Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…

1. Refusing a Chaplain's Commission, I continued about two Years or more in Coventry, as a Lecturer to the Garrison and City, in quietness, save that we daily heard of all the dismal Wars abroad. Only twice I went out with them, 1. To take in Tamworth Castle that cost no Blood, 2. And to besiege Banbury Castle, whose Soldiers robbed Warwickshire, and the Travellers and Carriers on London Road. But thence we were raised and driven home with some loss.

1. Refusing a Chaplain's Commission, I continued about two Years or more in Coventry, as a Lecturer to the Garison and City, in quietness, save that we daily heard of all the dismal Wars abroad. Only twice I went out with them, 1. To take in Tamworth Castle that cost no Blood, 2. And to besiege Banbury Castle, whose Soldiers rob'd Warwickshire, and the Travellers and Carriers on London Road. But thence we were raised and driven home with some loss.

Also for two or three Months the care of my Native Country and of my Father drew me into Shropshire, with some that went to settle a Garrison at Wem: There and at Longford House I staid till my Father was delivered from Imprisonment by Exchange, for a short time.

Also for two or three Months the care of my Native Countrey and of my Father drew me into Shropshire, with some that went to settle a Garison at Wem: There and at Longford House I staid till my Father was delivered from Imprisonment by Exchange, for a short time.

2. All that ever I conversed with, did all this while profess to own the King, and only to separate him from an Army of Delinquents, and ⟨p. 22⟩to reunite him and his Parliament: And we thought all the Armies had intended no worse. But when Naseby Fight was past, having heard that the King was left out of the New Commissions, I went to see the Field where the Fight was, and the Army: And there accosted me some sober honest Captains, and told me that their Army was corrupted by the fault of the Ministers, that had all forsaken them, being weary of the Labour, and impatient of the Sectaries in the Army, and so they were all left to the Preaching of their own Officers and Soldiers, and a few Chaplains of their own Mind and Choice. And that the bold Leaders began already to say, that God hath committed the safety of the Nation to their trust; And what were the Lords and Knights in William the Conqueror's time, but his Colonels and Captains? In a word, I understood by them that they had a purpose to set up themselves, and to overturn the Government of Church and […]. This so surprised me, that whereas these Captains entreated […] among them, and got Col. Whalley (who then seemed of their […]) to invite me to his Regiment, I took but one days time to answer them. And I opened the sad Case that we were all like to be in, to an Assembly of Ministers in Coventry, whom I gathered to counsel me, and told them what I found, and that the Land was now like to fall into their hands: and that though I thought it was too late, I was inclined to venture my life among them in seeking to reclaim them. The Ministers (Dr. Bryan, Dr. Grew, Mr. King, Mr. Brumskill, Mr. Morton, and others seeing my inclination gave their consent: But the Committee (after consent) refusing, I was forced to tell them what I saw and heard in the Army, and what Danger the Kingdom was in, and so to go away against their will: But Col. W. Puresoy a Confident of Cromwell's, threatened me for such words, and I imagine sent Cromwell word that Night: For the next Morning I was met with scorn, and I suppose all known to Cromwell that I had said: and Cromwell would never after allow me any opportunity, beyond the Regiment that I joined to: And there I spent near two years in Labours and Disputings against well-meaning perverted Sectaries, if it had been possible to have turned them from what they after did.