CHRIST Ruling in midst of his ENEMIES; OR, Some first Fruits of the church's DELIVERANCE, Budding forth out of the cross and Sufferings, and some remarkable deliverances of a twenty years' Sufferer, and now a soldier of Jesus Christ; Together, With secretary Windebanks Letters to Sr Jacob Ashley and the Maior of Newcastle, through which the violent prosecutions of the common adversaries to exile and banishment, are very transparent. Wherein also the Reader shall find in several passages, public and particular, some notable encouragements to wade through difficulties for the advancing of the great design of Christ, for setting up of His kingdom, and the ruin of Antichrist. By lieutenant colonel, JOHN Fenwick. Apoc. 7. 14. These are they that come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb; and, Chapt. 12. 11. And they overcame by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of his testimony, and they loved not their lives to the death. LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Allen in Popes-head Alley, 1643. The Epistle DEDICATORY TO NEWCASTLE upon Tyne. NEWCASTLE, though not the place of my birth, or much of my breeding (for I have herein been more beholden to other parts of the world) yet none may challenge from me more interest in this Dedication. Newcastle, famous for thy mocking and misusing of Christ's Messengers, and ill entertainment of his Servants, ever since our Reformation, witness that famous Knox, great Reformer of Scotland, his Sermons preached there: witness learned Udall, thy faithful Monitor, whose innocent blood cries yet from the ground, whom for writing against the Prelates, thou prosecuted as a traitor to bonds, imprisonment, and sentence of death, under which he died before execution; witness Reverend Balmford, whom in like manner thou expulsed, though thou couldst not touch his life, thou pricked his sides (as well as Christ's) in his hearers, with the reproach of Balmfordian Faction and schism; witness Alder, Jennison, Murton, all godly Ministers, expulsed by thee: witness others of Christ's servants, ill entertained of thee, yet alive to witness all that is alleged against thee, and much more; and last of all, he that sends these things unto thee, his wife and children, who have received their birth and breathing in thee, make up that long and black roll of bitter things writ against thee from heaven. O Newcastle! how hath God dealt with thee, by his divine waterings of his Word many years? how has God spoke aloud to thee by his judgements and forewarnings of ruin and desolation after thou hadst refused all instructions from his Word and Messengers? hast thou forgot how loud God spoke to thee in that great plague, Anno, 1636. when there died in half a year about seven thousand, which made thee almost desolate, thy streets grown green with grass, thy treasury wasted, thy trading departed, as thou never yet recovered it; thy wounds increased thy madness; thou wentest not to heaven for a perfect cure: What thinkst thou was the meaning of that strange fire broke out Nota, This fire broke out in the evening of that day after their consultations were ended wherein many ancient Records were burnt up and consumed. (none ever knew how) in thy secret chamber of thy town's house, or Common hall, where the next year after that great plague, thy Rulers, like Wolves of the evening, were lurking all that day in plotting the new project about Coals & Salt, to devour thy poor inhabitants, and also new devices to suppress sound preaching, and strave your souls. How is it, after many more warnings, too large to recite, that thou art still hardened, and the cry of thy sins like Sodom is come up to heaven: in thee is found the blood of the Prophets, the blood of the Saints oppressed & banished, and hunted to death: in thee is found the blood of thy inhabitants oppressed and impoverished, by unlimited authority, and arbitrary government, so courtlike, as an apple is like an Orange. In thee is found the uncleanness of Sodom, Adulteries, and Fornications in thy Rulers houses: thy filthiness in thy skirts, transparent to strangers round about thee; in thee found drunkenness and excess, with melody, to see the Church laid desolate: in thee is found the two grand sins, that will sink a whole state, a whole kingdom without repentance and reformation: superstition in worship, and oppression in government, which has brought upon this Land that bloody sword, which now threatens to devour thee (I mean, thy wicked magistracy and Rulers, who have wrested all thy power into their own hands, and all that wicked crew of their confederacy) O Newcastle! when wilt thou learn the dialect of heaven, speaking loud in thine ears? O Newcastle, Newcastle! wilt thou not be made clean, when shall it once be? Jer. 13. 27. If thou wilt not harken to heaven's counsel, hear thy sentence, Thou art defiled with blood, and cannot be cleansed, but by the blood of them that shed it, Numb. 35. 33. O Newcastle! what shall I say to thee? what hath enraged thee against him that writes this complaint against thee? whom have I wronged of you? bring forth your evidences, and plead your cause; I hope ere long, we shall have a fair and free hearing and just proceedings, not at the bar of your Court Law of hanging, Excom. imprisonment and banishment; but at a bar of right judgement. I have ever sought thy good in spirituals and temperalls, even to my own hurt and loss; I have seen sometimes thy plagues a far off, and wept insecret for thee, (as the place of my habitation, though my Meseck and Kedar, the place of my sorrow, and never of my joy, how oft have I assayed to have left thee in thy rebellion against God, but heaven's counsels did not favour mine) when the great plague began, Anno 1636. Consider what might be God's mind, to make me one day weep bitterly over thee, riding alone about a mile from the town, with many sad thoughts, and when I looked up, and see Newcastle before me, my heart burst out with grief, with the same words bo●●ing within me, wherewith the Lord Jesus wept over Jerualem: O Newcastle, Newcastle, would God thou in thy days had remembered the things belonging to thy peace, often revolving these thoughts with me: but when I came to the next words, with many reasonings within me, shall they be hid from thine eyes, shall thy habitations be laid desolate. My heart was like to burst within me, for a good space, assuring myself to hear ill news, (for I had been in the country) and coming to town, I heard presently of the increase of the plague, and that the night before some six and thirty died of it; and from thence it daily increased to four hundred a week, till it had swept away about seven thousand at least, in seven or eight months' time. O Newcastle, before thou hadst recovered this blow, which I mourned to see coming upon thee, what ailed thee to begin to plot the ruin of me and my wife and children. I had seen many habitations laid desolate, though I returned safely to my own, with all my family, praise to my God, often strangely preserved from that deadly infection; was it that thou grudged me thy corrupt air to breath in, that thou sought my life, and pursued my wife and me both as traitors, till thou drove us out of the kingdom. God made me require thy malice with the like pity as before, that morning I escaped thy malicious design against me, as I passed the gates in the dark of the morning, and being a little passed from the walls, the town being still in my sight, God made me weep over thee, the second time, in the same manner as before, and with ruminating and reasonings within me upon the same words of Christ over Jerusalem, and how soon after was the bloody sword drawn, which has wasted thee not a little, and well