A NARRATION OF THE LIFE OF Mr. Henry Burton. WHEREIN Is set forth the various and remarkable Passages thereof, his Sufferings, Supports, Comforts, and Deliverances. Now published for the Benefit of all those that either do or may suffer for the Cause of CHRIST. According to a Copy written with his own Hand.  PHIL. 1. 21. Christ is to me, to live, and die, gain. Dum patior pro Christo, potior Christo. 
LONDON: Printed in the year, 1643.   

The Preface to the Reader.  
Christian Reader,  
I May say, as old Jacob, and no less truly, few and evil have the days of the years of my 
Gen. 47. 9  pilgrimage been. For proof hereof, As it is with a Mariner, or traveller, who after a long Voyage, coming within ken of his native Country, begins to recount with himself the many hazards he hath run, what by terrible storms in the midst of Rocks and shelves, what by pirates, and other perils; all which having now waded out of, and overcome, and arriving at his wished port, after thanksgiving to God for bringing him to the haven where he would be; 
Psa. 107 30  he ●…ts him down, and (to recreate himself and friends) begins to discourse of his travels, and of the most memorable passages therein: So is it now with me. Only, I cannot yet say, that after so long, tedious, and perilous a Voyage as I have passed through by Sea and Land, everywhere attended and assailed by fierce tempests and pirates, I have already arrived at the Port or Haven, which I have long wished for, to wit, my celestial country, and which through the Perspective glass of Faith I can as yet (in comparison) at such a distance, but darkly discover. For although by 
1 Cor. 13. ●  his divine providence, whose exiled prisoner I have lately been, I am now delivered from that (otherwise perpetual) prison and exile: yet I still carry about with me the manacles and fetters of this mortal and sinful body, which I cannot be freed from, until I have paid my 
* To wit, Death. 2 Cor. 5. Ioh. 14 2.  prison-fees, that so my soul may flit out of this her earthly tabernacle to her heavenly mansion.  
Nor is it unusual for men to set forth a description of their own lives. Moses did so. David so. Paul so. And who fitter 
Exodus. Psalms Act 2. 2 Cor. 11. &c.  than a man's self, as being best acquainted with, and most privy to the many passages of his life. Nor had I undertaken this task, but partly to satisfy the importunity of many godly friends, and partly to give a just account to God's people of that divine support and comfort, which it pleased the Lord to uphold me with, in all my trials. To which purpose I may use the Apostles words: Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Mercies, and the God of all consolation, who comforteth 
2 Cor. 1. 3, ●  us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction, by the comfort, wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. As also the words of David, Come and harken, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul. And these are they especially, to whom 
Psal. 66. 16  next unto Jesus Christ the Righteous judge, as I owe my life, so I ought to give an account thereof. For the rest, I am not ashamed to make myself herein a spectacle even to those that are without, this being but an anticipation, seeing we must all appear before the judgement Seat of Christ, that every one may receive 
2 Cor. 9 10.  the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Farewell.  
HEN. BURTON.   


〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 64. 1642.  
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}   

He that once dead, unburied lay  
Three days (count years) & half a day:  
Revived here shows his pilgrimage,  
Now in the last scene of his age:  
The short remainder, sharp or sweet,  
Expect till death shall make complete.    

A Narration of the Life of Mr. Henry Burton.  
MY birth and breeding was at Birdsall, an obscure town in Yorkshire; and the more obscure, as having never had a preaching Minister time out of mind, long before I was borne, nor (for aught I know) to this very day. Notwithstanding my Parents were piously affected, they would correct us, their children (whereof they had many) and that severely, if we swore an oath, or neglected the Church, or made a lie. Me, of all the rest, they kept at School▪ my mother encouraging me with often showing me a new Testament in English, which she kept locked up (it having been my Grandfathers in Queen Mary's days) promising it me, when I could read it; so as afterwards I was put to read every night two or three Chapters in it to the Family. In time they sent me to the University of Cambridge, and placed me in the college called St. John's, where I proceeded Master of Arts: In which time it was my happiness to be a constant hearer of Mr. Chatterton, and Mr. Perkins on the Lord's day. For from my first entrance in the college, it pleased God to open mine eyes by their ministry, so as to put a difference between their sound teaching, and the University Sermons, which savoured more of human wit, then of God's word. Thus I had, and for ever have cause to admire and adore the goodness of God, who thus brought me out of darkness, into his marvellous light. Some time after I was in the house of a Noble Knight, for the education of his two sons, in which time, with them sojourning a while with a religious 
* Mrs B●w at ask, near Richmond in the North.  Matron of worthy memory, and having often conference with her, she took such notice of my spirit then, and chiefly of my zeal against the prelate's pride and practices that she said then to some (yet surviving) of me, This young man (said she) will one day be the overthrow of the Bishops.  
After this I was, by the foresaid Knight, recommended to the excellent Prince Henry of glorious memory, whom I served as sole Officer in his closets during his life; only the Bishop, who was Clerk of King James his closet, envying me the title of Clerk, was a means to depress me, though my office otherwise was absolute. But this was by the special providence of my God still, who would not suffer me to rise high in Court, lest I should have been corrupted with the preferments of it. Nor had I learned the art of ambition to climb up that ladder, in so much as I would often say to a familiar friend in Court, that I wondered wherefore I lived in Court, considering my natural indisposition to a Court-life, as also how the greatest benefit I found by my office was, that it afforded me time for my private studies, which I hoped God would in time bring me forth to make more public use of; and then I should know why I had so lived thus long in Court. And in that time under Prince Henry, I writ a Treatise in Latin of Antichrist, which in a Manuscript I presented to him, with an Epistle Dedicatory, and which he graciously accepted, causing it to be kept in his Library at S. James.  
After his much lamented decease, I was continued in the same place and office to Prince Charles, when God stirred up my heart to enter into the Ministry, being then above thirty years of age, but yet too soon, as having not yet sufficiently learned to weigh that Text of the Apostle, And who is sufficient for these things? or yet the right way of a Ministers external call, which the ignorance and 
2 Cor. 2. 16  sloth of those times had not learned to walk in. In that time I writ a Treatise against Simony, entitled, A Censure of Simony: Also another Book, entitled, truth's triumph over Tront; wherein I unfolded that mystery of iniquity packed up in the sixth session of that council, encountering therein those two Champions of the council, Andreas Vega, and Dominicus Soto: These two Books were published Cum Previlegio, though with much ado obtained of the Archbishop's Chaplains, in those, not then full grown ripe, evil times. Yet they ripened so fast, Abbot of Canterbury yet living, that I could not obtain of his chaplain the licensing of an answer of mine to a Jesuits Book, entitled, The converted Jew, which he boldly had dedicated to both our Universities: And I understood he durst not do it, for two causes: first, because in that Answer I had upon occasion consuted the Arminian Heresies: secondly, because therein I proved the Pope to be the Antichrist. Which two things began in those days to be Noli me tangere, and fuel for the H●gh Commission furnace, proving afterwards pillary-offences inexpiable, never to be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come. Which after times, being hastened on by the immature death of King James, have been the only causes that have made his life desirable; as Titus Livius said of Hieronymus of Syracuse, Qui solus Patrem desiderabilem fecit.  
Well, King James being dead (whether so, or so, or otherwise, time hath not yet examined) and King Charles succeeding; I shall now acquaint you with a notable passage of divine Providence, in parting the Court and me asunder. For I understanding that the Bishop, the old Clerk, should still continue in that Office, and that the King had designed me for some other inferior Office; and observing also that with Neale, Lawd also should be continually about the King: I saw there would be no abiding for me in Court any longer. Yet before I went, I thought I was bound in conscience, by virtue of my place, to inform the King of these men, how popishly affected they were, simply imagining, that the King either did not so well know their qualities, or that perhaps he might be put upon second thoughts, by considering the dangerous consequences of entertaining such persons so near about him, as I presented to his Majesty in a large letter to that purpose. Which letter he read a good part of, I standing before him; but perceiving the scope of it, he gave it me again, and bade me forbear any more attendance in my Office until he should send for me. Whereupon, though for the present my spirits were somewhat appalled, and dejected, yet going home to my house in London, and there entering into a serious meditation of God's Providence herein, how fairly he had now brought me off from the Court, when I saw such Lords were like to domineer, and how I might do God and his Church better service in a more retired life, as wherein I was in no danger of Court-Preferments, thereby to be cowardized from encountering such Giants as began already to threaten the host of Israel, and against whose power I thought Saul's armour would give me small defence, but much hinder me rather: I hereupon began to recollect my scattered spirits, resolving now after almost twice seven years' service, quite to forsake the Court; which I did signify by another letter to a friend of mine of great place near unto the King; so as the King hath said, that I put away him, and not he me. However it pleased him to say so, yet I had abundant cause to bless God, and daily to rejoice with exceeding joy, that I was now freed from the Court, which joy hath now continually increased ever since to this very day without intermission.  
Thus having bid the Court farewell, I kept me close to the ministry of the Word, and besides my weekly preaching every Lord's day 
M. Montague after B of Chichester, then of Norwich.  twice, I answered sundry erroneous and heterodox books set forth by the prelates, and those of the prelatical party. As 1. Montague's Book, styled, An appeal to Caesar: the first part whereof defended all the Arminian Heresies, and the second was to maintain many gross points of Popery. And Dr. Francis White prefixed his Approbation to both. My answer to the first part was published in print: but that to the second was by the Egyptian taskmasters strangled in the birth, being upon the breaking up of the Parliament, taken tardy in the press as it was a printing.  
A second Book, to which I made and published an Answer in time of Parliament, was Cosens Private Devotions, or hours of Prayer, to which his Popish canonical hours I framed a fit dial.  
A third was a Book of Dr. Hall B. of Exeter, wherein he affirmed the Church of Rome to be a true Church. Which in a Treatise of mine upon the 7. Vials I occasionally confuting, and Mr. Cholmley his chaplain, and Mr. Butterfield another Minister, making each of them a several reply, I thereupon made one full answer to them both, so as both sat down, and replied no more; and Dr. Hall himself would salve or rather daub up the matter, by begging the suffrages of two Bishops, and two Doctors, who so shuffled together each his own Cards, that they easily made one pack. And well might they both shuffle, pack, cut, and deal, when no answer was permitted to be published. But for all that, my Babel no Bethel, remains entire, and unshaken by any of their breaths, saving that some of their black mouths laboured to besmear me with their proud scorn. And for so writing against the Church of Rome, as no true Church of Christ, and because such kind of books were printed without licence when none could be obtained, I was brought the first and second time into the High Commission, whence I had not escaped without cindging at least, to make me smell of it ever after, if not stigmatising either in my name or purse, had I not come in time to procure a Prohibition in the Court of Justice, before the door was shut, which was not long after, the Bishop having a little before my Prohibition threatened in open Court, that whosoever 
London, Lawd.  after that of Mr. Pryn's then tendered, should be the next (which fell to my lot) to dare to bring a Prohibition there, he would set him fast by the heels. But instead of setting me by the heels, he hung me up by the head; for the next morning after that my Prohibition was tendered in Court, whereat the whole Board was hushed, he sent his Pursuivant for me, and anew quarrelled with me for my late preaching against bowing at the Name Jesus; and though I told him that it was first enjoined by the Pope, and showed by Scripture it had no ground there: yet he proceeded to suspend me from preaching. But I appealing from him to the Arches of Canterbury (which afterwards I came to see, was no better than to go from the black Witches enchantment to be healed with the Spell of the White Witch) and held him so to it, that he was glad to lose me again from my suspension.  
Another Book of my writing, styled, Israel's Fast, being published at a general Fast, brought me again into their High Commission extraordinarily called for that purpose only, where they examined me what, or whom I meant by Achan: I answered, the Jesuitical Faction; and no more could they squeeze from me, so as not knowing what to do with me, they let me go.  
Another Book I wrote, and published, and that by licence too casually, entitled, The baiting of the Pope's Bull; for Pope Vrban the 8. had sent forth his roaring Bull among his Roman Catholics in England, to incite them to be in a readiness, whensoever occasion was ministered for the promoting of the Catholic Cause, as they usually call it: This was an alarm, or preparative to arm them for that plot, which was then a contriving, and which we see now marching forth into the field, expecting some desperate issue. This Bull passed up and down City and country without control, until, so soon as it came to my hands, I fastened upon it. Well, hereupon the Bull roared so loud, that the bellowing was heard to the counsel board. This baiting was made a heinous offence against the State, as being done without acquainting the board, which gives leave both to Bear-baiting, and Bull-baiting. Thither I was summoned, where I found fix of the council sitting of purpose to examine me about it, whereof two were, Neale of Durham, and Lawd of London. By these I was soundly baited for 2. or 3. hours together. They would have made my Book against that Bull, a libel. God put into my mouth an answer to all their questions, though some were very captious and ensnaring. For it was ever my care to observe my Master Christ his counsel, being called before Counsels (Mark. 11. 13, 15.) not to premeditate what or how to answer; and accordingly I found his promise most true; for it was given me that hour what to answer, even when I was so put to it sometimes, that I knew not what to answer, till darting up a prayer, I had such an answer put in my mouth, as put to silence the opposer. And in fine I was sent home without any Censure.  
