A TRUE ACCOUNT FROM CHICHESTER, Concerning the DEATH of Habin the 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.  
LONDON: Printed for I. Pool. 1682.   

TO THE READER.  
THIS Narrative had never been exposed to public view, had not two notorious Sons of the Father of Lies, more than once most falsely, and with unmatchable impudence published two late accidents at Chichester; The one concerning the Bishop's horse, or horses, as killed by the Dissenters there; and as to one of them, to try a strange and unheard-of experiment with respect to Fire-balls. But whether one or both of them be so killed, it must be judged as a malicious Massacring (to use the Observators term) of the Bishop in Effigy. I must confess I never heard of a horse, or any brute creature before, to be said to be Massacred; But I have heard and read of the Parisian and Irish Massacre; and it is neither improbable, nor incredible, that that strange and Monstrous Liar, who was forced not long since to abscond when credible Witnesses were ready to prove before a Parliament, that he is a Papist, and impressed with deep and indelible Roman Sanguinary Characters, should use no other word than that, to express the kill of beasts by; When men of that stamp, make no more conscience of Massacring Protestants, and those that profess the pure Reformed Christian Religion, than of killing of brute creatures; and so he thinks it's equally applicable to both. And likely 'tis, he was, and continues to be so much a favourer of the Popish-Plot to Massacre Protestants, and that this hath been so often, and for so long a time revolved in his thoughts, that no other word but this could occur to him, when most falsely he would declare to the World that they were killed by such a sort of people.  
As for the man that sent into the World, the Loyal Protestant, etc. I shall say no more concerning him, but this; That if the Bishop's horse had stood at the same time as a convicted forger of lies, in the Pillory, as he did, he would through shame (as a more generous creature, having a deep resentment of that dishonour), so pined away, and grown so meager and lean in a little time, that no grease would have been found in his belly, if the Chichester Dissenters had ripped it open. And it is no absurdity, according to the most deservedly stigmatised man's sense, to assert, that a beast might have undergone the Pillory-punishment with him as a legally convicted Criminal or Malefactor, seeing he makes so happy and witty (though unheard of before) a conjunction and connection of the kill of the Bishop's horse, with that of reasonable creatures; as if horses were of the same Species, and capable of Government by the same Laws, that rational Being's in this World, are.  
Had we not read and heard of, and known many grand and shameless liars besides these two, I should have concluded them to be the first begotten of him who is a Liar, as well as a Murderer from the beginning.  
I will not now trouble myself, nor spend my time, to take all their audacious 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 bundles of Lies, brag and boast much of their Authentic and credible Intelligence from Chichester, as the ground and Warrant of what they Print concerning the kill of the Bishop's Horse, or Horses, and the pretended bloody Murder of the Informer Habin; That if they will publish the Names of them that send it to them, I will produce, side digni, many more persons, who upon Oath either before the King and his Council, or in any Court of Judicature where His Majesty shall be pleased to appoint the Examination of this matter, shall make good and prove the verity of the ensuing Relation.  
The Reason why it way published no sooner, is, That I, to whom it was sent, judged it was most convenient to see how far these two Enemies to Truth would proceed in their lying Relations; that so a plenary and complete Answer thereto might be made at once, to undeceive and satisfy all sober and honest men, of what persuasion soever, in whom they have been so industrious to create a belief of the truth of that which is most false.  
I would have the Reader to observe some things remarkable concerning this Habin: First, That he was so profligate a wretch, and so prodigiously wicked, that he made no Conscience of committing the sin of Perjury: For he swore, That two or three persons broke Captain Bicklies Windows in Chichester, that never were among the young men that brought the Pope before his door; 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 broke them. Secondly, That he, with his brother Hasted, swore, That a Minister Preached at Stockbridg, near Chichester, where the Dissenters meet every Lordsday; when I dare be bold to affirm, That they were never nearer to the place, than it is from the Exchange in London, to the Bridge: and so could not possibly either see, or hear a Minister Preach: Upon which a Conviction was made. And this they continued to swear, in order to such Convictions for several 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. Thirdly, Whereas N. T. styles him a Gentleman; he was so far from that, that no man upon earth can be more infamous, and farther from one. I despise no man for his poverty; but when deep poverty, and high iniquity meet in one man, it renders him most infamous and despicable. I know there are many true Gentlemen, not only by their Birth (whom I always rank among the most inferior of that kind, when abstracted and separate from what follows) but by their Breeding and Education, which doth truly ennoble their minds, by the innate generosity of their own Spirits. But none of these can be predicated of this Subject, he being but the sink, the scum, and excrescene, or if I may so speak, the very Excrement of Humane Nature. By his Employment he was a common Bailiff, before he was an Informer; and so grand a Rogue in the management thereof, that none in the Country was thought to equalise him, but his brother (in all Villainy and iniquity) Hasted: And had not Death prevented, he would e'er long have been made so to appear to the World, he being put into the Crown-Office for many prodigious Enormities and Rogueries, and would certainly have been prosecuted for the abovementioned Perjury, when a convenient time should have happened for it.  