if the worst be not yet behind. What hast thou got now by all thy discourteous and harsh dealings with me, who has ever sought thy good? I have served thee divers years in a public office, wherein, though I could do thee little good, (the stream run so strong against me) yet I have sometimes kept out some evils from overspreading thee, until thou began to stretch out thy neck against God, in the Scottish Cause, and then, ever since, how 〈◊〉 an inundation of all evils overwhelmed thee, and God, I fear, left thee to some fatal fall. Repent, repent, O Newcastle, lest the Lord depart from thee, and send a revenging sword to avenge his quarrel against thee; if so, take heed of what was threatened to a wicked city: Affliction shall not come the second time, which the Lord avert, and give thee a heart to repent and turn to him, that has long smitten thee, that he may repent him of the evil which otherwise will befall thee; For all the strength and power of man wherein thou still dost boast and glory, I have thought it my duty, to present thee with a brief view of thy harsh usage of me and mine, to see if at any time God may give thee an heart to repent, which should be to me greater joy then to see thee laid desolate, when these papers I now send thee, shall be as a flying roll through thy streets and doleful habitations, filling your fainting hearts with errors and shriekings to think of all your wickednesses; and amongst the rest, your bloody plots and practices against one that has ever sought your good, John Fenwick. To the READER. Courteous Reader, I Had been silent concerning myself in this evil time, had not the importunity of some friends, and the unthankfulness of this apostate age imposed a necessity upon me of publishing somewhat to the world of my late troubles and sufferings to many extremities these five years complete, 〈…〉 about the great work of God begun in Scotland, finding by others as well as in mine own opinion, that I have suffered much by my silence; The storms and tempests of this troubled time, having tossed men's wearied minds, out of their right course and motion, and the many buffets and blows in these common calamities, upon this kingdom, have so malled the heads and dulled the spirits of men, that they have almost lost their hearing and understanding, and as slow to remember what they have heard and known of former sufferings, the new sufferings wearying out the old; so that a necessity is laid upon me to publish somewhat to the world of my late troubles, for these reasons: First, my duty to God, to declare his mercies in midst of mine enemy's malice, in thankfulness of mind and spirit, to leave it to posterity, as it is expressed, Psal. 102. this shall be written for the generations to come. Secondly, if God bring out good to my country out of these troubles, the world may see, that I have suffered somewhat for it. Thirdly, Being called out to the field in the public service of the State from the first going out of our armies, and having lost some blood in this cause already in Keynton-field, where God gave me (I may say) a new life, being sore wounded, and stripped and left for dead upon the ground among the dead almost an hour senseless, and being still resolved to be prodig all of my blood, (if God assist me) in this his clear and undoubted cause, wherein the bloody sword makes no difference, but my lot may be to fall as soon as another; my children may be somewhat comforted from my former deliverances, to trust the same God, who hath strengthened me with resolution, rather to die honourably, then live a sordid life in slavery, and when they shall enjoy their precious privileges, and find them died in their father's blood, they will more prize them, and be more careful to preserve them in their integrity to the generation following, as their ●●st inheritance, that still God may have his due honour and glory, and a constant succession of faithful servants to the world's end: Fourthly, having lost my whole estate, in these late troubles, and not enjoying the benefit of 100l. of mine own at home, or in f●●raigne parts in five years' time, and spent myself further in the public service, and not able to provide for my children (if God shall call me before things be settled) I leave to them I hope hereby, a title and ininterest in the public good, whereby they may bolaly and justly challenge a share, from that rule of common equity, That those that have borne the hea● of the day, and tasted deeply of the sour, ought drink of the sweet and be comforted with the cool waters of repast and rest; it not being for the honour of my country to leave mine to sink under my burdens for the public good, wherein I have spent myself, without the least public support. Good Reader▪ bear with my plain and simple stile, my desire being to speak in plainness to the weakest capacity, not curious to study words and sentences, quaint terms or elegance, but that plainness and simplicate may set forth truth in her own proper colours, without dimness or obscurity, if any thing here may add the least strength or courage in thee, to prosecute this great work of Christ's kingdom, give God the praise; if any thing bear the character of my weakness and infirmity, bury it in that love that suffers all things, and thinks no evil, and remember in thy prayers, Thy Servant for the kingdom of Christ. John Fenwick. Epitaphium in hoc tenebroso mortalitatis tempore ab Authore scriptum, ac posteris relictum. THe Lord's my Life, he lengths my days, My tongue, my pen, shall spread his praise: From dangers great, by sea, by land; From pestilence, from enemy's hand: From fruits of sin, from hellish fears, From folly of my tender years; He has preserved, and heard my cry Assuredly; if death draw nigh, Christ my Joy, shall soon destroy Both death and sin, which me annoy, And bring me safe into his barn, In season as a rick of corn. I. F. TO THE HONOURABLE, The Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament, The humble Petition of John Fenwick. Humbly showeth, THat your Petitioner hath been bred a Merchant in divers foreign Countries many years, and so lived a Merchant in his native country some eightene years in which time his employments of shipping sea and land-men▪ and divers manufactures of this kingdom, have not been unprofitable to the commonweal, nor unfruitful to his majesty, affording to his treasury, three, four and five hundred pounds per annum fifteen or sixteen years, as the customhouse books will show. And amongst other nations your Petitioner had commerce with the Scottish nation some fifteen years, or more, in exchange of moneys, buying and selling and shipping goods and merchandi●e to and from thence, and there being no restraint of commerce. Your Petitioner went into Scotland about 26 Decemb. 