On August 3rd, 1682, Lord Castlehaven was summoned before the Council, the King being present, respecting the publication of this book, which he owned; and it was resolved that the book was a libel against the government.[221] A copy of this publication is preserved in the British Museum Library.

For publishing this periodical a prosecution was instituted against Nathaniel Thomson and Mary his wife. The following is a copy of the information:—

Londonia. Memorandum quod Samuel Astry armiger Coronator et Attornatus domini Regis in curia ipsius Regis coram ipso Rege qui pro eodem domino Rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua venit hic in curiam dicti domini Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium die Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis isto eodem termino, et pro eodem domino Rege dat curiæ his intelligi et informari quod Nathaniel Tompson nuper de parochia Sancti Dunstani in Occidente Londoniæ Yeoman et Maria Tompson uxor prædicti Nathanielis existentes personæ maledispositi ac machinantes practicantes et intendentes pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare et diversas personas infra hoc regnum Angliæ in odium et contemptum dicti domini Regis et subditorum ipsius domini Regis inducere et inferre, et ad nequissimas machinationes practicationes et intentiones suas prædictas perimplenda et perficienda prædicti Nathaniel Tompson et Maria Tompson decimo die Junii anno regni domini Caroli Secundi nunc Regis Angliæ &c. tricesimo quarto vi et armis &c. apud parochiam prædictam infra Civitatem Londoniæ prædictam falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, seditiose et scandalose imprimi causaverunt et publicaverunt et uterque eorum tunc et ibidem imprimi causavit et publicavit quoddam falsum, malitiosum, scandalosum, et defamatorium libellum intitulatum The Loyal Protestant and True Domestick Intelligence, in quoquidem falso, scandaloso, et defamatorio libello inter alia contenta fuerunt hæ falsæ, scandalosæ, et defamatoriæ sententiæ in his Anglicanis verbis et figuris sequentibus Windsor. June 7, 1682. This day the Court of Verge sate here, where the 2 Portugal Cooks came to their tryals, and were (upon hearing the whole matter) found guilty of poysoning Mr. Benning the Turnbroach; the Foreman of the Jury was one Mr. White, the King's Plummer, near this place. We cannot hear of any sentence given against them as yet Benning excepted against a House-Jury, by reason he had formerly disobliged some of the Servants; wherefore he thought Justice would not be done him; they having had a prejudice against him ever since. Et ulterius idem Coronator et Attornatus dicti domini Regis pro eodem domino Rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari quod prædicti Nathaniel Tompson et Maria Tompson die et anno supradictis apud parochiam prædictam infra civitatem Londoniæ prædictam scientes prædictum falsum, scandalosum, et defamatorium libellum fore falsum et defamatorium libellum, falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, et seditiose vendiderunt, utteraverunt, et publicaverunt, et uterque eorum vendidit, utteravit, et publicavit, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini Regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[222]

The result of this prosecution does not appear. A copy of this publication is preserved in the British Museum Library.

For publishing this periodical a prosecution was instituted against Thomas Snowden, printer, of the parish of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, and Jane Curtis, wife of Langley Curtis, of the parish of St. Bride's, Fleet Street. The following is a copy of the information:—

