The Hartlib Papers

much, &can not endure him: As also Mr Maurice Llayd- [line missed out: copying error] man, yet a man eminent for gifts &graces, and very hopefull, and I belee he is brought in vpon noe <H: other> 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 England, &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, &never were disturbers yet, nor the least suspicion of them. So that now wee see clearly, that their fury &malice is not set against Fanaticks, Sectaries, &prophane disturbers of the peace, but against goodnes &godlines, &against such as have boren the brunt of the day in opposing Anabaptists, [Qvackers? altered], &other Sectaries. And what shall I say more, we are not safe in our owne houses: for they doe what they list, take mens horses, &did last weeke shoot a brase of bullets in the dore of Mr Rushworth Minister of Mountgomery, &an other vnder his window, where one at the side of the window was sitting, ¬ above an inch betweene the man &the board, as they say that saw it. Some of them have also threatned to ravish all the wifes of round heads, &all this because they say, they are assured the King will passe an Act of oblivion for all; therefore they will act as high as they can. And 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, &dirtis cast on Religion, &all the professours thereof, in so much, that the vilest people care not what they say, &am afraid, shortly will not care what they doe to them, vnlesse a speedy remedy prevent them. Wherfore Sir, shall I importunat you &our honoured friend Mr Dury (we having none of our owne knights in the house, [catchword: to]

to which to make our griefe known) to serve God &his people in what you may. I assure you, as I shall answere it before God &his people, in what them that shall call me to an account concerning it, things are as I tell you, &thus Colonell Hunt the Gouvernour of Salop hath given an account of some passages, before I saw him, to some of the Councel of State, others to Colonell Harley, a member of the honoured House of Commons, others to some Ministers of London. Yet seeing, that a good work goes but slowly on, and good men greatly suffer by those that allwayes have vndone, &vndoubtedly will vndoe the King, vnlesse the good hand of Providence step in, &curb them. I thought in my duty to move you to informe with our State and Condition that famous Patron of Religion, &learning Sir William Waller, your old friend, Major General Brown, &Iudge Corbet, if acqvainted with them; as also others of your acqvaintances of Parliament, whom you shall thinck fit, humbly entreating them to conferre about it with Colonell Edward Harley, &to move it either at[altered from in] the Parliament or the Councel of State, that we may be freed from this violence &oppression, and that there may be care taken, that their old friends may not for the future be molested, they living honestly, righteously, &godly, doing nothing prejudiciall either to State or Church. And whereas they apprehend many vpon the account of Chester busines, because then they were in arms: these Gentelmen that I say are Presbyterians &moderat men, never medled in so much that we were suspected, &like to have been qvestioned, as though we had[altered from hath] had an hand in it. Sir, If you beare any Love to God, or his people (as I doe not qvestion but you doe, nay I know you doe) let me entreat you to make this your owne busines, &doe in it what you can; &I know your labour shall not be in vain. And I pray, let me heare from you as soone as conveniently you can give me an [catchword: account]

account what you have done in the busines, &what hope you have, &we shall pray for you and for those worthies. So next my humble service to Mr Dury, I commit you to the Lord, from whence our Salvation comes, &rest