1638. and brought a ship laden with Wheat, of the Earl of Winton a papist, as he had done a few months before, and with whom he had dealing divers veeres before; your Petitioner coming home to Newcastle, was pursued as a Covenanter by divers illaffected persons in the magistracy▪ and a Warrant sent forth by Sir Alexander Davison & Sir Iob. Marlow, to the Constables who watched your Petitioner his house three days to apprehend him for no other cause, but correspondence with the Scots, which your Petitioner in regard of his trading could not avoid. And your Petitioner being informed by some of good quality that they had a malicious plot for your petitioners life; and when no friends durst intercede for him, your petitioner was forced to return back into Scotland; where both privately he was watched, excepted out of the peace at Barwick by the Earl of A●●nd●●●, when no man else was excluded, and publicly pursued in the Parliament there by the Lord Traquaire, his majesty's Commissioner (by the instigation, as he believeth) of his adversaries at Court and in Newcastle, as may appear by the Letters of Secretary Windebanck hereunto annexed. And further humbly showeth, that a little after your petitioner was thus most in●uriously driven from his country, family and friends, and all his affai●es struck de●d in an ●nstant, to his utter undoing: the aforesaid Sir John Marlow and Sir Alexander Davison, with Sir Thomas Ryd●le junior, Master Ralph Co●ke and Ralph ●●wes, under pretence of a Commission from his majesty, which they refused to produce, most illegally molested your petitioner his wife, examined her and her friends, and several times did search your petitioners house, and took away writings at their pleasures, and sundry times imprisoned your petitioners wife, and at last drove her from her family and succour of friends, into Scotland for her safety, where she was forced to abide until the pacification at Berwick, and then returned to Newcastle. And lastly, upon the news of the Scottish army advancing into England, Master Robert Bewick then Maior of Newcastle, by his officer brought your petitioner his wife out of the country far beyond his jurisdiction to Newcastle, where she was searched and examined by Sir John Beaumont a Commander under my Lord Conway and Sir Ioh. Marlow, and a guard of 12 Musketeers set upon her, threatening her life; so as she was forced to escape a private way by water, into the country: By which injurious dealing, your petitioner hath been sore damnified in his liberty, estate and credit, which is a merchant's livelihood, to the dissipation of his family, and loss of all friends, and privileges of a subject to possess his right and his debts at home and abroad in foreign parts, no man to this three years past, paying him, or will yet pay him any thing without suit of law, which in regard of his long troubles and many losses, he is wholly unable to prosecute, until by the justice of this assembly he be righted and repaired of his great losses and damages of above four thousand pounds, as he hopeth to make good▪ Most humbly prayeth, this Honourable Assembly to take into consideration your Petitioner h●s sad ●ondition, and to afford him redress of his grievous wrongs and repair of his heavy losses and da●mages sustained by the injustice and illegal molestations of the above named persons, his long and heavy adversaries, And your Petitioner shall daily pray, &c. This Petition was first presented by the Earl of Roches, and the rest of the Sc●●● Commissioners at the Treaty of pacification about ult. De●emb. 1640. but found no time of remedy. And in June 1642. at the next Treaty by the Earls of Lothian and Lindsey, and the Lord Balmirinoe, and the rest of the Commissioners from Scotland, again recommended and referred to Col, Fir●, to be taken into consideration in Parliament upon first opportunity, but hitherto the great distractions of the kingdom hath pre●●●ted. SECRETARY WINDEBANCKS Letter to Sir Jacob Ashley; presented at a Committee about Newcastle business, Mr. Miles Corbet in the chair, May 28. 1642. By Sir Thomas riddle Junior, and Sir ●o. Marlow, in Justification of their good Service to the King; pleading that it was good Service then, and how they sought to take me, but could not accomplish it. HIs majesty hath commanded me to give you notice of an Information lately come to him from a very good hand, that one John Fenwick a Merchant, and one Betleston a Tanner, both of the town of Newcastle have lately been in Scotland and subscribed to the Covenant and carried with them t 〈…〉 〈…〉 es of divers others which will do the like, (this being a most notorious and base Treachery, especially in an English Subject, and of most pernicious consequence if it should spread further. His majesty is pleased to recommend the strict Examination of it to your ear, and commands that if these find you not at Newcastle, you immediately repair thither, and advise with Mr. Marlay of that town, what course is fittest to be taken to come to a clear and certain knowledge, of the truth hereof: You are likewise to call to your assistance Sir William Bellasys a very able Gentleman, and of exceeding good affection to his majesty's Service; and if upon examination, you shall find Fenwick and Bitlestone guilty of this charge; you are by His majesty's express Command to Commit them immediately to Prison, there to remain close, until his majesty's pleasure shall be further known; and you are further to examine strictly what names they carried with them into Scotland to become Covenanters; and to certify me with all speed, what you shall find herein, that so this dangerous correspondence and practice may be discovered and prevented, and that place of importance secured, upon which the Covenanters have a special eye, and in the preservation whereof consists the safety of all these Northern parts: You see what diligence and dexterity, the weight of this business requires; and how great a trust is laid upon you; and I doubt not but you will consider it, and govern yourself accordingly. I have received two dispatches from you, and immediately after the first came to my hands, I gave you notice of it by a line or two: The Lords of the Committee have been made acquainted with them both, and you are to receive herewith several answers from their Lordships to all that you have desired to be instructed in. The enclosed is from Mr. Controller, who remembers his true love to you, to which you may do me the favour to add mine with many thanks for your friendly expressions to me: In some acknowledgement whereof I shall be your true Servant, in any thing wherein I may contribute to your Service there, or to you own particular, with the assurance whereof to you, I rest. SIR, Your most Affectionate and true Servant. FRANC. WINDEBANCKE. At the Court at Whuhall, 19 Ian. 1638. POSTSCRIPT. THe greatest danger we conceive of those Northern parts is Newcastle, and therefore it is expected that you endaevour by all means possible, according to the powers and instructions, which you have, to strengthen that place, and to secure it from surprise; seeing likewise upon the safety of that depends much the security of those parts, which are furnished with Fewell from thence 〈…〉 will give me account of this business of Fenwick and Bitlestone, as 〈◊〉 as you may, for so his majesty expects, and to that purpose you may keep this Messenger with you, until the Examinations shall be taken, and then send them expressly by him. There goeth herewith a Letter from the Lord marquess Hamilton to Mr. Marlay of Newcastle; And likewise a Warrant under his majesty's hand to yourself, the Major, and Store-keeper, for the issuing out of Arms to some of the Scotch Nobility, as you will perceive. Secreta●rie Windebanckes Letter to Sir Alexander Davison, & aliis, presented at the same time with the former, and by the same Persons. AFter my hearty commendations, I have received your Letters of the 24. of Jannarie, subscribed by yourself, Sir William Bellasis and Master John Marlay, together with the examinations that came with them, and have acquainted his majesty with them, who takes very well your care in that service, and hath commanded me to give you thanks for it: His majesty perceives the confederacy in that town, with the ill affected party in Scotland, may grow dangerous, if it be not speedily prevented; and therefore doubts not of the continuance of your diligence in the discovery of the whole combination and strict and severe proceeding against such as you shall find inclining to it. Concerning John Fenwick, it is to be doubted be is in Scotland, and therefore you must carry a watchful eye upon his return, and if you can apprehend