Londonia. Memorandum quod Samuel Astry Armiger Coronator et Attornatus domini Regis in curia ipsius Regis coram ipso Rege qui pro eodem domino Rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua venit hic in curia dicti domini Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium die Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis isto eodem termino et pro eodem domino Rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari quod Thomas Snowden de parochia Sancti Andreæ Wardrope Londoniæ Typographus et Jana Curtis uxor Langley Curtis nuper de parochia Sanctæ Bridgettæ Londoniæ Yeoman existentes personæ male dispositi ac machinantes practicantes et intendentes pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare et diversas personas infra hoc regnum Angliæ in maximum odium contemptum et vilipendium non solum cum dicto domino Rege, verum etiam cum aliis subditis ipsius domini Regis inducere et inferre et ad nequissimas machinationes practicationes et intentiones suas prædictas perimplenda et perficienda prædicti Thomas Snowden et Jana Curtis vicesimo die Junii anno regni domini Caroli Secundi nunc Regis Angliæ &c. tricesimo quarto vi et armis &c. apud parochiam Sanctæ Bridgettæ Londoniæ prædictam, falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, seditiose et scandalose, imprimi causaverunt et publicaverunt, et uterque eorum adtunc et ibidem imprimi causavit et publicavit quoddam falsum malitiosum scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum The true Protestant Mercury or occurrences foreign and domestic, in quoquidem libello inter alia contenta fuerunt hæ falsæ, fictæ, et scandalosæ sententiæ in hiis Anglicanis verbis, The two Portugal Cooks mentioned in our last had their tryals on Wednesday last at Windsor, and were found guilty of poysening Benning the Turnbroach. The foreman of the jury was Mr. W. the King's Plummer, who lives near Windsor, but we do not hear of any sentence given as yet against them. But we hear that his Majesty declared before the trial, that whosoever was found in the fault, should have no favour showed him. The reason that he had excepted against the Jury of the King's servants, was because he had formerly some quarrel with some of them, and had discovered something against them, and therefore thought they would not do him justice. Et ulterius idem Coronator et Attornatus dicti domini Regis pro eodem domino Rege dicit quod prædicti Thomas Snowden et Jana Curtis dicto vicesimo die Junii anno supradicto apud parochiam Sanctæ Bridgettæ Londoniæ prædictam falsum et scandalosum libellum falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter et malitiose vendiderunt utteraverunt et publicaverunt et uterque eorum vendidit utteravit et publicavit, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini Regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[223]

A copy of this publication is preserved in the British Museum Library.

This was written by Thomas Stringer, who appears to have been Secretary or Steward to the Earl of Shaftesbury; and for writing the same, a prosecution was instituted against him. The following is a copy of the indictment:—

Londonia. Juratores pro domino rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Thomas Stringer nuper de Londonia generosus machinans et intendens serenissimum dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regem Fidei Defensorem &c., et regimen suum in odium et infamiam inter subditos suas inferre, et pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ molestare et perturbare, et diversas differentias inter eosdem subditos excitare et procurare vicesimo die Junii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia Sancti Botulphi extra Aldersgate in Warda de Aldersgate Londoniæ prædicta vi et armis &c. falso seditiose et malitiose scripsit et publicavit et scribi imprimi et publicari causavit quendam scandalosum libellum intitulatum, A Second letter from a person of quality to his friend about abhorrers and addressors, &c. in quoquidem libello continentur hæc falsa ficta et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet Tis plain these men (ligeos et subditos dicti domini regis nunc innuendo) mean and intend by this abhorrence (quandam detestationem versus associationem in papiris scriptam prætensam fore inventam inter quosdam papiros Anthonii Comitis Shaftesbury innuendo) and under this notion to create an association for all the Tories to maintain a Popish Successor and to introduce arbitrary power. And whosoever joins with or doth not vigorously oppose such practices is guilty of these designs. Et in altera parte ejusdem libelli continentur hæc falsa et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet, That which concerns the mercenary forces is no more than every man's duty as much as in him lies (which means as lawfully he may) to endeavour entirely to disband all such mercenary forces as we have reason to believe are raised to advance arbitrary power. In malum et perniciosissimum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[224]

This was the production of Mr. Robert Ferguson, and for writing, printing, and publishing the same he was prosecuted. The following is a copy of the indictment:

