Chapter XIII: Part V: To Be Continued (2)

For printing this work a prosecution was instituted against James
Cottrell, a printer of the parish of St. Sepulchre in London.
The information charges that he, being a pernicious person, and
contriving and maliciously intending to create discord and scandal
between the King and his people, and the nobles of the kingdom, did
on the twenty sixth day of March in the thirty second year of the
reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Sepulchre
in the City of London publish and cause to be published a false
scandalous and malicious libel intituled _England's Alarm, &c._ (as
in title), containing among other things as follows: _Remember,
England, if thou art not mad drunk with the Whores Charms how that
thy preaching Ministers are turn'd into dumb Dogs and ravening
Wolves. And they bear rule by thy means, and thou lovest to have it
so._[235]

285.

The Neck of the Quakers broken; or cut in sunder by the two-edged sword of the Spirit which is put into my Mouth. First, in a Letter to Edward Bourne a Quaker. Secondly, in answer to a letter to Samuel Hooton and W. S. Thirdly, in a letter to Richard Farnsworth, Quaker. Fourthly, in answer to a printed pamphlet of the said Richard Farnsworth, entituled, Truth Ascended: or, The Anointed and Sealed of the Lord defended, &c. Written by Lodowick Muggleton, one of the two last Prophets and Witnesses unto the High and Mighty God, the Man Christ Jesus in Glory. Amsterdam: Printed in the year of our Lord God, 1663. And are to be had in Great Trinity Lane, over against the Lyon and the Lamb.

The author of this book was founder of the sect called
Muggletonians. He was born in 1609, and was bred up to be a tailor.
Abandoning his trade in 1651, he set up himself and his companion
John Reeves as the "two last witnesses" mentioned in the apocalypse
as having power to prophesy, and to smite mankind with plagues.
They began to fulfil their "commission" by denouncing all religious
sects, and especially the Ranters and the Quakers. An exposition
of their doctrines, was published in "The Divine Looking-Glass."
In this work, among other wild vagaries, were propounded the
views that the Trinity are merely the three different names, and
not the three distinct persons, of one God; that God has a real
human body; and that he left Elias as his vicegerent in heaven
when he came down to the earth to die on the cross. These profane
heresies provoked much opposition. They were attacked by William
Penn, the Quaker, in a book entitled _The New Witnesses proved Old
Hereticks_. 1672.

For writing this book Muggleton was prosecuted; and was tried at
the Old Bailey on Wednesday, the 17th of January, 1676/7; he was
found guilty, and sentenced by the Court to stand three days in
the Pillory, one day in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange; the next
day in Fleet Street near the end of Chancery Lane; and the third
day in West Smithfield, from eleven to one o'clock each day, with
a paper over his head describing his offence in large letters,
and his books to be seized, and divided into three parts, to be
burnt before his face near the Pillory by the Common Hangman; and
besides, to be fined £500, and to continue in gaol till payment,
and afterwards for his life, unless he procured good bail, "such
as the Court should accept of, and not of his own gang, faction or
sect," for being of good behaviour. Full particulars of his trial
will be found in a little book, entituled, A true narrative of the
Proceedings at the Sessions-house in the Old Baily, at a Sessions
there held on Wednesday the 17th of January 1676/7, giving a full
account of the true tryal and sentence of Lodowick Muggleton for
blasphemous words and books. London. 1676/7.

The indictment charges that Lodowick Muggleton, late of London,
labourer, being a pernicious, blasphemous and heretical man in
his opinions, pretending and affirming that he was one of the
two last prophets of the New Testament, designing and intending
to disseminate his pernicious, blasphemous, seditious, heretical
and monstrous opinions, and to disturb the common peace and
tranquillity of this kingdom, and to deprave the true religion
rightly established and exercised within this kingdom, also to
move, make, and excite discords between the king and his subjects,
and to bring into great hatred and contempt the king and his royal
government in ecclesiastical causes, did on the thirtieth day of
August in the twenty eighth year of the reign of King Charles the
Second, at the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, London,
with force and arms, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously,
scandalously, blasphemously, seditiously, schismatically, and
heretically write, cause to be printed, sold, uttered and published
a certain malicious, scandalous, blasphemous, seditious, and
heretical book intituled _The neck of the Quakers broken, &c._
(setting out full title) in which book are contained these false,
unlawful, blasphemous, seditious, schismatical, heretical, and
scandalous sentences following, viz.:--_I write these lines unto
you Edward Bourne, knowing you to be of the seed of the serpent,
and appointed to eternal damnation before you were born, though
you know it not, I do know it by your speaking evil of that
Doctrine which is declared by us the Witnesses of the Spirit, by
calling of it Deceit, Confusion, and Lies, with many more wicked
speeches against the purest Truth that ever was declared by Prophet
or Apostle, because this is the Commission of the Spirit, and
the last Witness of God on earth. Therefore for these your hard
sayings against the Doctrine of this Commission of the Spirit, in
obedience unto my Commission, I do pronounce you cursed and damned
soul and body from the presence of God, elect men and Angels, to
eternity; neither shall that light within you, nor any God deliver
you from this Curse, but according to my word it shall be upon
you, because you shall know that God hath given power unto man to
curse you to eternity, and that there is a Prophet of the Lord now
in the Land. Written by Lodowick Muggleton, one of the two last
Witnesses and Prophets unto the High and Mighty God the Man Christ
Jesus in Glory._ Vale. And in another place of the same book are
contained these false, feigned, malicious, scandalous, blasphemous,
seditious and heretical sentences following, viz.:--_Now in this
last age God hath given me power, and discerning to determine
and give judgement upon men and women according as I do discern
by their words, and I thereby also know what nature and seed
they are of, and accordingly I give judgment upon them, for I do
go by as certain a rule as the Judges of the Land do, when they
give true Judgment according to the Law. For God hath ordained me
the chief Judge in the world at this day to give sentence upon
men and women's spiritual and eternal estate what will become of
them after death. Full of this cursing I confess my mouth is, and
I do rejoice in it too, I know that God is well pleased in the
damnation of those that I have cursed, and I am wonderous well
satisfied in giving judgement upon them, according to the tenor of
my Commission; and this is that which you call swelling words._ And
in another place of the same book are contained these other false,
feigned, malicious, scandalous, blasphemous, unlawful, seditious
and heretical sentences following, viz.:--_Therefore I shall speak
a few words unto you two in particular, because you two have
committed that unpardonable sin that never will be forgiven in this
world, nor in the world to come; for you have done despite unto
the Spirit of Truth, in speaking evil of things you do not know,
for you have called the Doctrine and Declaration of the Spirit,
Blasphemy, Deceit, and Lies, with many other railing speeches,
with high impudency, from a light within you, and from the dead
letter without you, and hath presumptuously lifted up your selves
with that light within you, to speak evil of the Commission of
the Spirit, which we received from the true personal God without
us, even the Man Christ Jesus in Glory. Therefore in obedience to
my Commission, I do pronounce Samuel Hooton and W. S., for this
their Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that sent me, cursed and
damned soules and bodies from the presence of God, elect men and
Angels, to eternity. Your light within you, nor God without you
shall deliver you from this Sentence which I have declared upon
you, because you shall know that there is a true Prophet now in
the last Age, as well as there hath been in former times. And this
Sentence shall be the mark of your Reprobation in your foreheads
to eternity, even as your great Grandfather had in his forehead,
and all the Seed of Faith that shall read this Epistle and see you,
shall see the mark of Reprobation in your foreheads, neither shall
you scrape it out, but it will be seen by the Elect as long as you
live. And when you dye, you shall pass through this first death
into the second death, and in the Resurrection you shall never
see the face of God, nor man, nor Angels, nor your own faces, to
eternity: but you shall be in utter darkness, where is weeping, and
gnashing of teeth for evermore._ To the great scandal and contempt
of the King, his Crown and Dignity, also of the religion rightly
established in this kingdom, to the bad and pernicious example of
all others in like case offending, and against the peace of the
King, his Crown and Dignity.