him, commit him immediately to some prison out of the town, where his confederates may have no means of resort to him; for Thomas Betelston, you have done well to commit him, but you must likewise send him out of the town to some safe prison where he may remain close, and out of the danger of the conversing with any of his confederates: and the like course you are to hold with all others whom upon examination you shall find of this faction. You are likewise to take some speedy course for the preventing of these clandestine meetings at undue hours, at Henry Dawson's house, under pretext of 〈◊〉, and if Master Mourton the Preacher there be ill affected to the Church government, you must make diligent inquiry from whence he hath his maintenance, and if you find he lives by contribution of refractory persons, you must either prevent his preaching in private, and those supplies which he receives from them, or else not suffer him to remain in your town. His majesty will expect from you an account from time to time of your proceedings herein, according to the importance of this service wherein he doubts not of your care, and so with remembrance of my love unto you, I rest Your affectionate friend, Fr. Windebancke. From the Court at White-Hall, 2. of Febr. 1638. CHRIST Ruling in the midst of his ENEMIES. I will not now trouble the Reader, with a large Relation of the troubles of my Life, or what I have suffered under an unlimited power of Prelacy▪ reaching me into Germany above twenty years ago, when I had spent some seven years in that then flourishing Country; and how the practices of Dr. William lo and his accomplices, by Letters from King James and Archbishop Abbot. I was driven from my employments and means of preferments there. Or what I have suffered since in my Native Country, both in matters of the Church and commonweal, by molestations of the Prelates, there Excommunications, sometimes in four several places upon one day▪ and many other molestations of Dr. Jackson and Mr. Alvey; his Successor in the vicarage of Newcastle, and what other vexations in the commonweal, Nota, Herein I have been many years the Subject of the admiration of friends, and the object of the enemie● madness and rage, in that they could never make me stoop, I have waded through with much cost and trouble; In opposition of illegal taxes and oppressions, under an Arbitrary Government; about Knighting. Ship money, projects; and other oppressions in the Government of Newcastle, the Court Records of Durham, York, Westminster, and also of the counsel board can testify. My aim at this time is only, to let forth my late and bitter sufferings, about the Scottish business now almost full five years. In relating the passages of my troubles about the Scots, I shall overpass, many things will necessarily fall out to be read in the Letters▪ of my adversaries, and in my petition to the Parliament, and will only here observe some other remarkable passages of God's providence, in the public, as well as in my particular. When the first troubles began in Scotland about the new Service book imposed, the world knows what alterations and changes followed. As mainly, the renewing of their old Covenant, which had lain by forgotten many years, during the reign and rage of the Prelates: A Copy of which Covenant, a worthy Minister of almost 20. years' acquaintance in Scotland sent me with a relation of the solemn taking of it in that Kingdom, which when I read and seriously weighed the Covenant itself and passages about it, I writ under it. Inde Triumphabit Chr●●●us post praelia ●i●●or. That is in English, From thence after bloody battles Christ shall triumph and begin his conquests throughout the World. And so sent it to my Friends in New-England; who where no less affected with it than I: and earnestly solicited my constant in elligence about that business of Scotland, which I also as willingly performed until I was driven out of England. And indeed to speak plain out I had some assurance from Heaven, that now was the dawning of the church's deliverance near, and that from those weak beginnings Christ would a rise to do great things in the world, and make way to his kingdom. About 6 May 1628. I had occasion to ride into Scotland, and bought Note, I had to do with others as well as Covenanters. of the Earl of Winton a Papist, a Barks lading of wheat; and being at Edinburgh on the Sabath day, it fell out that the Covenant was that day solemnly taken in as reverent a manner, and with as much majesty and signs of God's presence as ever I saw in any public Assembly, where Job served some ancient and white haired men to water their cheeks, and wipe off the tears with one hand, while they held up the other hand in token of assent to the Covenant as their custom was. Now all this year in England, men's cares and mouths were exceedingly taken up in listening after, and speaking of news and discourses of the Scots affairs. And my correspondence with the Scots as a Merchan●, for at least 15, or 16. years before, being generally known in Newcastle, my adversaries begun to set watches for to trap me about the Scots, and my Friends began to forewarn me of it; at last about the 15. of Decemb. 1638. Mr. Robert Anderson an Alderman of the town, and my good Friend came to me privately and told me, Now your Enemies have got their desire they have long looked for, they have got Witnesses sworn against you, of such things about the Scots, as will undo you; and so wished me to look to myself, I thanked him for his love, but I regarded not much their malice, being so well accustomed to it; nor did I so much as speak of it to any, not to my wife, till after the plot broke out: The same day, another Gentleman of good quality gave me the the like warning; but I will spare his Name because he is yet living, and now a sufferer under the marquess of Newcastle, And upon 25. December after being a time of much profaneness and excess in Newcastle: I took that time to ride into Northumberland, and Barwick where I had moneys owing me; and so into Scotland, (there being no restraint of commerce with the Scots) and bargained with the aforesaid Earl of Winton, for another barks lading of wheat; but before I got home to Newcastle, a Warrant was sent out to apprehend me, by Mr. Alexander Daveson, and Mr. John Marlow, * Note, They were not Knighted till afterward, for their good service against the Scots. Nota, My return was about the 8. of January, by comparing the Date of Secretary Windebancks letters, you may see how ripe the plot was for execution. and the Constastable watched my house three days before I came, but coming home late about ten of the clock at night, they missed of their purpose. Observe here God's providence over me, for I knew nothing of this dangerous plot to apprehend me, but was stayed by the way about business, and relying on the moon's light, stayed by the way somewhat the longer. But being come home late, I found my wife in a very sad posture, and was not sit down, until some friends came in and gave me notice of the danger, assuring me that the plot was of such extent as my life was struck at; and that there was no abiding in the Kingdom for me, some advising me to go for France, some for Holland, and some for Scotland; none of my friends daring to be seen in it, or interpose their interest to stop their violence, no not so much as for two days safely in my house, to order and settle my affairs both at home and abroad, all struck dead in one instant. Well I saw there was now no dallying, provided for my escape in Note, Here that Newcastle was begun to be fortified for the King against the Scots. the morning early, where I passed the Guard and the Gate with some difficulty, and passing along in sight of the