
               (
               not
               to
               cast
               any
               Scandal
               on
               the
               Gentleman
               )
               according
               to
               the
               Copy
               ,
               as
               it
               was
               taken
               and
               delivered
               to
               me
               soon
               after
               I
               was
               examined
               by
               one
               of
               the
               Sub-Clarks
               ,
               belonging
               to
               the
               Honourable
               Board
               ,
               viz.
               
               
                 That
                 not
                 long
                 before
                 the
                 Plot
                 was
                 Discovered
                 ,
                 I
                 went
                 to
                 one
                 Mrs.
                 Halls
                 in
                 Eagle-Court
                 ,
                 about
                 some
                 business
                 to
                 Mr.
                 
                   Jeremy
                   Jennings
                
                 a
                 Priest
                 belonging
                 to
                 Mr.
                 Ramsey
                 ,
                 
                 living
                 near
                 Norwich
                 ,
                 where
                 I
                 met
                 with
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 ,
                 a
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 for
                 the
                 life
                 of
                 Ely
                 ,
                 and
                 one
                 Mr.
                 Poulton
                 ,
                 a
                 Jesuit
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 others
                 ,
                 (
                 whom
                 I
                 knew
                 to
                 be
                 Priests
                 though
                 I
                 knew
                 not
                 their
                 Names
                 )
                 after
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 was
                 gone
                 ,
                 I
                 asked
                 Mr.
                 Jennings
                 ,
                 what
                 he
                 came
                 thither
                 for
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 he
                 durst
                 trust
                 himself
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 being
                 a
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 .
                 Pough
                 said
                 he
                 )
                 
                   he
                   is
                   acquainted
                   with
                   many
                   Priests
                   in
                   that
                   Country
                   ,
                   as
                   their
                   Friend
                   ,
                   and
                   will
                   do
                   us
                   no
                   harm
                   ,
                   but
                   what
                   good
                   he
                   can
                   ,
                   being
                   a
                   Catholick
                   in
                   his
                   Heart
                   ,
                   and
                   will
                   shew
                   himself
                   so
                   ,
                   if
                   the
                   times
                   turn
                   ,
                   but
                   now
                   cannot
                   in
                   respect
                   of
                   his
                   Place
                   ;
                   yet
                   ,
                   says
                   he
                   ,
                   he
                   does
                   us
                   all
                   the
                   kindness
                   he
                   can
                   .
                
                 Then
                 speaking
                 to
                 Mrs.
                 Hall
                 ,
                 the
                 Landlady
                 of
                 the
                 House
                 ,
                 thereof
                 ,
                 she
                 replyed
                 ,
                 
                   He
                   comes
                   often
                   hither
                   ,
                   when
                   he
                   is
                   in
                   Town
                   .
                
              
            
             
               But
               whether
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Fincham
              
               knew
               these
               Persons
               ,
               that
               he
               then
               was
               there
               in
               company
               with
               ,
               to
               be
               
                 Popish
                 Priests
              
               ,
               or
               whether
               ,
               what
               they
               said
               of
               him
               were
               true
               ,
               I
               know
               not
               ,
               they
               being
               Men
               of
               Intrigue
               ,
               who
               often
               love
               to
               cast
               Scandals
               on
               the
               most
               Zealous
               Protestants
               ,
               to
               render
               them
               suspected
               ;
               all
               the
               intent
               I
               recite
               for
               ,
               is
               to
               shew
               how
               improbable
               it
               was
               ,
               that
               ,
               at
               the
               same
               time
               I
               swore
               this
               ,
               I
               should
               also
               swear
               (
               as
               Mr.
               Observator
               says
               )
               the
               same
               Gentleman
               to
               be
               a
               
                 good
                 Church
                 of
              
               England
               -
               man
               ;
               though
               still
               ,
               as
               aforesaid
               ,
               for
               ought
               I
               know
               ,
               or
               ever
               said
               ,
               he
               may
               be
               such
               .
               My
               acquaintance
               with
               Mr.
               
                 Richard
                 Fincham
              
               was
               very
               intimate
               ;
               for
               besides
               the
               work
               I
               had
               done
               for
               him
               ,
               I
               have
               yet
               several
               Letters
               of
               his
               by
               me
               (
               though
               more
               or
               less
               )
               which
               I
               am
               ready
               to
               shew
               his
               Brother
               ,
               or
               any
               Gentleman
               that
               desires
               it
               ,
               Dated
               from
               Red-Hall
               in
               Yorkshire
               ,
               Subscribed
               —
               
                 Your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 Servant
                 ,
                 and
                 Country-man
                 ,
                 Richard
                 Fincham
                 ,
              
               and
               the
               like
               obliging
               Terms
               ,
               and
               particularly
               one
               Dated
               January
               25
               ,
               77
               ▪
               whereby
               having
               ordered
               me
               the
               Receipt
               of
               some
               Money
               ,
               he
               has
               these
               words
               —
               
                 I
                 have
                 by
                 the
                 bearer
                 hereof
                 (
                 a
                 Protestant
                 Gentleman
                 ,
                 and
                 Neighbour
                 of
                 mine
                 )
                 sent
                 you
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               Which
               Parenthesis
               ,
               Protestant
               Gentleman
               ,
               will
               ,
               I
               think
               ,
               to
               any
               unbyassed
               understanding
               ,
               signifie
               no
               less
               than
               an
               Item
               given
               me
               ,
               that
               I
               should
               not
               take
               notice
               to
               him
               ,
               of
               the
               Writers
               being
               a
               a
               Priest
               ,
               or
               to
               call
               him
               
                 Father
                 Fincham
              
               ,
               as
               amongst
               Roman
               Catholicks
               is
               usual
               ,
               and
               without
               such
               Precaution
               I
               might
               have
               done
               :
               Now
               this
               Gentleman
               that
               paid
               me
               the
               Money
               ,
               was
               ,
               as
               I
               understand
               ,
               a
               Justice
               of
               Peace
               near
               Leeds
               ,
               though
               I
               have
               forgot
               his
               Name
               ;
               if
               he
               be
               still
               living
               ,
               he
               cannot
               but
               remember
               it
               .
               In
               a
               word
               ,
               whether
               Mr.
               
