Malignants Neuters and Apostates which in their interpretation signifies Presbyterians and moderate men who will not dance about the flame when the Independents make a Bonfire of the Common-wealth The Eastern Division of Somerset-shire rejected the Petition in the Western Division Pyne and his Committee sending abroad his Sequestrators with the Petition threatned to take them for Malignants and Sequester them that refused got many Subscriptions but the Subscribers since better informed of the danger and mischief of those Votes retracted what they had done by a counter Petition wherein they declare that their Subscription to the former Petition was contrary to their Judgement and Consciences and extorted by the terror of Sequestrators and threats of being Sequestred This affront stung the Committee and opened the eyes of the Country As the like foolish attempt of Sir Henry Mildmay did the eyes of the County of Essex Wherefore to find a Plaster for this broken pate Sergeant Wild he that hang'd Capt. Burly coming that Circuit care was taken to have a select Grand-Jury of Schismaticks and Sequestrators blended together who made a presentment subscribed by 19. of their hands which Sergeant Wild preserved in his pocket and upon Tuesday 18. April delivered with as much gravity as a set speech and a set ruffe could furnish him withall in the House of Commons and was read and hearkned unto by the thriving Godly with as much attention as pricking up of eares and turning up of eyes could demonstrate the Contents of this presentment were the same with the aforesaid revoked Petition Great care was taken to give thanks to the High Sheriff and Grand Jury who had so freely delivered the sence of that wel-affected County and as much care taken to improve this Talent and put it to interest throughout the Kingdom Collonel Purefoy is now at this work in Warwick-shire Sir Arthur Haslerig about Newcastle others in other places Pitifull Crutches to support a cripled reputation which now halts and begs for relief worse than their own maimed Souldiers do and with as bad success they have juggled themselves out of credit and would fain juggle themselves in again Behold the wisdom of our Grandees wise religious new-modelled Politicians who have brought themselves and the whole Kingdom into these deplorable contemptible straits take notice of your Representative you that are represented call them to a seasonable account But whither doth my zeal carry me I shall anon stumble upon a new fangled Treason to be declared against me without nay against Law 89. Mens tongues tied up by an Ordinance Friday 21. April An Ordinance was presented to the House intituled For suppressing all Tumults and insurrections the Committee of Safety at Derby House had before an ample power conferred upon them for that purpose but guilty consciences though they be safe are never secure like Cain they think that every man will slay them it was passed after some amendments to this purpose That any three Committee-men shall have Power to Imprison and Sequester all such as shall actually adhere to any that shall raise or endeavour to raise Tumults and Insurrections or shall speak or publish any thing reproachfull to the Parliament or their proceedings Behold here an excise amounting to the Value of all you have set upon every light word a man made an offender for a word to the utter ruine of him and his posterity under colour of defending Laws Liberties and Properties you are cheated of them all and reduced to meer and absolute slavery and beggery you are not Masters of your own carcasses yet your mouths are but toned up you must not be allowed that silly comfort of venting your griefs by way of complaint what Tyrant was ever so barbarous so indiscreet as to do the like It was moved that Offenders of this kind might be bound to the good behaviour and the offences proved openly at the Assizes or Sessions before so destructive a punishment be inflicted There are three principles in Law of which the Laws are very tender and will not suffer them to be touched but upon great Offences cleer proofs and exact formalities observed life liberty and estate by Magna Charta the Petition of Right and many other Statutes these principles are so sacred that nothing but the Law can meddle with them Nemo imprisonetur aut disseisietur nisi per legale judicium parium suorum You have made the people shed their money and blood abundantly pretending defence of Religion Laws and Liberties let them now at last being a time of peace enjoy what they have so dearly paid for and delay them not with a pretended necessity of your own making you now make all that is or can be neer and deer to them liable to the passions of three Committee-men to judge and execute according to their discretion without Law or so much as a formality thereof And yet both Houses of Parliament have often heretofore offered to abolish those Committees as men whose wickednesse and folly they and the whole Kingdom were ashamed of The Grandees of the Parliament and Army when the Houses are called and full have resolved to draw their forces neer about the Town and by that terrour to trie the temper of the Houses such Members as will not comply with them they will with fresh Charges purge out of the House and publish base and infamous scandals against them to which if they submit with silence they betray their reputations for ever and spare the credits of their jugling enemies If they make any defence for their honours by way of Apology they shall be brought within the compasse of this devouring inslaving Ordinance as men that reproach the Parliament and their Proceedings Thus the same whip shall hang over the shoulders of the Presbyterian party who will not agree to King-deposing Anarchy and Shism as it did formerly over the Kings party And the Presbyterians shall be squeesed into the Independents coffers as formerly the Kings party were so long as they had any thing to lose for the whole earth is little enough for these Saints who are never satisfied with money and blood although they never look towards Heaven but through the spectacles of this world The old elogium and Character of this English Nation was that they were Hilaris gens cui libera mens libera lingua But now Country-men your tongues are in the Stocks your bodies in every gaole your souls in the dark and estates in the mercy of those that have no mercy and at the discretions of those that have no discretion Farewell English liberty 90. The Kentish Committee-War In the Epistle to this book I have given you an account of the bloody Answer given to the Surrey Petitioners May 16. 1648. I must in the next place speak something of the Kentish Petition and of the Committee-war they raysed to oppose it which took his rising and beginning partly from the insolencies and oppressions of their tyrannical
could not be carried on by any private designe in Conventicles and corners as are all the bloudy Petitions for justice justice against capital Delinquents and the most High which being penned and solicited by the Army or sectary Committee-men 48. Somersetshire encouraged by the House to associate all the wel-affected i. e. all the Anarchists and Cheaters and subscribed and prosecuted by some few beggerly Schismaticks without Cloaks in the Names of whole Counties whom they had the impudence to belie were entertained in state and they and that wel-affected County though they abhorred the villany thanked for their paines * 25. Decemb. The House voted a Letter to be sent by way of encouragement to the County of Somerset to go on with setling their association with the wel-affected and forces of the Counties adjacent this is to associate and Arme all the Schismaticks Committee-men guilty and desperate Persons Antimonarchists and Anarchists against all the peaceable and honest men of the Kingdome 26. Decemb. Mr. Pryn sent a Letter to the General 49. Mr. Pryns Letter to the General demanding his liberty demanding his liberty and seconded it with a Declaration as followeth Mr. Pryn's Demand of his Liberty to the Generall Decemb. 26. 1648. with his Answer thereto And his Declaration and Protestation thereupon For the Honourable Lord Fairfax Generall of the present Army THese are to acquaint your Lordship 50. Mr. Pryns Declaration seconding his said Letter That I being a Member of the Commons House of Parliament a Free-man of England a great Sufferer for and an Assertor of the Subjects Liberties against all Regal and Prelatical tyranny and no way subject to your owne your Councel of Warrs or Officers military power or jurisdiction going to the House to discharge my duty on the 6 of this instant December was on the staires next the Commons House door forcibly kept back entring the House seized on and carried away thence without any pretext of Lawfull Authority therto assigned by Colonel Pride and other Officers and Souldiers of the Army under your Command And notwithstanding the Houses demand of my enlargement both by their Sergeant and otherwise ever since unjustly detained under your Marshals custody and tossed from place to place contrary to the known Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the Subject and fundamental Laws of the Land which you are engaged to maintaine against all violation And therefore do hereby demand from your Lordship my present enlargement and just liberty with your Answer hereunto From the Kings-head in the Strand Decemb. 