The account cleared: IN ANSWER TO A LIBEL, entitled, A TRUE ACCOUNT FROM CHICHESTER, Concerning the DEATH of Habin the Informer, &c. By Roger L'Estrange. LONDON, Printed for Joanna broom at the Gun at the West-end of St. Pauls. M.DC.LXXXII. The account cleared, &c. LE●t th● Vain and Sh●m●less Author of the P 〈…〉[ True Account from Chichester, concerning the death of Habin& ●] should valu● himself upon th● Noise that lab●l has m●d● in the World; It is th work of This Paper to lay him op●n, as a Duty I owe to God, to the King; to the Church, to a Rev●rend Prela●e; to a worthy Friend, to Truth, and to my ●elf. For nothing s●apes him, and whoever Considers the Calumny, the Scandal, the Malice, the Contuma●y, the D●liberate Forgeries, the N●●●● falshoods, and Imp●stur●s of That Ven●mous Pamphlet, will find it to be rather the Character of the Spirit of a fanatic, than a Relation of what passed at Ch●chester, And a brat to li●e th● Fath●●, as if Lu●ifer himself had 〈◇〉 for the Picture for Ord●rs sake we'll begin with the Title. A True Account from Chichester, concerning the Death of Habin th● Informer. Whom, contrary to all Truth, Two Infamous and Impudent liars, have published to be Barbarously Murdered: One affirming it to be done by the Dissenters at Chichester: The other, by the Coachman of Richard Farington, Esq; With a Relation of the most Malicious Design to make Mr. Farington himself guilty of the said pretended Murder. Published for the sake of TRUTH. The Two Infamous, and Impudent liars ar● Divided, it seems, about the Murder of Habin. One lays it to the Dissenters at Chichester; The Other to Mr. Farrington's Coachman, They do ●oth Agree, however, that he was Barbarously murdered, w●ich the Relates Dentes: But whether he Denies the simplo Murder, or the Barbarous Murder, remains a Qu●st●on, Only One would think by his Account of it, that, at a venture, neither the Chichester Dissenters, nor Mr. Farringt●n'● C●●t●hman had any hand in't. Now as I myself have the Honour to be Celebrated for One of the Two Infamous, and Impudent liars, I shall only speak to my own Part, and bring myself off the best I can As to the Malicious Design upon Mr. Farrington, do but show me any One Man of Those that the Faction calls True-Protestants, that has ever yet been exposed to a Legal Prosecut●on, without a Charge of Malice, or Subornation in the Case; And I will yield This to have been a Malicious Design upon Mr. Farrington. But it is Pub●ish'd, however, for the sake of Truth, he says, And we shall see now what it is that he Calls TRUTH. In the Third page. of his Introduction( after his compliments upon the Obs●rvator; as[ A Notorious Son of the Father of lies. A Papist, impressed with Deep, and indelible Roman Sanguinary Characters; A Favourer of the Popish Plot, to Massacre Protestants; The First-Begotten of him who ●s a liar, as well as a Murderer from the Beginning.) In the Third page. I say of his Introduction he has this Paragraph. I will not no● trouble myself, nor spend my time, to take all their audaci●us and false reports asunder, and make an Answer to every part thereof. But this I will offer to them, and to all the World, as a most fair and inexceptionable thing, That whereas these two bundle● of Lies, brag and boast much of their authentic and credible intelligen●e from Chichester, as the ground and Warrant of wh●t they Print concerning the killing of the Bishops Horse, or Horses, and the pretended bloody Murder of the Informer Habin; That if they will publish the Names of them that sand it to them, I will produce, ●ide digni, many more persons, who upon Oath before the King and His Council, or in any Court of Judi●ature where His Majesty shall be pleased to appoint the Examination of this matter, shall mak● good and prove the verity of the ensuing Relation. [ I] will Produce( he says) And This same [ I] may be the Common Hangman for ought we know, The Headman of the Late King, &c. And there are those that understand Men and Styles, that upon Violent Presumptions Conclude This Author to be a Certain Person that's very little better. But suppose This Undertaker( to do so and so, upon such and such Conditions) should not keep Truth now, where shall we find him? or how shall we do to put his Bond in Sun against him? But These Niceties apart. We'll Close with him however upon his Defiance, and Publish the Names of those that sent the Information, together with the Ground, and Warrant of what the Observator has Printed concerning the Horses, and the Enformer, denying Absolutely the Report of Killing the Horses, which is ●alsly charged upon him. We'll see now how he Proceeds. The Reason why 〈◇〉 was published no 〈…〉, that I, 〈…〉 it was sent, judged it was most conventent to see how far these tw● Enemies to Truth would proceed in their lying Relations, that so a plenary and complete Answer thereto might be made at ●n●e, to undeceive and satisfy all sober and h●nest men, of what persuasion soever, in whom th●● have been so industri●us to treat a belief of the truth of that which is most false Ib. Take notice now, that in this Plenary and ●mpl●at answer, he has spoken all that he has to say. The ●nd, as he pretends) is to Undeceive and satisfy People for fear they should believe That to be True which is most False Now whether of the Two is in the Right, The True Accountant, or the Impudent Lying Observator, shall be left to the Reader to Judge. He passes next to the Character and History of this Habin. I would have the Reader to observe some things remarkable concerning this Habin: First, That he was so prestigate a wretch, and so prodigiously wicked, that he made no Conscience of committing the sin of Perjury: For he swore, That two or three p●rsons broke Captain Bicklies Windows in Chi●hester, that never were among the young men that brought the Pope before his do●r; by virtue whereof they were Convicted as Rioters, and brought into great trouble And 'tis said, and( if I mistake not) can be proved, That he was the man that broken them. Secondly, That he, with his Brother Halsted, swore, That a Minister Preached at Stockbridg, near Chichester, where the Dissenters meet every Lords-day; when I dare be bold to affirm, Th●t they were never nearer to the place, than it is from the Exchang● in London, to the Bridge: and so could not possibly either see, or ●●ar a Minister Preach: Up●n which a Convicti●n was made. And this they cont●nued to swear, in order to such Convictions for s●veral Lords-days, till Divine Justice arrested and seized him in the very same day wherein for a long time he had acted so wickedly and villainously. Ib. Touching These Two Pretended Per●uries, we shall speak to them at large, in their Proper Places: But instead of his remark