A A : 3 i 1 ; 8 I 4 I 3 I 8 I HARRIS An Historical and Critical Account of Hugh Peters, liiiTue Peters, '/'//////x//t;/ /,]■ f}. S/// /;■//>//,. V'.l/r//-////:v f'/////;// )/f/y/ '. I I -0% L.V; ^ Am MISTOKICAL ANB CRITICAL ^ttOtlttt OF HUGH PETERS. AFTER THE MANNER OF Mr. BAYLE. LONDON % Printed for J. Noon, Cheapside; and A. Millar, in the Strand, 1751. l^eprintcD 5g ©. 5meiton, 5t. iWattm'g CPJiutc^ ¥atD, €5adng ©rojjjj. H.DCCC.XVIll. f-^'/^^ LIBRARY yNIVEHBITY OF CALIFORNIA S/^IsTA BARBARA AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL ACCOUNT OF HUGH PETERS. UGH PETERS (a) born in the Year 1599, was the Son of considerable Pa- rents, oi Foy'iw CormcalL His Father was a Mer- cliant ; his Mother of the ancient Family of the Treffys \_A\ of Place in that Town. He was sent to Cambridge at fourteen Years of Age ; where being placed in Trinity College, he took the Degree of Batchelor of Arts in 1616, and of fa) Chief- ly extracted from a dying Fntlier'slast Legacy loan ouly Child ; or Mr Hugh Peters^ s Ad- vice to his Daughter. London. 1660, IQmo. \^A~\ The ancient Family of the Treffys, of Place.] Thus Ihe Name is spelt iti Peters' s last Legacy: Rut the same Family was lately, if it is not now in Bein^, in the same House, whose Name is always, I think, spelled Treffrij. However, from hence it is very apj)arent, tLul Peten\ Pamilai^e, by the Mother, was 6 An Historical and Critical Master in 1622. He was licensed by Dr. Mou7itain, Bishop of London, and preached at Sepulchre's with great Success. [B] Meeting with some Trouble on the Account of his Non- CaJ Peiers^s Legacy, p. very considerable; For the Antiquity of the Fanailj is known to most; nor docs it yield in Gentility to any of the Cornish; which is no mean Character in the Eyes of those who value themselves ou Birth and Descent. [jB.] Preached at Sepulchre'^ with great Success.'] His Account of his comina; to Sepulchre's, and the Success that he met with, will let us see something of he Man. (a) ' To Sepulchre's I was brought by a very strange Providence; for preaching before at another Place, and a young Man receiving some Good, would not be satisfied, but I must preach at Sepulchre's,, once monthly, for tlie Good of his Friends. In which he got his End, (if I might not shew Vanity) and he allowed thirty Pounds per Ann. to that Lecture; but his Person unknown to me. He was a Chandler, and died a good Man, and Member of Parliament. At this Lecture the Resort grew so great, that it contracted Envy and Anger; though 1 believe above a hundred every Week were per- suaded from Sin to Christ: There were six or seven thousand Hearers, and the Circumstances fit for such good Work.' Great Success this! and what few Preachers are blessed with. But some, I know, would attribute this to Enthusiasm, which is very con- tagious, and produces surprising, though not lasting Effects. However this be, it is no Wonder Envy and Anger were contracted by it. For Church Governors are wont to dislike popular Preachers, especially when they set themselves to teach in a Manner different from Ihem. 1 will only remark further, t\mt Peters was as great a Converter as our modern Methodists. Account of Hugh Peters, conformity, [C] lie went to Holland, where [C] Trouble on the Account of his Nonconformiti/ .~\ Never was there any Thing in the World more incon- sistent with Christianity or good Policy than Persecution for Conscience Sake. Yet such was the madness of the Prelates, during the Reigns of the Stuarts^ as to harrass and distress men most cruelly, merely on account of Nonconformity to Ecclesiastical Ceremonies. Laud was an arch Tyrant this Way, as is known to all acquainted with our Histories; nor were fVre?i and others much inferior to him. The very Spirit of Tyranny actuated their Breasts, and made tliem feared and loathed whilst living, caused them to be abhorred since dead, and will render them infamous throughout all Generations. 1 can add nothiug to what iocAe and Bayle have said on the Reasonableness and Equity of Toleration : To them 1 will refer those, who have any Doubts about it. Only as to the popular Objections of its being inconsistent with the Good of the State, and the Wars and Tumults occasioned by it, I will beg Leave to observe, that it is evident to a Demonstration, that those Communities are more happy in which the greatest Number of Sects abound. Holland^ the free Cities of Germany, and England, since the Revolution, prove the Truth of my Assertion. And 1 will venture, without pretending to the Spirit of Prophecy, to affirm, tiiat, whenever the Sects in ^wg-Zrwc? shall cease, Learn- ing and Liberty will be no more amongst us. So tiiat, instead of suppressing, we ought to wisli their Increase. For they are Curbs to the Slate Clergy, excite a Spirit of Emulation, and occasion a Decency and Regularity of Behaviour among them, which they would, pro- bably, be otherwise Strangers to. And for Civil W^ars about Religion; they are so far from arising from Toleration, that for the most Parf, they are the Efi'ect of the Prince's Imprudence. ' He * must needs (says an indisj)utable Judge) have unsea- 8 An Historical and Critical he was five or six Years \^CC] ; from whence he removed to Netv-Engtand, and, after resid- ing there seven Years, was sent into England by that Colony, to mediate for Ease in Customs and Excise. The Civil War being then on Foot, he went into Ireland, and npon his Return, was entertained by the Earl of JVarwick, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Oliver-Croinwell, (a J Anti- Machiurel Eng. Trav. p. 328, Edit. 1741. * sonably favoured one Sect, at the Expence of another : * He must either have too much promoted, or too much ' discouraged the public Exercise of certain Forms of ' Worship: He must have added Weight to Parly- * quarrels, which are only transient Sparks of Fire, * when the Sovereign does not interfere, but become ' Conflagrations when he foments them. To maintain ' the Civil Government with Vigour, to grant every ' Man a Liberty of Conscience, to act always like a ' King, and never to put on the Priest, is the sure ' Means of preserving a State from those Storms and * Hurricanes, which the dogmatical Spirit of Divines ' is continually labouring to conjure up.' (a) Had Charles the First had the Wisdom and Prudence of this great Writer, he never had plunged his Kingdoms into the Miseries of a Civil War; nor by hearkening to his Chaplains, refused Terms which would have prevented his unhappy Catastrophe. \CC] Where he was Jive or six Yearsr\ It seems that he behaved himself so well, during his stay in Holland^ as to procure great Interest and ileputation in that Country; for, being afterwards in Ireland, and seeing the great Distress of the poor Protestants, that had been plundered by the Irish Rebels, he went into Holland, and procured about thirty-thousand Pounds to be sent from thence into Ireland for their Relief. Ludlow's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 75. Account of Hugh Peters. afterwards Protector [D]. He was much valued l)y the Parliament, and improved his Interest with them in the Behalf of the unfor- tunate, [£J He was very zealous and active [D] Enterf (lined hy the Earl of Warwick, Sir Thomas CaJ wmt. Fairfax, and Oliver Cromwell.] Mr. Whitloclc shall ^ock-'sMemo- be my Voucher for this. (a)mv. Peters, says he, xo«S/i732' gave a large Relation to the Commons, of all the Folio. "' Business of Lyme, where he was with the Earl of Warwick. Again, (b) Mr. Peters, who brought up (*) ibid. Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax, was called into the P" ^^^* House, and made a large Relation of the particular Passages in the Taking of Bridgwater. And (c) Mr. IfJ ^^''^• Peters was called into the House, and gave them a ^" ' * particular Account of the Siege of Bristol; — and he pressed the Desire of Sir Thomas Fair fix to have Recruits sent him.— erf; Letters brought by Mr. Peters, /^f. ^^^^' from Lieutenant-Gcneral Cromwell, concerning the taking Winchester Castle; after which he was called in, and gave a particular Relation of it. — (e) He came (c) ibid. from the Army to the House, and made them a Narra- P- ^89- lion of the Storming and Taking of Dart7iwuth, and of the Valour, Unity, and Affection of the Army, and presented several Letters, Papers, Crucifixes, and other Popish Things taken in the Town.