A Letter of the Lord North, touching Thirlow School. For Sir Henry North. My Noble Friend and Kinsman; KNowing your worthy inclinations judgement, love to Justice and Truth, with your industry and assidual exercise thereof in your course and Country. Whereas by virtue of a Commission for Charitable Uses, (so pretended by the procurers) many Suffolk-Gentlemen of worth and quality have been named and employed, but mainly intended for the outing of a poor Village-Schoolmaster maligned upon private spleen and dislike: the Country being full of discourse and contest about the proceeding therein; I have judged fit to i● part to you (conversant with the best) what I have met with by my diligent enquiry of the steps and agitations therein. I was at first as much a stranger, as uninterested in the matter and parties; but hearing by common Fame somewhat of the ground and obliquity of intentions against the Defendant, I became moved to a Christian commiseration, having received many Testimonies considerable on his behalf. The Commission thus taken out, Complaints were upon the meanest sort of Neighbours, with their following Subscriptions, laboured for; and procured for a groundwork, and consequently a Jury provided in a place remote to pass upon the Evidence exhibited, which surprisingly produced a casting Verdict: both Jury and Commissioners ignorant of the concealed plot and practice, could not well but be swayed thereby: which I finding as yet but an imperfect Embryo toward a Decree (by some my writing) interposed, offered some preventing informations and considerations; whereupon to avoid subsequent trouble, charge and disgraces, but nothing prevailing, a Decree past as well against others, as the Schoolmaster, much unexpected to be drawn in. This undermining Stratagem was thus broached and carried on. Mr. Thomas Buck on our Lord's day after Sermon called together the Inhabitants of Little Thirlow, tendering them a Writing to subscribe against Mr. Holmes, which some refusing, lost his favour, and their dinner. Other prolings there were about the Country for hands upon specious pretexts, meeting also some refusals. In the appointed meeting of the Commissioners divers suspected of non-concurrence had no warning, who after knowledge complained, and met with the rest at a more indifferent place; but finding Resolution much taken, and Conclusions framed upon the preceding Verdict, desisted to appear at the next meeting, though offended at the premises. After Verdict, some Counsel was heard to plead, alleging how improper the business was to the Commission, as more belonging to the Ecclesiastical trial, after the Diocesans Licence, with much more: also Sir Thomas Soame a Trustee not having power to transmit to Mr. Buck who had nothing to do in the Case, much less to examine sufficiency which he assumed, and upon the Defendants refusal to submit, offence was taken, though had he done otherwise, he had showed himself poorly simple; after what his Admission, Exercise, and divers years Teaching had privileged him, rather to examine his Boys, then to be so examined. Whom one of the Electors, Mr. Owen, had harboured long in his house, and upon his knowledge of his Capacity chose him Schoolmaster, however now upon particular Quarrel hath laboured against him, and for occasion of exception withdrew his Children from his Teaching. He, Mr. Buck, and Mr. Soame of Little Bradley have been the prime Movers in this rare project, which Mr. Soame hath since acknowledged in himself, and now reconciled upon a difference he had with Mr. Holmes, and finding the disgraces urged on against Sir Thomas his Kinsman and others, extraordinarily dissents and disapproves. Never was so poor a matter managed with so much Artifice and Industry. Mr. Holmes was conceived Friendless, and, by undue withholding his Stipend, Pennyless; easy to be outed, disgraced, and undone at the first Assault. But God hath raised friends unto him, and the disgrace may fall somewhere else. The Clamour ceaseth in great part, and both Great Thirlow and many of Little Thirlow (where the School is) disavow, as approving of Mr. Holmes, who finding the strong bent against him, offered upon reasonable Terms, with payment of Arrears due for serving in the School, to quit and quiet all. In sort that the Commissioners took much satisfaction, and employed to Mr. Buck some of themselves to draw him to acceptance, but he refused, having been at great Charge to pay himself with the money in his hands. I to my cost made way to his ends, and end of trouble, nothing prevailing, all must down before him for a new model, inexorable, without remorse either to himself or others. Mr. Holmes he terms a Nocent, and me by consequence for my Charity not Innocent * I had in pity and favour made Mr. Holmes my Chaplain. I think by his fair