A Lash for a liar: OR, THE STAYNER stained.  
BEING An Answer to a false and scandalous Pamphlet, entitled The Triumph stained.  
Lately published by Mr. GEORGE MASTERSON, (pretended Preacher of the gospel at Shoreditch.) Wherein is contained A clear discovery of the said Mr. Masterson's Treachery and falsehood, there being no less than xxj.  
Lyes in the compass of One sheet of the said Pamphlet, as appears by the testimony of many honest men, given under their hands, and presented to the Parliament, Febr. 21. 1647.  
Written by Jah: Norris, a hater of treachery, and an opposer of tyranny and injustice.  Prov. 14. 25. & 19 20. & 26. 22, 25. The words of a Tale-bearer are as wounds, and when he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven Abominations in his heart. An ungodly witness scorneth judgement, and a deceitful witness speaketh lies— 
London, Printed for J. HORNISH, Febr. 22. 1647.   

Truth's triumph, vindicated▪ OR, THE STAYNER stained.  
Being a Reply to a Scandalous lying Pamphlet, set forth by GEORGE MASTERSON, pretended Preacher of the gospel at Shoreditch.  
WHen I perused the scandalous Pamphlet of Mr. Masterson, and remembered what Coat he wears, I could scarce free myself from suspicion that he was one of the lying Spirits that came out of the mouth of the false Prophet to deceive Kings or States, he comes forth with a deceivableness of unrighteousness working lying Wonders or wondrous lies; and I held a dispute within me, whether I should Vindicate the reputation of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Wildman, whom he endeavours to asperse and blemish. Sometimes I thought Mr. Wildman himself would answer him, but my reason gave a sudden check to those thoughts, telling me it was beneath the honour of a man in whom is so much worth, to struggle with a false accuser, from whose Lips and Pen, not only wisdom bu●truth it-self is banished; sometimes I thought there was nothing in his Papers but what was despicable to every eye▪ and that the smoke of his calumnies would vanish of itself; yet lest he should impudently insult, I shall endeavour that every one may understand what manner of man he is▪  
I shall observe his own order and begin with his Title, which is The Triumph Stained: And if you ask the Author whose triumph; he will answer you in the next line, truth's Triumph: and if you further question by whom▪ he will tell you (toward the latter end) by GEORGE MASTERSON, Preacher of the gospel, &c. And now I beseech you Gentlemen, judge whether it corresponds with the profession of a Preacher of the gospel, to stain the just Triumphs of Truth.  
But surely the Gentleman hath received the mark in his forehead by the imposition of the holy Romish hands by succession, and truth is become his pretended merchandise, and he is Angry that any one who hath not received the same mark in his hand or forehead, should presume to name Truth; It being proper only to men of his own tribe to buy and sell that merchandise.  
But let me trace you a little further, A Pamphlet so called, &c. Truly before I have done with you, I believe I shall clear it to the eye of all that are ingenious, that it was not only so called▪ but was indeed really the same, and if I mistake not, you do yourself confess it and much more. The title of the book you pretend to stain, was truth's Triumph, or Treachery anatomised, being a Discovery of the false and treacherous information of Mr. Masterson, &c. And you yourself acknowledge to have given in to the Lords at their bar, Ianuar. 18. an Information of dangerous and bloody consequence against L. Col. Lilburne, and Mr. John Wildman: What was of dangerous and bloody consequence, The Information of Mr. Masterson, against whom? L. C. Lilburne and Mr. I. Wildman? So that not only out of the mouths of two or three witnesses but out of your own mouth you shall be jugded.  