— It is plain from those Quotations, that Peters must have been in Favour with the Generals, and that he must have made some considerable Figure in the Transactions of those Times. It is not improbable that the Distinction with which ho was troated by them, attached him so firmly to their Interest, that in the End it cost him his Life. [£] Improxcd his Interest with them in the Behalf of the unfortunate J " At his Trial he averred he had a Certificate under the Marchioness of Worcester's Hand beginning with these Words: 7 do here tcslifi/, that in all the Sufferings of my Husband, Mr. Peters zms my great Friend. And added he, I have here a Seal 10 An Historical and Critical in their Cause, and had Presents made him, and an Estate given him by them [^F]. (a) Exact aad imparti- al Account of the Trial of the Regi- cides- Lond. Ato. 1660. p. 173. {h)OrmoniVs Papers pub- lished by CaTte,yo\.\. p. 233. Lond. 1739. (c) See the Pagfesbefore quoted in Remark [D] (d) Peters' s J.egacy.p. 102, 104, ll3. Id. i>, 103. (and then produced it) that the Earl of Norwich gave me to keep for his Sake, for saving his Life, which I will keep as long as ] live fa J." And how great the Opinion was of his Interests with the Persons in Power, we find from the following Words in a Letter addressed to Secretary Nicholas, March 8, 1G48. Mr. Peters presenting Yesterday Hamilton' ^ Petition to the Speaker, raade many believe he at last would escape (6). Indeed, here he was unsuccessful! : But his good Nature, and Readiness to oblige, were manifested, and one would have thought should have merited some Return to him when in Distress. \_F\ Had Presents made him, and an Estate giten him hy them.'] We find in Whitlock, that he' had 100 Pounds given him, when he brought the News of taking Bridgwater ; 50 Pounds, when he brought Letters from Cromwell concerning the taking Winchester Castle; that there was an Order for 100 Pounds a Year for him and his Heirs; and another Ordonance for 200 Pounds a Year, (c) To all which we may add, the Estate the Parliament gave him, mentioned in the Body of the Article (if it was distinct from the 100 and 200 Pounds per Annum mentioned by Whitlock) which was Part of the Lord Craven's; and the Bishop's Books (Laud's, I suppose) valued as he tells us, at 140 Pounds; and likewise the Pay of a Preacher as he could get it. (d) These were handsome Rewards, and shew the Parlia- ment to have been no bad Masters. But, notwith- standing, " he says, he lived in Debt, because what he " had, others shared in." From hence. Generosity, or Prodigality of Temper, may be inferred: But as it may as well be attributed to the former as to the latter, I know not why we should not consider him rather as laudable than culpable. Indeed, the Clergy have been branded for their Covetousness; though certain it is, Account of Hugh Peters. 11 He assisted Mr, Chaloner in his last Moments, as he afterwards did Sir John Hotham. [C] there have been some among (hem, who have performed as many ijeneroiis, good natured actions, as any of their ill W lifers. [G] Re assisted Mr. Chaloner a/?c? Sir John Holham.] Mr. Chaloner was (a) executed for what was called C^^J •^«^«/ s> Waller a Plot, an Account of which is to be found in ^^^^' the Historians of those Times. He owned he c??ecf justly, ^,,0 and deserved his Punishment. In Compliance with Hist.CoHect. Peter s\ Request, he explained the Part he had had in it, Part ill. and being desired by him, Peters prayed with him {b). ^"'^ "• P' — The Business of Sir John Hotham is well known. Lond.iQ92. Peters attended him on the (c) Scaffold, and received Fol. public Thanks on it from him. I will transcribe Part of ^w Speech, and likewise of Pe/cr^'s, by his Command, fcj Jan. 2. that the Reader may judge something of his Temper and '^' Behaviour. ' 1 hope,' said Sir Jo/m, ' God Almighty * will forgive me, the Parliament and the Court Martial, * and all Men that have had any Thing to do Avith my * Death. And, Gentlemen, 1 thank this worthy Gen- * tleman (*) tor putling me in Mind of it.' — Then Mr. /^n jjg ^^^ Peters spoke again [he had before mentioned the hereunto Desire of Sir John, not to have many questions put to moved by him, he having fully discovered his Mind to him and ^'''' ^'^'■*' other Ministers: But that he might have Liberty to Korih. speak only what he thought fit concerning himself] ' and ' told the Audience, that he liad something further to ' commend unto them from Sir John Hotham, which * was, that he had lived in Abundance of Plenty, his ' Estate large, about 2000 Pounds a year at first, and * that he had gained much to it; that in the Beginning * of his Days, he was a Soldier in the Low Countries, ' and was at the Battle of Prague ; that at his first ' going out for a Soldier, his Father spoke to him * to this Effect; Son! when the Crown o( England lies ^ at Stake, you will have Fighting enough. That he 12 An Historical and Critical He could fight [jy] as well as pray ; though, ra) Id. p. 80.3, S04. bad run through great Hazards and Undertakings; and now coming to this end, desired they would take Notice in him, of the Vanity of all Things here below, as Wit, Parts, Prowess, Strength, Friends, Honour, or what else.' ' Then Mr. Peters having prayed, and after him Sir John, they sung the S8th Psalm ; and Sir John kneel- ing ' fh) Clarcn- j BedeVs serious. This leading a Brigade against the Irish ^f '^' P^j Rebels, ought not to be imputed to Peters as a Crime : 1085. It being equally as Justifiable as Archbishop WiUiams''s arming in the Civil Wars in En^/and, or Dr. Walkers defending London- Derr?/, and lighting at the Battle of the Boi/n (in which he gloriously lost his Jjife) in Ireland; more especially as the Irish against whom Peters fought, were a Blood-thirst >j Crew, who had committed (c) Acts of Wickedness, hardly to be paralleled even in the Annals of Rome Papal. Against such Villains, therefore, it was meritorious to engage, and Peters was undeniably Praise-worthy. For there are Times and Seasons when the Gown must give Place to Arms, even at those times when our Laws, Liberties, and Religion are endangered by ambitious, bloody, and superstitious Men. And were the Clergij in all Coun- tries, as much concerned for these Blessings as they ought, they would deserve the Reverence of all Orders of Men. [/J In his Capacity of a Preacher he was most service- able to the Cause.] JVhitlock tells us, that when Sir Thomas Fairfax moved for storming Bridgwater a-new, and it was assented to, the Lord's Day before, Mr. Peters, in his Sermon, encouraged the Soldiers to the Work. And at JMilford Haven, the Country did unanimously take tlie Engagement, and Mr. Peters, opened the matter to them, and did much encourage them to take it. He pre;iched also in the Market- p. 447, place at Toriington, and convinced many of their c fcj See a Breviafe of some of the Cruelties, Murders, &c. commit- ted by the Irish Popish Rebels upoa the Protes- tants, Oct. 23, 1641. ia Rushwort/i, Part 111. Vol. I. p. 405. WhWOCky p. 162. 14 An Historical and Critical He was thought to be deeply concerned in the King's Death, and his Name has been treated with much Severity by Reason of it. [K] Whuiccii, Errors in adhering to tlic King's party. — A man of this p. 194. Temper, it is easily seen, must be of great Service to any Party; and seems to deserve the Rewards he received. For in Factions, it is the bold and daring Man, the Man that will spare no Pains, that is to be valued and encouraged ; and not the meek, the modest, and moderate one. A Man of Wisdom would not have takenthese Employments upon him, norwould a Minister, one sliould tiiink, who was animated by the meek and merciiul Spirit of the (jospel, have set himself from the Pulpit, to encourage the Soldiers to storm a Town, in Avhich his Brethren and Countrymen were besieged. If storming was thought necessary by the Generals, they themselves should have encouraged the Soldiers there- unto: But Peters^ as a Minister of the Gospel, should Imve excited them rather to spare the Eflusion of human Blood as much as possible, and to have Com- passion on the Innocent. Peters^ however, was not singular in his Conduct. The immortal Chiliino-worth. led away with Parti/ Spirit, and forgetting that he was a Minister of the Prince of Peace, attended the Kin^^s Army before Gloucester ; and " observing that they (a)^ Maiz- u -wanled Materials, to carry on the Siege, suggested ol^Chiiilmi- " ^^^ making of some Engines, after the Manner of the «o)7/(, p. " Roman Tesludines cum pluteis (ay\ — Indeed, the 280, Lovd. J3i vines of both Sides too much addicted themselves to aud^'iiush- ^^^'^^^ respective Parties; and were too unmindful of the worth, Part Duties of Ihcir Function. 