The indictment also further charges that--Nathaniel Powell late
of the parish of St. Clement Danes, London, yeoman, being a
pernicious, blasphemous, impious and profane person, and not
having the fear of God in his heart, but moved and seduced by
the instigation of the devil, and contriving and intending to
deprave, scandalize and vilify the true Christian Religion rightly
established and exercised within this kingdom; also to blaspheme
the wisdom, omnipotence and majesty of the Holy Trinity, and the
incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to strengthen, confirm
and ratify the aforesaid pernicious, seditious, heretical and
monstrous opinions of the said Lodowick Muggleton within the
kingdom of England, did, on the first day of April, in the thirty
third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish
of St. Clement Danes, aforesaid, say, pronounce, and publish
falsely, scandalously, maliciously, profanely, blasphemously,
and heretically these false, scandalous, profane, blasphemous,
and heretical words in the presence and hearing of divers liege
subjects of the said lord the King, viz.--_I rather believe in
Muggleton that stood on the Pillory, than in Jesus Christ, I have
power to damn and to save, and if thou_ (meaning a certain Gilbert
Soper then and there present) _art not damned I never desire to
see the face of God. I do believe in that Muggleton, that stood
on the Pillory, next to God Almighty. That Muggleton had power to
damn whom he pleased, whom he damned were damned to eternity, and
whom he saved, were saved. I have power to damn and to save, I
believe more in Muggleton than in Jesus Christ. I thank God, never
offended God in my life, I have no sin to ask God pardon for, I say
drunkenness is no sin, I have had the knowledge of my own salvation
these twelve months, I have the power of damning and saving, I damn
thee_ (meaning a certain Richard Sharpe then and there present)
_and God cannot save thy soul_. To the great scandal of the true
profession of the Christian Religion, to the manifest contempt of
the Holy Trinity, and blasphemy of the Deity of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the bad and most pernicious example of all others in
such case offending, and against the peace of the King his Crown
and dignity.[236]

286.

No Protestant-Plot; or the present pretended Conspiracy of Protestants against the King and Government discovered to be a conspiracy of the Papists against the King and his Protestant Subjects. London. 1681.

For printing this book, a prosecution was instituted against
Richard Baldwin of the parish of St. Sepulchre in London. The
information charges that the defendant, being a malicious and a
seditious man, and contriving and maliciously intending to disturb
the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom, and to excite,
move, and procure discord between the king and his subjects, and to
bring into hatred and contempt the king's government and the due
course of law of this kingdom, did, on the twentieth day of October
in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Charles the Second,
in the parish of St. Sepulchre aforesaid, falsely, unlawfully,
wickedly, maliciously, seditiously, and scandalously cause to be
printed, sold and published, a certain false, malicious, scandalous
and seditious libel, intituled _No Protestant Plot_, containing
among other things as follows:--_The King is of too much goodness,
and a Prince of Greater Wisdom and more unstained justice, than
that any of his subjects should apprehend or fear anything illegal
from him while he acts free and unconstrained; but how far his
Ministers, especially those who have been exasperated by the
proceedings of Parliaments, may render his Authority a cloak to
their malice, and make the pretence of his preservation and safety
subservient to their revenge, is what we are jealous of. And tho'
we would fain persuade ourselves that they are persons of more
honour and integrity than to make reprisals upon the Lives of
Peers for the injury which they suppose was done them; yet the
imprisoning my Lord Shaftsbury upon the credit of Witnesses whose
testimony they refused to believe in the case of my Lord Stafford,
doth not a little surprize the thinking part of mankind. Now
nothing can be more disservicable to his Majesty, or lessening to
the honour of his Government, than to have his Authority abused to
countenance a personal quarrel, and his Laws applied to revenge
a private offence. And in another part as follows:--Nor can men
persuade themselves to believe, but that the Imprisonment of my
Lord Shaftsbury is built upon something which will not abide the
Test, when they consider the way and method according to which
he hath been all along treated. Before either Coleman or the
Jesuits were sent to prison, they were allowed both to know and
see the persons who had deposed against them. And it is generally
believed, that every Englishman may demand it as his right. And
therefore, the refusing it to my Lord Shaftsbury, does seem to
intimate either that the Witnesses are not of a credit sufficient
to support the confinement of so great a Peer, or else that it
was not convenient to trust their carriage in this matter, as
well as the general course of their lives, to an early and exact
scrutiny. But as if this were not enough to create a suspition of
some undue and indirect dealing in this affair, the refusing to
administer an oath to those that were ready to swear to Indictments
of Subornation against the Witnesses, doth exceedingly heighten
all men's jealousies. For not to debate about the legality or
illegality of this procedure, being obliged till this business do
either before this or a higher judicature come under a review, to
acquiesce silently in the Judgement of the Court; I shall only say:
That as it is the first president of this kind, so the reducing
it into common practice, would prove a general obstruction of the
justice of the Law. And to make the receiving of Indictments depend
upon the pleasure of the Attorney General were to settle on him a
more Arbitrary Power than the Laws of England have placed in the
King himself._ And in another part as follows:--_And we are the
more inclined to believe this whole Conspiracy wherein the Earl of
Shaftsbury and other Protestants are said to be engaged against the
King and the Government, is only a malicious piece of revenge upon
the zealous patriots of our Religion; by considering that Justice
Warcup, and Mr. David Fitzgerald, are employed to conduct and
manage the detection and discovery of it._[237]

