6 - Gold tried in the fire. 4 June 1647

Summary

Courteous Reader,

I shall give thee a short narrative of some passages upon the following petitions. First concerning the Large Petition, divers printed copies thereof were sent abroad to gain subscriptions, one whereof was intercepted by an informer and so brought to the hands of Mr Glynn, Recorder of London and a member of the Commons' House, who was pleased to call it a scandalous and seditious paper. Whereupon it was referred to Colonel Leigh's committee (it being that committee appointed to receive informations against those men who preached without licence from the ordainers) to find out the authors of the said petition. Upon this a Certificate was drawn up and intended by the petitioners to have been delivered to the said committee for vindication of the said petition – as will appear by the certificate herewith printed – and notice being taken of one of the petitioners named Nicholas Tew, who read the said certificate in the Court of Requests for the concurrence of friends who had not formerly seen nor subscribed the certificate; and for his so doing he was sent for presently before the said committee; and for refusing to answer to interrogatories, was presently by them committed and still remains in prison, it being at the least three months since his first commitment.

Likewise Major Tulidah, was, upon complaint of that committee, the next day committed by the House – but since discharged upon bail – without any just cause shown for either of their commitments.