town of Newcastle. God made me weep over it the second time, as is expressed in the Epistle Dedicatory, with many sad thoughts of the place, and of my Wife and Children. I had left in a disconsolate condition amongst my enemies. So rode into the Country where I stayed among Friends some 8 days, using means to see if the business could be accommodated, but all means failing, and the business carried so high, as none of my friends durst meddle in it: I took my leave of them in a sad condition and took my way for Scotland; I had not been above eight days in Edinburgh, until I was watched by the Lord Traquire, than Lord Treasurer of Scotland, and had the whole power there for the King; giving out threats against me in several places, that the King's Dominions should not hold me long; so as I was forced to lurk very privately that winter in Edinburgh and the Country, in a disguised manner: and so we return to what they were doing in Newcastle. My Adversaries having missed of their purpose of me, fell withal violence upon my wife and friends with much inhuman usage of one of her Sex, as is set forth in my Petition to the Parliament. hereunto annexed; wherein Mr. Alexander Daveson Major, Mr. John Marley Mr, Thomas riddle Town clerk. Mr. Ralph Ceck Alderman, and Ralph ●●ows the clerk of their Commission from the King for that business, were the chief actors. It would be too tedious to relate the molestations of my poor wife and friends, and examinations about me, and of the imprisonment of others merely for my cause, but my wife especially for correspondence with me, till at last they were plotting her life too, for that very thing, and so hunted her as she durst not come in her own house, for a week together, or see her children but through a glass window, that they might not see her; and so at last forced her to escape into the country, where none of my friends durst keep her two nights together, but conveyed her into Scotland to me, where she abode until after the pacification at Barwick, and then about the end of October, 1639. she returned to Newcastle great with child; but I being excepted out of the pacification by the Earl of Arundale, who treated on the King's part, I was forced to abide in Scotland, to expect a calmer season, but how calm it proved I shall tell you presently, after I have told you a little more of my wife's troubles. The unfound peace with Scotland being broken quickly, the next Summer produced new preparation to war on both sides, and upon the news of the Scots army advancing into England, Master Robert Bewick the Maior, sent his officer into the country out of his jurisdiction and brought in my wife, where she was searched, examined, and divers papers taken away, and a guard of about a dozen Musquetiers set upon her; well, the Scots approach with their army, and her abode in Newcastle was so troublesome on both sides to her and our adversaries, as 'tis hard to say, whether'rs fears were greatest, her sex may excuse her flight with her children, unfit to be left amongst such monsters of men and women, as Newcastle now was full of all sorts, from all quarters to fight with the Scots: read more of this in a little Tract I published two years ago, entitled, The Downfall of the Hierarchy. Well, being got away by water into the country, she found cold entertainment, all being afraid of trouble by her, until the Scots army came near to Newburn, and then there was flying indeed to purpose, the swiftest flight was the greatest honour to the Newcastilian new dubbed knights, a good Boat, a pair of oars, a good Horse, (especially that would carry two men) was more worth than the valour or honour of new knighthood. Surely Vicar Alvey too would have given his vicarage for a horse, when he for haste leapt on horseback behind a countryman without a cushion, his faith and qualifications failing him, he might well fear to fall from grace by the Scots coming; we leave him in his flight to the grace of Conterbury, and the new dubbed knights, and others to the Courts grace for full twelvemoneths', until the cots were gone home again. They no sooner returned to Newcastle, but the first Sabbath Day after the Scots were gone, Vicar Alvey appears in public again, new dressed up in his pontificality, with Surplice and service-book, whereof the Churches had been purged by the Scots lads, and therefore now become innovations, and very offensive to many, who could digest such things before; but my wife being Nota, Some men carried away pieces of her clothes, and made as much of them, as if they were holy relics. This was a bold affront, the Parliament then ●itting. less used to have her food so dressed, growing stomach-sick, set some other weak stomachs on working, who fell upon the vicar's new dressing (the Surplice and service-book) which set the malignant superstitious people in such a fire, as men and women fell upon my wife like wild beasts, tore her clothes, and gave her at least an hundred blows, and had slain her, if the Maior had not stepped out of his pew to rescue her, he and his officers both well beaten for their pains such was the people's madness after their Idols, as God wonderfully preserved her life, and brought her to me to London. I return now to some remarkable passages of divine providence towards me in Scotland, in Edinburgh, and in my travel in the country from place to place, to avoid the Lord Traquires prosecution: God being never wanting to fill up the empty souls of his servants in their Nota. This hundred-fold is not meant of temporal things, as many understand it, but is meant of a hundredfold more of God's presence, and communication of his fullness even in this life, and in time of our sufferings especially; yea, as much as our leaking vessels can hold, until we come to eternity when our cup shall overflow continually. bitter sufferings did often fulfil that promise of the hundred fold to such as forsake father and mother, house and lands for his name's sake, which promise I sued out at my first escape out of Newcastle, and had it faithfully & re●●●●tly performed; and therefore when I speak of the fulfilling of a promise, let none carp or catch, or tax the to countenance fantasies and revelations, yet do I not deny but will with all humility and modesty maintain divine raptures in divers cases, especially in the Saints bitter exile and sufferings; and when God comes nearer to his Saints then is ordinary, think it not a vain thing or a fantasy, as some too wise men do; but rouse up ourselves, and look about us for somewhat more than ordinary; yea; sometimes some great things are near but will stay no longer in the Apologue for any thing shall follow, which I hope shall be expressed with that reverence and fear of God and modesty towards men, as no man (not malicious) shall have cause of offence. One day as I was riding over a solitary heath, in Tividale, my mind much exercised with musings and meditations on the word and works of God, to see two neighbour nations so near conjoined in many bonds, both divine and human, ready to clash together, so near imbruing their hands in each others blood, about so poor a quarrel as for Bishops and Service-book, (as was at first pretended; yet a deeper design of Rome and all her confederates was in it) these things strongly possessing my troubled spirit, occasioned some ejaculations as I fate on horseback, and not with dry eyes, thinking on these unnatural ware between my countrymen and the Scottish nation. I often prayed: Oh that we might join in one against our common enemies; Oh that we were one, I had answer and assurance from God that we should be one; ye shall be one, ye shall be one, was as strongly inculcated upon my spirit, as if it had been spoken from heaven. Another