Juratores pro domino Rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Robertus Ferguson nuper de Londonia generosus, Deum præ oculis suis non habens sed instigatione diabolica motus et seductus, machinansque et intendens serenissimum dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regem Fidei Defensorem, et regimen suum in odium et infamiam inter subditos suos inferre ac pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare et diversas differentias inter eosdem subditos procurare vicesimo die Junii anno regni dicti domini regis nunc tricesimo quarto apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia Sancti Martini Ludgate in warda de Farringdon extra Londoniam prædicta vi et armis &c. falso seditiose et malitiose scripsit, impressit, et publicavit et scribi, imprimi et publicari causavit quondam scandalosum libellum intitulatum, The Addresses importing an abhorrence of an association pretended to have been seized in the Earl of Shaftesbury's closet, laid open and detected. In a letter to a friend. In quoquidem libello continentur hæc falsa ficta et scandalosa verba sequentia, And as all Addresses of this nature tend to render the King, who ought to reign in the hearts of all his people, the Head meerly of one party and that a very inconsiderable one if compared with the bulk of the Nation; so they only serve to publish to all the world the distractions of the Kingdom, and to proclaim in the face of the Sun the weakness of the Government. What do the foreigners say upon the perusal of our Gazets, but that either things are not managed in England according to the Laws of the Constitution, or that his Majesty of Great Britain reigns precariously, seeing his Ministers seek to support the Transactions of State, by courting the applause of a few little folk here and there through the Kingdom? In malum et perniciosissimum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[225]

A copy of this publication is in the British Museum Library. It is in folio and occupies four pages.

This is one of the reprints of the original edition of 1651. For publishing this reprint, a prosecution was instituted against John Starkey. The following is a copy of the indictment against him:—

Londonia. Juratores pro domino Rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Johannes Starkey nuper de Londonia Stationer machinans et intendens Serenissimum Dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regem Fidei Defensorem &c. supremum et naturalem Dominum suum et regimen suum in odium infamiam et contemptum inter subditos suos inducere et inferre ac pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare vicesimo die Junii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia Sancti Dunstani in Occidente in Warda de Farringdon extra London prædicta vi et armis &c. falso seditiose et malitiose impressit et publicavit et imprimi et publicari causavit quendam librum scandalosum intitulatum The continuation of the Historicall and Politicall Discourse of the Laws and Government of England until the end of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth with a vindication of the antient way of Parliaments in England. In quo quidem libro de et concernente præfato domino Rege nunc continentur hæc falsa ficta et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet, I do easily grant that Kings have many Occasions and Opportunities to beguile their People, yet can they do nothing as Kings, but what of right they ought to doe: They may call Parliaments, but neither as often or seldome as they please, if the Statute-Laws of this Realme might take place. Et in altera parte ejusdem libri continentur hæc falsa et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet, And though Kings may be chiefe Commanders, yet they are not the chiefe Rulers. In malum et pernitiosissimum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[226]

Upon this indictment Starkey was outlawed, but in the first year of Will. and Mary he brought a writ of error and the outlawry was reversed.

Thomas Hunt, Esq., of London, was prosecuted for publishing this. The information charges that Thomas Hunt, late of London, esquire, being a pernicious and seditious man, and contriving and maliciously intending to disturb the peace of England, and to create false opinions and suspicions among the king's subjects concerning the king and his government, and to cause them to think that the king was an abettor of Papists and most pernicious men conspiring to procure the subversion of the government of the kingdom and also the Protestant religion established by law, called plotters, and to excite rebellious seditions and discords between the king and his subjects, and to bring the king's government into contempt and hatred, did in order to carry out his most wicked and diabolical intentions, on the twentieth day of January in the thirty fourth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Michael Cornhill in London, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, scandalously, and seditiously make, compose and write, and cause to be printed, published and sold a certain false, scandalous, libellous, seditious, and defamatory book intituled Mr Hunt's Postscript, in which book in writing of and concerning the Papists and the plots in the same book mentioned to have been perpetrated, among other things is contained as follows—Nay, as if they [meaning Papists] did not fear or care to loose the favour of their most indulgent Prince, which they have possest since he used Papists in making his Escape at Worcester; they have contrived these two last Plots with such Art, as to bring them under his Majesties Observation, and represented them as things fit for his encouragement. Sure if they were not urged with the fears of a real guilt, and a restless Conscience of the Plot, they would never have adventured thus to have interested the honor of the King, and to tempt him to abandon them to the publick Justice of the Nation: which begins to grow impatient by the delays of it against this hellish Plot. For we have had four Parliaments dissolved since the discovery of it, one a darling to the Crown. The bringing into question the Dissolution of that Parliament in the House of Peers, upon the reason of an unnatural Prorogation, was not long before censured, and some great Lords imprisoned therefore; proceedings so unwarrantable, that it was after thought fit by that House to obliterate the Memory of them; soe necessary was that Parliament then thought to the service of the Crown. The Dissolution of that Parliament, gave us reason to fear that the King had no more business for Parliaments. By these Dissolutions, no publick ends that are intelligible are served, no Interest but that of the Plot is gratified; no persons of any sort receive their satisfaction but the Plotters, who are respited thereby from publick Justice, and gain time to bring their Plot to effect.[227]

