NB. What! Cou’d he not make trial of those things he had of me, in eighteen Months time? But if the trial has prov’d the truth of those things, and he has bound himself to me by a new Obligation; Why then does he dare to say, That none of those things which I communicated to him, prov’d successful? Why two years after? Now he is alienated from me, and having broken his Promises of coming to me, and working with me in my Laboratory, (being married again) is an Excuse for his absenting himself, yet he asks me to communicate to him more secrets, and then he’ll come. NB. But if the first secrets have not stood the Test, why does he desire more of me?
For he might know over and over in two years time, whether my Writings wou’d conduce to him or not.
In one Epistle, in which he boasts of killing a man, he writes thus: Wherefore I again and again intreat you not to cast me off, but do to me according to your wonted Favour. I will on all occasions, as I have promised, in my place, satisfie you; neither will I cause that any thing should therein be desir’d; for which reason also I will effect it both better and sooner.
From these and the like words, which in two Epistles he us’d to me, I could collect nothing of Fraud, and perhaps at that time he meant none. But when he had kill’d that Man, and married another Wife, all his Promises and Obligations were to no purpose. And from that very time, all his endeavours have tended only to do me what hurt he could, and he daily hates me more and more; which at last appears more publick in these his lying Calumnies.
Indeed, I am apt to think the Devil and that Murder had possessed his Heart. NB. For his Epistle to me witnesseth, that for fourteen daies together he had sought occasion how he might catch that man with his Wife, and bloodily revenge himself upon him; I suppose, by the instigation of Satan, whereby both the Man was kill’d in his Sins, and the Woman with many wounds compell’d to a lewd kind of Life; of both which Crimes Farnner is yet guilty in his own Conscience, and (unless a speedy Repentance follow on his part) he will never be freed from them. But if in a sudden passion he had done it by chance, he might merit some excuse.
But to endeavour it fourteen daies together, is nothing but a Devilish Revenge and Cruelty, which can by no means be excus’d in a Christian, though he do it never so secretly.
But besides, he uses evil Arts; for he drew my Servant to him by Flattery, and receiv’d him into his intimate friendship, notwithstanding he knew I turn’d him away for his infidelity. What he writes, that he bought his Secrets of me at a great price, is a pure falsity. Indeed he forc’d a small Reward upon me, half of which I gave him back again, and what I kept he got over and over by communicating my Secrets to other men, so that he has fully receiv’d what he gave me; and by this his communicating to others, (which was done unknown to me) he broke his Promise; which nevertheless for Peace sake I passed by. Wherefore, if he will confess the Truth, I am sure he can never say that he bought all those Secrets I intrusted him with, at so great a price.
Hitherto we may believe how much Money has come to him; for since he has sent abroad his institory Letters five months ago, (nay, as I am told, two years ago) before I could know it: he could not chuse but get money by it, when forthwith he with my perfidious Servant proceeded to that insolence, as in a knit Society with some of Frankford, he caused his Calumnies to be every where spread, and sent abroad, not only throughout upper Germany and Belgia, but also into France, and other Foreign Countries, to get Money. Yet, according to my hopes, this institory Ware-house (by the Grace of GOD) will soon fall.
8. Plenty of Spirit of Salt.
In this Paragraph also he goes on after his manner to disgrace me, accusing me of Lyes, as if it was false, and impossible to prepare fifty pound of Spirit of Salt in one Furnace, and in one day; and adds, that this Spirit is not so good as his, for Every man for himself: but this is done by adding Vitriol.