And now give me leave to ask you this question, Mr. Masterson did it; or doth it become George Masterson a Preacher of the gospel, to have a hand in such a treacherous bloody design to make a bloody and dangerous information without a word of truth in it against any though his enemies and Heathens, much less those which neither he nor any other can adjudge less than faithful, and as deep Proficients in the school of Christianity, as he himself, the pretended Preacher of the gospel which leads me to the next part of his Title, where he (to set the fairer gloss upon his Treacherous and faithless, bloody and dangerous Information) styles himself an Evangelist, or Preacher of the gospel at Shoreditch &c. If an Evangelist or Preacher, where's your Commission? Are you of Paul or Apollo, or of Cephas, or of the Twelve? 'Tis to be feared (nay to be proved) that you are of neither; for they were never Informers, nor persecutors, nor false accusers of the Brethren; Christ said*, 
Mark. 13. 9, 10.  That they should be taken by men and carried before the counsels; not that they should take others and carry them and accuse them? before the counsels. A Preacher, should be a preacher of peace and reconciliation▪ not of division and dissension, a declarer of glad tidings▪ not of Bloody and dangerous Informations? But let us examine a little further; Mr. Masterson says, he is a Preacher of the gospel, I wish he would tell us what gospel he is a Preacher of now? For sure I am he was a Preacher of the Bishop's gospel, within a few years he was a Levite, but that growing out of fashion, he altered his cut, and became a Gadite, and rambled (some say) to Linne Regis, where he continued so long as it was royal, but that being reformed he was reformed also; and grew as zealous for the Scotch Presbytery as any of those, whose Religion was a fat Benefice; by which seeming show of Sanctity and the help of a special friend, in or about Shoreditch, he got to be admitted not to be pretended (Pastor or Curate) but real Priest of Shoreditch; where he hath (by his own confession) endeavoured to weed out the Nettles (and plant Elders in the room thereof) until such time as the Army, with an independent Axe hewed them down by the roots, and then Mr. Masterson was enforced to borrow some seeds of Independency of a dear friend of his in Coleman-street, who had enough to spare, to begin a new Plantation! In which he hath made so large a progress, that he is now become Goodwins darling, and shall be canonised for his zeal to the cause, in his calendar of Worthies.  
But to leave his Title, and proceed to his proem▪ wherein he with gilded oratory seems to adorn fair Truth, he calls her The eldest daughter of Heaven, of blood with the Son of God made man, &c. and yet bespots her afterward with the foulest calumnies that either envy or falsehood can invent; he manifests more of a Poet than a Preacher, in his Vivat illa! as he calls it; and truly, i think it were better and fitter employment for him, of the two; to write Songs than Sermons.  
But leaving his Proem, which is stuffed with nothing but impertinencies, and inconsistencies, being Billingsgate, or rather language of the spital Hounds-ditch, or Hogsdon, (only taking notice of his justification of himself in the latter end thereof;) to which I may be bold to affirm that, His own conceit is greater than the report of others; for many (nay most) have, always reputed him a politic Priest, and a flattering Orator, but few have or do adjudge him either a conscientious Pastor▪ or a man doing that himself which with such earnestness he presses as a duty upon others; He is indeed very zealous in outward appearance, just Priest-like boasting of his anointing, but indeed a very careless Practitioner; He is one of those that Preaches another should not bear false witness, but he may and doth? another should not lie, but he doth? (Witness 21 palpable lies in the following Discourse, which will evidently appear to be no less than so many treacherous lying forgeries pieced up together to make an Information; To the end that he might appear indeed (not a Preacher of the gospel) but a servant to the State.  
It seems Mr. Masterson hath two Trades to live by, and I confess it is good wisdom; A Preacher of the gospel▪ that is a servant to the Church, and a servant to the State, that's an Informer; I wonder which is the most beneficial; are you a servant in Ordinary, or Extraordinary? Extraordinary sure, for I do not read or hear (though many Priests have pretended to be reformers) that they were ever so base before as to turn informers. But it may be the promise of a better benefice or of be made a Statesman in that Common wealth of Church governors, and to receive four shillings per diem, did incite you to do this so remarkable service, truly if it were so, you are to be excused, for charity begins at home, and truly such a stipend and honour beside, hath corrupted greater Zealots than yourself; and if Judas could be seduced to betray his Master for thirty pieces of silver, well might you betray your brethren for three hundred.  
You take great exception that you should have the name of treachery fastened upon you, as if you did not indeed deserve it; but truly I believe, when it shall be considered that Mr. Masterson came privately in to the room, and stood sneaking in a corner to hear what was said, and neither asked a question, nor objected against what was delivered or spoken, but catched at several broken sentences, and patched them together to make up an Information; truly I believe in the eye of reason, this demeanour cannot deserve a fairer name than premeditated Treachery, or a design to betray; if any advantage could be gotten.  
But leaving your Proem I come now to your Information itself, which being long and full of eyes, will take me up more time than I am willing to bestow upon such a worthless subject as yourself, or relation; but because I would be loath that your lies should pass for currant, as so many Oracles of truth; I will trace you a little further. And first, In your relation you affirm, that at a meeting in Well Yard, and L. C. Lilburne, and John wild-man (with many others were debating a Petition, when you and Robert Malb●n came in) and at the Bar he affirmed that Mr. Wildman was speaking of tumults in Wiltshire, which is a clear contradiction.  