Only let me here take occasion to relate a pretty passage that fell out upon this book. In the Frontispiece was a picture of K. Charles on the one side with a sword putting off the Pope's Triple Crown over against it. Which when I showed to a little Daughter I then had of 3. years old in her mother's hands, telling her the meaning of those two pictures, she presently replied, O Father, our King shall cut off the Pope's head; it must be so, it must be so: Which words she uttered with that vigour of spirit, and vehemency of speech, that we exceedingly wondered at it, saying, It was not impossible. And I do now the more look after the full accomplishment of her words, as of a prophecy put into a Babes mouth, When of late we have seen one of those, It must be so, fulfilled in Scotland; so as we may hope to see the other It must be so, fulfilled in England, when God shall put the like necessity of It must be so, and that redoubled, in cutting off the Pope's head in the English Hierarchy by the regal Sword. But this by the way.  
Another time after that (when the Duke of Buckingham was at the I'll of Re●, the while the poor Rochellers and the bravest chivalry of England were betrayed unto the French,) was I summoned to the counsel Board; but for what cause, I could not come to know: for between the Summons, and day of appearance, came the Duke home. So as I having waited all the afternoon at the counsel Chamber, door, I was not so much as called in, nor sent for any more, but once for a show without examination. Now I had a little before in a Sermon on the 5. of November spoken of sundry fore-running signs of the ruin of a State, which upon that return of the Duke, would not (it seems) endure the Examination. Nor was my time yet come; I was to wait for another 5. of November; all these troubles hitherto being but as it were so many velitations, or light skirmishes in comparison, before the main battle; my Captain training me up by degrees so many years, to fit me the better for the great encounter, which he had fore appointed me unto. Which great encounter, because (all circumstances weighed) it wants example; it will not (I hope) be more tedious to posterity to read or hear, than it was for me to undergo it. And I have the rather published these things at this time, because it may commend the credit thereof to after-ages by those who have been eye-witnesses of all.  
Notwithstanding all these troubles and vexations hitherto, which the Prelates, and their confederates, whose captain was 
* Dr. Lawd then Bishop of London.  London, continually pursued and exercised me withal, yet my spirit was carried on with a mighty and undaunted courage, which my God put into me, and so much the more, as these men grew the more audacious and outrageous both in opposing and oppressing the Gospel itself in the ministry and Ministers thereof, and in erecting and imposing Rome's rotten relics in all the High places of the Land. I could not be silent nor patient, to see such things. Nor could all their terrors, though armed with the greatest power on earth, deter me. Yea, I was never fuller of spirit, nor freer of speech, than when I encountered London face to face Insomuch, as on a time being summoned by a Pursuivant to London-house, and waiting there all alone without till the Bishop, accompanied with his chancellor and Register should send for me in, the while my thoughts were busied in searching what the cause might be (which was my weakness then) I was at length no sooner called in, but seeing the Bishop in his chair, with his said Officers about him, ready to examine me, there came upon me as it were the spirit of a lion all the while I was before them, so as they were amazed with my Answers. And another time, in the same place, when the Bishop in his chair was proudly insulting over me standing at the other end of the Table, and a friend of mine standing by, I (thinking thus with myself, What do I standing here to hear such language) did thereupon without replying, turn my back, and go towards the door to be gone, and looking back for my friend to follow, the Bishop at that very instant changed his note, and began to speak me as fair, as possibly could be, whereupon I came towards him again, saying with●n myself, that if he spoke reason, I would hear him. Nor was I at any time before him, but methought I stood over him, as a schoolmaster over his schoolboy. So great was the goodness of God upon me. Another time, I being convented at a High-Commission Board at London-house, about my foresaid Book, Babel no Bethel, Harsenet then Archbishop of York having run himself out of breath with railing against me and my Book (a special faculty, wherein his Grace exceeded) at length saying, that I had dedicated my Book to the Parliament to incense them against the Higher Powers (he meant the King) than I answered, No, my Lord, I am none of them that divide the King and Parliament, but I pray God to unite them together. At this he had never a word more to say; For this was presently after that Parliament was broken up, wherein the Petition of Right was signed: so that he knew better who they were, which at that time divided the King from the Parliament. Well, at the same time I must to prison, and tendering bail, London answered, No, for (said he) the King had given express charge, that no bail should be taken for me. Then, my Lord (said I) I desire to know by what Law or Statute of the Land you do imprison me; if it be according to Law, I humbly submit myself; otherwise I do here claim the right and privilege of a subject, according to the Petition of Right: but nor Petition, nor Right, nor Law, could keep me from prison. To the Fleet I went, where stepping in, and saying to the Porter, By your leave; and he answering, You are welcome Sir; I thanked him, saying, that is some comfort yet. But I found the comforts of my God there exceedingly, it being the first time of my being a Prisoner, saving that I was still, and had been a long time, in the High Commission Bonds, which restrained my liberty to the scantling of that tether.  
But I hasten to the main Battalion, or pitched battle with the Prelates, and their prelatical party. For I more and more disliked their usurpations, and tyrannical Government, with their attempts to set up Popery: Therefore I purposely preached upon the second Chapter to the Colossians, crying down all will-worship, and human inventions in God's service. Hereupon I began in my practice, as in my judgement, to fall off from the ceremonies. Only I watched for an occasion to try it out with them, either by dint of Arguments, or force of Law, or by the King and his counsel, resolving of this, that by this means I should either foil my adversaries (though I had no great hope this way) or at least (which I was sure not to fail of) discover the mystery of iniquity, and the deceit of hypocrisy, which like a white veil they had cast over all their foul practices, and false pretences, being woven with the fine thread of solemn Protestations, Declarations, Proclamations, and the like. And this discovery I took to be of no small importance and consequence, because I saw how every day they got ground in the hearts of simple and credulous people, apt to believe their plausible pretences, and pompous shows of piety, as if all they did, were to maintain the Protestant Religion, when under that specious colour the withered whore of Babylon came in maskd at the first, till at length she began to show her painted face in her Superstitions Altar-service, and other garbs. And as they laboured to undermine, and overthrow the true Protestant Religion, and in stead thereof to set up Popery; so they did no less seek to overthrow the civil state, with the good laws thereof, and just liberties of the subject, and to introduce an arbitrary Government, otherwise called tyranny, which taketh away every man's property in his own goods and estate, as plainly appeared by all their practices, as in exacting of shipmoney, which was to be perpetual, and sometimes twice imposed in one year, (upon some pretence of foreign enemies, when we had cause to fear none, but our homebred traitors) and other impositions, with a thousand monopolies. Of all which I being not a little sensible, both as I was a poor servant of Christ, and therefore bound to vindicate his cause against Antichristian men: and also as a free born subject of the kingdom, as one who ever prized the just liberty of my birthright above this life itself: I therefore thought how I might best acquit my duty both to God, and to his Church, and to my Country, in defending the cause of both.  
To this purpose, on the fifth of Noxember, 1636 (being a day, by Act of Parliament to be solemnised in an anniversary solemn thanksgiving for that great deliverance of King and Parliament from the Gunpowder-treason, which Popish traitors conspired to have executed on that day, 1625) I preached (according to my custom) two Sermons, taking for my Text Prov. 24. 21, 22. My son, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall arise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both? But before I proceed to a further relation hereof, let me tell you of a passage or two falling out but a little before my troubles. The first was this, A reverend godly Minister (Mr Williamson of Kent) having newly preached in my Church, upon Acts 21. 13. and we having some private conference of his Text and Sermon, I said to him in the close, Well brother, I must be an example hereof one day. The other was of a strange dream I had one night, not many days before this day came: I dreamed (lodging then at a dear friends house in Stratford Bow near London) that I saw a most magnificent palace, the like whereof I never saw upon the earth; and therein a most glorious throne erected, and in the throne Jesus Christ sitting in Majesty, but all alone, without any attendance of Angels or Saints about him, only there lay all along before the throne a man dead, with his feet towards Christ, and his face upward the other way. But after awhile the dead man was raised up, and stood upon his feet, looking towards the throne: Whereupon immediately there appeared about the throne an innumerable company of glorious Angels and Saints, exceedingly rejoicing and praising God for restoring life to that man. This dream I told in the morning to my wife, and after that to my dear Christian friends in the house (all yet surviving) to whom I also made this interpretation; that this dead man was the present Church of Christ, which now lay for dead, and none took the care of it but Christ alone; but after awhile Christ would restore his Church to life, and set her in a glorious estate, as one raised from the dead to the state of glory; and than all the holy Angels and Saints should rejoice, and sing hallelujahs to him that sits upon the Throne. And this I told them should most certainly come to pass, and that shortly, so as they should live to see it. And so being to go to London that morning, I took my leave thereupon, saying, Well, what ever come on it, I must to my work. And this work proved to be that aforesaid (Nov. 5.) When having preached those Sermons, I was not long after summoned by a Pursuivant into the English Inquisition Court, the High Commission; from which I presently appealed to the King: And because I foresaw that this would prove a public cause, and putting no confidence either in my appeal, or in the equity and innocency of my cause, or in the just laws of the kingdom, being fallen into such times, wherein nor law, nor conscience, nor innocency, nor justice, nor clemency, nor humanity, could take place; but that some unjust, odious censure must stigmatize both the cause and the person: therefore I shut myself up in my house, as in my prison, and there did compile my two said Sermons, with my appeal, in one Book, to the end it might be published in print, as it was, sheet by sheet as I writ it; the while the Prelates Pursuivants, those barking Beagles, ceased not night nor day to watch, and rap, and ring at my doors, to have surprised me in that my Castle, nor yet to search and hunt all the Printing houses about London, to have prevented the coming forth of my Book, which they heard to be at the press. But God, by his good providence, so prevented them, as neither they could touch my person, before I had finished my Book, nor yet prevent the publishing thereof, for all their unwearied search. And here I may not omit to magnify the great Name of God, especially for two things. First, for his admirable strengthening and supporting presence in so carrying up my spirit all the while of my writing that Book, (Entitled, For God and the King, together with the appeal, &c.) that not all the incessant roarings, and ballings of those beagles could either interrupt my work, or distract my thoughts, or discourage my resolution, by any the least apprehension or fear of danger; but that with all cheerfulness and invincibleness of spirit the work was finished. Secondly, the Lord's wonderful Providence is here to be admired, in that the Pursuivants had no power, either to apprehend my person, or to prevent the publishing of my Book: but just that night, when I had received some dozens of Copies bound up, and the Books for the King and council were a binding up, and nor sooner, nor later, having also newly concluded the Family-duties for that night, came the sergeant at arms, with his Mace, in the Bishop of London's name, accompanied with divers Pursuivants, and other Officers; yea with the sheriff of London, with swords and halberds, and with pickaxes, fell a breaking up my doors, which being strong, and I making no resistance, held them work till eleven of the Clock; They break in, surprise my person, ransack my study, carry away what Books they pleased, and carry me away prisoner to a constable's house for that night; and the next day at night, being Febr. 2. they had got a new warrant from the council Board, to carry me to prison in the Fleet, where I was kept close prisoner from wife, or friend, and so remained for half a year, till I was removed to another prison, as you shall hear anon. During my abode in the Fleet, I was served with a Writ into the star Chamber, to answer an information there against me, drawn up by the King's attorney in the Name of the King, notwithstanding my said appeal not yet repealed. But all is one for that. With much difficulty, being all along close prisoner, I get my Answer drawn up by counsel, and the same by special Order of star-chamber, admitted in Court upon my Oath to be a true Answer: Above a week after I hear, that the two chief Justices, by appointment of the Court, have quite expunged my Answer and defence, contained in 80 sheets; leaving only the negative part, and that also of their own patching together, contained in some half a dozen lines. Thus my Answer in Court is left no Answer of mine. After this comes the Examiner for my Answer to his interrogatories, which was to be reckoned part of my Answer in Court: But I answered him, that my Answer in Court being wholly expunged, and so made no Answer of mine; I was not bound to answer the interrogatories. Hereupon I was brought into the star-chamber, to be censured by all those terrible ones, pro confesso, as having refused to put in my Answer, when 
Ier. 11. 21.  indeed themselves had put it our. What I then spoke for myself by leave of the Court, which had already the day before set down my Censure in black and white; and what the Censure was, and by whom, I refer to the Relation of all the passages of our three sufferings, set forth at large in Print, 1641. Only thus much, when I saw 
〈…〉  that they would proceed to censure (notwithstanding they did not, nor could object the least crime in all my Book, For God and the King, but that they said, I was too sharp against the Prelates) having obtained leave to speak, I said, My Lords, I perceive I am brought into a great strait, that of necessity I must either desert my cause and my conscience, or undergo the Censure of this Honourable Court: and therefore I do without any further deliberation, choose rather to abide the Censure of this Honourable Court, then to desert my Cause & my conscience. Here at the Audience gave a great hum. But when they came to the censure, it was so terrible, especially the perpetual close imprisonment in a desolate goal; that (lest my spirits should faint within me) I did there earnestly in my heart entreat the Lord, that he would strengthen me, and hold up my spirits, that I might not any way dishonour the cause, or give those terrible ones cause to triumph.  
And at that very instant the Lord heard me, he put such strength in me, as neither myself, nor my two Brethren did once change countenance before those terrible ones, so as some of them afterwards said, that they never saw three such men, who instead of being daunted, so stood before the Court, as if they had sit in the judge's place. And forasmuch as the night before a friend came to me in the Fleet, and told me he saw my Censure set down in their Book, as standing on the Pillory, &c. I did therefore that night 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Exod. 19 4  redouble my prayer to God, that he would strengthen me at my Censure, so as I might not dishonour him and his Cause the next day before that great Court. And immediately upon my prayer I was filled with a mighty spirit of courage and resolution, wherewith I was carried up far above myself, even as it were upon eagle's wings. And hereupon again I prayed, entreating the Lord that he would be pleased to keep up my spirits at that height, to the which he had now raised them; the answer of which Prayer I found, not only all the next day of my Censure, but throughout all my sufferings, which that Censure produced.  