time, when I was travelling from the pursuit of the Lord Traquire, towards the evening there fell a shower of small rame and after the rain, broke out a Rainbow, clear and bright before me as I rode, and at last so low upon the ground about me, that I rode in the cirle of it a pretty space, which occasioned some thoughts within me of this as a sign of God's covenant of peace and mercy towards me now in midst of mine enemy's plots and malice: And often in the company of men of several ranks and qualities, I conversed with upon several occasions, my spirit being exalted above all the troubles of the world, in many high thoughts of the works of Christ he is about to do in the world in there later days from those small beginnings in Scotland; I spoke often to their encouragement, that it was the morning of the day of Christ's power, Psal. 110 though dark and cloudy, and full of troubles, wherein he would do great things for his distressed Churches; and when some more ready to appropriate that work of Christ to Scotland upon several occasions, I used as frequently to interpose these answers that Christ the bright morning Star is not risen for Scotland's cause alone but for his Churches full deliverance one after another; adding withal, Christ is first come to visit you in Scotland: first to deliver you of all his Churches in the world, O strive to give him kind entertainment, this was my humble request often to them to welcome Christ with a full reformation, that he might delight to dwell amongst them. And at some other times, when their spirits were oppressed with difficulties at home, and the great forces and preparations from the King, and menacings from abroad; I used these encouragements I had received from God; that this is the beginning of that earthquake wherein the tenth part of the great city that is, England, Scotland, and Ireland (Rome) shall fall, though she call up her Astrologers and Wise men to take crafty counsel, as Herod did against the Lord Jesus and his workings, and to trouble him in this his coming to deliver his Churches, it should not be able to hinder his work who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. And at some other times I said. This work in Scotland makes Rome to shake in Aguish fits fearing great alterations from Christ's working here. And when the pacification was concluded at Tweed near Berwick, I being then at Dunse Law in the Scottish army a godly Minister▪ with whom I was familiar having often heard me speak confidently of the large extent of that work begun in Scotland, asked me in this manner, what think you now of this work. I can see no further into it▪ it would seem to terminate here (meaning in that pacification to which I speedly answered, no, Sir, it will not end thus, God will bring it about some way or other, it must go over your borders; Christ has a great people in England, and other parts of the world he has a tender respect to and he will not arise and sit down again, until he have delivered them as he did his people in Egypt; their cry has helped to bring him down from the habitation of his holiness, and he will hear their cry, and help them for he is merciful. This we have seen now in part fulfiled in England▪ we see how often we have been upon Pacifications with the King, and none will hold; Christ has some design in this work, that every one sees not, it would seem to me that it must not end in these three kingdoms, if we would never so sane make a peace for ourselves; no art of man can cement it, if God lay no peace for England, till the power of Rome be abolished. Nay until his design be accomplished and Christ's kingdom advanced; that is the great design he is about; till that be in some measure accomplished our troubles will not be ended; and then he will require our help to deliver his foreign churches, and help to spread his kingdom and Dominion to the ends of the earth. Now having related some passages along to the Pacification, Scotland being seemingly secured a Parliament and a national Assembly granted to settle and confirm all both in Religion and Liberties I have yet somewhat to impart both of my further troubles and of God's mercies: for in their peace my troubles broke out into a new flame and fire. First, I was excluded out of that pacification, when never a man in England or Scotland but myself was exempted; and here by the way, I cannot without ingratitude (which my very nature abhors) but give no●ice to the world of the noble favours I received of the Scottish Lords, still engraven in a thankful mind to be recorded to posterity▪ And in the first place falls in the memory of my honourable & faithful (but ah now deceased) Friend and Noble Earl of Rothes, who upon all occasions showed a tender affection towards me in all my troubles: and to whose memory, and posterity, I shall whlles I five, owe the poor abilities in me in thankfulness of mind and duty. When the peace near Berwick was towards a conclusion, being at dinner with this noble Lord the Earl of Rothes, among divers Lords and commanders, in his Tent a dunce law; he was pleased (after much other discourse about the conclusion of the Treaty) to speak after his wonted familiar manner; come John, what wouldst thou have done for thee, speak and it shall be done. I returned his Lordship thanks for all his Noble courtesies and this as the greatest. Saying my Lord my only desire is that I may be included in your peace, and be freed from all molestations about your cause▪ that I may go home in peace, as you do. My Lord answered, it shall be done John? (making no doubt of it) but to be short, when the Treaty was ended, this Noble Lord told me, he was sorry for me, he could not procure my liberty, for that the Earl of drundale, who treated with them on the King's part, had excepted me out of that peace, and that not only by my name, but to make sure work, (because my eldest brother was then in Scotland also) by this designation of that Fenwick whose wife was with him in Scotland; and for my brother and some other English men that were there they might return for England, bringing but a Certificate under my Lord Rothes hand, that they had not sworn and subscribed the Scottish Covenant. So as I was glad to be content to wait for clearer weather for my return. Both the Armies being now drawn out of the field, all the expectations of a firm peace were suddenly blown away, in the King's refusal to come into Scotland to his Parliament (as in the Treaty it was expected, if not promised) and sending the Earl of Traquire as his commissioner to sit, both in the Church Assembly, and in the Parliament. Well all the time of the Assembly which about a month and more, I went almost daily to the Assembly, with divers Gentlemen of our. Nation that came into Scotland, to see the Assembly and Parliament, and I sat in the Assembly (by the favour I had) very near the said Lord Traquire, who often gave me great looks but never a word, he knew me well by face for I had not long before my trouble, rid post in his company to London (as I remember) two several times: But the Assembly being ended (where he sat only as a churchman it seems) and the Parliament begun: upon the second or third day of the Parliament, he sent for me, in the King's name, by a Messenger of the privy counsel, in the open market place; which messenger carried me to the King's House, called Holy Rose House; accompanied with Mr. Robert Hamilton, and Mr. Forthwicke, sent by noble friends from the Parliament House to see what should become of me; where I was welcome, and well-baited by Traquire and his Associates, divers Scottish Earls and Lords, belonging to the Court: with all revilings and reproaches of Treason and treachery, (the then Court language) Nay, said Traquire