Mr. tonge's Vindication, In Answer to the Malicious and Lying Aspersions thrown upon him by Thomson and the Observator:  Veritas non quaerit Angulos. 
THe Press was never fuller of Seditious Pamphlets then at this time, wherein Men make it their chief business and Study to create Feuds and Animosities amongst his Majesty's good Subjects, by creating false Reports; for this Reason I thought I was bound in Conscience to vindicate myself from that scandalous and lying Aspersion that Thomson has thrown upon me in his Domestic Intelligence of the third instant, wherein he falsely intimates, as if I had formerly sworn, that Ezerel Tonge was the chief contriver of the Popish-Plot, discovered by a Man, etc. Therefore being deeply sensible of what evil consequence this notorious Lie may be, do solemnly declare, that what was printed by the said Thomson, was done without my knowledge or consent, having some time since, given a true and full Account of those persons (that would have trapan'd and endeavoured to make me swear, that my Father and Doctor Oates were the contrivers of the Popish-Plot) in my case which was printed by Mr. C— in the New Exchange in the Strand; but by some indirect means or other, was stifled, and never suffered to come abroad; in which Narrative, I have discovered nothing but the naked Truth, with the several Arguments and inducements they made use of, to make me accuse my deceased Parent, and yet notwithstanding all this, Thomson and the Observator have the impudence to affirm the contrary; we live in a very profligate Age, wherein some persons assume an unheard of impudence, who never value any man's Reputation, provided they may be gainers by what they print; I confess, and ingenuously acknowledge to the world, that indigency (through the instigation of men of ill principles) had embarked me on a very unnatural attempt, no less than the accusing of my own innocent Parent, whilst he was living▪ I was very sensible how close my undutifulness stuck to him; and therefore by all imaginable Demonstrations I endeavoured to make my sorrow known for so great a fault. Great sinners we read of in Scripture that have upon their unfeigned Repentance been received unto Mercy: it has often been my serious and hearty Prayer to God through the merits of the blessed Jesus, that he would vouchsafe to pardon me; and I hope my Prayers have been accepted at the Throne of Grace and truly during my confinement, now upwards of a twelvemonth, in great want and distress, this was the greatest content and satisfaction that buoyed up my sinking spirits, that I had discharged a good Conscience, little expecting that any whifling Intelligencer, or Crackfarting Observator, would have been so impudent to have endeavoured to impose such scandalous and lying Rumours upon the Nation in reference to my concern; I have more than once by writing satisfied Doctor Oats (since I printed my Case) that I was extremely troubled that I should be so very imprudent to be persuaded to go about to stifle his Evidence, and since my first commitment from the Council, it was my desire to discover those persons that were my chief Abettors, which I have candidly laid down in my Narrative, and being nothing but the Truth, will vindicate itself without any Apology, and however I may be censured by some, I bless God for it, I have not so feared a Conscience as to justify so false and Villainous a thing which is cast upon me, in so weighty a concern as the Popish-Plot, which has had so many evident and remarkable proofs to confirm the verity of it, and maugre the malice of all opposers, remains invincible and triumphant, when the rest of their shams dwindle and expire into nothing. The Observator who often turns the most serious expressions into ridicule, mentions how I was first trapan'd to suggest that story against my Father, etc. then he goes on with this impudent stuff, by way of distinction, all this may very well be Whig, but whether he meant the Father of his Country, or his Father by Generation is the question, etc. To this I answer, that for my Vindication I do refer myself to my Case and that it was not my own voluntary Act, will sufficiently appear to those that have ever perused it; neither did I verisy or assert any thing by dreadful imprecations: for the first ground for that lying Rumour was, that Ely having heard that my Uncle, Captain Tonge, was with me, and that I had made a true Confession to him concerning what had passed betwixt us, fearing lest it might prejudice him; when he was at Windsor drew up a Paper, wherein he would have had me declared with many solemn imprecations, as in the presence of God Almighty, that I had declared nothing but the Truth concerning my Father; this Paper he would have forced me to Sign, but I perceiving the Villainous Design of it, refused it, it being no other than Ely's Roguery to save his own Bacon; but his Impudence, as it is superlative, cannot rest here; for thus he goes on, I do really believe he told the King little more, than he had said many, and many a time to other people long before he had made any application to his Majesty;  
To this I answer that Ely was the person who ●ad me to the King who told me at the Garter Tavern in Windsor, that I must recollect myself, and say something which might give his Majesty some satisfaction: when I came before the King I gave his Majesty a short account, as I had heard it from my fathers own mouth, that Doctor Oats after he came from St Omers first imparted the Plot to him, and afterwards gave him his assistance to bring his papers into the council; then I declared that I was wholly ignorant as to any Transactions relating to the Plot, by reason I was newly come from the University, and then kept a school. at a place called Lu●on in Bedfordshire, when the first discourse of the Popish plot, was noised about the Country whereunto his Majesty was pleased to reply, that he had been misinformed concerning me, but should be very glad to be informed of the Truth, and would be glad to speak, with my father, would be resolve him but some few Questions he would propound to him.  
