Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754

'7heHISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. CommonThe other branch of the charge again£1: Mr.. Love, was his correfponwealth. d C • h •! r; d a: (l' h . J • fl: h . 1651 en e Wit ,1eJcots, an auJ wgt emmt1ewaragam t eparltament. -~To fupport this article, captain Potter, Adams, and Mr. Jacquel fwore, that letters came from Scotland to colonel Bamjield with the letter L up– on ~hem, giving a large narrat.ive of .the fight at Dunbar, and of theJcots affairs for three months after ull Cbrijlmas. There came alfo letters fi-om the earl of Argyle, Lothian, and Loudon, who propoted the railing ten thoufand pounds to buy arms, and to hire lhipping, in order to land five thoufand men in England. The letters were read at Mr. Love's houfe; but the propof.1ls being difliked, only forty pounds was raifed for the expences of the meffenger. At another time a letter was read from general Mcif– fey, in which he defires them to provide arms, and mentions his own and colonel 'Titus's neceffities; upon which it was agreed to raife two or three hundred pounds by way of contribution, and every one prelent writ down · what he would lend, among whom was Mr. Lo·ve, who net only contri– buted bimfelf, but carried about the paper to encourage others. This was confirued by the council for the commonwealth, {ufficient to bring Mr. Love within the ordinance of July r. 1649· which fays, " that if any " !hall procure, invite, aid, or afii!l:, any foreigners or :!hangers to invade " England or Ireland; or :!hall adhere to any forces raifed by the ene– " mies of the parliament, or commonwealth, or keepers of the liber– " ties of England, all fuch pcrfons £hall be deemed, and adjudged guilty " of high treafon." Mr. Love's Mr. Love in his defence, behaved with a little too much freedom and dife'"'· · boldnelS; he fet too high a value upon his facred charaB.er, which the court was inclined to treat with neglect.. He objeB.ed to the witne!fes, as be– ing forced into the fervice to fave th:ir lives. He obferves, that to feveral of the fact.s there was only one w1tnefs; and that fome of them had {worn falily, or at leaf!: their memories had failed them in fome things; which might eafily happen at fo great a difiance of time. He called no witne!fes to confront the evidence, but at the clofe of his defence con– feffed ingenuoufly, that there had been feveral meetings of the above-na– med perfons at his houfc, and that a commiffion was read, but that he had diffented from it. He acknowledged further, that he was prefcnt at the reading of letters, or of fome part of them, " but I was ignorant cc (fays he) of the danger that I now fee I am in. The_ aB: of Aug. 2. " 16 so. makes it treafon to bold any corrcfponder:ce with Scotland, or cc to fend letters thither thou<>h but in a way of commerce, the two na– " tions being at war; now he~e my council·acquaints me with my danger, " that I being prefent when letters were read in my hou-fe, am guilty of a " concealment, and therefore as to that, I humbly lay myfelf at your feet " and mercy."_ And

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