3d, Vol. II. [K'j Deeply/ concerning the King''s Death, &c.] P ' Every one knows he sufl'ered for this after the Restora- tion. He had Judgment passed on him as a Traytor, rhJOct 16 sii^ 'IS such was executed, (6) and his Head afterwards 16G0. ' set on a Pole on London- Bridge. Account of Hugh Peters. He was appointed one of the Triers for the 15 (a) Burnet tells us, ' that he had been ontragious in * pressing the King's Death, with the Cruelty and * Rudeness of an Inquisitor.' — Dr. i^orto/cA" says lie was * upon no slight grounds accused to have been one of * the King's Murtherers, though it could not be suffi- ' ciently proved against him.' {b) And we find in a Satj^rical Piece, stiled Epulce Thj/estce, printed 1619, the fallowing Lines : " There's Peters, the Denyer (nay 'tis said, " He that ('diss:uis''d) cut off his Master's Head ;) " That Godly Piaeon of Apostacy " Does buz about his Auti-Mouarchy, « His Scaffold Doctrines." One Mr. Slarkey at his Trial swore, that ' He stiled * the King Tyrant and Fool, asserted that he was not ' fit to be a King, and that the Office was and useless.' dangerous, chargeable, It was likewise sworn on his 'I'rial, that in a Sermon, a few Days before the King's Trial, he addressed him- self to the Members of tlie two Houses, in these Terms: (c) " My Lords and you. Noble Gentlemen, — It is you, " we chiefly look for Justice from. Do not prefer the great Barabbas^ JMurlherer, Tyrant and Trcn/tor, before these poor hearts (pointing to the red Coats) and the Army, who are our Saviours." In another Sermon before Cromwell and BradshaWy he said, " Here is a great Discourse and Talk in the " World; What, will ye cut off the Head of a Protes- *' tant Prince? Turn to your Bibles, and ye shall find *' it there. Whosoever sheds Man's Bloody hy Man shall his Blood be shed. ^-I see neither King Charles, Prince Charles, I'rince Rupert, nor Prince Maurice, nor any of that Rabble excepted out of it." — These and many other Things, of the like Nature, were sworn against him at his Trial, and notwithstanding his Denial of the 6i ii li ii ii (a) Hisl. of his owu Times, Dufcli Edit, in 12mo. Vol. I. p. 264. (6) Bar. ivick\^ Life, JEnff. Trans, p. 29(j, Loud. 1724. Trial of the Reg'icides, p 159. (c) Ibid, p. 166. t. e. King's. Trial of the Regicides, p. 168, 16 (a) Pc/e/Vs Legacy, p. 102. (b) Whit, lock, p. 370 (c) Den hani's Epist Dedicat to Charles II of his Poems, 2d Edit. 1671 An Historical and Critical most Part of them, caused his Condemnation. So that there seems pretty clear Proof of his Guilt, and suffi- cient Reason for his Censure. Let us now hear Peters speak for himself: " I had " Access to the King, — he used me civilly; I, in «' Requital, offered my poor Thoughts three Times for <' iiis Safety; I never had Hand in contriving or acting " liis Death, as 1 am scandalized, but the contrary, to " my mean Power." (a) Which, if true, no Wonder lie should think the Act of Indemnity would have included him, as well as others, as he declares he did, of which we shall speak more hereafter. That he was useful and serviceable to the King, during his confinement, there is undeniable Proof. Whitlock writes, " that upon a Conference between the «• King and Mr. //?/"// Peters, and the King desiring " one of his own Chaplains might be permitted to come " to him, for his Satisfaction in some Scruples of Con- " science, Dr. Jitxon^ Bishop of Ijondon, was ordered " to so to his Majesty." (b) And Sir John Dniham, being entrusted by the Queen, to deliver a Message to his Majesty, who, at that Time, was in the hands " of the Army, by Hugh Peters's Assistance, he got " Admittance to the King." (c) These were considerable Services, and could hardly have been expected frora a Man, who was outragious in pressing the King's Death, with the Cruelty and Rude- ness of an Inquisitor. And as to what was said of his being supposed to be the King's Executioner, one, who was his servant, de- posed on his Trial, that he kept his Chamber, being sick, on the Day the King suffered: And no Stress was laid by the King's Council on the Suspicions uttered against him on this Head. So that, in all Reason, Dr. Barzaick should have forborn saying, " That he was upon no " slight Grounds accused to have been one of the King's «' Murtherers." Certain it is, he too much fell in with the Times, and, like a true Court Chaplain, applauded and justified what his Masters did, or intended to do; though he u Account of Hugh Peters. 17 Ministry. [LJ And a Commissioner for araent]- himself migbt be far enough from urging them before- hand to do it. He would perhaps have been pleased, if the King and Army had come to an Agreement: But as that did not happen, he stuck close to his Party, and would not leave defending their most iniquitous Behaviour. Which Condnct is not peculiar to Peters, diaries the First, at this Day, is spoke of as the best, not only of Men, but of Kings; and the Parliament is said to have acted right in opposing his Tyranny, and likewise in bringing him to the Block, by the staunch Party- men of each side respectively. No Wickedness is owned, no Errors are acknowledged on the one Part, nor is tiiere any such Thing to be granted as Wisdom or Honesty on the other. — These arc the men that often (urn the World upside down, and spirit up Mobs, Tumults and Seditions, till at length they become quite contemptible, and perhaps undergo the Fate allotted io Folly and V ill an 7/. [Z>] One of the Triers for the Ministry.'] These were men appointed by Cromwell, to try the Abilities of all Entrants into the Ministry, and likewise the Capacity of such others, as wore presented, or invited to new Places. Butler, according to his Manner, has represented their Business in a ludicrous Light, in the following Lines : " Whose Business i«<, by cunning Slight, " To cast a Fijrure for Men's Li) 1 Titn " which xoere without?''' (b) 1 say, how much more 111. 2—7. intelligible and important, would these Questions have been, yea, how much easier and more certainly deter- mined, than that above mentioned? But it is a very long Time ago, that these were the Qualifications required and expected from Clergymen : For Ages past. Subscription to doubtful Articles of Faith, Decla- tions very ambiguous, or most difficult to be made by imderstauding Minds, or the Shibboleth of the prevailing Party in the Church, have been the Things required and insisted on. Whence it has come to pass, that so many of our Divines, as they are stiled, understand so little of the Scriptures, and that they know and practise so little of pure, genuine Christianity. I would not be thought to reflect on any particular Persons ; but hope those, in whose Hands the Government of the Church is lodged, will consider whether they are not much too careless in their Examinations of young Men for Ordi- nations ? Whether very many of them are not unqualified to teach and instruct, through Neglect of having care- fully studied the Word of God ? And whether their Conversation be not such as is unsuitable to the Character conferred on them ? — It is with Uneasiness one is obliged to hint at these Things. But, surely, it is more than Time that they were reformed, and St. Pa^/'s Rule.s ■were put in Practice. Account of Hugh Peters, 19 ing the Laws, though poorly qualified for it, [If] A wise, virtuous, prudent Clergy is the CJIory and Happiness of a Community, and there cannot l)e too much Care taken to procure it. (a) But if Triers («) See neglect the means of doing this, and admit all -vvho are ^ll!