A LETTER SENT TO AN HONOURABLE GENTLEMAN, IN WAY OF SATISFACTION, CONCERNING Some slanderous reports lately raised against the BISHOPS, and the rest of the clergy of this kingdom.  
Printed in the year, 1641.   

To my noble friend Sir W. W. KNIGHT.  
Much honoured Sir,  
SO soon as (to my great grief and astonishment) I received notice from you of the strange rumour generally scattered abroad, of a thousand horse or more, that should be provided by the Clergy, and especially by the Bishops of this kingdom, for some dangerous, but secret exploit; I acquainted some eminent persons of that profession with the news: Who at the first seemed to entertain it with a smiling kind of neglect, as the feigned device of a thing impossible to find belief: but when I told them, it was not only seriously divulged, but also credited by many, who seemed not in-judicious, they began to be strucken with much horror, and amazement; and to lament the condition of themselves, and the times; and to impute the first invention of this crime, to the malice of some ill affected persons, who meant, by this means, to stir up the envy, and unjust hatred of good people against their persons, and calling. Good Lord, said they, were we not loaden enough before with the weight of more than our own enormities, but we must be crushed with the heavier pressures of imaginary mischiefs? Alas, what have we done thus to irritate, and enrage the world against us? What can it be that makes us guilty of this fury? How many of us are there, that have not yet been taxed with any crime but our Rochet? yet we suffer no less, then if it were an offence to be innocent. After they had a little breathed out their sorrow, they recollected themselves, and began to think what they might do to give the world some kind of satisfaction, in this odious aspersion that is cast upon them: at last they resolved that however they doubted not but time would fully manifest their integrity, yet, that in the mean while it was not fit that their silence should make them accessary to their own causeless infamy; and therefore they earnestly desired me to take, and give notice to your worthy self, and all other ingenuous persons, of their serious and solemn Protestation, before God and the world, of their clear and perfect innocence in this behalf. They do therefore call the God of heaven to witness, that they are so far from having any hand in any business of this kind, that they never heard or received the least intimation of any attempt, word, purpose, or thought tending this way; neither can yet imagine what the meaning of any such combination, or enterprise might be: as those who have desired, in all their attendance on these public services, to approve their fidelity, to God, their King, and Country. In the conscience whereof, they bade me to challenge all those secret whisperers, who have thus gone about to poison their good names in the opinion of all loyal and true-hearted Subjects, to notify and bring forth speedily the grounds of those accusations; and to fix them upon such persons, as they dare charge for guilty; that the truth of these criminations may so appear to all the world, as that either themselves may receive shame, or the offenders, judgement.  
And withal they do most humbly beseech the most honourable Lords, and Commons of this present Parliament, that they will be pleased, with all possible speed, to search this matter to the bottom; & to follow this foul slander home to the first rise; that if any of them be found, in the least measure, guilty of this crime, pretended against King, or State, he may forthwith suffer condign punishment to the utmost; wherein they profess that their hands shall be the first upon him, as the unworthy and perfidious violater of their sacred Order: And, if this report shall be found (as they are confident) utterly groundless, and merely slanderous, they beseech that highest Court of Justice, for God's sake, and for the church's sake, that they will be tenderly sensible of this abominable injury, that is herein done to their holy profession; and take some speedy course for the public vindicating of their innocence to all the world.  
And, lastly, they do earnestly beseech, and in the name of God, adjure, all Christian people, to beware, how they give light credit to those slanderous suggestions, that are, in these deplored times, most untruly raised, and cast abroad by uncharitable, and malevolent men, against those, whom God hath set over them; and who desire, in all good conscience, to be approved to God, and men; and that they will forbear to hurt their own souls in wronging the innocent.  
Thu● Noble Sir, I have been bold to give you an account of the entertainment of your ill news; not doubting of either your charitable belief of the truth of this unfeigned Protestation, or of your just forwardness for the satisfying of others; In which confidence, I take leave; not without my humble and fervent prayers to the God of peace, that he would be pleased to temper all hearts, and to compose them so to an happy unity and concord, that we may at the last return to our homes with joy, and with the comfortable expectation of no less blessed times than we have lived to see.  
Your much devoted friend, E. I.