26. 1648. William Pryn. This was delivered to the Generals own hands at his House in Queen-street about three of the clock the same day it beares date by Doctor Bastwijcke VVho returned this Answer by him upon the reading therof THat he knew not but Mr. Pryn was already released and that he would send to his Officers to know what they had against him VVho it seems act all things without his privity and steer all the Armies present counsels and designes according to their absolute wills The Publique Declaration and Protestation of William Pryn of Lincolnes Inne Esquire Against his present Restraint and the present destructive Councels and Jesuiticall proceedings of the Generall Officers and Army I VVilliam Pryn a Member of the House of Commons and Freeman of England who have formerly suffer'd 8. years Imprisonment four of them close three in exile three Pillories the losse of my Ears Calling Estate for the vindicating of the Subjects just Rights and Liberties against the arbitrary tyranny injustice of King and Prelats and defence of the Protestant Religion here established spent most of my strength and studies in asserting the Peoples just freedom and the power and priviledges of Parliament against all Opposers and never received one farthing by way of damages gift or recompence or the smallest benefit or preferment whatsoever for all my sufferings and publicke services Do here solemnly declare before the most just and righteous God of Heaven and Earth the Searcher of all hearts the whole Kingdome English Nation and the World that having according to the best of my skill and judgment faithfully discharged my trust and duty in the Commons House upon real grounds of Religion Conscience Justice Law prudence and right reason for the speedy and effectual setlement of the peace and safety of our three distracted bleeding dying Kingdoms on Monday Dec. 4. I was on Wednesday morning following the 6 of this instant going to the House to discharoe my duty on the Parliament staires next the Commons door forcibly seized upon by Col. Pride Sir Hardress VValler and other Officers of the Army who had then beset the House with strong Guards and whole Reg of Horse and Foote haled violently thence into Queens Court notwithstanding my Protestation of breach of priviledge both as a Member and a Freeman by a meere usurped tyrannicall power without any lawfull Authority or cause assigned and there forceibly detained Prisoner with other Members there restrained by them notwithstanding the Houses double demand of my present enlargement to attend its service by the Sergeant and that night contrary to faith and promise carried Prisoner to Hell and there shut up all night with 40. other Members without any lodging or any other accommodations contrary to the known Priviledges of Parl. the fundamental Laws of the Realm and Liberty of the subject which both Houses the 3. Kingdoms the General with all Officers and Soldiers of the Army are by solemn Covenant and duty obliged inviolably to maintain Since which I have without any lawful power or authority bin removed and kept prisoner in several places put to great expences debar'd the liberty of my person calling denied that hereditary freedom which belongs to me of right both as a Freeman a Member an eminent sufferer for the publick and a Christian by these who have not the least shadow of authority or justice to restrain me and never yet objected the least cause for this my unjust restraint I do therfore hereby publickly protest against all these their proceedings as the highest usurpation of an arbitrary and tyrannical power the greatest breach of faith trust Covenant priviledges of Parl. and most dangerous encroachment on the Subjects liberties and Laws of the Land ever practised in this Kingdome by any King or Tyrant especially by pretended Saints who hold forth nothing but justice righteousnesse liberty of conscience and publick freedom in all their Remonstrances whils they are triumphantly trampling them all under their armed iron feet And do further herby appeal to summon them before all the Tribunals and powers in heaven and earth for exemplary justice against them who cry out so much for it against others less tyrannical oppressive unjust and fedifragus to God and men than themselves And do moreover remonstrat that all their present exorbitant actings against the King Parl. present Government and their new modled representative are nothing else
I leave you therefore to Pharaohs destiny to be drowned in your own Red sea as he was in his Thus far I adventured to vindicate our Religion Laws and Liberties with my pen Resolution scope of the Author in discharge of my Conscience and pursuance of our National Covenant which obligeth us to defend them against whosoever to our power neither knowing nor caring whether in so wicked an age wherein vice is honoured and vertue contemned I may be thought worthy of punishment for being more righteous than my superiors I know an honest man is wondred at like a monster and the innocency of his life and conversation suspected as a Libel against the State yet if I perish I perish pereundum in licitis nor am I less provided of a safe retreat than our Grandees my grave is open for me and one foot in it already Contempsit omnes ille qui mortem prius He that contemns Death scorns both Hope and Fear which are the only affections that make Knaves Fools and Cowards of all the World The world is a goodly Theater we are the actors God is Poet and chief spectator we must not choose our own parts that is at Gods appointment one man he appoints to play the King another the Begger one a Comick another a Tragick part whatsoever part God hath appointed for me in this remainder of my life I will have a care to personate it ingenuously and aptly not doubting but my Exit shall be accompanied with an applause into my Tyring-room my Tombe nor will I refuse the meanest part that may draw a plaudit from so excellent a spectator but will prepare my self for the worst of evills in this worst of times and pray to God to Reform our Reformers Amen THE END THE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCY WITH The Rise Growth and Practices of that powerfull and restlesse FACTION D. AMBROSIUS Nec nobis ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus nec vobis gloriosum est facere quod fecit Judas TACIT Scelera sceleribus tuenda VIRGILIUS sua cuique Deus fit dira libido 1 St. JOHN c. 2. v. 16. Quicquid est in mundo est concupiscentia oculorum concupiscentia carnis aut superbia vitae LONDON Printed in the Year 1648. Reader GEntle or ungentle I write to all knowing that all have now got almost an equall share and interest in this Gallimaufry or Hotchpot which our Grandee Pseudo-Politicians with their negative and demolishing Councils have made both of Church and Commonwealth and therefore I write in a mixed stile in which I dare say there are some things fit to hold the judgements of the Gravest some things fit to catch the fancies of the Lightest and some things of a middle nature applying my self to all capacities as far as truth will permit because I fore-see the Catastrophe of this Tragedy is more likely to be consummated by multitude of hands than wisedome of heads I have been a curious observer and diligent inquirer after not only the Actions but the Counsels of these times and I here present the result of my indeavours to thee In a time of mis-apprehensions it is good to avoid mistakings and therefore I advise thee not to apply what I say to the Parliment or Army in generall if any phrase that hath dropped from my pen in hast for this is a work of hast seem to look asquint upon them No it is the Grandees the Junto-men the Hocas-Pocasses the state-Mountebanks with their Zanyes and Jack-puddings Committee-men Sequestrators Treasurers and Agitators under them that are here historified were the Parliament the major part whereof is in bondage to the minor part and their Janisaries and the Army freed from these usurping and engaged Grandees who betrayed the Honour and Priviledges of Parliament the Army to their own lusts both would stand right and be serviceable to the setling of a firm lasting Peace under the King upon our first Principles Religion Laws and Liberties which are now so far laid by that whosoever will not joyn with the Grandees in subverting them is termed a Malignant as heretofore he that would not adhere to the Parliament in supporting them was accounted so that the definition of a Malignant is turned the wrong side outward The body of the Parliament and Army in the midst of these distempers is yet healthy sound serviceable my endeavour is therefore to play the part of a friendly Physitian and preserve the body by purging peccant humors Were the Army under commanders and officers of better Principles who had not defiled their fingers with publick monies their consciences by complying with and cheating all interests King Parliament People City and Scots for their own private ends I should think that they carried the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon but clean contrary to the Image presented