In answer to which, I affirm, that it was neither the end of the meeting, not the work at the meeting to debate the Petition, neither was it at that time debated, for the occasion that, that meeting was appointed, was to satisfy some persons which made some scruple whether they should any more Petition the Parliament &c.  
In the second place, you tax L. Col. Lilburne with saying, that when the House should be fit to take an impression of justice, we should force them to grant us those things which we d●sire. All which is as contrary to truth, as light and darkness, for what was spoken in relation to the particular charge was in relation to the votes of the Houses against the King; In which he said, If the Houses did proceed according to those votes, they would be necessitated to act according to those Principles in the Petition, and to grant the desires therein contained.  
Now give me leave to demonstrate the irrationality of Mr. Masterson in laying such words to the charge of L. Col. Lilburne, that he should endeavour to persuade the people, that the Parliament should be forced to grant their desires, when both he and all rational men know, that a forced act is no act, and if the Parliament should be enforced to grant our desires, what were we the better; since such a grant would be a greater grievance than a denial; as for example. The ●at● Ordinance for the Militia, being forced by violence from the House, was null in itself, and they that obtained it in a much worse condition than if they had never obtained it by such a way, when on the contrary, had the Parliament, for their own safety been necessitated to pass the said Ordinance, voluntarily of themselves, it had been effectual, and yielded more safety and satisfaction to the persons desiring the same: so that it is not only false but irrational, for Mr. Masterson, to affirm, that was so spoken by L. Col. Lilburne, was intended in any such way, or bore any such sense, as the Informer maliciously puts upon the Gentlemen, having both of them been evident abhorrers of that force.  
In the third place you say L. Col. Lilburne did affirm, that the people of London had appointed ten or twelve of them Commissioners, &c. and that the honest blades in Southwark, did not like the word Commissioners, &c.  
This is another falsehood, for he said so many were appointed in the nature of a Committee, and that the honest Blades in Southwark did not like that name, &c.  
In the fourth place, you take upon you to frame an objection, and father it upon John an Okes, viz. a plain man, namely that he should say to Mr. Lilburne, that the people being wicked, (if by sending your Agents abroad, &c.) which is altogether false; there being never any such thing as sending, or intending to send Agents, the method observed in the carrying of it on being before prescribed: as you may plainly see in the letter which you have printed directed into Kent, &c. observe how he composed his information (omitting and adding at pleasure) as he doth his Sermons; for his own advantage, for the truth is one at the meeting, hearing of the tumults of the poor in Wiltshire, inquired how they that were accounted Independents, &c. should be safe, in case tumults should be more general.  
Now in the fift place, he frames Mr. Lilburne's answer though not as he spoke it, but as it will best serve your own turn. And that appears by your own words; at the bar, and in your book, at the bar you did affirm that Mr. Lilburne should say▪ That he that had the Petition in his hand, and a blue ribbon in his Hat, should not need to fear his throat cutting. And now in your book you play the juggler, and salve up the sore of your stinking memory, with an (or) this Petition in your hand, will be as good as a blue ribbon in your Hat; to preserve your throat from cutting. And herein I see the Proverb verified, viz. That a liar had need of an excellent memory, for you are in two mistakes already; for said Mr. Lilburne, if God should not please to prevent a general confusion, yet he was confident, that those who should be known to have promoted the Petition, which was of equal concernment unto all, should be most secure, than he that should wear a blue ribbon in his Hat, &c.  
In the seventh place you vary from your information given at the bar, for there you said the Parliament man's name which did intend to attempt to kill Crumwell, was Harrie, and now you come, with this Gentleman his son is of his Christian name (as they call it) nay it is you that call it, for it is your trade to make others Christians, though you yourselves are worse than Jews, for they had a veil before their eyes, but you hold the truth in unrighteousness.  
And then you say a noble Feltons' resolution, when the words were: he was resolved to become another Felton, &c. and thus you endeavour to insinuate unto the people, that Mr. Lilburne did approve of Peltons' Act▪ in committing murder; which I am confident his soul abhors.  
