Letter to William Lentall
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A96499.0001.001
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
A LETTER Sent from Mr. Sergeant Wilde, Esq and Humphrey Salwey, Esq Both Members of the House of COMMONS, To the Honorable, WILLIAM LENTALL Esquior, Speaker of the House of Commons; Concerning divers Passages at the Quarter Sessions in Worcester, about the execution of the Commission of Array, and the Ordinance of the MILITIA: At which Sessions was the greatest Assembly that hath been seen for many years past.
Together with The humble Petition of the Grand-Jury-men of that Sessions to the Knights, and Justices of that County; wherein it appears they are well satisfied of the Illegality of the Commission of Array; with their Desires of the speedy execution of the Militia, by them who are entrusted therewith.
Read in the House of Commons, and Ordered by them to be forthwith Printed and published.
H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
London, Printed by LUKE NORTON and JOHN FIELD, for Edward Husbands and John Franck. July 18. 1642.
To the Honorable, WILLIAM LENTALL Esq Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament.
Honoured SIR,
W E hold it our duties to render you this short account of our Journey into Worcestershire, which fell out to be very necessary and seasonable, for we sound by the way, and after our arrival here at Worcester upon Monday night last (being the night before the Quarter Sessions) that great preparation had been made for the Execution of the Commission of Array on this day, and great distempers raised in the County, by the violent prosecution of Master Sherrington Talbott (whose high contempts and oppositions against the Parliament shall be more partitularly represented to you hereafter) giving us just cause to believe that there was a design, hope, and probability, (with reference to other parts adjoining) to have made this County a place of war; But (blessed be God) our coming down by the Command of the Honorable House whereof we are unworthy Members, hath wrought (we hope so effectually that the Commission of Array was this day quite deserted by the whole County; The Declarations of the Parliament most joyfully, and thankfully received, and the minds of the People (which before were by mis-reports, and publications of matters from York full of anxiety and trouble) are now (we believe) fully settled, as may appear by this enclosed Petition, which in a very full, and great Assemblie as ever we saw at any Assizes, or Sessions, was by the Grand-Jury presented to us, and the rest of the Justices with a great acclamation of the company then present, and further intimations of ten Thousand hands more to have been added to it, if time would have permitted.
Mean while Master Sherrington Talbott having the night before at his house peremptorily refused to obey the arrest of the Messenger, as the messenger can testify, with other his speeches and actions, and coming hither to this City in a daring manner to have executed the Commission (finding his hopes fail, and his apprehension like to follow) secretly fled away, and as we hear is gone again towards York, with Menaces in his mouth, leaving the Lord Dudley (one of the chief Commissioners) to manage the work, who being not seconded by the Commissioners whom he expected (or any other) the same day quitted the placce, leaving the City and County (thanks be to God) in good peace and quietness, wherein we hope by God's blessing it will continue faithful and firm to the King and Parliament. And of other passages we shall be ready to give the House a more particular account at our return, which we intend (God willing) shall be very speedily. Mean while and ever with our due respects and best service presented to you, we take our leave, and rest
Wednesday, 13. Iulii, 1642.
Your most humble, and Affectionate Servants,
- John Wilde:
- Humphrey Salwey.
TO THE Right Worshipful, The Kings Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the County of Wigorum;
The humble Petition of the Grand-Jury, which doth now serve at this present Quarter Sessions of the Peace, holden this 12 of July, 1642.
T Hat with all thankfulness even from the bottom of our hearts we acknowledge the exceeding great favor the Parliament hath been pleased to show unto us, in declaring the illegallity of the Commission of Array intended at this present to be executed among us. And we do most humbly beseech those to whom the Ordinance of the Militia for this County is entrusted, that they would be pleased speedily to put the same in execution, that so His Majesty's Royal Person, the Parliament and Kingdom may be secured, which (as we are now fully persuaded) are in great danger by reason of the plots of a Malignant party, and Persons ill affected to the King and State.