to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream the head and upper parts of this aggregate body are part of Clay part of Iron the lower parts of better metall I cannot reform I can but admonish God must be both the Aesculapius and Prometheus and amend all and though we receive never so many denials never so many repulses from him let us take heed how we vote even in the private corners of our hearts no Addresses no Applications to Him Let us take heed of multiplying sins against God lest he permit our Schismatical Grandees to multiply Armies and Forces upon us to war against Heaven as well as against our Religion Laws Liberties and Properties upon earth and keep us and our estates under the perpetual bondage of the Sword which hath been several ways attempted in the Houses these 2 last weeks both for the raising and keeping of a new Army of 30000. or 40000. men in the seven Northern Associate Counties upon established pay besides this Army in the South and also for the raising of men in each County of England and all to be engrossed into the hands of his Excellency and such Commanders and Officers as he shall set over them and this work may chance be carried on by the Grandees of Derby-house and the Army if not prevented for the Generall notwithstanding this power was denyed him in the House of Commons hath sent warrants into most Counties to raise Horse and Foot yea to that basenesse of Slavery hath our Generall and Army with their under-Tyrants the Grandees brought us that although themselves did heretofore set the rascality of the Kingdom on work in great multitudes especially the Schismaticall party to clamour upon the Parliament with scandalous Petitions and make peremptory demands to the Houses destructive to the Religion Laws Liberties and Properties of the Land and the very foundation of Parliaments to which they extorted what answers they pleased and got a generall vote That it was the undoubted right of the Subject to Petition and afterwards to acquiesce in the wisedome and justice of the two Houses Yet when upon 16 of May 1648. the whole County
of Surry in effect came in so civill a posture to deliver a petition to the house that they were Armed for the most part but with sticks in which Petition there is nothing contained which the Parliament is not bound to make good by their many Declarations and Remonstrances to the people or by the Oathes of Allegiance Supremacy or Nationall Covenant or by the known Laws of this Land Yet were they 1. Abused by the Souldiers of White-hall as they passed by where some of them were pulled in and beaten 2. When those Gentlemen of quality that carried the Petition came to Westminster-hall they found a Guard of Souldiers at the door uncivilly opposing their entrance to make their addresses to the House 3. When they pressed into the Hall and got up to the Commons door they were there reviled by the Guard 4. The Multitude which stood in the new Palace because some of them did but whoop as others did who were purposely set on work as is conceived to mix with them disorder them were suddenly surrounded with a strong party of horse from the Mews It is reported by some that Sir H. Mildmay Col. Purefoy the Speaker doubting the Hou would give too good an answer to their Petition sent for these Horse and Foot and some more Companies of Foot from White-hall who by the appointment of the Committee of Schismaticks at Derby-House were ready prepared for this design and catched them as it were in a Toyle and with barbarous and schismatical rage fell upon these naked unarmed Petitioners slew and wounded many without distinction telling them They were appointed to give an answer to their Petition and they should have no other as indeed they had not though the Lieut. Colonell that did all the mischief was called into the House of Commons and had publick thanks given him at the Bar took many of them Prisoners Plundred their Pockets Cloaks Hats Swords Horses some of them even Gentlemen of as good quality as their General were stripped of their doublets those Gentlemen of quality who where in the Lobby before the Commons door civily expecting an answer were abused and violently driven out by the Guard to take their fortune among the Rabble what Tyrants ever in the World refused to heare the Petitions and grievances of their people before The most Tyranicall government of the world is that of Russia and Jo. Vasilowich was the greatest Tyrant of that Nation yet shall this Tyrant rise up in judgement at the latter day against these Monsters Behold what entertainment your Petitioners shall have hereafter if publick Peace be the end of their desires yet many Petitions ready drawn are sent up and down in most Counties by Committee-men and Sequestrators to enforce men to give thanks for the four votes against the King and many Petitions from Schismaticks destructive to Religion Laws Liberties and Property have been obtruded upon the Houses and received encouragement and thanks because they tend to subvert the fundamental Government of Church and Common-wealth and cast all into the Chaos of confusion whereby the Grandees may have occasion to keep up this Army and perpetuate their Tyranny and our burdens And from these Tumults of their own raising the grandees pretend a necessity to keep this Army about this Town to watch advantages against it Cromwell having often said This Town must be brought to more absolute obedience or laid in the dust in order to which the Souldiers are now disarming the Country and then the City is next who being once disarmed must prostitute their mony-baggs to these fellows or be Plundered Reader having spoken my sense to thee I leave thee to thy own sense submitting my self to as much Charity as God hath endowed thee withall God that made all preserve and amend all This shall be the daily prayer of him that had rather die for his Country than share with these Godly Thieves in eating out the bowels of his Country and enriching himself with publick spoyls The History of INDEPENDENCY YOU have in The mystery of the two Juntoes The Preaâ—ble Presbyterian and Independent presented to your view these two Factions as it were in a Cockpit pecking at one another which rising originally from the two Houses and Synod have so much disturbed and dislocated in every joynt both Church and Common-wealth I must now set before you Independency Triumphant rousing it self upon its Legs clapping its wings and crowing in the midst of the Pit with its enemy under its feet though not yet well resolved what use it can or may make of its Victory But before I go any farther it is fit I tell you what Independency is It is Genus generalissimum of all Errors Heresies Blasphemies 1 What Independency is and Schisms a general Name and Title under which they are all united as Sampson's Foxes were by the Tails And though they have several opinions and fancies which make their vertiginous heads turn different wayes yet profit and preferment being their Tails their last and ultimate end by which they are governed like a Ship by his Rudder and wherein they mutually correspond the rest of their differences being but circumstantial are easily plaister'd over with the untempered Morter of hypocricy by their Rabbies of the Assembly and their Grandees of the two Houses and Army in whom they have an implicite faith As Mahomet's Alchoran was the Gallemaufry of Jew and Christian so are they a Composition of Jew Christian and Turk Independenâ—â— is compounâ—ed of Judaism with the Jew they arrogate to be the peculiar people of God the Godly the Saints who only have right unto the Creatures and should possess the good things of this World all others being Usurpers a Tenent so destructive to humane society and civil Government that by vertue hereof they may and do by fraud or force Tax eat up with Free-quarter cozen and plunder the whole Kingdom and count it but robbing the Egyptians To this purpose they overthrow all the Judicatures Laws and Liberties of the Land and set up Arbitrary Committees Martial-Law and Weather-cock Ordinances in their room made and unmade by their own over-powring faction in Parliament at pleasure with the help and terror of their Janisaries attending at their doors â—ristianism With the Christian some of them but not all acknowledge the Scriptures but so far only as they will serve their turns to Pharise themselves and Publican all the World besides men filled with spiritual pride meer Enthusiastiques of a speculative and high flying Religion too high for Earth and too low for Heaven whereas a true and fruitful Religion like Jacob's Ladder Stat pede in terris caput inter nubila condit must have one end upon earth as well as the other in Heaven He that acknowledgeth the duties of the first table to God and neglecteth the duty of the second table to Man is an Hypocrite both against God and Man â—rcism With the