A copy of the pamphlet is preserved in the British Museum Library.
It is in quarto and contains 37 pages.

287.

A Satire, 1680.

This is a set of verses satirizing the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs,
apparently very similar to those printed on p. 216, for which Jane
Curtis was prosecuted.

For publishing them a prosecution was instituted against John Howe,
of the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, bookseller.

The information charges that the defendant, contriving and
maliciously intending to bring into hatred and contempt Sir
William Scroggs, Lord Chief Justice, in those things which touch
him and his judicial office and the King's authority, did, on the
twenty-fourth day of May, in the thirty-second year of the reign of
King Charles the Second, within the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill
aforesaid, get into his hands a certain false, malicious, infamous,
scandalous, and odious libel intituled _A Satire_, in which libel
is contained among other things as follows:--_The Judge is a base
butcher's sonne_ (meaning the Lord Chief Justice.) _Most sly of
nocent blood. But for ten thousand pound has done The Pope a deal
of good. 'Twas he that villaine Wakeman cleared, Who was to have
poysened the King, As plaine to all but twelve appeared, For which
he deserves to swing._ (meaning again the Lord Chief Justice.)
And that the said John Howe, knowing the aforesaid libel to be a
scandalous and infamous libel, did on the said twenty-fourth day
of May, publish and expose to sale the same libel, to the great
scandal and contempt of the said Lord Chief Justice and the King's
authority.[238]

There was also a prosecution against one Enoch Procer for
publishing the same.[239]

288.

The Impartial Protestant Mercury. From Tuesday October 4 to Friday October 7, 1681. N^o 48.

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in
the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against
Janeway the printer.

The information charges that the defendant described as of London,
yeoman, being a pernicious and seditious man, contriving and
maliciously intending to disturb the peace and tranquillity of this
kingdom, and to create, move, and excite discord between the king
and his subjects, and to bring the king's government into contempt,
did falsely, maliciously, and seditiously, with intent to persuade
and induce the king's subjects to believe that this kingdom of
England was governed by the advice of the king of France, and that
the secrets of the government of this kingdom were notified to the
king of France, and that to fulfil his most wicked intentions, on
the twentieth day of October in the thirty-third year of the reign
of King Charles the Second, in the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill,
London, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, scandalously,
and seditiously cause to be printed, sold, and published a
certain, false, scandalous, and defamatory libel, intituled _The
Impartial Protestant Mercury_, containing among other things as
follows:--_There has been a fresh rumour of a Parliament like to
be called to meet on the twenty-eighth of the next month, but we
cannot find any foundation for that report, more than that a Person
of Quality lately arrived from France relates, that he was told of
such a thing at Paris._[240]

On April 5, 1682, Janeway was called before the Council for
printing and publishing false and seditious news, and he was
thereupon ordered to give good security, to appear personally at
the King's Bench Bar the first day of the next term, to answer such
matters as should be exhibited against him on his majesty's behalf,
and in the mean time to be of good behaviour; and he accordingly
entered into recognizances for that purpose.[241]

289.

The Protestant Domestick Intelligence; or, News both from City and Country. Published to prevent false reports. Friday, March 12th, 1679/80. No. 72.

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in
the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against
Nathaniel Crouch.

The information charges that the defendant, who is described as
of the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, London, gentleman, being
a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending
to incite and move discord and scandal between the king and his
people, and the magnates of this kingdom, did on the twelfth day
of March, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles
the Second, at the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, publish and
cause to be published a certain false, scandalous, and malicious
libel entituled _The Protestant Domestick Intelligence; or, News
both from City and Country_, containing (among other things) as
follows:--_Yesterday we are informed that Mrs. Le-Mair, alias
Loveland, the mother of Philip Le-Mair was taken into custody, and
that she has declared there is a Person of Honour, as well as one
of the Lords in the Tower, concerned with her in the conspiracy
against the Life of the Duke of Buckingham._[242]

290.

Mercurius Civicus; or, a true account of affairs both foreign and domestick. Monday, 29 March, 1680. N^o 3.

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the
British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against James
Astwood, of the parish of St. Christopher, London, printer.

