THE LIFE & DEATH OF Stephen Marshal, Sometimes Minister of the Gospel at Finchingfield in ESSEX.  
Written by way of Letter to a Friend.  Si populus vult decipi— 
LONDON, Printed in the Year, MDCLXXX.   

THE Stationer TO THE READER.  
AT the close of this Letter( which you are here presented with) the Author has given a fair account of his Design in writing these Memorials, viz. in Charity to undeceive such well-meaning Persons as are still unhappily mis-led in the same way, and miserable gulled and abused by the usual Artifice and Cunning of those grave Sinners, who will needs call themselves the Saints, the People of God, the Secret Ones, and take a Pride in many such fine Names, which in the Eyes of discerning men, look not much unlike curious Ornaments throw'n over a foul and loathsome Carcase. But I have a farther thought in being assistant to this Publication, and that is, to gratify the Leaders themselves; who( Good men) not content with the Kings Gracious Pardon, are now become so very bold, as not only to give some Commendations of what has been the Cause and Ground of all our late Distractions; but stiffly to contend for it, and vigorously to endeavour the acting over the same Tragedy, and raising the same Devil again by the same Noise and outcries, which they were taught to make use of in the memorable Year of 41.  
Amongst other Methods, the memory of those precious Persons( as they love to call 'em) who were the grand Ring-Leaders in the late Rebellion, is recommended and endeared to the People; and what can be less intended hereby, than that the People should by this way be brought to entertain a good Opinion of their Practices, and be in a readiness to be stirred up, whenever a fit and convenient Opportunity shall present itself unto them.  
Thus we have seen the Lives of several of these Seducers creep out of the Press, and every day expect to see more. When therefore it shall please them( by publishing his Life) to Canonize Mr. Marshall, they are gratified by being here furnished with Materials towards that Great Work. And it were easy, and I shall be ready to do the like kindness for those which shall be writ hereafter, and for the new Editions of such as are abroad already.  
As to this, I shall assure thee, Reader, that( whilst the aim of those Designers is to 'allure thee with a Godly Varnish, into a false Opinion of the Persons and practices of such men) this Relation has no other end, but to keep thee from being cheated and befooled amongst the Common Herd of Mankind.  
If now what is here sent abroad be either ill taken, or interpnted worse, it is not to be looked upon as a fault in the Author, but imputed rather to the distemper of such, who are unwilling to be severely and sincerely dealt withall, tho' it be in order to their Cure. He has not here used any Arguments to dissuade such Guides as nowadays proffer themselves almost in every Barn or Market-place; partly because 'tis foreign to his purpose, and partly because he is sufficiently assured, that if Matters of Fact be weak and unable, Arguments( tho' never so good) will be of little force to prevail with them. For such is the resolved obstinacy of the ordinary sort of People, that the clearest Argument shall not convince, but rather confirm them in their beloved Fooleries. And this is one of their greatest unhappinesses, that they take pleasure in being abused; for if any one be so friendly, as to deal freely and plainly with them, and venture to give them good and sound Advice, they presently kick and fling, thinking themselves injured by what is given out of pure love and kindness.  
Farewell.   

THE LIFE OF Mr. STEPHEN MARSHAL, &c.  
SIR,  
ALthough this is due to Humanity, that the Reputation of those that are dead should sleep in quiet with their Ashes: yet having the Influence of your Requests( which have always had with me the Efficacy of Commands) to awaken the famed of him, who Achan-like for a Wedge of Gold hath troubled the Peace of that State; the tranquillity whereof he should have preserved with the greatest care and industry. I suppose what I writ concerning this Man, will not amount to a Violation of that Law: Especially if we remember how severe an Observer, and how immodest a Publisher of other mens rather supposed than real Crimes, he himself has been. Why should the Failings of Loyal Subjects( both 
* The grand Impostor. A malicious gloss upon the Dying Speech of Arch-Bishop Laud.  ecclesiastics and others) be shamefully divulged, and the black and horrid villainies of those who style themselves The Godly, lie covered under the Cloak of Religion. Therefore as for the famed of that Person, whose Actions you so importunately desire should be recorded for the undeceiving of such as have been deluded by his Imposture and Religious juggling; I am willing and ready to present you with as exact an Account of it, as either mine own Knowledge and Observation of him, or the truest Information that I could obtain from others, will allow me. And tho' I am not able to give you so full and perfect a Relation of him( especially in reference to our late unhappy Times, in which he was not a little busy) as may be expected from such an Undertaker; yet this I shall assure you, I shall not knowingly blot him with any Fiction, nor shall I need to make use of my Invention, since the baseness of his Actions are sufficient to render him, and that Cause which he undertook, odious to Posterity.  
His Birth.  
And First, concerning his Pedigree; which tho' it be obscure, yet it is not altogether so hard to trace it, as to find out the Head of the River Nile. He was born( as I have been informed) at Gormanchester near huntingdon, his Father a Glover and very poor; yet the meanness of his Birth would have been no Reproach to him, if his own bad Life had not made him more infamous than his Original: For as the Glory of Ancestors is a vain Boast in those whose Actions degenerate from the Nobleness of their Family, so the mean Descent of those whose Virtues have laid the Foundation of their own Honour, is no disparagement; but where a base and ignoble Extraction, is seconded by a more base and infamous Life, it doubles the Ignominy. That this person has more disgraced his Family, than their beggarly Condition, will notoriously appear in the following Character; which I dare assure you will find more Credit about Finchingfield, than in remoter places, where he was known only by the famed of his Preaching and his Parasites.  
