The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

I have already published the first part of our Plea, written many years after almost all this: which you must especially observe when you read, What our Nonconformity is not: For then I thought to go no further. That about scandal and evil by accident was written purposely to answer the gross mistaking charge of B. Morley, and the new Eccles. Politician, just when that Book came out; and somewhat occasioned by Mr. Durels Book: Therefore that I am there so distinct as will be troublesome to common readers who love but few words, was long of the quality and charge of the learned accusers whom I answer.

I thought it time to speak the Truth in how broken a manner soever, when I read that even some that seem to condemn the ⟨image 3⟩Papists Plotters, do yet publicly join us with them, as more dangerous than they, and make our designed Rebellion to be a Necessitating Reason, for doing that against us, against Parliaments, and the Peoples choice of them, which I dread to mention; as if it were necessary to all Loyal Subjects to enter into a League, or subscribed Covenant to save the King from us.

I thought it time to speak the Truth in how broken a manner soever, when I read that even some that seem to condemn the ⟨image 3⟩Papists Plotters, do yet publickly joyn us with them, as more dangerous than they, and make our designed Rebellion to be a Necessitating Reason, for doing that against us, against Parliaments, and the Peoples choice of them, which I dread to mention; as if it were necessary to all Loyal Subjects to enter into a League, or subscribed Covenant to save the King from us.

It is now about twenty years since Dr. Gauden, Mr. Calamy, and my self preached at a Fast to the Parliament for Loyalty, and the King the next morning was voted home to his Crown and Government: and since the Duke of Lauderdale caused the Printing of Mr. Gaches Letter to me for the King. What is it that we have Preached, Printed or done ever since to this day that should bring us under this horrid accusation? Have we been proved guilty before any Judge? Besides Preaching the Gospel (to which we were devoted, and dare not for fear of sacrilege and perfidiousness cast off) what have we done these twenty years against the King or State? Unless it be our crime to live under reproach and scorn and poverty, and sometimes imprisonments, and never once so much as Petition a Parliament either to pity us, or to hear us once speak for our selves, and give us leave to tell them or the Nation the true case and reasons of our Not-Conforming. What is it that we have said or done? and how came our accusers to be so merciful to us as never to call us before the Judicatures, for any thing but Preaching and coming within five miles of Corporations, or some for not communicating with them, which yet other of us never refused? If any odd persons, or whosoever have said or done any thing against the King or Kingdom, or their neighbours right or peace, or have been guilty of any fraud, drunkenness, perjury or immorality, besides their unavoidable Nonconformity, let them be punished as the Law requireth, but let not the Innocent, yea thousands be slandered and designed to destruction for them But I never yet was by