AN ATTEST OF THE Householders within the Parish of Buttolph's Aldgate London, Unto the Innocency of Mr. Zach. Crofton, their present Minister and faithful PASTOR. Wherein we Acquit ourselves from the Gild and Odium of prosecuting Him. And Rescue him from the Clamours of Incivility charged upon him, to the Scandalising of his Name and Ministry. Jer. 18.18. Come and let us devise Devices against Jeremiah: Let us smite him with the Tongue, and not give heed to any of his words. 20.10. I heard the defaming of many: Report, say they, and we will Report it. Prov. 14.5. A false Witness will utter Lies. Entered according to Order. LONDON, Printed for James Nuthall, and are to be sold at his house in the Minories, next door to the Dolphin, and likewise at Booksellers shops. 1657. THE Stationer to the Reader. COurteous Reader, If thou hast in thee any modesty, thou wilt much wonder that the world should see these ensuing lines; but let me tell thee, thou mayest rather wonder at the immodesty of such as have occasioned them, by fastening with (shameful impudeney) a charge of incivility on a man of long approved modesty, and piety, who is ashamed to plead his own cause in so shameful a case, by reason of which, though he have ready prepared a full History, and Narrative of his late tragedy, and defence against the scandals raised and cast abroad concerning him; and though he hath by many of his Parishioners and other friends been importuned to send it abroad to silence slanderous tongues, yet could not be prevailed with so to do, but chooseth rather to commit his cause in silence unto God, by reason of which, many of his friends considering the spreadings of this scandal, and how it gains credence for want of public contradiction, did see necessity of speaking in his behalf, and I living in the Parish, having seen a short plea for his innocency, did much desire it, and by the help of a friend at length, obtained a copy of the Paper, annexed to this Attest, the which I have out of zeal to the credit of his never blemished name, and Ministry, and did of my own accord commit those Papers to the Press, and so send it abroad to the view of the World, that so the truth might be vindicated, and innocency cleared, therefore if that it is, not so full, or plain as it should be, nay, and wherein soever it fails thy expectation, let him bear the blame, who doubis not but to all just unprejudiced men, it wil clear the innocent man, and put an end to the clamours of men against him, to which end he commends it to thy reading, and God's blessing, Who is thy loving Friend, JAMES NUTHALL. AN Attestation of the Householders within the Parish of Buttolph Aldgate, LONDON, Unto the Innocency of Mr. Zachary Crofton. WE, the Inhabitants within the Parish of Buttolph's, without Aldgate, London, have with a long silence (though much sadness of spirit) observed the workings of the spirits of fury, possessing the breasts of some discontented men among us, against Mr. Zachary Crofton our present Minister; and our ears have heard to our great amazement, the many scandals, each after other, by which they have laboured to render him vile among men, nay, and with no little trouble of spirit, we have sitten still, and seen the malicious prosecution of him, in extraordinary, and extrajudicial courses; and the violent endeavours to fasten upon him the scandal of uncivil whipping Mary Cadman, his late servant, and then drawing her contrary to her knowledge, and conscience, falsely to swear he had not so used her; (An act we confess in the first part immodest, yet we much question whether modesty were more assaulted by the act, if done, as represented, or by men's taking cognizance, and making a clamour of it) by all which we find our said Minister, not only reproached among men, overcredulous, and ready to believe any thing, that may in this Anti-Ministerial age, render a Minister vile, but also the work of God in his hands, to be in the midst of us much hindered: We conceiving it to be our duty to deliver ourselves, as well from the guilt of this transaction before God, as from the odium before men (who are ready to cry out, The Parish doth this against him) cannot but at length break silence, and profess in the presence of God and men, that having been spectators in the transaction of the whole business, and many of us ear witnesses to the plead and expostulations that have been about this matter: We are provoked in conscience to declare our apprehension, and give this Attestation to his Innocency, as to the whole matter of fact; of which we could not but be convinced, when we seriously weigh and consider, 1 The spirit of discontent and enraged sury; nay, of direct enmity to his Ministry, by which he is prosecuted; the which is so visible to the world, that we need not) (though we could) give legible demonstrations of it. 2 The positive falsehood of the Testimony produced against him, there being not only oath, against oath, and Certificate against oath, but also witnesses having before some of us and others affirmed his Innocency, contrary to what they now charge him withal, and have palpably contradicted the one the other, and some of them their very selves, in the testimony by them given against him; the which appears in the annexed Writing, and to the certain truth of which many of us were ear-witnesses, some of them having sworn themselves to be fore-sworn, and they openly proclaiming themselves to be notorious liars, and persons upon whose testimony no credit can, or aught to be given. 