Scotland directed to the Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland setting forth what the Parliament had done in way of setling peace reforming the Church and Universities and maintaining the Covenant and union between the two Nations and complaining of Duke Hamilton's Invading England under the Authority of the Parliament of Scotland to the Kirk there How dangerous this president may prove to both Kingdoms to make a few ambitious paedantical Church-men supreme Judges over Parliament and State affairs in ordine ad Deum and how apt they are to lay hold upon such occasions and kindle their zeal into a consuming flame I leave to all wise men to judge 122. A Declaration and 2. Letters from the Prince to the City The Commons Debate upon them Thursday 3. August The Sheriffs of London and some of the Common Council brought to the House the Copies of two Letters they had received from the PRINCE one directed to the Common Council expressing his Highnesse good affection to Peace and to the whole City and his endeavours to vindicate his Fathers Liberty and just Prerogative and Rights to restore to the People their Laws Liberties and Property to free them from that bondage under which they were now held like a Conquered Nation to ease them of Excise and Taxes to settle Religion according to his Fathers Agreement made with the Scots and to reduce all things into their antient and proper Chanel This Letter was accompanied with his Declaration to the same purpose The other was to the Merchant Adventurers Informing them he had made stay of 3. of their ships but without any intent to make prize of them desiring to borrow 20000 l. of them to be repayed out of the Customes and requiring their speedy answer To which Col. Harvy first aggravating many faults in the King's Government according to the scandalous Declaration against him said The Prince was his Fathers own Son as like him as could be That he had invited the Scots to come in and declared for them and had been formerly in Arms against the Parliament That he was but a subject And moved the House to declare him a Rebell and a Traytor Sir Peter Wentworth Mr. Knightly and Mr. Blackstone seconded him with much earnestnesse so did Edward Ash who farther moved That the Common Council and Merchants should give no answer to his Letters saying there was no danger the Prince should make prize of their ships for that he had engaged to the States of the Low-Countries to do no act prejudicial to Trade At last the Debate was put off until the next day being Friday when the Speaker putting the House in mind of it again It was earnestly called upon by the younger Sir John Evelin Mr. Solicitors shadow Scot Weaver Holland Boys and almost all the Godly Gang. So the Debate was resumed and Weaver went very high to try the temper of the House But the Debate in Terminis That the Prince should be declared a Rebell and a Traytor was soon laid by though violently pressed chiefly upon these reasons 1. That they had not the Originals of the Princes Letter and Declaration which the Common-Council still kept but onely Copies not so much as attested upon Oath by any authentical Clerk therefore no legal proceedings could be upon them 2. To Vote the Prince a Traytor the same day when they sent Messengers to invite the King his Father to a Treaty of Peace would argue no peaceable inclination in them and would be so understood by the People 3. They were engaged by the Nationall Covenant to defend the King's Person Crown and Dignity but the Prince Heir apparent to His Crown was next under God the chief supporter of his Crown and Dignity therefore to Vote him a Traitor was to subvert his Crown and Dignity 4. By the Stat. 25. Edw. 3. it is High Treason to endeavour the destruction of the Prince the Kings eldest Son but to declare him a Rebel and a Traitor was to endeavour to destroy him and therefore High Treason 5. The people were already jealous that the KING and His Posterity should be laid by and in them the Monarchical Government of this Nation subverted and a new form of Government introduced they had already by the Votes of No Addresses to the KING and by their Declaration against Him wherein they say They can no longer confide in Him laid by the KING and now to Vote the PRINCE a Rebel and a Traytor was to lay by both him and his Brother the DUKE of YORK who adheres to him which would exceedingly confirm the people in their feares But what they could not do expresly All that adhere to the Prince declared Traytors they did implicitly by Voting All that should adhere to ayd or assist the PRINCE Rebels and Traytors Hereby they put a tie upon the City not to redeem their Ships by lending 20000 l. to the Prince and yet had a Pirat taken them it had been lawful to redeem them Saturday 5 August 123. The National Covenant The House of Commons went upon the Commissioners to judge of Scandals there was a Clause in the Ordinance forbidding the Nomination of such as refused the National Covenant which was strongly opposed by the Independents who argued That the National Covenant was but a League sworn mutually by the two Nations that the Scots by Invading England had first broke it and thereby set the English at liberty from it that the Covenant was not Jure divino no more than Presbytery was To which was Answered That the large Treaty containing the League between the two Nations so did not the Covenant which was a Vow made unto God with our hands lifted up to heaven for the maintenance and observation of the ends and principles expressed in the Covenant from which no power on Earth can absolve That though the Covenant was not Jure divino yet the keeping of it after we have taken it is Jure divino it being the revealed will of God that we should not offer to him the sacrifice of fools a Covenant to day and break it to morrow 124. A new Militia erected in every County in the hands of Sectaries Mondon 7 August A particular Ordinance to put the County of Wilts into a posture of defence was read many that were named to be Deputy Lieutenants or Commissioners were mean petty fellowes as one Read a Serving-man and others such as refuse to Act upon the Ordinances for setling Church Government and declare that our Ministery is Antichristian and are new dipped Brethren that have been re-baptized These to have power to raise what men and put arms into what hands they list to fine 10 l. and twenty days Imprisonment for every default and to levy 400 l. a week upon that poor County over and above the Taxes to Fairfax's Army and Ireland and Free-quarter The general Ordinance to trust the Counties with their own defence is obstructed to give way to these particular Ordinances
whereby multitudes of you are undone and yet the Armies Arrears and all other Taxes are exacted from you with as much cruelty as you lost nothing Remember that Butchery committed upon the unarmed Apprentices when Cromwel cried to the Souldiers to kill man woman and child and fire the City at which time his Nose looked as prodigiously upon you as a Comet Remember the scorn put upon you by a Grandee when you were enabled to put up your Chains again That the House had consented your Posts should have Chains as well as your Aldermen and did as well deserve them And Weaver's word when your Guards came to attend the House that 60 of the Army should beat 3000 of them Remember how unwillingly and juglingly they restored unto you the Tower first plundered of all its ammunition you formerly had in it and part only of your Militia and that clogged with many restrictions they that bestow gifts so grudgingly upon you when they are weak will deprive you of them again when they are strong Adversity makes them your false friends Prosperity your real Enemies Necessity only ties them to you have a care therefore you do not relieve their necessities lest you lose them like the frozen Snake in the bosome when they grow warm they will bite and sting You seem to have forgotten the unjust imprisonment of your Aldermen the unfaithfulnesse and inconstancy of their Votes and Ordinances even for security of Money and Land bought the several Informations and Testimonies you had of their good intentions to borrow more of your Money not by way of Loan nor upon the Publique Faith but by way of plunder Notwithstanding all these injuries and many more as if God had infatuated you to destroy you you suffer a corrupt Faction within you to List men to the amazement of your neighbour Counties whose principles you first examine and if they be not Independents you trust them not with Arms. I hear of a young man who being asked of what principles he was he answered That in these doubtfull times he professed no principles but gain to whom was replied then we are of one principle for we are resolved to keep what we have got Behold the Principles of these men that obstruct our peace consider that Heaven and Earth have denounced war against these men and that God himself hath touched the hearts of all men as one man to rise against them and demand to have Peace Religion and Justice restored When the whole Kingdom shall rise in a flame what will be your lot but smoak in your eyes and at last a consuming fire in your bowels when you only shall be left to maintain this domineering Army with your money and to recruit them with your blood many of their Officers say already That the Country is exhausted of Money and you shall be their purse-bearers but because you are a curst Cow they must keep the Army about you that the Souldiers may hold you by the horns whilst their friends milk you Consider how absolute a necessity and how general a resolution there is that all things should return to their old channel If you stop the violence of this Torrent it will