^^'l"f^^„. presented to a Curacy to Orders, if so be they will auction to make Use of the Terms in Vogue, whether they under- Moral Phi stand them or no, they deserve Censure, and are «''*'il7'Vu answerable for all the sad Consequences which flow g sect*. i. ' from Ignorance, Folly and Vice. [il/J Commissioner for amending the Laws, though •poorly qiialijied for if.] He as good as owns this in the following Passage : " AVhen 1 was a Trier of others, " I went to hear and gain Experience, rather than to " Judge: when I was called about mending Laws, I rather " was thereto pray, than to mend Laws : But in all " these 1 confess, I might as well have been spared." {b) (h) Pcters's This is modest, and very ingenuous : But such a con- Legacy, p. fession, as few of our Gentlemen concerned in such Matters, would chuse to make. They frequently boast of the great Share they have in Business; though many of them may well be spared. — Let us confirm the Truth of Peters'' s Confession, by TVhitloch: " 1 was often " advised with by some of this Committee, and none " of them was more active in this Business, than Mr. " Hugh Peters the Minister, who understood little of the Law, but was very opinionative, and would frequently mention some Proceedings of Law in Holland^ wherein he was altogether mistaken." (c) — {f) Whit. The Ignorance and inability of the Man, with regard ^"cA, p. 52i. to these Matters, we see are as plainly described here, as in his own Words ; though how to reconcile his own Opinionativeness and Activity in it, with his going to the Committee rather to pro?/, than to mend Imws, I (d) This confess, I know not. Perhaps he had forgot the Part Commiu.e lie had acted.— This (d) " Committee were to take into ;^|ft/„Pf oi'^" ^' Consideration what Inconveniences were in the Law, kjji. " * a p 20 All Ilislorical and Critical " how the Mischiefs that grow from Delays, the Charge- " ableness and Irreo^ularilies in the Proceed iners of the " Law may be prevented, and the speediest Way to " prevent the same." In this CommiUee with Peters, were Mr. Fountain, Mr. Rushzoorth, and Sir Anthony/ Ashley Cooper, afterwards Earl of Shaftsbury, and Lord Pligh Chancellor; besides many others of Rank and Figure. No great Matters followed from this Committee, by Reason of the Hurry of the Times^ and the Opposition which the Lawyers made to it. But the ih)Oct. Parliament had a little before (a) passed an "Act that wlmo^k f^ll the Books on the Law should be put into English; p. i7o. * ' " ^"^1 ^^^t ^11 Writs, Process, and Returns thereof, " and all Patents, Commissions, Indictments, Judg- " ments. Records, and all Rules and Proceedings in " Courts of Justice, shall be in the English Tongue " only." This Act or Ordinance (to speak in the Language of the Times of which I am writing) does great honour to the Parliament, and is an argument of their good Sense, and Concern for the Welfare of the People. It is amazing so good a Law should not have been continued by proper Authority after the Restora- tion! But it was a sufficient Reason then to disuse a Thing, though ever so good in hself, that it had been enacted by an usurped Power. Of such fatal Conse- quences are Prejudices! But thanks be unto God ! we have seen the Time when this most excellent Ordinance has been again revivedj and received the sanction of the whole Legislature. — How much were it to be wished, that a Committee of wise and prudent Persons were once more employed to revise, amend, and abridge our Laws ! that we might know ourselves how to act, and not be necessiated to make Use of those, who (we are sensible) live on our Spoils. — This would add greatly to the Glory of our most excellent Prince ; and would be the best Employment of that Peace, which his Wisdom has procured for us. But much is it to be feared, that our adversaries will be too hard for us, and that we shall be obliged, for a Time at least to submit to their Yoke. But whenever the Spirit of true Patriotism Account of Hugh Peters. 21 He is accused of great Vices ; but whether justly or not, is a Question. [N] shall generally possess the Breasts of our Senators, I doubt not, but that they will apply themselves to our Deliverance in good Earnest, and bring it to Perfection (as it was long ago done in Denmark, and very lately in Prussia) in as much as the Happiness of the Commu- nity absolutely depends thereon. [iV] Accused of great Vices ; but whether justli/, or not, is a question.^ 1 will transcribe Dr. Barwick at large, (a) " The wild Prophecies uttered by his T^;^ ^f'?'' *' (Hugh Peters's) impure Mouth, were stil! received p.* 155. i\e. *' by the People with the same Veneration, as if they " had been Oracles ; though he was known to be " infamous for more than one Kind of Wickedness. A " Fact, which Milton himself did not dare to deny, " when he purposely wrote his Apology, for this very " End, to defend even by Name (as far as was possible) " the very blackest of the Conspirators, and Hugh " Peters among the chief of them, who were by Name " accused of manifest Impieties by their Adversaries." — {b) Burnet says likewise, " He was a very vicious cbj Hist. Man." And (c) Langbaine liints something of an ^°^ ^P- " Affair that he had With a Batcher's Wife o^ Sep ul- ^^'^^ " core's." Peters himself was not insensible of his ill .^x p^^^ Charaeter amongst the opposite Party, nor of the par- matic Poets, ticular Vice laid to his Charge by />rwg6a?we : But he p 339. terms it Reproach, and allributes it to his Zeal in the Cause. — " By my Zeal, it seems, 1 have exposed " myself to all Maimer of Reproach: But wish you to " know, that (besides your Mother) I have had no " Fellowship that Way with any Woman since I knew " her, having a godly Wife bctbre also, 1 bless "God."((/) ^ c'^'^^Kc!' A Man is not allowed (o be a Witness in his own Cause; nor shoidd, 1 think, his Adversaries Testimony D 22 An Hislorical and Critical He was executed shortly after the Restoration ; though doubtless, he had as much Reason to be deemed full Proof. One loaden with such an Accu- sation as Peters was, and suffering as a Traytor, when the Party Spirit ran high, and Revenge actuated the Breasts of those who bore Rule: For such a one to be traduced, and blackened beyond his Deserts, is no Wonder. — It is indeed hard to prove a Negative; and the concurring Testimony of Writers to Peter s's bad Character, makes one with difficulty suspend Assent unto it. But if the following Considerations be weighed, I shall not, perhaps, be blamed, for saying it was a Question xohether he was accused juslli/ or not ? 1. The Accusations against him came from known Enemies, those who hated the Cause he was engaged in, and looked on it as detestable. It may easily therefore he supposed, that they were willing to blacken the Actors in it, or at least that they were susceptible of ill Impressions concerning them, and ready to believe any evil Thing they heard of them. This will, if attended to, lessen the Weight of their Evidence con- siderably, and dispose us to think that they may have misrepresented the Characters of their Opponents. Barwicli^ at first Sight, appears an angry partial Writer: Burnet's Characters were never thought too soft; they were both Enemies to the Republican Party though not equally furious and violent. Add to this, that neither of them, as far as appears, knew any thing of Peters themsehes ; and therefore what they write must be considered only as common Fame, than which nothing is more uncertain. 2. The Times in which Peters was on the Stage, were far enough from favouring Vice (public Vice, for it is of this Peters is accused) in the Ministerial Character. He must be a Novice in the History of those Times, who knows not what a precise, demure Kind of Men the Preachers among the Parliamentarians^ Account of Hugh Peters. 23 were. They were careful not only of (heir Actmis^ but likewise of their Words and Looks; and allowed not themselves in the innocent Gaities and Pleasures of Life. I do not take on me to say, they were as good, as they pretended to be. For ought 1 know, they might be, yea, perhaps, Avere proud, conceited, censorious, un- charitable, avarhious. But then Drunkenness, Whore- dom, Adultery, and Swearing, were things quite out of Vogue among them, nor was it suffered in them. So that how vicious soever their Inclinations might be, they were obliged fo conceal them, and keep them from the Eye of the Public. It was this Sobriety of Beha- viour, this Strictness of Conversation, joined with their popular Talents in the Pulpit, that created them so much Respect, and caused such a Regard to be paid unto their Advice and Direction. The People in a Manner atlored them, and were under their Govern- ment almost absolutely. So that the leading Men in the House of Commons, and those, who after the King's Death were in the Administration of Affairs, were obliged to Court them, and profess to admire them. Hence it was, that Men of such Sense as P?