I omit several additions in the story, as being but slips of your Pen, or the effects of a heart full of inveteracy, and bitterness. And proceed to your next falsehood, which you affirm as the words of Mr. Wildman, viz. That he knew three other men that at the same time had taken up the same resolution, which is altogether false, as will afterwards appear by the testimony of several persons of as known intergrity, and better conversation than any this Informer can or doth produce. But this is as true, as Mr. Wildman should say, he would never trust honest man again for Crumwell's sake: which how unlikly let any man judge, for if Mr. Wildman was resolved never to trust honest man more, because one had deceived him, with whom would he converse afterwards? certainly he must converse with knaves▪ and if the deceitpfull dealing of one seeming Saint was so irksome to him, what would the palpable and avowed dishonesty of so many professed devils? he had not need to converse with Priests▪ for they are generally a very compendium of deceit, nothing but seeming sanctity, they seem to be clothed with lamb's Skins; but they are indeed ravening wolves. I believe Mr. Masterson you were mistaken, Mr. Wildman said he would never trust Priest more for your sake: but to be serious, he did say that he should never trust any man upon bare professions for L. geralls' sake▪ and therefore I advise you when you intend to inform next, trust not to your memory but take notes (as you do when you take upon you to preach) for if you cannot remember the truth which you pretend to know, you will never remember a falsehood which you take by hear say.  
The next remarkable lie (though there be many which i for brevity sake omit) is, that Malignants gave encouragement to go on with the Petition, saying, It was the most rational piece that they had seen: In which particular you do most grossly pervert the sense, and only patch up several broken sentences, together spoken at several times, and upon several occasiosn, viz. that the Petition was of such equal concernment unto all; That the very Malignants would be so far from opposing it, that (setting aside some few that were link unto the King's interest, by personal engagement) many would join in the promoting of it.  
And now Mr. Masterson is this such a transcendent crime in your bill of sinners, for a man to promote a Petition that tends to the uniting even enemies, much less friends and brethren, who have been deluded to a bloody contest each with other and have been almost consumed in a flame of you, and your brethren's the Priests kindling? certainly if you were as you pretend a preacher of the gospel, you would preach reconciliation to the gentiles, and peace to Jerusalem, and not repine at those, nay endeavour the ruin of those that labour to heal the wound that you have made, by your dividing principles.  
But the irrationality of this will appear, when the great contrariety betwixt the Principles of those Gentlemen, and the principles of those which they call Malignants, are put into the balance together: for there is an absolute inconstancy betwixt them▪ the one by that Petition endeavouring to destroy the poor of the King, in relation to his dissent to laws, and the other endeavouring to maintain it.  
In the next place, you talk of their affirming that the Lords offered to Article with them to desist from promoting the Petition, and that the Lords offered thirty thousand pounds, &c. And that if they would forbear, &c. they would be content to cut off the Legislative power from their heirs, by Ordinance or act forever; so they might enjoy it for their lives▪ &c.  
Here is a clear looking glass for liars; to use your own words, A bad Informer; And a worse memory: for at the Bar you affirmed, that Mr. Wilaman spoke these words, and this was all you could charge him with, and yet now in your Pamphlet you affirm that lieutenant Col. Lilburne spoke them; what, contradiction upon contradiction? This is as good, as a former passage, one or other or both affirmed▪ &c. Is not this a fine way of accusing; some body said something, Mr. Musterson or some body, or both, did tell a lie at the Lord's House▪ and one and twenty in the House of Commons: by which you may see, he is his craftsmaster▪ he hath taken his degrees▪ and is a perfect proficient in the art of hyperbolising; for this is as gross a deviation from the truth▪ as possible may be, as is apparent by the following attest of several honest men which were at the meeting, given in to the House of Commons under their hands▪ &c.  
