In a newspaper of the period, The True Protestant Mercury of February 23, 1680-1, we find the following account of this production:—"Feb. 18, 1680-1. Complaint being made to the Bishop of London of a most vile and blasphemous pamphlet, lately published by one Hindmarsh, a bookseller in Cornhill, intituled The Presbyterian's Paternoster, Creed, and Decalogue, wherein the sacred form of prayer taught by our Blessed Saviour to his disciples, the Ten Commandments, written with the finger of the Almighty, and delivered with dreadful Majesty, together with that Brief Summary of our Holy Faith, commonly called The Apostle's Creed, were most impudently depraved and profaned, and to the horror of all pious ears, the scandal of Christianity, and indelible shame of the Nation, turned into ridicule and impiety; his Lordship detesting such abominations, presented the said pamphlet to the consideration of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council; and 'tis said, the said Bookseller will at the Sessions beginning to be holden this week for London be indicted (as he most justly deserves) for blasphemy; in the mean time all sober men of the Church of England (for which every true Protestant has a profound deference and respect, though dissenting from some superfluous ceremonies, so much perhaps the more eagerly contended for by domineering spirits, by how much the less necessary they are) will take notice what kind of persons these are, who so studiously make it their business to render Dissenters odious and suspected, with those swarms of seditious libels, daily spawned by Th. Too. S. M. this worthy gentleman in Cornhill, and others. And that the authors of such pamphlets, whatever they scribble, are no real sons of the Church of England, but a disparagement unto her, by shrouding themselves under her mantle, being in truth, either disguised Papists, or else mere Ruffians, debaucht rakehells and Atheists."
Very soon afterwards at the Sessions of Peace held at Guildhall, the Grand Jury found a true bill against Hindmarsh, Thomson the printer and Parson Ashington the alleged writer of this "detestable blasphemous pamphlet." To quote the forcible words of the next number of The True Protestant Mercury—"The Secretary of Hell that contrived this horrid piece is confessed to be one Ashington, credibly reported to be a beneficed parson in Northamptonshire, but non-resident; and skulking here about town to practise more freely debauchery and do mischief. There are warrants issued forth against him; and some say, he was once seiz'd, and by negligence suffered to escape; at present we cannot hear that he is in custody."
Hindmarsh brought a certiorari to remove the indictment into the King's Bench, but Mr. Justice Dolben forthwith granted a procedendo to try it immediately; and the indictment being read, Hindmarsh pleaded guilty, and was immediately ordered to be taken into custody, and was afterwards bailed, "the Court resenting so justly the heinousness of the offence, that they deferred giving sentence till next term, resolving to do it in a public manner at the King's Bench, all the Judges being present."[228]
On the 24th June Hindmarsh appeared in the Court of King's Bench and moved to have his bail discharged; the Lord Chief Justice told him he deserved to be severely punished, and asked him what he had done to expect such a favour? His Counsel alleged, that he had discovered the author, who had already done penance for it. Notwithstanding which the Lord Chief Justice ordered him to prosecute the said author at common law by the first day of the next term, and then they would consider of discharging his bail.[229]
The following is a copy of this curious paper.
The Presbyterian Paternoster; Creed, and Ten Commandments.
—— —— Manent veteris vestigia fraudis. Virg.
The Pater Noster.
Our Father which art in Hell, magnify'd be thy name; thy Arbitrary Kingdom come, thy Tyranical will be done in England now, as it was in Forty One; Give us in this our Day a holy occasion of Rebellion; and forgive us our shew of Godliness for thy sake, as we forgive others their holy Hypocrisy for our good Cause; and lead us not into an agreement of King and Parliament; But Deliver us from Monarchy and Hierarchy; and then thine shall be this Kingdom, its Power and Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
The Creed.