/m, Ilamp- den, Holies, Whillock, Selden, St. John, Cromwell, &c. sat so many Hours hearing their long winded ^enk Prayers and Preachments; that Men of the greatest Note took it as an Honour to set with the Assembly of Divines, and treated them with so much Deference and Regard. For it was necessary to gain the Preachers in Order to maintain their Credit with the People: Now, certainly, if Peters had been a Man so vicious as lie is repres(LMited, he could have had no influence over the People, nor would he have been treated by the then great Men, in the Manner he was. For they must have parted with him even for their own Sakes, unless they would have been looked on as Enemies to Godliness. But Peters was caressed by the Great; his Prophecies were received as Oracles by the People; and he was of great Service to CromwcU : And there- fore he could not surely (at least publickly) be known to be infumoiiH for more than one Kind of fVickedness, as 24 All Historical and Critical think lie should have escaped, as many others. [OJ Barwick, asserts. In short, Hi^pocrisi/ was the Cha- racteristic of Peters' s Age : And, -" Hypocritic Zeal " Allows no Sins, but those it can conceal." Dryden. 3. Peters's Patrons seem to render the Account of his Wickedness very improbable. We have seen that he Avas entertained by the Earl of TVarxick, Sir Thomas Fairfax^ and Oliver Cromwell^ and that he was much caressed and rewarded by the Parliament. How impro- bable then is it, that Peters should be infamous for Wickedness ! His Patrons were never accused o^peisonal Vices; they were Men who made high Pretensions to Religion; and the Cause they fought for, they talked'of (if they did not think it to be) as the Cause of God. Now, with what Face could they have done this, if their Cha])!ain, Confident and Tool, had been known to have been a very vicious Man ? Or how could they have talked against scandalous Ministers, who employed one most scandalous ? In short, how could they reward Peters puh(ick/jy, when they always professed great Zeal for Godliness, and were for promoting it to the highest Pitch ? Men of their Wisdom can hardlj'^ be thonght to have acted so inconsistent a Part ; nor is there any Thing in their whole Conduct, which would lead one to think tiiey could be guilty of it. From all these Considerations therefore I think it reasonable to make it a Question, whether Peters was charged justlj/ with great Vices ? [O] As much Reason to think he should have escaped, as many others.^ " I thought the Act of Indemnitj/ CaJPeters's " "^^ould have included me; but the hard character Leg^acy,p. " upon me, excluded me. (a) And no Wonder he 106- should think so, if it was true, " that he never had his " Hand in any Man's Blood, but saved many in Life Account of Hugh Peters. 25 The Charge against him was for compassing and imagining the Death of the King, by con- spiring with Oliver Crotnwell, at several Times and Places ; and procuring the Soldiers to *' and Estate." (a) All that was laid to Peters' s Cliarge was Words ; but Words, it must be owned, unfit to be uttered : Yet if we consider how many greater Oftenders than Peters escaped capital Punishment, we may possi- ])ly think he had hard Measure. Harry Marti/n^ John Goodwin^ and John Milton^ spoke of Charles the First most reproachfully, and the two latter vindicated his Murther in their Public Writings. As early as 1643, we find Martin speaking- out plainly, " That it was bet- " ter the King and his Children were destroyed, than " many ;" which Words were then looked on as so high and dangerous, that he was committed by the House to the Tower ; though shortly after released and re-admitted to his Place in Parliament, (b) He continued still viru- lent against the King, was one of" his Judges, and acted as much as possible against him. Goodwin justified the Seclusion of the Members, which was the Prelude to Charles's Tragedy ; vindicated his Murther, and went into all the Measures of his Masters; and being a Man of ready Wit and great Learning, Avas of good service to them. And as for Milton^ there is no one but knows, that he wrote most sharply against King Charles^ and set forth his Actions in a terribly black light. To take no Notice of his Writings against Salmasius and 31ore ; what could be more cruel against Charles, than his Iconoclasles ! How bitter arc his Observations, how cut- ting his Remarks on his Conduct ! How horribly pro- voking, to point out Sir Philip Sidnei/% Arcadia, as the Book iVoin whence the " Prayer in the Time of Capti- " ti/y," delivered to Dr. Juxon, immediately before his Death, was chiefly taken (c) ? One should have thought this an Indignity never to have been forgotten, nor for- given, especially as it was oITerrcd by one who was («) Legacy, p. 104. See Remark [£] (J>) loch, Whit- p.71: (c) Vld. nayl(;''sDict Article Mil- ton. Milton''a Works, or TolaiKPs Aiuyiitor. 26 An Historical and Critical demand Justice, by preaching divers Sermons to persuade them to take off the King, comparing him to Barabbas, &c. To which he pleaded in his own Defence, that the War began before he came into England ; that since his Arrival, he had endeavoured to promote sound Rehgion^ the Reformation of Learning and Secretary to Cromwell, and wlio bad spent the best part of his Life in the Service of the Anti-Roi/alists. But jet Milto7i was preserved as to Life and Fortune (happy for the polite Arts he was preserved) and lived in great Esteem among Men of Worth all his Days. Goodwin liad the same good Fortune ; and Martin escaped the I'ate of many of his fellow Judges ; though on his Trial, he behaved no Way abjectly or meanly. All this had the Appearance of Clemency, and Peters might reason- ably have expected to share in it. But poor Wretch ! He had nothing to recommend him, as these had, and therefore, though more innocent, fell without Pity. Martin, as it was reported, escaped meerly by his Vices faj Burnet, (a) Goodwin having been a zealous Arminian, and a Vol. I. p 265. Sower of Division among the Sectaries, on these Accounts had Friends : But what Milton''s Merit with the Cour- tiers was, Burnet says not. Though, ifl am not mis- taken, it was with his having saved Sir William Dare^ nanCs Life formerly, which was the Occasion of the Favour shewn to him. Merit or Interest, in the Eyes of the then Courtiers these had ; but Peters, though he had saved many a Life and Estate, was forgotten by those whom in their Distress he had served, and given up to the Hangman. — But the Sentence passed on him, and much more the Execution of it, will seem very risforous if we consider that it was only for Words \ for Words uttered in a Time of Confusion, Uproar, and War. I am not Lawyer enough to determine, whether by any Statute then in Force, Words were Treason. Lord Account of Hugh Peters. 27 the Law, and Employment of the Poor ; tliat, for the better Effectino^ these Thinofs, he had espoused the Interest of the Parliament, in which he had acted vvithout Malice, Avarice, or Ambition; and that whatever Prejudices or Passions might possess the Minds of Men, Strafford (a), in his Defence at (he Bar of (he House of ^ajTriai, Lords, says expressly. " iVo Statute makes Words v- ^^i- Foi. '' Treason.^' But allowing they were, such a Law must ^^^^'^ ^^^^' be deemed (o have been hard, and unfit for Execution ; Especially as (he Words were spoken in Times of Civil Commo(ion. For in such Seasons Men say and do, in a Manner, what they list, the Laws are disregarded, and Rank and Character unminded, Con(emptis poured on Princes, and (he Nobles are had in Derision. These are (he na(ural Consequences of Wars and Tumul(s ; and Wise Men foresee and expect (hem. But were all concerned in (hem to be punished, whole Ci(ies would be turned in(o Shambles. To overlook and forgive what has been said on such Occasions, is a Part of Wis- dom and Prudence, and what has been almost always practised. Never were there greater Liberies (aken with Princes, never more dangerous Doc(rincs inculca(ed by Preachers, (han in France, during Part of (he Reigns of the 3d and 4(h Ilennj. " The College of Sorbonne, " by common Consent, concluded that the French were " discharged from the Oa(h of Allegiance (o Henry the *' Third, and (hat they might arm themselves in Oppo- " sition (o him." In Consequence of which, the People vented their Rage against him, in Satyrs, Lampoons, {b)Maim- Libels, infamous Reports and Calumnies, of which (he f'^urrth'^ most moilerate were Tjjrant and Apostate. And the th(r*Lra''-ue Curates refused Absolution (o such as owned they could translated not renounce him {h). And the same Sorbonists decreed ''v Drydcn, all those who favoured (he Party of Henri/ the Fourth ?