The information charges that the defendant, being a pernicious
person, and contriving and maliciously intending to incite and
move discord and scandal between the king and his people and the
magnates of this kingdom, did on the thirtieth day of March, in the
thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the
parish of St. Christopher, London, print and cause to be printed, a
certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel intituled _Mercurius
Civicus: or, a True Account of affairs both foreign and Domestick_,
containing (among other things) as follows:--_It is advised from
the several places where the Lord Chief Justice North has been in
circuit, that his Lordship hath been pleased to declare that the
Act of Parliament for the Conviction of Popish Recusants ought
to be put in force against none but Papists. And though several
Protestants had been indicted hereon, he gave it as his Opinion.
That the intention of that Act was purely to suppress Popery, and
so directed the Jury not to find the Bill against Protestants as
Popish Recusants but as Protestant Dissenters, which hath given a
great deal of satisfaction to people, several protestants having
been severely dealt withall by reason of that Act, which point the
Parliament were in great consultation about rectifying._[243]

291.

A Faithful relation of the most remarkable transactions which have happened at Tangier: since the Moors have lately made their attacques upon the Forts and Fortifications of that Famous Garrison, likewise the strength and good posture of defence it remains now in. With an account of the Trenches, Lines and Works they have already drawn in order to their besieging several of the said forts strongly guarded by the English, and the advantageous success the English have obtained over those infidels, in a late fight between them; burning and demolishing their works, beating them out of their trenches, killing them, and pursuing them even to their Camp.

A pamphlet of four pages; a copy of which is preserved in the
British Museum Library. For its publication David Mallett, of the
parish of St. Martin, Ludgate, printer, was prosecuted.

The information charges that the defendant published the same with
the intent to create discord and scandal between the king and his
people and the magnates of this kingdom; but it does not set out
any of the alleged objectionable passages as is usually done.

292.

The Speech of the late Lord Russel to the Sheriffs; together with the paper deliver'd by him to them, at the Place of Execution, on July 21, 1683. London. Printed by John Darby, by direction of the Lady Russel. 1683.

A copy of this speech is preserved in the Library of the British
Museum. It is in folio and contains four pages.

For publishing the same, a prosecution was instituted against John
Darby, bookseller, of the parish of St. Bartholomew the Great,
London.

The information charges that the defendant being a pernicious and
seditious man, and contriving and practising, and falsely, and
maliciously, and wickedly and seditiously intending to disturb the
peace of the king and the common tranquillity of this kingdom, and
to weaken and bring into discredit and bad repute the laws and
customs of this kingdom, and the ancient government and the common
justice thereof, and to excite and procure discords and seditions
between the king and his subjects, also to bring into discredit the
trial and sentence of Lord William Russell, did, on the fourteenth
day of August in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King
Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Bartholomew aforesaid,
falsely, unlawfully, unjustly, wickedly, seditiously, maliciously,
and scandalously, make, compose, and print and sell, utter, and
publish a certain false, seditious, malicious, and scandalous libel
intituled _The speech of the late Lord Russell to the Sheriffs,
together with the paper delivered by him to them at the place of
execution_, containing, among other things, these false, malicious,
seditious and scandalous sentences, viz., _I wish with all my soul
all our unhappy Differences were removed, and that all sincere
Protestants would so far consider the danger of Popery, as to lay
aside their Heats, and agree against the Common Enemy; and that the
Churchmen would be less severe, and the Dissenters less scrupulous;
For I think Bitterness and Persecution are at all times bad, but
much more now. For Popery, I look on it as an Idolatrous and Bloody
Religion, and therefore thought myself bound, in my Station, to do
all I could against it. And by that, I foresaw I should procure
such great Enemies to myself, and so powerful ones, that I have
been now for some time expecting the worst. And blessed be God, I
saw by the Axe, and not by the Fiery Tryal_, And in another part,
these other false, seditious, scandalous and defamatory sentences,
viz., _I did believe and do still, that Popery is breaking in upon
the Nation; and that those who advance it, will stop at nothing, to
carry on their Design: I am heartily sorry that so many Protestants
give their helping hand to it._ And in another place are contained
these other false, scandalous, seditious and defamatory sentences,
following, _I cannot but give some touch about the Bill of
Exclusion, and shew the Reasons of my appearing in that Business;
which in short is this: That I thought the Nation was in such
danger of Popery, and that the Expectation of a Popish Successor
(as I have said in Parliament) put the King's life likewise in
such danger, that I saw no way so effectual to secure both as such
a Bill. As to the limitations which were proposed, if they were
sincerely offered, and had pass'd into a Law, the Duke then would
have been excluded from the Power of a King, and the Government
quite altered, and little more than the Name of a King left. So I
could not see either Sin or Fault in the one, when all People were
willing to admit of t'other; but thought it better to have a King
with his Prerogative, and the Nation easy and safe under him, than
a King without it, which must have bred perpetual jealousies, and
a Continual Struggle. All this I say, only to justify myself, and
not to inflame others; Though I cannot but think my Earnestness in
that matter has had no small Influence in my present Sufferings._
And in another place are contained these other false, scandalous,
and seditious sentences following:--_I pray God lay not this to the
charge, neither of the King's Counsel, nor Judges, nor Sheriffs,
nor Jury: And for the Witnesses, I pity them, and wish them well.
I shall not reckon up the Particulars wherein they did me wrong: I
had rather their own Consciences should do that, to which, and the
Mercies of God I leave them._ And in another place are contained
these other false, malicious, scandalous and seditious sentences
following:--_From the Time of chusing Sheriffs, I concluded the
Heat in that Matter would produce something of this kind; and I
am not much surprised to find it fall upon me. And I wish what is
done to me, may put a stop, and satiate some Peoples' Revenge, and
that no more innocent Blood be shed, for I must, and do still look
upon mine as such, since I know I was guilty of no Treason; and
therefore I would not betray my Innocence by Flight._

On November 20th, 1683, Darby was tried, and found guilty, and on
February 1, 1683/4 he was brought to the Court of King's Bench
to receive judgment, which, he humbly submitting himself to the
Court, and begging pardon, with a promise never to commit the like
offence, the Court ordered to be, That he should pay 20 marks for a
fine to the king, and find securities for good behaviour for twelve
months, and that till this be paid and done, he should be committed
to prison.[244]

293.

The Night Walker of Bloomsbury.

A single sheet in folio printed on both sides. A copy is preserved
in the British Museum Library.