So leaving your Information I come to your observation in the fifteenth page of your Pamphlet▪ In which I observe that you cannot forbear to st●●●● your lines with falsehoods; for in the first line, you say you have given an 〈◊〉 (to a syllable) of that Information, &c. And in the latter end of the fourteenth page you have these words; This is the sum and sense of that, which was affirmed and related in the House of Lords at a conference, and in the Commons House, by George Masterson; &c. now if it be an account to a syllable it is not only the sum or sense, but the totum or whole of the matter; But if you please to call to mind you may remember that you affirmed at the Commons bar that Mr. Lilburne did say, that they used the name of the Parliament in the Petition, but at a cloak or colour, till they could heighten the spirits of the people, to rise and cut their throats; but it seems your conscience hath given your tongue the lie in that particular, and in many more, or else your witness will not stand to you in it, and now therefore you go about to mince the matter, and flame us off with a story of a Cock and a Bull; I cannot omit your subtle aspersing the Parliament, by your publishing this relation of yours, for let any rational man put all that you have set down, and laid unto the charge of those gallant men, into the evenest balance, and weight them against the strictest Law, and all will not amount to so great a crime, as deserves the name of misdeameanour, much less of treasonable, and destructive; especially Mr. Wildman, to whom he lays nothing. And what indignity do yea put upon the Parliament, that they should upon such an Information commit men to prison; no no Mr. Masterson, certainly this is not an account to a syllable, for it is notoriously known, that your information was stuffed with such dangerous and inveterate premeditated charges, as that honourable house could not but apprehend great cause of fear, and your impudent persisting▪ (being once engaged) enforced you to speak that than which now you shame to own, and truly when men consult with rage, not reason▪ they are often hurried to such extremes, as not only occasion danger, but shame also.  
The next falsehood▪ is but a pretended one, namely curate of Windham, and pretended▪ Gentleman of the life Guard, &c. for the first, I dare affirm that it is but a pretence▪ there neither being, nor ever was the least colourable ground for any such aspersion, he might as well and better affirm, that you George Masterson was not only a pretended, but a real rebel in Linne Regis, when it was kept against the Parliament, and that now (though you were a Presbyterian▪) you are now a seeming independent, and a real hypocrite, And for the second, They at know him can testify that he was more than a pretended Gentleman of the Life Guard: and only discerted them when they discerted righteousness, and though not in the fighting days, yet Mr. Masterson know he hath undergone as evident hazards in fights, as most of those, and that he is so much of man, that he dare cudgel your canonical coat into better manners, and then you will have little reason to surfeit your spleen, or make yourself merry, &c. But to pass that by, you carp exceedingly at his saying that he was devoted to support the Authority and honour of the House of Commons.  
And because it is so evident to all the world, you wave i●, and only fall upon some single expressions spoken in relation to his own imprisonemt, and these you would enforce, as so many arguments to prove that he did not really desire or endeavour to support the Authority aforesaid.  
As if Mr. Masterson should say, Mr. Wildman doth indeed by promoting that Petition, endeavour to invest the house of Commons with the supreme and sole law-giving power, but because (according to the present state of affairs) he will not yield to be imprisoned, upon the lying, malicious information of a single Priest, contrary to the Parliaments own declarations, and the established Law of the Land, viz. without having a legal ●●ime laid to his charge, or a legal Mitimus; which the law of the land directs: therefore he does not endeavour to support the Authority of Parliament; believe it a good conclusion, an Orthedox observation, but if you raise no truer conclusions for the instruction of your parish, than you do for the Information of the kingdom, truly you will scarce deserve the tenth of the pigs, much less of the profits of those which you exercise your trade amongst, I mean of Preaching, (not of Informing, for I believe you will be found a man of so corrupt a memory) that the Parliament will do by you, as you said Mr Wildman would do by L. G. Crumwell; namely, never trust a Priest more for your sake, and truly if they consider all, they have little reason, for if ever they did any thing whereof the kingdom have cause to complain, sure I am, you and your brethren were the promoters and procurers of it.  
But you proceed, and take upon you to frame two reasons why your witness were not called in, which you say was, because Mr. Wildman confessed many things which L. C. Lilburne, denied &c. which is a most notorious falsehood, for they did neither of them differ as touching the passages at the meeting in any thing, but only L. C. Lilburne did declare more at large what he himself had spoken at the meeting, then Mr. Wildman did, he mentioning nothing of Mr. Lilburne at the bar▪ but only that passage concerning L. G. Gru●well being promised to be made Earl of Essex, &c.  
In the next place, you begin to heighten your conceit with an argument of satisfaction in the houses drawn from Mr. Wildmans' Timidity, Tremblings 
20 lie  and Astonishment: though he were not astonished▪ well he might have been, to consider that a man of Mr. Mastersons coat, and profession should dare in the face of the supreme Authority, to affirm such notorious falsehoods.  