3 The constant readiness we found inhim by all honest, and just amicable ways to expostulate the case, and assert his innocency, to which end he did not only adjure them, and himself endeavour, to bring it into judgement, and that by the honesty of men, the credit of a Minister, and honour of the government of the Commonwealth: But as soon as he heard that the persons who had acquitted him, were wrought to witness against him, he did by some of us at several times offer before twelve honest indifferent men, chosen by joint consent to plead his cause, and trust his credit on their conscience and censure: this many of us did offer in his behalf, and he in his own person made the same tender unto his furious prosecutors, who studied, as we discern more to fasten a scandal on him, than to find out the truth; and therefore did betake themselves to extraordinary and extrajudicial courses, and certainly it is truth that seeks no corners; falsehood avoids judicial scrutiny: Besides, such hath been the cheerfulness of his spirit unto his constant labours, and under so smarting an affliction, as will not be found consistent with concealed guilt in his conscience. The constant and serious Protest of Innocency, as to the whole matter of fact, both to us, and others, and in the public assembly at the Guild-Hall made by him, a Master of a Family unstained, a man of modesty to us approved, in his whole demeanour, a Minister of the Gospel accepted by the Church of God, and of whom we must say that he hath been among us faithful and diligent, in his Ministry holy, and unblameable in the course of his life, and so in his practice, as well as preaching a blessing to us from the Lord, who hath rendered him much successful in his Ministry among us: All which considered, we cannot but stand by him, and for him, with all zeal, endeavouring the rescue of his precious name from reproach, desiring to be humbled before the Lord that any should arise from among us, so to defame a godly man, and faithful Minister, and desire others may be careful how they do take up a report upon false witness against a man, a Brother, much more an Elder and eminent Minister; and constantly pray that God may sanctify his hand as to him, so to us his people, afflicted with him: Teach us to keep our esteem of him, as of one that we have found faithful; arise to plead his cause, and proclaim his innocency to the world, in the mean time encourage his heart, and strengthen his hand unto the work of God among us; Who bless God for him, and rejoice in his Ministry, as a burning and shining light. A List of the Subscribers names. Richard Garford Deputy. Rowland Swinnerton Churchwarden Alexander Green Churchwarden Edward Mico Ralph Cawte Robert Manley Thomas Lewis John Green Robert Lorret kelum White Roger Thomas Edmund Peirson Thomas Griffen Joseph Surbut Edward Quick James Henks Philip Shipton George Ayraye William Taylor John Hutton Thomas Guner Harman Tivil Richard English George Echel Robert Thompson Edward Asell John Urdres James Reyner Robert Duke Vincent Izot Robert Skinner Thomas Draycot John Barford William Shippy John Merry Charles Elmer Robert Sabin James Nuthall Ralph Brown William Burd Henry Hardy William Leek Abraham Venhack Paul Dobie Henry Smith William Beck Anthony Smith William Rowland Henry Winsloe Edmund Man John Duncombe Jonathan Grammar William Grammar Thomas Cox Richard Barnard Thomas Wharton William Huching Andrew Crofts Ralph Guillum Thomas Westraw Thomas Ingrame Peter Robinson Anthony Hancock Robert Kate John Bowden William Clackstone Stephen Sleigh Thomas Farsey Ionas Awtherson Henry Tanner Thomas Forrest Edward Dexter Antony Woods Robert Wadup Robert Phillips Nathaniel Duckfield Thomas Nettleton Richard Lawless Timothy Roberts William Acton Thomas Batt Nathaniel Whiteing Chr. Alley Sa. Shakmapel Arthur Hancock Paul Elwood George Spencer Richard Rogerson Anthony Trevilion Gauwen Armstead John Campion Samuel Granger Thomas Holett Richard Davenport Thomas Hutcheson Thomas Partridge John Murel John Miles William. Bradford John Mason James Hunnyburn William Lecher F. Heath John Greenhaugh, alias Greenaway Eleazar Berens George Danvers Joseph Stretton John Peacock Nicholas adam's George Powel Thomas Gostlin Richard Farley Thomas Bedford William Fletcher Robert Hall Walter