Langley Curtis, the bookseller, was prosecuted for publishing this
sheet. The indictment charges that the defendant, contriving and
intending to disturb the peace and common tranquillity of this
kingdom, and to bring the king into the greatest hatred, contempt,
and infamy with all his subjects; and to cause, incite, and procure
divers differences and false rumours concerning the pretended ghost
of Lord William Russell, lately attainted and executed for high
treason, did, on the twelfth day of October in the thirty-fifth
year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St.
Bride aforesaid, unlawfully, seditiously, and maliciously print
and publish, and cause to be printed and published, a certain
feigned, false, seditious, and scandalous libel of and concerning
the pretended ghost aforesaid, intituled _The Night Walker of
Bloomsbury_, containing these false, feigned, and scandalous
sentences following, viz., _Ralph: D'ye hear the newes. Will. What
newes_, &c., &c., to _Caball of bigotted Papists_. And in another
part as follows,--_Will_. _In this Meremaid's attire_, &c., &c.,
_to quickly changed the colour of his ghostly habit_.

Upon this indictment Curtis was tried on February 14, 1683/4, found
guilty, and on April 21, 1684, sentenced to stand in and upon the
Pillory in Bloomsbury Market between the hours of eleven and one
o'clock, with a paper on his head denoting his offence in large
letters, and at the same time the libel was to be burned by the
Common Hangman. He was also sentenced to pay a fine of £500, to be
committed to the Marshalsea until payment, and to find security for
good behaviour during life.

The following is a complete copy of this publication:--[245]

THE NIGHT WALKER OF BLOOMSBURY:

Being the Result of several late Consultations between a Vintner,
Judge Tallow-chandler, a Brace of Fishmongers, and a Printer, &c.
In a Dialogue between _Ralph_ and _Will_.

_Entred according to Order._

_Ralph._ D'ye hear the News?

_Will._ What News?

_Ralph._ Why, they say my Lord _Russel_ walks.

_Will._ And do you believe it?

_Ralph._ Why not? may not Lords walk as well as other people?

_Will._ That's not the business--but I perceive you have heard but
a piece of the Story--you have not heard how the Ghost came to be
rais'd nor how he was laid.

_Ralph._ Rais'd and Laid!--why then I warrant you take it to be
nothing but a piece of Imposture.

_Will._ Nothing more certain,--a meer silly, idle, foppish
contrivance of a Cabal of bigotted _Papists_.

_Ralph._ I must confess a Bigotted _Papist_ is a very sottish sort
of Animal.--But what did this deep design drive at?

_Will._ Why, Sir, a certain _Vintner_ not far from _Southampton
Square_, a well-wisher, you may be sure, to any Religion he could
get by, had a mind to draw custome to his empty House--For he had
a vast prospect of gain from the success of the Action,--For, quo
he to himself, the people will cry, whether shall we go? Go! says
another, we'l go to the _Hobgoblin_ that counterfeited the Lord
_Russel's_ Ghost--for, thought he, everybody will be glad to see a
_Hobgoblin_.

_Ralph._ Puh--this is some invention of yours to put a trick upon
the poor _Papists_.

_Will._ An Invention of mine! Tis all about the Town--and
besides, there is nothing more common among the _Papists_ than to
counterfeit Spirits and Ghosts--I find you never read the Story of
the four Monks of _Bearn_ in _Switzerland_, that were hang'd for
counterfeiting the _Virgin Mary_; nor of the Country Curate that
lay with his Neece in the shape of _St. Barbara_. But the Fryer
had not so good luck: For he living in a young widow's House,
would fain have frighted the young Widow into his Lascivious
Embraces--and to that purpose haunted her chamber every Night in a
Winding Sheet: But she, being a Woman of mettle, hid a Friend of
hers privately in her chamber, that gave the Spirit such a severe
Cudgel-correction, as made him quickly beg Quarter for his bruised
Bones.

_Ralph._ But all this while, where was the Profundity of the
design?

_Will._ The profundity of the Design was to put the Lord Russel's
Speech upon Dr. Burnett--And of this they were resolv'd to have an
acknowledgment out of the Lord Russel's own Mouth.

_Ralph._ That was hard to do, when his Head was cut off.

_Will._ Oh--but though the Head of his body was cut off, the Head
of his Ghost was still on.--However, tho' it be not to be deny'd,
that a Spirit without a Head has a very brisk motion, yet the
Committee were not so cunning as to know how to bring his Ghost
out of _Buckinghamshire_ into _Bloomsbury Square_--and therefore
another expedient was to be found out.--The Committee was extreamly
puzl'd to find out this Expedient, till the _Vintner_, inspir'd no
doubt with his own _Pipes_ and Tierces, had it presently in his
Pate.--Quo he Ladies and Gentlemen, why may not I act a Ghost, as
well as Matt. Medbourn?

_Ralph._ Frolick for frolick now, it would be a very good humour
to Indict this Vintner upon the Statute of 21 Jacob, 26, for
endeavouring to personate the Lord _Russel's_ Ghost, on purpose to
procure an acknowledgment contrary to his will and consent.

_Will._ Faith, _Sir_, the very action itself procur'd him
punishment enough, to be well drub'd, and two such lovely forehead
marks of _Knave_ and _Fool_, that Ten Fountains, with all the Soap
in the City, will never wash off.

_Ralph._ Pardon me, _Sir_, I have a greater opinion of the
_Vintner_, and that he acted what he did in the imitation of
_Theseus_ and _Eneas_, who both went to visit _Pluto'_s Dominions;
but this same _Vintner_ undertook to be even a tormented Inhabitant
of the Lower Shades himself, to advance the Popish Interest, which
was much a more daring deed then that of _Theseus._ The _Vintner_
had Listed himself in Hell, which _Theseus_ never did.

_Will._ Ay--but _Theseus_ was _Theseus_; Theseus kicked
_Proserpina's_ Dog before her Face, in her own Dining-Room: But
this Bugbear of a _Vintner_ suffer'd himself to be thrash'd
like any mortal Coward, and yet the Fool had not the wit to
_vanish_.--They say, had the Earth yielded never so little, the
first blow the Beadle hit, had struck him down to the place from
whence he pretended to come.