swell untill it overwhelm and drown you You that are guiltless joyn not with the guilty you that are guilty sin no more there will be mercy for you if you repent and amend in time The very multitude of offenders will help to excuse your offences let not despair huâ—â— you from one sin to another until you fall into destruction as â—â—aid Judas whose Despair by all Divines is held to be a greater iâ—piety than his Treachery by the first he sinned against the God-head of Christ by the second against his Manhood only The Remonstrance and Declaration of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Freeholders in COLCHESTER PEtitions the birth-right of Subjects are by Law our addresses to our King Gods Vicegerent by custom our approaches to the Houses of Parliament His Majesties great Council by them we used humbly to present our modest desires and were wont to receive answers as Gideons fleece the dew without noise yet satisfactory but that was denied our first Petition and before our second could be ready our brethren of Surrey by theirs ecchoed our prayer to both Houses of Parliament but received their answer as the Jews their Law in thunder and lightning a two-edged sword the tongue and the report of Muskets the voice which spake nothing but wounds and death We therefore thus admonished resolved thus to present our grievances to the World and our Petitions to Heaven for a blessing upon our intended indeavours Our grievances are these 1. First the distraction and threatned ruine of our glorious Protestant Church the neglect and abuse of Religion the destruction of our Universities the springs of all Learning Divine and Humane occasioned by the fierce and ignorant Separatists set up and maintained as Rulers both in Church and State by the prevalency and violence of a rebellious and destructive Army under the command of the L. Fairfax and countenanced by the seeming Authority of a pact unfree and over-awed House of Parliament 2. Next that contrary to the Oath and duty of Allegiance from which no power can nor yet hath pretended to absolve us our Soveraign Lord the King is by the design of the said Army drawn from His House at Hampton Court to the Isle of Wight and there by the power of Col. Hammond and others of the Army Imprisoned and detained from His Parliament by which act the said Hammond and all adhering to him are according to the Votes passed in both Houses 16. March 1641. Enemies to the peace of the Kingdom 3. A third is the violent and unchristian separation of the King His Royal Consort and Children at once depriving His Majesty of the two first blessings bestowed on Man 4. The forcing the Queen and Prince of Wales to seek in a forein Nation what in their own they could not enjoy liberty safety and support 5. The exercise of Martial Law while the Courts of Justice are open and sitting at Westminster the obstructing justice in our Courts of Judicature and by the privat Committee of Indemnity perverting judgment and exercising arbitrary power which is a subversion of our ancient Laws and an introducing of a tyrannical government as was resolved by both Houses in the Cases of the E. of Strafford and Archb. of Canterbury and writ in their bloud 6. Sixtly the present mischief and future danger to the whole Kingdom by reason that the publique affairs of highest concern are managed and carried on by a few particular men in a private Committee at Derby-house wherein contrary to the self-denying Ordinance the prime actors are chief Officers of the Army and have by our unhappy differences possest themselves of the most beneficial offices and imployments of the Kingdom and the other Places of profit and commodity are by their design conferred on others Members
your Lordship or your Officers Judges I therefore desire to know from your Lordship what kind of Prisoner I am and whose If a Prisoner of peace neither your Lordship nor your Officers are any Justices of peace or Civill Magistrates in this place to restrain me for any civill crime were I guilty of it much less without proof or hearing in case I were no Member but being neither guilty nor accused of any such crime and a Member too no Magistrate can nor ought to imprison me upon any pretext at least without the Houses licence first obtained If a Prisoner of Warre which I cannot probably be being never in Arms and apprehended neer the Commons House door going peaceably and unarmed thither to discharge my duty then you and your Officers thereby acknowledge That you have levied Warre against the Parliament and its Members and what capital offence this is and what a punishment it deserves I need not inform your Lordship or your Councell who have for this very crime condemned and shot some to death as Traytours and demanded speedy justice and execution for it upon the King himself I have but one thing more to trouble your Lordship with and that is to demand whose Prisoner I am having yet seen no Warrant nor Order from your self or your Officers for my restraint though I have oft demanded it of your Marshall If your Lordships Prisoner there appearing yet no legall Authority cause or Warrant for my restraint I must then crave so much justice from your Lordship being but a Subject and not yet paramount all Laws to order your Attourney to give an Appearance for you in the Kings bench the first return of the next Tearm to an action of false Imprisonment for this my unjust restraint which I intend by Gods assistance effectually to prosecute If your Officers Prisoner onely and not yours which I conceive who yet abuse your name and authority herein though it be a rule in Law and Divinity too Qui non prohibet malum quod potest jubet yet I shall be so just as to set the saddle upon the right horse and commence my action onely against such of your Officers who have been most active in my Imprisonment for damage and reparations which if there be any justice remaining under Heaven I doubt not but I shall recover in Gods due time in this publick cause which so highly concerns the honour freedom and Priviledges of Parliament and Subjects Liberties for defence and maintenance whereof as I have hitherto spent my strength adventured my life body liberty and estate so shall I now again engage them all and all the friends and interests I have in heaven and earth rather then they shall suffer the least diminution prejudice or eclipse by my stupid patience under this unjust captivity though I can as willingly forgive and put up private injuries when the publike is not concerned as any man All which I thought meet to inform your Lordship of whom I am heartily sorry to see so much dishonoured abuâ—ed and misled by rash ill-advised Officers and dangerous destructive and I dare say Jesuitical Councels to the Parliaments dissipation the Kingdoms prejudice Irelands loss most good mens and Ministers grief your best Friends astonishment your Enemies and the Papists triumph our Religions scandal and your own dishonour which I beseech you as an Englishman a Christian a Professor of piety and Religion a Souldier a General to lay sadly to your heart as the earnest request of From my Prison at the Sign of the Kings Head in the Strand 3. Jan. 1648. Your Lordships faithful Friend and Monitor William Pryn. * An Additional Postscript VVE reade Luke 3.14 that when the Souldiers demanded of John Baptist saying and What shall we do he said unto them Do violence to no man or put no man in fears neither accuse any falsly and be content with your allowance not imprison depose or murther Kings pull down Parliaments imprison violently shut out and drive away Parliament men and then lay all false accusations and scandals upon them to colour your violence subvert Kingdoms alter States break all bonds of Laws Oaths Covenants Obligations Engagements to God and Men usurp all Civil Military and Ecclesiastical power and the Kings Royal Palaces into your own hands as supreme Lords and Kings raise what new forces and levie what new Taxes you please take up what Free-quarters and Houses seize and plunder what publike Treasuries monies you please without Commission or Authority obey neither God nor Man neither Parliament nor Magistrate and be content with nothing but alter and subvert all things These are Saint Peters new doctrines and Revelations to our Officers and Souldiers now those Jesuits who lurk amongst them not John the Baptist whose Canonicall advice is now rejected as Apocryphall even among the Army Saints who preferre every ignis fatuus though from Doway or Râ—me it self before this burning and shining old light and are guided onely by a new minted law of pretended providence or necessity of their own forging and not by the revealed will and law of God the sacred light whereof their present works of darkness dare not approach lest they should be reproved and condemned by them But some 43. Actions of false imprisonment by the imprisoned and 150. Actions of the Case by the secluded Members brought against these domineering lawless Officers and Grandees of the Army wherein good Damages will be recovered and some 12. Indictm of High Treason against them for laying violent hands upon the Kings Person and the Members and leavying War against the Parliament will teach them more obedience humility and modesty then either John Baptist Saint Paul Saint Peter or Saint Peters will do and be like Gideon thorns and briers of discipline to these men of Succoth with whom no fair means will prevail who might have learned so much law and justice from a Heathen Souldier and Governour Festus Acts 25.27 It seemeth unto me unreasonable to send much more to commit a Prisoner and not withall to signifie the crimes laid against him and come short of that ingenuity of the heathenish chief Captain who seized upon Paul thereby to appease the Tumult at Hierusalem Acts 22.27 29. who as soon as ever Paul told him he was a Roman Free-born then straight way they departed from him who should have examined him and the chief Captain also was affraid after he knew that he was a Roman and because he had bound him And should not false imprisoning of a Parliament-man Free-born English-man be as formidable to our chief Captains being a Christian I say sworn and vowed to defend the Houses Priviledges and Members Persons as the Imprisonment of a Roman was to this chief Captain and they as ingenious and just as he who shall rise up in judgement against them and condemn them at the last I shall close up all with this observation That as the most glorious Angels in Heaven when