professions he would willingly have stopped my mouth, but cannot stop his own: if I have erred it is with good company, but till Mr. Holmes be farther convinced to deserve that Malefactor Term, I will not be ashamed of my good intents. I intended to insert the Tenor of Sir Stephen's Will concerning his School, with the Decree exceeding the prayer of the Petition for Ejectment; also Doctor Dillingham's Letters in vindication of himself against aspersions, and asserting Mr. Holmes his good Ability, with Mr. Buck his solicitation to place him Schoolmaster, convincing him of an Eminent activity which now he denies, making himself passive; moreover Doctor King's, and others certifying in writing for Mr. Holmes his well-deserving, with some Letters of mine own at large tending to pacification in good offers complying with Mr. Buck's first pretexts, but all fruitless, and would prove too tedious; wherefore I must leave them to your discreet Comprehension from this half Light, reserving to your farther satisfaction, upon demand, a Volume of papers conducing to clear the truth of all that is affirmed. A kind of continued Characters of divers worthy persons slighted, Assertors for Mr. Holmes. Mr. Doctor Dillingham Master of Clare-Hall, where Mr. Holmes had been Graduate, several times Vicechancellor. Mr. Doctor King Master of Trinity-Hall, well reputed, learned, and a chief Neighbour in Great Thirlow. Mr. Billingsley Minister of Great Bradley, near Neighbour on the other side, honest, learned, and preceding Schoolmaster in Thirlow-School. Mr. Chambers Minister of West-P●utting, inhabitant in Great Bradly. Mr. Morden of the said Town, an understanding and well-esteemed Gentleman, with other his Conscribers to a favourable Certificate in the Rise of the Business. Standing Electors according to Sir Stephen Soame his Will, laid by to a new Model. Mr. Howsman Minister of Great Thirlow, a well famed and learned able Judge for such a concernment, ejected for being essential to all Elections, though won by me to assent to a new one, without breach of the Will, such as the prosecutors would place. Mr. Owen of Thirlow, parum adverse to Mr. Holmes, but as is conceived expecting advantage. Sir Thomas Soame surviving Executor to the Care of the School, in modesty finding a fairly recommended and orderly placed man by the two Electing-Neighbour-Ministers in the office of Schoolmaster, more competent to judge then himself living far off; but knowingly by a silent approbation assenting, after having been much abused and misled by his suffering himself to become instrumental to the plot; though professing now to me to have nothing that he would allege in disparagement of Mr. Holmes, (who had been much and wrongfully traduced in pretended disrespects towards him) is now disgracefully turned out from his Father's institution, in recompense of having served the Contrivers as an useful property. Some preceding active Characters are omitted. As also a foul scurrilous Libel reflecting upon divers of the , with one Reyner formerly in deep difference with Mr. Buck, which hangs in charge against some of the most Eminent. Mr. Holmes was mainly accused through the whole Train of illiterate insufficiency to the learned Country Jury: but the more wise Commissioners found ground enough to compose the Decree without it. After all this, Mr. Buck pretends great kindness expressed to Mr. Holmes, and respect to me; excelling in his Language, unanswerable in his proceed. I have troubled you and myself too much in so poor and unworthy abusiness, but I affect your right information. Thus much for a Narrative manifest, and my Apology, pardon my haste and confusion in this dark intricate scene, and know me ever, Your most affectionate Kinsman and Servant, Dudley North To avoid trouble and mistake of writing, I am contented to print some few Copies for choice friends. An Appeal, as a last Anchor, is necessitated and goes on. March 26. 1666. TO pass by all Mr. Bucks Arts for the outing Mr. Holmes from being Schoolmaster at Thurlow, where he divers years taught by Mr. Bucks active concurrence in placing him, and wherein he had so wrought by stirring up the meanest Inhabitants (all otherwise quiet) and thereby Sir Tho: Soame also against him, from whom he derived to himself a delegated, transmitted power of managing the Ejectment, etc. Having otherwise no colour of his own right to act therein. Which his ill-grounded Cunning, made most credibly known unto me, moved me in Christian Charity and Compassion to appear as far as I well might in favour to prevent the effects of that ruinous Plot, laid against Holmes, and trenching to the disgrace of many well famed and respectable persons, who had appeared on his behalf, which I have industriously done, by words, Letters, and addresses from the entrance into