After the Censure, (which was Deprivation, Degradation, standing on the pillory two hours, loss of both ears by the hangman, five thousand pound fine to the King, perpetual close imprisonment in the Castle of Lancaster, restraint of all use of pen, ink, and paper) I was brought back to my close prison in the Fleet (June 14. 1647.) where I waited till the day of Execution, which was the last day of June. In the interim, my wife, with Mr. Bastwick, plied the King with their pitiful complaining Petitions and deprecations, for the taking off, or at least the mitigating of the execution: but a little before the day came, a voice was heard in the star-chamber, uttered by the attorney-general, That it was the King's pleasure, the Censure of those 3. men should be executed to the uttermost: So as the execution proved to be as void of Mercy, as the Censure was of Justice. The night before the Execution, I did, as before the Censure, address myself by earnest prayer for divine support in the acting of that Tragedy upon the scaffold of public reproach. Filled I was with exceeding alacrity of truly heroical, and Christianly magnanimous resolution. My two supporters (next under God) were, the nobleness and pure innocency of the Cause, and the uprightness and integrity of my conscience With these I went on foot the next morning from the Fleet to the place of Execution at Westminster, far better guarded, then with those many halberds and weapons that attended me. My wife had the favour to go all along with me, going together with this equipage, as to the celebration of our marriage. When I came in sight of the pillory, my spirit was mightily cheered, and my heart raised up to a 
Mr. Price in Coleman Pre●t L●ndon.  higher pitch of joy. I said to one, a little before my going up to the pillory, I shall this day preach down Antichrist in the pillory: And say nothing, replied he: yea, said I, and say nothing. This was omitted in the Relation forementioned. All the while I stood in the pillory, I thought myself to be in Heaven, and in a state of glory and triumph, if any such state can possibly be on earth. I found those words of Peter verified on me in the pillory, If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you, 
1 Pet. 4. 14.  which on their part is blasphemed, but on yours, glorified. For my rejoicing and glorying was so great all the while, without intermission, in the pillory, that I can no more express it, than Paul could his ravishments in the third heaven: so as I could best, and most truly say 
2 Cor. 12.  Amen to those words of a godly woman, going along in the troop near Charing cross, at my return from banishment to London, (which God was also pleased to cloth with so great glory) she said to me, O Sir, this is a glorious wedding day; to whom I replied, It is indeed, blessed be God; I, said she, but your wedding day on the pillory was much more glorious: I admiring the woman's speech, answered, It is indeed most true, good woman, blessed be our God.  
After the execution, I was carried again the same day to my Fleet-prison, where mine ears, after the chirurgeon's blood-letting, were a healing till towards the end of July; when, before they were quite healed, I was hastened away to Lancaster, July 28. having said the night before to a religious Matron of London visiting of me, I must now (said I) prepare for my exile, not thinking then of any further exile, than Lancaster Castle, being an exile in mine own country. On the day appointed I passed on horseback from the Fleet through Smithfield, where for throng of people all along I could not pass, but very slowly, though the Keeper hastened all he could, who fretted to see so many thousands all the way we went, he reckoning the number to be forty thousand. By the way so many taking me by the hand, pressed the very blood out at my finger's ends, but with another mind then the great ones drew the blood out at mine ears. I rid to S. Albon that night, being accompanied all the way with above five hundred horse of loving friends, which the Keeper also much envied. Many stayed there all night, but were not suffered to sup with me, no nor to see my face. Nay the Keeper was so strict, that he would scarce suffer my wife, who went along, to dress mine ears. Coming to Daventry, it exceedingly refreshed me, that I had the sight, and a little society of that holy and reverend Father, Mr John Dod, who came two or three miles off to see me; as also his effectual servant prayer for me and my wife, calling me his son, and her his daughter. At Coventry two worthy and reverend brethren, Mr Nalton, and Mr Hughes, with their wives, came also to salute me and bid me farewell; In our short discourse, they rejoicing and congratulating God's gracious and mighty assisting of me in my suffering, and my happiness therein: I answered, I have cause to bless God more for this suffering, then for all outward blessings in the world, and I account this to be one great part of my happiness, that I have now cast off that yoke of the Prelates, under which I had so long groaned; but I promise you, said I, it did cling and cleave so close to my neck, that I could not shift it off, but that it shaved off mine ears. And when at our parting they were very sad; I laboured to comfort them, saying, Come be not sad; for three years and a half hence we shall meet again and be merry: which I spoke alluding to the three days and a half, the time of the two witnesses lying unburied; of which speech we shall have occasion to speak more anon.  
There also one of those godly women, saying unto me, O sir you are in a happy estate, you are past all danger, and sure of Heaven; but for us, what shall we do? I replied, that the assurance of Heaven cannot secure us from manifold temptations and afflictions, and snares of Satan, so long as we live in these houses of clay. And therefore we have need continually to stand upon our watch and ward, and to pray one for another, having so malicious and unwearied an Adversary, whom neither close imprisonment, nor Iron Gates and bars can hinder from assaulting us.  
On the 3. of August, being sacurday, we came to Lancaster, and on the 5. being Monday, the Keeper brought me into the Castle, where the Keeper thereof, under the sheriff, received me. There he sitting in John of Gaunt's old chair, fell to speak his pleasure of me, and to censure me for what I had done: To whom I said, Sir it is your office to be my gaoler, not my Judge. Well, in short, lodging he had none for me, no bedding, no furniture, so as if he had not been enjoined to keep me up close, that none should come at me, he would surely have put me among the common thieves and Rogues in the common jail. For he would find no other room for me, but a vast desolate room within the Iron Gate of the Common goal, where none had lain for almost twenty years, where was nothing but bare cold walls, and those with wide and ruinous clefts to let in the cold winds; and windows, having iron bars outward, and wooden bars in the midst, both to let in the wind, and to let me from putting forth my head so much as to see, or take breath in a calm: So as had not my wife been there to provide a bed, and other necessaries for my better accommodation, the beastly man had suffered me to lie and die by the cold walls. The door also of the room was open below, so as when the cold North, or North-east wind did blow, it filled it both with cold and smoke, that no fire could be made in the coldest time. It was such a miserable lodging, that when after my removal from thence, some Londoners, my friends, being at Lancaster, desired of the Keeper, to see the room where I lay; he would not suffer it, for very shame. Yea though the room had a Leads over, and stairs leading to them out of the room, yet during all the time that I continued there, I could not obtain one breathing while, or one turn on those Leads. And the room had one quality more, that I could not walk in it, for it was flooted with thick planks that were round upward, and so distant one from another, that I could not set one step, but I must look to every footing. Two poor men, whereof one was a Papist, lodged in the room continually: I bought them two Primmers to teach them to read, but I could never get them to spend with me one quarter of an hour. One morning Lawrence the Papist coming up, and sitting down, I asked him if we should begin now to learn to read? he said, no Sir, not to day. Why Lawrence, said I? For it is (quoth he) S. Lawrence day: I could not persuade him. My wife provided my diet, but they would not suffer her maid to bring it to the top of the stairs, to my door, th●t she might see it safely delivered, and see me also to carry her Mistress word that I was alive and well. Very jealous they were of conveying letters, so as when my maid brought a shirt ayred for me, they would shake it open, and so air it indeed after their fashion. One morning as soon as I was up, by reason of the coldness of the room, I was taken with a terrible fit of the colic, so as Lawrence coming up, told me I looked like death. I went to bed again, but nor he, nor any else must stay by me, to help me, or look to me: for in truth their intent was to take the advantage of any sickness, thereby to make an end of me. I was then extreme ill for two hours, even unto death. But my good Keeper was with me, and I pleaded with him, that seeing he had put me there, and that for his cause, and had deprived me of all outward helps and comforts, he stood charged with me; so as if I miscarried, it must be under his hand, and the like. Thus I lay pleading, till at length it pleased him by a strange way to remove the malady. This was the only fit of sickness that I had in that prison. It was sufficient to discover their murderous intents, and what I must trust to, if I were sick, none must come at me. And, to add to their cruelties, there was a dark room under mine, where they put five witches, with one of their children, which made such a hellish noise night and day, that I seemed then to be in hell, or at least in some Popish Purgatory, the Region next above hell, as the Papists tell us: so as now I was deprived of the sweetness of my privacy, and of the only solace of my solitary prison, when I could not either prey, or meditate, or yet sleep quietly. In the goal I did often solace myself with singing of psalms, which (as I afterwards understood) did mightily, as on the one side comfort the better minded people, so on the other, vex the malignant or Popish party. And their malice herein appeared the more, that they had room enough elsewhere in the Castle to bestow these witches in, who had continued a long time there. But my wife, with great and long importunity, prevailed to have them at length removed. Well, in fine, my two Keepers brought it out very shily, that I was to be removed further off into banishment, into an island; but they could not, or would not tell me whither; For they were lessoned to conceal all things from me. Well, the time of my removal approacheth: it must be some night; I must not know it till over night late. My wife having some inkling of it, prepared necessaries for my journey, and sent them before to Leverpoole as I directed her. On the first of November very early, being yet dark, I was brought out of the Castle, where the sheriff was attending with horses. So soon as I was out at the gates of the Castle, I did before them all put off my hat, and solemnly blessed God, saying, Although I know not whither I am going, but whither God will; yet I thank God, that I am out at these gates. The Keeper Covel, being vexed at this, said, But you are here yet: But I bless God (said I) that I am out at these gates. My Children were there, for whom I had over night, with much importunity, obtained, that they might see their father, and he them, before he went; but I must only salute them, scarce speak one word to them to comfort them. It was the last farewell of my dear daughter, whom I never saw after. So I parted from Lancaster, after I had been there almost thirteen weeks. A prison it was, where for the extreme coldness of it, I could not in all likelihood have outlived one winter. In which respect I took it as a great mercy of God, that I was soremoved thence, in hope I might come to a better place, I was sure not a worse. At Preston we lodged that night, where no importunity could prevail with the sheriff for my wife to have one sight of me, much less to speak a word to me. The next day we lodged at Leverpoole, where on the next day after I was attended with the sheriff, with the Maior, and their Officers, who brought me to the water side, and there saw me safely embarked: Only by the way one favour I had, that I could see my dear wife standing aloof all alone on the sand till I came and bid her farewell, and so passed away; only I said unto her at parting, Wife, be of good comfort, God is working. At Leverpoole, and not before, they showed me the Order for what place I was bound, which was the isle and Castle of Guernsey. This put me in mind, and taught me the meaning of a dream that I had in the Fleet, after the Execution. I dreamed, that I was assailed with a huge, fierce, and furious Bull, who came running full-but at me twice, but being tied at a great Cable rope, he could not pass the length of the Cable, but there stop raging that he could not reach me. Now I found, that this dream did portend my voyage by sea, to such a place, beyond which the Ship-cable reached not, for the Bull to have his will on me, which was to destroy me.  
Another dream, after this, I had in the Fleet, a night or two after, which was, that sundry friends being at dinner with me. I saw a Fox couching down behind them, and watching to snatch away their Victuals: whereupon I espying a book lying near at hand, took it up and flapt it upon the Fox, taking him by the neck with my right hand, and holding him up aloft, and saying to the company, lo, here is the Fox that would cozen us all of our Victuals. The Book was just of the same volume, binding, cover, colour and bigness, that the Archbishop of Canterbury's Book was, entitled, A Relation of a Conference &c. which I did first see at Gernsey. And when afterwards I saw the Reply to the same Relation published in Print; what was this, but the discovery of the subtle Fox to all the company? But this by the way as by anticipation.  
Now to return to our Bark. When I was, by the sheriff, and Maior, cooped up close in my cabin, where they left me: about an hour after I was suffered to come forth upon the deck to take a little breath, the Bark then being a ground; and there I could not contain myself, but broke out into a triumphant exultation before all the people, rejoicing that now I was, as it were, separated from the world, having forsaken my native country; and blessing God, that I had now overcome the world, bequeathing my wife and children to God, and myself to Heaven. Whereat all the beholders were astonished, and sundry of them much strengthened by my example.  
On the Lord's day at night, being the fifth of November, lying still at anchor in the road at Leverpoole, the wind not yet serving, there was a most terrible tempest lay upon us, which made the Bark to crack again, being anchor-driven upon a flat rock; where it had like to have beaten itself to pieces, both in the flowing and ebbing of the water; there being at that time, in the same broad river, another Bark wracked in our view: But it pleased God to preserve us. Yet our Bark had, with that storm, sprung a leak; which though the Carpenter did his best to mend it, yet it troubled us all our voyage, and put us to pumping every half hour.  
The same night the storm drove away out of Dublin River twenty Vessels into the channel, most of which were not heard of a month after, saving only four, and the rest not heard of at all, during our riding there.  
The man, appointed by the high-sheriff of Lancashire Mr. Kirby, to take the charge of me to Guernsey, was one Burton, the most notorious K. in all the Shire. He would have had my wife to send me 30 or 40. pound, but got of her 6. pound (so much as she could, yet with difficulty, spare) which he undertook to deliver to me; but defrauded both her and me of it. When we came within the bar of Dublin River, there we lay at Anchor a whole month, all which time this Burton swaggered in Dublin with that six pound, and not once either came or sent to me so much as one Bottle of wine, or one joint of fresh meat, to refresh me, while tumbled and tossed on those waters. But (which is yet worse) this Burton, with his mates, though the bark was hired for the King, only to transport me, yet freighted the bark with raw Hides, which so pestered & infested us, that for my part, it had almost poisoned me with the continual stinch, a thing most odious to my nature. But all that I could do (which was just nothing) would not not help it, I threatened Burton, that I would (smiling to myself) complain of him to the King for so abusing his prisoner, but he cared no more for it, then if I had threatened to tell the Archbishop of Canterbury.  
