Two Letters

T O Your three Queries, touching

• 1. Non-residency,
• 2. Exchange of Churches,
• 3. And my Pluralities,

I pray accept (in this my haste) this short answer. For the first, I am still the same (whether you speak of the Locus or Officium ) that then I was, when I Preached and Published that my Concio ad Clerum in your hands.

For the second, I conceive that a Pastor in his removes should be rather Passive then Active, and fit down by the conclusion of old 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .

For the third, I must needs say more then ever I intended, by reason of a fresh charge upon me from Oxford this instant April. I acknowledge a double error.

• 1. That I yielded so far, as to bear the name of some livings, 'till some unwelcome suitors were slaved off, and others more desired were wrought in.
• 2. That I was too confident, that no man would conceive that I intended to hold four or five livings at these years, being so near my grave, and at this time, When pluralities are so decried and damned, especially seeing in my younger days, I satisfied myself with one small Benefice, though then I had offers of more, and that then when Non-residency was more in fashion and credit, and more dispensable then now it is. Thus far I have erred, and for this I crave pardon. But now whereas it is pretended that filthy lucre hath so far transported me that I have heaped Living upon Living to a great number, and to no less a value, then 14. or 1500 ^l per annum, I do profess unto you in the words of Truth and Sobriety, I never yet received 300 ^l per annum declaro in one year from any Church Living or Livings, and whereas an audit is made of the very particulars, be not weary if I touch upon each particular. The first instance is Hanwell, there I lived forty years, and there had died, had I not been called away by public Order, and before I might return, my Living and Goods seized to another's use. During which my absence, I was never called to any settled, though invited to many sequestered places, The first place I undertook, when Hanwell was taken away, was that at Bhishops-gate (not daring to venture upon that at the Temple) there I was (at the Parliaments pleasure) till Hanwell was again opened unto me, touching which I cannot give you a full account without some trouble to you, and some reflection upon dearest friends, only this in sum. I am so willing to own that for my old love (as Pegasus terms it) that I prefer it to any place in the World, were there suitable accommodations, but the parsonage house being defaced, the Mounds and Standards removed, many of my Goods, Books, and other implements and utensils Pillaged, my own proper Houses thereabouts, turned to ashes by the fury of flame and Sword, It was not in my power to repair myself, nor in the Peoples to recruit me: true it is; some overtures have been made, some time spent in projecting a resettlement, but obstructions have been very great. Meanwhile, what offers have been made on my part, what suits on the Peoples part, how the place hath been supplied what monies have come at any time to my purse (Soldiers, Assistants and other emergencies answered) I had rather the most knowing Inhabitants would speak then myself, who (I believe) will smile at Pegasus his Arithmetique in summing all up to 160 ^l per annum with an &c.

The Second place is Bishops-gate, how near that reacheth to 400 ^l per annum, M. Fuller (there settled) by this time finds, would this Auditor help me to my arrear's for times past, he should have my now hundreds thence, for one of his Pegasus shoe-nails.

The third is Hanbury, It pleased Oxford-shire Committee, out of their good thoughts of me and desire of my Neighbourhood, to design that for me, yea to send me (without my suite) an order for it, this I kept by me a while, and in fine desired them to excuse me, and how ever I might (if I would) have made some profit of the place, yet I assure you, and the Parishioners will attest the same, the place was never worth 3 ^d to me; whether in it self it amounts to towards 300 ^l or no, M. Rogers (the Incumbent) best knows, and this reporter (within six miles of the place) may know the truth in the premises, if it be not grievous to him to know the truth and my innocence.

Now comes sequestered Peterfield, then to be left when I go to Oxford: this is not above forsooth 5. or 600 ^l per annum, warily spoken, he might have made another remove, and said not above so many 1000 ^l , what 'tis in this negative and indefinite way it skilles not much, what I have received, the Sequestrator hath asserted under his hand, and if Pegasus will give me 150 ^l for my 500 ^l per annum (all things discharged) I will give him Bridle and Saddle into the bargain.

As for his 4 ^s per diem in the Assembly, he understands as little how and to whom that is paid, as I do of his 10 ^s for Apostle-ship in Oxford vain man, who is at leisure thus to throw away time, and to please himself in his own froth) knows he better then I what I have received or do intend, whether I settle upon Garsington (another instance annexed to the College) or no: whether it were possible for me (if I were willing) to hold many Parsonages now or not: or say I could and would, knows he never a man (never a worthy man in his eye) who hathhad 15. or 1600 ^l per annum, and how comes he to be so angry with one, and so indulgent to another in the same cause, but the Lord forgive his keenes, not against me only, but against more deserving men. Sir I return to you, I crave pardon for this digression, if this little will satisfy you, or any with you, I am glad, if not, I shall do more at more leisure, for I am resolved that no Pluralist shall justly quote me. I am now a dying man, and I had rather die this day, then live one more therein to give just offense to the Church of God, to his Grace I now leave you, and

Y OUR Letter overtook me in my Jorny, you will pardon me, if I answer the Contents currente calamo.

