44 The LIFEof the LIB.Ié tent ; and about a Twelve-month after he died). Here I lived in the Governourá Houk, andfollowed myStudies as quietly as in a timeofPeace, for about a year, onlypreaching once aweek to the Soldiers, and once on the Lord's Day to the People, not takingof any of them a Penny for either, fave my Diet only. Here I had a veryJudicious Auditory ; among others many very godly and judi- cious Gentlemen; as Sir RicbardSkeffmgton (a molt noble, holy Man ) Col. Godfrey Befvile, Mr. Mackwortb, with many others ; of all which Mr. George Abbot was the chief ( known by his Paraphrafe on Job, and his Book againft Bread forthe Lord's Day). And there were about thirty worthy Minifters in the City, who fled thither for Safety from Soldiers and PopularFury,as I had done, though they never med- led in the Wars ; vin.Mr. Richard Vines, Mr. Anthony Barges , Mr. Burdall , Mr. Brumskill (who lived with that Eminent Saint the old Lady Bromley, Widow to Judge Bromley, whore only difcernablefault to me) was too much Humility and Low thought of her felf), Dr. Bryan, Dr. Grew, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Craddock, Mr. Mortonof Remdley, ( my fpecial Friend ) Mr. Diamond, good old Mr. Overton, and many more, whofe prefencecommandedmuch refpe& from me. I have caufe of continual thankfulnefs to God for the quietnefs and (afety, and lober, wife,religious Company, with liberty to preach the Gofpel, which he vouchfafed me in thisCi- ty, when otherPlaces were in the Tecrours and Flames of War. § 6z. When I had been abovea year at Coventry, the War was fo far from being ended, that it had difperfed it felf into almolt all the Land : only Middlefex, Ilarrfordfhire. molt of Bedford and Northampronfhire were only for the Parliament, and had fome quietnefs : And Effex, Ssrffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge/hire, and Huntington- fhire with the Hle of Eli , were called the Affociated Counties , and lived as in Peace, becaufe the King's Armies never came near them: and fo for the molt part it was with Kent, Surrey, and Suffix. And on the other fide,Herefardfhire,Wor- cefterJhire, and Sbropfhire, ( till this time ) and almolt all Wales, ( fave Pembrokeefhire, whichwas wholly for the Parliament ) were only poffeffed for the King, and faw not the Forces of the Parliament : But almolt all the reFof the Counties hadGar. rifons and Parties in them on both fides, which caufed a War in every County, and I think there where few Parifhes where at one time or other Blood had not been used. § 6 ;. And here I muff repeat the great Caufe of the Parliaments ftrength and the King's ruine; and that was, That the debauched Rabble through the Land, emboldened by his Gentry, and feconded by the Common Soldiers of his Army, took all that were called Puritans for their Enemies : And though fame of the King's Gentry and Superiour Officers were fo Civil that they would do no fuch thing, yet that was no Security to the Country, while the multitude did what they lift. So that ifany one was noted for a ftri& and famous Preacher, or for a Man of a precife and pious Life, he was either plundered, or abufed, and in danger of his Life : So that if a Man did but pray in his Family, or were but heard repeat a Sermon, or finga.Pfalm, they presentlycriedout, Rebels, Round beads, andall their Money and Goods that were portable proved guilty, how innocent foever they were themfelves. I fuppofe this was kept from the knowledge of the King, and perhaps of many fober Lordsof his Council : ( for few could come near them; and it is the fate of fuch not to believe evil of thofe that they think are for them, nor good of thofe that they think are againft them). But upon my certain know- ledge this was itthat filled the Armies and Garrifonsof the Parliament withfober, pious Men. Thoufands had no mind to meddle with the Wars, but greatly del- fired to live peaceably at home, when the Rage of Soldiers and Drunkards would not fufter them: fome flayed till theyhad been imprifoned; fome till they had been plundered, perhaps twice or thrice over, and nothing left them; Come were quise tiredout with the abufe of all Comen that quartered on them; and fome by the infolency of their Neighbours; but molt were afraid of their Lives ; and fo they fought refuge in the Parliaments Garrifons. Thus when I was at Coventry the Religious partof my Neighbours at Kidderminfier that would fain have lived quietly at home, were forced ( the chiefeft-of them) to be gone: And to Coven- try they came ; and fome of them that had any Elateof their own, lived there on their own charge ; and the ref( were fain to takeup Arms, and be Garrifon Soldi- ers to get them bread. § 64. In Shrepfire, where myFather dwelt, both he and all his Neighbours that were noted for praying and hearing Sermons, were plundered by the King's Sol- diers, fo that fome of them had almolt nothing but Lumber left in their Houfes : though my Father wasfo far from medling on either fide, that he knew not what they
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