A LETTER SENT TO MY LORD MAYOR. AND His Venerable BROTHERS:  
By no Atheist, no Papist, no Arminian, no Anabaptist, no Familist, no Separatist, or Brownist; but an honest believing Protestant, and that because that Separatist otherwise called Brownist, was in many men's account said and held to be worse than Papist.  
Written by A. S.   depiction of a pig being bled 
LONDON, Printed in the year, MDCXLII.   

A COPY OF A LETTER Sent to my Lord Major, and his Brethren.  
MAY your Honour with the rest of your Worshipful Brethren, with all that shall see hear or read this writing, consider and understand, how that Separatists called Brownists, why they should be courted and imprisoned, for the way they walk in, I much marvel at. Truth may be blamed, but it can never be shamed: these reasons I give for it.  
First, they are a people very desirous to make the Scripture the rule, and pattern of their lives and actions during their extancy in this mortal life. And King James of blessed memory told Master Burton, that those men that did so walk as near as the frailty of the flesh would let them, in avoiding the vanity and viciousness of the times, he loved immutably, and so do I: and so should we all do, if we will do as we ought, Saint Peter's rule comprehends the whole Law of God for a good Christian to imitate. 

1. Is Sobriety in respect of ones self?  
2. Uprightness in respect of our Christian Brethren?  
3. Of Holiness towards God, and this threefould cord is not quickly broke.   And according to these rules do that Sect of Separatists, called Brownists walk, and those good Christian Protestants called Puritants, or roundheads prick cares walk: but shameless ruffians past grace and good manners, with black mouthed Tertullus will be babbling: when the shame lieth in length of their own hair. Is it not a shame for a man to wear long hair, if they will not believe me they may Saint Paul: I have digressed a little to my m●tter, This Sect of Separatists called Brownists endeavour according to Saint Peter's Rule to live.  
First, soberly, in respect of themselves, and so are no drunkards, or at least not common ones if they fall; and which of us Protestants do not, in a large field; yet I am confident they rise again by serious contrition and repentance.  
Secondly, they live uprightly in respect of their Christian Brethren, using fair and honest dealing between man and man; if there be a close Hypocrite amongst them, as judas amongst the Apostles, and is our own wheat so clean as to have no cockle, or kernel in it, let us not then condemn all for some a generality for a particularity.  
Thirdly they live holily towards God, and it excellently appeareth in their frequent receiving of the Sacrament, and in having a reverend regard of the name of God, not daring to take it in vain; much less to curse swear or blaspheme that holy name, by which they are sealed to the day of Redemption: besides the Sunday most properly named the Saboth day, or Lords day they celebrate, not in luxury or wantonness, not in riot or excess, not in hobihorsing morris dancing, carding dicing bowling, wrestling, tippling, sporting, gaming, or unnecessary idleing or vain spending that day, or the evening thereof in unnessesarie walking to take the air, and so forth: but in sanctifying that day as the Lord requireth, & as is prescribed in the Practice of Piety, a Book we allow good, and made by the Spirit of God: which tells that if we do not sanctify that day, and every part thereof, we shall never keep a Saboth with the Lord in Heaven. Me thinks whenwe consider our neglects in this duty, we should tremble to punish these good and godly people by courting or imprisoning them.  
Object. These are good things, and we like the people well, being so careful to please God, but why will they not come to hear our liturgy, or our Ministers preach?  
Answ. Time would not give way to satisfy in answer to that, but their reasons shall be given as speedily as may be, they shall be so plain that he that runs may read.  
And now because they are counted, and said to be by too many of us Protestants worse than Papists, I shall here prove the contrary.  
First it is one thing to err in opinion, and tell me which of us Protestants Divines, and others do not?  
Secondly it is another thing to err in fundamental truths; in the first they may as we ourselves, in the latter for fundamentals they do not, and so are not worse, but better than the Papists. 

Real presence in the Eucharist.  
Merit of Heaven by good works.  
Purgatory for souls to rest in after death.  
Pardon for sins present and to come.  
Prohibiting Marriage to the Clergy, with a vow to it.    
Original sin, nor actual transgression in the blessed Virgin Mary; and that she is glorified in body, and sits at her sons right hand in Heaven, making intercession for them.  
That those that die in venial sins on the want of satisfaction, are by prayer delivered out of Purgatory, and so pass immediately into Heaven.  
Maintaining Stews, taking a million of money, or more yearly by the sin of whoredoms and uncleanness.  
These though many more might be named, all contrary to fundamental truths, the Papists hold and believe. Now I hope never a one of us Protestants will ever cenfure, or acknowledge, that Separatists (otherwise called from Brown Brownists, as we call from Luther Lutherans, or from Calvin Calvinists, not but they were long before ever Master Browne was) I say, ever believe any of this Sect to be guilty of these, or other fundamental truths, and so are better than Papists: and shall I say, looking on our own lives and ways, (would God I could not) better then many of us profane, and lukewarm Protestants: It is ever good to speak truth, and to set the saddle on the right horse, and I pray God grant, that we Protestants may make their lives, and actions in all godliness our rules and patterns to walk by, however never prove railing Rabshakes, or scoffing Shimeiss against our brothrens, and I verily believe to God's dear ones.  
And I am confident these Separatists called Brownists, do tender the person and welfare of his Majesty, so highly, that to do him good and service, they would stake estate and life for it: many have protested it seriously, and as really I believe it, and they that do not, I question whether they be good Christians to God, or good subjects to his anointed: had this Sect ever their hearts dipped in blood in all their persecutions, or molestations, or were ever Traitors to the Crown and Sat?  
Object. They have been kept under, and could not hurt us.  
Ans. And so have the Papists, but would have hurt us; but these people would have endured wrong, and suffered patiently, knowing they have thanks with God thereunto, were they called, and if they could they would not, for their Religion is no bloody one, and so long we need not be afraid, for we shall never be hurt I warrant you by them, either in estate or life, if there were ten times more than there are of them.  
God bless and preserve our Gracious King, our Royal Queen, the Noble Offspring, all the Honourable Lords, Right worshipful and worshipful. Burgesses▪ now assembled in the High Court of Parliement, and the whole Realm, and send us peace and truth in jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
ARON STREATER Divine, and licenced Physician.  
FINIS.