An answer to the seditious and scandalous pamphlet entituled The tryal of W. Penn and W. Mead at the sessions held at the Old Baily, London, the 1, 3, 4, 5 of Sept., 1670 contained in four sections / written by S.S. ...

SECT. II. (Book 2)

The Libellous Scandal against the then Lord Mayor, Sr. Thomas Bludworth, Sr. John Hovel, Recorder, Answered and Refelled. (Book 2)

Jude 9.

Yet Michael the Archangel, when contending with the Devil, he disputed about the Body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing Accusation; but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Verse 10.

But these speak evil of those things which they know not.

THese People called Quakers (if they are to be be∣lieved) will tell you, they have this Angelical Spirit, the Meekness of Moses, the Patience of Job, and all other Graces. But the contrary appears, fol. 57. of William Penn's Book. Vide this Passage.

But above all, Dissenters had little reason to have expect∣ed that Bourish Fierceness from the Mayor of London,

when they consider his eager prosecution of the Kings Party under Cromwel's Government, as thinking he could never give too great a Testimony of his Loyalty to that new Instrument; which makes the old Saying true, That one Renegado is worse than three Turks.

A high Charge against Sr. Samuel Starling, then Lord Mayor, (if true) Cujus contrarium verum; and there∣fore a Railing Acusation: And that Light, which is (as they say) within them, (by which they are acted, and speak, as they pretend) is the Spirit of the Devil, the Father of Lies. But in regard this Libel chargeth the then Lord Mayor of Disloyalty to his King, and of Un∣kindness to the true-hearted Royalists; I think it ne∣cessary, for his Vindication, to desire the Courteous Rea∣der to enquire of S. Edward Deering, the Dean of S. Pauls, Dr. Sancroft, Dr. Whitcheackes, Mr. Christopher Flower Minister of Lothbury, and of Francis Pemberton Esquire of the Middle Temple, who all can bear witness of his Loyalty, when he was at Cambridge; ••••d that he mani∣fested the same in the Schools, and upon all occasions. And in the Years 1643, 1644, 1645, when Loyalty was most out of Fashion; and was at last compelled to leave the University, and his hopes of preferment that way, he utterly refusing to take the Scottish Covenant.

In the Years 1646, 1647, 1648, 1649, he applied him∣self to the Study of the Laws at Grays-Inn; and after he had performed his Exercises, he could not be admit∣ted to the Bar, because he utterly refused to subscribe the Cursed Engagement; witness Cornelius Hooker EEs{que}s;q Nicholas Jacob EEs{que}s;q both Barristers of Grays-Inn, and his Contemporaries. From 1650, until His Majesties Re∣stauration,

he was a Trader in the City; and how he demeaned himself in those Cromwellian Times, all that knew him, will bear Testimony, that he walked Antipodes to the Genius of that age, to the endangering of his Life and Estate. His Majesty being by Gods providence restored, he was esteemed for his Loyalty a fit Person to be of the Jury upon the Kings Judges; and passed a Juror upon no less than 18. of those assassinating Tray∣tors.

But why do I endeavour to vindicate his Loyalty; which was never questioned by any, but by these Scep∣ticol Quakers, whose whole business is to asperse our Religion, Laws, and all men that are not of their cursed Principles?

But I shall make this fair Offer for Sr. Samuel Starling, and undertake for him, That if William Penn can make out that the late Lord Mayor ever wronged one of the Kings Friends either in Body, Goods, or Good Name, one penny, that he shall restore to that Gentleman, whosoever he be a Thousand pounds for every penny∣worth of wrong.

But I suppose this wild rambling Colt William Penn mistakes when he chargeth these things upon the late Lord Mayor, he means his own Seir deceased, who from a Captain, was made Olivers High Admiral for his great Service in promoting that New Instrument; who afterwards did eminent Service for the English Nation at Hispaniota, when he delivered up the Flower of the English Souldiers a Sacrifice to the Cow-Killers.

