The slanderer rebuked, or, The vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious slanders of one Mr. Toathby, a seller of wool in the city of Norwich Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692. 1691 Approx. 9 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 3 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41791 Wing G1549 ESTC R39438 18419200 ocm 18419200 107515 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41791) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 107515) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1634:9) The slanderer rebuked, or, The vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious slanders of one Mr. Toathby, a seller of wool in the city of Norwich Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692. 4 p. s.n., [London : 1691] Caption title. Signed at end: Tho. Grantham. Imprint suggested by Wing. Reproduction of original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Baptists -- Catechisms. Baptists -- England. Persecution -- England. 2007-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-12 Pip Willcox Sampled and proofread 2007-12 Pip Willcox Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Slanderer Rebuked : OR , The Vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious Slanders of one Mr. Toathby , a Seller of Wool in the City of Norwich . IT is now about fourteen Years , I think , since two of my Neighbours being desired by me to coard or geld a Ram for me , one of them , ( Robert Hareby by Name ) having Ground joining unto mine , finding a Ram ( very much like mine ) in his Pasture , caught him , ( verily thinking he was mine ) and brought him to my Yard , where my other Neighbour ( Mr. John Lark by Name ) did coard him , as I had formerly desired him , and let him go , not doubting but he was mine , and they both knew my Sheep as well as my self . * But we were all mistaken , for this Ram proved a poor Man's , who dwelt near us ; and the Ram dying of his Gelding , the Owner complained , and desired my self and Mr. Lark to consider his Loss , which I willingly did , and gave him half the Value of his Ram , which was six Shillings eight Pence : and here was an end of the Business without Sute or Trouble , though some ill Men advised the poor Man to sue us , and to put us to Trouble . But as ill Men desire to abuse the Innocent , so this Accident became a Reproach to me ; and from gelding a Ram , they turn'd it to stealing a Ram. But my Neighbours knowing my Innocency , did vindicate my Reputation , so that the Clamor ceased in those parts where I then lived , [ which was at Ashby next Spilsby in the County of Lincoln ] insomuch that none but vile Persons would so much as mention it . Now since I came to dwell in Norwich , there came a Seller of Wool under the Title of Mr. Toathby , ( whom I could not see , though I went to his Inn as soon as I heard of him ) and he was pleased to reproach me by this Accident , in the vilest manner that might be , ( as the Inn-keeper told me ) and his Slander was very pleasing to such as delight in Falshood , insomuch as I found it needful to detect this lying Slander , by the Testimony of such of my Neighbours at Ashby aforesaid , who are yet living , and who very well know the Circumstances of this matter . What I wrote to them , with their Answers , I shall here commit to Posterity , to detect the Wickedness of such as have or hereafter shall attempt to abuse me upon this occasion . To my loving Neighbours in Ashby next Spilsby , Greeting , &c. SIRS ; I am now settled ( as the place of my Residence ) in the City of Norwich ; and here came a Person out of Lincolnshire , a Seller of combed Wool , and defamed me as a great Rogue , and a † Tup-stealer . Now some of you being yet living to testify how innocent I was in that Accident , which happened by the Over-sight of Robert Hareby and Mr. John Lark ( our Neighbours , ) in bringing up to my Yard , and coarding a Ram for mine , which , unknown to them and my self , was another Man's , as you very well know . I do therefore earnestly intreat you , to send me your Testimony of the Truth concerning this matter , and of my Conversation among you , for I am much abused by the false Report of this unworthy Person . You have heard Mr. Lark speak of this matter , and his Son can testify the same . Thus with my kind Love to you all , I remain , Your Loving Neighbour , Tho. Grantham . Norwich May 1. 1691. The Testimony of my Neighbours in Ashby aforesaid , May 7 , 1691. THese are to satisfy whom it may concern , That whereas our Neighbour Thomas Grantham , late of Ashby , in the County of Lincoln , and now Resident in Norwich , hath been defamed by some Person for stealing a Tup : We do here testify that he is innocent as to what he is charged withal in that case , and that the said Thomas Grantham did not intentionally nor actually do any unlawful Act or Deed ; and that in respect of his Behaviour amongst us his Neighbours , he was always accounted a very honest Man , and a good Neighbour . Witness our Hands , George Coddington , John Robison , Thomas Atkin , Anthony Robison . May 7 , 1691. WE are here informed that Thomas Grantham , late of Ashby , and now at Norwich , is taxed in his Life and Conversation , and particularly about a Tup . These are to satisfy that the said Thomas Grantham always behaved himself well , and led a very good Life and Conversation amongst us , and was always esteemed a very honest Man. Witness Ben. Smith , Edward Reed . To the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Norwich ; The humble Petition of Thomas Grantham , Inhabitant in the said City . Doth shew ; THat whereas many Abuses , Reproaches , and Affronts , have been and are daily offered to my Person , Name and Reputation , insomuch that I cannot pass peaceably in the Streets , nor be peaceable in my Habitation , nor injoy my self quietly in my Service to Almighty God , according to the Law of the Land , by reason of the Rudeness of many of the Inhabitants of this Place , unknown to me by Name ; save that from one Mr. Harman's House in St. Martins , at the Unicorn , a Report is spred abroad , that I did steal a Ram in the Place where I formerly lived : which Forgery I have detected , by the Testimony of divers of my Neighbours , who have sent Certificates of my Innocency under their Hands concerning that matter , ( Copies whereof I have herewith sent to your Worships . ) And seeing the Rudeness of the People , and their Insolency to be so great in promoting that and other Slanders , that I go in danger of my Life , I thought it my Duty to spread my Complaint before your Worships , and to beseech you to do for me what you lawfully may for my Preservation from Violence . And your humble Petitioner shall pray , &c. Norwich May 28 , 1691. This Petition was received by the Mayor of Norwich , who was pleased to say , they were satisfied the Report was false , and that he would do me Justice . And seeing that Satan so violently rages against me , meerly because I endeavour to serve God and this Generation in my Ministry , with all possible Fidelity , I doubt not but after my Decease he will by such base ways do what he can to deface my poor ( though sincere ) Labours . I do therefore here , in the Fear of God , challenge all the World , whilst I am yet alive , to bring a just Accusation against me , if they can , in respect of my Conversation , from my Youth to this Day : For though I am a Man of Infirmities ( as all are ) yet by the Grace of God , I have been kept from all these things whereof I have by the Tongue of Infamy been so unworthily accused . Tho. Grantham . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A41791-e10 * This Account is testified under the Hands of John Hareby ( Brother to the said Robert Hareby ) Mr. Roger Lark , ( Son to the said Mr. John Lark ) Tho. Atkin , and William Bradshaw , Anno 1680. who all are yet living ( except John Hareby ) . † In Lincolnshire they call a Ram a Tup . Note that these Gentlemen who have given these Testimonies , are all of the Church of England , except one ; and they offer the Testimony of many more if it be desired .