upon This Poor Creatures being taken off by Divine Justice, on the very same day, wherein he had so long practised his Villanus: Methinks he should rather have Reflected upon the Devils entering into a wretch at a Conventicle, and then Pushing him on immediately at That very Instant, to This inhuman Murder. But what does he mean then, by saying that Divine Justice Arrested him? Will he have God to be the Auth●r of Sin, or that Horrid Assassin to have been directed by a Divine Impulse? And he has not yet done with him neither. By his Employment he was a common bailiff, before he was an Informer; and so grand a R●gue in the management thereof, that none in the Country ●as thought to equalize him, but his Brother( in all villainy and Iniquity) Halsted: And had not Death prevented, he would e're long have been made so to appear to the World, he being put into the Crow●-Office for many prodigious Enormities and Rogueries, and w●ul● certainly have been prosecuted for the above-mentioned Perjury, when a convenient time should have happened for it. Ib. It is acknowledged that he was a Common bailiff, And so was Halsted too, before they became Enformers: And the only men in those dayes I warrant ye, that the True Protestant Lawyers and Att●rni s would vouchsafe to make use of. So that 'tis but crossing the kennel to make a man a Rogue, of a Saint; or a Saint of a Rogue. I do not know but Habin may have been put in the Crown-Office too, as many an Honest man has been, purely out of Spigh●, and Malice upon the undertaking of that Office. We'll speak to the Perjury hereafter. It is not unworth● of our observa●i n, That as this Hellish Miscreant, and mirror of all impiety, had perjured himself concerning the breaking of Captain Bickley's Glass-Windows, so his real breaking of the Windows of another p●rson( that we're injured or did him wrong,) should prove the occasion of his Death; and that Death should hurry him into Eternity, and to judgement, in the Lords-day, which he so much profaned, and particularly, by being so much in the Ale house, when he should have been in G ds-house; and disturbing th●se that would serve and worship God, while he did so much neglect the same. He was unexpectedly driven away that day, by Death, in his wickedness, and had no time given him to repent. Ib. Was ever any Creature to Fo●lish, and to profane in to few words! It was the breaking of Faringt●n's Windows that brought Habin to his Death, as a just Iudgment upon him for his Perjury, about the breaking of Captain Bickley's Windows. What a Mockery is This upon God Almighty! When neither did He break Farringt●n's Windows( as we shall prove by and by) nor was he so much as a Witness in the Case of Captain Bickleys Windows: But the judgement is driven further Home upon him yet, in being murdered upon the day, which he so much profaned in frequenting Ale-houses, and Disturbing Private Meetings. Now do I take a C●nventicle,( even upon That day) to be much worse than a Tippling-House; as I take a Schism, that breaks Christian Unity, to be worse than a Personal Debau●he The one is a Plausible Conspiracy, that gets ground by the fairness of the Pretext, and Alienates the Hearts of the People from their Duty to their Sovereign; to the hazard of the public Peace: The other is only a Beastly and an Odi●us Excess, that serv●s to keep other men sober, by the Loathsomeness of the Spectacle, and Example. But the Prophanati●n of the Lords day in Fuddling, is one of ●ar●'s Common Places to a Hanging Speech And I dare Undertake, I● this C●nventicle had been Transported into the deserts of ●rabia, the Inf●rmer should not have wanted an Ale-House there to have Grounded a judgement upon: But truly the matter being well weighed, the stroke does not seem to me, so Judicial, upon him that suffered the murder, as upon him that committed it; And upon those that encouraged it: And that go on, to this hour, Continuing to Palliate, and Excuse, if not to Justify it. The Act was only the Coachmans; but the Countenance, and Approbati●n, makes it( in the sight of God) the sin of the Faction. And Effectually, of That Unlawful Congregation; Beside that it was done in the heat of a fanatical Inspirati●n; and not Improbably, the Effect of That dayes Doctrine, and Impulse. For a Further Aggravation, He was taken away in his Wickedness, too. Here's Presbyterian Mercy for ye; without the least Touch of Regret or Remorse. What could he have said more? He had no time given him to Repent, neither; And yet you shall hear by and by, that he was buried alive. Now, for a Menace to his Brother Halsted. Let Halsted, h● Brother, beware, lest Divine Vengeance do not speedily overtake him, and Death suddenly, as a grim and inexorable sergeant, arrest him, and irresistibly drag his reluctating, wretched, guilty Soul before the Tribunal of Gods severest Justice. Ib. It is worthy of Observation, that throughout the whole Course of the successses of This Faction, there was never any blood spilled by Their hands,( from the Blessed Kings, to the Meanest of his Loyal Subjects) but the Murderers made a Providence, a Divine Justice, or Divine Vengeance of it. Still most Blasphemously Computing upon Those Execrable Sins that make the Devil themselves yet Blacker, as Acted by the Instinct, and Direction of the Holy Ghost. Now the short Meaning of All is This. Let Halsted have a care, We shall find Coachmen, as long as you'll find Enformers. And so soon as ever he has set himself a Tip-toe upon that Imagination, Do but see how Unmercifully he Worries Poor Halsted, Inexorable; Irresistibly; Reluctating, &c.) As if he were running the Poor Fellow to the Devil in High-Dutch. So much for his Preamble; And we come now to the Account itself. THE CHICHESTER ACCOUNT. OR, A Faithful RELATION of the DEATH of Habin the INFORMER there, &c. THE unhappy Accident which lately fell out in this place, and the more unhappy improvement that we perceive some virulent Minds and Pens make thereof, puts us under a necessity thus to publish to the World the naked and impartial Truth of that whole matter. We may expect here as Faithful a Relation of the Fact, as the Account he gives us, is of the Crime. The DEATH of Habin. The Malefactor fled. The Malice Prepense; And the man's Brains beat out; And This is That which He calls the DEATH of Habin. And then see how softly he has Worded it. The unhappy Accident. As if there had been no more in it than the overturning of a Salt. But we are now coming,( if the man may be believed) to the Naked, and Impartial Truth of the whole matter. I would willingly Consult the Reader's Ease, as well as my own; in taking the Clearest, and the shortest way to the End of my business: which must be done, I find, by Marking the Falsities, Disguises, and Impostures of the Relation, in Order as I go along; with References to the Affidavits, and Certificates, which I am to Produce, to the Contrary; and in Vindication of the Truth. I should rather have applied my Evidence to the Series of the Narrative as it lies; but since That is not to be done, without running into a Tedious, and Intricate Confusion, I have Inverted the Method I Propounded, by Printing my Proofs altogether at last, and referring the Reader, from the Impudent Scandals, and Abuses of a False, and Unmannerly Label, to those Testimonies for satisfaction. Upon Sunday the 6th of August, Halsted were a Sword, and drew it on some Boy, as they were going on the Road, struck at them, and cut their clothes. But upon the Boys taking up stones, and threatening to ston h m, if he sheathed not his Sword again, he did return his Sword into its Scabbard: See Aff●davit 20.