But this is only a mistake, for it was Mr. Masterson that was astonished, and conscience staring in his face, forced him to such an ecstasy, that he had forgotten what he had the day before so avowedly declared ad unguem; so that the House was enforced to wring that out of him by questions which he had before given in as matter of charge.  
But on the contrary, Mr. wildmans' confidence and constancy mixed with respect and civility, did so clearly appear to the whole House, that many of them were surprised with delight and others with admiration. Neither would he have voluntarily gone to the House (if he had feared the Informer or any crime he could lay to his charge) and at the bar related more concerning the Meeting then the Informer could say against him.  
But Mr. wildmans' constancy and courage in struggling with opposite Powers (though in those whose frown would create another soul in the Informer, is to all that know him so evident) That your scandalous report of his demeanour herein cannot blemish his honour; but render yourself an absolute Cretian, i. e. always a liar.  
In the next place you begin with a charge & tell us we most not suppose that Mr. Wildman delivered all that at the House of Commons which fills up the best part of seven Pages.  
As if you should say, I know it, but I would not have you believe it you must not suppose &c. It seems you dare not affirm he did not speak so much, but you are loath the People should believe he did, and therefore you charge them, not to believe it: But you proceed to weaken the people's belief, and asperse the manner of the delivery of Mr. wildmans' language at the bar, which you say was with such stumbling, interfeering▪ and downright Halting; fie Mr. Masterson, the eloquence of the Genr. is well known, only his exact care to relate the truth made him pause at several periods to recollect things though you might pour out your falsehoods without fear or wit: Know you not that the best part of Oratory is Deliberation, and it was not timidity that caused Mr. Wildman to take such deliberation, but he remembered the saying in the Scripture, A wise man weigheth his words in the balance, but the fool speaketh rashly.  
And believe me Mr. Masterson, if you had followed his example, and been more ready to hear then offer the sacrifice of fools, I am confident you would have been taken (if not for a better Statesman▪ yet for a better Preacher & have kept up your repute in the world of being wise, though not honest, but truly now you have discovered your want of both.  
But you come at last to the catastrophe of all, namely that There was no need of witnesses, for he appeared, (I'll spare your Greek for you have but a little) self condemned, &c.  
For what I wonder? All your Information against him amounts not to a crime according to Law▪ and if not; by what will you condemn him? Do not you pass a Zion sentence upon him I beseech you; and canonize him among your bundle of heretics; pray do not excommunicate him. And then he will be so far from condemning himself, that it will be above the reach or power of yourself or all your Seminaries, (whose interest he is an enemy to) to condemn him.  
In the last place, you seem to take exception, at his wonder, that he should be committed without Witnesses, and that the witnesses should not be called in: And here you take upon you to domineer, as if you had got the victory before you have begun the fight.  
First, you begin to question the truth of Mr. wildmans' relation touching your Witnesses acknowledgement that nothing was spoken at the Meeting but what tended to advance the Parliaments honour. &c.  
Upon this you begin to run division, and in the first place you take upon you to ask a question▪ Whether the two persons which the Informer brought as pretended witnesses, confess this.  
It is not yet evident that they have by Oath proved the contrary; but suppose one of them did confess it before witness, surely that is su●●icient to clear the truth in that particular, and to demonstrate to the world that truth is not so strong on your side as you would make them believe.  
And I am so satisfied in the truth in this particular, that I shall make bold to wipe off that stain from the face of truth's triumph, and return you scoff with this advantage:  

Truth now has got a stain but 'tis your lie▪  
Be spots her robe of godlike Majesty.—   
In the second place you proclaim the Chastity of one of your witnesses, (It seems you suspect the other for a Strumpet,) he is true Roman, you say; but how shall we know it? He is but Secretary yet, neither to the Parliament, nor us; for he never declared what or how much he could witness to be true of your Bloody dangerous Information, O but he's valiant too, the man is not yet borne that ever dar'st tamper with him about it; mark i beseech you, either Mr. Masterson was never borne, and therefore a Monster; or else Mr. Wilison is a Coward; now which of these will you believe, one is a lie for a certain. Mr. Masterson without doubt hath tampered with him about it, or else he had never given him that learned Certificate under his hand to support his weak credit with the people. But what will you say Mr. Masterson, if your witnesses did acknowledge what Mr. Wildman affirms without tampering withal, and to a man of as much credit, and valour as any of those you so much boast of; This I will undertake when you dare to make good, and truly then if your witness will say one thing and swear another, I shall hardly think him either valiant or honest, but only one of your Disciples that can alter his tone, as occasion is offered.  