This was a Renegado worse than three Turks; that performed such excellent Service in the late Dutch Wars, in plundering the two East-India Dutch Ships of the Prize Goods; for which he was turned out of the

House of Commons; it is hoped, that he leaving so great an Estate of—just gotten Goods to so conscientious a Son a•• this William Penn pretends himself to be, that the tender-Conscienc'd Youth will make satisfaction to His Majesty: Taceo caetera; De Mortuis nil nisi Bonum.

The Libeller proceeds to asperse Sir Thomas Bludworth, vid. fol. 57, 58. Alderman Bludworth (saith he) being conscious to himself of his partial kindness to the Popish Friers, hopes to make amends by his zealous prosecution of the poor Dissenters; for at the same Sessions he moved to have an Evidence (of no small quality) against Harrison, the Frier, sent to Bridewel and whipt; that he was earnest to have the Jury fined and imprisoned, because they brought not the Prisoners guilty, for only worshipping their God: Whence it may be easie to observe, That Popish Friers and Prelatical Persecutors are meer Confederates.

This likewise is a Railing Accusation, false and ma∣licious: That worthy Knight never moved at that Sessions to have an Evidence against Harrison the Frier, sent to Bridewell, and whipt, as this Libeller chargeth him; neither was it ever proved at the Sessions, That the idle prating Fellow Harrison was a Frier, or ever attempted to set the City on Fire, as was falsely sug∣gested; but it was proved, that he had raised a rumour that the City would be burnt, whereby great fears and terrours was upon the spirits of the people; for which cause, he was deservedly Fined, Whipt, and Pillo∣red by the Court.

I could heartily wish, That these Libelling, Lying, and Discontented People, were as free of the Design of putting this whole Kingdom into a Flame, as he was from the actual Firing of the City.

But the malice of this Accusation appears in the Infe∣rence

the Libeller makes, viz. That Popish Friers, and Prelatical Persecutors, are meer Confederates. By which, the Libeller would perswade the too credulous World, that the honest, sober Protestant, who endevoureth to put the Laws in Execution against seditious Meeters, are Persecutors: To which false, wicked, and divelish Accusation, I at present make no other reply, but what Michael did to the Devil, The Lord rebuke thee: The Lord in Heaven judge between us, and these lying dis∣contented People.

The Accusation against the Recorder is twofold; first, that he should say, That there would be a Law made the next Session of Parliament, That no man should have the protection of the Law, but such as conformed to the Church, fol. 68. This Saying of the Recorders is falsely and maliciously recited; for he said, That we shall not be always at this trade with you, you will find the next Session of Parliament there will be a Law made. That those that will not conform to the Law, shall not have the protection of the Law. And is it not most reasonable, that they which would have protection, should give subjection? And was it not the Opinion of those blessed Saints, whose steps these men follow, when they made a Law, That those that would not subscribe the wicked Engage∣ment, against King and House of Lords, should not have the benefit of the Law? Was not that Law then esteemed by Men of their Principles a blessed Law? And is not this Lex Talionis? Nec lex est justior ulla, quam necis artifices arte perire suâ? And would not such a Law, if the wisdom of Parlament think fit, save the Magi∣shtrates from a great deal of trouble, and take more effect upon these stubburn people, than all the Laws

that have yet been made, or by the wit of man can be invented?

The second Accusation against the Recorder is, that he should say, Till now I never understood the reason of the policy and prudence of the Spaniards, in suffering the Inquisition amongst them: And certainly it will never be well with us, till something like the Spanish Inquisi∣tion be in England. The Inference the Libellers Take is, What does this but justifie that Hellish Design of the Papists to have prevented the first Reformation.

This is a wicked and uncharitable construction of the Recorders words: These words do no ways justifie the Papists, in preventing the first Reformation by the Hellish Inquisition.

If these Libellers had but the least grain of Charity, they would have construed the words cum grano salis, & in initiori sensu, as the Rule of Charity directs all words to be construed; and they will admit of no other construction but this, viz. That if the Papists be so politick and prudent, by their Inquisition, to preserve and maintain their false Religion; surely it will be the Protestants prudence, to find ways for the preservation of their true Religion.

Quod Faxit DEƲS.