The great accuser cast down, or, A publick trial of Mr. John Goodwin of Coleman-street, London, at the bar of religion & right reason it being a full answer to a certain scandalous book of his lately published, entituled, The triers tried and cast, &c. whereupon being found guilty of high scandal and malediction both against the present authority, and the commissioners for approbation and ejection, he is here sentenced and brought forth to the deserved execution of the press / by Marchamont Nedham, Gent.

TO His Most Serene Highness, OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR OF THE Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland &c.

SIR,

IT is a Custom in all Coun∣tries, when any man hath taken a strange Creature, immediately to present it to the Prince: Where∣upon, I having taken one of the strangest that (I think) any part of Your Highness Dominions hath these

many years produced, do with all sub∣missiveness make bold to present him bound hand and foot with his own Cords (as I ought to bring him) to Your High∣ness. He need not to be sent to the Tower for his mischievousness; there is no dan∣ger in him now, nor like to be henceforth, as I have handled him; For, should he break loose again (as who knows what wild Creatures may do!) and get abroad to infest the Stationers, and infect your People, I that have found him out once, may soon meet with him again to keep him in order. He seems to be a Leader of that savage Herd, which would make the Prince or Magistrate but a Man of Straw, or like a Wooden Head, or a Golden Neptune fixed over the Stern only for a shew, but not at all concerned in the steer∣ing of the Ship.

I in all humility crave Your Highness pardon for this Attempt, it being indeed my Adversaries fault, whose example in making bold to trample upon Your good Name and Authority, hath taught me so much confidence, that I presume to set

Your great Name before this Book, and to offer you the trouble of perusing it, at such a time, when the Affairs of Three Nations lie all before you. If it be worth the reading at all, it is because the matter concerns you; It defends your Authori∣ty, and vindicateth one of your best and most Christian Actions, together with the Reputation of those Honourable and Re∣verend persons your Commissioners from common prejudice, and from the foulest Imputations that the mouth of Folly and Envy could breath out into the open air: and though this poor Mite can add no∣thing to the Treasury of your Highness Princely Wisdom and Knowledge; yet it will serve to call many things to your re∣membrance, much to your Observation—

When I heard how industriously this Book of Mr. G. hath been dispersed, and how high a prejudice arose among the more undiscerning sort, by the fine words of the Charmer, I thought this business to be my duty, and I have done it as I could: Where the gravity of the matter merited it, I have observed a Stile accor∣dingly

serious; in all other places I have treated the man like himself; not that I af∣fect it, but because it was necessary, and the most proper way of Return, for due correction, to intimate unto him, and his admirers, as well the insolency of his Spirit, as the lightness and vanity of his pretended Arguments. In the re∣futing of them, I have given him his own to the utmost, allowing him fair play, by reciting some of them whole, the rest by parts in their full strength and force, which is more than ever he yet gave to any adversary in Print, it having been his manner upon the like occasion, to trifle about the Out-works, but ne∣ver fall upon the main Fort, nor take the least notice where the strength indeed of an Argument lay.

If this Address prove unseasonable, I shall watch to redeem my Error by a more eminent service, upon some happy Occa∣sion, which certainly I cannot want, see∣ing your Highness proceeds in the noblest paths of Christian Piety, to leave Posteri∣ty an Example, what Great Things 'tis pos∣sible

for man to do with a vertuous minde in the height of Honour and Fortune. May you live long in this State, with the favour of God, and good will among men, to the glory of the most High, and the rejoycing of all the People under your Highness Protection: So prayeth,

Your Highness's most humble faithful Subject, and Servant, MAR: NEDHAM.

July 8. 1657.