Having thus spent just 28. days in Dublin River, the wind coming about a little, we set sail and were in great jeopardy by the coast of Ireland, between the shore and the shelves, or beds of sands that lie all along, the wind blowing hard from off the shore, and the bark often cracking under us, I lying all the while in the bottom of the bark, as Ionas in the whale's belly, when almost all hope of safety was taken away, the Master crying to the steersman, and he answering, that he could do no more. Still the pump was going, but by God's mercy we escaped. I was extremely Sea-sick both from England to Ireland, and from thence till we came almost to Guernsey, even nigh unto death. By the way we touched at Milford Haven, and last of all I took my farewell of England at the Bay of Dartmouth, being not permitted to take the least refreshing on Land after my embarking either at Leverpool; where we floated 7. days, or in Ireland, or in England. In seven days more we passed from Ireland to Guernsey, and so, after our voyage by Sea from England thither, which was for 42. days, or six weeks, by God's mercy we arrived at Guernsey, lodging the first night in the town in the island. The next day, being Saturday, I was conveyed over that part of the Sea, which divideth the island from the Castle, where I was received by the Lieutenant Mr. Nathaniel Darrell, a Noble Gentleman born in Kent, which gave me hope to find courteous usage, remembering the praise that Caesar of old gave to the people of Kent, that they were the most civil and courteous 
Iul. Caesa. Comment.  people of all Britain. And truly so I found him: For although my first lodging in the Castle was in a low Chamber, the window whereof was on the outside compassed in round with boards, a yard distant from the window, only to let in Light, so as I might not look out to see either Earth or Sea, but only up to heaven-ward (like to a pinned Pigeon, to make sport for the falconer) and many times I was so scanted for air, as I was glad to stand upon a form to suck in a little breath thorough a broken pane in the top of the window: Yet I assure myself it should not have been so, if either the Lieutenant, or the governors of the Castle could have helped it. I merrily told the Gentleman porter of the Castle, my countryman, one morning walking a turn or two with me in the room, pointing to the Boards before the window, saying, You deal with me here, as they do in our Country with a mad Bull, when they put a board before his face.  
I continued in this room 16. weeks, not once going forth into the open air. And yet (see the goodness of my heavenly Keeper) I was not once sick in that room, to keep my bed one day; no nor was I ever more cheerful in all my life, then in that very prison, as where I could every day dance my sink apace, either when I was cold, or wanted breathing, or for exercise. So as the close prison was to me as a most princely Palace, or Paradise of pleasure; and such as the old Serpent could not so easily cheat me of the happiness of, as he did our first Parents of that earthly Paradise. For in all my straits, still as I reflected upon the cause for which I suffered all these things, my heart leaped for joy, and I could not contain myself, but that my body also sprang and jumped in my chamber, even with the like spirit of alacrity, (I dare say) as David danced before the ark. And all this while from my first entrance into my suffering, and all along to the very last, in all my imprisonment, in all my banishment, in my separation from my loving and beloved wife, and children, and friends, this separation having no other bounds (in the boundless tyrannical Censure) than perpetuity itself: yet I was so far from accounting all this suffering as any the least affliction to me at all, as that I held and valued, and enjoyed it as my chief joy, my glory, and my Crown, and the greatest happiness that ever God vouchsafed unto me in all my life; and thus it continued without any intermission, or interruption until God was pleased to release me from my bonds. And one thing I may not omit, how gently careful and respective Mr. Lieutenant was of me all the time of my being prisoner in the Castle, to provide good and wholesome diet for me, the best that the island and Sea afforded, which he sent me warm from his own Table.  
Well, after 16. weeks I was preferred to a better lodging, where I might lock out at my window over the Sea Eastward. I accounted this a very high degree of preferment. Whence also, after one half year more, by the coming, and favour of the honourable governor of the Castle and lands of Guernsey, I was advanced to the next Chamber above it, which was the highest Chamber in the Castle, and had one window Southward, and another Eastward, yielding me a fair prospect to the Sea from South to North, which was a great recreation to me. Yea, God made every thing a Recreation; the making of mine own Bed, and the sweeping of my Chamber, was as an exercise of my body, so a recreation of my mind. For though it might seem a strange alteration, from having been a public 
* Act. 19 35 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  sweeper of souls, to become now a poor sweeper of my prison; yet the consideration for what, and whom I had undergone such a suffering condition, I rejoiced in this service, and was ready to become yet more vile for his sake, who humbled himself to become a servant for me, and who had honoured me with so high an office of a sufferer for his Sake.  
Being thus sweetly accommodated for lodging, quiet from all noises, and having gotten about me my Bibles in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, &c. As also the ecclesiastical History in Greek, I made these my daily exercise; It was my daily recreation to take my English Testament, and without the Greek, to read the English into Greek, which I did with the like facility, as to read English; and then I did compare my Greek with the Greek Testament, to see wherein I differed in any word, putting one {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for another, and the like. In which, and other conveniences, which that lodging afforded for study and privacy, I began now to see more clearly then before the special providence of God, in bringing me out of Lancaster goal to that Castle: For had I continued in Lancaster Castle (besides the hardship of lodging, cold, and other usage) I could never have enjoyed that opportunity of study, which I had at Gerusey; there being at Lancaster one Dr. Wildbore who had always a malignant aspect, and watchful eye over me; I could not have a book, but by his permission, he being one of the Prelates Priests and Creatures, a double Beneficed man, and an heir apparent to a bishopric, which he hoped to merit by his good service, in keeping a strict watch over me. But (blessed, be God) at Guernsey Castle, though none could be more careful than Mr. Lieutenant in observing the Court-Orders to keep me from the use of pen, ink, and paper, even for my private studies, though I earnestly desired him, promising him, if I might enjoy that favour, I would write nothing that might procure him any displeasure or trouble: And surely had he upon my promise granted my suit, I had been true to him: But my heavenly Keeper provided otherwise for me what I desired. For through his good providence I had an art to make ink, and for pens I had goose wings, which were to sweep the dust off my windows, and for paper, a private friend in Guernsey town supplied me, for all the strict watch and ward that was kept about me by my keeper: in the use of all these I was so wary, that while any was coming up the stairs, I had time to convey all away, that never any of my keepers could see either pen, ink, or paper, in my chamber. By this means, through God's merciful assistance, I writ the Reply to the Relation, which being finished, I sent away for England by the foresaid private friend. After this, upon a second revisal, I writ a Supply to the Reply; but this was never printed: I writ also an answer to Dr. Hall's Episcopacy by divine right: But neither was this printed. For the reply did very hardly escape the Bishops beagles, hunting it up and down, while it was a printing; but the same providence which preserved and produced that For God and the King, preserved this also, and brought it forth to light. I writ also sundry other things, some of which came to light, and some miscarried. The writings flowed from me with such an affluence and facility, that they were no labour to me, but a recreation: and neither did my writing abate my reading, nor my reading hinder my writing: For both I read so much every day (being up early and late) as if I had writ nothing: and I writ so much, as if I had done nothing else. Now concerning the Reply; therein was verified the dream I spoke of, which I had in the Fleet, concerning the Fox: The fox proved to be the Archbishop of Canterbury: The book that was flapt upon the lurking fox, which was just of the same volume, binding, cover, colour, bigness with the Relation, was Canterbury's Relation itself retorted upon him; the right hand that held up the fox by the neck, to show his foxlike fraud to all the company, was the right hand which writ the Reply to that fox's Relation, whereby through his cunning sophistry, and notorious hypocrisy he thought to have gulled all England of the gospel; and set up the Romish mass in stead thereof, as the Reply hath plainly discovered. Thus both my foresaid dreams in my Fleet-prison were made up in Guernsey Castle prison, where the strong cables end of God's providence stayed the fury of that Beast or Bull from pushing at me, so as he could not, for all his Bull-like power, and foxlike craft and policy, hinder that work, whereby the fox was uncased: which title I had given to the Reply, calling it, The uncasing of the fox; but that I thought a more moderate title would better suit with the fury of those times, in case any spark of common reason had been left for right reason to work upon.  
Again, although, when first I heard of an Order from the Lords to take my wife prisoner, in case she should come to Guernsey island to inquire after her husband, whether he were alive or dead, I thought it hard: Yet after it pleased God to enable and employ me in those services aforesaid, I saw another clear evidence of divine providence in keeping my wife from me for a time, that so her society might not be any impeachment or impediment (at that time) to my employments there. Thus the Lord turned all these things to cooperate for good.  
In this interim, I heard of the good pleasure of God, in taking away my dear and only daughter. It was a little before supper that Mr lieutenant began darkly to intimate the same unto me, until I prayed him to deal plainly with me, which he then did: whereupon craving pardon, I immediately retired to my lodging, and there on my knees gave the Lord solemn thanks, that it had pleased him to translate my daughter, now his alone, into his kingdom of glory, after he had fitted her to be a Virgin Spouse for her husband Jesus Christ. For a holy and sweet conditioned Maid she was ever from her childhood, being now grown marriageable, and now for ever married unto Jesus Christ. This was she that said (as afore) It must be so, it must be so. Now the reason, why I thus gave thanks to God upon this news of the death of my daughter, was my assurance that she was now in heaven: so as I did not shed a tear for her death, no more than I did at my parting with her and her brother at Lancaster Castle, or with my wife at Leverpoole sands; as not daring in public to blemish the 
Siccis oculis ad Christi vexillum vol●. Hier.  cause of my suffering with one tear for any worldly loss: Although otherwise I wanted not expressions, in my privacy, of both loyal affections to my wife, and natural bowels to my children.  
On April 25. 1640. I set the day apart to seek God, especially for his Church, which then lay under great pressures; wherein having spent the day till four of the clock in the afternoon, I walked two or three turns in my Chamber, and being very sad, and disconsolate because I had not, as at other times upon the like occasion, received an answer of comfort from God, and being somewhat faint with abstinence and closeness of the room, I opened that window which looks into the sea eastward, to take a little air, the sea coming as near the shore on that side, as that I might from my window throw an apple into it: thus looking forth, by and by there was presented before the window a Rainbow, lying flat all along upon the sea, with the 
A strange and miraculous Rainbow.  two ends close to the shore, and the bow from me ward: it was a perfect and entire Rainbow; but because it did not, as ordinary rainbows, stand upright, but lay flat upon the sea, it filled me with wonderment; and so much the more, because looking both upwards and downwards, I saw no cloud for the Rainbow to subsist in, neither was the air moist, it being a dry windy day. I observed indeed (putting my head forth at the window, and looking upwards) many broken little clouds driven away with the wind, but never a one large enough for such a Rainbow; and the clouds moved apace, and passed away, but the Rainbow abode still for the space of half a quarter of an hour, keeping its posture, lying flat and steady upon the sea; whereby it plainly appeared to be no natural and ordinary Rainbow, but supernatural and miraculous. Mine eyes were taken up with beholding, and my mind with admiring it, till at length whole, as it was at first, it began to withdraw itself whole as it was towards the North-east, towards England: I saw it move thus for the space of two leagues, lying flat upon the sea, till it vanished out of my sight. Hereupon I began to be amused in myself, what this should mean: I was persuaded, that God had sent this Rainbow to me for some special use, that I should make of it: But I knew not, nor could imagine what. I prayed again, that the Lord would be pleased to show me what use to make of it. I hereupon cast my thoughts upon the first Rainbow in Genesis; but that was set in the cloud, and for a sign of God's Covenant, 
Gen. 9 12, 13.  that he would no more destroy the world by a flood of waters. But what is this Rainbow to that? This is without a cloud, and lies flat upon the sea. Well, this interpretation I made of it: That forasmuch as I had earnestly sought God for his Church that day, and had not received an answer of comfort, and being sad, God thereupon (without any my seeking of a sign) presented before me a miraculous Rainbow; I took it to be sent of God, as an answer to my prayers that day, and to be a sign to assure me, that he would certainly and miraculously deliver his Church, which now lay floating upon the seas of affliction, ready to be swallowed up. Upon this interpretation I was so satisfied, and filled with present comfort, being fully persuaded of the truth thereof, that I was never sad after upon any such occasion: and when at any time since I have been disconsolate for the Church, I have presently reflected mine eyes upon my Rainbow, and have therewith been comforted afresh, and my heart remains fully established against all doubts and fears. I say, my Rainbow, as having the sole propriety in it, seeing it was seen of none but myself alone. And how miraculously hath God wrought for us, by many deliverances since that time hitherto? Soon after a Parliament was miraculously procured: and soon after again it was by God's wonderful Providence miraculously broken up, in the very nick of an imminent danger, as all do know; so as the dissolution of the Parliament, in the prevention thereof, proved to be as the ashes of the phoenix, whereof is begotten another phoenix; the dissolution of that proving the generation of this (hitherto in many things) happy Parliament, which we have now so long enjoyed, and which God hath so miraculously preserved from so many desperate cutthroats, when they came armed, both with power, and bloody resolution, to make a massacre of that sacred Senate; and when the Northern Army was designed for the like execution. And should we run over, and well weigh, and number the several deliverances that God hath given, both in this kingdom, and in that of Scotland, from so many treacheries, treasons, and rebellions, from the first till this present, both by Sea and Land (taking in the late Spanish Fleet, and Armado for not the least, so miraculously defeated) we shall find and acknowledge them so many miracles, or miraculous deliverances; and so much the more, when we consider on the one side the overtopping power, and undermining plots of the most cruel and treacherous sworn enemies, and homebred vipers, and degenerate monsters, that ever hell hatched, or Rome brought forth, machinating the utter ruin of both Parliament and People, Religion and Rights, laws and Liberties, City and country: and on the other side, the weakness both of Parliament and People, to defend themselves, and the State from imminent ruin, when in our greatest dangers there were such divisions in both Houses; so as for a long time, especially before the Prelates, (those incendiaries, and make-bates,) were cast out of the House of Lords, matters of main consequence, tending to reformation, and preservation of the kingdom, could not pass currant, no place could be found for the punishing of Delinquents, and the like; their impunity proving a kind of immunity to advance their Crest to such a height of insolency, as it is now grown intolerable, if not incurable. Yet notwithstanding all this, see how miraculously the Lord worketh for us: For hath he not caused all the machinations of that miscreant and malignant party, to make against themselves, and for us? What got the Prelates by their bold Remonstrance against all the Proceedings of this Parliament, as mere nullities? Were they not thereupon cast out, as nullities in Parliament, and by this occasion each House better united in itself, and both Houses better accorded, and more firmly combined together? What have they gained by attempting of Hull, by soliciting, (by flattery or force,) simple and credulous poor souls, by gathering Forces against the Parliament, and the loyal Subjects of the kingdom, but thereby to discover to the world, what truth there is in all their Protestations, and fair false pretences to the contrary: so that the trecherons intentions, and bloody projects, and beastly practices of that self-damning Crew, might be found the more worthy every day to be hated and abhorred both of God and men? So as it is apparent, that our God hath given up our enemies to be self-blinded, their hearts being hardened to their confusion: That in all their disasters, and our deliverances all along, we might sing with Moses; Who among the Gods is like unto thee, O Lord! Who is like thee! 
