IMmediately upon my arrival at this floating and giddy Island , I thought it incumbent on me to inquire after the Men whose spirits began , and were lead forth to the late revolutions in England ; After I heard of those barbarous and Apocryphal names , of Fleetwood , that man of War ; Lambert , that aspiring Commander ; Desborough the Clown , and blinde Hewson the Cobier , that accurate and dexterous translator of Government ; the two former were represented to me as English Gentlemen , and so our Friends in the Netherlands imputed their actions to noble and generous designs , hammered on the Anvil of their profound Intellects ; where note , that I account Fleetwood a grand Polititian , by a Figure the Learned call Irania , or if you will Synedoch , as Captain Allen , or Colonel Parker lately had it in one of their University Sermons ; but to proceed , what these Rustical Plebeians Desborough and Hewson proposed to themselves , we admired , never conjecturing that this Meal-man would either Sift out a Government , or this Lord bring his Ends so together as to stitch it up , though a man that ever managed his All very well . From these Peasants I further enquired , what Clergy-men were famous , and notorious in these Usurpers account , presently a Friend of mine nominated Thankful Owen , late Ambassadour to Graves-end , and your Worship was cried up as high as Tyburn , as well known , and as little trusted ; in my Travels Westward they calld you Quaker , Northward Anabaptist , in Oxford a State Independent , in London a Jesuite , beyond Seas a conscience-mender ; I can scarce visit a Tavern , or Country Alchouse , but forth comes some of the Learned Works of John Owen , a Servant , &c. as if you were cut out to entertain all sorts of Guests ; if I send for Tobacco , your Books are the inclosure of it , and there I finde your name stinking worse than that Indian Weed ; the Cooks dare not venture it at the bottom of their Pyes , lest it should either spoil their sale , or stick as close to them as you doe to Wallingford-house . Sir , I am unwilling ( being the first time I ever Epistoliz'd to you ) to divert you from your more weighty concernments , viz. The upholding of your Deanary at Christ-Church , taking sanctuary at Amsterdam , should the Saints Kingdom be over-thrown , or Dominion expire ; If you ask , why I make so bold with you , as to inform you , how odious you are to all persons , who cannot so fordidly comply with every Government , pray and preach to every Faction , side with all Innovators ; how you are by all serious men thought the scorn of Religion , a man either of a very wide or seared Conscience , this and much more I could tell you , but I presume you know them sufficiently : The slender acquaintance I have with you , and those small obligations , your deceitful promises , and contradictory practices to piety and honesty have imposed on me , may equally plead for my saying thus much , and no more

SInce the writing of this , there is come to my hand a short reply to a Paper of yours , about Magistracy and Tithes , the man claims acquaintance and familiarity with you , being a Gifted Brother , and Quaker , as I guess by his style .

Brother John Owen , I have a Message to thee , let not thy carnal mind cheat thee ; Is Magistracy an Ordinance of God ? then either in Capite , or Corpore , in a single Person , or Parliament , but in neither of these , ergo .

1 Does not the light within thee witness to thy wrinckled face , that thou John Owen wast instrumental , and by thy close jugling with a gathered Brood in Wallingford-house , didst countenance , promote , vigorously act to the downfall of timerous Richard , and dissolution of that famous Parliament ?

2 As for Parliaments , didst not thou preach up , and down the Rump ? After its resurrection thou calledst them dry Bones breathed into , and in a short time with Lambert , Desborough , &c. help rebury them , and preach their second Funeral Sermons .

1 Are Tithes due to those the world calls Ministers , and Parsons ? then why did Christ rebuke those that Tithed Mint , Annis , and Cummin ? and if these are forbidden , then sure greater matters .

2 Tithes is an Old Testament word , and ( as a Sadler in Oxford said of Christmas ) then it was abolisht at Christs coming .

3 The Tithes in Malachies Prophecy were commanded to be carried into Gods Store-house , ergo not the Parsons Barn .

4 Suppose I have nine Hens , and they drop from their rumps but nine Eggs a year , I le not give a turd for the Parsons tenth .

When you have answered these Arguments , I le peruse your Book , and i● there be any thing worthy a farther reply , you shall have it , with that sweetness and gravity as becomes your Person and cause .