How his younger days were spent, I am not able to inform you, as they were more obscure, so 'tis Charity to believe they were harmless; but having got so much Grammar Learning as his poverty and industry would attain to, he goes to Cambridge, to Emanuel college( that college that hath hatched too many such Birds) which he rather visited than continued in: For as I have heard, he left it without a Degree, or at most was but bachelor of Arts, and for his first Preferment, was entertained in a Gentleman's House in Suffolk.  
Shortly after Mr. Richard Rogers Lecturer at Wethersfield deceases, and Mr. Marshall is chosen his Successor, where they purchase him a Library at the Cost of Fifty pounds, and do many other very friendly Offices for him. He being sensible of their kindness, engages himself by a voluntary Promise never to leave them.  
He had not long continued there, before Mr. Pickering( a Reverend and Learned Divine) Minister of Finchingfield dieth. The Fatness of the bnfice helped the Patron to Suitors enough; but amongst all, our Marshall was the Man whom his Affection made choice of, to bestow his Presentation upon; who having unluckily married himself to Wethersfield, knows not what course to take to sue out a Bill of Divorce. The great Living( worth 200 l. per annum) is a strong Temptation to the Holy Man's concupiscible Appetite,( for tho' our new Saints talk much of Heaven, yet 'tis the Earth they most desire to inherit) however Wethersfield holds him to his promise, Never to leave them. A little Assembly of Divines( as wise almost, and as honest as the great one) is called; 'tis there debated how far Mr. Marshall's promise is obligatory. The Casuists knowing his mind before, conclude, that it bound him, not to leave them for a Lesser Salary; but left him at Liberty to take a Bigger Living when he could get it: and in very dead, there is no reason why any promise, tho' never so solemnly, so deliberately made, should stand a perpetual Palizado to any Godly Man's Preferment. Well, however this Decision satisfies his Corvan: For he leaves Wethersfield, and away he goes to Finchingfield. This is the first noted Essay that he gave of his Fidelity in keeping Promise.  
Mr. Marshall's Name is now up, and he may lye in Bed, which he cannot comfortably do without a Bedfellow, who seeks him, not taken with any comeliness of his Person, but ravished with the zealous delivery of his Sermons: For whatsoever good his Preaching does upon Mens Souls, it works mightily upon Womens Affections. A Gentlewoman of a considerable Fortune hears him, and concludes, that so warm a Preacher, could not choose but make as warm a Husband; whereupon she discovers her Meltings to some of the Sister-hood: They glad to advance their Ghostly Father, presently acquaint him with the Happiness that gaped for him. He( a man never slow to do himself good) accosts her, wooes her in the Language of Canaan, and at last wins her; For a Castle is never hard to take, where the Gates stand open without a sentinel. But her Friends unwilling she should match to nothing but a Stipend,( for I think he was not then removed from Wethersfield) deny consent, unless a Jointure can be made her. What shall the Good Man now do, who was never born to one Acre of Land? Great care is taken; Prayers are put up for the Success of this Match; Endeavours are used; but the obstinate Kindred are resolved to have a Settlement of an Estate, or else no Match goes forward. And it shall be had rather than Mr. Marshall shall lose his rich Wife. One Wiltshire( whom Mr. Marshall was wont to call Father) will now show, that it was not in vain, that he owned him by that Title; and therefore settles an Estate of 30 or 40 l. per annum( as I have heard) upon him and her. This pretence of her Friend's unwillingness was by many supposed to be a Plot to get Wiltshir's Estate, who was thought to dote so much upon Mr. Marshall, that he would do any thing to advance him. However it was wrought, he parts with it, and Mr. Marshall enjoys his Love; but whether she enjoyed her Love is not altogether so certain: 'Tis a common Complaint, that the Devoutest Preachers are not always the kindest Husbands, nor does the rest of their Conversation answer that Affection, that they make show of in a Pulpit. She finds it so.  
Truly the Woman, tho' she was not of that politic reach, that some others are of, never wanted Ornaments of a meek and quiet Spirit; but her Simplicity, or something else made her to be slighted, if not scorned by him: For after she had made him a Father of one Son and six Daughters, he grows weary of her Bed.( I will not say to go to anothers; tho' to stop the the Mouths of People that began to mutter, he was was forced to frequent a Sisters House less than he had been observed usually to do before) insomuch that they seldom lay together. And it has been observed, that when he had been for many Weeks together absent, and came into the Country to take his Tithes and fresh Air, he choose rather to suck it in at Sculkins, than at the vicarage; and to supply the want of his Wife, her Company, he frequently red himself asleep with a Play-Book or Romance.  