                 Richard
                 Fincham
              
               be
               a
               
                 Popish
                 Priest
              
               or
               no
               ,
               if
               Mr.
               L'Estrange
               (
               that
               seems
               so
               intimate
               with
               the
               Family
               )
               will
               be
               pleas'd
               to
               tell
               the
               World
               his
               Lodgings
               at
               present
               ;
               't
               is
               odds
               ,
               but
               somthing
               more
               may
               be
               said
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               interim
               ,
               here
               his
               Apologist
               ,
               the
               
                 Observator
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 Richard
                 Fincham
                 immediately
                 upon
                 this
                 proceeding
                 ,
                 gave
                 his
                 Brother
              
               John
               Fincham
               
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 what
                 had
                 passed
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 very
                 next
                 Post
                 ,
                 Who
                 applyed
                 himself
                 forthwith
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 receipt
                 of
                 the
                 Letter
                 ,
                 to
              
               Francis
               Bell
               
                 
                   Esq
                
                 (
                 a
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 in
                 the
                 said
                 Isle
                 )
                 before
                 whom
                 ,
                 he
                 swore
                 this
                 following
                 Affidavit
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 
                   John
                   Fincham
                
                 of
                 Outwell
                 ,
                 within
                 the
                 Isle
                 of
                 Ely
                 and
                 County
                 of
                 Cambridge
                 Esquire
                 ,
                 did
                 upon
                 the
                 5th
                 of
                 March
                 ,
                 1678
                 ,
                 make
                 this
                 following
                 Affidavit
                 before
                 
                   Francis
                   Bell
                
                 ,
                 
                   Esq
                
                 one
                 of
                 his
                 Majesties
                 Justices
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 of
                 the
                 said
                 Isle
              
            
             
               
                 That
                 whereas
                 the
                 said
                 
                   John
                   Fincham
                
                 ,
                 is
                 informed
                 that
                 one
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 hath
                 lately
                 declared
                 upon
                 Oath
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Lords
                 of
                 His
                 Majesties
                 most
                 Honourable
                 Privy-Council
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 the
                 said
                 
                   Mr.
                   Prance
                
                 was
                 told
                 by
                 the
                 said
                 
                   John
                   Fincham
                
                 ,
                 that
                 Mr.
                 
                   Richard
                   Fincham
                
                 ,
                 his
                 Brother
                 was
                 a
                 Priest.
                 He
                 this
                 Deponent
                 doth
                 Swear
                 and
                 Aver
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 same
                 is
                 wholly
                 false
                 and
                 untrue
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 been
                 so
                 far
                 from
                 ever
                 saying
                 so
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 doth
                 depose
                 ,
                 he
                 doth
                 not
                 know
                 any
                 such
                 thing
                 ,
                 as
                 his
                 Brothers
                 being
                 a
                 Priest
                 ;
                 nor
                 did
                 he
                 ever
                 know
                 the
                 said
                 
                   Mr.
                   Prance
                
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 his
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 ever
                 see
                 him
                 in
                 his
                 whole
                 life
                 .
                 This
                 Affidavit
                 being
                 sent
                 up
                 to
                 the
                 Lord
                 Chancellor
                 ,
                 the
                 King
                 and
                 Council
                 thereupon
                 ordered
                 Mr.
                 Fincham's
                 Discharge
                 .
              
            
             
               As
               to
               this
               Affidavit
               of
               Mr.
               Richard
               Fincham's
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               it
               contradicts
               mine
               ,
               I
               avow
               mine
               still
               to
               be
               true
               ,
               and
               if
               I
               am
               not
               misinform'd
               ,
               by
               the
               Civil
               Law
               at
               least
               ,
               a
               
                 Domestick
                 Witness
              
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               one
               so
               near
               related
               ,
               is
               scarce
               allowable
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               lyes
               under
               suspicions
               —
               but
               leaving
               that
               ,
               I
               shall
               only
               remark
               ,
               That
               the
               Gentleman
               swears
               ,
               he
               doth
               not
               KNOW
               any
               such
               thing
               as
               his
               
                 Brother
                 's
                 being
                 a
                 Priest
              
               ,
               which
               signifies
               no
               more
               than
               that
               he
               did
               not
               
                 see
                 him
                 take
                 Orders
              
               ;
               now
               can
               it
               be
               imagined
               ,
               (
               especially
               at
               such
               a
               juncture
               as
               that
               was
               )
               but
               the
               Gentleman
               ,
               had
               he
               not
               
                 believed
                 his
                 Brother
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Priest
                 ,
              
               would
               have
               added
               —
               
                 nor
                 believes
                 him
                 so
                 to
                 be
                 ,
              
               or
               some
               such
               words
               ?
            
             
               Note
               also
               ,
               that
               the
               Observator
               says
               ,
               what
               I
               deposed
               was
               in
               February
               79.
               
               And
               this
               Affidavit
               of
               Mr.
               John
               Fincham's
               ,
               he
               dates
               March
               the
               5
               th
               .
               1678
               ,
               (
               almost
               a
               whole
               year
               before
               )
               which
               would
               intimate
               ,
               that
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Fincham
              
               swore
               prophetically
               ,
               or
               by
               way
               of
               prevention
               .
               But
               the
               Observator
               Numb
               .
               10.
               having
               recollected
               himself
               ,
               pretends
               't
               was
               a
               mistake
               for
               want
               of
               a
               fraction
               ;
               and
               if
               it
               were
               so
               ,
               I
               believe
               it
               was
               the
               
                 first
                 Affidavit
                 in
              
               
               England
               ,
               that
               e're
               was
               Dated
               with
               such
               a
               Fraction
               ,
               as
               1678
               /
               9
               ,
               but
               since
               he
               is
               pleased
               to
               lay
               the
               blame
               on
               
                 the
                 Sot
                 of
                 a
                 Compositor
              
               ,
               as
               young
               Princes
               in
               Schools
               are
               whipt
               by
               Proxy
               ,
               and
               perhaps
               old
               Authors
               have
               the
               like
               priviledge
               ;
               let
               it
               pass
               .
            
             
               But
               whereas
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Fincham
              
               Swears
               he
               never
               
                 knew
                 Prance
              
               (
               to
               his
               knowledge
               ,
               
                 or
                 saw
                 him
                 in
                 his
                 life
                 .
              