they fell through pride and ambition as most conceive became the very foulest Devils in Hell so the most resplendent seeming hypocriticall Saints when they fall through the like sins and have power in their hands become the most incarnate Devils and Monsters of treachery and tyranny upon earth exceeding Turks and Pagans therein of which we have now sad experience in our army-Army-Saints who every day aggravate and yet justifie their impieties and exorbitances 2 Chron. 28.11 Now hear me therefore and deliver the Captives again which ye have taken Captives of your Brethren for the fierce wrath of God is upon you Will Pryn. 64. Another forg'd Letter endeavoured to be fastned upon Sheriff Brown The Saints having nothing to say against Major Gen. Brown unless they should accuse him for being true to King Parliament City and Kingdom and to all the first declared Principles of this Parliament fell to their old trick to fasten another counterfeit Letter upon him wherefore a Man coming to S. Jame's where he was then imprisoned desired in the hearing of all present to speak with him in private Major Gen. Brown told him He was not for private conference and bade him speak openly then the Fellow presented a Letter to him saying It was from the Prince but Major Gen. Brown remembring the like trick put upon him before called for the Guard to apprehend him when presently the Messenger threw the Letters into the fire and the Marshall catching them out halfe burnt affirmeth He saw Charles Prince written upon them Sanctified eyes may see through the spectacles of their own fantasie what they please to accomplish their Design and therefore they have a new principle or light which as the 7. May be added to the aforesaid 6. that though they have no proofs nor evidence against a man yet if in their consciences they think him guilty they may condemn him upon the testimony of their own consciences this is to condemn by Revelation such whose bloud they desire to suck This supposed Messenger from the Prince was seized by the Guard but no proceedings against him heard of which argues it was but a snare set to catch the Major About this time to second this device a man gallantly clothed and mounted comes to the Beare in the Strand 65. Another more general forgery to endanger whom the Faction please It will be proved that divers Witnesses have bin practised and tampered with against Mr. Brown and others gives the Hostler a Peece and bids him have a care of his Horse then goes into the City and the Plot being forelaid was taken there with Letters subscribed with the Princes name to divers Citizens and Members against whom they want matter of accusation I hear no more of this matter yet this is a device dormanâ— to be awakened hereafter if any shall oppose the present actings of the Army and their Parliament Cromwell Ireton and Hugh Peters have several times made it their errand to go into the City and visit the Ministers giving them threatning Admonitions not to preach any thing against the Actings of the Army and their Parliament 66. London-Ministers threatned See the Ministers of Londons Letter to the General called A serious Representation Dated Jan. 18. 1648. But Hugh acted his part above them all he took some Musketiers with him to the house of Mr. Calamy and knocking at the door a Maid asked whom he would speak with he told her with her Master she asked his name he replied Mr Hugh Peters the Maid going up the stairs to acquaint her Master who was above-stairs in conference with some Divines over-heard Peters say to the Souldiers The very name of Peters will fright them all Peters being called up the staires told Mr. Calamy He was commanded by the General to warne him to come before him Mr. Calamy leaving Peters vapouring and canting Religion and non-sense to the rest of the Divines slipt down staires and went to the General to know his pleasure telling him He had bin summoned before him by Hugh Peters the General said Peters was a Knave and had no such directions from him Since this 67. The C. of War consider how to shut up the Churches doors the Council of Warr finding it difficult to stop the Ministers mouths have sundry times debated How to shut up the Churches doors in the City for Reformation of the Church and propagation of the Gospel they have imprisoned Mr. Canton a worthy Minister for praying for King CHARLES and threaten to try him for his life in the Upper Bench forsooth which all the Lawes call the Kings Bench and upon their new Acts of Parliament made by a ninth part of the Members the small remnant or Junto of the House of Commons notwithstanding by The Directory for publique Worship established by both Houses the Ministers are enjoyned to pray for the King It is said that Monsieur Paux one of the Dutch Agents here hath advised Cromwell to stop the Ministers mouthes by hanging up a dozen of them and vouches a president for it in the Low Countries 68. The Lords sent some Votes to the Câ—mmons for their concurrence Jan. 9. The Lords sate again and passed some Ordinances which they sent down to the Commons for their concurrence to feel their pulse wâ—ether they would vouchsafe to take so much notice of them the Commons laid them aside after some expresâ—ions of disdain 69. Sergeant Dandy proclaimeth the sitting of the new H Court of Justice This day Sergeant Dandie Sergeant at Arms to the Comissioners for Triall of His Majesty rode into Westminster-hall with the Mace belonging to the House of Commons upon his shoulder and some Officers attending him all bare and 6. Trumpeters on horsback before him Guards of Horse and Foot attending in both the Palace-yards the 6. Trumpeters sounded on horseback in the middle of the Hall and the Drums beat in the Palace-yards after which a Proclamation was read aloud by Mr. King one of the Messengers of the said High Court of Justice to this purpose To give notice that the Commissioners were to sit tomorrow and that all those that had any thing to say against CHARLES STVART King of England might be heard The like was done in Cheapside and at the Old Exchange 70. The Great Seal voted to be broken This day the remainder of the House voted their Great Seal to be broken in order to the making of a new one justly putting the same affront upon their own Seal which they had formerly put upon the Kings 71. Mr. Pryns Memento to the unparliamentary Junto Upon these occasions Mr. Pryn it is said published his Memento to the unparliamentary Junto therein telling the House That being forcibly secluded from the House by the Officers of the Armies violence whereby he could not speak his mind to them freely in or as the House of Commons yet he would write his thoughts to them as private Persons onelie under