Thomson Timothy Smart Abraham Row Innocency asserted, and evidenced by Testimonies Falsehood. Or, Mr. Zach. Crofton cleared from the Charge of Incivility by Witnesses self-contradiction. THe God, whose Prerogative Royal it is, to keep his servants in a Pavilion from the strife of Tongues; doth sometimes (to abate their pride, exercise their patience, and other holy and wise ends) give up his dearest david's thereunto, who whilst they study wisely to improve the affliction, and cheer themselves in the testimony of their conscience concerning their Innocency, knowing the excellency and use of a good Name among men, do by all good and just means endeavour to manifest their Innocency, This being (by the Providence of God) my present condition, by reason of the scandals by the just hand of my God; But pride and malice of ungodly men, falsely raised, and most impudently fastened on me, viz. That I should use Mary Cadman, my late servant, very uncivilly by Whipping her with Rods, and then by importunity induce her to make oath contrary to her knowledge and conscience, I never so used her. I having humbly prayed for the sanctified use of so smarting an affliction; and been supported under the spreading of so great a scandal, by the sense of mine own Innocency, am at length constrained, to the rescue of my Name and Ministry from the reproach of the wicked: And finding none other fence against the strife of Tongues, than to prove them false; and solemnly in the presence of God, and his people to protest mine innocency, do propound to serious consideration these things following. Pretermitting the improbability and unlikelihood of such uncivil correction to be given by me, a man (whose modesty was never stained) a Minister of the Gospel, and that for toys and trifles; The biting of a Sugar-loaf, Lying in bed too long in a morning, Staying too long for a Pint of Wine, and the like. Whilst this very Maid was guilty of most notorious crimes, which she never mentioneth: And that in so much secrecy, in my study over my wife her bed chamber, and my wife in bed, in a morning. And yet neither wife, or any other servant, nurse, nor any in my Family (which is considerably full) should know of it; She so submissive as never to resist, to take up her own Coats, and lie still in silence, whilst she was whipped with such severity she could not sit with any ease at all after: All which seems to me to be sufficient to suggest to, and convince all men of Modesty and Reason; that it is an imagined Correction, and strained Accusation, devised to render me vile, rather than really, and by me acted on this Maid; That which I specially propound, is the positive falsehood, of which the Witnesses impudently fastening this scandal on me, have been palpably convinced, not only by others, but by themselves, and one by the other: As by comparing the Oaths, or Examinations, will appear: As for instance, 1 For proof of the fact pretended to be by me done, Marry Cadman, makes her appeal to Mary Welch her fellow-servant, pretending she shown her the marks of her correction, and did unto her complain. the said Mary Welch hath not only before many witnesses, but also on her Oath declared: That Mary Cadman never did to her complain of any such usage, or shown her at any time the marks of her Correction. Nor did she at any time speak of such Correction, to the mother of this Mary Cadman, nor 〈◊〉 knew or heard of such usage, until the common report and clamour brought it into my house: So that by the Witness to whom she makes her appeal, she stands palpably convicted of falsehood. 2 William Cadman the Father of this Maid, swears, in Christmas last was twelvemonth, she came home, and told him, that her Mr. Crofton had whipped her, Marry Cotten sweareth that at the same time she told her the same. Yet the Father declared to Mr. Charles Elmore, and Mr. Nath. Whiteing, he never heard of such usage of his daughter, and that neither from wife, nor daughter, nor any other person, until Mr. Crofton came to him on the common report, and told him of it; and said, he was confident there was no such thing, and thereof he would swear an hat full of oaths. Nay, and Mary Cadman did not only declare to many when she did affirm this incivility to have been acted on her, that she never spoke it to any body, save her mother, but hath made oath, that she acquainted her mother therewith, and to me in the hearing of her father, and without the least contradiction by him, when I charged her to have raised the report; thee said, I pray God I may never live, if ever I spoke such a thing; so that here you may see the pretended Plaintiff against the parties complained to, and the father against himself. 