A LETTER FROM Mr. Edward Whitaker TO THE Protestant Joiner Upon his Bill being sent to OXFORD.  
My true Friend,  
I Cannot but with grief consider the approaching danger that attends upon your Bill being sent to Oxford, where it's too much to be feared the Tory and Tantivy Parties prevail against the Interest of our true Bromingham Friends, and for that reason give you these Cautions, considering our Friends have not been so careful to have good Sheriffs and good Mayors in all the Corporations of England; which neglect I fear will prove fatal. Nay, most of our Temple-bar Friends may feel the sad Effects of so great an oversight; for the making of such provision in one place signifies nothing, unless they had done't every where. But they took the Government upon 'em, and it's no matter if they smart for their carelessness: You know well enough that I had no ill Design in causing the L. H. of E. to be apprehended, if I could in any case but have been secure; But the Gossips my Mrs. GilsLurt and Mrs. Fitz-Harris must be tattling that which it had been better they had not; and I did no more than bare necessity forced me to, which is well known to all our honest Friends. I was not a little raised in Spirit t'other day when I heard the good tidings Mr. Ignoramus brought to our Garrison, and the Applause he met with from all the young Squires of the Black Gown, besides some of our Friends Footboys, who (as with one Fum) did it so exactly, that it might well be compared with the best of our Discipline; and at the same time my Joy was not without Sorrow for our dear Friend S S —y, who broke his Arm in endeavouring to speak to an honest Friend of the Jury, before they went out upon your Bill; and indeed had I not been Confined, I did intend to that myself, and would take care of your Oxford Jury, if I could possible any ways find the way thither; but you knowing of my Condition, I hope you will have me favourably excused to our Friends that will be sent thither. My Friend, be cheerful, for I can assure you you're not forsaken; for upon your Case hangs all our Cases, and if you hang, it's much to be feared we shall few of us escape better. And, by the way take these following Directions: When you come upon your Trial Be sure to except against all the Tory and Tantivy- men that shall be Impannell'd; for it's impossible to persuade any single man of that Party to move a quarter of an inch from the true meaning of the Law of the Land; and by keeping to that Rule some of our Bromingham Friends will chop in at last upon your Trial for Life and Death; and you may well guests the men, (Friends will be there to give you the watchword,) and they cannot want encouragement to be honest; and so far fear not, and bear up manfully as you have hitherto done in despite of 'em all.  
I could recommend our Agents to an Alehousekeeper that lives near the Theatre; he is a very honest man, as I may say, and has had the King's-Head-Letter ever since the beginning of the Plot; that's a man that may be confided in, and will give you notice of all our true Friends that live in those Parts, which at this season may be of great use to your Deliverance, (as you know how) and I am well assured the good People will not be sparing in their Labour, if they can any ways be inducted to serve you, and if they be careful of enquiring among 'em, you will find that some of 'em will lend you a hard word or two, (you know what I mean,) and 'twill be better taken then to bring any of our battered London-faces to a place where they are so generally known.  
But if none of the foremention'd shifts take place, and you must after all be found Guilty upon your last Plea, tell 'em you have something of Importance to declare in private, and in troth if it comes to that tell all, for I'm resolved to do't myself, but that I keep as my last stake, and if you observe that, you will easily judge how much you may be a saver by the Bargain, and let them dance that have all along paid the Piper, for they have more Money and Wit to defend themselves than we. And besides, it's almost morally impossible, if there was as many Witnesses against 'em as standing one upon another would reach to the top of the Monument near London-Bridge, they would hardly be discerned as the Cause is here secured, and so far they are secure from being beholding to their Peers, unless the Oxford trick be put upon them; for if they have been tattling there, (as 'tis too much to be feared they have) we have brought our Hogs to a fair Market: I am plain, you need no Clavis to know what is meant.  
Honest Kisstel does intend to attend at his own Coffeehouse near you for the more secure entertainment of Friends: Indeed Richard should have done it upon the stock-publick, but in this stress of business he cannot be spared from home; for you know our Friends will not trust every one with the place where they go, and will not be so public as they have been, except in the Stationer's Shops, Committees, or so; for if they do not keep up their Reputation there, the Cause will never be retrieved. A good Journey, and as good a come off, is the wishes of  
Your true Friend E. W.   

LONDON: Printed for N. T. 1681.