I will not undertake to be a bold and infallible Interpreter of God's Providences (they being a Deep that the short line of Humane Reason cannot sound the bottom of, and fathom); yet as we are reasonable Creatures, falling under the Conduct and Government thereof, so we are bound to observe them, and keeping within the bounds of modesty, endeavour to pick out the sense and meaning of them, and to know what they point at. And it is not unworthy of our observation, That as this Hellish Miscreant, and Mirror of all impiety, had perjured himself concerning the breaking of Captain Bickleys Glass-Windows, so his real breaking of the Windows of another person (that ne'er injured or did him wrong), should prove the occasion of his Death, and that Death should hurry him into Eternity, and to Judgement, on the Lordsday, which he so much profaned, and particularly, by being so much in the Alehouse, when he should have been in Gods-house; and disturbing those 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. Let Hasted, his brother, beware, left 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 God's severest Justice.   

THE Chichester ACCOUNT: OR, A Faithful RELATION of the DEATH of HABIN the INFORMER there, etc.  
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.  
About Nine or Ten Weeks since, for the more effectual suppressing of the Conventicles here, two persons were employed as Informers, the one called Richard Habin, the other Henry Hasted. These persons posted themselves every Sunday upon a public Road, which leads by the Door of one of the Conventicles, and took the Names of such as they thought fit that passed upon that Road, and that were either going to, or coming from the place where the Conventicle was kept; and afterward did carry their Lists to some Justices, and make Oath, That such persons were at the Conventicle; and Warrants issued out, by Virtue of that Conviction, to the Constables, to levy the distress, which accordingly they have done on many. But our business is not to accuse the Methods of their Proceedings, though somewhat extraordinary, and what the Law itself doth not command. We only wish, That persons not so notoriously scandalous, and such as had been less subject to exceptions, had been employed in this work.  
But to keep to our matter: This Trade they continued till Sunday the 6th of August, on which day Hasted wore a Sword, and drew it on some Boys as they were going on the Road, struck at them, and cut their clothes. But upon the Boys taking up stones, and threatening to stone him, if he sheathed not his Sword again, he did return his Sword into its Scabbard: At which Habin was so angry, that he would have had the Sword from Hasted, swearing he would hew the Boys in pieces with it: but Hasted would not let him have it, though he, as well as Habin, were both most miserably drunk with Brandy.  
The Boys seeing this savage and barbarous fierceness of Habin, threw some stones at him, and with one of them hit him, and break his head: Upon which, Habin entering in at the Gate of the City, next to which Mr. Farington dwelleth, upped 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 passionate Behaviour, would not so much as open his Window, or wag out of the Room.  
Mr. Farington's Coachman being unhappily abroad in the street, and seeing this abuse to his Master's House, went to Habin, and asked what he meant by it? who answered him only by holding up, and shaking his Cudgel at the Coachman. Whereupon the Coachman immediately clapped within Habin, struck up his heels, took away his stick, and with it hit him Four or Five blows over the Pate, and so left him. After which, Habin rose 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 Draught; and after his Head was dressed, was carried by the Bishop's 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 Cross, and from thence to the Town-Hall; where a Coroner's Inquest was immediately impannell'd, and found H●bin Murdered, and the Coachman the Murderer, before ever (as many do believe) Habin was quite dead.  
Nay, It is the universal opinion of this City, That if his Lordship's Servants had not used this poor Wretch more like a Beast than a Man; but had, instead of lugging him into a cold Stable, laid him in a warm Bed, got him to be let Blood, and to have had other Remedies applied proper to his Condition, 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 done with a design to do more mischief by his Death, than e'er they could by his Life. For this is not the first Attempt that hath been made upon the Life and Fortune of Mr. Farington. But to return to our Relation: The Coachman fled: And whether Habin was dead or no, we are sure he was buried.  
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 jugded the poor Coachman would have Summum jus to be found guilty of Manslaughter. For, for a Servant, upon so high a provocation as the breaking his Master's 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 Manslaughter, inclines certainly rather towards severity, than clemency. But to talk of Murder, is such Nonsense, as you may as well call at Blasphemy as Murder: for it hath no one ingredient of Murder in it. For Murder must have malice sore-thought: Then a lying in wait, or seeking all occasions to execute the Malice: and then Weapons or Instruments fit to set home 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 Coachman. And yet in the Proof of this matter, you will see, that not the Coachman only, but his Master too, was strongly endeavoured to be brought in guilty of Murder.  