               I
               must
               remembe●
               that
               Gentleman
               ,
               besides
               my
               being
               in
               his
               Company
               at
               Mrs.
               
               Hall's
               afore-mentioned
               ,
               and
               else-where
               in
               London
               ,
               I
               once
               went
               to
               his
               House
               ,
               at
               the
               Request
               of
               his
               Brother
               ,
               the
               Goldsmith
               ,
               then
               living
               in
               the
               Strand
               ,
               to
               see
               a
               Child
               of
               his
               there
               ,
               and
               was
               Civilly
               entertained
               by
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Fincham
              
               ,
               and
               did
               eat
               and
               drink
               there
               :
               and
               another
               time
               before
               that
               ,
               he
               procured
               me
               a
               place
               at
               the
               Court
               holden
               at
               Wisbitch
               ,
               to
               hear
               the
               Tryals
               and
               Proceedings
               there
               ,
               where
               I
               stood
               just
               behind
               his
               back
               ,
               as
               he
               sat
               on
               the
               Bench.
               
            
             
               
                 Trimmer
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Well-And
                   here
                   's
                   one
                   Oath
                   against
                   t'other
                   .
                
                 [
                 Ay
                 ,
                 and
                 let
                 the
                 Readers
                 impartially
                 Impanell'd
                 give
                 their
                 Verdicts
                 .
                 ]
              
            
             
               
                 Observator
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Patience
                   ,
                   I
                   prithee
                   ,
                   in
                
                 August
                 1679
                 ,
                 Prance
                 
                   being
                   in
                   the
                   Isle
                   of
                
                 Ely
                 ,
                 
                   and
                   finding
                   that
                   his
                   Credit
                   was
                   sunk
                   from
                   Silver
                   to
                   Brass
                   ,
                   by
                   the
                   confounding
                   a
                   Deposition
                   of
                   Mr.
                
                 John
                 Fincham
                 [
                 of
                 which
                 Prance
                 never
                 heard
                 word
                 or
                 syllable
                 ,
                 till
                 in
                 this
                 
                   Observator
                   ,
                   January
                
                 26
                 ,
                 1683.
                 ]
                 
                   he
                   burst
                   out
                   presently
                   into
                   Invectives
                   against
                   the
                   said
                
                 John
                 Fincham
                 ,
                 
                   and
                   said
                   ,
                   he
                   was
                   a
                   Papist
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   a
                   Priest
                   in
                   's
                   House
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   sometimes
                
                 4
                 or
                 5
                 
                   Priests
                   and
                   Jesuits
                   ;
                   and
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   seen
                   him
                   in
                   the
                   Company
                   of
                   as
                   many
                   in
                
                 London
                 :
                 
                   All
                   which
                   he
                   was
                   ready
                   to
                   prove
                   :
                   And
                   these
                   words
                   were
                   made
                   out
                   by
                   the
                   Informations
                   of
                   two
                   Gentlemen
                   of
                   the
                   Neighbourhood
                   ,
                   as
                   they
                   were
                   taken
                   before
                
                 Francis
                 Bell
                 and
                 Thomas
                 Edwards
                 ,
                 
                   Esquires
                   ,
                   Justices
                   of
                   the
                   Peace
                   within
                   the
                   said
                   Isle
                   ,
                   on
                   the
                
                 11
                 
                   th
                   and
                
                 12
                 
                   th
                   of
                
                 August
                 ,
                 1679.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 The
                 Information
                 of
                 
                   Edward
                   Squire
                
                 Gent.
                 Chief
                 Constable
                 of
                 the
                 North
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Hundred
                 of
                 Witchford
                 ,
                 taken
                 before
                 us
                 
                   Francis
                   Bell
                
                 and
                 
                   Thomas
                   Edwards
                
                 ,
                 Esquires
                 ,
                 Justices
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 within
                 the
                 Isle
                 of
                 
                   Ely
                   ,
                   &c.
                   August
                
                 11
                 :
                 1679.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 This
                 Informant
                 saith
                 ,
                 That
                 on
                 Fryday
                 the
                 8th
                 Instant
                 ,
                 he
                 happened
                 in
                 the
                 Company
                 of
                 one
                 
                   Miles
                   Prance
                
                 ,
                 where
                 discoursing
                 about
                 the
                 next
                 Election
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 Parliament-men
                 ,
                 Prance
                 was
                 very
                 earnest
                 for
                 the
                 Chusing
                 of
                 one
                 Mr.
                 Partherich
                 ,
                 for
                 Knight
                 of
                 the
                 Shire
                 for
                 Cambridg-shire
                 ,
                 declaring
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 a
                 fit
                 Man
                 for
                 that
                 purpose
                 :
                 And
                 presently
                 after
                 he
                 began
                 to
                 discourse
                 of
                 one
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 ,
                 a
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 ,
                 and
                 said
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 prove
                 him
                 a
                 Papist
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 hath
                 a
                 Priest
                 now
                 in
                 his
                 House
                 ,
                 and
                 sometimes
                 he
                 hath
                 four
                 or
                 five
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 the
                 said
                 Prance
                 had
                 seen
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 in
                 the
                 Company
                 of
                 as
                 many
                 Priests
                 and
                 Jesuits
                 in
                 London
                 ;
                 and
                 told
                 this
                 Informant
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 wondered
                 ,
                 the
                 Justices
                 of
                 the
                 Peace
                 should
                 be
                 so
                 much
                 Fools
                 ,
                 or
                 had
                 so
                 little
                 wit
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 him
                 ,
                 this
                 Informant
                 ,
                 Chief
                 Constable
                 ;
                 and
                 said
                 he
                 would
                 have
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 Gentlemen
                 in
                 the
                 Country
                 up
                 ,
                 with
                 several
                 other
                 Reflecting
                 and
                 Scandalous
                 Discourses
                 upon
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Gentlemen
                 in
                 the
                 Country
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Edward
                 Squire
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           
             The
             Information
             of
             
               William
               Gent
            
             ,
             of
             March
             ,
             taken
             
               ut
               Supra
               ,
               August
            
             12
             ,
             1679.
             
          
        
         
           
             
               
                 This
                 Informant
                 saith
                 ,
                 that
                 upon
                 Fryday
                 at
                 Night
                 ,
                 the
                 8th
                 of
                 this
                 instant
                 August
                 ,
                 one
                 Mr.
                 
