The Speech and Confession of Hugh Peters
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A90546.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE SPEECH AND CONFESSION OF Hugh Peters, Close Prisoner in the Tower of London; And His Horrible Expressions and Doctrine▪ when Our Glorious Sovereign was led to Martyrdom.
With the manner how he was taken on Sunday Night last in Southwark; who to save himself, crept into bed to one Mrs. Peach a Quaker, which had lain in Child-bed two days.
And afterwards escaped to the house of Mrs Mun, where he was taken, with divers pieces of Gold, and Silver Medals, sewed in his Skirts; And a strange Almanac taken out of his Pocket.
London, Printed for George Horton, 165 • .
THE SPEECH AND CONFESSION OF Hugh Peters, Close Prisoner in the Tower of LONDON.
I T hath seemed good to the Divine Providence, which we may truly call wonderful, so to over-rule of late, the Counsels of our former Oppressors, (who by strange success, and almost incredible dexterity in villainy, had almost involved both our Church and State in unavoidable ruin; grinding without compassion, these (once free) but at length woefully enthralled Nations, fastening on their neck, an Iron, uneasy yoke of servitude, making them (with Sampson) basely to grind, and abide captivity and curbing them with rigor, who before repined at, grew weary of, and rejected the milder Scepter, and so to ensnare them in their contrivances, that their Plots (like Potters Vessels) were broken upon the Wheel, nor produced anything but confusion and distraction to themselves together with unsettledness in the Nation; whence arose Discontent, loss of Trade, and Poverty; and by means of the last of these, the wasted Peoples Whisperings▪ Murmurings, and Repinings on all hands were so many and urgent, that the Master-builders of our new Babel by their own Jealousies, Misunderstandings, and Animosities, were in short time dispiersed hither and thither, through the good hand of God, blessed be that happy Gale.
What he • ght of fury, and desperate resolution was on their side, God knew, and took notice of, nor was it unknown to most of those, who desired, and prayed for such a composure, and settlement of affairs, as we now see, through his great Goodness, & undeserved kindn • sse to Us, who considering the preparations and contrivances to hinder what We now happily enjoy, could not expect this redemption, but as a purchase, and with the loss of the lives of thousands, the shedding much blood, and exposing our hopes to extreme hazard.
The oppressed City, and groaning Countries were resolved, either to shake off the Arbitrary Yo • k of Usurpation and Tyrannie, or to perish in the Attempt.
On the other hand, the fatal Causers of our long-past Calamities, animated with guilt and despair, were resolved to make good their Ground, or expire like Cateline; that is, sell their life as dear as possible, and cover the place, they maintained fighting in life, with their breathless Carkases after death; or like Zimry, rather than lose (by surrender) their Power and Estates, fire the whole Nation first, then se • some Cities and Castles on flame over their Heads, and perish together.
Yet it pleased the Lord of Hosts, to dissipate their Armed Powers, frustrate their Designs, and leave the Ring-leaders, stripped of all Succor, to the Scourge of Justice. It stood with the Honor and Wisdom of the Most High, to restrain the Rage and Fury of Man; to glorify Himself, by delivering up these great Midianitish Oppressors, insulting Moabites, Philistim Lord's, (with other their Confederates, who grew like Melons out of Dunghils) to the Divine Hand of Justice.
Amongst the rest, their Balaam-like Prophet and Soothsayer Hugh Peters, is close prisoner in the Tower of London. Some difficulty there was in the discovery of him; but upon Intelligence, that he privily lurked about Southwark, two Messengers were sent on Friday last to apprehend him; And entering the house of Mr. Broad a Quaker, in St. Thomas Parish, whose daughter then lay in, they searched, but missed him, he being (according to his custom) crept▪ into bed to the young woman, where the Messengers modesty forbad their search, she having been delivered b • t two days before; And while they were searching at one Day a Cobbler, Hugh the Firebrand escaped from Childbed, leaving behind him his Cane with a Rapier in it, a Bible, and gray cloak. But on Sunday night they found him at one Mr. Muns in the Maze, who denied himself to be Peters, and said his name was Thompson, threatening the Messengers with an Action at Law for offering to affirm he was Hugh Peters, and therefore refused to go with them, till at last (being assisted by the Constable and others) they forced him; which he perceiving, desired he might speak privately with Mrs. Mun, which they denied, unless he would speak in their hearing; after which he said, I will go, but I beg for the Lord's sake that you will not call me • r. Peters; for, said he, if it be known that I am Hugh Peters, the people in the street will stone me. But forcing him away, there was s • me tugging; and feeling his Skir • s hard, they unript them, & found 5 pieces of Gold, some silver Medals, and out of his Pocket they took his Almanac, which he was very much troubled at▪ After which, they brought him to the Tower, & delivered him into the custody of the worthy Lieutenant Sir John Robi • son, still avering his name was Thomson; till at last in private to Sir John he confessed who he was. This is St. Hugh, who when our Glorious Sovereign was led to Martyrdom, fell so heavy upon his righteous Soul, blaspheming him upon his then Text, (Psal 149. To bind their Kings in Chains &c) and many other sordid Notions; too wicked and profane to be here recited.