The result of this prosecution does not appear. A copy of the book is preserved in the British Museum Library.

This is a single sheet printed on both sides. A copy is preserved in the Library of the British Museum.

In a newspaper of the period, The True Protestant Mercury of February 23, 1680-1, we find the following account of this production:—"Feb. 18, 1680-1. Complaint being made to the Bishop of London of a most vile and blasphemous pamphlet, lately published by one Hindmarsh, a bookseller in Cornhill, intituled The Presbyterian's Paternoster, Creed, and Decalogue, wherein the sacred form of prayer taught by our Blessed Saviour to his disciples, the Ten Commandments, written with the finger of the Almighty, and delivered with dreadful Majesty, together with that Brief Summary of our Holy Faith, commonly called The Apostle's Creed, were most impudently depraved and profaned, and to the horror of all pious ears, the scandal of Christianity, and indelible shame of the Nation, turned into ridicule and impiety; his Lordship detesting such abominations, presented the said pamphlet to the consideration of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council; and 'tis said, the said Bookseller will at the Sessions beginning to be holden this week for London be indicted (as he most justly deserves) for blasphemy; in the mean time all sober men of the Church of England (for which every true Protestant has a profound deference and respect, though dissenting from some superfluous ceremonies, so much perhaps the more eagerly contended for by domineering spirits, by how much the less necessary they are) will take notice what kind of persons these are, who so studiously make it their business to render Dissenters odious and suspected, with those swarms of seditious libels, daily spawned by Th. Too. S. M. this worthy gentleman in Cornhill, and others. And that the authors of such pamphlets, whatever they scribble, are no real sons of the Church of England, but a disparagement unto her, by shrouding themselves under her mantle, being in truth, either disguised Papists, or else mere Ruffians, debaucht rakehells and Atheists."

Very soon afterwards at the Sessions of Peace held at Guildhall, the Grand Jury found a true bill against Hindmarsh, Thomson the printer and Parson Ashington the alleged writer of this "detestable blasphemous pamphlet." To quote the forcible words of the next number of The True Protestant Mercury—"The Secretary of Hell that contrived this horrid piece is confessed to be one Ashington, credibly reported to be a beneficed parson in Northamptonshire, but non-resident; and skulking here about town to practise more freely debauchery and do mischief. There are warrants issued forth against him; and some say, he was once seiz'd, and by negligence suffered to escape; at present we cannot hear that he is in custody."

Hindmarsh brought a certiorari to remove the indictment into the King's Bench, but Mr. Justice Dolben forthwith granted a procedendo to try it immediately; and the indictment being read, Hindmarsh pleaded guilty, and was immediately ordered to be taken into custody, and was afterwards bailed, "the Court resenting so justly the heinousness of the offence, that they deferred giving sentence till next term, resolving to do it in a public manner at the King's Bench, all the Judges being present."[228]

On the 24th June Hindmarsh appeared in the Court of King's Bench and moved to have his bail discharged; the Lord Chief Justice told him he deserved to be severely punished, and asked him what he had done to expect such a favour? His Counsel alleged, that he had discovered the author, who had already done penance for it. Notwithstanding which the Lord Chief Justice ordered him to prosecute the said author at common law by the first day of the next term, and then they would consider of discharging his bail.[229]

The following is a copy of this curious paper.

The Presbyterian Paternoster; Creed, and Ten Commandments.