& Certificate 22. At which Habin was so angry, that he would have had the Sword from Halsted, swearing he would hue the Boys in pieces with it: but Halsted would not let him have it, tho he, as well as Habin, were both most miserable [ drunk with Brandy.] It may very w●ll be, that Halsted wore a Sword; and it would have been well for Habin, if he had worn a Sword too; as they had Both reason to do, Considering the Danger they were in from the Menacing Rabble; but the Cutting of the Boys clothes, is False, though the Out-rages they endured might very well have provoked 'em to't. The Boys being all the while set on, and encouraged by the Dissenters. Now to Prove that they were not Drunk, see the margin; which way of Reference is the Course that I intend to Purslie. The Boys seeing this [ savage and barbarous fierceness] of Habin, threw some stones at him, and with one of them hit him, and broke his head: See Num. 23.58.13.19.25. Upon which, Habin entering in at the Gate of the City, next to which Mr. Farington dwelleth, [ upp'd with his stick,] and cried out, Farington should pay for all; and with that saying, struck, and [ broke his parlour Window,] Mr. Farington and Three other Gentlemen being in the Room. But Mr. Farington knowing there were many that sought occasion to ensnare him, and believing this affront was done him on purpose to provoke him to repay it with some p●ssionate Behaviour, [ would not so much as open his Window, or was out of the Room.] It was well enough contrived to have the Boys break Habins Head; and so to Excuse the C●ach-man, as if That Wound had been the death of him. But there was none of That Savage, and Barbarous Fierceness he speaks of No Br●ken Head That 'bout; No Crying out, Farington shall Pay for all, No Breaking of his Parlour Windows; And the Window was Open; which is all Contrary to his Relation, see the References again. And it is a strange thing beside, for a man to go with a cudgel to Revenge himself upon a Window, and to break but One Square, and from the Street-side; Force the led outward too. Mr. Farington's C●ach-man being unhappily [ abroad in the street,] and seeing this abuse to his Master's House, went to Habin, and asked what he mean'd by u● who an●wer'd him only by holding up, and [ shaking his Cudgelat the Coach-man.] S●e Num 1.2, 5, 15, 16, 17, 19, 2●, 〈◇〉. Whereupon the Coach-man immediately clapped within Habin, struck up his heels, took away his stick, and with it his him Four or Five blows over the Pate, and so left him. After which, Habin rise up, and went away to the Mayor's, and missing the Mayor, to another Justice, to complain, and then to the Bishop's Palace; where, it is said, he mended his draft; and after his head was dressed, was carried by the Bishops Servants, and laid in the Stable, where in two hours time he either died, or was so dead drunk, that he was taken for dead. However, he was presently laid on a Bier, carried up to the High across, and from thence to the Town-Hall; where a Coroner's biquest was immediately unpannell'd, and found Habin Murdered, and the Coach-man the murderer, [ before ever( as many do believe) Habin was quiter dead.] Here's lie upon lie. The Coach-man was in the Perch; Habin broken no Window; Gave no Provocation, He drank nothing at the Palace; but only they tried to make him take a little Aqua Mirabilis, and he could not get it down. Peachy the Surgeon, gave him something out of a Bottle, of which we can give no Account. 'twas not the Bishop's Servants, but Two Strangers then in the Palace, that laid him in the Stable. He had not drank One drop of Brandy That day, to the best of my information. And he was Certainly Dead, in despite of this libeler. As is likewise proved. It is the universal opinion of this City, That [ if his Lordships Servants had not used this poor Wretch more like a Beast than a Man;] but had, instead of lugging, him into a told Stable, laid him in a warm Bed, got him to be let Blood, and to have had other Remedies applied proper to his Condition; S●e Num. 15, 16.20, 21. Habin might, for any Mortal hurt he had, have been alive at this day. But to expose him in this manner was enough to make him die, whether he would or no. And pray God all this hasty dispatch was not d●ne with a design to do more mischief by his Death, than e'r● they could by his Life. For this is not the first Attem●● that hath been made up●n the Life and Fortune of Mr. Faringt●● But to return to our Relation: The Coach-man fled: And wh●●●er Habin was dead or no, we are sure he was butted. This Slander upon my Lord's Famil● lies as Open as any thing else, for when Thi● happened, the Bishop, and most of his Family were at Divine Service: And in short they took all Care of him that was Possible. Nay such is the Malice of this scribbling Falsifier, that he makes That to be done b● design, which was not done at all. See the margin as before. Thus matters continued till the end of the Week, and every man was so convinced( from the multitude of Witnesses that saw the Fact) That instead of murder, all men judged the poor Coach-man would have Summum jus to be found guilty of Man-slaughter. See Num. 2.5.19. For, for a Servant, upon [ so high a provocation as the breaking his Masters House,] to run up to the doer of the Injury, and in a passion to snatch away his stick, and lay it Four or Five times over his Ears, and it happening so that Death doth follow; to find such a Servant guilty of so much as, Man-slaughter, inclines certainly rather towards seve●ity, than clemency. But to talk of Murder, is such nonsense, as you may as well call it Blasphemy as Murder; for it hath no one ingredient of Murder in it. For Murde●●ust have malice fore-thought: Then a lying in wait, or seeking all occasions to exe●●te that Malice to the Death of him to whom 'tis born. Neither of which can so