To his Children he was( to give him his due) a very indulgent Father, and perhaps more indulgent than was allowable. The most of their Education was going from one good House to another, to eat Chees-cakes and Custards. They were like Gentlewomen in nothing besides their Habits; and therein they exceeded persons of good Degree and Quality. They followed the height of Fashions with changeable Taffata's, and Naked Necks, insomuch that the Godly Party were sorely scandalized at it; but durst not complain, because it was Mr. Marshall who was concerned. He gave them great Portions; and( as the History of Independency saith) Married one of them with the Book of Common Prayer, and a Ring; and gave this for a reason, That the Statute establishing that Liturgy was not yet repealed; and he was loth to have his Daughter Whored, and turned back upon him for want of a Legal Marriage: Nevertheless he could declare against the use of it by others. And so the juggler played at fast and loose with the Service-Book, as he had done before with the People of Wethersfield.  
We will view him next in his Pastoral Relations; where( to speak the Truth) he was for many years so well beloved of his People, that I think few Ministers could boast of a greater happiness in that kind: being not morose, but of a free and sociable. Humour in his Conversation, and in his Preaching very taking with a Country Auditory: For tho' in his Sermons penned, there was nothing extraordinary; yet he had such a kind of Delivery, that he carried away the credit from all: besides which I think these may be some causes of his Popularity.  
First,( till he began to meddle with State Affairs) he always preached Catechistical Divinity;( how happy had the man been, if he had never done otherwise?) and that in as plain and familiar Expressions as could be, that he might svit himself to the meanest Capacity, and gain the People, which was his great, if not his only aim and ambition.  
Secondly, he had an art of commending every thing that he delivered, before he delivered it, as being most serious, and of highest Concernment to their Souls; which the people always took upon his Word. Yea, he would solemnly profess, that what he preached to them, he had experience of the work of it upon his own Soul, which conduced much both to the gaining of Credit to his Doctrine, and to himself.  
Thirdly, Whenever he dismissed them, before he had finished the Text or point he was upon, 'twas his Custom to assure them, that the best was still behind, which was an invitation to come again and hear the rest.  
Fourthly, He was acquainted with all the Vulgar Proverbs, and odd Country Phrases, and By-words which he would sprinkle up and down in his Sermon; which captivated the People at a strange rate.  
Fifthly, He toward his latter end, insisted much upon Notional( which he called Spiritual) Divinity, and the many Privileges of the Saints; and seldom or never would meddle with particular Sins( unless it were the Sin of MALIGNANCY, or not promoting the PARLIAMENT CAUSE.) Yea, he has been heard to say, that he durst not preach against their Vices, lest they should be scared from his Ministry;( this is much of the same Complexion with the Jesuite's complying Divinity to gain Disciples) but if he could make them in love with Jesus Christ, they would soon grow weary of their Sins: As if any man before he knows the Evil of Sin, would see any need of Christ. Oh wise Master Builder!  
Sixthly, He preached much abroad, and then had his Agents to give notice ten miles about, when he came to any Lecture;( this is the mode of all the patriarches of that Gang, by which they gather more Disciples to themselves than to Jesus Christ.) When he had well heated himself with preaching( which was much to his honour) he had a Sister or two ( No Nuns) that waited upon him with Towels and a clean Shirt, which( after they had every where well wiped him to prevent catching of could) they put upon him with more Affection, than if it had been a Surplice. And having well refreshed himself with some preparatory Candle, he is ready for his Dinner.  
Tho' the Nonconformists counted him theirs, yet all this while he was wary of hazarding his bnfice, by venturing in public any thing against the established Government or Liturgy: Nay, he was as conformable as could be desired, reading Divine Service, wearing the Surplice, receiving and administering the Sacrament kneeling, approving, commending, extoling Episcopacy and the Liturgy, observing all the holidays with more than ordinary Diligence, preaching upon most of them. This the man did, so long as he had any hopes of rising that way: For that his Ambition was such, I have great reason to believe, being assured by a worthy Person, that he was once an earnest Suitor to the late unhappy Duke of Buckingham for a deanery, which is the next step to a bishopric. The loss of which( as the same Misfortune made Arrius turn heretic) so it made him turn schismatic. His Son-in-law nigh was heard to say, That if they had but made his Father a Bishop, before he had been too far engaged, it might have prevented all the War; and since he cannot rise so high as a Bishop, he will pull the Bishops as low as himself; yea, if he can, lower than himself was at Gormanchester. Discontented Pride has made more schismatics than Conscience; if this has slain its thousands, that has killed its ten thousands.  
There wants not a Conspiracy of many Mediums to assist him in this Design. First, the too many discontented, and upon several occasions) dissatisfied Persons in this Nation, every where spurring one the other on, to foment Troubles and Distractions. Then followed the Scotish Rebellion, breaking out first at Home, and presently advancing itself into England; which afterward forced the Princely Martyr to call that Black Parliament which proved the ruin of Him, of the Nation, and at last( by the just hand of Providence) of themselves too.  
