A Word in season: OR, A Check to Disobedience, and to all lying scandalous Tongues, with manifest conviction of a general received SLANDER; IN VINDICATION OF The Right Honourable, John Warner, Lord-Mayor of the Honourable City of LONDON: CONCERNING The justness of his Actions upon Christmas-day, Calumniated by Evil-affected Men.  
By G. S. Gent.  
Jan. 13. 1647.  
Imprimatur  
G. Mabbot.  
Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people,  Act. 23. 5. 
For there is no power but of God, the powers that be, are ordained of God:  
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake:  Rom. 13. 1, 5. 
London, printed for Laurence Chapman. Jan. 14.   

FOrasmuch as the Office and Authority of the Civil Magistrate is the Ordinance of God, and that Magistrates just Commands, and People's willing Obedience, is the main foundation, or the two chief upholding pillars to the being or wellbeing of all Kingdoms and Commonweals, as well as particular Cities and Families; Therefore Injustice in the one, or Disobedience in the other, have been, and necessarily must be, the destruction and utter subversion of the greatest Monarches and most flourishing Kingdoms, and of all humane Societies. But commonly the defect on the People's part, casting off the yoke of obedience, is much more mischievous to a Commonweal, than Injustice in the Magistrate commanding; For many States, Commonweals and Kingdoms have prospered long under ill Commanders; but where ever the People have refused to obey, and contemned the Authority of the Magistrate, that State, Commonweal or Kingdom hath inevitably fallen into confusion and desolation. All Historians conclude this as a Maxim, That an ill Government is better than none; the Laws of a Tyrant and his Tyranny may die with him, Justice and Clemency may revive after him to everlasting posterities; but the yoke of obedience being once cast off, against the lawful Authority of the Magistrate, it is like the opening of many floodgates to all wickedness and destruction, as the breaking in of the Ocean with an overflowing and destroying deluge, which is sudden and remediless.  
It is well observed of one, That a wise Statesman being asked, how it came to pass that the City or Commonweal of Sparta so long flourished, when other States and Commonweals fell into distractions and confusions? The wise Statesman answered. It was not because their Magistrates commanded better than other, but because the Citizens and People obeyed Magistrates willingly. In this is utility and safety.  
We know hy what undissolved Ties Antichristian Rome bind their Subjects to obedience to the Pope, his Laws, Edicts and Ministers; and they know they have been thereby established. We may learn of the unjust Steward to be provident; the wisdom of the Serpent, and the Doves innocency may stand well together. We know likewise, how all Popes successively have by the craft and activity of their seducing Jesuits, stirred up divisions and factions in all States and Kingdoms throughout Christendom, and thereby procured Rebellion, by which they have ever prevailed, and have more enlarged their Dominions then by the Sword; for this is their Maxine and practice, First Divide, then Conquer. Do we not see what fearful Divisions they have raised in England, Scotland and Ireland at this day? for it is the only act of the Jesuits; they first kindled the fire, and they still bring more fuel to make the flame greater; yet we will not take notice, that divisions and factions are as so many armies besieging us, yea almost entered as Conquerors upon us.  
Whence was our late bloody War in England and Scotland, and that hellish Rebellion in Ireland, but from Rome's Jesuits? God only hath broken that snare, and we are escaped; but our pride, our contumacy, our envy, hath again involved us into a greater labrynth, and who but God can deliver us? Doth not pride, both Spiritual and Carnal, prevail? Are not men more full of selfseeking and vainglory then ever? Is not Joan in her own conceit as good as her Lady? Doth not Jack think himself a Gentleman? the Servant beards it with his Master, the Peasant equals himself with the Peer, and he that should be commanded, contends with him that commands; these are horrid and unjust things. Is not Magistracy despised and calumniated? consider well; Are we not brought into the last and worst condition of destroyed Jerusalem? Doth not opposition in faction carry us beyond the mean to two Extremes? Some that too much affect Monarchy, Deify their Prince, as at least equal with God on Earth, and will rebel against God, his Law, and Christ their King, rather than submit to holy Writ, or omit one Ceremony that their Prince liketh. Others in the contrary extreme, despise Authority, refuse to do the thing they are commanded, because they are commanded it; although they would do the same if it had not been commanded: These would have the Magistrate in a worse condition than the Cobbler that mends their Shoes; they will not allow him to mend a fault, nor to correct their wry-going. Thus the common Enemy have overwitted us, and will (if not prevented by our reconciling and unity) overcome us.  
That all this is but the fruit of God's anger against us for our sins, I know; and that it is a large addition and aggravation of our former sins, I would have all men take notice; for this our iniquity will be our ruin, if not timely prevented by Humiliation and by Reformation. God hath sent unto us his Ministers and Messengers (as to the Jews) to beseech us, Because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: they have foretold us of wrath long before it fell upon us; we have some years passed seen and felt it, to the bitterness of our souls. God's Ministers have fasted and prayed for us, and with us, when we with one accord joined with them, and God did graciously hear and answer; but our hearts are now lift up with pride, like the heart of Hezekiah after his great deliverance, and we have not rendered to God according to what we have received, therefore wrath is come upon all England. Do we not now neglect to seek God by prayer and fasting? Do we not interpret our Solemn Covenant to our own Ends, and turn Religion into Policy, and Law into Liberty? Did not God spare the natural branches, and shall God spare us? how can we think it?  
Korah and his company despised the Government of Moses, and the Ministry of Aaron, but the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up. If I should enter into particulars, and give instances of these times, parallel to the Rebellion of Korah and his company, I should exceed my sheet, and multiply it by ten. I shall confine my pen to one only, which is indeed my chief aim; and that is, to reprove that desperate and wicked Affront offered to the Right honourable (John Warner) Lord Major of the honourable City of London for the time being, on the 25. day of December last, commonly and ignorantly called Christmas day; and to vindicate his Name from the calumnious Reproaches, and horrid lying Slanders, cast upon him, and upon his Authority, by some sons of Disobedience.  