—— —— Manent veteris vestigia fraudis. Virg.

The Pater Noster.

Our Father which art in Hell, magnify'd be thy name; thy Arbitrary Kingdom come, thy Tyranical will be done in England now, as it was in Forty One; Give us in this our Day a holy occasion of Rebellion; and forgive us our shew of Godliness for thy sake, as we forgive others their holy Hypocrisy for our good Cause; and lead us not into an agreement of King and Parliament; But Deliver us from Monarchy and Hierarchy; and then thine shall be this Kingdom, its Power and Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

The Creed.

I Believe in John Calvin, the Father of our Religion, disposer of {**} Heaven and {*} Earth; and in Owen, Baxter and Jenkins &c. his dear Sons our Lords, who were Conceived by the Spirit of Fanaticism, born of Schism and Faction, suffer'd under the Act of Uniformity; were Silenced, Dead and Buried; and had descended into Hell, but that they arose again in the year of Toleration; ascended into Tub-Pulpits, and now sit at the right hand of the Lord S—— from whence they are coming to judge both the Church and the State. I Believe in the Holy Assembly of Divines, the Holy National Synod, the Seperate Meetings, the Act of Oblivion, the Resurrection from Dead Rites, and Toleration Everlasting. Amen.

The Ten Commandments.

The same which John Presbyter hath spoken in 20 Chapters of his Works; saying, I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the Land of Antichrist, out of the House of Ceremonious Bondage.

I.

Thou shalt have no other Gods but Me.

II.

Thou shalt not make any Image, or likeness of any Saint in Heaven above, (except S. Oliver &c.) or bow down at the Adorable name of Jesus here on Earth; nor use the Sign of the Cross in the Waters of Baptism; For I the Lord thy God in my Jealousie murder'd the Father, and will visit his Superstitious Iniquity upon his Children, unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me; but shew Mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my Damnable and Rebellious Commandments.

III.

Thou shalt not make the Solemn League and Covenant vain, nor subscribe the Declaration; nor take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, unless (with a Jesuitical salvo,) to obtain places of Honour and Power.

IV.

Remember that thou keep holy the Remembrance of Forty One. Many years didst thou labour, yet could'st not do all that thou hadst to do; But in Forty One the Lord thy God sent thee a Sabbath of Deliverance; Thou shalt therefore now remember to do all manner of work that thou didst then, Thou, and thy Son, and thy Daughter, thy Man-Servant, and thy Maid-Servant, the Brutes and Proselytes that are within thy Conventicles; For in Forty One the Lord thy God made England and Scotland Rebellious; thou shalt therefore Bless the year Forty One; and hallow it.

V.

Honour Fanaticism thy Father, and Schism thy Mother, that thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God will once more give thee.

VI.

Thou shalt do no Murder, but upon Majesty, Episcopacy and Loyalty.

VII.

Thou shalt not commit Adultry, save with the Holy Sisterhood, to get Babes of Grace.

VIII.

Thou shalt not steal, unless by Sequestration, Composition, or Publick Faith.

IX.

Thou shalt not bear False witness against a Brother, but may'st swallow Perjury by a Popish Reservation for the good of Holy Cause.

X.

Thou shalt Covet nothing but Crown-Lands, Bishops Lands, and the Estates of Malignants.

POSTSCRIPT.

Printed for Tom Tell-troth at the Sign of the Old King's Head in Axe Yard in King Street, Westminster.

At the Sessions for the City of London held on June 1, 1681, the Jury made a presentment against this "seditious pamphlet, contrived by Papists, and believed to be printed by the Popish Printer in Fetter Lane, the design of it being to overthrow the ancient constitution of this kingdom."[230] The Editor has not been able to discover a copy.

On Monday October 10. 1681 a complaint was made by Justice Warcup of this "popish invective libel" dated from Antwerp. The publisher was had before the Council, and was to answer the same before the King and Council, on the following Friday.[231] No further proceedings can be found, neither can the Editor discover a copy of the book.