During their Session, an Assembly of Divines is called, not chosen by the Clergy according to Law, but selected by themselves; amongst these our Reverend Marshall( by means of Friends) is preferred to be one: He quickly grows to be Master, and is so called by all( like the the old Pharisee he affencted the Name of Rabbi;) they sit, not to consult for the Reformation of Religion in things that were amiss, but to receive the Parliaments Commands to undo and innovate Religion. In which Work, or rather Drudgery of the Devil,( falsely styled The Cause,) our active Stephen needs neither Whip nor Spur: Tooth and Nail he bends himself to the overthrow of the Hierarchy, Root and Branch. Those few honest men that were chosen either absenting themselves( because they would not be involved in their pernicious and heady Suffrages) or being thrown out by them, they do all their Wickedneses nemine contradicente, till Independency began to check, and at last Mate-Presbytery. They assist to their Power, if not in Voting down the Bishops, yet in keeping them down by their trepanning Covenant,( a Scotish Jig played and danced by the giddy Brethren in England.) In which I cannot but take notice of their base hypocrisy, in suffering the mayor part of the Nation ( that bowed to that Dagon) to take it in the plain Grammatical Sense of it; yet to strengthen their Party, giving leave to some more precious and eminent persons to take it in their own Sense. This Falsity God doth judge and will judge.  
To Countenance their Proceedings, they consult with Foreign Divines of the Presbyterian Churches: as Johanan( Jer. 42.) and the rest consulted with Jeremiah concerning their going into egypt, resolved to follow his Counsel, if it agreed with theirs, yet to go, tho' God and He said nay; if the advice of those Divines had seconded their Intentions( which they never questioned) they would have heard it, and the World should have heard it. But yet they resolved to take their own Course, tho' Geneva should advice the contrary; as indeed they prudently did, and therefore they bury the Foreign Letters, till time brought them to light by a strange Resurrection. And that the Foreign Divines might trouble them no more with fresh Letters, they clap them in the Mouth with a lie, that they intended no harm to regulate Episcopacy, but only to the Lordly and Tyrannical Regiment of it. Let their Actions be heard speaking against them, they do not only uncover the Roof, and take down the Pyramids and Battlements of Episcopacy; but like the rough Sons of Edom, they raze it even to the Ground; and instead thereof, set up its Rival, the proud, swelling, domineering Faction of Presbytery; which Mushroom-like, suddenly sprung up, and as suddenly disappeared, or at best does truckle under its younger Brother Independency. Which our Stephen observing,( and as he could not be the Protomartyr, so he was resolved not to be the Deuteromartyr of that Name) quickly disowns his own sweet Babe, and( with a little of honest Ny's Assistance) puts himself into the thriving Sect of the Independents, bidding New England welcome into the Old.  
And because the Church could not be destroyed without the King, who was more firmly wedded to it, than Mr. Marshall either to his Wife, or his first Living; the King and all who adhere to him and the Church must be destroyed with it: to whose ruin Mr. Marshall contributes not a little. Witness thunderings in all Pulpits; his Cursing all people who were backward in their engaging against him; his encouraging all those, whose villainy made them forward in the Undertaking that great Work, warranting them no small Preferment in Heaven, if they would lay down their Lives for the Cause: Witness his Menaces, and private Incitations, becoming Drum-major, or Chaplain-General to the Army; praying from Regiment to Regiment at Edge-hill.  
Witness his riding Post into Scotland, to treat with the Scots, in order to their coming into England; in which business he so demeaned himself with the Kirk Party, pawning his Soul, and his Brethrens here in England( for a less Pledge would not be taken) in a wicked League for comformities Sake, that the two Nations might be one in a Religious Conspiracy; that they espouse their Cause, and in it defend their own Guilt, by an Additional Conspiracy with the English Rebels. This Journey, men say, was worth 500 l. to him; I believe more.  
Witness his persuading the City to lend the Parliament 50000 l. to pay their Souldiers, who were ready to mutiny in a seasonable time: then persuading the City to let the Army march through them, and possess the Tower. This he did to assure the Independents, that he is really theirs: So he is sent down a Second time into Scotlend, to lie again for his Master's Profit; and thither goes Balaam again for love of the Wages of Unrighteousness. But this Voyage was not so acceptable to the dear Brethren as the former, if all be true that I have heard, viz. that in a Storm it hail'd rotten Eggs upon his Head at edinburgh: They being cunning jugglers themselves, soon smelled a Cheat. Besides it is supposed, that tho' he road Post, some body had outstripped him with Letters, and acquainted the Kirk, that he was become a Changeling and Apostate from Presbytery, then which a greater Crime could not there be charged upon him. So he returns to the Rump, to tell them he lost his Journey.  
Having lost his Credit too in London, and his Parish at St. Margarets growing could in their Affections to him, and his 300 l. per annum for preaching at the abbey failing, he returns to his old forsaken Love( I do not mean his Wife, but) Finchingfield; and there he finds neither the Welcome nor Respect that he was wont. His Slight-of them had taught them as little to esteem him. They construe his Retreat thither but a forced put, and say openly, that if he could have bettered his Maintenance any where else, he would have sold them for two pence profit: and instead of sending Tithes, when demanded, they sand him Jeers and Frumps; rate him above what he could make of his Living, over-rule him, who was wont to over-rule all men. His high Stomach not brooking this Carriage, he grows weary there, and waits the next opportunity to be gone, which offers itself thus:  
The Lecturer of the great Church in Ipswich dies. He is thither invited by the Town, with this Proviso, if his Conscience could relinquish his present Cure: A Scruple that troubled him not at all; for he had often feared his Conscience before with the same Iron. However, being a Man of an affencted Gravity, and loth to do any thing lightly or passionately, he therefore pretends Reasons to depart from Finchingfield; among which this was the chiefest: He found his Ministry ineffectual. Those who were good of Old time were good still; but in his late years teaching, he could not find any new Convert.  