Exod. 15. 1●.  glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.  
Thus hitherto we have seen the many miraculous things, which are so many miraculous deliverances of the Church, and so many steps and degrees unto a greater and a more miraculous deliverance, yet to come; all which have in part answered to the interpretation of the miraculous Rainbow above mentioned. I say, in part, because the great miraculous deliverance is yet to come. And there is no surer sign of this great miraculous deliverance of God's Church, than the fury and rage of Satan, and Antichrist, with all their confederate faction, making open war against the kingdom and Gospel of Christ.  
And now is this war begun professedly in Ireland by the Rebels there. (who have their Authors, Factors, and Abetters both in Rome and England) for the rooting out of all Protestants, and the Protestant Religion; which war they intended to perfect in England and Scotland. So as this outrageous war in the ●ebellion of Ireland, and in the raising of Popish forces in England against the true Protestants, under the infamous name of Round heads, which war is fomented by all Papists and popishly affected within the Land, and without; among whom our Prelates with their Priests are not the least incendiaries, and bellowes-blowers, seducing also their blindfolded Ignorants, to make a party with them, to destroy themselves and families, together with their native country, and all the honour of it: This war (I say) so furiously and universally by them prosecuted, is a most certain immediate fore-running sign of the imminent ruin of the whole kingdom of the Beast, which is spiritually called Egypt; even as the power of the kingdom of Egypt, Pharaoh and his Host, pursuing Israel to the red Sea, with resolution utterly to destroy the Lord's people, was that which led them to their own dismal destruction in that Sea: For the enemy had said, I will pursue, I will overtake them, I 
Exod. 15. 9  will divide the spoil, my lust shall be satisfied upon them, I will draw my Sword, my hand shall destroy them. The very language of our Antichristian enemies at this time; the cavaliers at York divided among themselves, the streets, houses, and spoils of London, they threaten the utter extirpation of all roundheads (as they call them) to wit, all Protestants, even all such, as cannot away with Popery; therefore certainly the ruin of this cursed faction is near at hand, which shall be with a fearful destruction, forasmuch as they make open war against the Lord and his anointed people: So as that which is prophesied of those Kings & Rulers, in the second Psalm, who with their heathenish rage, and tumultuous troops war against the Gospel, the bands and cords whereof they endeavour to burst in sunder, & to cast away from them, hasteneth now to be verified of them; the Lord that sitteth in Heaven, laughs at their proud and vain attempts, and with his iron Rod shall he break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. And even as Pharaoh with his Egyptians would not be warned, nor humbled with those 10. terrible plagues, which the Lord sent upon Egypt one after another, but their hatred against Israel still continued, till at last the Lord utterly rooted them out; so seeing none of all these defeats, which the Lord hath sent upon the desperate designs of our new Egyptians one after another, disappointing them, and delivering us, will reclaim them, or appease their fury, but after all, they do still seek to extirpate the people of God, and all true Religion: The like destruction must needs overtake them, that overtook the old Egyptians. As the Prophet saith, O Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, but they shall 
Isa. 26. 11.  see and be confounded for their envy towards thy people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. And this is the time, foretold of old, 
Revel. 11. be my book, entit●led, The sounding of the sixt Trumpet. Rev. 16. 16.  the time of the sixth Trumpet, sounding forth woe against the Beast, for slaying the two Witnesses, after whose reviving again, there follows a great earthquake, after which followeth the destruction of the Beasts kingdom under the sounding of the seventh Trumpet, when the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. And this is the time wherein the battle of God Almighty is fought in Harmageddon, under the pouring out of the Plagues of the sixth vial upon the Beast. Now is Michael and his Angels fighting against the Dragon and his Angels. 
Revel. 2 7, 8. Rev. 17. 14. Rev. 20. 9  Now is the lamb and his party (the called, and chosen, and faithful) fighting with the Beast and his party. Now is the Holy City begirt with the Forces of Gog and Magog, open, and secret enemy, whom fire from heaven consumeth, even the zeal of God, and of his people. And the Deliverance of the Church shall be the more miraculous, because it is wrought by the mighty hand of God, through many troubles and d●fficulties, which God's people must pass through, as through a sea, before they arrive on their wished shore. And this I apprehend to be signified by the manner of the going away of the forementioned miraculous Rainbow, which manner was no less miraculous, than the Rainbow itself. For it went away, and so vanished at length, not as other rainbows, by piecemeal, as the cloud wherein it subsisteth, doth waste away; but it passed away whole and entire, all along upon the sea as far as I could see, and towards England it went: as if God's Church in England especially should have a miraculous deliverance through a sea of troubles. And the expectation hereof yields me no small supportation in the midst of these tumultuous times, and dubious events, assuring myself, that he which gave the Rainbow such a subsistence without any cloud, will also perform and accomplish the thing, whereof it was sent to be a sign, even the glorious deliverance of his Church, how unlikely or defective soever the means be.  
Yea shall I add one circumstance more? When the same day at night I went to write this down in mine almanac for remembrance, I found that this day was the very day of the month wherein I was married, which I had not observed before to be that day. Hereupon I began to apprehend, that surely this was a sign, as of the church's deliverance, so of mine also therein. For mine own particular deliverance 
As 2 Sam. 11. 11.  I made no account of, unless I might enjoy it as a part of the general Deliverance of God's people, as I professed to many at my return home, when I began to enjoy my deliverance as a part of the public, which I made as sure a reckoning of, as if then already fully accomplished.  
But at length, to wind up so much of the thread of my life, which was spun out in that my close imprisonment and banishment, let me acquaint the Reader with those special cordials, which were to me more sweet than my daily food. I had ever been from my youth up much acquainted with David's psalms, in my private devotions, as wherein I ever found greatest sweetness and solace to my poor soul; which as they afforded more matter of comfort to me, as my life had been all along much exercised with affliction: so most of all in my prison and exile. And although the psalms have all of them their several excellencies, yet among the rest I had, from my very youth made choice of one psalm especially, as which I was extraordinarily affected with, in that I could both most clearly read the general estate of my life past, and present; as also both feelingly pray for, and confidently wait for those promises and comforts which were therein presented to the eye of my faith, and which afterwards I began in my latter sufferings, in a great measure, to enjoy, which after my return from exile seemed to have a more full accomplishment. As for the purpose (to omit many other passages of the psalms, which I leave to the reader's judgement, and consideration, how far forth they are remarkably appliable to the several conditions of my life, if well weighed) not only in my last and greatest sufferings, I found answers of God to all those prayers in that psalm, which I had often prayed, in supporting me, and being my strong refuge (v. 7.) even then, when I was (as on the pillory) a wonder unto many; when also (v. 8.) my mouth 
Esa. 8. 18.  was filled with his praise, and honour all the day; when in the time of old age (v. 9) I was cast off, and even out of the world in a manner, so as the enemies said, God hath forsaken him; persecute him, and take him, for there is none to deliver him (v. 11.) yet the Lord did not cast me off; he forsook me not. And (v. 30.) how was that fulfilled at my return, Thou which hast showed me great and sore troubles, thoushalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth? And (v. 21.) ●ow began God now to increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side? And after this (of which more anon) I found that also verified (v. 18.) Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thypower to every one that is to come; which here is done in part, in this support of God's strength and power, in carrying me, a weak man, through so many and great troubles to his eternal praise and glory.  
And besides all this, what mighty confusions have I since seen upon those enemies, against whom the Psalmist prayeth, v. 13.? Not to mention more (all being so notoriously known) let me tell you one passage. I being with some friends walking in the Tower, where we were invited to see the Artillery, one came and told me, that the Archbishop of Canterbury (my grand adversary) as he was going along to the chapel to do his devotions, was met by one, who told him that I was hard by in the Tower: whereupon the Prelate presently returned, hasting to his lodging, lest (it seems) I should meet with him; who now not brooking to see my face, and ears defaced: how shall he look Jesus Christ in the face, whom he hath pierced; when he shall come to judgement, in flaming fire, rendering veugeance to all miscreants?  
This in brief of this psalm, wherein it hath pleased God to give me such an interest through Christ, in whom all those sweet promises have so full an accomplishment.  
In a word, infinite were the supports and comforts which I received by the psalms. As Psal. 40. wherein it is spoken of Christ, and of David (v. 10) I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy faithfulness, and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy loving kindness, and thy truth from the great congregation: this, I could in the integrity of my conscience (being not privy of baulking any truth in my ministry, which was forbidden by the Prelates) so far apply to myself, as that I could with the greater confidence take up the words immediately following (v. 11.) Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving kindness, and thy truth continually preserve me. &c. As I remember, how a little before my last troubles, Mr. Walker, my reverend and learned brother, being convented, and admonished by Dr. Lamb to preach no more of the Sabbath, and he being thereupon {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, half persuaded to it: I told him, Brother Walker, if you yield herein, be assured they will some time or other get you in their snare; and when they have you in prison, what comfort will you find, when your conscience shall check you, that for fear of man, you forbear freely and fully to declare the truth of God; and most of all then, when it was most opposed and oppressed? And not long after my going into banishment, they catched him indeed, and put him in prison; where I doubt not but he found comfort from God, according to my words, which he had upon that occasion followed.  
Again, I was mightily supported by those words, Psal. 66. 10. 111. 12. For thou O God, hast proved us, thou hast tried us, as silver is tried: Thou broughtest us into the net, Thou laidst affliction upon our 
Greck. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} &c. Thou hast set riders upon our heads.  loins: Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us out, into a wealthy place. Which wotds afforded me two great props to support me: The one, that God was the sole author of all those my troubles, as wherein no miscarriage of mine had given any the least just offence to those men, who forcibly drove me (yet witting, and willing) into their net, where they rode upon my head. The other was, that as I saw the Lord's hand leading me through the fire, as on the pillory, where the sun did extremely beat upon my head, and through the water, passing through the seas (as aforesaid) so I did verily assure myself, that the same hand would deliver, and bring me into a wealthy place. According also to that promise, Isa. 43. ●. Yea when in my close prison and exile, I was as an owl in the desert, or as asparrow that sits alone upon the house top, yea as one free among the dead. (Psal. 88 5.) like the slain that lie in the grave: yet this was my comfort, that I could say, Thou O Lord hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness in the deeps; (v. 6.) lover and friend hast thou put from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. All contented me well, because the Lord had done all these things to me; 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} &c. Phil. 1. 29.  and that, not in his wrath, and displeasure against me, as D●vid there complaineth; but in his loving kindness and favour, in his free grace calling, and enabling me to suffer so great things, for his name sake.  
In a word, I did now and then in my prison, exercise myself with preaching to myself upon some text of Scripture, both for my present strengthening, and comfort; and also to keep me from rust, in case it might please God to call me forth to preach again in the great congregation.  
Hereunto (if it be not tedious to the Reader) I might add a brief narration of many other helps and supports, which I found throughout all my sufferings, as also throughout the whole course of my life: As first Prayer; This never failed me at any time, and in greatest distress it had most speedy and speeding answers. What blessings hath it obtained for me? What victories over strong and masterfull corruptions, lusts, temptations, snares? How often thereby Satan foiled, and sin prevented? How my spirits supported in all my sufferings? I could here tell of many wonderful returns of prayer in the many passages of my life; and particularly concerning God's Providence in disposing of me in marriage, wherein his goodness marvellously appeared, partly by preventing some, and chiefly by providing successively two fit matches for me, who proved notable helps to me, both in my ministry, and in my sufferings, being both of them lovers, and valiant for the truth. And the second, yet surviving, can relate how miraculously Prayer brought us first together. O the excellent use of Prayer to all the purposes of this life, whether spiritual or temporal! It is the most effectual solicitor of all our causes, having such an Advocate at God's right hand.  