the business in all constancy even until this present day; patiently hoping (but by unreasonable obstinacy failing) of my peaceable desires, which the following Letters successively (though not successfully) continued, will demonstrate, and for my own satisfaction, I have thought good to gather in their Series and order together, in relation to my Letter to Sir Henry North for his Information. Gentlemen. Whom it may concern I was desired to write formerly in the behalf of Mr. Holmes, yet Schoolmaster of Thurlow, but refused it, as averse from meddling in others Interest, yet from thus much I would not contain myself, That upon the constant testimonial of many of my honest, well-famed and Judicious Neighbours, who well know him and are able to judge I understand not any thing of enormously scandalous or incompetent for the place, which he hath divers years exercised, in which sense, nothing doubting of the Justice and just inclinations of the worthy Commissioners joined in the examination of perversions from Charitable uses, (wherein how far schools are intended I conceive not) except in withholding what hath been given for their maintenance: I do zealously certify in Christian Neighbourhood, that for want of some formalities or small exceptions from which no man is exempt, and without fair admonition, I cannot but hope that the main Defendant, and they who have both placed him and continued him so long time, shall not suffer disgrace, in which assurance I subscribe as to all causes that I conceive fair and good Nou. 6. 1665. Du. North. Mr. Buck. I Acknowledge the favour of your last visit, which being near dark in the evening, myself in my Chamber engaged to some Physic, yet I delayed not but friendly and freely entertained you in patiented long hearing and answering you, in the way which I had formerly appeared intending to peace and a fair undisgraceful way in the prosecution of the business concerning Mr. Holmes, wherein many considerable men were involved by what they had declared in his behalf: But all my open hearted inclinations as to a Brother were so ineffectual, that the subsequent prosecutions were rather more than less furious, carried on not only against him, but others who had either brought or suffered him to teach in Thurlow-School, I imagine you would never have troubled yourself unconcerned therein with much cost and prejudice to your health, had not some others spleen urged and wrought over much upon you, and bred such an overflowing of your gall, as (if yet not prevented) may stain your Complexion and Reputation, and if (which was much) the outing of the Schoolmaster might have satisfied, it was offered, which many of your friends would have had you accept, but you were so far from it, that all must down who conceived all done according to the Founders will, strange that after four years teaching the Teacher's capacity should be questioned, other objections being small and no admonition given: yourself party to the Introduction, and till lately taking no exceptions tantaene animis Caelestibus irae? my strong information of a shameful ruin, and utter undoing plotted against him, not only detaining his due stipend, but a fine urged upon him as an Intruder, moved me in Christianity (though a mere stranger) to compassion, helping to case his fall upon my own Shoulders, making him my Chaplain, and helping him in some subsistence, whereby I am now become concerned in my choice, and his disgrace, and howsoever you may in the present triumph, yet in his appeal and the world possessed with the Artifice and carriage of the business, you will not find yourself at so fair an end as possibly in your reduction of the Defendants poor necessitous Condition you may have conceived. Men of worth are interessed, the Esquire Natural Visitor not consulted, may resent and expect to be heard, and all this as yet you may notwithstanding recollect, and suspend execution, prevent farther trouble and disgrace with your own quiet inward and outward, which your great Age and Infirmity much require, and stand fairer in wont estimation than threatens. I have heard you intent me the favour of another visit for my clear Information: which if you do, and come with a mind more disposed to peace than rigour, hard heartedness and persecution, it will joy my open abounding heart with recompense to this your and my trouble, and send us in quiet and good Conscience towards our Graves, which is the Prayer of Written in haste this 26. of Dec. 1665. Your affectionate friend and well wisher to serve you Du. North. Good Mr. Buck. ONce more and no more I presume to trouble you in my well wishes to you peace and a fair end of the ill-sounding engagement, thanking you for your yesterday obliging favour in good expressions to me, wherein your good will to me abounds, I would your