_Ralph._ But can you tell who hatched this Chicken of a Design?

_Will._ Politick Heads, _Sir_, Politick Heads,--very Politick
Heads--and of both Sexes too I assure ye.

_Ralph._ I must confess I admire neither of their ingenuities;
and as for the Women, I find 'em much more famous for the
crafty carrying on a Love intrigue, or concealing their private
enjoyments, then in managing _Hobgoblin_ Plots.

_Will._ Sir, I do tell ye, this Committee consisted of several
Persons, Male and Female--_Imprimis_, The Man of the House, and his
Wife, chief _Presidences_ of the Council. In the next place, two
_Fishmongers_ in _Bloomsbury_, if you hunt after the name of the
one, you may easily find it: the other a most rude and ungraceful
acknowledger of the Lord _Russel's_ former favours, as who had all
along serv'd his Table from his own Shop; his Grandfather seems to
have bin the Son of _Tomlins_.

_Ralph._ These _Fishmongers_, Sir, were notably drawn into this
Conspiracy--twas emblematical--For as great undertakings require
great silence, so none more likely then _Fishmongers_ to bear the
Proverb always in mind, _As mute as a Fish_.

_Will._ The next was a _Tallow-chandler_, who, tho' he live by the
Night, takes his name from Noon-Day.

_Ralph._ Why that was it that spoil'd the whole Plot, to engage a
_Tallow-chandler_ in deeds of Darkness.

_Will._ Oh, Sir, but he was to have been a Witness--and none so fit
to be witness as a man of Light--besides, Sir, he was to attend
the _Hobgoblin_, and none so fit as a _Tallow Chandler_ to hold
a Candle to the Devil. But observe how the _Tallow Chandler_ was
match'd; for the other witness was to be a _Papistical Printer_ in
the Neighbourhood.

_Ralph._ There y'are right again--for if the Truth should chance
to slip out of the _Chandler's_ memory, the _Printer_ had always a
_Register_ ready to refresh it.

_Will._ By what I hear, theres no such need of rubbing up the
_Tallow-chandler's_ memory. A my word Sir, y'are got into pleasant
company--Here's a _Vintner_ acts the Devil--and a _Tallow-chandler_
acts a Judge--and Judges, Sir, are no fools to have their memories
rub'd.

_Ralph._ Who the Devil made the _Tallow-chandler_ a Judge?

_Will._ Wine and Fat Venson, Sir, at the _Crown-Tavern_, in
_Bloomsbury_; For there it was that the _Tallow-chandler_ a Witty,
Jocose, Droll of a _Tallow-chandler_, finding there was something
to be done to gratify the Company (for it was at a public
Venson-Feast) took upon him the Dignity of the Coife, and causing
Mr. _Hamden_ to be arraign'd before him, Mercilesly condemn'd him
to be hang'd.

_Ralph._ What had the _Tallow-chandler_ to do with Mr.
_Hamden_.--Surely he is to stand or fall by another sort of
Judicature then six ith Pound.

_Will._ Oh, Sir, 'twas done to please a brace of Reverend Justices
that were Stewards of the Feast--and such frolicks as these, Lord
Sir, you cannot imagin how they digest Venson, Pasty Pudding
Crust--There are some people so hot, that you would admire they do
not melt their Grease, and get the Scratches with Galloping after
such fancies as these.

_Ralph._ And yet when this _Tallow-chandler_ serv'd Mr. _Hamden_
with Candles, he did not scruple to take his Money, notwithstanding
he might not then be of his severe Judges present opinion: And
therefore there is some hope yet left, that Mr. _Hamden_ may
sweeten up his Judge into a Reprieve, upon a promise of laying in
his _Winter_ store out of _Bloomsbury_.

_Will._ There was an _Apothecary_ too, whose spleen was extreamly
tickl'd at the conceit of their design. Repute makes him a person
of a bulky stature, famous for the beauty of his Wainscot Lady, and
the wit of his Son, whom he teaches to curse the D. of M.

_Ralph._ Why truly, this _Pothecary_ is highly to be applauded for
his Loyalty: for to shew the Exquisiteness of his Allegiance, he
sends his child to the Devil to confirm it.

_Will._ There were several others that met at two or three of these
consults, that have open'd their Purses to save their Reputation.

_Ralph._ I am not apt to believe that people who concerned
themselves with such a ridiculous Sham as this, had much Reputation
to lose; and therefore their _Peter-Pence_ were ill bestow'd. The
Proverb is, _Discover, and shame the Devil_.

_Will._ That never could be better don then by the Dress with which
they disguis'd him: For certainly all the _Fools_ and _Zanies_ in
_Bartholomew-Fair_ were never so quaintly rigg'd, as this same
_Hob-thrush_ of a _Vintner_ was equipped to act his Tragick-Comedy.

_Ralph._ As how?

_Will._ First they hung about his Neck a large _Night-Rail_, which
the Gentlewoman of the House lent him out of her Zeal.

_Ralph._ Most Enigmatical, Problematical, Emphatical, and
Emblematical--for a _Night-Rail_ being a kind of a Cloak, was most
proper to cover a piece of Knavery.

_Will._ To hide his lower parts, the _Fishmongers_ lent him their
_Aprons_.

_Ralph._ More Enigmatical still.--For _Fishmongers_ being men of
Lent and Fasting days--the _Fishmongers' Aprons_ were to put the
Ghost in mind of his sorrow, contrition, and repentance for owning
a Speech that was none of own.

_Will._ By your favour, Sir, here's a Breach of an Act of
Parliament discovered, to bring a Spirit out of his Grave in
_Linnen_, whereas he ought to have appear'd in _Crape_; and being a
Lord in Lac't _Crape_ too.

_Ralph._ Well! But what had the Goblin about his Head?

_Will._ His head was muffl'd up in a White Diaper Napkin--to
shew that the Letter was drapered with the Inventions of several
Writers, and not of one plain Woofe.