Truly the People had little reason( I confess) to credit him in any thing, who had so perfidiously betrayed their Souls, by leading them into Rebellion. But how knew he that none were converted? The Signs of Grace do not always presently appear to the Convert himself, much less are they visible to the view of others. Besides, since God had forsaken his Ministry at Finchingfield, what assured hopes had he of doing good at Ipswich? Yet Balaam Saddles his Ass, and will go with the Men; but a few Idolizers of him, first petition him with a Scroll of hands to stay, thinking that horrible darkness must needs overspread that Horizon, if so great a Luminary should bid a final farewell to it. This will not do; Baal will not hear; next they petition God Almighty. A private Fast is appointed to be kept at Mr. Mede's in Finchingfield: Three Ministers carry on the Work of the day. Mr. Daniel Rogers being the Oldest, begins the Devotions; but instead of supplicating for his Stay, he tells God Almighty a very soul Story of his Rambling. I cannot give you the very words, 'tis so long since they were spoken, and I heard them; but as I remember, they were to this purpose, That Mr. Marshall loved the Company of great Personages, that he had a gadding Humour, before he had left his Parish to go live at London, and follow the Camp, and would now be gone to Ipswich, &c. You shall not need to wonder at this: For it is verily believed by many, that there was never any Cordial Affection between these two Grand schismatics; one envying another's Popularity: For they seldom met, but they hunch't at one another. Once a Dish of apple being brought before them, and the Company, as every one liked, preferring one Apple before another, Mr. Rogers said he loved a Living. I think so, quoth Mr. Marshall; for you are always whining for more. And you, says Mr Rogers, love a rennet, for you can never keep at Home.  
But to return from this Digression, neither Petitions to Man, nor Prayers to God, will stay him: For he packs up his Tools, and is gone for Ipswich, where he joys not long; for he is followed with Affliction upon Affliction: Indeed he had lost his Eldest Son before, who was drowned at Hamburgh, which was a great vexation to him, that his Name should perish. In a short time, he buries three Daughters, and several grandchidren, and last of all his Wife, whom he could best have spared;( some of his Ipswich Neighbours were bold to interpret these Losses to be the punishment of his deserting Finchingfield) soon after, himself was visited with a Consumption, which ended his Days at London. Of which afterwards:  
His Religion stood most in Externals; a Jewish Observation of Sabbaths, Praying, Preaching( especially according to the new mode) in Fasts, and Thanksgivings; under these specious shows, the mystery of Iniquity lay hide. For to what end were their Fasts, but for Strife, and to smite with the Fist of Wickedness, and to break the Strength and Heart of the King? And wherefore were their Thanksgivings, but for Success in Rebellion? Whereas they had more reason to thank God for his Forbearance, that the Earth did not open, and swallow them up quick, as it once did their Fellow-Rebels. But this made a great Noise among the silly People, who saw no farther than a Man may look into a Millstone.  
His Irreverence about Holy things was abominable, and hardly credible; when he baptized a Child in Private, to sit in a Chair upon his Breech, while he administered that Sacrament. What Superstition could equalize that Rudeness? Perhaps he thought the same posture would as well become that Sacrament as the other: such doings have brought both into Contempt. Indeed to him and his Brethren, we owe not only the loss of our Government and Liturgy, but of the Sacraments themselves: Baptism having been restrained, and the Lord's Supper in many places disused. Mr. Marshall himself having not had a Communion in Finchingfield for seven Years together, which is far worse than Promiscuous Communions.  
