Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ 159. About the same time, about Twenty or Two and twenty furious Fanatics, called Fifth-Monarchy-men (one Venner a Wine-Cooper, and his Church that he preached unto) being transported with Enthusiastic Pride, did rise up in Arms, and fought in the Streets like Mad-men against all that stood in their way, till they were some killed and the rest taken, judged and executed. I wrote a Letter at this time to my Mother-in-law, containing nothing but our usual matter, even Encouragements to her in her Age and Weakness, fetched from the nearness of her Rest, together with the Report of this News, and some sharp and vehement words against the Rebels. By the means of Sir John Packington, or his Soldiers, the Post was searched, and my Letter intercepted, opened, and revised and by Sir John sent up to London to the Bishop and the Lord Chancellor: so that it was a wonder that having read it, they were not ashamed to send it up: But joyful would they have been, could they but have found a word in it, which could possibly have been distorted to an evil sense, that Malice might have had its Prey. I went to the Lord Chancellor and complained of this usage, and that I had not the common liberty of a Subject, to converse by Letters with my own Family. He disowned it, and blamed Mens rashness, but excused it from the Distempers of the Times; and he and the Bishops confessed they had seen the Letter, and there was nothing in it but what was good and pious. And two days after came the Lord Windsor Lord Lieutenant of the Country, and Governor of Jamaica, with Sir Charles Littleton the King's Cup bearer, to bring me my Letter again to my Lodgings; and the Lord Windsor told me, The Lord Chancellor appointed him to do it: After some expression of my sense of the Abuse, I thanked him for his great Civility and Favour. But I saw how far that sort of Men were to be trusted.

§ 159. About the same time, about Twenty or Two and twenty furious Fanaticks, called Fifth-Monarchy-men (one Venner a Wine-Cooper, and his Church that he preached unto) being transported with Enthusiastick Pride, did rise up in Arms, and fought in the Streets like Mad-men against all that stood in their way, till they were some kill'd and the rest taken, judged and executed. I wrote a Letter at this time to my Mother-in-law, containing nothing but our usual matter, even Encouragements to her in her Age and Weakness, fetcht from the nearness of her Rest, together with the Report of this News, and some sharp and vehement words against the Rebels. By the means of Sir Iohn Packington, or his Soldiers, the Post was searched, and my Letter intercepted, opened, and revised and by Sir Iohn sent up to London to the Bishop and the Lord Chancellour: so that it was a wonder that having read it, they were not ashamed to send it up: But joyful would they have been, could they but have found a word in it, which could possibly have been distorted to an evil sence, that Malice might have had its Prey. I went to the Lord Chancellour and complained of this usage, and that I had not the common liberty of a Subject, to converse by Letters with my own Family. He disowned it, and blamed Mens rashness, but excused it from the Distempers of the Times; and he and the Bishops confessed they had seen the Letter, and there was nothing in it but what was good and pious. And two days after came the Lord Windsor Lord Lieutenant of the Country, and Governour of Iamaica, with Sir Charles Littleton the King's Cup bearer, to bring me my Letter again to my Lodgings; and the Lord Windsor told me, The Lord Chancellour appointed him to do it: After some expression of my sense of the Abuse, I thanked him for his great Civility and Favour. But I saw how far that sort of Men were to be trusted.