3 Marry Cadman sweareth, she left her service upon, and by reason of such incivil usage; yet she herself declared to Mrs. Stint, and Francis Roch at several times, that she left her service not by reason of any fault in either Master or Mistress, who were as good solks as she could desire to live withal; but by reason of her own 〈◊〉, and by reason of Mary Welch: And to Mr. Story she said, she left her service because her mother was sick, and she had rather live with Mr. Croston, than any man in Eugland, or to that purpose. And her father hath declared on his oath, that she told him sometime before she came away, she was to come from her service, and when she did come away, she came not in any discontent. And her mother did quarrel, and fall out with Mr. Crofton for putting away her daughter. So that even now you had the daughter's oath against the fathers, and now you have the fathers against the daughter: In the next you shall see the father against himself. 4 The Father swears he brought his Daughter back to her Master, and bade him if she offended to take a Wand and wand his daughter, and her Master gave no other answer, but that he would have no such Tales carried out of the house, by which he subtly suggests that he did to me complain of Whipping his daughter, and so all men do, and must understand it; yet he hath sworn on his examination that at the time he bade me wand his daughter, he spoke not a word, or did he complain of whipping his daughter, nor had we any discourse of any such thing. 5 Marry Cadman swears, that I whipped her when she was under the issue of blood; yet Alice Grible on her oath declares that she denied it ever to be acted on her, she being under such a condition; The same she said to Francis Roch. and further saith, Mary told her this was the invention of the Prosecutors. 6 And lastly, as to the whole matter of fact, this Maid Mary Cadman said to Sarah Wilkin, ask her if her Master had whipped her, it is a lie whoever said it; and to Sarah Austen she said she was ashamed, they should raise such a report of the Good man, for there was never any such thing. And these were her companions, and thus she answered them, when the thing was muttered, before it came to my ears. Moreover she hath mode oath, that in all the time she lived with Mr. Crofton, she was never whipped (as is reported) And that he never did to her the least act of violence or immodesty: And the Patents certified under their hands, they never knew of any such usage of their Daughter, and that on deliberation before Alderman Burdet, and Alderman Garford, the Mother binding the testimony with that affeveration, as she was a sick dying woman; and this they do not in a comparative senses the which the quibbling fancies of prosecuting enemies, who would gladly fasten somewhat, would put upon it. But a positive plain and simple sense and meaning as is evident by their contrary oaths, so that herein you have oath against oath, and certificate against oath; and in reference to these the Father swears himself, Wife and Daughter, all to be forsworn; In the oaths by them sworn, before the Mr. of Chancery they all swear, that by my powerful encouragements and importunity, they did make oath, and certify, I did whip her. Yet the Father on his oath deelared, when I propounded to them the oath and certificate for my vindication, they never denyed to sign them, they never demurred to them, they never excepted against them, I never reminded them of past kindnesses, nor promised them future favours, nor urged them by any Argument: was not here violent importunity, where was no denial; and very forcible persuasion, where was no Argument. So that besides that lying spirit which in a constant course acted this Maid, yea, and her Father and Mother (and that in her dying condition of which I can give instance) of which not only I, but also Mr. Rutton Minister of Bow, Mr. Newton at the Camel in Fanchurch street, Mrs. Ames in Gratious-street, and all that ever knew her do complain: you see they are clearly convict of false oaths, and a lying tongue, If there were such a story and person. and if Susanna were acquitted by the contradiction of her Accusers in one circumstance, shall not I be acquitted by the contradiction of themselves, and one of another in matters of substance; to which let me add, they instance but in one time considerable, and that is Christmas was twelve month; When I was in an exceeding infirm and weak condition, without either lift or liberty to such an action, being afflicted with the Stone, and Jaundice, the which distempers, though much weakening me, yet admitting some entervails of ease, did now and then give liberty of creeping on a staff, on business of concernment, though with very much difficulty. And I do as a Minister of the gospel in the presence of God, declare that by reason of these distempers, to the utmost of my knowledge and remembrance, on recollected thoughts, I was not on any occasion whatsoever in my study from the fourteenth of December, until after the twentieth of February: And therefore in that place, and in this time, I could not give this Maid any such