But waving the rest I come now to the pleasantest part of the story, viz. the certificate, which methinks savours of the Priest, for sure I am; it was the product of nothing less than spleen and inveteracy which no witnesses should be fraught withal, But I desire the reader to observe how impertinent this is to the proving of Mr. Mastersons relation true, he gives us a certificate, as he pretends wherein Mr. Willison affirms he spoke not such and such words? but I conceive it would have been more authentic, if he had got Mr. Willison and his other witness to attest under their hands that this relation, or information of Mr. Masterson was true: for truly priests are grown to that pass now, that it is not safe to believe any thing they say without two or three witnesses.  
But by this time I think if you cast up your account you have little reason to insult over Triumphant truth, especially when you shall have weighed this following testimony, not of one, but of many men, both valiant and faithful, who have done more for truth's vindication in the face of authority, then either yourself or your witness dare do, in a private vestry to asperse her.  
To the Honourable the chosen and be trusted Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in parliament Assembled▪ the humble Petition of divers well-affected freeborn people of England, inhabiting in and about EAST, SMITHFIELD and WAPPING, and other parts adjacent.  
Showeth.  
THat as this Honourable House was chosen by the people to redress their grievances; so we conceive it our native right to meet together to frame and promote Petitions, for your better information of all such things as are by experience found burdensome and grievous to the commonwealth, That accordingly this honourable House hath declared, that it ought to receive Petitions, though against th●ngs established by law. That in the use of this our native and acknowledged right we (together with Lieutenant Col. John L●lburne, and Mr. John Wildman) were met together in East Smithfield upon the 17. of January last, and discoursed upon these ensuing particulars, viz. Some scrupled the very pettioning this house any more, As a thing from wh●no● [notwithstanding their having hazarded th●i● lives for their freedoms] they had hitherto received nothing but reproaches ●●d injuries, and were answered [by one of the persons before named] to this effect. That it was their duty always, and their wisdom, in this juncture of time, to use their utmost diligence to procure the settlement of the commonwealth, and that war, famine, and confusion could no other way in [probability] be prevented. And it was generally concluded, that the most visible interest of the people was, to uphold the Honour of this House, and to preserve it from contempt.  
2. There was likewise an occasional discourse about the right of the Lords to the Law giving power, And herein was debated the danger of such an Arbytrary Authority [as that in its own nature] residing in any persons during life, and much more of its descending as an inheritance from Generation to Generation, and something was added from our sad experience of the mischiefs which have ensued hereupon, In particular, it was declared how their exercise of that claim might be charged in reason with all the precious blood that hath been spilled in the late war, because the King had never had opportunity to levy an Army against the People and Parliament, if the Lords ●●d not deferred so long, after many solicitations by the Commons to pass the Ordinance for settling the Militia.  
3. It was also accidentally wondered at why Lieutenant general Cromwell and Commissary general Ir●t●●, should now of light urge that no more addresses should be made to the King, whereas they had formerly pleaded, that he might be brought in even with his negative voice. Whereupon Col. Lilburn related a story, That a member of the House of Commons [having information from a credible person, that the King had promised Lieut. General Cromwell, a blue ●●bo●d with a George, and the earldom of Essex, besides other places of honour and profit to his son. Com. Gen. Ireton] resolved rather to become another Felton then to suffer his Country to be so betrayed: But the Gentleman b●ing dissuaded by friends, and intelligence her of being sent to the Lieut. General, a Fast ensued at the Head quarters, and so he concurred with the House in the la●● Votes against the King. nevertheless in Mr. Wildmans' opinion, he was necessitated into s●●h a turn, because the Scots have bid Higher for the King than he had done, his offer was rejected, and they reli●d on.  
4. Some consideration was had about proportionable assistances towards the charge of Printing our Petitions.  
5. It being among other things inquired, whether there were any truth in this rumour, That the Lords sent to Lieu Col▪ Lilburne, and offered him 3000. l to desist in the large Petition now abroad. The Lieut Col. answered, that it was a false groundless report, and that he knew no occasion for it, unless it were because a Lord had sent to tell him, he would send him a toke● of his love, if he thought it would be accepted, To which he answered, That he would not be eng●ged ●r any Pattente Lord, and some other words to that effect.  
