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were eare-witnesses told me of his Sermon, and it was to this effect; That the Country people say (that is he meant the Sectaries in the Army say) that the Parliament would do them good, but the Lord Major, the Common-Councell and the Citizens of London would not permit them; he feared God would bring the Plague upon them, and Risings among them; and the cause of all was, the uncharitablenesse of London against the Saints; and that the opposition now was not between worldly men, but between Saints and Saints.

This Downing, alias Peter junior, spake in Hackney pulpit of the Common Councell of London at that time in way of aspersion of them as if they were for the Cavaliers, that when they entered Oxford, the Cavaliers told them, Tis your turn now, it may be ours hereafter, for we have the City of London and the Common Councell for us.1

Downing was on terms of intimacy with Hugh Peter from the days of his youth in Salem. Their families were connected by marriage in a roundabout way, and Peter doubtless had an eye for young Downing's advancement in England. Their known connection may have given rise to the above allusions to Peter. After serving as chaplain in the regiment of Colonel Okey, whom he later foully betrayed to his death, Downing rose to the post of ScoutmasterGeneral to the Parliamentary army in Scotland. While serving with the forces there he wrote the following pamphlet:

A True / Relation / Of the Progress of the Parliaments Forces in / Scotland: / Together with the/ King's / Wholly abandoning Scotland, and, in de-/spair, with what Forces were left them, march-/ing into England: with part of our / Forces in his Van: and my / Lord General / following in his Reer. / By an Express Messenger to the Council of State. /[Arms of the Commonwealth] / London, Printed by William Du-Gard, by the appointment of the / Council of State, Anno Dom. 1651.

Collation: Title-page, verso blank, 1 leaf; text of "A Letter to the Honorable Council," etc., signed "G. Downing," pp. 1-3; "Postcript," p. 4; "A letter from the Council of State," etc., p. 5; verso has the Arms of the Commonwealth.

Signature A in 4.

[2] 5 p. 12 mo.

1 The third Part of Gangræna, or, A new and higher Discovery of the Errors, Heresies, Blasphemies, and insolent Proceedings of the Sectaries of these times; with some Animadversions by way of Confutation upon many of the Errors and Heresies named, London, 1646, pp. 81-82.

In marrying Lady Frances Howard, daughter of Sir William Howard of Naworth, and sister of the first Earl of Carlisle, the future of Downing was firmly established socially, and his marked capacity for intrigue and genius for adaptability, to use no harsher term, led to his later success. John Adams wrote: "To borrow the language of the great Dr. Johnson, this 'dog' Downing, must have had a head and brains, or, in other words, genius and address; but, if we may believe history, he was a scoundrel."

On his marriage a Latin poem was written by Payne Fisher, Oliver Cromwell's poet laureate, a voluminous writer of Latin panegyrics. This work is cited by Sibley in his sketch of Downing. As it is a book not often met with, I have brought a copy to show the rapid rise of the man thus honored with an Epithalamium.

Inauguratio / Olivariana, / sive pro / Præfectura Serenissimi Principis / Angliæ, Scotia, & Hiberniæ, / Dom. / Proctectoris / Olivari:/ Carmen Votivum. / [2 lines Latin poetry] / Londini, / Typis NewNostræ Salutis- -M.DC.LIV. Olivari Protectoris--Primo.

combianis; Anno

Collation: Engraved frontispiece, with the inscription "Laurus comes oliva," recto blank, 1 leaf; title-page, verso blank, 1 leaf; [Epistola dedicatoria], 2 leaves; "Ad Olivarum," etc., 1 page; "In serenissimi Olivarii," etc., 2 pages; "Ad amicum F. F.," etc., 1 page; "Charissimo . . . Fishero," etc., 1 page; "In Olivarianem," etc., 1 page; "In Augustissimam," etc., 1 page; “Ad eruditissimum," etc., 1 page; text of "Inauguratio Oliveriana," pp. 1-92; "In nuptias. . . G. Downingi," pp. 93-97; "Epithalamium," etc., pp. 98-100; "Ad... Whalaeum . . ., pp. 101-102; "Ornatissimo... Whalaeio . . .,' pp. 103-104; "In . . . Richardum," etc., pp. 105-106; "Fortissimo etc., p. 107; "In obitum," etc., pp. 108-109; "Optimae spei," etc., pp. 110-111; p. 112 blank; "In obitum . . . R. Deane," etc., pp. 113–118. Signatures: 4 leaves without signature, / in four, A-O in fours, P in three (copies in original binding probably have a blank leaf, completing P in four). [16] 118 pp. 8mo.

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The last book to lay before you to-night is the first book printed by the first named member in the College catalogue of the first class of graduates, Benjamin Woodbridge. Down to Sibley's day this book was known only by a second edition bearing the author's name on the title-page. Printed in 1648, the authorship was more or less hidden under the latinized name Filodexter Transilvanus.

Church-Members / set in / Joynt. / Or, / A Discovery of the unwarrantable and / disorderly practice of private christians, / in usurping the

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Church-Members

SET IN

JOYNT.

OR,

A Discovery of the unwarrantable and disorderly practice of private chriftians, in ufurping the peculiar Office and work of Chrifts own Paftours, namely

PUBLIKE PREACHING.

In way of Answer to a Book printed under the
name of Lieutenant Edmund Chillenden
L but indeed none of his) entituled
Preaching without Ordination.

Wherein all the Arguments by him produced, are fully
Answered and difproved, the truth of the contrary evi-
denced,and the Office forementioned, thereby returned
into the hands of the right owners.

By Filodexter Tranfilvanus.

Heb.5.4.No man taketh this honour to himself,but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Fer.23.21.I have not fent thefe Prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

Matth.7.1. Beware of falle Prophets, which come to you in Sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves.

London, Printed for EDMUND PAXTON, and are to be fold at his Shop in Pauls chain, over against the Caftle Tavern Beer to the Doctors Commons. 16 48.

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