much as pretendedly be fastened upon this poor unfortunate Coach-man. This Paragraph is an Apology for the Murder, a Quarrel to the Verdict; and raised upon a Wr●ng Ground too, as will be made appear upon the Proofs. Here was Menacing; Flying; Malice Forethought, in the Case; And yet he will needs have it Nonsense to call This a Murder. Beside, that if the Coachmans Name had not been concealed, he had been b●und to the Behaviour, a Week or Ten days before. On Saturday Morning, the Recorder( who had been all this while absent from the City) returned; See Num 49, 14. and then the Lord Bishop and he, caused Habin's Grave to be opened, the Cor●ner's Inqu●st to be new summoned to the Bishops Palace, and to be new sworn again, supper Visum Corporis, with a higher aim n●w, and not so much to make the Man as the Master the Murderer, for commanding his Man to do it. In order hereunto, the Cressingham was gotten to swear, That he saw Mr Farington look out at his Window, and bid his Man beat Habin soundly. But the Jury on inquiry could not find any body that saw Cressingham so much as in the street where the Fact was committed. Nor could Cressingham name any person that he saw there, thô the street was full of people, save only one, and he proved so far from being in the street, that unluckily he did not so much as rise from his Bed all that day, till after the Fact was done, as both himself, and several others did testify. Nay, divers affirm, That Cressingham was asleep at his Mothers House, in another quarter of the City, when this unfortunate Fact was done; and that Cressingham rose not up till it was told him what the Coachman had done to Habin. And among the rest, Cressingham's own Mother averred to Nine or Ten substantial persons, That if her Son had sworn he saw the Fact, he was a forsworn Rogue, for that he was asleep at her house till some Neighbours came in, and told him that Habin was dead; thô some say, That after old Goody Cressingham had been invited and Dined with the Bishop, she began to mince her Confession as much as she could. And Cressingham's Mothers house is as utterly out of sight of any thing done at Mr. Farington's Door, as if it stood in Cheapside. The Venom●us Mal●●e of This libeler against the Bishop, is so Palpable and Open, that I shall not need to desire the Reader to take Notice of it. And then for the Notorious falsehood of 〈◇〉 ●●lat●●n, 'tis all of a piece, The bishop and the 〈◇〉 ar● here charged as Confederates in a Design of making 〈◇〉, Master, as well as the Man a Murderer. If there be no Punishment for Scandals of This Infamous Nature, This Spot of Ground is Certainly the Place of the Whole Christian Earth, where Ea th and Int●g●ity are upon the Greatest Disadvantage. If it come once to be made a Conspiracy, for Persons in office, 〈◇〉 Endeavour in a Legal way the Detecting of the Actors in so ●oul a Murth●r, all the Rules of Law, and Religion are to be red backward; And we are to do Just the Contrary to what we are Commanded. There has not been any One False step on the Bishop's part, in This whole Transaction, as we shall in the Due Place Undeniably make Good; nor has his Lordship done any thing more in This Affair, than what in Honour, Conscience, and Common Justice he was bound to do. The Cal●mny of the Bishop's Attempt upon the Life of Mr. Farrington is as False, as it is Odious; and so is That of his Tampering with Cressingham; as will be seen by and by, when That very practise shall be proved against the Other side: And the Pretended Inc●nsistencies of Cressingham's Evidence, shall be likewise cleared. It is False, that he was a-bed, as is suggested. His Mother did n●t Dine at the Bish●ps; neither did she M●nce her Confession; neither was Mr. Farington's House out of sight, where Cressingham had Posted himself. Now as to the taking up of the Body again, which he sets forth to have been done by the Lord Bishop, and the Recorder, the Truth of the Story is This. After the Jur● had found the Murder, and the Body was buried; information was delivered upon Oath to the Magistrates, that while the Coachman was at work upon Habin, Mr. Farington, the Mas●er, called out to him over and over to beat him stoutly; whereupon the Magistrates ordered the Coroner to summon a Jury, and the Body to be taken up, and reviewed. After they had looked up the Inquest in the Bishop's Palace from Eleven of the Cl●ck till Four, and none permitted to go to them but whom the Bishop pleased; nay some of the Jury threatened by the Bishop, that if they did not find Farington Guilty, he would have them before the King and Council. Yet notwithstanding the Inquest were of opinion to acquit Mr. Farington, See Num. 9. unless Cressingham's Testimony was supported by some other. The Cause being thus just ready to fall, they desired the Inquest to Adjourn till Eight of the Clock on Monday, which accordingly they did, and by that time further Evid●nce should be gotten. We shall see anon what it is that He calls Locking up the Inquest. The Bishop left all People at liberty: He did not thr●aten the Jury: And for the practise which he pretends was put upon the Inquest in Mr. Farington's Wrong, in Adj●urning till monday, It was, in Truth, a Contrivance on the Other side, for his Advantage. At least, if my Intelligence deceives me not, which comes from a very Good Hand. The Jury being Called, there was a Scruple started by a Capricious Zelote, Whether or no according to Law, when One man is found Guilty, Another man can be tried, for the same Fact? And This Dose of Impertinence( That I may speak to his double Capacity) had such an Operation upon the People concerned, that it was some Four Hours before they could be brought to settle themselves in their Geares, and fit upon the Inquest, Mr. Farington being at liberty to take Good Advice in the Interim. Upon the 12th of August last, the Jury were empaneled, and the Number of at least Two Hundred People gotten together; And they boasted of Thirty Witnesses that they had, to appear for Mr. Farington against the King; with Four attorneys at hand, that they might not speak without Book; Insisting upon it, to have the Witnesses Against the King examined before those For Him; which were a Plain, and Concurring Evidence, and the Other Clashing One with another: But however it was, the Greater part of the time was spent in Scruples and Delays; and the Multitude being very Clamorous, they adjourned till monday to the Town-Hall, being a Place of Greater Advantage for such People as had a mind to Tumult. My Correspondent says likewise, that the Proceeding was so far from being hard upon Mr Farington, that He himself, and his Attorney were permitted to be upon the Bench, which could not but have some Influence, both