My second help in my sufferings was the testimony of my conscience; which stood in these particulars. First, A sure belief that all my sins were forgiven, and washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ. Secondly, An infallible knowledge, that the cause for which I thus suffered, was a most noble, holy, righteous, and innocent cause, as being the cause of Christ, of his Gospel, of his Church, yea and of the whole Land, my native country; which cause I was (not only as a Christian, but much more, as a professed witness of Christ) bound to maintain, even to the loss of all things in the world. Thirdly, the testimony of my conscience sealed by my record from on high, that my continual opposition in the course of my ministry, both by preaching and writing against the adversaries of the truth, was out of no other respect (as either of an humour of contradiction, or ambition, or vain glory, or affectation of singularity, or of malice to any man's person, or out of any discontentedness with my present condition, as some have faflly and causelessly slandered me, the Lord having been so far good unto me, as to set me far above all such base lusts (though I wanted not my corruptions) not to prevail over me) but merely out of the conscience of my duty, in zeal to God's glory, and love to his truth, and service to Christ, and to his Church. There are sundry Ministers, yet living in London, who can witness, that I was not ambitious to show myself alone in the cause, when my frequent solicitations of them could not prevail to have more fellows to share with me. And fourthly, (not to recount more particulars) in that God hath given me these three comforts more. First, that before my last Censure (as aforesaid) I owed not a penny to any man, it having ever been hateful unto me to owe any thing to any man but love; which love I am daily paying, while daily praying for all. Secondly, that in this respect I can say with the Apostle, I am free from the blood of all men, having kept nothing back that I knew necessary and profitable, 
Acts 20. 20 26, 27.  but delivered (though in great weakness) the whole counsel of God, even against all opposition of men in their express edicts, armed with terrors and threatenings to the contrary. Thirdly, although from my youth up I have not been free from many humanefrailties and follies, lusts and vanities, baits and temptations without, and corruptions within, ready to betray me; yet herein my conscience doth greatly comfort me, in this mercy of God I exceedingly glory, that his Grace still prevented me, and preserved me in my integrity; that he might 
Psal. 41. 12.  set me before his face for ever, even in the rank of those, of whom it is said, These are they that were not defiled with women. Thus have I 
Rev. 14. 4.  showed some special grounds of such comforts, as I enjoyed in my prison and exile: These were my sweet Associates, and Vade-mecums in that my solitary secluse: these the cordials and preservatives (from and under my God) of my life and health.  
Nay, shall I add yet one more. For this our comfort comes in the rear, though late first; yet at last, That all this my suffering was mainly from the malice and instigation of the Prelates (to say nothing of papal leagues) who oppugned me with two powerful Armies, the High-Commission, and the star-chamber, and all for this cause (cause enough) that I testified the truth against their prelatical oppositions, and tyrannical usurpations: so as their shutting me out from among them, their depriving and degrading me of my Ministry, I now accounted my greatest honour and privilege, as being now freed from such an Antichristian yoke. As I told the Warden of the Fleet, as he carried me from my Degradation in Paul's, that now I thanked God I had cast off the Bishop's Livery, and found my shoulders much the lighter by it.  
Now to sum up all my sufferings, that only God may have the glory; herein let me deprecate the Censure of arrogance, if I make the great Apostle, next after my Lord J●sus Christ, my pattern to follow, though at a vast distance The Apostle having recited his many & great sufferings, as so many privileges, wherein he had outstripped the false Apostles, 2 Cor. 11. saying (v. 23.) Are they the Ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death oft, &c. he concludes, ver. 30. If I must needs glory▪ I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. And chap. 12. 9 Most gladly will I rather glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me; Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong: so the Apostle. And who shall deny me (though but a dwarf to such an Apostle) the like liberty to glory the rather in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me, and be the more glorified in me? seeing Christ's power is most seen in greatest weakness, yea his strength thereby made perfect. And Mat. 21. 16. Out of the mouths 
2 Cor. 12. 9 Mat. 21. 16  of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected praise.  
But what are my sufferings to those of the Apostle? surely whatever proportion they may hold, or if any at all, let not envy grudge us the balance of the Sanctuary to weigh them in; if by this ●…eans Christ's power shall appear the greater, in equally supporting one so unequal to his Apostle in gifts, and graces; and yet in sufferings not altogether so unequal. Shall we be bold to take a parallel view of them? Pardon me good Reader.  
First, the sole cause of all Paul's sufferings, was his witness-bearing 
A parallel between Paul's sufferings, and the Authors.  to the truth of the Gospel, and for none other cause were all my sufferings. Secondly, Paul was in prisons more frequent: so have I been; yea confined to perpetual close imprisonment. Thirdly Paul suffered stripes above measure: and I have suffered loss of very much blood on the pillory, equivalent to many stripes. Fourthly, Paul suffered thrice shipwreck: and I suffered the loss of all at once, with imminent danger of shipwreck two several times. Fifthly, Paul was in perils by sea: so was I in my tedious voyage by sea on a stormy winter season, and through perilous seas between Lancashire and Guernsey, for six weeks' space, sundry times very near perishing in the Irish seas. Sixthly, Paul was in perils among false brethren: so was I, never free from perils of false brethren, or false Christians, who used to watch me in my Church to catch something from my mouth, to carry to the Prelates, and so bring me into the lions paws. Seventhly, Paul was in perils of his own countrymen, the Jews, who sundry times way-layd him, to kill him: so have I been sundry times in perils of the Jesuits, my countrymen, who in the City apparently two several times, laid their ambush to take away my life; also of false ministers, pretended friends, who privately brought me into the prelate's mercy, for preaching against bowing at the name Jesus, for which I was suspended, as afore. Eighthly, Paul suffered hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness: so had I nothing left me of mine own, to preserve me from hunger and thirst, from cold and nakedness; se; lying under the formidable fine of 5000 l' payable to the King, had it either been extended, or I able to have paid the tenth part of it. And with mere cold had I perished in Lancashire goal, had not God in his providence translated me thence: and with hunger had I perished in Guernsey Castle, had I not been fed by the governor's allowance, from Mr. Lieutenants table; for the which no recompense could be obtained from those, by whose authority I was there committed close prisoner, where I could not help myself. Ninthly, again, Paul was rescued from the hands of the cruel Jews, High Priests, and Pharises, by his appealing to Caesar, a heathen Emperor, who protected him from their violence: but I, by appealing from the cruel Prelates, was not rescued from their bloody hands. Tenthly, Paul, when the Jews laid wait for him, without the gates of Damascus, to kill him, was in a basket let down over the wall, and so esaped: but I being in mine own house beset with bills, and swords, and threatened with a Prelates mace, had my house violently broken up, and my person carried away to prison, although I might have the same time escaped their hands. Eleventhly, Paul was persecuted by the Jews, who were professed enemies of Christ: but I by those, who profess to be Christians, yea Protestants, and to be for Christ, yea to be for the very Church of Christ. Now a professed enemy is less dangerous, than a 
Psal. 55. 12. 13. 14.  professed, but false, friend. Twelfthly, Paul (if the story be true) suffered death, by being beheaded, with the sword, under Nero at Rome: And I suffered that on the pillory in England, my native Country, which was more painful, and no less, if not more disgraceful, than such a death. For my head hung two full hours on the pillory, as if it had been separate from my body; and there were my two ears disgracefully and butcherly cut off with the hangman's knife, whereby my blood was abundantly shed, even to the expiring of the soul; all which was, both for the present, and afterwards in the time of healing, much more painful, than the chopping off of the head with one stroke. Thirtenthly As God endued Paul with an excellent spirit to undergo and overcome all his affliction with a singular alacrity and constancy, so as he sung psalms in the prison, and accounted his life, and all outward things, but as dung, in comparison of Christ: so the same God poured into my soul abundantly the like spirit, of fortitude and magnanimity, not only cheerfully and constantly, but even triumphantly, to be more than conqueror in all my sufferings; as also the Apostle said of himself, 2. Cor. 2. 14. and Rom. 4. 37.  
Besides all this, First, Paul was never haunted, hunted, and vexed by Pursuivants, as I have been. Secondly, Paul was never bound in bonds of two or three hundred pounds to answer the High Priests in their synedrion, as I have been in the high Commission Court. Thirdly, Paul, when he was a prisoner, and that under Nero; yet had liberty 
Acts 24. 23 & 28. 30. 31  to visit his friends and acquaintance; and they to come and visit him: but I was shut up in a close prison, where neither myself could visit others, nor they me. Fourthly, Paul had his fellow prisoners with him to be mutual comforters: but I was shut up all alone, without a fellow, or compainon. Fifthly, Paul was never fined in more than he was worth: but I was. Sixthly, Paul was never deemed to more punishments than one, at once: but I to many, and those most grievous punishments; and that contrary to the law of the Medes and Persians. Ezra. 7. 26. Seventhly, Paul was not condemned before the hearing of his cause, nor himself condemned, for refusing to assent to the condemning of his own cause before hearing: but both I and my cause were thus condemned, contrary to the law of the land, and of all nations. Eightly, It was lawfullfor Paul to have carried about with him a sister a wife, if he had had one: but I having an honest, godly, most loving, and tender hearted woman to my wife, was not suffered to have her with me according to God's Ordinance, for our mutual comfort and support, in our great affliction; but we were violently separated one from the other, without any the least colour of cause. Ninthly, Paul was suffered to write to his friends, and to those his children, whom he had begotten by the Gospel, and to those Churches, which he had planted: but I was not permitted the use of pen, ink, and paper, so much as to write to my friends, or to my disconsolate wife, or my poor orphan-childrens, whom God had given to me in lawful wedlock. Tenthly, Paul never was banished from his native country: but I was, and that extrajudicially, sent into perpetual banishment. Eleventhly, Paul, though a prisoner, yet was not forbid to preach; but exercised his ministry in the prison, to all that came unto him but my mouth was by Decree for ever stopped; which one affliction was to me, as in itself, so heavy, as is sufficient to counterbalance all Paul's afflictions Twelfthly, Nor did Paul live to know experimentally those sufferings, which Antichrist (foretold of by him) should both craftily invent, and cruelly inflict upon God's 
2 Thess 2●  servants, in these last times; which myself have now lived both to see, and suffer. Antichrist was then but a cockatrice in the egg: but now he is broke out, and grown to be a great red dragon. Thirteenthly, Paul once by pleading the privilege of a Roman; escaped the whip: but I, though once by pleading the benefit of a subject, I obtained (which yet cost me ten pounds) a Prohibition, whereby. I was delivered from a double lash of the High Commission: yet the next day after as aforesaid) I fell under the Prelates lash; who suspended me from my ministry, for preaching the truth; for the which truths sake I have also suffered all these things. Finally, Fourteenthly, Paul's Judges would not condemn him, for the bare accusation of his adversaries, saying, It was not the manner of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he which is accused, have the accuser's face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him: but 
Act. 25: 16.  I; though I had permission by the Court to make my defence in writing, and at the censure to speak for myself, yet all was as nothing, but without either accusers, or witnesses (saving only a counterfeit information in Court, charging many things, but proving nothing, but serving only for a snare, which innocency itself could not escape) I underwent the most terrible Censure that ever was inflicted in the world. But though I underwent it, yet through the power of Christ I overcame it. To him alone be all the glory and praise of a suffering, which only his power and grace made so great, so glorious.  
After a●l this, let me a little recreate my Reader, with a small story of a passage falling out, while I was in Guernsey Castle. On a time, a pigeon sitting near my chamber window (where my daily feeding of them made them so familiar, as they would follow me up and down the Castle) a wild hawk suddenly plunged upon her, and beats her down to the ground, above four stories, and falls a-preying on her. I beheld it a while from my window, and presently thereupon ran down to rescue the dove, though I was to run above a flight shot off▪ I ran, and sound the hawk still upon the pigeon, and when I was ready to cease on the hawk, she flew off, and then the poor Pigeon took her faint flight also, the bold hawk pursuing her about the Castle; but the dove escaped, for any thing I could hear. This use I made of it; I compared the Dove to the Church, and the hawk to the enemies of it, hoping that, though for a time the hawk get the Dove under to p●ey upon her; yet deliverance shall come in the nick: in the Mount will the Lord be seen, and the Church shall escape, but hardly; but whether by flight (as Revel. 12.) or otherwise, that rests only in our Great Deliverers hand. This by the way.  
But now it is high time to close it up. For November 15. 1640. being the Lord's day, a Bark comes to Guernsey from England with friends, and an Order from the Honourable House of Commons for my enlargement, and return for England. Blessed tidings indeed, and the more, because it came from a Parliament; and yet more, in that it was the Parliaments handsaile, presenting much good, but promising much more. The news filled the Castle with joy, and so the island. The first observation I made of it, was of the day, on which this tidings came. First, I noted it was the Lord's day, which day I had mightily propugned and defended, both by preaching and writing against the malignant and profane adversaries of the sanctification thereof, and of its morality. And when the book for dispensation, and allowance of sports on that day, came with an injunction to be publicly read in my Church upon a Lord's day; that very day, in stead of reading of it (which I utterly abhorred to do, as an abominable thing) I turned my afternoon preaching into an opening of the fourth commandment, therein proving the Lord's day, to wit the first day of the week, to succeed the seventh, or last day of the week, both for Sabbath, and Sanctification under the Gospel. Now the news and Order for my enlargement coming to me on the Lord's day, I took it as a gracious reward of mercy from God, whose day I had formerly stood for against all the adversaries thereof. Again, secondly this day was the fifteenth day of the month, to wit November, which was the first day of the last month that made up the three years and a half from the day of my Censure; and so was fulfilled that which I spoke before at Coventry, to the said Reverend Ministers, Mr Nalton, and Mr hugh's, that three years and a half hence we should meet again and be merry. For June 14. 1637. was my Censure, and November 15. 1640. was the first day of the last month that made up three years and a half: so as the Parliaments Order calling me forth of prison to be presented before them, seemed to me to be that great voice from heaven, saying to the two Witnesses, after their lying dead three days and a half (three years and a half) unburied, Come up hither. Moreover I observed, that I had come to Guernsey on the fifteenth day of the month and three years after, on the fifteenth day of the month, taking that month current from the fifteenth day, came my release. And the like did my brother Prin of his coming to Jarsey, which was on the seventeenth day of the month, and his release came to him on the seventeenth day of the month: so punctual is God in doing all things, in number, weight, and measure, could we but take a right measure of his doings in all the passages of his Providence.  