That he was of all Clergy-men, the most mischievous to his Sovereign, is without controversy, every where robbing him of the Hearts of his Subjects, creating Jealousies in them, stirring them up to Arms and Contributions of Moneys, engaging all Persons of Quality, whom he had any hopes to work upon: and when he found the man backward, he plays the Devil, tempts the Woman to betray her Husband. He had always a strong influence upon that Sex, and wrought that by their Importunity, which he could not effect by his own reason or persuasions. By this means he became a Murderer, a Murderer of those Souls that he had seduced into Rebellion; a Murderer of those Bodies which were slain by such as he stirred up to the War; a Murderer of all such as died by the Hands of the Royalists; a Murderer of his Prince, by taking away his good Name, by that means rendering him in the esteem of his Subjects, unworthy to govern or live; and this he did not only by his Preaching and private Calumnies; but in those absurd, dins-ingenuous, and malicious Animadversions of his upon the Kings Letters taken at Naseby; Letters so full of Modesty, Ingenuity, Wisdom and Piety, yet if he had not had the Heart of a— very bad man, he would never have so maliciously Commented upon them, and made them speak contrary to their own Grammatical Sense: Letters, that when Malice had done its worst, and its religious Votaries had picked out of the Cabinet such as they thought would best serve their turn( suppressing such Papers as might have given all the World satisfaction of his Majesties Love to his Subjects and the Protestant Religion,) and had discanted upon those select Papers; yet were so far from prejudicing his Majesty, that they convinced thousands of his Integrity, who were before doubtful. The worst that could be laid to his Charge, was, that contrary to former Resolutions, he sought help from foreigners, forced thereunto by their implacable Violence. Besides this, he is thought to have instigated them( who were forward enough) to the hastening the King's Death. He has been heard to say, That the King was too wise to be suffered to Rule. That he had as live see his own Death, as the King in his Throne. His unskilful Spirit could not forget that Affront( as he accounted it) which the King put upon him at Holmby; when being to say Grace for his Majesty, while he was long in forming his Chaps( as his manner was) his Majesty said Grace for himself, and was fallen to his Meat, and had eaten up some part of his Dinner, before his Chaplain had ended his Blessing the Creature. The King then checking him, and saying, that he intended not to stay till his Meat was could, whilst he stood whistling for the Spirit: Which Check never went out of his Stomach till it rotted out. That well might one of his own Gang say, He died in time, or else he might have taken a Turn with Hugh Peters at Charing across: of which his Arrest at Cambridge was an unlucky Omen, which was a mistake and no mistake. I know, some affirm, that when the King was dead, he was much perplexed, and repented of what he had done. For my part, I rather think them transient Pangs and Gripes of Conscience, than true remorse for his public Sins.  
First, because he never publicly recanted.  
Secondly, he never laboured to undeceive those whom he had seduced.  
Thirdly, He still joined himself to his old wicked Company, even the King's Murderers.  
Lastly, He acted under the Grand Usurper; was as harsh and severe as ever to the King's Party: for he was no less malicious to his Friends all along than to him; always opposing them, if they came to the Assembly for Examination, or after the triers at White-hall,( for he was one of those Spanish Inquisitors) pretending, forsooth, only Care to advance Godly and able men; and yet could prefer his Son-in-law nigh, to a Living of 400 l. a year, who never deserved one of 40 l. I come now to describe his Virtues.  
His Charity in giving, was as little as his Charity in forgiving; never so much as bestowing a penny, or piece of Bread at his Door the year throughout, tho' he had many poor Kindred, and some who lived not far from him; yet out of his abundance, never gave them the worth of Twelve pence, as themselves have said. Nay,( when he had the World flowing in upon him) he suffered his poor Father to beg about the Country; which shew'd he had neither shane nor pity, nor yet any Natural Affection.  
And tho' men say, the Puritan will not swear, but will lie damnably. This Impostor both swore and lied, having several times taken the Oaths of Allegiance, and caconical Obedience, the Protestation, and his own Solemn League and Covenant; all which for the Glory of God, and undoing this Nation, he as solemnly broken and persuaded others to break: that if his Soul had not load enough of his own personal Perjuries, he might sink it with the addition of other mens.  
Having said this, you shall not need to question his Truth: For verily he was a man that would not deceive him who never trusted him. He is a liar in Print, of which there needs no other Proof than his own Preaching up of Rebellion for God's Cause, which is a lie in Text; and what were all his Fasts and Thanksgivings, but lies in hypocrisy, lying not only to men, but to the Holy Ghost? At the Funeral of Mr. Borradel Minister of Bumsted in Essex, he had this reach in his praise, That upon his knowledge, he had wept a Bushel( that's a dry measure) of Tears for the Sins of his People. If so, how many Bushels would the rest that he was not privy to have amounted to? Sure Mr. Borradel had a very moist Brain, or Mr. Marshall a slippery Tongue; for certainly without an Hyperbole of the largest size, this must be a loud one. A lie not inferior to this, was that, which he had at the Funeral of Daniel Rogers( where after he had made a Lying Face or two) — Manúque simul quoddle Lachrymantia tersit Lumina— For not one Tear came; he very gravely  told the People( who were no Strangers to Mr. Rogers's Infirmities) He had Grace enough for ten Men, but not for himself: He was,( as I  told you) at the Fight at Edge-hill( when he had better have been in his Pulpit at Finchingfield) very sore distressed for perceiving his side to run, and hearing the Cavaliers cry, Have at the Black-Coats, meaning himself and Mr. Ash, when Mr. Ash complainingly misappli'd that Scripture to the Rebels which was spoken of the People of God, What shall we say when Israel turns his back upon his Enemies? He knew not what to do; at last( if he did not by himself) to save himself, he made use of his Cousin Bass's Man's Device, who threw up his Cap, and cried, Hey for King Charles, Hey for King Charles, and under the Covert of that lie, and the Dark, he got by Mid-night to Warwick Castle; But the Fright had such an effect upon him, and made so deep an Impression upon his Spirits, that some stuck not to say, that for the time he was beside his Wits; which he no sooner recovered, but he comes into Essex to lie( as a Jack-an-apes does Tricks) for his Master's Advantage. And here he tells the People strange Stories of the Fight( but not a word how valiantly like Peter the Hermit he ran away) and that to his knowledge( tho' he was in too much hast to tell the Slain) the King's Party lost five to one of the Parliament; which in one sense was true; because one of the King's Party was worth five of them; else 'tis an untruth: For the even Scales of days Fight, was too sad a presage of that lingering which followed.  