                   Miles
                   Prance
                
                 ,
                 and
                 another
                 person
                 ,
                 to
                 this
                 Deponent
                 unknown
                 ,
                 came
                 into
                 the
                 Company
                 of
                 him
                 ,
                 this
                 Deponent
                 .
                 He
                 ,
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ,
                 having
                 then
                 some
                 Neighbours
                 in
                 Company
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 at
                 the
                 House
                 of
                 one
                 
                   William
                   Phillipson
                
                 ,
                 in
                 March
                 aforesaid
                 ;
                 and
                 after
                 some
                 familiar
                 Discourse
                 had
                 passed
                 ,
                 between
                 him
                 ,
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 ,
                 and
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ,
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 being
                 very
                 intimately
                 acquainted
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ,
                 he
                 ,
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 ,
                 did
                 ask
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ,
                 where
                 one
                 Mr.
                 Fincham
                 was
                 ?
                 To
                 which
                 this
                 Deponent
                 answered
                 ,
                 He
                 liveth
                 very
                 near
                 me
                 in
                 the
                 Country
                 ;
                 and
                 thereupon
                 he
                 ,
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ;
                 did
                 tell
                 him
                 ,
                 it
                 was
                 reported
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 should
                 say
                 he
                 was
                 a
                 Papist
                 ;
                 to
                 which
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 replyed
                 ,
                 He
                 was
                 a
                 Papist
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 would
                 justify
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Papist
                 ;
                 and
                 he
                 believed
                 that
                 he
                 had
                 a
                 Priest
                 at
                 his
                 House
                 at
                 that
                 time
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 knew
                 him
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 in
                 the
                 Company
                 of
                 four
                 or
                 five
                 Jesuits
                 at
                 a
                 time
                 :
                 And
                 the
                 said
                 Mr.
                 Prance
                 did
                 also
                 give
                 other
                 reproachful
                 Speeches
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 ,
                 this
                 Deponent
                 ,
                 did
                 not
                 take
                 any
                 particular
                 notice
                 of
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Francis
                 Bell.
                 Thomas
                 Edwards
                 .
                 William
                 Gent.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
         
           As
           to
           all
           this
           ,
           I
           desire
           the
           Reader
           to
           observe
           ,
           1
           st
           .
           That
           these
           Informatio●
           〈◊〉
           not
           said
           to
           be
           
             sworn
             to
          
           ,
           and
           truly
           for
           the
           Persons
           sake
           concern'd
           ,
           I
           hope
           they
           are
           not
           
             upon
             Oath
          
           .
           2
           ly
           .
           The
           two
           Informers
           (
           like
           the
           two
           Witnesses
           in
           the
           Story
           of
           Susanna
           )
           do
           not
           
             much
             agree
          
           .
           Mr.
           Squire
           says
           ,
           that
           Prance
           was
           very
           
             earnest
             for
             chusing
             of
             one
             Mr.
          
           Partherich
           
             for
             Knight
             of
             the
             Shire
             for
          
           Cambridge-shire
           ,
           
             declaring
             that
             he
             was
             a
             fit
             man
             for
             that
             purpose
             .
          
           Now
           ,
           Mr.
           Gent
           (
           who
           was
           
             present
             all
             the
             time
             of
             our
             Cotloquy
          
           )
           says
           nothing
           of
           that
           ,
           and
           so
           far
           is
           it
           from
           Truth
           ,
           that
           I
           do
           protest
           
             I
             do
             not
             know
             ,
             nor
             never
             saw
             that
             Mr.
          
           Partherich
           ,
           here
           mentioned
           ,
           in
           my
           whole
           Life
           .
           And
           tho'
           possibly
           I
           might
           then
           have
           had
           some
           pretence
           to
           have
           concern'd
           my self
           in
           the
           Election
           of
           Parliament-men
           for
           that
           County
           ,
           yet
           ,
           I
           appeal
           to
           all
           the
           Inhabitants
           ,
           whether
           ever
           I
           endeavoured
           to
           move
           any
           one
           of
           them
           (
           except
           only
           this
           worthy
           Squire
           ,
           if
           he
           say
           true
           )
           to
           give
           their
           Votes
           for
           Mr.
           Partherich
           or
           
             any
             other
          
           person
           whatsoever
           ?
           For
           indeed
           ,
           I
           living
           elsewhere
           ,
           never
           thought
           it
           fit
           to
           concern
           my self
           with
           any
           such
           matters
           .
           2
           ly
           .
           Mr.
           Squire
           says
           ,
           I
           said
           ,
           Mr.
           
             Justice
             hath
             a
             Priest
             now
             in
             his
             House
             ,
          
           but
           Mr.
           Gent
           says
           .
           I
           said
           —
           
             I
             believed
             he
             had
             a
             Priest
          
           at
           his
           House
           at
           that
           time
           .
           Now
           he
           that
           forgot
           so
           much
           ,
           and
           
             took
             no
             particular
             notice
             of
             our
             talk
             ,
          
           as
           he
           says
           ,
           might
           possibly
           misremember
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           3
           ly
           .
           Mr.
           Gent
           says
           ,
           I
           askt
           him
           ,
           where
           
             one
             Mr.
          
           Fincham
           was
           ?
           To
           which
           the
           Deponent
           answered
           ,
           
             he
             liveth
             very
             near
             in
             the
             Country
          
           ;
           a
           likely
           business
           !
           as
           if
           I
           ,
           that
           was
           born
           within
           five
           miles
           of
           Mr.
           Justice
           Fincham
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           so
           frequently
           in
           that
           Country
           ,
           I
           ,
           that
           was
           so
           well
           acquainted
           with
           
             Richard
             Fincham
          
           ,
           so
           intimate
           with
           his
           Brother
           the
           Goldsmith
           ,
           and
           with
           another
           Brother
           of
           theirs
           the
           Sea-man
           ,
           I
           that
           have
           visited
           their
           near
           Relation
           ,
           Fincham
           in
           Wisbitch-Goal
           ,
           besides
           my
           familiarity
           with
           the
           Justice
           in
           London
           ,
           at
           his
           House
           at
           Well
           ,
           &c.
           should
           yet
           be
           such
           an
           Ignoramus
           to
           ask
           the
           advice
           of
           this
           
             small
             Lawyer
          
           ,
           where
           (
           forsooth
           )
           one
           Mr.
           Fincham
           was
           ,
           and
           receive
           for
           answer
           ,
           as
           News
           —
           