On Tuesday the seventeenth, the messengers came to my brother Prin, so as by Thursday after he came to me to Guernsey, where we being feasted by all the Ministers there, and more especially by Mr Delamarch at his house, and myself by some worthy Merchants in the town: we were no sooner ready to set sail, but the wind came about for us to go for England. And here I cannot omit to observe the sweet Providence of God, in bringing our friends from London so prosperously. They came on Thursday from London to Southampton, the next day they provided a Bark, the while the wind was opposite, but Saturday morning, the fourteenth, they being ready, the wind came about and brought them the next day to Guernsey. They stayed not one day for the wind in coming, nor we for going for England. On Saturday the 21. about two of the clock in the afternoon, taking our leave of the worthy lieutenant, and the rest, we set sail for England; where the wind, by a gentle gale, brought us the next day at night, being the Lord's day, to arrive. And here again I observe two special passages of the divine Providence. First, that the wind blowing slack, and the night coming on, and we being now distant from from the main land three or four leagues, so as the master was somewhat perplexed for want of wind; we encouraged him, and thereupon all our company went into the hold, and fell to sing psalms: we had no sooner begun to sing, but presently the wind began to whistle up, so that we might hear the Bark to rouse through the waves: we continued our singing, and the wind continued his blowing, until just as we had done singing, the master had cast anchor, we not knowing it, till we came upon the deck, for which we blessed our God. The second Circumstance was, that in the very same place, where I had parted last from England, did our Bark now cast anchor for England, God so disposing it by his wind. And this was in the mouth of Dartmouth, where leaving our Bark to go for South-hampton with our Stuffe, we lodged in Dartmouth that night, concluding and refreshing our long Pilgrimage with the close of the sabbatical rest of that day.  
The next day, being courteously entertained of some of the best of the town, who also provided us horses, being nine or ten in company, we hastened for London; and came that night to Exeter, within night, where we saw the faces of many religious people, who most lovingly entreated us, many of them accompanying us the next day out of the City. We rode the next day to Lime, where coming, though somewhat late in the evening, we were kindly entertained by the reverend and godly Minister there, Mr Gear, and by a worthy Justice of the Peace. Thence we set for ward the next morning before day, hastening to come to the Lecture at Dorchester, which we did; being there refreshed both in soul and body, where we were saluted, and entertained by many worthy Christians. After dinner the same day we rode on our journey, lodging at a private town between Dorchester and Salisbury. The next day we dined at Salisbury, where we visited Mr Thatcher, a reverend and laborious Minister there, but very sickly at that time, and since deceased: whence in the afternoon, being accompanied by sundry good Christians in the City, we rode to Andover that night, being in the way met by sundry good Christians of that town, who entertained us very courteously, and accompanied us on in our journey the next day; on which, being Friday, we reached to Egham that night, being met by the way, before we came at Bagshot, by many of our loving friends and neighbours of London, and especially my Friday-street neighbours, my old Parishioners; and when we were not far past Bagshot, we were met by my most loving and dear wife, who came accompanied with many loving friends, and worthy Citizens of London; among whom was that most affectionate friend, Mr Willingham, and his loving wife, who came with my wife in the coach, which he had provided for that purpose. What expressions of joy and love there were at our meeting, cannot be expressed. Well, to Egham we came in the close of the day, where every house brought forth a light to light us to our lodging, where we were most nobly entertained by multitudes of friends, that from London met us there. They called it our wedding night, which was principally celebrated by that worthy and reverend Minister of Egham, Mr Rayner, who prayed with us, with solemn giving of thanks, expressed also in singing of psalms, which he had most fitly and sweetly composed of many parts and parcels of psalms, very admirably accommodated to the present occasion; and all which, continuing almost a whole hour, Mr Rayner repeated without book.  
The next morning very early all our company was ready, and after prayer took horse, being on our journey for London before the sun arose. Of the whole train, consisting of two or three hundred, many went out of Egham, not without their branches of Rosemary and bays, as ensigns of the wedding: insomuch as all the way as we rode, the poor people brought forth whole baskets of Rosemary and bays, to furnish every one in the train, which continually was increased by the way. At every town the Bells were rung as we passed through, the streets being strewed with people to see our faces. But by the way I observed the sun rising with an extraordinary brightness by reason of the clearness of the air, the whole sky notwithstanding being covered over from side to side round about with one entire cloud, as it were a seamless mantle or veil upon the whole hemisphere, only the sun unclouded; But still as the sun mounted higher and higher, this mantle or cloud did by degrees draw back, and give way to the sun, and so passed before it, until the cloud did, by degrees, wholly vanish, as driven away by the sun's brightness, without the least breath of wind to cause it so to pass away. This was observed also by many in the company; so as, though it were the end of November, yet after the sun had chased away the cloud which fled before it, never was there a day in summer more clear, more bright, more sweet and comfortable then that was. And it was the more to be observed, because all the days in our journey, from our first landing, were much clouded, and thickened with mists or fogs, only beginning to clear up as we approached to Egham, where our friends met us. So as the extraordinariness of this day's brightness and beauty, so cleared up as before, made some impression in my mind of a sweet and glorious day, or time, which the Sun of righteousness, arising over England, with healing under his wings, was now about to procure for us, after once that black cloud which hanged over the Land, was by degrees chased away. But this by the way.  
Nor did the cloud faster wane before the Sun, than the faces of our friends from London began more and more to shine, being now multiplied, as it were into so many constellations of bright stars; by the reflection whereof, our way towards London seemed to be another via lactea, or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, as the Philosopher calls it, that milky-white brightness, which we see in the heavens in a clear starty night.  
But now in the midst of all this glory and favour cast upon us, and shining forth from the faces and affections of God's people, I began to fee, and to be sensible of a far greater danger, than I had been in during all the time of my imprisonment and exile. For then and there I displayed all my sails, to be filled with the gentle gales of comforts breathing from heaven upon me: but now I saw a necessity of taking in my sails, lest the wind of God's favour, and of his people's affections blowing so strongly, yet sweetly, upon me, might overturn, and sink my brittle Bark now in the very bosom of the haven. For I began now to feel some stirrings within me, Satan now labouring to overthrow me (as he did Adam) in this my seeming Paradise; which he could not do while I lay on Jobs dunghill. Therefore as the Mariner, seeing an Herican approaching, presently takes in his sails: so did I now, I descried in this calm a storm abrewing; hereupon I did retire my thoughts inward, and did earnestly pray to the Lord, that he would no less strongly support me with his hand now in this prosperous condition, than he had done formerly in all my sufferings. And the Lord heard me; for both for the present he answered me, My grace is sufficient for thee, my heart all the way as I rode, putting itself in a posture of defence against Satan's fiery darts, and couching so low, that his bullets flew all over my head: and afterwards, lest I should be exalted with abundance of salutations in London streets, and abroad, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet me, as we shall hear anon.  
Thus we are in our way to London; we dine at Brainford, where not only all the inns, but streets were filled; the company flowing in as a main springtide, not only filling the high way, but overflowing the banks all along. They were multiplied at Brainford to many thousands, horses and coaches filling the Road from thence to London; which no less filled the Adversaries hearts with envy and madness, who for so long time before had rejoiced and made merry, during our durance. A little before I came to Charing cross (as before is touched) a woman being on foot in the midst of the horse, called to me, and said, O Sir, this is a glorious wedding day: To whom I replied, It is indeed, good woman, blessed be God. Yea, said she again, but your wedding day upon the pillory was more glorious. I admiring this speech of the woman, answered, indeed it is true. And truly so it was; for my suffering on the pillory was made glorious by an inward spiritual power, and hand of heaven upon my soul, making it to ride as it were in triumph, in that chariot: but this my return from captivity was attended with an external glory shining forth from human favour; although all was the effect and fruit of God's mercy and providence, causing the same; who in all, is to be blessed for ever.  
And when I was newly past Charing cross, over against the mews, Sir Peter Osburne, Governor of Guernsey, where I was prisoner, was staying in his coach, with the boot down (no doubt as he was appointed) to receive me into his coach, and so to carry me to his house, at Chelsey; which he tendering unto me, I desired his honour to excuse me, seeing I was all in a sweat, and fit to go nowhere, but to my own house, lest my health might be endangered. He pressed me again and again: I answered still as before. Then said he, take notice that I have required you to go with me: I replied, And I pray you Sir take notice of the answer, and reason I give you, why I dare not go with you. So he dismissed me; and we rid on; the streets all along, on each side thronged with people, and all the houses, and windows from the mews, to my house in Alderman-bury, full of beholders of all sexes, and ages of all sorts; we were three long hours in passing from the mews, to Alderman-bury. Against my coming home that night, some friends waiting in my house for my coming, one of them espied there a strange man in a scarlet cloak, muzzled about his face; and being demanded what he was, and not giving a clear answer, they wished him to be gone; whereupon he went his way. So I coming safely home, enjoyed natural rest in mine own house; and the next day, being the Lord's Sabbath, spiritual, and corporal rest from all my labours past.  
On the monday following, my brother Prin and I went to attend the House of Commons; my brother Bastwick being not yet returned from silly. We presented our persons with our petitions to the House, for the hearing of our cause. It was granted; a special committee was appointed for the examination of our cause; and in the same Order of the House to the same committee (a thing wherein the hand of divine Providence is not a little seen) it was ordered, that after the examination of our causes, the Courts and proceedings both of the High Commission, and star chamber should be examined; and the issue was; our cause was declared and voted first by the Committee, and after by the whole House, to be innocent, and all the proceedings of those Courts against us illegal, against the laws of the land, and the liberties of the subject: and on the other side, both those Courts were alike voted to be illegal; and thereupon an Act was drawn up, and passed, and stands now in force, for the utter abolishing of both those Courts. So they are brought down, and fallen, and we are risen, and stand upright. And blessed be the Lord, that 
Psal. 2●, ●.  both those Courts fell under such a Cause, as gives them no just cause to complain. But for our cause, although the honourable House of Commons have voted it so far for the clearing of us, as it can yet go: yet the Transmission thereof to the House of Lords is not hitherto passed, for a recompense of our wrongs sustained. But herein we are patients with the whole land, which lies a-bleeding, while the cause of innocent blood cannot find redress. Yet blessed be God, that by virtue of that vote I have liberty to preach; although I have suffered not a little for that first Sermon I preached, after my liberty obtained, as my first-fruits paid to the Parliament at Westminster. clamours were raised by some malignant spirits, and received too credulously by some of the better minded, who had not heard the Sermon; which the more grieved me. But how justly fame did censure me, the Sermon itself (if once it may obtain licence to be printed, which it hath a long time waited for) will clearly show. Many other wrongs have I suffered, both by false reports, and by books published under the name of Mr. Burton in general, which the simple hearted people took to be mine; being only counterfeited to get away their farthings. But the righteous judge will one day clear all. When the next day after that Sermon I was taken with a fit of the stone, the first sensible fruit of my long close imprisonment; fame gave it out, that it was for grief and shame of my said Sermon. Though after this, I have had sundry fits of the stone. I might mention many other reproaches cast upon me, since my enlargement, which I have learned the more easily to digest, and contemn, (saving only that I take them as messengers of 
1 Cor. 12. 9  Satan, sent to buffet me) by my experience in my greater sufferings. He that hath stood an innocent upon the pillory, and the●e had his ears cut off; which he endured with not only patience, but alacrity and triumph: cannot he (trow you) brook to be unjustly branded for an Infamous person, and that by such as were the prime authors of such bloody, and barbarous cruelty, but he must needs be sick for sorrow of that, which he accounts his glory and crown? Or shall such a one be ashamed to bear in his body such glorio is marks of the Lord Jesus? Or, he that chose rather to be deprived of all, liberty, livelihood, ears, credit with the malignant world, degrees in schools, yea his sweet native country, wife, children, friends, all outward comforts, rather than betray the cause of Christ, and basely yield to unreasonable and absurd men: after the suffering of all these, is it so easy a matter (Think you) to overthrow such a one with the impotent breath of a man that shall die; or of the son of man, that shall be made as grass? should I now at last so forget the Lord my maker, as to fear 
Esa. 51. 12, 13.  continnually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy; of whom the Prophet saith, And where is the fury of the Oppressor? Behold my witness is in Heaven, and my Record is on 
Iob. 16 19  high. And certainly, if witnessing the Truth against falsehood, and openly detecting the machinations of apostates (if ever they were other then dissembling Hypocrites, before their visards were pulled off) deserve the brand of An infamous disturber of the peace of this Church, and State; I will wear it as a badge of the greatest honour of my service to Christ in this World. And I bless my Lord who accounted me faithful, and put me in this service, and enabled me so therein, as to deserve to be reproached no otherwise then the Prophet Eliah was by the grand disturber and troubler of Israel, to whom the Prophet replied 
1 Kings 18 17, 18.  I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and have followed Baalim. And if by [This Church] be understood the prelatical or hierarchical and by [State] a tyrannical, and lawless Government, I heartily thank God, that I have been a disturber of these so, as never since that time they could peacably go on (as before they did) in their rebuilding of Babel, the end whereof will be confusion, or in re-edifying of Jericho, the curse whereof 
Iosh. 6. 26.  was the rooting out of the whole race, and posterity of the Rebuilder.  