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against Francis Smith. The information charges that Francis Smith, the elder, late of the parish of St. Christopher, London, Yeoman, being a pernicious and seditious man, contriving and maliciously intending to disturb the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom, and to make, excite and procure discord between the King and his subjects did, on the first day of October, in the thirty third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, in the parish aforesaid, falsely, unlawfully, unjustly, wickedly, seditiously and scandalously cause to be printed, sold, uttered and published a certain false, malicious, scandalous, and seditious libel intituled Smith's Protestant Intelligence, Domestick and Forein in which are contained these false, malicious, and scandalous sentences following, April 9. Mr Everard having two Orders of Council sent him for to attend on his Majesty at the Board Yesterday, he there Appearing, constantly refused to give a Bond for to Prosecute Fitzharris; but, that the Reasons that made others (whose Office it was) to decline it, ought to make him much more shie to do it, It was thereupon granted to him that the King's Attorney General would prosecute. But it being insisted that he should give in his Evidence, as the law required (if what he had discovered were true). Everard, (as 'tis said) replied, that he would think of that, and return his Answer after some convenient time, if he were resolved as to some Difficulties and Quæries; viz.—Whether it was the Opinion of that Honourable Board, that Fitzharris could be tried elsewhere than in Parliament, and whether it were safe enough for Mr. Everard to give his Evidence elsewhere non obstante the Impeachment of the said Fitzharris by the Commons, especially after the Impeachment was lodged with the Lords, and entred in their Books, because the Lords might receive and reassume the Impeachment in another Parliament (as in case of the Lords of the Tower) and then the Commons might become Prosecutors themselves.[232]

For writing this work the author was banished the kingdom, and seven hundred copies were seized. A copy exists in the British Museum Library. It is in two volumes, quarto size.

At the Easter Sessions for Bristol in the year 1682 the Grand Jury presented this and the four following publications as being "infamous, scandalous, and seditious"; and the Court thereupon ordered that at its rising these libels be publicly burnt by the Beadle or Common Executioner.[233] A copy is preserved in the British Museum Library.

A copy is preserved in the British Museum Library.

The editor has not met with a copy of this work.

The editor has not met with a copy of this work.

A copy of this tract is preserved in the British Museum Library. It is in quarto, and contains four pages.

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the Library of the British Museum, a prosecution was instituted against John Smith of Queen Street, in the County of Middlesex, Printer. The information charges that the defendant being a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending to excite discord and scandal between the King and his people and the nobles of the kingdom, did on the twenty seventh day of March, in the thirty second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, in the parish of St. Giles in the Fields, Co: Midd:, publish and cause to be published a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel intituled Smith's Currant Intelligence, or an impartial account of transactions both forraign and domestick containing among other things as follows:—The Project for carrying and recarrying of Letters from place to place throughout all the Cities of London and Westminster, for a penny a Letter, so often mentioned in the Intelligences, is, as Dr. Oates says, a farther branch of the Popish Plot; for that he is credibly informed, it is the most dextrous Invention of Mr. Henry Nevill alias Pain, who is notoriously known to be a great asserter of the Catholick cause, and shrewdly suspected to be a promoter of this way of Treasonable Correspondencies; And it is to be feared, as that good Invention of Pipes hath wholly destroyed the Trade of Tankard Bearer, so this silly Invention will only serve to ruine the poor Porters.[234]

This book is ascribed by the compilers of the Catalogue of the Museum Library to William Petyt; and there are several other productions of Johannes Philangus; but it does not appear upon what authority Petyt is considered the author. A copy is preserved in the British Museum Library. It is in folio, and contains six pages.