upon the Jury, and the Evidence. To have Evidence to get on Saturday night, that must be used on Monday morning, See Num. 18.19. one would think requires great dexterity to gain them; and yet that Night a little Prentice-Boy, of about 13 or 14 years old, was haled away from his Masters House by two Publicans before the Mayor and the City-Justices, where we will n t say by what Arts he was made, and made to Sw●ar that he saw both Mr. Farington and Cressingham too, when Habin was Beat. But of this we are sure, that when the Boy was called before the Inquest, he better remembered himself, and did upon his Oath deny that he saw Mr. Farington there, or Cressingham either; and yet afterwards the Boy was prevailed upon to unswear that; and to swear that he saw Cressingham th●re, but not Mr. Farington: Some honest-minded people bid the l●a● as he went by them, to consider what he Swore, and to be sure to Swear the Truth; which made his Mother run up and down like one mad, raving and crying, My Son shall Swear for the Lord Bishop, My Son shall swear for the Lord Bishop; I would not for Ten Pound but he should Swear for my Lord ●ishop: For I have the most part of my livelihood from my Lord. The libeler carries on the same Thrid of Calumny throughout the whole Discourse; and still Casts Those Aspersions of practise, and Foul Play, upon the King's Magistrates and Officers, which were really practised by the Other Party. There was No H●ling of the Boy away; No Art used to Gain his Testimony; No Dealing with him to Swear, and Unswear; No such Ravings, and Exclamations from the Boys Mother, as is Pretended. Though 'tis true, the Boys Mother finding that the fanatical Party had got her Son, and locked him up, was almost out of her Wits, for fear they should do him some mischief. The Inquest being greatly dissatisfied in their Judgments concerning the Evidence that Cressingham and the Boy had given, See Num. 3.8, 19. as disagreeing with each other, and neither of them well agreeing with themselves; and having a Cloud of other Credible Substantial and Unsuspected Witnesses, that saw all the Action from first to last, whose Testimony seemed more Concurrent and Agreeable to Reason: The Jury like discreet Men, and such as were willing to search every thing to find out the Truth, Resolved they would go and view the place themselves where this Accident happened; which accordingly they did, and found that in the place where Cressingham swore he stood when he saw Mr. Farington look out at the Window, and com●● 〈◇〉 his man to beat Habin, it was utterly impossible for Cressingham, ●r any man else, to see Mr. Farington( or any other) look out at the Window. So that returning to the Town-hall,( where the Jury that day sate) fully satisfied, they would not hear any more Witnesses( though a great many more were present, and offered themselves to Swear) but immediately gave in their Verdict, wherein every man did acquit Mr. Farington. It appearing to them by the Oaths of Persons( against whom there was no exception) that Mr. Farington was so far from commanding his man to beat Habin, that he was extremely angry with his man for doing of it. Thus ended this matter. How far the King's Evidence Agreed, shall be lest to the Reader to Judge; And in the Other Particulars likewise, how far the Bare Word of so many People that are Partial, and Prepossessed, is to be Credited against the Oaths, and Certificates of so many unbiased Witnesses, and Persons of Quality, and Known Integrity. As to the Ignoramus upon the Bill, we shall say Nothing more to that Point, than that it is no A●quittal. The next day this young Apprentice was taken from his Master, by the Bishop, into his House; S●e Num 1● Whether for fear the Boy should blab the Threats and Arts that have been exercised on him, to draw him to do what he did; or to be better instructed in the new and modish Science now in fashion, they best know that did it; thô the Boys Mother doth give out already, that her Son shall yet Swear for my Lord Bishop against Mr Farington for all this: We only can say, that this we are sure of from several honest Persons, that the Child did nothing but Cry, and say he was threatened to Swear what he did, till Mr. Farington was acquitted, and that then he did nothing but leap and express an high passion of joy for it; and if upon his coming under his Lordships Roof, the Boy assumed another nature, 'tis only a proof, that Miracles are not ceased. This taking of the Boy from his Master, by the Bishop, was only my Lords receiving of him into his Pr●●●ction, with the Consent of the Boys Master, the Mayor of the City, and Two Alderm●n; And all the suggestions of Other Reasons for the Doing of it are only out of the Spirit of a Diabolical Slander. People do publicly say, That sub dio, or in the Church-Porch, whitherto all persons might freely resort, See Num. 9. had been a much more proper place for a Co●oners Inquest to have sate, than under Lock and Key in a Bishops Palace. 'tis true that the Coroners, and Inquest, had the Bishops leave to sit in an Out-room in the Palace; which was done, to Prevent the Danger they might have been exposed to by the Rabble, if they had sat in the Church-Porch. Upon the whole, we judge all men will see n● little reason to lay this Accident on Mr Farington, as some Gentlemen had to lay the wounding of his Lordships Coach-Horses on our Dissenters. For the Horses were a● Grass seven miles distant from this City, See Num. 6.7. and in all probability were gored by some of the fatting cattle among which they fed. For besides, that it is contrary to the common Charity which Christianity obligeth us to have for all men, to believe so ill of any without some proof: So is it also manifestly opposite to Reason to credit, that if any mans Rage and Malice should have carried him so many miles to have mischiefed his Lordships Horses, that he would not have done is thoroughly, and killed them on the spot, rather than to have given them such slight wounds as every silly Smith could Cure; for be is known to the World, his Lordships H●rses are alive again, and as well as ever, and the persons that wrought their Cure, would think themselves feered to be called by so much as the Name of Farriers. It is not either for Mr. Farington's Credit, or Service to imply him as deep in the Death of Habin, as the Dissenters were in the Wounding of my Lord's Horses; Nor will the Frivolous Pretence of their being gored, serve the Turn: But now for the Author of this Libel, to talk of the Duty of Common Charity; and that we are not to believe so Ill of any without Proof! Where is His Charity now, that let's him run on at this Infamous, and Barbarous Rate of lies, and Defamations against a Reverend Prelate, without so much as any Colour for the Truth of the Report; or any shane, or Remorse for the Lewdness of it? What does He talk of Christianity, that plays the Advocate for the Devil himself, in the Person of a Murderer; and sets himself up in Defiance of all that is Sacred, either in Truth, or Justice? Let not This man, after the Writing, and Publishing of these Two Sheets, ever Pretend to Argue the Incredibility of any thing, because it may be contrary perhaps to the Methods of Christian Charity, and human Reason; for never did any thing stand in a more Direct, Audacious, and spiteful Opposition in the Terms of Religion, Good Faith, or Society, than this True Account ( as her calls it) from Chichester, concerning the Death of Habin the Enformer. 