In brief thus; The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament being sensible of the too much superstitious keeping the day called Christmas day, and the superfluity in all excess, which are altogether unsuitable to our sad Times of Calamity; according to the National Covenant against all Superstition, and for Reformation, have thought fit to reform that abuse; And because some Episcopal men, Divines in the City, were resolved to preach that day, being the 25. of December last, with intent to kindle greater fire of Contention, rather than to edify their hearers in the Faith of Christ, An Order came from the House to the Lord Major on the Even, to command such men not to Preach on that day; some obeyed, and some disobeyed; little was said or done to any, but admonished, and they are where they were (for aught I know) as full of Superstition as before. The same 25. day of December the Lord Major being at Guildhall, sitting in Committee of the Militia, complaint was made before them, That a tumult was gathered together in Cornhill, near Leadenhal, where in despite of Authority they had set up Holly and Ivy on the top of a Pinnacle, a high work or building in the middle of the street, which they with these green things had adorned; and made some glory in it. The Lord Major and the rest of the Committee, sent the Marshal of the City, with his man, and some other of his Lordship's Officers, to pull down these gauds; but not suffered to do it, were by the multitude abused; One was in danger to be killed, the Marshal's man, as the rest, seeking to escape their hands, was pursued by some of them, and forced to take a house for safety; some of the rude multitude assayed to break in upon him, and said, they would have him, and they would kill him; but he escaped by a backway, and came back with the rest to the Committee of the Militia, where the Lord Major was: The Lord Major presently fearing some mischief might be, arose, and took horse, being accompanied with one of the Sheriffs, (the other being necessarily absent) road to the place aforesaid, taking with them some Holbertiers to guard his Lordship's person, and to keep the pierce: Their presence gave some dump to the company, many of them were submissive; but some gave Affront, insomuch that one of the Officers struck one of them on the head, and broke his head, his name was Price ap Williams, on whom they laid hold, and on some others, who were all sent to the Counter; but the Lord Major blamed him that struck, saying, he came thither to keep the peace, etc. The third day, after Examination and admonition, they were set at liberty, and all well, only Price Williams wore a plaster to his broken pate. This Price Williams it seems was servant to Mr. William Garraway a Merchant, but not his Apprentice: He was first Sir Henry Garraway's Footboy, afterward he went abroad to seek preferment, but returned empty to this Mr. Garraway, son to Sir Henry Garraway, where he is employed to go of errands, and to wait at Table, where he now is, well and sound, as ever he was since he came first out of Wales, his Native place. This is the full and whole truth of the business, though Envy have spread another Report.  
For those seditious instruments of the Devil, who was a liar from the beginning, and is the Father of lies and liars, maliciously by the secret suggestion of the old Serpent, first whispered abroad that Price Williams was dead of the wound in his head, and that the Lord Major commanded his Officers to knock him down, and that he was a man's son of quality, born to a great Estate, Apprentice to Mr. Garraway, who had in money Three hundred pounds with him, and that the Lord Major was in great trouble about it. This report being thus secretly spread by wicked and turbulent men, it grew by the eighth day of january to a public talk in all places within the City, and divulged into the countries', so as the thing was by very many believed with such confidence, that many to this day will not believe the contrary; And the rather, because these malignant persons, to make some Insurrection or Rebellious Mutiny, had incensed many Apprentices to indignation, so as there were several papers set up upon posts to meet together to avenge the blood of their brother Apprentice.  
These things being so frequently talked of, put me to a diligent enquiry of the business, which I really find as I have related it in every particular. And for my better satisfaction, I caused these Reports to be made known to the Lord Major, who made this wise and grave answer to it, That the thing did not nor should not trouble him at all, innocency and an upright heart was defence and support to him against all malice of men: Saying farther, It was a business below him to take notice of, it being his own case; and rather made that use of their slander, that David did of Shime●'s cursing▪ than seeking any revenge up●n the persons of any: And as wise Pyrrus did in another (the like) case, when a friend came to him and told him of one in the City of Ambracia that coutinually spak● ill of him to all men, and desired he would put him out of the City 〈◊〉 Pyrrus gave this answer, Let him alone; if he speak ill of me while I have not offended, and when I have done him no harm, how much more will he speak ill of me if I should banish him.  
Truly the conside●rtion of all this put together, his Lordship's innocency, patience, and the horribl● slander cast upon him, enforced me to write this sheet in his Vindication, whose fidelity, piety and justice is to me well known: And he that will not vindicate himself by the Sword of Authority, hath need, and justly deserves to be defended in so just a cause, by the Pen of a friend, though I confess his merits do challenge, and call for more than I will or can express; for I hate to flatter, only to wash the stain that blackmouthed Hellhounds have sought to cast upon him, I have dipped my Pen in ink, not in gall, for they want none.  
Now to conclude, I shall endeavour to do them good for evil, and entreat them to take advice from me, to leave lying, as they love their souls; for the Spirit of God saith plainly, All liars shall have iheir part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: humble yourselves therefore, ye sons of Belial, that dare speak evil of dignities, and bring false accusations against the just and lawful Magistrate, whom God hath styled with the honour to bear his own name, as they do his image, he hath called them gods, though they must die like men. Ye children of your Father the Devil, know yourselves, and seek God, repent of your horrid wickedness, and pray, if possible, your sins may be forgiven you; for you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity: yet ye may be as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; But if for my well wishes ye rail against me, by reproach of the tongue, I say no more to you, but what the Apostle Judas said to your Father, The Lord rebuke you.  
FINIS.