Chapter IX: Part III: To Be Continued (3)

Whether Crofton received any specific punishment for writing these
books, and when he was liberated from prison, does not at present
appear. He was a Nonconformist divine, born and chiefly educated
at Dublin. Being a zealous Royalist during the Commonwealth, and
refusing the engagement, he was deprived. He afterwards obtained
the living of St. Botolph, Aldgate, London. He was ejected for
nonconformity, and died in 1672.

222.

A Phenix, or, The Solemn League and Covenant. Whereunto is annexed I. The Form and manner of his Majestie's Coronation in Scotland. With a sermon then preached on that occasion by Robert Douglas of Edenburgh. II. A Declaration of the King's Majesty to all his loving subjects of the Kingdomes of Scotland &c. in the yeare 1650. III. The great danger of Covenant-breaking &c., being the substance of a sermon preached by Edm. Calamy the 14 of Jan. 1645 before the then Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir Thomas Adams together with the Sheriffs, Aldermen and Common-Councell of the said City: being the day of their taking the Solemn League and Covenant at Michael Basenshaw, London. Edinburgh. Printed in the year of Covenant-breaking.

On July 23rd, 1662, the Solemn League and Covenant of Scotland was
torn and burnt by the heralds at the Cross of Edinburgh, by order
of the Parliament then sitting there.

Thomas Brewster was tried at the Old Bailey, London, on February
22nd, 1663/4, for printing the Phenix, and found guilty. He was
fined, ordered to stand on the pillory, and then imprisoned. The
proceedings will be found in Howell's State Trials, Vol. 6, p. 514.

223.

A treatise of the execution of justice, wherein is clearly proved that the execution of judgment and justice is as well the people's as the magistrate's duty, and if the magistrates pervert judgment the people are bound by the law of God to execute judgment without them and upon them. 1663.

For printing this book, John Twyn of London, stationer, was tried
at the Old Bailey on February 20th, 1663, and being convicted
received sentence as in cases of high treason, and was executed
accordingly.[185] A portion of this pamphlet is preserved among the
State Papers of the period. It is a sheet containing pp. 25 to 32,
with a note attached that it was taken when printing by Twyn.[186]

224.

The Mayor of Northampton's case. 1663.

On April 7th, 1663, the House of Commons ordered that this printed
paper, containing "matter of scandal against several persons of
quality," should be referred to the Committee of privileges and
elections.[187]

225.

The Child's Instructor; or a new and easy Primmer.

For writing and publishing this book, Benjamin Keach, of Winslow,
in the County of Bucks., was tried at the Aylesbury Assizes on the
8th of October, 1664, and found guilty; and the following sentence
was passed on him by the Judge.

"Benjamin Keach, you are here convicted of writing and publishing
a seditious and scandalous Book, for which the Court's judgment
is this, and the court doth award, That you shall go to gaol for
a fortnight, without bail or mainprise; and the next Saturday to
stand upon the pillory at Ailsbury for the space of two hours,
from eleven o'clock to one, with a Paper upon your head with this
inscription, _For writing, printing and publishing a schismatical
book intitled, The Child's Instructor, or a new and easy Primmer_.
And the next Thursday to stand in the same manner, and for the same
time, in the market of Winslow; and there your Book shall be openly
burnt before your face by the common hangman, in disgrace of you
and your doctrine. And you shall forfeit to the King's Majesty the
sum of £20 and shall remain in gaol until you find sureties for
your good behaviour and appearance at the next assizes, there to
renounce your doctrine, and make such public submission as shall be
enjoined you."

According to this sentence he was kept close prisoner till the
Saturday following, and then about eleven o'clock was carried
to the pillory at Aylesbury, where he stood full two hours to a
minute, was denied the liberty of speaking to the spectators, and
"had his hands as well as his head carefully kept in the pillory
the whole time. On the Thursday following he stood in the same
manner and for the same time at Winslow, the town where he lived,
and had his book burnt before him. After this, upon paying his
fine, and giving sufficient security for his good behaviour, he was
set at liberty; but was never brought to make a recantation."[188]

Among the State Papers of the period is preserved the following
letter from Thomas Disney, apparently minister of Stoke Hamond,
Bucks:--[189]

"Honoured Sir,

And loving Brother this Primer owned by Benjamin Keach as the
Author and bought by my man George Chilton for five pence of
Henry Keach of Stableford Mill neare me, a miller; who then sayd
that his brother Benjamin Keach is author of it, and that there
are fiveteene hundred of them printed. This Benjamin Keach is a
Tayler, and one that is a teacher in this new fangled way, and
lives at Winslow a market towne in Buckinghamshire. Pray take some
speedie course to acquaint my Lord Archbishop his grace with it,
whereby his authoritie may issue forth that ye impression may be
seized upon before they be much more dispersed to ye poysoining of
people; they contayning (as I conceive) factious, schismaticall,
and hereticall matter. Some are scattered in my parish, and
perchance in noe place sooner, because he hath a sister here and
some others of his gang, two whereof I have bought up. Pray let
me have your speedie account of it. I doubt not but it will be
taken as acceptable service to God's Church, and beleeve it a very
thankefull obligement to

Stoke hamond in
Bucks--64
May 26th

Honoured Sir
Your truely loving Brother
Thomas Disney.

(_Addressed_)

These for his honoured friend Luke Wilkes
esqre. at Whitehall with speed pray present."

226.

A book entitled "That neither temporalities, nor tythes, is due to the bishops, prelates, nor clergy, by any gospel rule, and that kings, princes, and lords temporal may justly take the temporalities and tythes from them, and dispose of them for the defence and benefit of the kingdom, and the relief of the poor, proved by the laws and practices of twenty kings of England, Judah, and France, and also by 120 authors besides, dedicated to the king's most excellent Majesty." About 1671.

The author of this book is unknown; but the printer, Mr. Francis
Smith, before the book was finished was taken into custody under
a general warrant, and carried to Lambeth House to appear before
the then Bishop, but eventually all proceedings against him
dropped.[190]