correction. The falsity of this Testimony is so plain and visible, that I hope in the judgement of every unprejudiced man, I shall be acquitted, though I should say no more, yet because some pretend my concession of the act, and the affidavit of the dead Mother, doth thereby endeavour to fasten on me the scandal of this fact; though it is convict of falsehood in one thing by Mary Welch, in another by the surviving Father, and so ought not to be credited in the third (which lieth between her and me) and for that some can stir up a jealousy of guilt, by pretending he waves the charge, by disproving, but doth not deny the fact: I think fit, though I am tender of folemn protests in the name of the great God, which we are much to dread; yet to the stopping of the mouths of flanderous men, and satisfaction of such as shall believe truth, and the fear of my God to be in me. I do make this serious profession, I Zachary Crofton, of the Parish of Buttolph's Aldgate, London, do as a Minister of the Gospel, in the presence of the God of truth, solemnly, and with all seriousness profess, that I never did with Rod, or Rods on any occasion, or at any time, whip marry Cadman my late Servant: The Father and the Mother of the said Mary Cadman, nor either of them, never did to me at any time complain of any such usage; nor did I ever declare to them, or either of them, that I had whipped their said Daughter, nor did I ever render any such reason as is pretended for such correction, nor did I in the whole course of my life, ever hear or know of any such mishap as is pretended to befall my Mother in the correction of any servant of hers, nor have I ever had any communication or discourse with any man about the whipping of the said Mary Cadman, until such time as the rumour of such a thing being common, came unto my ears, since which time I have with constancy; and to all men with whom I have spoken, asserted and declared mine innocencle, as to the whole matter of fact pretended against me. So that if the falsity of witnesses, which ought to acquit any man accused among men, and to silence all slanderous reports, be considered: Or if you will give credit to me, a Master of a family this twelve year, or thereabouts, never stained with the least disorder or incivility. A Minister of the Gospel, approved and accepted this fourteen years, by the people of God: I hope I shall be discharged this charge of Incivility, and be adjudged innocent, notwithstanding all clamours that have past. But if not, I shall cease to strive any longer by words, and study submission under, and a sanctified improvement of God's hand, saying with David God hath bid Shimei curse, and waith until the Lord shall plead my cause against all such as are risen up against me, rejoicing in this mine innocency, and that the faithful discharge of my Ministerial duty is the ground and reason of this reproach and slander. We whose names are subscribed Citizens of London, and frequent attendants on the Ministry of Mr. Zachary Crofton; having (with much grief) heard the many clamours, and reproachful speeches by which some discontented men (in his Parish) have laboured to render him vile, and observed the spirit of fury, with much height of impudence, endeavouring to fasten on him the scandal, of using Mary Cadman his late Servant very uncivilly, by whipping her with Rods, and then drawing her, contrary to her knowledge and conscience, fallely to swear she was never so used: on our knowledge of his modesty in his whole demeanour, fidelity in his Ministry, and piety in the course of his life; and having many of us been spectators and hearers in the expostulations that of late have been about this business, and having seriously weighed the palpable falsehood of produced testimony, and its positive contradiction of itself, together with his solemn protest of Innocency, cannot but apprehend and attest his Innocency, as to the whole matter of fact; and declare the same; not doubting but to all impartial, just, and unprejudiced men, his Innocency will be evident to the rescue of his name from reproach, and the rendering him no less acceptable in his Ministry, than he hath been for many years past, and yet is unto us. The List of the Subscribers follow. Charles Offspring Minister of St. Antholins Daniel Andrews Stephen White John White John Gregory John Hetherley John Jackson George Maio Isaac Ligay Richard Smith Will. Rutt Joshua Gearing William Sheldon Alexander Sharp Will. Clerk William. Webb Matth. String Will. String Ralph Thicknoss Rich. Pepys Peter Jurin Tho. Boughey Benja. Proud Roger Nettleship Tho. Clendon Minister of Allhallows Barking William. Chisworth Churchwarden Ed. Mitton Churchwarden Thomas Mullineux Roger Alsop Wil Allen Tho. Low Tho. Abrahall Will. Graves Will. Spiar George Dickens John Bellamy will. Hiott James Hichson Henry Hunter James Man Thomas Roe Adam Edwards Rob. Lewellin Tho. Davis FINIS.