What should I speak of the many reproaches and infamies, which I have undergone since the clearing of my Cause in the honourable House of Commons, ever to be honoured of all posterity? But this was my comfort all along, even the clearness of my Conscience, being not guilty to myself of any just cause by me given, why any, (Unless prelatical and jesuitical spirits, or such as are through ignorance seduced by them) should fall so foul upon me, saving that the more any man endeavours to come nearest to Christ, and so to shake off the shackles of sin and yoke of Antichristian usurpation over the souls of men the 
Rev. 18. 13.  more necessarily and unavoidably he must pass the pikes of all those whose conversation in the world cannot find elbow-room enough to 
L●●. 13. 24.  walk in Christ's narrow way, which leadeth unto life. Nor need this be made a wonder in our days, which hath been the perpetual practice of the world in all ages since Christ had a Church upon earth since the Lord himself put that enmity between the Serpent and the Woman, 
Gen. 3. 15.  and between her seed and his; yea in this Age of ours (wherein Satan's wrath is so great, because he knoweth, that he hath but a short time, and wherein the ten horned Beast, and his limbs are fighting their last battle in Harmageddon, whither the Almighty himself brings them, that he might show himself to be the Almighty in giving the 
Revel. 16. 14, 16.  last and most terrible defeat to all their power and plots) not to see such an enmity were a wonder, when we have already seen what a wonder-working age it hath been (as before hath been touched) and certainly shall yet see greater things than these. And therefore for poor me to be set in the Front (as it were) of this battle between Christ and Antichrist, and to be shot at, as a prime kindler of the coals; what wounds I receive from the adversaries, I shall wear them as crowns upon me, whose weight the greater it is, the more sensible thereof is my weakness and unworthiness to bear it.  
Again, how I have been reproached and reviled by those two Champions of Canterbury, to wit, Dr. Heylin, and Dr. Dow, whom the Prelate employed in the writing and publishing of their two books in answer to that of mine, For God and the King, I refer to every judicious, ingenuous, and Orthodox Reader of my Book and theirs. And they writ against me, when I was fast close Prisoner in the Fleet, beating and wounding me at their pleasure, when I was bound hand and foot; and when (though I had had opportunity, which I had not, to answer them, yet) I could not have got my Book licenced for the press, or yet any man that durst print, when they saw the Author to be so used. As for their Answers to the doctrinal points in my said Book, not only the Reverend Ministers of London in their late Remonstrance, exhibited unto the Honourable House of Commons, and openly debated and proved from point to point, have among other things taxed as erroneous, but my Doctrines themselves dost and still unshaken, entire, and orthodox, notwithstanding all their proud and bold attempts to batter them down. But where they cannot (as all along) fasten their envenomed darts against the Doctrines, they have sharpened their virulent stile against my person, sprinkling it all over with as black disgraces, as the Gall and Vinegar of their ink, but much more of their imbittered and galled Spirit could pour forth. D. Dow spends his whole second Chapter professedly in going about to grace my whole course and manner of life; doing therein, as a Declamatory Orator, who having a bad Cause to plead, falls foul in the first place upon the Person of his Adversary. As the Orator Tertullus, whom the High Priests had feed to plead against Paul; who, after his colloguing Preface to Foelix, for a favourable audience, he begins thus against Paul, saying, We have found this man a Pestilent fellow, and a mover of Sedition among all the Jews, &c. And so this doctor 
A●…. 2●.  hath farse his Chapter with many sore charges upon my Person. One is, I can devise (saith he) no better apology, nor other way to free him from the just imputation of imbittered malice, and traitorous intention, then to say, that discontent at once hath cracked his brain and his conscience. To which I answer, The Lord rebuke thee But he begins at my breeding in Cambridge, for some short time (as he saith) surely that some short time was six years together entire, taking my Degree of Mr. of Arts the next year. Well, what then? Where he was never observed for any excellency, but that he could play well on an Instrument. Surely I plead not excellency in any thing. What God hath freely given me, I bless him for. Yet this there be some yet living can testify, that I was so observed for a Ciceronean, that I was in request for making Orations for Gentlemen in the college; which I speak not to glory of, but to tell Dr. Dow, that H. B. will at this day dispute with Christopher Dow▪ either in Latin or Greek. That I could play well on an Instrument, I thank God also; and the rather, because that quality was borne with me, and it never was any hindrance but a furtherance to my studies. But after he was a schoolmaster in a nobleman's house, (saith he) he found the favour to be admitted to a mean place in the Closet of his Majesty that now is, than Prince of Wales: which sometime he was wont to execute in his hose and doublet, with a perfuming pot in one hand, and a fire-shovel in the other; and as I have heard, received for his pains 5. pound per annum, and a Livery. Now all these particulars he relates, as so many disgraces upon my person. Why? was't a disgrace for a young man as I was, for a while to teach the two Noble sons of a nobleman in a Noble house? And for the favour I found in Court to be admitted to a mean place, in the Closet of his Majesty that now is, than Prince of Wales: our Doctor here is quite out. For first, the place in the Closet, how meanesoever he accounts it, which I was admitted into, was the whole office of the Prince's Closet, both the Great and the privy Closet, entirely. I had the Charge of all, to provide furniture and Books, and all requisites for those Closets, which came to no small value. 'Tis true indeed, that by the prelatical party working in the King's Court, and which ever had a malignant eye upon me, I was kept from the Title of clerk, but I had the Office of Clerk: So as when the Prince's servants were to be allowed two parts of three, proportionably to the King's servants, I had for 20. nobles (the clerk's wages of the King's Closet) 5. pound allowed to me. For the Livery, it was just the same that the King's clerk had; but for my part, I never received it, because I never demanded it, being a red Jacket, and I wot not what else, an old obsolete Livery for the clerk: But the Doctor hath (I know not through what error) quite omitted the best part of the time that I spent in Court. For my first Court service was to that most noble, and of ever most glorious memory, Prince Henry, whom I served upon seven years' space; and which I would have been willing to have served many seven years in my doublet and hose, even in a far meaner office, conditionally it had pleased God to have continued his life so long. A gracious Prince and Master he was to me; he was pleased often to admit me to speak with him alone, and for any motion I made to him, I ever received a most gracious answer. I could tell the Doctor, how when some Officers had in my absence given way to the Players to bring their bag and baggage into the Closet, there to dress themselves, upon my complaint to his highness, he did forbid it. Another time, from an old custom (and I being then out of the way) some of the Gentlemen dancing in the Great Closet, his highness upon my complaint to him, quite for bade that also, saying (being with me alone in his privy Closet, where he used me with the most sweet carriage and communication, that even one familiar would use unto another) that he would not have any to dance in his Closets, and bid me so to tell them from him. I could speak much more in this kind, but I forbear. Now if ever I waited in my hose and doublet, it was to that Noble Prince Henry. But be it known to Dr. Dow, that for all such offices, as of perfuming, and the like, I kept a servant to do them, as the King's clerk did. I ever carried myself suitably to my degree, as a scholar though living in Court, where I studied no less than if I had been in the University; Yet I remember, that one time my man being out of the way, and the Prince coming suddenly to chapel, before we were aware, I not having my cloak or gown on, snatched up the perfuming Pan, to sweeten the room where the Prince was to pass, as the manner was. And this is all that sometime, that I did so, it being also a solemn time, when a great Prince (as I remember, the Palatine) came along with him.  
But (saith he) upon the Prince Charles his going into Spain, H. B. whether his indiscretion did minister cause of suspicion, or what ever the cause were, certain it is, he was put out of the list for that voyage, and that when his goods were a shipboard. Here the Dr. again is wide for my goods were not a shipboard; hereof he cannot say, Certain it is; but certain it is, I confess, that I was put out of the List, and that also when my goods were truncked: But inter pontem & fontem misericordia Domini: Between the City and the Ship was God's mercy seen, which yet he imputes to some suspicion of my indiscretion. Indeed, if my plain dealing against Popery, be indiscretion, I can hardly to this day, as old as I am, and as bitten as I have been, so avoid the suspicion, as not to make manifestation thereof, yea although it had been in Spain itself; as Paul did in Athens, when he disputed with the Philosophers in Ariopaguses. And therefore I have cause to bless God to 
Acts 17.  this day, that I was unlisted for that Spanish Voyage, where perhaps some such indiscretion might have left me in the lurch of the Inquisition, where our countryman Mr. Bedle had been for so many years immured, whence no more redemption then from the infernal Prison. And why should I have escaped in Spain that Babylonish prison, when I could not escape the like in England? But what ever other cause it was on man's part, certain it is, that God's good providence prevented that, that so this should not be prevented.  
But this he calls a little after, His hoped Voyage into Spain. Indeed if Dr. Dow had been the man, well might he have called it, His hoped Voyage into Spain, and so of his desired preferment thereby a bishopric at least; and I bless God, that both I escaped the Voyage, and the Preferment too.  
But His Majesty upon his misbehaviour dismissed him the Court, whence being cashiered, and all his hopes of preferment dashed &c. These malicious misconceits of the Doctor are detected of wicked falsehood before. And so I will follow him in his Wild-goose Chase no further.  
And now that he hath spit all his spite, what is all this heap of disgraces, being summed up together? All doth not amount to this; that Mr. H. B. is either a drunkard or a whoremaster, or any such vicious person, or an idle drone in his Ministry, or one that was ever, or would be a double beneficed man, or one that favours Arminianism, or Popery, or one that suffers his wife (had he such a one) to be his master, or his Curate hers. And now should I as diligently trace the steps of this Doctor, as he hath hunted mine; O Doctor, I will say no more, but draw a veil over the rest: Nolo in hoc ulcere esse unguis. And so I leave both the Doctors to the righteous Judge of quick and dead.  
And what shall I say to the grand master of these two Doctors, who for their so good service hath so richly rewarded them? But God reward both him and them according to their deeds.  
And now it is time for me to shut up my discourse of the course of my life, it now drawing on apace to its final period. As for the reproaches I have undergone by false brethren about my suffering, as that it was just, I will bundle them all up, either to burn them, as Constantine did, or to leave them in the hands of the righteous Judge of all the world, who will do right. And here let me close with a story concerning my suffering; wherein it will appear, that the righteous Judge from heaven hath set to his hand to the House of Commons, in the vindication of my Cause.  
Since my return from exile, a certain attorney at Law being then in the house of one Mrs Monday, then dwelling a little within Aldersgate in Little Britain, Febr. 17. 1640. and mention being made of my name and sufferings, and Mrs Monday saying, that England had never thriven since he suffered; and that though she had never seen him yet she had shed many a tear for him: the said attorney replied, Could so many wise men and Judges be deceived? for he suffered no more than he deserved, nor so much neither; and therefore what a pox (such was his language) should you be sorry for such a man as he? No sooner had these words passed from him, but his right ear suddenly and strangely fell a bleeding at the lower tip of it; and so long it bled, as it wet a whole handkerchief, so as it might have been wrung out; whereat his heart so fainted, that he sent for half a pint of Sack, and drunk it up himself alone. Whereat his brother then present, with sundry more, said unto him; You may see brother what it is to speak against Mr Burton: Yet such was this man's spirit, that in stead of taking notice of the hand of God herein, he continued cursing, saying, what a pox, had I not spoken a word against Burton, my ear would have bled; though he could not at that time show any reason, or natural cause, why his ear should then bleed, it being whole and sound; so as upon the ceasing of the blood, Mrs Monday's maid wiping the blood off his ear, and looking wistfully upon it, could not discern whence the blood should issue, but only a small poor, or hole no more than a pin's point could go into, there being neither scratch, nor scab, nor scar upon his ear. The persons then present that saw this, were these; the attorney's brother and his wife, Mrs Adcock, Mrs Anne Roe, Mrs Joan Monday, and Ellen Hutton her servant. All this Mrs Monday and her maid testified before sundry Christians of good credit, myself and wife being present.  
Yet after this, within some few days, the said attorney had found out a flam, to make Mrs Monday, and others, believe, that the cause of that bleeding of his ear was by a razor, which he had borrowed two or three days before; wherewith he having cut his ear, and at that time rubbing it, it fell a-bleeding. But neither was this put▪ off ready at hand when his ear so fell a-bleeding, nor did the maid discern any such thing, save only one little hole no larger than a pin's point, which could not possibly be made with a round razor.  
But after this, for all this shavers device, he forbore any more to come to Mrs Monday's house; who asking him at her door, why he was grown such a stranger, and praying him to come in, he refused, saying, No, I will come no more to your house to work miracles. But I pray God he may sin no more, lest a worse thing happen unto him.  
And now to stop the mouths of this, and all other reproachers of my sufferings as just, I will only refer the Reader to those votes of the Honourable House of Commons, whereby he shall find in the Book, entitled, A New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny, pag. 139. &c. my innocency is cleared to all the world, by that representative Body of this kingdom.  
FINIS.