6. There was a relation made by a person, that some poor people in the Country aid meet together in Companies, and did violently take away the corn as it was going to Market, saying that it was their great necessity caused them so to do: where upon, we fearing lest the calamity might be more general, did ask how we should best preserve ourselves in case of such Tumults, because we bore the names of roundheads independents &c. for adhering to the Parliament? and were satisfied by Lieut. Col. Lilburne to this purpose. Friends, The only way for you to be secured is to promote this Petition to the House, that so when the people come to be informed (by the Petition) of your real intentions to the common good of the whole Nation, as well as to your own, you will be thereby safer than those which have blue ribbons in their hats, that being the Generals▪ colours and the modern badge of protection.  
7. It was lastly delivered as from a good hand, That some Lords were willing their Law-giving power should not descend as an inheritance to their posterity, and that they were willing to part with their privilege of freedom from arrests.  
This being the sum and principal matter of what passed at the aforesaid meeting, as we are ready to attest upon our oaths, if we shall be thereunto called. And understanding that our said dear Friends Lieut. Col. John Lilburne, and Mr. John Wildman [who are therefore dear to us because they have manifested themselves faithful to the public] stand committed by this House, ●n relation to the said Meeting as Treasonable and seditions practise●s against the State, We cannot but be extremely troubled, not only in regard of their particular suffering & our own equal concernment, especially upon the consequence thereof, as tending in a great measure to the dis▪ enfranchisement of the Nation, from whom the liberty of complaining must then be taken away, when most cause is given them to complain,  
Wherefore your Petitioners do most humbly pray, may be forthwith enlarged, &c. That L-C. Lilourne and Mr. John Wildman And your Petitioners shall pray, &c. Ia. words. Rog. Sawyer. Hen. Gidiag. Tho. Chapman. Valent Elsing. Dennis Liddall Geor. Browne. Ed. Pardo. Tho. Goddad. Tho. Cullet. Tho. Williams. John. Merihust Mich. Reeve. J. North. I. Wells. Ed. Floyd. Rob. Bagesse. Rob. Levite. A. Dedm●n.  
Now let the Reader-judge, whether sounds the most like truth, whether is the most authentic; the testimony of a single Priest, and two other pretended▪ Witnesses, which are not in the least visible, or this which we affirm and justify by such sufficient visible testimony, this foregoing Paper being in the name and under the hand of the Subscribers, sent into the House in a letter, after a fortnight's attendance to get it in the nature of a Petition.  
But to trace you a little further in the next place, to fill up the measure of your wickedness▪ you take upon you to comment upon a Letter which you say was sent by several Gentlemen into Kent. The main thing that you seem to startle at was this, viz. That after seven years waiting for justice and freedom, they (meaning the men of London) will receive no denial in their requests.  
And here you take upon you to catechise us, what no denial? Though all authority joined with all the Representative reason of the kingdom should vote against your Petition▪ &c.  
Truly though we are not bound to answer you in this particular; yet might such a resolution be justifiable from the example of the importunate Widow and the unjust judge; And I think the visibility of evident ruin to this Nation for want of the establishment of justice and freedom▪ might well excuse if not justify the most vigorous demands of the performance of that duty from those which had received power from us unto that end, and yet neglected it.  
But to draw to an end, for I am weary of tracing you in your labyrinth of folly, It were to be wished that you made use of the counsel which you give Mr. Wildman▪ viz. Not thus to absent yourself from that people which pay so dear for your company: cannot you be content with the Appearances of those goodly Angels, and comfortable dispensations which you fleece your flock of, but you must ramble from the fold, and like a greedy wolf worry other men's sheep? The man you speak of is none of your canonical cut, he can he content to be a law unto himself, and strive not to be a law to others, and in that he hath had sufficient discovery of the comeliness▪ and all sufficiency of Christ, which is formed in him, And in his behalf (whose soul i am confident sorrows for your sin) I shall offer up this Petition, viz. That the Lord would cause his Spirit to evangelise or Preach a gospel of peace and pardon, and to make out himself in such precious and glorious discoveries, That your soul may be enamoured with his glory, and confounded with the apprehension of your creature actings, and in that spiritual rhapsody may be penitently enforced to cry out; You have sinned, betrayed innocent blood▪ Math▪ 27. 4. Have mercy upon me O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, &c. Psal. 50. 1.  
FINIS.