_Ralph._ Shame faw the Luggs on 'em for a Company of Dotards--as if
the Devil were grown as fantastical as the _French_, to change his
old fashions.--Now the old fashions of Ghosts, ever since I heard
of Ghosts was always the same, a Winding-sheet with two Knots and a
Taper in the Spirit's hands, with which the _Chandler_ might easily
have furnished the Devil. Or if the Spirit must needs rise in the
same Cloaths he was burr'd, the Cabal had much better ha' club'd
for a new _Crape_ Funeral Suit--'Twould ha' serv'd the Goblin of
a Vintner another time, when the juice of his own _Lime-Fats_ had
burnt up his Liver. I'le undertake there's ne're a Booth in _Pork
Fair_ but would have dressed up a Hobgoblin more artificially than
such a consultation of Ninny Hammers--But when the Devil was thus
betrumpery'd what did he do?

_Will._ In this Mere-maid's Attire, he went attended with the two
_Fishmongers_ for his Guard, and the _Chandler_ and _Printer_ were
to be Witnesses they saw the Apparition.--At length when he came
to his Posts, as the Contrivers had laid it, 'tis to be supposed,
near the House where the Lord _Russel_ liv'd, he fell a groaning
like an Oxe at the first sticking; nay, he groan'd even like the
Groaning-board itself; and after a short preamble of Lamentations
lewdly uttered, He cried out, _Oh--I have no rest because of the
Speech that I never made, but_ Dr. Burnet.

_Ralph._ There's no fear on't, but he'l be taught to groan better
when he comes to groan for himself. One would have thought he
should have practised the Art of Groaning more accurately before
he went to groan upon such an Occasion as this--He should have
groaned as if he had been groaning for his Life, that had taken
such a part upon him--but it seems he rather fell a braying then a
groaning, and so discover'd himself--for upon the noise, as some
Report, or at least, as the Goblin deserv'd, one of the Watch
coming up to him, and perceiving by his shoes, that he had no
Cloven-Feet, _Can't ye be quiet_., quo he, _in your Grave_? _I'le
make ye quiet_; and with that, gave him such a Palt o'th Pate and
the Thigh, as quickly chang'd the colour of his Ghostly Habit.

_Ralph._ I' good faith, the Watchmen did more then all the
Committee could do--for they only strove to make him a faigned
Goblin, but the Watchman made him a real _Raw-Head and
Bloody-Bones_.--A Catastrophe that such an enterprize justly
deserv'd.--But what became of poor Raw-Head and Bloody-Bones?

_Will._ The now real Goblin was forc'd to confess his name, and the
names of his Associates, and to chear up the Watch with Drink and
Money for the fright he had put 'em in, and so they let him go, to
groan forth his own Lamentations to the Gulls that set him at Work.

_Ralph._ Well, I will say nothing of the Speech one way nor other,
but sure it was an act neither generous nor christian-like, to
raise up an Impostor to disturb the silence of a Gentleman's Grave
that had paid his last debt to Justice.

_Will._ Barbarous and papistical, which is as much as needs be said
of it.

FINIS.

London: Printed by J. Grantham, MDCLXXXIII.

294.

The true Englishman speaking plain English. By Edward Fitzharris. 1681.

There does not appear to be a copy of this book preserved in the
British Museum Library: but it is printed in extenso in the fourth
volume of Cobbett's Parliamentary History. For writing the same,
a prosecution was instituted against Fitzharris. The indictment
charges first, that the defendant, described as late of the parish
of St. Martin in the Fields, Middlesex, gentleman, did, on the
twenty-second day of February, in the thirty-third year of the
reign of King Charles the Second, compass treason with one Edmund
Everard against the king; and further, that the defendant as a
false traitor did treasonably, maliciously and advisedly write
and publish a certain most wicked and traitorous libel intituled
_The true Englishman speaking plain English_, in which libel are
expressed and declared the treasons and treasonable compassing,
imaginations, and purposes of the defendant to excite and persuade
the subjects of the King to rise up and rebel against the King
and to deprive and depose the King from the style, honour, and
royal name of the Imperial Crown of this kingdom, as follows: _If
James_ (meaning James, Duke of York) _be conscious and guilty,
Charles_ (meaning the King) _is so too, believe me, both these are
brethren in iniquity, they are in confederacy with Pope and French
to introduce Popery and Arbitrary Government as their actions
demonstrate. The Parliament, Magna Charta, and liberty of the
subject, are as heavy yokes they'd willingly cast off, for to make
themselves as absolute as their Brother of France; and if this can
be proved to be their aim and main endeavour, why should not every
true Briton be a Quaker thus far? And let the English spirit be up
and move all as one man to self defence, nay send if need be to
open action and fling off those intolerable Riders._ (meaning the
King and the Duke of York.) And in another part of the aforesaid
most wicked and traitorous libel are contained among other things
these false, seditious, and traitorous sentences following:--_J.
and C._ (meaning James, Duke of York and the King) _both brethren
in iniquity, corrupt both in root and branch as you have seen, they
study but to enslave you to a Romish and French-like yoke. Is it
not plain? Have you not eyes, sense, or feeling? Where is that old
English noble spirit? Are you become French asses to suffer any
load to be laid upon you? And if you can get no remedy from this
next parliament, as certainly you will not, and that the K. repents
not, complies not with their advice, then up, all as one man. O
brave Englishmen, look to your_

(HERE ENDS THE ORIGINAL WORK)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Life and Reign of Queen Elizabeth, p. 486.

[2] Strype's Annals, Vol. 2, p. 562.

[3] Judgment Roll, Queen's Bench, Mich., 26 & 27 Eliz., roll 37.

[4] Missionary Priests, p. 84.

[5] Dom. Elizabeth, 1599, June, July, Bundle 271, No. 11.

[6] Collier's Bibliographical Catalogue, vol. 1, p. 526.

[7] Dom. Eliz., vol. 274, no. 58.

[8] Dom. Elizabeth, vol. 274, no. 59.

