A88579:169
A clear and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love,…A cleare and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love,…
A clear and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love, since my trial before, and condemnation by, the High Court of Justice. Whereby it is manifested, that a close prison, a long sword, a High Court, and a bloody scaffold, have not in the least altered my judgment. Whereas also the cruelty of the sentence, the insufficiency of the proofs, and my own innocency, are demonstrated. As also my grounds and reasons of giving in a narrative, and the lawfulness of the matter and titles of my petitions (though to usurpers) manifested and maintained. Together with a declaration of my judgement concerning Cromwells unlawful invasion of the kingdom of Scotland. Written by me Christopher Love, Master of Arts, minister of Lawrence Jury, London; penned by me the eighth of August, fourteen days before my death.A cleare and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love, since my tryall before, and condemnation by, the High Court of Iustice. Whereby it is manifested, that a close prison, a long sword, a High Court, and a bloody scaffold, have not in the least altered my judgment. Whereas also the cruelty of the sentence, the insufficiency of the proofs, and my own innocency, are demonstrated. As also my grounds and reasons of giving in a narrative, and the lawfulness of the matter and titles of my petitions (though to usurpers) manifested and maintained. Together with a declaration of my judgement concerning Cromwells unlawfull invasion of the kingdom of Scotland. Written by me Christopher Love, Master of Arts, minister of Lawrence Iury, London; penned by me the eighth of August, fourteen days before my death.
London : s.n., Printed in the year 1651
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Having spoken largely about my Witnesses, I shall mention but a word about the partiality of my Judges. I think there was never such violent, indirect proceedings to take away the life of a Minister, since the Reign of Queen Mary, to this ⟨p. 27⟩day. They suffered the Examinations of the Witnesses, composed by Mr. Scot and Captain Bishop, to be read in Court, which is contrary to Law and Justice, and the Customs of all Courts. They commanded the Scaffolds to be put up the first day, when my black and bloody Charge was read, and the Witnesses produced in Court, but pulled down the Scaffolds when I made my Defence•, not caring how many heard my Charge, nor how few heard me to clear my self. And they gave me but from Saturday till Wednesday to make my Defence, although the Depositions were to write out, which were 28 sheets of paper, which I was to peruse and answer. Though they pulled down the Scaffolds when I made my defence, yet they put them up again, when the Counsel for the Common-wealth were to make their Reply to my Defence; All this was that I might lye under more disadvantage in the judgement of the Spectators. Yea, such was the partiality of the Court, that they refused to hear my Witnesses, when produced them in Court. And after they had assigned me Counsel, they rejected two of them, one of them could not be there, and the fourth, viz. Mr. Hales, was not acquainted with my case, I never spake with him until half an hour before the Court sate, he never saw nor read the Depositions, yet they would not allow my Counsel a days time to study my case, but he must plead then, •x tem•ore, or not at all. Oh extremity of Rigour! yea further, though I had a Notary to write for me, yet have they taken away all the Books from him▪ so that nothing shall come to the public view, but with what additions or alterations they please, to my greater disadvantage; but my hope is, that some faithful Pen or other hath writ my Defence, and the Witnesses Depositions, and according to them let my Innocency be judged by indifferent and unprejudicated men. But enough of this.
Having spoken largely about my Witnesses, I shall mention but a word about the partiality of my Iudges. I think there was never such violent, indirect procee•ings to take away the life of a Minister, since the Reign of Queen Mary, to this