'tis true, there was an Oath about to have been made by a Right Irish Evidence, That one Mr. nevil had wounded his Lordships Horses. But just then hearing that the Gentleman was above Fifty miles distant from the place, he held his blow, and we have unlu●kily missed that able Testimony; yet we are so far from having that uncharitable thought, that this person had any particular malice in his Oath against Mr. nevil, that we do believe in our Consciences that for a Guiney more he would have swore the Morocco ambassador had done it; and we do also believe, that if he had sworn so, he had said as much Truth, as any of those Gentlemen that have published that matter. And so much for the Horses. I have heard nothing of any Design to swear against Mr Nevil. If he knows the Thing to be True, methinks he should know the Person too, that was to have done it; And then methinks again, he might have told the world his Name; Especially being so Prostigate a Fellow as he Represents him: But This Wretched man is given over to Believe lies, as well as to Make, and to Report them. If That False Oath had gone on, he would have believed it to have been as much a Truth as any has been published concerning the Horses; And yet I defy either the libeler himself, or any other for him, to Disprove any One word, the Observat●r has delivered upon That Subject. It remains now only, to speak to the Calumnies Call upon Habin in the scandalous Introduction to the False and Impudent Account. See Num 10 11. 23.2● He makes him the most Prostigate Wretch in Nature, perjured, or Swearing falsely against People for Breaking Captain Bickley's Windows: perjured for Swearing to a Ministers Preaching at Stockbridge, when he never came nearer the Meeting-House then the London-Exchange is to the Bridge. The Reader will receive Full Satisfaction to these Slanders, as well as the rest, from the Papers marked in the margin. We shall now Proceed to our Proofs, and make it appear, that there is not One True Syllable in This Libellous Narration, that signifies any thing to the matter in controversy, which will abide the Test; And that it is no more, in short, than a farthel of Virulent Falshoods. I. Certain Affidavits, and Certificates, in Disproof of an Insolent Libel, entitled,[ A True Account from Chichester, Concerning the Death of Habin the Enformer, &c. MEmorandum, That Mr. William Peachy ●f the City of Chichester Chirurgeon, did declare to me Freeman house of the same City Esq; on Monday the 4th day of September 1682. That Mr. Richard Farington of the same City, did desire him to go and look after the Wounds of one Richard Habin, wounded by his Coachman on the 6th day of August last, being Sunday; and that he did accordingly go to my Lord Bishop's Palace,( my Lord, and most of his Family being then at choir Service;) and that he did ask one of the Servants remaining at home, to see Richard Habin, whom he did then see, and examine his Pulse, and used all means possible to perceive whether he had any Life remaining in him, but found no motion of Pulse, or any sign of Life in him: whereupon he privately departed, and after the Prayers were ended, did come to my Lord's Palace, and desire to see the Body, hoping, as he said, by Blood letting, or some other means, to rec●ver him, notwithstanding his being before with him privately; and that he did then see him the said Richard Habin accordingly, and at the same time used some means to the dead Body to u● purpose, being dead some t●me before as he well knew, and confess●d to me. This attested by me Chichester, Sept. 11. 1682. FREEMAN house II. The Information of Henry Halsted of the said City Labourer, Civitas Cicest●' Comitat' Sussexiae. taken upon his corporal Oath the 12th day of August 1682. before Henry Peckham Esq; Sir Richard May Kt. Stephen Penford, and William Costellow, Justices of the Peace for the said City. THis Informant s●ith, That upon Sunday the sixth day of this instant August this Informant and Richard Habin went to Stockbridge, to take notice of such persons as were assembled at the Conventicle usually held there, and as thi● Informant and the said Richard Habin returned back again between 2 or 3 of the Clock in the afternoon of the same day, and just as the said Richard Habin came against Mr. Richard Faringtons Porch, John Davies, Coachman of the said Richard Farington, fell upon the said Richard Habin, and struck up his Heels, and took the Cudgel but of the said Richard Habins Hands, and gave him several great Blows on the Head, of which Wounds the said Richard Habin dyed within about an hour, and the said Richard Habin gave him the said Davies no provocation, nor broken, or offered to break any of the Windows of Mr. Farington, or any other; And that the said John Davies did wound the said Habin, because the said Habin used to take Notice and Inform against such Persons as went to the Conventicle. And this Examinant did ●ear the said John Davies about a week before, threaten the said Habin to beat out his Brains, if he did not let the Conventicles or Meetings alone. Jurat die& anno supradict' coram nobis HENRY PECKHAM Mayor RICHARD MAY. STEPHEN PENFORD. WILLIAM COSTELLOW. HENRY HALSTED. III. The Information of William Crossingham of the said City Barber, Civitas Cicesti Comitat' Sussexiae. taken upon Oath the day and year aforesaid, before the persons aforesaid. THis Informant saith, That upon Sunday, the sixth day of this instant August, between Two and Three of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same day, this Informant was sitting upon a bench in the South-street near over against Mr. Farington's Porch, he saw Richard Habin walk in at South-gate very civilly, and as he came by Mr. Richard Farington's house, he saw Mr. Richard Farington look out of a Window in a lower Room of the said Richard Farington's house, and heard the said Richard Farington say to his Coachman John, Beat him stoutly, Beat him stoutly, and then the said Richard Farington went out of the