thy Life cannot satisfy the wrongs thou hast done his majesty, by possessing his Subjects of Scotland, with an ill opinion of his Government; and fomenting the late divisions and doing many ill Offices; yea that sufficed not but he further charged me, that I had got many of his majesty's honest Subjects moneys into my hands and had bought Land in Scotland purposing to dwell there: but swore that Scotland should not shelter me. To which I replied, his Lordship was misinformed the contrary was well known to divers of the best quality in Scotland: and so Traquire fell into discourse with the Lord Roxborow, and the Lord Dalyell, and th'other Lords: than one of the Gentlemen sent from the Parliament along with me, tells me in the ear, that he thought I would be sent to prison, which I thank God did not daunt me: then begun Traquire again to ask me, what made me leave my country, he was sure I might enjoy my Religion in England, with as much liberty as in Scotland. To which I boldly answered, (expecting nothing but extremity, I resolved not to go to prison for nothing) that if I should lose my life for it. I must affirm that I could never enjoy my Religion with peace under King Charles his government. When thus the Earl of Traquire saw my resolution, and considered how the Parliament took notice of me by sending two Gentlemen along with me, and the people of Edinburgh ready to rise to riscue me, he called one of the Gentlemen (Master Borthwick) aside, and talked with him a pretty space, after which, Master Borthwick returned to me, saying, I have brought your release for this time, but my Lord Traquire swears he will have about with you ere two days be ended, and that he would send post to Newcastle to get more matter against me. Now I found out the drift of this his sending for me by a messenger of the counsel, to get me out of Edinburgh, down to the King's house without the liberties of the city, was to horse me away to Berwick, where there were more men attending to receive me, and carry me to the King; for within three or four days these men came from Berwick to Edinburgh, and to my chamber three or four times to look for me, and spoke with my wife, who perceived by their wiles and discourse what they were, and knew one of them to have been a servant to Sir John Marley, my chief adversary, which men were observed to lurk in Edinburgh about the Castle, then surrendered to the King, and general Ruthven and his men possessing it, but missing of me, (being advised to absent myself out of Edenborugh, from under Traquires power) they grew weary of attending, and returned for England. After a few days I returned to Edinburgh privately, where my wife Note, At this time of the restraint of liberty, I composed these meditations, Psal. 102. which I published lately under this Title of Zion's joy in her King coming in his glory told me how I was watched for, and the men then still in town, I was glad to keep close. When thus they found their wiles would not work their ends, the Lord Traquire made a public Declaration in Parliament against me, declaring that he had a design upon me by Commission from his majesty; expecting, it seems the Parliament should deliver me up into his hands, but that failed him too; for a noble Lord sent me presently notice of it, and wished me to keep out of his way, so I was glad to keep more close than before; yet after supper, being then dark, I went out to my noble friend, the Earl of Rothes, who told me what had passed from Traquire that day, and that my noble friends, the Lords in Parliament, were resolved to protect me, if I should be in danger, yet rather advised me to keep me out of Traquires way, and to absent myself out of Edinburgh, inviting me most courteously to his house in Fife for my shelter; and withal, if any danger should befall me before I could remove out of Edinburgh (my wife being there, and about to return for England, by virtue of the late peace, and being also great with child, was in a sort necessitated to undergo some hazard, to preserve the privileges that one foreign botn cannot enjoy by our laws) My noble Lord Rothes bid me cry out in his name for help, and he would warrant me enough to rescue me, which was a noble courtesy in my extremity, deserves of me and mine never to beforgotten. Whereupon I dispatched my wife and eldest son away for England, accompanying them a part of the way into Tividale, where I heard there was no safety for me from Traquires sconts; so I betook me over the cold snowy mountains towards the Irish sea, and coming to Lanerick, a day's journey on the west of Edinburgh, a Gentleman of my acquaintance before in the army, came to visit me, assuring me, that place was scarce safe for me to lodge in, because of a near dwelling enemy, Sir John Deyell, who being lately come from Edinburgh, from Traquire, the King's Commissioner had threatened to watch those parts for me, and that he would be glad to drive a cart to tear me in pieces, and also had in his hearing, declared that the Lord Traquire (thinking that he had frighted me out of Scotland) did swear that no country should hold me long, and that there were watches for me both in France and Holland. These were that gentleman's own words▪ whose advice I followed, and removed thence the next morning, himself accompanying me that day's journey, and so I rode to Dwyne and air upon the west sea, in which parts I spent that Winter, until the Lord Traquire was gone to Court, after which I saw him no more, for then the ill bottomed peace quickly fell to pieces, and new preparations on the King's part and on the Scottish both appeared, and then again I appeared in Edinburgh, where I found the city in great fears of being fired from the Castle, and many other distractions. Thus I continued in Edinburgh most part until the time of the Scots army coming into England, under whose wings and conduct I returned to my country, and to Newcastle, where we entered upon the Sabbath day (after God had scattered our enemies in the skirmish at Newburne,) whereof I have by me a brief relation I keep amongst other monuments of Christ's victories, and may have a time, if God continue life, to record them to posterity. Here by the way I must not omit to tell you, how some of my adversaries in Newcastle; Sir John Marlow, and others, that had proffered large sums of money for men to come into Scotland to apprehend me, and others, who that morning before the skirmish, made me their melody in their cups and pots, and drunk my confusion, and vowed my death, (as I was credibly informed) were some laid low in the dust, and the rest, some glad to give two or three pieces for a pair of oars to fly, some by water and some by land, whiles the soldiers▪ returned to Newcastle with bloody heads and some without hands, crying to the People of Newcastle fly for your lives, naked devils have destroyed us; fie, fie, for a guide to Dur●am cry others that were strangers; all the Priests and Blacke-coats fled as fast as they could, but meanly mounted, when Vicar Alvey himself in great hast got on horse back behind a Country man as before: the next bout if the Scots come again, he may perhaps learn to foot it, (after my friend Windebancke) into France, and learn to dance and sing, Alas poor Vicar, whither wilt thou go. The Army coming after forenoon Sermon on the Sabath day towards Newcastle (being in great want of Victuals) pitched on the South side of the town; his Excellency general Lesley, accompanied with the Lords and divers Gentlemen rode into Newcastle about noon, where they were met upon the bridge, by the Major and some few Aldermen who were not so nimble at flight, as Sir Marlow, Sir Daveson; and Sir riddles, and others that were conscious of their guilt of their