This was all the Discourse I had with the King, which I the rather mention now, because I gave but a very short hint of it in my Narrative; but the Observator abhors plain dealing, and to hear the Truth, and therefore strives to palliate it by cunning subterfuges and Evasions, the better to curry favour with his Party: Whilst Truth is as bold as a Lion and abhorring such indirect means, soon unmasks this counterfeit Proteus, notwithstanding all the subtle wind he makes to no other purpose, then as preparatives and incentives to Faction and Rebellion: creating fears and jealousies in the hearts of the people, excellently well read in Pluto's politiks, whose faithful Drudge he is notwithstanding those specious Pretences he would impose on the over credulous, that what hedoes is only out of a cordate zeal for the service of his King and Country.  
And now having sufficiently vindicated myself, from the malicious and lying aspersions put upon me by Thomson, and the Observator I return to the Pa●quetier, who amongst them all is the only person that has done me that Justice, candidly to represent my condition to the world, performing the part of an honest man, in declaring the great sorrow wherewith my spirits have been oppressed for the unnatural villainy I was persuaded to perpetrate against my deceased Parent, and truly my Grief is so great for it; that many times I have had a serious resolution in myself, (if it should ple●se God I ever got my Enlargement) to transport myself to some remote Region, the horror of the fact having made so deep an impression on my sentiments, that I fancied I should never be able to walk the streets in quiet; but then again upon second thoughts I have checked myself, and something alleviated my sorrows with that expression of holy Job, to him that is afflicted Pity should be shown him by his friend, considering with my cell that we are or at least should be all Brethren and Friends of the same profession of Christianity, and therefore should even with tears pity the the miseries, and pass by the failings one of another flebile being as proper to man as visibile; I did not then all together despair; that considering my juvenile years, should I ever get a broad, some would commiserate me, becoming truly penitent for my unnatural act, whilst my Tears being instead of a Jordan, a pool of Siloam, to cure the sores, and cleanse the Leprosy of my sins  
Since my long restraint, means has not been wanting by some to make me recant my case using those plausible Arguments to induce me to it, which they are never without, to wit, Money, , Linne, a●d what else of conveniency, I could propose to myself, being now in a very indigent condition on the common side of the King's Bench; but honesty as it is the best Policy, so a good conscience is that which will bring a man peace at the last; and therefore contemning such offers, I will rather rest myself contented with my mean condition, feasting on the divine Providence, (extolling his unspeakable goodness and mercy towards me, who by afflicting has snatched me as a firebrand out of the fire) who knows what is best for me, then by unjust means gain the riches of Croesus, and with it the hatred of the Divinity, and the the contempt and sc●rn of all good men; most persons adore the rising Sun, and when a man is once under a cloud, every one is too apt to trample upon, and expose him to the obloquy of a censorious World; therefore it behoves me to stand upon my Guard, and by the force of Truth repel those vicious calumnies, which are cast upon me; which I hope is here performed to the content and satisfaction of all true unblast protestants; and now having fully discharged a good conscience the main end of this vindication; lest therefore I should be thought too prolix, I will conclude all with this hearty prayer: God Allmighty vouchsafe to be propitious and merciful to us, unite all our differences and distractions, and regulate out disorders, compose our Breaches, and heal our Land, bless and guide our gracious Sovereign and his whole Council, that we may lead a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  
I do farther declare that from the bottom of of my heart, I abhor all Popish principles and practices, and am a zealous admirer and professor of the Reformed Protestant Religion, as it is now established in the Church of England; and what I have said here was upon mature deliberation, and I do solemnly protest in the presence of the great Jehovah, it is nothing but the Truth, witness my hand,  
SIMSON TONGE.   

LONDON Printed for the Author. 1682.