For printing this work a prosecution was instituted against James Cottrell, a printer of the parish of St. Sepulchre in London. The information charges that he, being a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending to create discord and scandal between the King and his people, and the nobles of the kingdom, did on the twenty sixth day of March in the thirty second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Sepulchre in the City of London publish and cause to be published a false scandalous and malicious libel intituled England's Alarm, &c. (as in title), containing among other things as follows: Remember, England, if thou art not mad drunk with the Whores Charms how that thy preaching Ministers are turn'd into dumb Dogs and ravening Wolves. And they bear rule by thy means, and thou lovest to have it so.[235]

The author of this book was founder of the sect called Muggletonians. He was born in 1609, and was bred up to be a tailor. Abandoning his trade in 1651, he set up himself and his companion John Reeves as the "two last witnesses" mentioned in the apocalypse as having power to prophesy, and to smite mankind with plagues. They began to fulfil their "commission" by denouncing all religious sects, and especially the Ranters and the Quakers. An exposition of their doctrines, was published in "The Divine Looking-Glass." In this work, among other wild vagaries, were propounded the views that the Trinity are merely the three different names, and not the three distinct persons, of one God; that God has a real human body; and that he left Elias as his vicegerent in heaven when he came down to the earth to die on the cross. These profane heresies provoked much opposition. They were attacked by William Penn, the Quaker, in a book entitled The New Witnesses proved Old Hereticks. 1672.

For writing this book Muggleton was prosecuted; and was tried at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, the 17th of January, 1676/7; he was found guilty, and sentenced by the Court to stand three days in the Pillory, one day in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange; the next day in Fleet Street near the end of Chancery Lane; and the third day in West Smithfield, from eleven to one o'clock each day, with a paper over his head describing his offence in large letters, and his books to be seized, and divided into three parts, to be burnt before his face near the Pillory by the Common Hangman; and besides, to be fined £500, and to continue in gaol till payment, and afterwards for his life, unless he procured good bail, "such as the Court should accept of, and not of his own gang, faction or sect," for being of good behaviour. Full particulars of his trial will be found in a little book, entituled, A true narrative of the Proceedings at the Sessions-house in the Old Baily, at a Sessions there held on Wednesday the 17th of January 1676/7, giving a full account of the true tryal and sentence of Lodowick Muggleton for blasphemous words and books. London. 1676/7.