said Room into his Porch in the said street, and encouraged his man John again with the said words, Beat him stoutly, Beat him stoutly. And this Informant saith, That the said Coachman John did throw the said Habin upon the ground, and took away his Cudgel, and beat him violently with the said Cudgel about the head, whereupon the said Habin before six of the Clock the same Night died. Jurat die& anno supradict' coram nobis HENRY PECKHAM Mayor. RICHARD MAY. STEPHEN PENFORD WILLIAM COSTELLOW. IV. Katherine Crossingham of the same City Widow maketh Oath. C●●itat Cic●sti' ss. THis Examinant saith, that her Son William Cressingham, dined at her House upon Sunday the sixth day of August, 1682. and went out of the Doo●s about twelve of the Clock the same day, and did not return home, until about half an hour past two of the Clock in the Afternoon; and this Examinant farther saith, that Mary the Wife of Thomas Hurst came to her, and informed her, that if her Son would recall his Oath, they would be very beneficial to him and her, for they made Gatherings, and gave considerable Sums, and she and her Son should have a good part of it. Jurat 14 to die Aug 1682. Coram nobis. WILLIAM BALDWIN, Junior. JOHN WILLIAMS The Mark of CATHARINE CROSSINGHAM. V. The Examination of John Burley of the City of Chichester aged fourteen years or there about, Civitat Cicesti' taken the 6th. of August 1682. THis Examinant ●aith, That Richard Habin gave no Provocation to John Davis to strike him, yet the said John Davis took away the Stick of the said Richard Habin, and gave him five or six blows upon the Head, two or three of them being upon his bare Head. Jurat die& Ann● Supradict Coram nobis. WILLIAM B●LDWIN Cor●ner. JOHN WILLIAMS Cor●ner. The Mark of JOHN BURLEY. VI. JOhn Wilson of the Parish of Sidlesham Farmer, one whose Father was an eminent Farrier, and employed about the late ●ord Duke of New-castle●, Horses, as was also the said John his Son, who hath done great Cures upon Horses since he came into this County, being sent for to be employed in the Cure of the lard Bishop of Chichester's Horses, who were, as it was supposed, mortally wounded the last St. James's day, by some Enemies to the Church of England, doth voluntarily make Oath before me Stephen Penford one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace, that having se●n the two Horses immediately after the Wounds; he doth from his heart believe, and upon evident Demonstration can manifest, that the said Horses were not gored by Beasts, as is falsely affirmed in a late Libel, but were rip'd, cut and stabbed in a most cruel manner, by some sharp instrument by a man, and one who came to Chichester after the Fact, as one of his neighbors can and will prove in due time. And the said Deponent doth for instance inform the World upon his Oath, that one of the Horses had a wound in his side, about a Foot in length, which was so deep, that his Lights appeared, and the wind came out as if a great pare of Bellows had been blown; the other Horse had a wound about half a foot in length, but very deep under the fore shoulder, both of which seemed at first dangerous and incurable, and that a piece of one of the Horses bones was cut off, which could not be by goring of a Beast. Jurat coram me 9no Sept. 1682. STEPHEN PENFORD. JOHN wilson. VII. GEorge Butterly Farrier in the City of Chichester, being employed by the Lord Bishop in the Cure of his Horses lately wounded, in all probability mortally by the largeness and depth of the Wounds, did come before me Stephen Penford one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace, and voluntarily make Oath that the said Horses were so miserable wounded( as he believeth) by some man with some sha●p Weapon, and that there doth not appear to him any circumstance that the Horses were gored by a Beast, as is asserted falsely in a late label. Jurat coram me 9 Sept. STEPHEN PENFORD. GEORGE BUTTERLY. VIII. The Information of Thomas Bairnes of the said City, Civitat Cicesti' aged about fourteen-years, taken upon his Corporal Oath the 12th. day of September 1682. before Stephen Penford and William Costellow two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester. THis Informant saith, that upon Sunday the sixth day of August 1682 between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same day, his Informant being in the South street near Mr. Farington's House, he saw Richard Habin walk in at South-Gate very civilly, and as he came by Mr. Richard Farington's House, he saw the said Mr. Richard Farington look out of a Window in a lower Room of the said Mr. Farington's H●use, and heard the said Richard Farington say to his Coach man, beat him stoutly, beat him stoutly, and this Informant saith, that the said Coach-man did throw the said Habin upon the ground, and took away his Cudgel, and beat him violently several times upon the bare head, whereupon the said Habin, before six of the Clock of the same night dyed, and this Informant further saith, that he saw William Crossingham of the City of Chichester Barb●r, n●ar the House of Mr. Richard Farington, at the same time when Richard Habin was wounded by the abovesaid Coach-man. Jurat die& Anno Supradict Coram nobis STEPHEN PENFORD. WILLIAM COSTELLOW. His Mark THOMAS BAIRNES. IX. WHereas it is published in a late label 〈◇〉 that the Jury of Inquest for the murder of Richard Habin, were looked up in the Bishop's Palace from eleven of the Clock till four, and none permitted to go to them but whom the Bishop pleased, and some of the Jury threatened by the Bishop, that if the● did not find Farington Guilty, he would have them before th● King and Council, He who were of the said Jury, do hereby certify, that the door was n●t shut by his l●rdship's order, but by the Coroners, to prevent the tr●uble or tumult of a great Rabble very numerous, then gathered together in the Church-yard, and about the door of the Palace. Which we had liberty( by his Lordship's permission) to open or shut, let in or out whom we pleased, especially any that were needful for Evidence; and the said Lord Bishop was so far from directing or threatening the Jurors, that he did not come near them all the time, witness our Hands the 11th. of September 1682. JOHN WILLIAMS, Coroner. Juror● John Floyd William Sh●●● Christopher Br●●k●● Richard Faithful Francis Fleshmonger Nathanniel Allen Edward ansel William Hall Robert Phillips George Butter●●, Jun William Floyd Francis G 〈…〉 James gardener X. WHereas it is maliciously and falsely reported in a late Libel that Habin with his Brother Halsted, swore that a Minister preached at Stockbridge near Chichester, where the Dissenters meet, and were never nearer the place, than is from the Exchange to London-Bridge. I