             That
             he
             liv'd
             near
             in
             the
             Country
          
           —
           Let
           all
           Mankind
           judge
           of
           the
           probability
           of
           such
           an
           Information
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           Mr.
           Squires
           own
           words
           (
           as
           here
           Printed
           ,
           for
           if
           either
           of
           the
           Gentlemen
           are
           wrong'd
           ,
           they
           must
           seek
           satisfaction
           from
           their
           Over-officious
           friend
           the
           Observator
           )
           I
           say
           by
           his
           own
           words
           it
           appears
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           fewd
           and
           something
           of
           Malice
           in
           the
           Case
           ;
           for
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           he
           charges
           me
           (
           tho'
           falsly
           )
           with
           saying
           ,
           That
           I
           
             wondered
             the
             Justices
             of
             Peace
             should
             be
             so
             much
             Fools
             ,
             or
             had
             so
             little
             Wit
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             him
             Chief
             Constable
             .
          
           And
           I
           might
           add
           ,
           that
           Mr.
           Gent
           ,
           the
           other
           Informer
           (
           as
           they
           are
           here
           styled
           )
           was
           not
           likely
           to
           be
           Guilty
           of
           any
           good
           will
           to
           me
           ;
           retaining
           so
           this
           day
           a
           Bond
           of
           mine
           ,
           about
           the
           surrender
           of
           some
           Land
           ,
           the
           Condition
           whereof
           is
           satisfied
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           Story
           of
           which
           I
           am
           not
           willing
           to
           tire
           the
           Reader
           with
           ,
           unless
           further
           provok'd
           .
        
         
           These
           Remarks
           being
           premised
           ,
           I
           shall
           next
           subjoin
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           not
           in
           my
           own
           words
           ,
           but
           attested
           by
           the
           Person
           that
           was
           then
           with
           me
           ,
           viz.
           Mr.
           Pask
           ,
           a
           Citizen
           of
           London
           ,
           one
           well
           known
           to
           be
           far
           from
           any
           suspicion
           of
           Disloyalty
           ,
           who
           immediately
           after
           this
           bustle
           happened
           at
           March
           ,
           did
           with
           his
           own
           hand
           ,
           write
           down
           and
           deliver
           to
           me
           this
           following
           Attestation
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           
             Memorandum
             ,
             On
             the
             8
             th
             day
             of
             August
             1679.
             
             Mr.
             
               Miles
               Prance
            
             and
             my self
             were
             at
             the
             White-Heart
             Inn
             in
             March
             ,
             asking
             for
             Mr.
             Gent
             ,
             The
             Landlord
             answered
             ,
             he
             was
             in
             the
             House
             ,
             Mr.
             Prance
             went
             to
             the
             Company
             's
             Room
             ,
             desired
             leave
             ,
             if
             not
             business
             ,
             where
             he
             was
             received
             seemingly
             in
             kindness
             ,
             and
             also
             desired
             me
             to
             walk
             in
             :
             Where
             presently
             Mr.
             Squire
             and
             Mr.
             Harrison
             asked
             him
             ,
             if
             he
             was
             come
             to
             choose
             
               Esq
            
             Partherich
             Parliament-Man
             ,
             intimating
             he
             was
             a
             dissaffected
             Person
             ,
             and
             not
             fit
             to
             be
             chose
             .
             Mr.
             Prance
             made
             answer
             to
             Mr.
             Harrison
             he
             was
             an
             Ass
             ,
             for
             to
             tell
             him
             such
             a
             thing
             ,
             and
             he
             was
             not
             to
             acquaint
             him
             ,
             what
             he
             came
             about
             .
             Mr.
             Squire
             and
             Mr.
             Harrison
             made
             answer
             ,
             that
             Prance
             was
             a
             Rogue
             ,
             and
             
               Esq
            
             Patherich
             a
             Phanatick
             Rogue
             ,
             so
             was
             all
             that
             stood
             for
             him
             .
             They
             abused
             Mr.
             Prance
             with
             the
             Language
             of
             Rogue
             ,
             a
             fellow
             not
             to
             be
             trusted
             ,
             a
             murthering
             Rogue
             ,
             and
             what
             he
             had
             said
             was
             all
             false
             ,
             bid
             him
             make
             haste
             home
             ,
             and
             give
             the
             King
             Confession
             .
          
        
         
           But
           further
           ,
           most
           true
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           this
           Mr.
           Squire
           ,
           and
           one
           Mr.
           Harrison
           ,
           did
           not
           only
           use
           ill
           Language
           to
           me
           ,
           but
           pursued
           me
           to
           one
           Mrs.
           Walsomes
           House
           ,
           threatned
           to
           knock
           me
           o'
           th'
           head
           ,
           and
           throw
           me
           into
           the
           River
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           offered
           to
           Assault
           me
           in
           my
           Lodging
           ,
           so
           that
           Mr.
           Pask
           was
           forc'd
           to
           draw
           his
           Sword
           to
           keep
           them
           down
           .
           For
           which
           I
           did
           ,
           as
           justly
           I
           might
           ,
           tell
           them
           I
           would
           call
           them
           to
           an
           account
           ,
           which
           it
           seems
           ,
           he
           is
           pleased
           to
           express
           by
           the
           Phrase
           ;
           
             That
             I
             would
             have
             most
             of
             the
             Gentlemen
             in
             the
             Country
             up
             .
          
           But
           whether
           this
           Titular
           Squire
           and
           Mr.
           Harrison
           the
           Tape-seller
           be
           Gentlemen
           ,
           or
           
             most
             
             of
             the
             Gentlemen
          
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           I
           leave
           to
           the
           Heralds
           .
           This
           is
           certain
           ,
           I
           had
           sought
           Reparations
           from
           the
           Rioters
           for
           the
           abuse
           ,
           had
           not
           
             Squire
             Williamson
          
           interceded
           ,
           alledging
           they
           were
           
             in
             Drink
          
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           civilly
           pass'd
           it
           by
           ,
           and
           never
           heard
           more
           of
           that
           matter
           ,
           till
           now
           I
           found
           the
           Gentlemens
           Information
           in
           Print
           —
           Le
           ts
           go
           on
           ,
           the
           Observator
           next
           brings
           to
           light
           two
           other
           Papers
           ,
           in
           these
           words
           .
        