Humane shewing Him to be more then Conquerour of His Enemies in His rare Christian patience and charity the very reading of it aggravateth our loss of so Gracious and excellent a Prince that had learned the whole method of humane perfection in the schoole of adversity Herod and his Jews never persecuted Christ in his swadling-clouts with more industrious malice then the Antimonarchicall Independent Faction this Book in the Presses and shops that should bring it forth into the world knowing that as the remembrance of Heaven strikes a horror into us of Hell So the contemplation of his virtues will teach us to abhorre their vices March 8. 1648. 129. The form of Writs for Elections changed The Commons assented to a new Form of a Writ for election of Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament But three dayes before it was reported to the House from the Councell of State what number of Horse and Foot they thought fit to be kept up for the service of England and Ireland 130. A new establishment for the Army reported to the House from our new Masters the Councell of State and the Monthly charge which estimated come to 160000 l. per mensem You see we are likely to finde these our new Lords such gracious Masters to us that as the second part of Englands new Chains saith We shall have Taxes though we have neither Trade nor Bread In the Earle of Essex time when the Warre was at the highest the Monthly Tax came but to 54000 l. a Month yet had we then seven or eight Brigades besides his Army and Garrisons but that the Faction of Saints may carry on the work of a thorow Reformation in our purses as well as they have done in the Church and Common-wealth they first raised the Tax to 60000 l. a Month for England besides 20000 l. a Month pretended for Ireland but I believe little of it slips through their sanctified fingers to go thither And now to shew they can use double dealing against the Ungodly they would double the summ from 80000 l. to 160000 l. a Month this is to break our hearts with property and make them take what impressions of slavery they please to set upon them this Conventicle of State will engross all the Coyn and Treasure of the Land into their own hands and then subdue us therewith and make us like slavish Aegyptians sell our selves and our Lands for Bread or money to buy Bread when that inseparable companion of a long warre Famine approcheth which their barbarous and illegall Sequestrations unstocking mens Farms and laying them wast will inevitably bring upon us they have more hope to subdue and lessen the number of their Opposites by famine and want then by the Sword in order to which they have destroyed the Trade of the City and undone multitudes of Trades-men who being disabled to pay their Taxes the Army cause all their Arrears to be leavied upon the City by a new Tax upon the rest of the Inhabitants and the Outlandlords and when Cromwell was told this would undo the City He answered It was no matter the more were undone the more would clap Swords to their sides and come into the Army you see Souldiery is intended to be the chief Trade 131. An Act for Abolishing the Kingly Office c. March 17. 1648. The empty House of Commons in farther prosecution of their said Design and to please their Masters of the Army passed printed and published in the form and style of a Statute this Paper following intituled An Act for the Abolishing the Kingly Office in England WHereas Charles Stuart late King of England Ireland and the Territories and Dominions thereunto belonging hath by Authority derived from Parliament Since by the Law the Crown cures al defects how can the King's bloud be attainted been and is hereby declared to be justly condemned adjudged to die and put to death for many treasons murthers and other hainous offences committed by him by which Judgement he stood and is hereby declared to be attainted of High Treason whereby his Issue and Posterity and all others pretending Title under him are become uncapable of the said Crowns or of being King or Queen of the said Kingdom or Dominions or either or any of them Be it therefore Enacted and Ordained and it is Enacted We have sworn faith and Allegâ—ance to K. Charls the First His lawfull Heirs and Successors and our Vow is recorded in Heaven from which no power on earth can absolve us See the Oathes of Allegiance Obedience and Supremacy The Statute of Recognition 1. Iac. But the Commons are now Supreme as in imitation of the Pope to bring this Claus in practise Licet de jure non possumus tamen pro plenitudine potestatis nostra volumus c. Ordained and Declared by this present Parliament and by Authority thereof That all the People of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging of what degree or condition soever are discharged of all Fealty Homage and Allegiance which is or shall be pretended to be due unto any of the Issue and Posterity of the said late King or any claiming under him and that Charles Stuart eldest Sonne and James called Duke of Yorke second Sonne and all other the Issue and Posterity of him the said late King and all and every person and persons pretending Title from by or under him are and be disabled to hold or enjoy the said Crown of England or Ireland All our Laws cut off by the non obstante of an eighth part of the House of Commons sitting under a force After almost 1000 years experience it is now found to be dangerous The English were never one half-quarter so much enslaved since William the Conquerour subdued them as they have been since Oliver the Brewer subjugated them and other the Dominions thereunto belonging or any of them or to have the Name Title Stile or Dignity of King or Queen of England and Ireland Prince of Wales or any of them or to have and enjoy the power and Dominion of the said Kingdoms and Dominions or any of them or the Honours Manors Lands Tenements possessions and Hereditaments belonging or appertaining to the said Crown of England and Ireland and other the Dominions aforesaid or to any of them or to the Principality of Wales Dutchy of Lancaster or Cornwal or any or either of them Any Law Statute Ordinance Vsage or Custome to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding And whereas it is and hath been found by experience that the Office of a King in this Nation and Ireland and to have the power thereof in any single Person is unnecessary burthensome and dangerous to the liberty safety and publike interest of the people and that for the most part use hath been made of the Regal power and prerogative to oppress impoverish and enslave the Subject and that usually and naturally any one person in such power makes
declared principles and doctrine of their Pulpits and Army are That they must break the powers of the Earth in pieces Monarchy must down all the world over first in England then this Army must put over and manumit the Peasants of France the Boore of Germany c. And divers of this party have reported That they have supplied the Revolters of France with money their Licenced News-Books are full of this Doctrine and of many Invectives against the Tyranny of the French King 134. Harry Martin's Judgement of the King and Kingly Government Such were their proceedings against the King or rather against Kingly Government which was cut off by the same Axe that murthered the King and was indeed first in their intention though last in execution as appeareth by Harry Martin's Speech in the House upon the Debate Whether a King or no King That if they must have a King he had rather have had the last than any Gentleman in England he found no fault in His person but in his Office 135. The Councel of Officers endeavour to joyn Interest with the Papists in England and Ireland The King had offended the Papists in the last Treaty by granting so much to the Parliament for their suppression The Independents perceiving it and willing to joyn with any Interest to make good their design It was proposed at the Councel of Officers That the Papists should raise and pay about 10000 Additional Forces for this Army in recompence whereof all penal Laws concerning them should be repealed all Taxes and Contributions taken off and they to have the protection of this Parliament and Army Under the same notion they endeavoured to joyn Interests with Owen Roe Oneale Owen Roe Oneale that commanded the bloody party of massacring Irish with which they had formerly taxed the King they supplied him with Ammunition and admitted O Realy The Popes Nuntio the Popes Irish Nuntio to a Treaty here in England Sir John Winter was taken into imploiment and the Arrears of his Rents gathered for him by Souldiers to the regret of the Countrey Sir Kenelme Digbie had a pass to come into England and came as was foretold by a Letter from an Independent Agent for the Army from Paris to an Independent Member of the House of Commons a creature of the Army bearing date 28. Nov. 1648. and printed at the latter end of The true and full Relation of the Officers and Armies forcible seizing of divers eminent Members c. Walter Mountague let forth upon Bail what becomes of this Negotiation and whether those that have played fast and loose with all Interests in the Kingdom have not done the like with the Papists I cannot yet learn This Winter 136. Scarcity of Coals how occasioned and why Coals as well as other things had been at excessive rates in the City whereby many poor perished with cold and hunger what the reason thereof was besides unreasonable Taxes Excise and Souldiers quartering in and neer the City was diversly disputed most men imputed the blame to Sir Arthur Haslerigge Governour of Newcastle who without any publique Authority presumed to lay on a Tax of 4 s. a Chaldron upon the Coals there which is estimated to amount to 50000 l. a year what use that Money was put to was as variously whispered as likewise what design they had in bringing so pinching a want upon the City some said it was to inforce the poorer sort into Tumults and then to charge the wealthier sort with the crime and ensnare them others said it was to cast an odium upon the PRINCE as if His Ships had kept in the Colliers The 23. March 1648. The Commons ordered 137. The Lo. Major ordered to proclaim in person the Act for abolishing the Kingly Office and punished for neglect That the Lord Major of London in person be required to publish and proclaim in the City the aforesaid Act for dissolving Kingly Government and to give an account thereof to the House The Major refusing this service was by the Commons called to the Bar fined 2000 l. committed prisoner to the Tower and outed of his Majoralty and Alderman Andrews a man after their own heart chosen by a few Schismaticks in his place Ordered by the Commons upon a report from the Councel of State that Commissioners he appointed to make Sale of the Kings 138. The Kings Queens and Princes personal Estate ordered to be sold Queens and Princes personal estate upon Inventorie and Apprisal for satisfaction of all just Debts due to well-affected persons Viz. Men of their Faction in this Nation before the beginning of these Wars But first 30000 l. to be taken out of it for the use of this Summers Fleet and that it be referred back to the 40 Hogen Mogens or Councel of State to consider what they think fit to be sold and what they think fit to keep and reserve for the use and furniture of them and their Attendants Observe that by that time this gulph is stopped the whole remainder to be sold for payment of Debts aforesaid may be written with a Cypher 139. Crown Lands shar'd amongst the Godly I hear the House hath given away the Kings House Parks and Honour of Eltham to Sergeant Bradshaw their quondam President Greenwich to Bulstrode Whitlock The Lions Skin is now dividing amongst the party Thus have they killed and taken possession and the Kings Revenue hath proved as ominous to Him as Naboth's Vineyard was to his Master 140. Another Report for an establishment for the Army Diuâ—nal Mar. 30 31. 