Samuel Carleton Gent. do testify to the World, that the same is a most notorious lie to my own personal knowledge, who have seen them on the Lords day, at the time usual for the Conventicle, at the door of the said Stockbridge-house, and this I will aver upon Oath, witness my hand the 11th day of Sept. 1682. SAMUEL CARLEION. XI. I Sir John Farington Knight, do hereby testify, that so often as Habin and Halsted two Informers, came before me for the Conviction of the Conventicle held every Sunday at Stockbridge, even by the Confession of the libeler, they behaved themselves modestly, and seemed to me to be very tender of an Oath, and cautious and considerative in what they swore, witness my hand the 11th, of September, 1882. JOHN FARINGTON. XII. An Inquisition taken at the Guild-hall of the same City, Civitas Cicestr' ss. the 14th. day of August 1682. upon the view of the body of Richard Habin Labourer, before William Baldwyne and John Williams Gent. Coroners there, and the Jury impanelled and Sworn. THE Jury do find upon their Oaths, that upon the sixth day of August 1682. John Davies of the same City a Coach-man, and Servant belonging to Richard Farington Gent. with a Stick held in his hand, at the Parish of St. Peter's the Great, alias Subdeanry within the said City, did give the said Richard Habin a mortal Wound upon the right side of his head, about an Inch long and half an Inch deep, of which wound he lay languishing from about the hours of three of the Clock in the Afternoon, until about five at Night, and then died: And the said Richard Habin was then and there killed and murdered by the said John Davis; and they further find, that he said John Davies was encouraged by some unknown Person, to beat the said Richard Habin, and they know of no Goods or Chattels. WILLIAM BALDWINE Coroner. JOHN WILLIAMS Coroner. Edward ansel William Hall Christopher Brooke● Richard faithful George Butterley William Short Robert Philips Francis Fleshmonger George wheels John Floyd Francis Goater George ●ylley William Floyd Nicholas Clousley James gardener. XIII. Civitas Cicestr' ss. JOhn Fo●ben●h Gent of the City of Chichester, came before me William Costelow Alderman, and one of His Majesties Justices of Peace for the ●aid City, and did voluntarily make Oath, that upon Sunday evening after the murder of Richard Habin, he went and curtously vi●wed for the discovery of Truth, the Windows of Mr. Farington, whi h are falsely reported in a late label to be broke by Habin; and saith that he doth verily believe and think, by reason that the led of the Window was bended outward, and from other Circumstances, that the only Quarre which was then broken, had been broken on the inside of the parlour, and some time before that day. JOHN FORBENCH. Jurat Coram me 9no Sept. WILLIAM COSTELLOW. XIV. WHereas it is f●lsely published in a late label p 4 that W●●dow Crossingham since her ●●ning at the Pal●●e in Chichester, had minced her Evidence ●●n●e●ning her Son's Testimony, relating to the murder of Habin The ●arl Katherine Crossingham widow, came before me Stephen P●●ford one of the Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, and did voluntarily make Oath, that she neither hath not wi●● l●ssen th● Eviden●● she hath already made, and d●th now made, 〈◇〉 that h●r Son dined at home about tw●lve of the C●ock, and then w●● imm●diately abroad after Dinner, and did n t ●eturn h●me again until at least half an h●ur after tw● of the Cloc● 〈…〉 th●●, and that she hath n●t been ●ampered with b● any ●f ●he ●●●d Bish p's Family, to alter or speak any thing any way, and ●ha● she 〈◇〉 dined it the Lord Bishop's B●t one Mayor Hurst's Wi●e, 〈…〉 and kept the late King Pr●soner in the Isle of Wight, came to the said widow Crossingham, and tempting her, told her, that if her Son would withdraw his Evidence, they gave( meaning the dissenting Party, and Mr. Farington) considerable Sums, and she should have part of it, and her Son should have a good part of it. Jurat coram me 9no die Sep. 1682. STEPHEN PENFORD. Her Mark KATHERINE CROSSINGHAM. XV. MRIS Mary ●●ynvin volun●aril●, makes Oath before me Stephen Penford Alderman, and one of his Majesties ●ustices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that Richard Habin immediately after the receiving his wounds, came to the Palace of the Lord Bishop, and had a small quantity of Aqua Mirabilis offered him, of which she believeth he s●arce swallowed any, and that he had no other Liqu●r given him there Jurat Coram me Sept. STEPHEN PENFORD MARY KIN●IN. XVI. THomas Wood Cook voluntarily maketh Oath before me Stephen Penford Alderman, and one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that one William Peachy a chirurgeon of the City aforesaid, a Friend to Mr. Farington and the Party, came to the Palace of the Lord Bishop in time of the Divine Service at the Cathedral, and went into the Stable where Richard Habin lay upon dry Hay in a warm place, where all the care imaginable was taken of him, as well by others of the Bishops Family, as by his own Wife, and that he the said Habin had no str●ng Liqu●● given him, as it falsely suggested in a late label, except a little Cordial, only th●s Dep●n●nt saith upon his Oath, that Peachy aforesaid, pulled out a little battle, and in a Spoon gave the said Habin some kind of liquour, of what Nature this Deponent knoweth not. Jurat coram me. STEPHEN PENFORD. THOMAS WOOD. XVII. HEnry Elems voluntarily maketh Oath before me Stephen Penford, one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the City of Chichester, that Richard Habin lately murdered, immediately after he had received his mortal wounds, cam● to the Palace of the Lord Bishop, very w●ak with the loss of much blood, but n●t at all distempered with drink, as is falsely suggested in a late label, and the said Habin told this Deponent, that Mr. Farington's man had given him his deaths wounds. Jurat coram me. STEPHEN PENFORD. His Mark HENRY ELEMS. XVIII. WHereas it is falsely suggested in a late Pamphlet p. 5. that the Mother to Thomas barns a Boy above fourteen years, a Witness against the Murtherers of Richard Habin, did run like a mad Woman, crying, my Son shall swear for the Lord Bishop, &c. for I have most of my Livelihood from my Lord, the said widow barns came before me Stephen Penford, and did voluntarily make Oath that she never spoken any such words, and that she was never tampered with by the Bishop or any other, to persuade her Son to swear any way, and that she hath no other relief from the Bishop, than other poor People, and that she had not seen her Son Thomas from Sunday at night when Habin dyed, until the Saturday after, after he had taken his Oath. Jurat coram me 9 Sept. STEPHEN PENFORD. Her Mark ELIZABETH barns.