         
           You
           shall
           now
           have
           Two
           Certificates
           of
           August
           the
           12th
           ,
           1679
           ,
           in
           Justification
           of
           M.
           
             John
             Fincham
          
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 WE
                 whose
                 Names
                 are
                 hereunto
                 subscribed
                 ,
                 do
                 humbly
                 Certifie
                 ,
                 That
                 we
                 have
                 known
                 
                   John
                   Fincham
                
                 ,
                 of
                 Outwell
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Isle
                 of
                 Ely
                 ,
                 and
                 County
                 of
                 Cambridge
                 ,
                 
                   Esq
                
                 by
                 the
                 space
                 of
                 twenty
                 years
                 ,
                 during
                 all
                 which
                 time
                 ,
                 we
                 have
                 had
                 a
                 frequent
                 Converse
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 as
                 being
                 our
                 Neighbour
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 whom
                 we
                 have
                 observ'd
                 a
                 constant
                 and
                 dutiful
                 Complyance
                 with
                 the
                 Commands
                 of
                 the
                 Church
                 of
                 England
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 do
                 believe
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 true
                 member
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 
                   August
                   12.
                   1679.
                   
                
              
               
                 Francis
                 Bell.
                 Thomas
                 Edwards
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           
             
               
                 THis
                 is
                 Humbly
                 to
                 Certifie
                 ,
                 That
                 I
                 
                   John
                   Leigh
                
                 ,
                 Clerk
                 ,
                 have
                 been
                 Rector
                 of
                 the
                 Parish
                 Church
                 of
                 Outwell
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 County
                 of
                 Norfolk
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 space
                 of
                 27
                 years
                 ;
                 all
                 which
                 time
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 had
                 a
                 personal
                 knowledge
                 of
                 
                   John
                   Fincham
                
                 ,
                 
                   Esq
                
                 and
                 with
                 whom
                 ,
                 being
                 one
                 of
                 my
                 Parishoners
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 had
                 ,
                 both
                 in
                 Health
                 and
                 Sickness
                 ,
                 very
                 particular
                 Converse
                 .
                 And
                 in
                 all
                 my
                 Conversation
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 ever
                 observed
                 him
                 to
                 bear
                 a
                 great
                 regard
                 to
                 the
                 Commands
                 of
                 the
                 Church
                 of
                 England
                 .
                 Of
                 which
                 Church
                 I
                 do
                 with
                 great
                 Reason
                 believe
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 true
                 and
                 obedient
                 Son.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 
                   August
                   12
                   ,
                   1679.
                   
                
              
               
                 John
                 Leigh
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           I
           question
           not
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           Certificates
           ;
           for
           neither
           do
           I
           know
           ,
           nor
           ever
           said
           (
           with
           the
           leave
           of
           the
           Observator
           ,
           and
           his
           Informers
           ,
           be
           it
           spoken
           )
           that
           Justice
           Fincham
           was
           a
           Papist
           (
           and
           yet
           had
           I
           no
           value
           for
           an
           Oath
           (
           as
           the
           Observator
           pretends
           )
           I
           might
           as
           readily
           have
           Sworn
           that
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           saw
           him
           at
           Mass
           ;
           for
           Mass
           was
           frequently
           said
           in
           Mrs.
           
           Hall's
           House
           ;
           but
           I
           did
           never
           see
           him
           so
           concerned
           ,
           and
           therefore
           only
           deposed
           what
           I
           knew
           ,
           and
           what
           I
           saw
           and
           heard
           )
           therefore
           I
           again
           Repeat
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           never
           knew
           ,
           or
           said
           the
           Gentleman
           was
           a
           Papist
           or
           Roman
           Catholick
           ,
           or
           that
           4
           or
           5
           ,
           or
           any
           Romish
           Priests
           were
           in
           his
           House
           .
           But
           this
           I
           will
           say
           ,
           That
           I
           conceive
           these
           Certificates
           might
           have
           been
           
             better
             worded
          
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Gentleman
           ,
           than
           only
           by
           these
           Terms
           of
           his
           ,
           
             Complyance
             with
          
           ,
           and
           
             Regard
             to
          
           the
           Commands
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           since
           it
           would
           have
           done
           well
           (
           especially
           at
           such
           a
           Juncture
           as
           that
           was
           )
           to
           have
           likewise
           expressed
           his
           Zeal
           in
           and
           for
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           Certified
           his
           Active
           diligence
           in
           Discountenancing
           and
           Suppressing
           Papists
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             Trimmer
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             we
             have
             done
             I
             hope
             .
             
               [
               Better
               never
               have
               begun
               .
               ]
            
          
        
         
           
             Observator
             .
          
           
             Within
             a
             Trifle
             ,
             
               Trimmer
               ,
               July
               13.
               1681
            
             ,
             It
             happened
             .
             That
             Prance
             and
             another
             with
             him
             ,
             came
             into
             the
             House
             of
             one
             Greenwood
             in
             the
             Isle
             ,
             where
             
               John
               Fincham
               ,
               Henry
               Oxburgh
            
             ,
             and
             
               Edm.
               Williamson
            
             ,
             Esquires
             ,
             were
             in
             Company
             :
             Mr.
             Williamson
             having
             told
             Mr.
             Fincham
             ,
             which
             of
             the
             two
             was
             Prance
             ;
             Mr.
             Fincham
             upon
             this
             ,
             fell
             to
             talk
             with
             Prance
             at
             a
             distance
             ,
             of
             his
             being
             in
             the
             Country
             ,
             about
             two
             years
             before
             ,
             which
             he
             owned
             .
             And
             he
             told
             him
             of
             a
             Neighbour
             of
             his
             ▪
             one
             Mr.
             Fincham
             ,
             that
             complained
             of
             very
             ill
             Language
             he
             had
             given
             him
             .
             But
             Prance
             denied
             it
             ,
             and
             desired
             much
             to
             know
             how
             the
             Story
             went
             :
             So
             Mr.
             Fincham
             up
             and
             told
             France
             the
             whole
             Business
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Informations
             ;
             who
             Swore
             heartily
             ,
             't
             was
             no
             such
             matter
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             never
             spake
             an
             ill
             word
             of
             Mr.
             Fineham
             ,
             but
             knew
             him
             to
             be
             a
             Protestant
             and
             a
             worthy
             man.
             This
             passed
             in
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             Company
             :
             But
             Prances
             Eyes
             are
             as
             bad
             by
             Day-light
             ,
             as
             Oats
             are
             by
             Candle-light
             ;
             and
             he
             knew
             Mr.
             Fincham
             no
             more
             than
             the
             Man
             in
             the
             Moon
             ,
             till
             at
             last
             Mr.
             Fincham
             himself
             brought
             the
             Silver-Smith
             to
             a
             better
             unstanding
             .
          