good service against the Scots, for which they got the honour of Knighthood at Newcastle and Berwick; though Sir Marlow some say, came hardly by his, and had well nigh missed, if some others merits had not surmounted his; the boys say, that Cuckold luck has raised his fortunes from a taphouse and et cetera, to a Carpet Knight: O tempora, O mores! Well, we being entered Newcastle; after dinner I had the honour to Usher his Excellence and the Lords to the great Church, where Mr. Alexander Henderson preached, and Mr. Andrew Cant at Alihollowes where the Organs, and Sackbuts, and Cornets were struck breathless with the fright of their Vicals, and other of their best friends flight on Friday at night before after Newburne fight in token of mourning that they should never meet again; for not long after, the breach of the Scots Covenant in the Scottish soldiers did blow them down both root and branch, with their Altar; and railings. Service-book and Fonts, and all such fopperies, as the honest Scots Lads found without a Warrant, or Salvo-guard from their King Jesus. who sent them out. The Army being in great straits for victuals, I studied how to gratify the honest soldiers who had conducted me home to my own Country. On the M●nday morning I found out one of the King's storehouses, and therein about threescore thousand pound of Cheese and about two ton of biscuit which served the whole Army until corn was grinded, and other provisions made. But here was not an end of my troubles, for the time I stayed in Newcastle, which was about three months and more, though under the shelter of the Scots Army; my wife and self continually reviled and abused by the malignant people of the Town, of whom I could not get provisions and necessaries for my family, for my money, without the Authority and command of the Scots, or seldom go abroad without the company of some of the Scots Gentlemen divers of whom gave me notice, that they overheard divers Malignant people of the town threaten to wash their hands in my heart blood, and others saying whether peace or war, I should be sure to be knocked on the head; such was the madness of the Malignants against me in that place; neither would any there or in the Country pay me any thing they were owing me: So about beginning of December, when I could be no longer useful to the public good, or yet to myself in my own affairs, I declared to his Excellence general Lesley, and such of the Lords as were then in Newcastle, my urgent necessity to repair to London to the Parliament, for remedy of my many grievances; and there being no passage by land for me, but through the King's soldiers, I came to London by Sea about the latter end of December, and repaired to Westminster, where I had walked but a little in the Hall, until I was carried away by some friends, assuring me that there was no safety for me to appear so public as yet, and that my adversaries who walked in Westminster Hall; as Sir John Marlow, and others of Newcastle fugitives from the Scots, would be sure to lay hold of me, and that as yet I was not clear of the Scots business, for all the treaty then in agitation, some of my friends advising me to remove into Holland, until the Scots Treaty were fully finished, and an act of oblivion passed, till when I could not be secure from the danger of our laws, so that I continued privately in London about eight months, in some hazard, before the act of oblivion was passed; being resolved not to go out of the kingdom, until I had remedy of my heavy losses and grievances, which as yet I have found no time for, though I have sought to purchase it with my blood in the service of the state, and still am ready to wade through difficulties and hazards to procure peace and truth. Judgement and Justice, to my native Country. Divers other passages in my troubles, I do willingly reserve to a calmer Season, because as yet the times will not bear them. By these already mentioned it may appear, that I have suffered something for God and my Country, and have borne a large share in the heat of the day, even to many extremities to myself and family, without any public support in a sinking condition to the hazard of life▪ loss of my estate (of which I have not had the benefit of one hundred pound these five years, complete in December▪ next) friends in this cause all forsaking me, my name and credit racked with reproaches, whereof my God whom I serve and suffer for (I am confident) will in his good itme clear me, and make mine innocency break out as the light, and my Judgement as the noon day. I appeal to this ungrateful and appostate age whether it be reason, that one who has borne the heat of the day for the common good of both kingdoms, should be left to sink under the burdens of their good. it being not for the honour of my country to leave me and mine under insupportable burdens of worldy necessities and distresses, wherein I have spent myself, and without timely assistance, I and mine must necessarily perish. Divers other passages have slipped my memory, about the rage and madness of mine enemies extending from the country to Court distaste of me, and the King's notice and rebukes of friends about me; so ●s none of them durst own me, or afford me common courtesy, or 〈…〉 me▪ but in the language of mine adversaries: also the first messenger the Scots Lords sent to the King at York after Newburne fight at his return told me there was great inquiry at Court after me; and further, in midst of all my greatest troubles and pursuit of the Lord Traquire, as I should be willing to forget the unkind and unchristian dealings of my friends, in spreading the reproaches of my adversaries, striking at my very life (deepewounds from friends) so may I not here forget to record the Noble respects of the Scottish Lords in their ample testimony of my fidelity to my country, and carriage amongst them, which I sent into England for the satisfaction of my friends misinformed; a copy whereof attested under the hands of divers Gentlemen and Merchants in Edinburgh I have annexed for conclusion. We undersubscribers (understanding that John Fenwick of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the kingdom of England, Merchant, since his coming into this kingdom of Scotland, hath undergone many vice and slander us calumnies and reproaches: as that he hath been a chief Incendiarte in these late broils; inci●ing the nobility of this kingdom to invade England, and to use all as enemies that were not of our mind in Religion; and that he sought a captain's place, and did bear arms against the King at Dunse, and servea in a troop of Horse when bee could not get à captain's place, and doing many ill offices against his country.) According to our Christian duty, have been moved, to testify to all whom it may concern, that the said John Fenwick, during his abide in this kingdom of Scotland now about eight months, bath behaved himself as becomes a good Christian, a loyal Subject to his sovereign, and a loving countryman of his native Nation, for aught that ever we have heard from him, seen or observed in him in all his carriage amongst us. And we do verily believe, all the foresaid calumnies to be very false, malicious and scandalous, and injuriously insinuated against him by ill affected persons: and do conceive of him as one that hath deserved better of his countrymen. In witness whereof, we have subscribed these presents with our Hands▪ At EDENB. the 30. Octob. 1639. Subscribed by Earls. Argyle, Rothes, Lothian, Lyndsey. And, The Lord Balmirinoe. Witnesses that this is a true copy: John Meyne, Robert Keith, Thomas Levingston, Alexand. Dickson, John Lowrie. The original of this Copy I sent into England for satisfaction of friends misinformed, Novemb. 1639. FINIS.