^'J''^1oo to be ni a mortal Sm, and liable to Damnation ; and and 437. 28 An Historical and Critical yet ihere was a God who knew these Things to be true. At the Place of Execution, when Chief Justice Coke was cut down and embowelled, Hugh Peters was then ordered to be brought sucli as resisted liim, Cbampions of the Faith, and to be (a) Ibid, rewarded witli a Crown of Martyrdom (a). These De- p. 805. crees produced terrible elTects : And yet, when Henry the Fourth had fully established himself on the Throne, I do not remember that he called any of these Doctors to an Account, or that one of them was executed. That wise Prince, undoubtedly, considered the Times, and viewed these Wretches with Pity and Contempt for being the Tools of cunning artful Men, who veiled their ambitious Designs under the Clokc of Religion. So that really considering what had passed abroad, and what passed under his own Observation, Peters had Reason to think that the Act of Indemnity would have included him. — But setting aside all this, I believe all impartial Judges, will think he had hard Measure dealt him, when they consider that those who preached up Doctrines in tlie Pulpit as bad as Peters' s, and those hkewise who, though Guardians of our Laws and Liberties, and sworn to maintain them, delivered Opinions destructive of them, even from the Bench : I say, whoever considers the comparatively mild Treat- ment these Men have met with, will be apt to judge the Punishment of Peters very severe. What was the Crime of Peters? Was it not the justifying and mag- nifying the King's Death ? And is this worse than the Doctrine oi Montague, Sibthorp, and Manzcaring, which set the King above all Laws, and gave him a Power to do as he list ? Is this worse than the Opinion of the Judges in Charles the First and James the Second''s Time, whereby it was given for Law, that the King might take from his Subjects without Consent of Parlia- Account of Hugh Peters. 29 that he might see it, and the Executioner came to him, rubbing his bloody Hands, asked him how he hked that Work ? He told him he was not at all terrified, and that he might do his worst. And when he was upon the Ladder, he said to the Sheriff, Sir, You have butchered one of the Servants of God before my Eyes, and have forced me to see it^ in order to terrify and discourage me ; but God has permitted it for my Support and Encouragement. One of those Prodigies of those Times atten- ded Peters going to the Gibbet ; f P] which, as ment and dispense with the IjOWs enacted by it ? Far from it. For the depriving the People of their Rights and Liberties, or the arguing for the Expediency and Justice of so doing, is a Crime of a higher Nature, than the murthering, or magnifying the Murtlier of the wisest and best Prince under Heaven. The Loss of a good Prince is greatly to be lamented; but it is a Loss which may be repaired : Whereas the Loss of a Peoples Liberties is seldom or ever to be recovered : And, consequently, the Foe to the latter is much more detestable than the Foe to the former. — But what was the Punishment of the Justifiers and Magnifiers of the Destruction of the Rights and Liberties of the People? Reprimands at the Bar of one or other of the Houses, Fines, or Imprisonment: Not a Man of them graced the Gallows, though none, perhaps, would better have become it. Peters, therefore, suffered more than others, though lie had done less to deserve it than others, which we may well suppose was contrary to his Expectation. [PJ One of the Prodigies of those Times attended Peters going lo the Gibbet.^ " Amongst the innurae- £ 30 Aji Historical and Critical. it may afford some Diversion to the Reader, I shall o ive an Account of. '' rable Libels which they (the Fanaticks) published " for two Years together, those were most pregnant " with Sedition, which they published concerning " Prodigies. Amongst these, all the Prodigies in Livj/ *' were seen every Day: Two Suns; Ships sailing in *' the Air; a bloody Rainbow; it rained Stones; a " Lamb with two Heads ; Cathedral Churches every *' where set on Fire by Lightning ; an Ox that spoke ; " a Hen turned into a Cock ; a Mule brought forth ; " five beautiful young Men stood by the Regicides *' while they suffered ; a very bright star shone round " their Quarters that were stuck upon the City Gates. " — A certain Person rejoicing at the Execution of " Harrison the Regicide, was struck with a sudden " Palsy ; another inveighing against Peters as he went " to the Gibbet, was torn and almost killed by his " own favourite Dog ; — with an infinite Number of (a) Parker'* " such prodigious Lies (a)."" What ridiculous Tales Hist, of his are here ! How worthy to be preserved in a Work called "''23 tJS- ^" JJistor?/ ! The Fanaticks, if they reported these slated by Things, undoubtedly reported Lies ; though many of Ncwiin, them, in great simplichy of Heart, believed them. Lond. 1727, However, it is no great Wisdom to relate idle Stories to disgrace the Understanding, or impeach the Honesty of Parties. For weak, credulous, superstitious Men, arc to be found on all Sides. The Reader, as he has a Right, is welcome to Laugh at these Stories. And, to contribute to his Mirth, 1 will add the following **■ Relation, of" a Child born in London with a double " or divided tongue, which the third Day after it was " born, cried a King, a King, and bid them bring it " to the Kin^. The Mother of the Child saith, it told " her of all that happened in England since, and much '■ more, which she dare not utter. — A Gentleman, is '^ the Company, look the Child in his Arms, and gave Account of Hugh Peters. 31 He was weak, ignorant and zealous, and, consequently, a proper Tool for ambitious, artful Men to make Use of [QJ. All Preachers ought " it money ; and asked what it would do with it f To " which it answered aloud, that it would give it to the " hin^y This Story matches pretty well the others, and, 1 believe will be thought equally as ridiculous, and yet the Relator of it, (no less a Man than Bishop Bram- hall) says, he cannot esteem it less than a Bliracle (a). W^^^o^f'' But let us away with these Trifles; they are fit for carTe^,' \l\. nothing but Ridicule, and can serve no Purpose, unless II. p. 208. it be to shew the Weakness of the human Understan- ding, or the Wickedness of the human Heart : Though these are many Times, by other Things, but too ap- parent. [(?] Weal: ^ignorant, and zealous^ and, consequently, a proper Tool for ambitious, artful Men to make Cse o/.] Peters^?, Weakness, Ignorance, and Zeal, appear from his own Confession, as well as the Testimony of Whillock before quoted. Now such a Man as this was thoroughly qualified to be a Tool, and could hardly fail of being employed for that purpose. Fools are the instruments oi Diazes : Or, to speak softer, Men of small Understandings are under the Direction and Influence of those who possess great Abilities. Let a Man be ever so wise and ambitious, he never would gain the Point he aims at, were all Men possessed of equal Talents with himself. For they would see his Aims, and would refuse to be made Use of as Tools to accomplish them. They would look tlirough his specious Pretences, they would separate Appearances from Realities, and frustrate his selfish Intentions : So that his Skill would stand him in little Stead. But as the Bulk of Men are formed, nothing in the World is easier than to impose on them. They see not beyond the present moment, and take all for Gosj)cl that is told them. And of these, there are none who 82 An Historical and Critical to be warn'd by his Fate, against going out faj SpeecVs Hist, p 902 Fol. Land. 1632. fbj Bayle's Diet. Arti- cle Padilla. (John dcj become SO easily the Dupes ofcraf(y, ambitious Men, as those who have attained just Knowledge enough to be proud and vain. It is but to flatter them, and you become their Master, and lead them what Lengths you please. And if they happen to have active Spirits, you may make them accomplish your Designs, even without their being sensible of it. Those who have great Things to execute, know this ; and therefore are careful to have as many of these Instruments as possible, io manage the Multitude when there is Occasion ; for which End they carefully observe their Foibles, and seemingly fall in with their Notions, and thereby secure them. Hence it has come to pass, that Real Great Men have paid very uncommon Respect to those they despised. They knew they might be of Use ; and therefore were worth g?i\nmg.