[9] Dom. Elizabeth, vol. 275, no. 25.

[10] Dom. Elizabeth, vol. 275, no. 28.

[11] Dom. Elizabeth, vol. 275, no. 31 and 31 I.

[12] Pag. 4, 5, 6, 11, 39, 41, 43, 53, 75, description of the councell. Pag. 4, 25, 75, he describeth the erle.

[13] Pag. 54 of his owne.

[14] Dom. Elizabeth, vol. 278, no. 17.

[15] Commons' Journals, Vol. 1, pp. 226 and 244.

[16] Commons' Journals, Vol. 1, pp. 399, 400, 404, 407, 408, 415, 416.

[17] Pat. Roll, 8 James I, part 30 dorso. A printed copy of this proclamation will be found among the Domestic State Papers, James I.

[18] Domestic State Papers, James I, Vol. 26, no. 48.

[19] Domestic, James I, Vol. 28, nos. 51 and 128, and Vol. 31, no. 2.

[20] Wilson's Life and Reign of James I, contained in Kennet's History of England, vol. 2, p. 715, ed. 1706.

[21] Court and Times of James I, vol. 1, pp. 279, 280. Also Domestic State Papers, James I, vol. 75, no. 28.

[22] Court and Times of James I, vol. 1, p. 248.

[23] Court and Times of James I, vol. 1, page 251.

[24] Proclam. Collection, Dom. State Papers, James I, no. 23.

[25] Domestic State Papers, James I, vol. 78, no. 78.

[26] Domestic State Papers, vol. 80, art. 6, 26, 38; vol. 81, art. 67; and vol. 86, art. 111.

[27] Court and Times of James I, vol. 1, p. 291; also Domestic State Papers, James I, vol. 80, no. 1.

[28] See Edinburgh Review for July, 1871, page 179.

[29] Domestic, James I, vol. 121, art. 7.

[30] See Court and Times of James I, vol. 2, pp. 146, 157, 158, 160; also Howell's State Trials.

[31] Domestic, James I, vol. 109, no. 14.

[32] Wood's History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, ed. Gutch, vol. 2, pp. 341-345; Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, vol. 3, pp. 143, 144; Domestic State Papers, James I, vol. 132, nos. 47 and 48.

[33] Dom. James I, vol. 153, no. 75.

[34] See Domestic State Papers, James I, vol. 157, nos. 40 and 41.

[35] Dom. James I, 1624, Aug. 14th.

[36] Dom. Charles I, vol. 44, no. 78.

[37] Dom. James I, vol. 171, no. 49.

[38] Ibid, art. 60.

[39] Domestic, James I, vol. 171, art. 64.

[40] Howell's State Trials; Commons' Journals, vol. 1, pp. 805, 806.

[41] Domestic State Papers; Charles I, vol. 54, nos. 4 and 5.

[42] Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 205, no. 34.

[43] Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 135, no. 40.

[44] Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 142, no. 22.

[45] Ibid, Charles I, vol. 205, no. 102.

[46] Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 351, no. 101.

[47] Lords' Journals, vol. 4, pp. 161, 180; Howell's State Trials, vol. 5, p. 765.

[48] Laud's Chancellorship, fol. 1700, p. 129.

[49] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 29.

[50] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 116.

[51] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, pp. 268, 269.

[52] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 166.

[53] Ibid, pp. 206, 319, 324.

[54] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, pp. 266, 268, 269.

[55] Ibid, vol. 2, p. 324.

[56] Ibid, vol. 2, p. 349.

[57] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 404.

[58] Ibid, p. 208.

[59] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 142.

[60] Ibid, vol. 2, pp. 146, 148, 160.

[61] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 148.

[62] Commons' Journ., vol. 2, p. 190.

[63] Ibid, pp. 206, 269.

[64] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 206.

[65] Ibid, p. 221.

[66] Ibid, p. 293.

[67] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, pp. 393, 396, 408, 415.

[68] Commons' Journals, vol. 2, p. 408.

[69] Com. Journals, vol. 2, pp. 411, 414.

[70] Com. Journals, vol. 2, p. 472.

[71] Ibid, p. 500.

[72] Ibid, p. 500.

[73] Ibid, p. 501.

[74] Com. Journ., vol. 2, p. 501.

[75] Ibid, p. 546.

[76] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 612.

[77] Ibid, pp. 612, 613, 615, 626.

[78] Com. Journ., Vol. 2, pp. 617, 622.

[79] Ibid, p. 623.

[80] Com. Journals, vol. 2, p. 624.

[81] Com. Journ., vol. 2, p. 624.

[82] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 625.

[83] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, pp. 661, 662, 679, 683, 690, 691.

[84] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 685.

[85] Ibid, p. 762.

[86] Ibid, pp. 769, 798, 894.

[87] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 769.

[88] Ibid, p. 769.

[89] Ibid, p. 795.

[90] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 801.

[91] Ibid, p. 12.

[92] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, p. 831.

[93] Commons' Journals, Vol. 2, pp. 900, 951.

[94] Ibid, pp. 910, 911, 953.

[95] Ibid, p. 925.

[96] Commons' Journals, Vol. 3, pp. 40, 52.

[97] Commons' Journal, Vol. 3, p. 202.

[98] Ibid, p. 549.

[99] Commons' Journals, Vol. 3, p. 585.

[100] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 25

[101] Ibid, p. 111.

[102] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 152.

[103] Ibid, pp. 170, 420.

[104] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 206.

[105] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 336.

[106] Ibid, pp. 342, 348.

[107] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 419.

[108] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 420.

[109] Ibid, p. 451.

[110] Ibid, pp. 483, 505, 516.

[111] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, pp. 505, 531, 639.

[112] Ibid, pp. 505, 507, 517.

[113] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, pp. 507, 508, 510, 511, 516, 517.

[114] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 517.

[115] Lords' Journals, Vol. 8, pp. 645-50, 657, 658.

[116] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 664.

[117] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 682.

[118] Commons' Journals, Vol. 4, p. 682.