1. To the exception against me and my Brethren for Pluralities, this I say for them, I hope it is causeless, I have often heard their defense, and know that diverse of them have been hardly put to it, but somewhat. (I conceive) will be shortly done in their Vindication, and I will not anticipate. 2ly, For myself, I think I may say without breach of modesty, sum extra noxam sed non est facile purgatu, I was a little too confident of a fair and Candid interpretation of my actions and intentions, and therefore made not hast enough, and that which swayed me was this. It was told me that some places (offered me) would suffer, in case use were not made of my name for a season. 2ly, I was willing (an option being granted, and I being now to settle once for all for ought I knew) to see what place would suit best with my strength for the Charge, and with my health for the Air, and thereupon some time run out before I (who was not myself) could refolve, but it was never intended on any hand, that I should hold anymore places then one, nay it never came into my thoughts. There is now from Oxford (as you seem to intimate) somewhat said with no good affection, nay all heightened, ad Conflandum odium & invidiam, things so represented as if I had no less then 4 or 5 Livings of great Value at one time, whereas you know that I never had any place (which I could call mine) but only one, the rest offered me were many (upon several occasions) but all Sequestred, Tenable (yea and Tithable too) at the pleasure of others. What reason I had to part suddenly with a more certain, for a less certain thing, do you judge. All the rest of those places (so offered) are for ought I know disposed of, some I never saw, from others I never received Penny, the only Sequestred place that is in question is Peterfield, this was with much nobleness at first conferred, with much fear and slowness undertaken, supplied (by reason of my attendance elsewhere, and the Sequestratours and Parishioners refusing to take the means and please themselves in the choice of the Assistants) with much difficulty, submitted to that honorable Committee again upon my derignement for Oxford, and now (the result of Oxford business being known) to be (according to a former engagement) forever acquitted, or only resided upon. As for Hanwell, when a Successor was named by the Patron, I thought the work done, but it proved otherwise. At present I say this. 1. I was called thence 2. The place was taken from me. 3. Since it returned, I have made these offers, 1. That in-case the Parishioners would make the place habitable, I would (with leave) there live and die, or 2. That I would resign it to such a man as they (and others concerned) liked, so as I might be freed of Delapidations, nay Devastations made by Soldiers, and 3. In the mean, till Patron and People could concur in a man, I offered that he who Offciated should take all, Conditionally that he would do and pay all, there remains but one thing more, and that's this, that I Petition the Parliament either to relieve me in my great losses and return me thither, or else put in a suflicient man, in case there be not a speedy Concurrence, (as I truft there will be now) in such a man as I have engaged myself to leave upon the place. Thus you have the naked truth represented herein, what you dislike I desire to know that I may Correct it. Sir I am so little taken with great places, that my highest ambition is some private Hospital, and so tired with a Pastoral Charge, that I dislike nothing so much in my lott at Oxford, as that. Hitherto I have been passive in all the places I ever had, and now I would gladly sit down in silence, and go to my grave in peace, and this is all I can stay to say to your first Quere.

Now for your second touching Oxford, it is not for me to say much: I love the place, I honor diverse there who are of a different Judgment in some things, and could heartily wish, that they would have prevented our Journey thither, and task there, by a timely Reformation of themselves, and free concurrence with the Parliament in that necessary work, for though you and I and a 1000 more, do honor that our dearest Mother and do unfeignedly desire (aconcealement of her wants, yea) her greatest advancement, yet we cannot deny but that there is need of a further Reformation, and that without prejudice to our Oaths and Privileges, (for ought I know) and had that been done long might the Students for me have enjoyed their Mother, and their Mother them. I think I may truly say, that there is none put in there by the Parliament, who had not rather see the place Reformed, then himself preferred. For myself, if my places in City and Country be so many, so rich as they are reported, it may be reasonably thought, that it is no great preferment for me to quitt them all (as I must and will if I settle there) for Trinity College, but the truth is, I do not think that Pegasus doth believe that I have so much in my hands, nay I make a question whether he would not like it well enough, that I should keep more Livings, so I would leave one College, and truly I am not very liquorish after one. Sir you see how apt I am to exceed whilst I confer with you. I conclude with these requests, believe 1. That I am no friend to Nonresidency and Pluralities, 2. That I have not husbanded men's kindnesses to mine own advantage, 3. That I desire no place like my old place, si res esset integra, you will now present my best to all with you, and continue your prayers for