For on Saturday Morning, the Recorder (who had been all this while absent from the City) returned; and then the Lord Bishop and he, caused Habin's Grave to be opened, the Coroners Inquest to be new summoned to the Bishop's Palace, and to be new sworn again, super visum Corporis, with a higher aim now, and not so much to make the Man as the Master the Murderer, for commanding his Man to do it. In order hereunto, one Cressingham was gotten to swear, That he saw Mr Faringt●n look ou● at his Window and bid his Man beat Habin sound. 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, though 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 fro● 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 qu●rte● of the City, when this unfortunate F●ct was done; 〈◊〉 that Cressingham rose not up till it was told him what the ●oach man had done to Habin. And among the rest, Cressingham's own Mother averred to Nine or Ten substantial pe●●ons, That 〈◊〉 her Son had sworn he saw the Fact, he was a 〈◊〉 Rogue, for that he was asleep at her house till some Neighbours came in, and told him that Habin was dead; though some say, That after old Gooddy Cressingham had been 〈◊〉 and Dined with the Bishop, she 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 her Confession as much as she could. And Cressingham's Mother's House is at utterly out of sight of any thing done at Mr. Farington's Door, as if it stood in Cheapside. Wherefore after they had locked up the Inquest in the Bishop's Palace from Eleven of the Clock 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, 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 Evidence should be gotten.  
To have Evidence to get on Saturday night, that must be used on Monday Morning, 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 Master's House by two Publicans before the Mayor and the City-Iustices, where we will not say by what Arts he was made, and made to Swear 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 there, but not Mr. Farington: Some honest-mindded people bid the Lad 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 bishop: For I have the most part of my Livelihood from my Lord. Which furious passion in the Woman made People stare and wonder at her, and the Bishop both; and raised more doubts in men's minds, than it is convenient to mention. For if English Ears hear any Body to Swear upon such occasions for any others but for the King and Truth, they strait grow jealous, and fear foul play.  
The Inquest being greatly dissatisfied in their Judgements concerning the Evidence that Cressingham and the Boy had given, 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 Reasons. 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 commanded his men to bear Habin, it was utterly impossible for Cressingham or 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 sat) 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 i●. Thus ended this matter.  
The next day this young Apprentice was taken from his Master, by the Bishop, into his House; 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; though 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 Lordship's Roof, the Boy assumed another nature, 'tis only a proof, that miracles are not ceased.  
Cressingham the Witness was formerly a Chorister; but having not honesty enough to continue in the Office (which generally doth not require overmuch) he was expelled the Choir, and is now so indigent and Infamous, that his Credit will not pass for Twelve pence; whether he be to be restored on this performance, or that he is to succeed Habin in the Office of an Informer; Or that some other way is to be found out to reward his merit in this matter, time must show.  
In the mean while all Wise and Sober Men wonder exceedingly, that my Lord Bishop would meddle (with such eager and vehement concern) in a Sanguinary Case, from which by Law that great Dignity is Exempted; and do think that his Lordship had better consulted the honour of the Church, and his own Reputation also, if he had showed himself more cool and temperate in this matter. For though my Lord hath a very great kindness for Sir john Farington (Mr. Farington's Brother) yet to show it so mightily upon such odd occasions, hath done no great Service to his Lordship, nor Sir john neither. For people do publicly say, That sub dio, or, in the Church Porch whitherto all persons might freely resort, had been a much more proper place for a Coroners Inquest to have sat, than under Lock and Key in a Bishop's Palace; especially too in such a Palace where the Bishop and his Predecessors have denied themselves to be within the Liberty of the City, and refused to pay their Poors Tax; whereupon many Suits and Differences have arose.  
Wherefore upon the whole, we judge all men will see at little reason to lay this Accident on Mr. Farington, as some Gentlemen had to lay the wounding of his Lordship's Coach horses, on our Dissenters. For the Horses were at Grass seven Miles distant from this City, 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 man's Rage and Malice should have carried him so many Miles to have mischiefed his Lordship's Horses, that he would not have done it throughly, and killed them on the spot, rather than to have given them such slight wounds as every silly Smith could Cure; for be it known to the World, his Lordship's Horses are alive again, and as well as ever, and the Persons that wrought their Cure would think themselves jeered to be called by so much as the Name of Farriers.  
'Tis true, there was an Oath about to have been made by a Right Irish Evidence, That one Mr. Nevil had wounded his Lordship's Horses. But just then hearing that the Gentleman was above Fifty Miles distant from the place, he held his blow, and we have unluckily 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 Guinney 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.  
But lest any should think that we speak this in favour of Dissenters, we must crave leave to say, That we are, and are known to be for the Church of England; and could heartily wish that Dissenters would leave off Conventicling, and come to Church; as on the other hand we could also wish that there were less bitterness in our Pulpits to invite them thither; and that our little dapper Clergy-Wights would not keep such a Whigling, nor give them so just occasion from their ill prating and worse living, to keep from thence: For this we may say for our Dissenters, That abate their fault of not coming to Church, they are dutiful and peaceable to the Government, and friendly and neighbourly to their fellow Subjects; and in the general conduct of their Conversation, of very good Morals.  
This is the true and candid Account of this Matter; to all which if you add the Bishop's displeasure against Mr. Farington for Managing the Suits of his Parish against him, and the Recorders rage for his being chosen a Parliament-man for this City, and the mighty dearness that is between both them and Sir john Farington, and you will be so far from wondering that so industrious a Venom was laid out against him, that you will rather admire that any Innocency could preserve him. But God be thanked, to the great joy of this City, we can apply the Words of the Royal Prophet, The Snare is broken, and he is delivered.  
FINIS.