1649. This day another Report was made to the House from the Committee of the Army of the particular sums to be Monthly levied in each County to make up the whole sum of 90000 l. Monthly for the Armies of England and Ireland besides 20000 l. per mens out of Fee-farm Rents 28 March 1649. The Commons in pursuit of the advice given them by Monsieur Paw 141. An Order that no Preacher meddle with State affairs and according to the example cited by him of the Low Countries Ordered That no Minister in his Pulpit should meddle with any State affairs had this been observed from the beginning these Pulpit-Incendiaries had never kindled a War between the King and Parliament 142. The 5. Lights of Walton About the beginning of Lent last Master Faucet Minister of Walton upon the Thames in Surrey preached in his Parish Church after dinner when he came down out of his Pulpit it was twilight and into the Church came six Souldiers one of them with a Lanthorn in his hand and a Candle burning in it in the other hand they had four Candles not lighted He with the Lanthorn called to the Parishioners to stay a little for he had a Message to them from God and offered to go up into the Pulpit but the Parishioners would not let him then he would have delivered his errand in the Church but there
truth they did For Cromwell now being very neer commands Lambert to take and secure Hopton bridge Worcester fight in the defence of which passage Massey shewed both much courage and experience though forced to retreat thence and leave the same unguarded being over-powered with Lamberts multitudes after which for a Day or two there happened diverse Skirmishes with as various fortune as is usuall at such times but Cromwell not brooking such delayes as fearing they might prove dangerous if any part of his forces should bethink themselves resolves upon one generall attempt and to find work for all hands himself falls on upon one side and Fleetwood on the other so that now ther 's nothing but rage slaughter and blood the loyall Highlanders even standing to fight when they had lost their legs not at all daunted at the severall horrid shapes-Death presented himself to them in but covering the ground with their slaughtered bodies in death made good that place which in life they undertook to defend while the increasing Enemy by his numbers rather killing then conquering their fear and guilt guiding them to exorbitances which the other valiant though dying souls were not capable of proving that maxime true that fear is farr more painfull to cowardise than death to a true courage But Actum est their end is concluded the decree is gone forth so after severall routs and rallies a generall defeat succeeds with the death of between 4000. and 5000. and about 7000. or 8000. taken prisoners the pursuite being both hotly and eagerly pursued each villain hoping to enrich himself by seizing on the Royal pray But Heaven had sent a Guardian Angell to protect him that at length he may once more come and be the restorer both of our peace Religion and Liberty I shall not mention the means were used or the Spirits which God raised up to be instrumentall in that miraculous deliverance let it suffice they have their honour and reward and bless we Cod who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the inestimable good that hath accrewed thereby invoking Heaven to crown his life with length of dayes and health and to settle his throne by a decree as unalterable as that of the Earth which cannot be moved Thus once more we see Rebellion flourish and applauded for after this the seeds of ambition begin to grow higher in Cromwell it is not enough that his faction is the strongest and he the head of it unless he may as well govern as command The military sword will not satisfie him he must and will also have the civill but as he sees it must not be done rashly or suddenly least he should miscarry so knowing that fair and softly goes farr and festinare lente is the best hast he concludes in his heart either to have all at his own book or dye in the attempt and the better to moddell his design according to his resolution he comes to the Juncto gives them account of all his transactions and so insinuates into them that he gâ—ts his Son Ireton to be made Deputy of Ireland Cromwels policy and power and intrusts Scotland into the hand of L. G. Moncke a revolted Cavalier by which two persons in a short time he so roughly handled both those said Nations that they were reduced to as perfect a slavery as could be imagined Upon consideration of these successes on all hands he begins now more publickly to unmask himself As General he places and displaces Officers in the Army at his pleasure untill he have so fitted them to his own humour that he dares begin to take them into his Councill where the first thing resolved is still to hold up the mask of religion there is no bait so catching to the vulgar religion therefore must be cried up methinks I see Cromwell like Catiline at Rome with all his crew of bankrupt and much worn Officers about him speaking to them thus Surely I need not tell you the great things the Lord hath done for us your selves are witnesses thereunto I confess our actions seem not to agree to our professions but t is no matter let People say what they will so we be still gainers let Governments totter and fall the whole World be made but one Enthusiasme or reduced into its primitive Chaos rather than we shall now loose or hold yet still the mask of zeal must be kept on that we may not appear in our naturall colours villains ab origine By these and the like words is that vicious brood soon instigated to act what his ambition dares command Now was he grown so lofty and imperious that he even growes weary of the Juncto and especially because they were at the present the main barr that hindred his greatness To remove therefore that obstacle on the twentieth of Aprill 1653. early in the morning he seazes the keys of the Parliament house Long Parliament turned out shuts up the doors and tells the Members that they must come no more there having already sate too long meriting rather punishment than applause being no other than an assembly of Whoremasters Drunkards Hypocrites Knaves and Oppressours thus was the pretence of the Parliament taken away and no face of Government visibly appearing Never was the faults of Usurpers with more bitterness laid open than now by him whom we shall shortly as transcendently to out-do them in all acts of Tyranny and Usurpation as the brightest beams of a midday sun excell the glimmering light of a midnight candle T is true as Seneca saith Nulla tam modesta est faelicitas ut malignitatis dentes vitare possit Sen. ep 3. there ever was and ever will be some murmurers at present Governours but so far were either they or he from being belyed that unless a Man do speak all that may be imagined evill he must needs fall short of their wickedness The Government being thus altered first by laying aside and murthering their lawfull Soveraign then by sifting and purging the Parliament till loosing its originall it either became as nothing or at the best but a Juncto and when it would no longer sute with Cromwells ambitious ends and soaring thoughts by turning it absolutely out of doors At last after much pretended seeking of God by dayes of humiliation Cromwell forsooth is counselled to call together an assembly of men picked out and called as fit for his design These he summons together by a Letter under his hand and seal directed to each single Man Barchones Parliament who in their way of canting admiring at the great goodness of God that had put it into the Generalls heart to select them to so great a work as the settlement of the Kingdom and to shew their skill and as an Essay of their zeal they first vote down all Tythes discourage the Ministry abuse the Universities and endeavour to abolish the law and consequently to take away all propriety By which Acts the Nation beginning to