into by the Presbyterians, one disliking this sentence, another
finds another fault, others misliked the whole; so in the end a motion
was made, that _Anglicus_ should be inspected by the Committee for
plundered ministers; which being done, they were to return them to the
House, viz. report its errors.

A messenger attached me by a warrant from that Committee; I had private
notice ere the messenger came, and hasted unto Mr. Speaker Lenthall,
ever my friend. He was exceeding glad to see me, told me what was done;
called for _Anglicus_, marked the passages which tormented the
Presbyterians so highly. I presently sent for Mr. Warren the printer, an
assured Cavalier, obliterated what was most offensive, put in other more
significant words, and desired only to have six amended against next
morning, which very honestly he brought me. I told him my design was to
deny the book found fault with, to own only the six books. I told him, I
doubted he would be examined. 'Hang them,' said he, 'they are all
rogues. I'll swear myself to the devil ere they shall have an advantage
against you by my oath.'

The day after, I appeared before the Committee, being thirty-six in
number that day; whereas it was observed, at other times, it was very
difficult to get five of them together. At first they shewed me the true
_Anglicus_, and asked if I wrote and printed it. I took the book and
inspected it very heedfully; and when I had done so, said thus:

'This is none of my book, some malicious Presbyterian hath wrote it, who
are my mortal enemies; I disown it.' The Committee looked upon one
another like distracted men, not imagining what I presently did; for I
presently pulled out of my pocket six books, and said, 'These I own, the
others are counterfeits, published purposely to ruin me.' The Committee
were now more vexed than before: not one word was spoke a good while; at
last, many of them, or the greatest number of them, were of opinion to
imprison me. Some were for Newgate, others for the Gate-House; but then
one Brown of Sussex, called the Presbyterian beadle, whom the Company of
Stationers had bribed to be my friend, by giving him a new _Book of
Martyrs_; he, I say, preached unto the Committee this doctrine, that
neither Newgate or the Gate-House were prisons unto which at any time
the Parliament sent their prisoners: it was most convenient for the
Serjeant at Arms to take me in custody.

Mr. Strickland, who had for many years been the P