| Title: | Letter, Martin Grundman To Hartlib |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 8 May 1660 |
| Ref: | 10/5/16A-18B: 17B, 18B BLANK |
| Notes: | Copy at 10/5/19. |
[10/5/16A]
For his much honoured Frind mr Samuel
Hartlieb at his house in Axe-yard King
street neere Westminster these
[another hand: 3?] London.
[top right of address, another hand:] May. 8. 60/
[seal]
[10/5/17A]
Honoured sir
Such have been the times and various dispensations of our God, and my Occasions that it is long, since I either did writ to you or heare from you, though I must tell you, you are daily in my thoughts according to your desire then more especially in my approches to God. But providence now calling alloud upon me to make use of all my frinds not in a privat busines of my owne, but in a publick busines concerning all good, sober, peaceable and honest people in the County of Mountgomery, to whom should I make my grieve known but unto you and our worthy and ever honoured Frind mr Dury, Who are of such publick Spirits that allwayes you mind the good of the whole, though in a more especiall manner of the people of God. Sir by the Craftines of the old enemy transforming himself into an angel of light such as have acted formerly for the good and preservation of the peace of this Country under former powers being all of them honest godly men, many of them men of Estates and qualiteis fit for the places wherewith they were intrusted, have lately been put out of the Commission of the peace others of the seed of the Old Cavaliers (I am sorrow that I am forced to vse such distinctions) under the name of moderat Gentelmen put in, as also in the Commission for the Militia, who intrust the most fierce and violentes of that sort to apprehend under the notion of fanaticks not only mr Powel and his Party with many poore innocent people that were used to heare him preach (though never in arms) but also the most sober and godly Presbyterians both Gentelmen and Ministers as mr Thomas Niccols of the garth by name a sober judicious godly and moderat Presbyterian, beloved of all people in the Country even the sober and ingenious Cavaliers who are troubled at his imprisonment: and mr Thomas Toungue Doctor of Divinity and Minister at Llandrinio a very godly quiet, harmlesse but able and faithfull man, who I beleeve (were the truth known) is brought in upon no other score but [the?] to please the humours of the Papists who in his Parish doe sway much and cannot endure him. as also mr Maurice Lloyd another Presbyterian Minister setteld at [Averhavis?] who though a young man, yet a man eminent for gifts and graces and very hopefull, and I belee he is brought in upon noe score but because he is a godly presbyterian for a great Gentelman told him he was neither a minister nor member of the Church of Engelland and as we gather from others of their judgement because not ordained by Bishops. for an Episcopal minister said that the imposition of the hands of the Presbyters was no more then so many feet of the crows on their head. So amongst many others they have brought in mr Iohn Kynaston mr Edward Vaughan mr Allen who all of late were Iustices of the peace, did much good in their Country and never were disturbers yet nor the least suspicion of them. So that now we see clearly that their fury &malice is not set against fanaticks, sectaries and prophane disturbers of the
[10/5/16B]
peace but against goodnes and godlines and against such as have bohren the brunst of the day in opposing [Anabaptists? MS edge] Quackers and other sectaries: and what shall I say more we are not save in our owne houses for they doe what they list, take mens horses and did last weecke shoot a brase of bullets in the dore of mr Rushworth minister of Mountgomery and another under his window where one at the side of the window was sitting and not above an inch betweene the man and the board as they say that sahe it. Some of them have also threathned to ravish all the wifes of roundheads and all this because they say they are assured the king will passe an act of Oblivion for all, therfore they will act as high as they can [word illeg. MS torn] many people seeing these actings of theirs though well wishers to the king are almost afraid of his comming in by reason of these ranting and tearing [blots? altered], and dirt is cast on religion and all the professours thereof, in so much that the vilest people care not what they say, and am afraid, shortly will not care what they doe to them, unlesse a speedy remedy prevent them. Wherfore sir shall I importunat you and our honoured Frind mr Dury (we having none of our owne knights in the house to which to make our grif known) to serve God and his people in what you may. I assure you as I shall answer it before God and them that shall call me to an account concerning it, things are as I tell you and thus Colonell Hunt the Gouvernour of Salop hath given an account of some passages before I saw him to some of the Counsel of state, others to Colonell Harley a member of the [honoured? altered] house of Commons others to some Ministers of London. yet seeing that a good worck goes but slowly on and good man greatly suffer by those that always have undone and undoubtedly will undoe the king unlesse the good hand of Providence step in and Curb them I thought it my duty to move you to informe with our state and condition that famous Patron of religion and learning Sir William Waller your old frind Major General Brown and Iudge Corbet if acquaint with them: as also others of your acquaintances <of the Parliament> whom you shal thinck fit, humbly entreating them to conferre about it with Colonell Edward Harley and to move it either at the Parliament or the Counsell of State, that we may be freed from this violence and Oppression, and that ther may be care taken that their old frinds may not for the future be molested, they living honestly, righteously and godly, doing nothing prejudiciall either to state of Church. And wheras they apprehend many upon the account of Chester busines, because then they were in arms: these Gentelmen that I say are Presbyterians and moderat men never [metteld? altered] in so much that we were suspected and like to have been questioned as though we hath had an hand in it. Sir I you beahre any love to God or his people (as I doe not question but you doe, nay I know you doe) let me entreat you to make this your owne busines and doe in it what you can, and I know your labour shal not be in vain And I pray let me heare from you as soone as conveniently you can give me an account what you have done in the busines and what hope you have, and we shall pray for you and those worthies. So next my humble service to mr Dury I committ you to the Lord from whence our Salvation comes and rest
Sir your most oblieged frind and servant in
the Lord
M Grundman
[propriâ?]
Llandyssell May 8th/60.
[10/5/18A]
P.S. This very day the Lord Herbert of Cherberry sets forth from salop for London, Who will give a very good account I beleeve of their proceedings, he being the great weele[altered] that sets all others agoing, and so much the more hot, because in Chester busines some of mr Powels party did deale something rufly with him. If he has good grounds to proceed thus against them (though I like revenge in noe man) Why doe they trouble such as are distinct and opposite to mr Powell. Sir though my Lord will speake well, yet to tell you sub rosa noe more but this: He is an hather of all Godlinesse and good men. Sat Sapienti. If any should make use of his name. make use of it as you shall see good: but wisely because he is a great man