passion did not more abound, I yet appeal to your farther and cooler consideration, you have had already too much trouble and cost, inflame and increase it not, whilst it may be fairly avoided, you seek the performance of the will of the Founder, and the good effect of it, in the free and sufficient teaching of a School for the good institution of Neighbours Children, the present introduced Master you except against, his willingness and my compliance to your design give you satisfaction therein, and an expedient of placing another as you would wish, therein is the will of the dead and the charitable intention accomplished. But in the progress you urge an Insuper invading, breaking the Tenor and trenching upon the Will, unproperly and unnecessarily, by disgracing the surviving Executor, a tacit modest concurrent to the pursuance of the Will, in the placing Mr. Holms as Master by the standing Electors of the two Thurlowes, whose sufficiency might well be presumed on, as Scholars, Neighbours, and Ministers ejected, and disgracing them, without any visible transgression, think better on it and suppose not any of the Commissioners or any good intelligent body will prove offended at so fair and peaceable an end, and that farther charge, altercation, and trouble, be not wedded to an invincible sense of your own, but gratify all parties concerned, for me if my endeavours to peace miscarry, yet with God's good acceptance I regret them not but rest in my pacific meaning, Jan. 3. 1665. Sir, Your most affectionate Friend, Du. North. Mr. Buck. YOu have given me occasion to write to you beyond my meaning, finding myself to have lost much labour and good will by not prevailing the least tittle with you in any thing that I have said or written, but now you having told Dr. Bolderough that since my seeing him you had given me satisfaction: It is a misinformation, for I am not in the least point satisfied with your proceed, and very little in your say: You have named to him my Son as one of your Commissioners who never sat, and divers had they had timely notice and sitting would have been far from being carried away by your blinding surprising artifices; I grieve to see so many worthy Gentlemen misled by importuned subscriptions, and a present prepared Jury who could not but judge according to what appeared unto them; but all is yet pendente lite: the Appeal to come, you have also lately failed in your promise made in my house though not in my presence that you would presently pay Mr. Holmes forty and five pounds of his arrears in your hands, which when he came to receive you refused to do upon pretence, that young Mr. Soames was landed and now (though never before) to be consulted, you have been at strange cost and trouble more than incumbent upon you, which you have thrust yourself into, nor indeed if you would have taken the shortest and directest way, by an ecclesiastical trial of him, who was licenced to keep a School by the Lord Bishop, and had many strong and considerable testimonies of his sufficiency thereunto, all slighted and passed by, though most competent to have judged betwixt a Teacher and his Scholars; His taking money hath been objected, which is denied except of such Towns as were not specified by the Will to have privilege; now had he notice of the terms of the Will fully till very lately, which was also concealed from Mr. Buck himself. And if any thing hath been taken through ignorance he hath offered to repay it, Mr. Holmes was put in upon pursuance of the Will, exercised the duty required many years without exception. And whereas great negligence is taxed upon him, he is ready to justify the contrary having never considerably absented himself, but once in a Christmas time, and that little more than a Month, three week's cessation being ordinary to all Schools, and even then he had taken care to have his place supplied, against his disrespect (alleged) to Sir Tho. Soame, he can fully justify himself, as also in refusing before the Commissioners to be examined by Mr. Buck or his Assigns, wherein he had otherwise done most basely and sillily: But you have not lost your cost and ends, for you may have him out and others in, at your choice, the Will stand inviolate, the Country taught, Animosities and disgrace prevented, charge and trouble saved, and good men satisfied; Sir Thomas Soame upon whom your workings have prevailed to give you colour of power not cast out in recompense. These are the good effects you may attain by not pursuing your Decree, and myself, whom you would render not innocent by countenancing a Nocent remain your friend, Jan. 29. 