        
         
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           Mr.
           Fincham
           will
           Con
           the
           Observator
           no
           thanks
           for
           this
           Paragraph
           ,
           for
           sure
           the
           whole
           Town
           of
           March
           ,
           who
           were
           almost
           all
           Alarm'd
           with
           this
           Accident
           ,
           have
           not
           quite
           forgot
           it
           .
           However
           for
           their
           sakes
           ,
           and
           the
           Justices
           ,
           and
           my
           own
           ,
           I
           must
           set
           the
           Story
           right
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           most
           true
           ,
           that
           about
           the
           time
           mentioned
           ,
           I
           and
           another
           or
           two
           happened
           to
           come
           to
           Greenwoods
           House
           ,
           being
           an
           Inn
           ,
           where
           several
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           amongst
           them
           ,
           Mr.
           Justice
           Fincham
           ,
           were
           (
           as
           I
           afterwards
           understood
           )
           about
           taking
           Horse
           to
           Ride
           away
           ,
           but
           Mr.
           Fincham
           having
           ,
           as
           I
           believe
           ,
           some
           design
           to
           expose
           me
           ,
           after
           they
           saw
           me
           come
           in
           ,
           they
           staid
           ,
           and
           Squire
           Williamson
           ,
           who
           was
           one
           of
           the
           Gentlemen
           ,
           came
           out
           ,
           and
           invited
           me
           into
           their
           Room
           ;
           I
           excused
           my self
           at
           first
           ,
           as
           being
           weary
           with
           my
           Journey
           ,
           
           but
           at
           last
           consented
           ,
           when
           I
           and
           my
           Company
           came
           in
           ,
           there
           were
           several
           Gentlemen
           in
           the
           Room
           ,
           and
           some
           that
           I
           did
           
             not
             know
          
           .
           Presently
           some
           of
           them
           began
           to
           ask
           me
           
             what
             News
          
           ?
           I
           told
           them
           ,
           I
           seldome
           much
           minded
           any
           News
           ,
           but
           my
           own
           business
           ,
           and
           besides
           had
           been
           several
           days
           out
           of
           London
           ,
           and
           so
           could
           tell
           them
           nothing
           ,
           but
           what
           I
           believed
           they
           had
           already
           heard
           ,
           then
           one
           of
           them
           askt
           me
           ,
           
             if
             I
             knew
             Justice
          
           Fincham
           ?
           To
           which
           I
           answered
           ,
           yes
           ,
           I
           do
           ,
           and
           presently
           looking
           amongst
           the
           Company
           (
           for
           I
           was
           but
           newly
           come
           into
           the
           Room
           )
           I
           saw
           the
           Justice
           leaning
           on
           a
           Bench
           or
           Couch
           ,
           with
           his
           Mounteer-Cap
           placed
           in
           an
           odd
           unusual
           fashion
           ,
           viz.
           the
           corners
           not
           forwards
           and
           backwards
           ,
           but
           cross
           his
           Head
           ,
           sideways
           ,
           looking
           in
           that
           posture
           somewhat
           like
           a
           Country
           Morrice-dancer
           ,
           with
           a
           Cushion
           on
           his
           Head
           ;
           but
           for
           all
           that
           I
           knew
           his
           Worship
           well
           enough
           ,
           and
           addressing
           my self
           to
           him
           with
           the
           respect
           becoming
           me
           ,
           said
           —
           Mr.
           
             Fincham
             ,
             your
             humble
             Servant
          
           .
           At
           which
           all
           the
           Company
           fell
           a
           laughing
           ,
           (
           and
           his
           Worships
           being
           deceived
           in
           thinking
           I
           should
           not
           know
           him
           in
           that
           posture
           ,
           became
           soon
           after
           a
           frequent
           talk
           in
           the
           Town
           .
           )
           And
           then
           ,
           and
           not
           
             till
             then
          
           ,
           Mr.
           Fincham
           did
           speak
           ,
           (
           for
           before
           I
           was
           come
           into
           the
           Room
           he
           had
           not
           utter'd
           a
           word
           ,
           much
           less
           askt
           such
           questions
           ,
           and
           had
           such
           discourse
           with
           me
           as
           the
           Observator
           pretends
           )
           but
           then
           indeed
           he
           did
           say
           ,
           that
           he
           
             never
             saw
             mebefore
             in
             his
             life
             ,
          
           that
           he
           knew
           of
           ,
           
             nor
             never
             told
             me
             that
             his
             Brother
             was
             a
             Priest.
          
           But
           as
           I
           then
           to
           his
           face
           justified
           the
           latter
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           the
           first
           ,
           I
           gave
           him
           some
           tokens
           to
           refresh
           his
           memory
           ,
           as
           my
           coming
           to
           his
           House
           to
           see
           his
           Brothers
           Son
           ,
           and
           his
           particular
           Entertainment
           of
           me
           there
           .
           But
           he
           spake
           not
           a
           word
           
             about
             my
             calling
             him
             Papist
          
           ,
           nor
           was
           there
           any
           the
           least
           mention
           of
           these
           Informations
           ,
           nor
           any
           swearing
           heartily
           or
           unheartily
           ,
           as
           the
           Observator
           suggests
           .
           And
           I
           believe
           Squire
           Williamson
           will
           do
           me
           the
           right
           to
           justifie
           this
           to
           be
           in
           substance
           the
           truth
           of
           all
           that
           then
           past
           between
           us
           ;
           and
           there
           were
           also
           present
           two
           other
           Persons
           ,
           who
           will
           be
           ready
           to
           attest
           it
           .
           Novv
           since
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           has
           the
           Conscience
           so
           grossly
           to
           pervert
           and
           falsifie
           a
           matter
           thus
           Notorious
           ,
           vvhat
           esteem
           his
           Writings
           in
           other
           Cases
           (
           as
           relateing
           to
           me
           I
           mean
           ,
           for
           I
           meddle
           no
           further
           )
           may
           deserve
           ,
           let
           the
           World
           judge
           .
        
