Reynolds purposely into the chair, and I was called in; but Corbet
being not there, they bid me withdraw until he came; which when he did,
I was commanded to appear, and Corbet desired to give the cause of my
being in restraint, and of the committee's order. Mr. Reynolds was
purposely put into the chair, and continued till my business was over.
Corbet produced my _Anglicus_ of 1645, and said there were many
scandalous passages therein against the Commissioners of Excise in
London. He produced one passage, which being openly read by himself, the
whole committee adjudged it to signify the errors of sub-officers, but
had no relation to the Commissioners themselves, which I affirmatively
maintained to be the true meaning as the committee declared.
Then Corbet found out another dangerous place, as he thought, and the
words were thus in the printed book--'In the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, will not the Excise pay the soldiers?'
Corbet very ignorantly read, 'will not the Eclipse pay soldiers?' at
which the Committee fell heartily to laugh at him, and so he became
silent.
There was a great many Parliament men there; the chamber was full.
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