— -Peters must necessa- rily have appeared in a contemptible Light to Cromwell: But as his Ignorance and Zeal qualified him for Busi- ness, which wiser and more moderate Men would have declined, he was thought worthy of being caressed ; and had that Respect paid him, which was necessary to keep him tight to the Cause. And, generally speaking, they have been Men of Peters Size of Understanding, who have been subservient to the Interests of aspiring Statesmen, and the Implements of those in Power. Were not (a) Shaa and Pinker weak Men, in assisting the then Duke of Gloucester, Protector, afterwards Richard the Third, to fix the Crown on his own Head ? Armed with Impudence, Shaa at PauPs Cross, declared the Children of Edward the Fourth Bastards ; and Pinker at St. Marif% Hos- pital, sounded forth the Praise of the Protector : Both so full, adds the Historian, of tedious Flattery, as no Man's Ear could abide them, (h) What was John Padillas Priest, who did not fail every Sundaj/ to recomaiend him, and the Sedition of which he was Account of Hugh Peter% 33 of their Province, and meddling with Things, (he great Promoter, with a Paler-Noster and 071 Axe Maria ? Indeed, ill Usage from the Rebels caused him to change bis Note soon after, and to advise his People to cr J out. Long Lite the King^ and let Pad ilia perish ! To come nearer liome. — Was not Sacheveral a weak ignorant Man, to be made the Tool of a Party ? Would any but such a one, have exposed himself by a nonsen- sical Sermon, set the Nation in a Flame, and brougiit him- self into Trouble ? — But he was in the Hands of intrigu- ing Politicians, who spurred him on, and made him the Instrument of raising a Cry of an imaginary Danger, which served many Purposes to themselves, though de- trimental to the Nation — And what Character have our Jacobite Clergymen universally deserved ? If we will not be uncharitable, we must impute their Behaviour to Lgnorance, and the Influence they have been under. For Men of Sense and Penetration could never have set themselves to infuse Notions into their Flocks, which have no other Tendency than to inslave Body and Soul. And Men uninfluenced, would not run the Risk of the Gallows, for the Sake of Nonsense and Absurdity, as Jacobitism really is. But they have been the Dupes of wicked, artful, and ambitious Men, who have blinded their Understandings, and by Flatteries and Caresses, gained their Affections, and consequently the poor Wretches are the Objects of Pity. So that Peters, we see, was as his Brethren have been and are. II is Faults arose chiefly from his Weakness, and his being in the Hands of those who knew how to make Use of him. Had he contented him- self with Obscurity, he had avoided Danger; which indeed is the chief Security for the V^irtue, Ease, and Welfare of Men, in such a noisy contentious World as this. 34 An Historical and Critical which no Way belong to them. [R] But, [72] All Preachers ought to he warned by his Fate, against going out of their Province.^ The Business of the Clergy is that of instructing the People in Piety and Virtue. If ever they meddle with Civil Matters, it ought to be only with an Intent to promote Peace and Happiness, by exhorting Princes to rule with Equity and Moderation, and Subjects to obey with Willingness and Pleasure. This I say, is what alone concerns them and if they confine themselves within these bounds, they merit Praise. But, if instead hereof they mix with Civil Factions, and endeavour to promote Hatred, Strife, and Contention ; if they aspire to bear Rule and attempt to embroil Matters, in order to render themselves of some Importance ; they then become not only really contemptible^ but likewise criminal. Ormonde^ " The Clergy, as the Marquis of Ormonde justly Papers, vol, '• observes, have not been happy to themselves or others 11. p. 457. a -when they have aspired to a Rule, so contrary to " their Function." — Nature never seems to have intended the Clergy, any more than the Gospel, for State-Affairs. For Men brought up in Colleges, and little versed in the World, as they generally are, make wretched Work when they come to intermeddle with secular Matters. — To govern well, requires great know- ledge of human Nature, the particular Interests, Dispo- sitions and Tempers of the People one has to do with, the Law of Nations, and more especially the Laws of the Country. Great Skill and Address likewise are required to manage the different and contradictory Tempers of Men, and make them conspire to promote the public Happiness ; as likewise great Practice in Business, in order to dispatch it with Speed and Safety. And therefore it is evident, that the Clergy, from the Nature of their Education, as well as their Profession, cannot be qualified for it. — They should therefore se- liously weigh their Incapacity for Civil Affairs; and Account of Hugh Peters. 35 perhaps, they are cautioned in vain. [*S^J how inconsistent they are with the Business, to which Ihey have solemnly engaged to devote themselves. They should consider how contemptible and ridiculous they render themselves in the Eyes of all wise and good Men, when they engage in Parties, and most hateful when they stir up Wars and Tumults. They should have the Dignity of their Character before their Eyes, and scorn to disgrace it, by letting themselves out to ambitious, self- interested Men. These Things they should do; and a very small Degree of Knowledge and Reflection will enable them to keep themselves from this, which is one of the o-reatest Blemishes which can be found in their Character. If this is not suflicient, let them call to their Minds Peters : Who, after having been sought to, and caressed by the most eminent Personages, was obliged to skuljc about privately ; was seized by the Othcers of public Justice ; laden with Infamy and Reproach, and embow- elled by the Hangman. — JJe that hath Ears to hear, let him hear. [S] Perhaps they are cautioned in Tain.~\ No Men in the World seem less willing to hearken to Advice than the Clergy. Puffed up with Conceit of their own Knowledge and Abilities, and being used to dictate un- controuled from the Pulpit, they with Contempt hearken (o Instruction, and are uninfluenced by Persuasion. For which Reason, I say, Perhaps they are cautioned in vain. Peters'^ Fate will not deter them, but engage in Factions they still will. — After the Re^loralion, the Pulpits sounded loud with the Doctrines of Passive Obe- dience and Non-re sistencc ; the Whigs and Presbyterians were represented as Villains ; the Power of the Church was magnified, and the Regal Power was represented as sacred as that of God himself. 'J'lien Sam. Parker ami his Fellows arose, full of Rage and Venom ; who treated all who opposed thenij with ill Manners and Severity. 36 An Historical and Critical Then were Englishmen pronounced Slaves, in Effect, by Hicks in his Jovian ; and then was the infamous Oxford Decree framed, which was doomed to the Flames, by the Sentence of the most august Assembly in the World, Anno 1710. The Bishops stood firm by the Duke of York; and the whole Clergy, in a manner damned the Bill of Kxclusion. In short, such was their Behaviour, that they fell under great Contempt, and were treated with much Severily. — Under James the Second^ they acted the same Part ; and would undoubtedly have continued his fast Friends, had he not given Uberty to the Dissenters^ and touched them in their most tender Part, even that of their Revenue, by thrusting in Popish Persons into their Colleges. This alarmed them : They suddenly tacked about, wished Iieartily for the coming of the Prince of Orange, and prayed for his Success. He came and delivered them out of the Hands of their Enemies; but they could not be quiet and thankful. Numbers of them refused to own his Government; many of them joined in Measures to restore the Tyrant James; and a great Part did all that in them lay, to blacken and distress their Deliverer. — Lesly^ Sacheveral, &c. worked hard to inculcate on Men's Minds the Danger of the Church ; the Designs of the Dissenters; the Villainy of the Ministry, during the first and glorious Part of Queen Ann's Reign ; in which they were but too successful. — When the Protestant Succession took Place, it was railed at, and even cursed by these Men, and many of them attempted to set up an abjured Pretender. Their Attempts however were vain: Though for these their Endeavours, Parson Paul made his exit at the Gallows, and the celebrated Atterhury died in Exile. — What has been, and is the Temper since, everj' one knows. The Oxford affair is too fresh in Memory, to let us remain ignorant of the Disposition of many of the Clergj-. They are of Peters^ busy meddling Disposition; though^ J hope, they will not merit his Fate. Account of Hugh Peters. 