The indictment charges that Lodowick Muggleton, late of London, labourer, being a pernicious, blasphemous and heretical man in his opinions, pretending and affirming that he was one of the two last prophets of the New Testament, designing and intending to disseminate his pernicious, blasphemous, seditious, heretical and monstrous opinions, and to disturb the common peace and tranquillity of this kingdom, and to deprave the true religion rightly established and exercised within this kingdom, also to move, make, and excite discords between the king and his subjects, and to bring into great hatred and contempt the king and his royal government in ecclesiastical causes, did on the thirtieth day of August in the twenty eighth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, London, with force and arms, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, scandalously, blasphemously, seditiously, schismatically, and heretically write, cause to be printed, sold, uttered and published a certain malicious, scandalous, blasphemous, seditious, and heretical book intituled The neck of the Quakers broken, &c. (setting out full title) in which book are contained these false, unlawful, blasphemous, seditious, schismatical, heretical, and scandalous sentences following, viz.:—I write these lines unto you Edward Bourne, knowing you to be of the seed of the serpent, and appointed to eternal damnation before you were born, though you know it not, I do know it by your speaking evil of that Doctrine which is declared by us the Witnesses of the Spirit, by calling of it Deceit, Confusion, and Lies, with many more wicked speeches against the purest Truth that ever was declared by Prophet or Apostle, because this is the Commission of the Spirit, and the last Witness of God on earth. Therefore for these your hard sayings against the Doctrine of this Commission of the Spirit, in obedience unto my Commission, I do pronounce you cursed and damned soul and body from the presence of God, elect men and Angels, to eternity; neither shall that light within you, nor any God deliver you from this Curse, but according to my word it shall be upon you, because you shall know that God hath given power unto man to curse you to eternity, and that there is a Prophet of the Lord now in the Land. Written by Lodowick Muggleton, one of the two last Witnesses and Prophets unto the High and Mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory. Vale. And in another place of the same book are contained these false, feigned, malicious, scandalous, blasphemous, seditious and heretical sentences following, viz.:—Now in this last age God hath given me power, and discerning to determine and give judgement upon men and women according as I do discern by their words, and I thereby also know what nature and seed they are of, and accordingly I give judgment upon them, for I do go by as certain a rule as the Judges of the Land do, when they give true Judgment according to the Law. For God hath ordained me the chief Judge in the world at this day to give sentence upon men and women's spiritual and eternal estate what will become of them after death. Full of this cursing I confess my mouth is, and I do rejoice in it too, I know that God is well pleased in the damnation of those that I have cursed, and I am wonderous well satisfied in giving judgement upon them, according to the tenor of my Commission; and this is that which you call swelling words. And in another place of the same book are contained these other false, feigned, malicious, scandalous, blasphemous, unlawful, seditious and heretical sentences following, viz.:—Therefore I shall speak a few words unto you two in particular, because you two have committed that unpardonable sin that never will be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come; for you have done despite unto the Spirit of Truth, in speaking evil of things you do not know, for you have called the Doctrine and Declaration of the Spirit, Blasphemy, Deceit, and Lies, with many other railing speeches, with high impudency, from a light within you, and from the dead letter without you, and hath presumptuously lifted up your selves with that light within you, to speak evil of the Commission of the Spirit, which we received from the true personal God without us, even the Man Christ Jesus in Glory. Therefore in obedience to my Commission, I do pronounce Samuel Hooton and W. S., for this their Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that sent me, cursed and damned soules and bodies from the presence of God, elect men and Angels, to eternity. Your light within you, nor God without you shall deliver you from this Sentence which I have declared upon you, because you shall know that there is a true Prophet now in the last Age, as well as there hath been in former times. And this Sentence shall be the mark of your Reprobation in your foreheads to eternity, even as your great Grandfather had in his forehead, and all the Seed of Faith that shall read this Epistle and see you, shall see the mark of Reprobation in your foreheads, neither shall you scrape it out, but it will be seen by the Elect as long as you live. And when you dye, you shall pass through this first death into the second death, and in the Resurrection you shall never see the face of God, nor man, nor Angels, nor your own faces, to eternity: but you shall be in utter darkness, where is weeping, and gnashing of teeth for evermore. To the great scandal and contempt of the King, his Crown and Dignity, also of the religion rightly established in this kingdom, to the bad and pernicious example of all others in like case offending, and against the peace of the King, his Crown and Dignity.

The indictment also further charges that—Nathaniel Powell late of the parish of St. Clement Danes, London, yeoman, being a pernicious, blasphemous, impious and profane person, and not having the fear of God in his heart, but moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, and contriving and intending to deprave, scandalize and vilify the true Christian Religion rightly established and exercised within this kingdom; also to blaspheme the wisdom, omnipotence and majesty of the Holy Trinity, and the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to strengthen, confirm and ratify the aforesaid pernicious, seditious, heretical and monstrous opinions of the said Lodowick Muggleton within the kingdom of England, did, on the first day of April, in the thirty third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Clement Danes, aforesaid, say, pronounce, and publish falsely, scandalously, maliciously, profanely, blasphemously, and heretically these false, scandalous, profane, blasphemous, and heretical words in the presence and hearing of divers liege subjects of the said lord the King, viz.—I rather believe in Muggleton that stood on the Pillory, than in Jesus Christ, I have power to damn and to save, and if thou (meaning a certain Gilbert Soper then and there present) art not damned I never desire to see the face of God. I do believe in that Muggleton, that stood on the Pillory, next to God Almighty. That Muggleton had power to damn whom he pleased, whom he damned were damned to eternity, and whom he saved, were saved. I have power to damn and to save, I believe more in Muggleton than in Jesus Christ. I thank God, never offended God in my life, I have no sin to ask God pardon for, I say drunkenness is no sin, I have had the knowledge of my own salvation these twelve months, I have the power of damning and saving, I damn thee (meaning a certain Richard Sharpe then and there present) and God cannot save thy soul. To the great scandal of the true profession of the Christian Religion, to the manifest contempt of the Holy Trinity, and blasphemy of the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the bad and most pernicious example of all others in such case offending, and against the peace of the King his Crown and dignity.[236]