I am now inquiring after his Humility, if I could find it: I see him among his Leathern Doublets, and the makers of Leather and Doublets; these he loves by instinct: surely I have found it now. But while I judge him by this Company( whom he makes believe are precious to him) one whispers me in the Ear, and tells me that I take a wrong measure: For these poor Christian's Backs are but Blocks to mount him high in the esteem of the round World. He would have made an excellent Judge; for he was no Respecter of Persons. If Knights, or Ladies, or Persons of ever so good Condition, had come where he was sitting, he would neither stir his Breech, nor his Cap; it was condescension enough to give them a gracious Nod with his Head;( for his stiff Neck did not often bend) which Carriage of his, made some of his own Party say in my hearing, That they thought there was not a prouder person upon Earth than Mr. Marshall. Mr Symonds will tell you enough of this, and how his Pride would not suffer any man to across his irrational Dictates; and how he treated that Holy and Reverend man the World knows. Tho' I have sometimes heard, that his not answering Mr. Symonds, was because he could not answer; and in such cases he was so wise as to hold his peace: For I remember, when he boasted before Mr. Fuller of Stebbing, That he had brought Burial of the Dead out of Fashion in his Town; Mr. Fuller  told him, That their Directory gave leave to exhort at the Grave. His answer was, then may they have a Funeral Sermon who desire it; but when the other replied, the Poor would complain, that the Rich should have Christian Burial, and they, because Poor, be buried like Dogs. Mr. Marshall's answer was Mum.  
And tho' he was a severe Censurer of Bishops and others of the Episcopal Clergy, for meddling in Civil Affairs, as eccentric to their Calling; yet himself could make it his business( as well as nigh, Peters, &c.) for seven years together. And tho' he had been an earnest promoter of the Kingdoms Good, as he was a disturber of the public peace, yet could he never be able to avoid the recoil of his own supercilious judging of others. Not that I think the Ecclesiastical Function necessary deprives his Majesty of the benefit he may have from the prudential abilities of Clergy-men; but I think it wretched impudence in him to charge that as a Crime upon them, who was doubly guilty himself. First, In meddling in the State. Secondly, In meddling to do mischief, and( which is no small aggravation of his fault) in that he acted the Statist in the Pulpit; where, instead of promoting the Gospel, he promoted Insurrections. I know, some asking him, what Peace and Satisfaction he had in acting in Secular Affairs? His answer was( tho' not without Stomach to be asked such a question,) that he had always in his Eye the Glory of God;( of which God and the World too now judge) but if you had asked the Pope the same question, he would have given you the like answer, viz. In ordine ad Spiritualia. Well, tho' this, and to be bold, two Livings be unpardonable Crimes in an Episcopal Divine, yet Mr. Marshall's Godliness can qualify him for both.  
His not being scrupulous himself about State affairs, made him( perhaps) less solicitous about the Scruples of others in reference to the State: For when some of his Parish( and those none of the meanest) desired his judgement concerning the taking the Engagement, he( Prevaricator-like) reasoned pro and con; but would not resolve what was safe for them in point of Conscience, nor what himself had practised: for he was loth the World should know, that he had swallowed the Engagement, after he had taken the Covenant, which the Hangman hath now burnt.  
He was esteemed a painful Preacher: Himself was wont to compute, from the time that he entred into the Ministry, to almost the end of his days, he had preached three times a week, setting those weeks wherein he preached four times against those wherein he had preached but twice. He preached indeed often, but not much; he had an art of spreading his Butter very thin; some men in one Sermon having more Pious and profitable Divinity( besides Learning) than he usually had in four. Besides, as another alloy to his painfulness, he often preached the same Sermon over and over again; himself has boasted, that he preached one Sermon( I believe that was Curse ye Meroz,) threescore times: Yea, many of his Sermons cost him no more pains than the transcribing verbatim: And this I can assure you is no Slander.  
As to his Learning( tho' he had little Greek, and no Hebrew,) yet he was competently furnished with Abilities for a Pastoral Charge in the Country, but no higher; of which himself was conscious: And therefore would never accept any University Preferment( lest he should make himself ridiculous,) nor never Commenced Doctor: Indeed he took the Degree of bachelor in Divinity per saltum; but it is said his Tutor Dr. Garnons made his Excellent Position, and that somebody else made, or helped him to make his Clerum. His sitting so long time in the Assembly had somewhat improved his Abilities; and therefore he was judged fit with Mr. Vines to be a disputing Commissioner at Uxbridge in the point of Episcopacy. A point which they had canvased threadbare in the Assembly. Indeed they did little else but beat down, and trample upon that Reverend and apostolic Government( one Divine in a months time would have done as much as they did in seven years) and to the overthrow of which they had all of them contributed their several Mites, 
* An insignificant Directory, fit to have accompanied the Covenant. They epitomized Bishop Usher's Body of Divinity, which they called their larger Catechism; and again epitomized that Epitome, abolishing the ancient Church Catehcism: hence so much ignorance in the Fundamentals of Religion, and the ill Consequences of that.  which these two doughty Champions having budgetted up, carried with them to the Treaty. The Evening before they were to dispute, these two Eves-droppers stolen to the Chamber door of the opposite Doctors, where they over-heard them reading over their Arguments( this is Mr. Marshall's own Confession, as well as his Boast) which when they had done, they sate up all Night examining their reasons, and preparing answers; of all which helps they had need, having to oppose so good a Cause, and such able Defenders.  