         
           In
           his
           Observator
           Numb
           .
           10.
           of
           the
           2
           d.
           Volumn
           he
           has
           some
           touches
           at
           me
           ,
           and
           reckons
           up
           several
           Affidavits
           of
           mine
           ,
           and
           says
           ,
           
             they
             took
             no
             effect
          
           ,
           yes
           Sir
           ,
           they
           took
           all
           the
           effect
           I
           desired
           ,
           which
           was
           only
           to
           acquaint
           the
           Magistrates
           with
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           they
           examined
           me
           about
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           I
           knew
           and
           no
           further
           ;
           and
           the
           tenderness
           I
           used
           ,
           strongly
           argues
           the
           candor
           and
           sincerity
           of
           my
           Evidence
           ,
           no
           way
           casts
           any
           disparagement
           upon
           it
           ;
           if
           the
           Law
           in
           some
           Cases
           require
           two
           Witnesses
           ,
           and
           for
           want
           thereof
           ,
           some
           ,
           I
           justly
           accused
           ,
           were
           released
           ,
           or
           if
           perhaps
           others
           were
           not
           prosecuted
           ,
           what
           is
           that
           to
           me
           .
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           late
           Paper
           ,
           pretending
           to
           be
           a
           Reply
           to
           the
           Observations
           on
           the
           Lord
           
             Petre's
             Letter
          
           ,
           argues
           the
           veracity
           of
           the
           late
           Evidence
           ,
           because
           so
           many
           that
           they
           accused
           are
           
             at
             liberty
          
           ;
           Mr.
           
             L'Estrange
             for
             the
             very
             same
             reason
             ,
          
           would
           render
           mine
           unworthy
           of
           belief
           .
           These
           two
           Authors
           should
           best
           consult
           together
           and
           reconcile
           themselves
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           fear
           I
           have
           wearied
           the
           Reader
           as
           well
           as
           my self
           ,
           in
           taking
           so
           much
           notice
           of
           ,
           and
           detecting
           the
           malice
           ,
           the
           falsities
           ,
           the
           shams
           and
           idle
           Tales
           ,
           which
           the
           Observator
           has
           invented
           ,
           or
           pickt
           up
           and
           spread
           about
           me
           ;
           which
           of
           themselves
           sufficiently
           appear
           to
           every
           judicious
           Eye
           to
           be
           mere
           Calumnies
           and
           the
           effects
           of
           a
           
             cankered
             spleen
          
           .
           However
           to
           undeceive
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           not
           resolv'd
           to
           believe
           his
           Fictions
           ,
           in
           defiance
           both
           of
           Truth
           and
           Reason
           ,
           I
           have
           
             once
             for
             all
          
           ,
           taken
           this
           pains
           ,
           resolving
           never
           to
           trouble
           my self
           further
           with
           the
           noise
           he
           shall
           make
           about
           them
           ;
           henceforth
           he
           may
           talk
           his
           pleasure
           ,
           I
           shall
           take
           no
           more
           notice
           on
           't
           ,
           than
           to
           hear
           a
           Serpent
           Hiss
           ,
           or
           an
           Ass
           Bray
           .
           Only
           I
           desire
           all
           Persons
           to
           bind
           up
           this
           my
           Answer
           and
           Defence
           with
           their
           Observators
           ,
           and
           that
           as
           oft
           as
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           shall
           repeat
           the
           same
           Stories
           (
           for
           he
           has
           much
           of
           the
           Cuckow
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           sings
           an
           hundred
           times
           over
           the
           same
           Note
           )
           they
           would
           be
           so
           just
           ,
           as
           to
           turn
           as
           ofen
           to
           these
           Papers
           ,
           where
           I
           doubt
           not
           ,
           but
           every
           impartial
           peruser
           ,
           will
           find
           a
           sufficient
           Answer
           thereunto
           .
        
         
           And
           so
           I
           take
           leave
           of
           Mr.
           L'Estrange
           ,
           who
           being
           an
           Antient
           Gentleman
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Course
           of
           Nature
           on
           the
           brink
           of
           the
           Grave
           ;
           I
           wish
           ,
           he
           would
           better
           regulate
           his
           Conduct
           ,
           and
           not
           spend
           his
           precious
           time
           ,
           and
           abuse
           those
           Great
           Parts
           ,
           God
           has
           given
           him
           ,
           in
           such
           trifling
           ,
           false
           ,
           mischievous
           and
           scandalous
           Stories
           against
           a
           Neighbour
           ,
           a
           Parishioner
           ,
           and
           a
           Member
           of
           the
           same
           Protestant
           Church
           (
           if
           he
           be
           really
           what
           he
           professes
           :
           )
           who
           ,
           as
           I
           never
           wrong'd
           him
           ;
           so
           I
           am
           ready
           ,
           on
           his
           acknowledgment
           ,
           heartily
           to
           forgive
           him
           all
           these
           injuries
           :
           And
           pray
           God
           to
           give
           him
           the
           Grace
           to
           Repent
           ,
           before
           he
           be
           called
           to
           that
           dreadful
           Tribunal
           ,
           before
           which
           we
           must
           both
           shortly
           appear
           .
        
         
           
             Miles
             Prance
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A55631-e340
           
             *
             A
             Pamphlet
             lately
             suppressed
             ,
             by
             the
             Order
             (
             as
             I
             am
             informed
             )
             of
             the
             Right
             Honourable
             and
             Reverend
             ,
             my
             Lord
             
               the
               Bishop
               of
            
             London
             ,
             as
             Scandalizing
             the
             whole
             Reformation
             ,
             under
             pretence
             of
             exposing
             Presbyterians
             .
             The
             Author
             of
             which
             was
             one
             Mr.
             Pratt
             (
             that
             calls
             himself
             Doctor
             )
             one
             that
             heretofore
             was
             always
             not
             only
             a
             professed
             ,
             but
             virulent
             Papist
             ,
             and
             I
             never
             heard
             of
             his
             Conversion
             .