37 Far be i( from me, to point these Reflections at tlie Zi)hole Body of the Clergy. Numbers of them have been, and are Men of great Worth ; wlio not only dignify their Office, but add Lustre to the human Nature. He must have lost all Sense of Excellency, ■vvho is not struck with the Generosity of Tillotson^ the Integrity of Clarke., the Christian Sentiments of Hoadley., the Worth of Butler (on whose late Advancement, I beg Leave to congratulate the Public) and the Piety, Humanity, and Patriotism of Herring. These, and many others have been ornaments of the Body, to which they belong, and have never studied to embroil us, or promote a Party-Spirit among us. Rectitude and Benevolence, Piety, and Self-Govern- ment have been their Themes: These with uncommon Abilities they have taught ; and those who tread in their Steps, cannot fail of being honoured now and for ever! Rut those who make it their Business to poison the Minds of the People with factious and seditious Dis- courses ; those who censure their Governors for Actions, of which they are iVequently no competent Judges, and traduce and vilify every Thing, right or wrong; those who join with the sworn Foes of the best of Princes, and strive to promote an Interest incompatable with the public Good, are the Men who deserve Titles, which I do not care to give : And they may be certain, that though through the Lenity of the present Government they may escape unpunished, yet Contempt will be their Portion from all Men of Sense. For when Men pervert so excellent an Office as that of the Ministry, (o the purposes of Ambition and the Lust of Power, hardly any Censure too severe can be cast on them. 38 An Historical and Critical SJINCE Transcribing these Papers for the Caj The Press, a very learned Gentleman (a) has Reverend been SO kind as to impart to me an Account of F. Rs, ' Peters^s Writings (his last Legacy excepted, from which a good Deal has been inserted in this Work) which I doubt not will be highly acceptable to the Curious, [Pj [P] Which I doubt not will be highly acceptable to the Curious.'] In Aprils l64f), he preached a Sermon before both Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Assembly of Divines, which was printed in Quarto. In this Sermon he ex- presses his Desire that ' some shorter Way might be * found to further Justice; and that two or three Friend- * makers might be set up in every Parish, without whose * Labour and Leave, none should implead another.' He proposed likewise that the Charter-Uouse should be converted into an Hospital for lame Soldiers. In the same Year 1646, he published at London, in a Quarto Pamphlet of fifteen Pages, intitled, * Peters's * last Report of the English Wars, occasioned by the * Importunity of a Friend, pressing an Answer to some ' Queries :' I. Why he was silent at the Surrender of Oxford? II. What he observed at Worcester, it being the last Town in the King's Hand ? III. What were best to be done with the Army ? Account of Hugh Peters. 39 As likewise a Letter from Col. Lockhart to Secretary Thurloe, concerning Peters, which IV". If he bad any Expedient for the present Differ- ence? V. What his Thoughts were in Relation to Foreign , States ? VI. How these late Mercies and Conquests might be preserved and improved ? VII. Why his Name appears in so many Books, not without Blots, and he ne^er wipe them off? In this Pamphlet he observes, p. 14. That he had lived about six Years near that famous Scotsman^ Mr. John Forbes : ' With whom, says he, I travelled into ' Germai)i/y and enjoyed him in much Love and * Sweetness constantly ; from whom I never had but ' Encouragement, though we differed in the Way of * our Churches. Learned Amesius breathed his last * Breath into my Bosom, who left his Professorship in * Friezeland, to live with me, because of my Church's * Independency at Rotterdam: He was my Colleague * and chosen Brother to the Church, where I was an * unworthy Pastor.' In 1647, he published at London, in Quarto, a Pamphlet of fourteen Pages, intitled, A Word for the Army, and two Words to the Kingdom, to clear the one and cure the other, forced in much Plainness and Brevity, from their faithful Servant, Hugh Peters. It appears by a Pamphlet, printed in 1651, written by R. V. of Gray's-lnn, and intitled, A Plea for the Common Laws of England, that it was written in Answer to Mr.Pcter^sgood Work for a good Magistrate, or a short Cut to great Quiet; in which Mr. Pe/er5 had proposed the Extirpation of the whole System of our Laws, and particularly recommended, that the old Records in the Tower should be burnt, as the Monu- ments of Tyranny. — 40 An Historical and Critical as very cliaracteristical of the Man, and con- tainingsomo curious Particulars relating to him, I cannot forbear giving at Length. \Q\ Thurl02's State Papers Vol. VII. p. 249. \^Q~\ I cminot forbear giving at Length.] Colonel Lockhart to Secretari/ Turloe, From Dunkirk, July 8-18, 1658. Mai/ it please your Lordship, I Could not suffer our worthy Friend, Mr. Peters, to come away from Dunkirk, without a Testimony of the o;reat Benefits we have all received from him in this Place, where he hath laid himself forth in great Charity and Goodness in Sermons, Prayers, and Exhortations, in visiting and relieving the Sick and wounded ; and, in all these, profitably applying the sini^ular Talent God hath bestowed upon him to the chief Ends, proper for our Auditory : For he hath not only shewed the Soldiers their Duty to God, and pressed it Home upon them, I hope to good advantage, but hath likewise acquainted them with their Obligations of Obedience to his Highness's Government, and Affection to his Person. He hath laboured amongst us here with much Goodwill, and seems to enlarge his Heart towards us, and Care of us for many other Things, the Effects whereof 1 design to leave upon that Providence which has brought us hither. It were superfluous to tell your Lordship the Story of our present Condition, either as to the Civil Government, Works, or Soldiery. He who hath studied all these more than any 1 know here, can certainly give the best Account of (hem. Wherefore I commit the whole to his Information, and beg your Lordship's casting a favourable Eye upon such Prot An Historical and Critical 41 ^ positions, as be will offer to your Lordship for the ' Good of this Garrison.' 1 am, 3Ia^ it please your f .orris hip ^ Your most humble, faithful, and obedient ServatJt, Will. Lockhart. [^Tkis Part is all zsritten with Lockharl's oxn Hand.'] My L O R D, Mil, Peters hath taken Leave at least three or four rimes, but still something falls out, which hinders his Return to England. He liathbeen ' twice at Bcrgh, and hath spoke with the * Cardinal Mazuiue ' three or four limes: 1 kept myself by, a:id had a care < that he did not importune him with too loni>; Speeches. ' He rc'airns, loaden with an Account of all Things * here, and hath undertaken every Man's Business, f « must give him that Testimony, that he gave us three ' or four very honest Sermons; and if it were possii)Ie ' to get him to mind Preaching, and to forbear the ' troubling himself with other Things, he would cer- ' tainly prove a very fit Minister for Soldiers. I ho}3o ' he Cometh well satisfied from this Place. He hath ' often insinuated to me his Desire to stay here, if he ' had a Call. Some of the Officers also have been with ' me to that Purpose; but I have shifted him so hand- ' somcly, as, I hope, he Avill not be displeased : For ' I have told him, that the greatest Service he can do ' us, is to go to England, and carry on his Proposi- ' lions, and to own us in all our other Interests, w!iich * he hath undertaken with much Zeal.' — FINIS. Q, Smeeton, Printer, 17, St. Martin's Lane. 7 t ^ n^ 3 1205 00146 7701 i THF LIBRi^RY UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A A 000 318 438