And now you have heard of his Learning, take a cast of his Wit: for he was venturous at that sport. But first stop your Nose, because the Jests smell rank. Once this Scoggin requested a Lady,( whose name it is not sit to slain by making it here public) that he might speak his mind freely to her, which she very innocently granting, the rude Presbyter spoken( like a Pythoniss) from the hollow of his Belly, giving such a burst, as some Beast would do, that had newly eaten green Tares. The same reply he is said to have given another Gentlewoman, asking his judgement concerning the Lord's Prayer. If the other was a clownish affront, this was unhallowed profaneness. And now my hand is in the Honey-pot, take another,( provided that you red not these upon a full Stomach) It once happened that he took physic in an House which he much frequented, and at the same time the Mistress of the House also had taken a Purge; and having but one Easement, which stood conveniently between both their Chambers, the Gentlewoman had got possession of it, when Mr. Marshall's physic began to wring and gripe, and desire a Writ of Ejectment; he therefore calls to his Mistress to make hast, which her own need delaying, she cries out for his patient stay; his retentive faculty being almost overcome, he tells her, if she does not give way, he must discharge himself in her Lap; but this being a matter ex officio, out of modesty I shall contract it with an &c. And now I have mentioned modesty, it puts me in mind of a Sermon that I heard him preach at Saffron Walden about 15 or 16 years ago upon this Text, Hosea 13. v. 12, 13. The Iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hide; the sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him, he is an unwise son, for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of Children. Which Metaphor he did so plainly open, and so closely pursue, and so pertinently apply, that the modest Women hung down their Heads blushing: And some of them in my hearing, said, they never heard such a bawdy Sermon in their lives.  
His wit was not without wealth; for by a kind of Omnipotence, he created to himself out of nothing an Estate( as it has been computed) worth 1000 l. and left it to his Children; which is more than one of the last Arch-Bishops of Canterbury, out of his great Revenue had to bequeath to his Relations: Which his Sister Newman took an occasion to note, when at a Meeting, she  told a Lady, that the World was well amended with her Brother( who was present) since the time he and she used to go a Gleaning together, when he would cudgel her Coat, if she did not ply her business; and thus she was even with him for saying before some Gentleman, that she looked like a Witch in a Play.  
But to let these small things pass, and draw to a Period with my Subject: Honest Stephen, for all his Favour, Wit, Learning, Honour, Cunning, Wealth, must die, die of a Consumption too, who had helped to consume so much of the kingdoms Blood and Treasure, and of the Churches Vitals and Beauty. His Sickness was long and tedious, which made him a very Skeleton, and ghastly spectacle before his Death. Some report, that like Henderson, he died full of horror and despair; they that speak most sparing of him, say, he had not that assurance of his Salvation, that he expected to have had at his Death.  
Death and judgement are solemn things, and give a man a truer, and less flattering view of his actions, than covetous and ambitious Interests will let him see. I presume not to judge his future Estate; to his own Master he stood or fell: his Conscience being awakened, he might, and so others may find more truth and comfort in the first sentence of our Liturgy( tho' they call it a lie) than in all their thin notions of Divinity.  
He was of a middle Stature, thick Shouldered, swarthy Complexion, his Eyes always rolling in his Head. when he talked with any man, he never looked in his face, but cast them this way and that way, which some interpnted as an argument of a jealous mind and suspicious of Mischief. His Deportment was clownish, like his Breeding; his Garb slovenly( sometimes preaching without his Cloak) his Gate shackling, and the Furniture within not unlike the outside.  
Now Sir, tho' I have exceeded the length of an Epistle, yet I am not conscious to myself, that I have any where exceeded the Truth; and now let the World judge, if there were not more scandal in this man's Life, than in eating Sack and Custard, or in both White s Legends put together. And do you Presbyterians judge, what an able Builder your Cause has had here in England; for it is not to leave an infamy upon this persons name, that I have given you this copy of the man, but purely for your sakes, who have been unhappily deluded by his seeming merit. I know some of you have discovered him to be another man than you first took him for; but the most of you are ignorant of his Private Carriage, and under-hand practices, and divers of you are so firmly wedded to your old Opinions, and which is worse, still justfy those ungodly means whereby you have maintained them. For God's sake, let not the King's Pardon, which extends but to your Goods and Lives, be an occasion to betray your Souls: There must pass an Act of indemnity in Heaven, before you can be secured; and this will never be without Repentance. Repent then, and let the World see that you are forry for, and sensible of your sin; this will not be your shane, but your Honour. That part of the Kirk of Scotland at Aberdeen, have buried all their Infamy in their Ingenuous acknowledgement of their foul Miscarriages. God Almighty accept and pardon them, and stir up you to do the like Penance in a white sheet of Paper; which shall be the hearty desire of your Friend, and more particularly, Worthy Sir, of him who is  
Yours humbly Devoted.  
FINIS.