1665. Du. North. Noble Dr. _____ Buckenham. I Never admired any thing more than Mr. Bucks inconsistent intellectuals and obstinate malice in blind and blinding Arts for the overthrow of a poor Village Schoolmaster placed upon his own solicitation and paid and allowed by him, for above two years when he stirred up and picked a Quarrel against him, the ill favour whereof flew so about the Country, that I upon credible testimonies of Holms his good capacity and carriage (though a stranger to the man and matter,) took it to heart in Christian compassion, industriously interposing what I could to effect a right understanding, and prevent a charge trouble and consequent disgrace to such as had appeared for him, or were otherwise interessed with importunate persuasions, to Mr. Buck of his being il-grounded, yet complying with him so far as to produce his ends both in removing Holmes and bringing another, all in vain; After much contest with him, one repairing to me asked me, if I would have any thing, I answered only this, cui bono all this cost and trouble? at last I became indeed interessed at least in reputation, as my Letter to Sir Henry North mentions. Buck hath slighted many fair proffers for a peaceable desistence and retreat, hath put jeering and threatening upon me, if I persisted in laying him and myself open, it but the more animates me, it can be but honour to me and shame to him, nor am I of a consistence to fear any thing that Man, or dare or can say against me, the more this puddle is stirred the worse the vapour, they who refuse peace and quiet. It belongs to them to suffer in the contrary, but of others quid meruere. To Buck belongs the blame, who may clear the stage and leave all in statu quo: nor Law nor good then but will rather joy than be offended in a good agreement: Buckbears shall not fright Catledge June 26, 1666. Your affectionate Friend to serve you, Du. North. Thus much in my good respect to you, who as I hear never sealed to the Decree, I presume to send you what I assure myself you have heard of, if not seen my Letter to Sir Henry North. Mr. Thomas Buck hath so acted as Substitute to Sir Thomas Soams in his executory power to his Father's Will, as cannot but conclude through the whole agitation concerning Thurlow School, as well for placing as displacing: Sir Thomas must be implicitly concurring thereunto, else Mr. Buck must have been a strange Intruder without the least Authority in what he hath assumed. My Good Dr. _____ Paman. PArdon my presumption, who affect to be more and more yours by this your farther courtesy, I am a great exalter of Charity (if not exerciser of it) no doubt of your concurrence: I have in word, writing, and deed, extraordinarily shown it in the business betwixt Holms and Buck, manifoldly and importunately labouring peace and prevention of charge, trouble, animosities and disgraces, but rancour and invincible spite hath frustrated my endeavours, (wherein failing) Bucks crafty and malicious steps have been gathered though his whole course, and are ready to be proved and Printed, which I have hitherto stopped expecting his recipiscence, but his most uncharitable intents cloaked with Charity continuing, and a costly course of Appeal enforced Holms, (whose stipend Buck hath since his quarrel withheld) though placed by his desire and paid by him for divers years reduced to great want, having forbore to sue or seek for his right, until the heirs return, to whom he constantly referred himself as his proper paymaster and Natural overseer, I can do no less than intercede for the Laborers hire, who rather than not to prosecute his vindicating himself against undeserved disgrace and utter ruin, must be enforced to be received in forma pauperis. Oblige me in your assistance & imparting thus much to the Esquire and procuring his answer to me herein, Mr. Buck hath complained to Dr. Dillingham, more remiss and submiss than formerly, and imploring his advice, in this his misfortune and exigent, who told him he might desist if he would relent, which he may yet do, nor the Law nor any good man will be offended in a peaceable, agreement and conclusion. Blessed are the Peacemakers, no man will be a loser thereby, disgraces avoided, the Founders Will inviolated, and nothing but malice defeated, this is easy and obvious, and a good peace never too late. The Angels sang Glory to God, and peace on earth, good will towards men, better than libelling and disgracing Churchmen. I have written and said much in vain, may this prove more successful with my service to my kinsman and all good affection, to yourself I rest in haste. Jan. 21. 1666. Your really respectful Friend to serve you, Du. North. Now fiat justitia & currat lex: I am resolved to trouble myself no more, but leave Mr. Holms to be Schoolmaster at Thurlow, Rectus in Curia or a disgraced undone man, withdrawing myself and all those offers that I would have contributed to a fair peaceable end, they go now for nothing, as retracted and fruitless. Ju●● 2. 1666. Du. North.