1647. they say We clearly professe we doe not see how there can be any peace to this Kingdome firme and lasting without a due consideration of and provision for the Rights quiet and immunities of His Majesties Royall Family and His late Partakers now they judge the majority of the House corrupt for moving one step towards a peace with the King The Parliam thought it not reasonaâ—le the King should be sole Iudge of publick necessity in case of Ship-mony Return to sect is where I set downe 6. of their Principles though He hath now granted more to them then all the Armies Proposals then demanded of Him Thus they make this generall plea of necessity serve to justifie the considerations which they are put to by making themselves Judges of those things they have no calling to meddle with for by what Authority are they Judges of publique Necessity 2. This Principle Necessity is destructive to all Government for as the Generall Officer urgeth necessity for acting against the commands and Persons of his Superiours and arrogates to be Judge of that Necessity the Inferiour may urge the same Necessity in his judgement to act against the commands of his Generall The Souldiers gainst their Officers any other 20000. men in this Kingdome against this Army and this Army as against this Parliament so against any other Representative or Government and so in infinitum 3. The Commons in Parliament are not accountable for the use of their trust to any but the House The Commons have their Authority from the VVrit of Election though their electioÌ„ from the people See the VVrit Crompton's Iurisdict of Courts Tit Parliament being Trustees of the People not by Delegation but by translation all the power of the people being transferred to them for advising votinq assenting according to their judgments not according to the judgments of those that sent them for otherwise the parties electing and those elected differing in judgement one might protest against what the other had done and so make void all Acts of Parliament But if their Acts were valid or void at the Electors judgements yet were the Members onely accountable to them that sent them not to Strangers and in no case to the Army who are themselves but in subordinate trust to the Parliament for their defence 4. This violence upon the Members is not onely contrary to the Armies trust but against their Covenant and Protestation the breach whereof being a morrall evill cannot be made good by honest intentions and necessity The particulars of the said Generall Officers Answer upon which this pretended Necessity is grounded are six but we must first take notice what is said from the end of the 2. pag. to the end of the 5. before we enter upon them the summe is That by the endevors of some old Malignant Members In all nevv Elections there were 2. IndepeÌ„dents chosen for one of any other principles IndepeÌ„dents vvere theÌ„ Commissioners for the Great Seale â—â—d livered VVrits to men of their ovvne Party vvho had the advâ—ntage to keep them and chuse their ovvne time to deliver them and Souldiers under colour of keeping the peace became great Sticklers in Elections and by practises used in new Elections there came in a floud of new Burgesses that either are Malignant or Neuters To this we say what is done by the majority is the Act of the whole House and what is done against the majority is done against the whole House nor was the Ordinance for New Elections carried on by old Malignants unlesse the major part of the House were alwaies such before the new Elections It is not hard to shew that many of the Officers of the Army came in upon the last Elections where chosen by those places where they are scarce known upon what influence therefore they came in let the world judge And now for the said 6. particulars objected The Army betrayed Ireland by their disobedience They vvould neither go for Ireland themselves nor suffer others to go 1. part sect 16. 55.57 1. The betraying of Ireland into the Enemies hands by recalling the Lord Lysle from his command there and putting the best part of the said Kingdome and where the Parliament had the strongest footing Munster into the hands of Inchiquine a Natavi Irish who hath since Revolted from the Parliament hath lately united with the Irish Rebels and with them and Ormond for the King To this we say the Lord Inchiquine came in and brought Munster to the Parliament and preserved their Interest in Ireland in all the heat of their Warres in England when they had little other Interest there This Lo vvent late carried over 160000 l. for vvhich he hath not yet accounted began a quarrell vvith In hiquine put him into discontent then returned See the Irish Letters Papers to the House in print and lesse meanes to relieve them the Lord Lysle was not recalled from his Command there but his Commission for Lord Lieutenant expiring 15. April 1647. on the 17. April he hoysed sayle for England after the Lord Lysles returne for England the Lord Inchiquine did gallant service against the Rebels tooke many strong Holds from them and won the Battle of Knocke-knowes one of the greatest that ever was gotten of the Rebels The House therefore approved of his behaviour untill 3. April 1648. when the Army having led the way the Lord Inchiquine taking distast thereat by way of imitation began to enter into Engagements and Remonstrances against the Parliament as it was then constituded for which he made the Remonstrances Engagements and Declarations of the Army the Summer before both the cause and precedent as by the printed Relation doth appeare 2. Their endeavours to bring in the King upon His owne Tearms without satisfaction and security to the Kingdome viz upon His Message of the 12. of May 1647. and to this end to Disband this Army before any peace made or assured To this we say the House of Commons upon the first notice thereof voted the said Engagement of the 12. of May Treasonable by Ordinance 17. Decemb 1647. put an incapaciti upon such Citizens as had any hand in it which evidenceth we were here in a right majority as in other parts of their Paper they take the Votes of the House to prove us a corrupt majority The charge here lying in generall and not fixed upon any particular Concerning Disbanding the Army we say the House voted 8. Regiments of Foot 4. of Horse and 1. of Dragoones to be sent out of the Army for Ireland and resolved to keep 10000. Foot and 5400. Horse under Command of the Lord Fairfax for defence of England This was 1. For Relieving Ireland 2. For easing the heavy pressures of the poor People in England And 3. an honourable employment for the Forces of the Army to prevent such higst distempers as have since ensued 3. That they endeavoured to
him to contemne them both Thus putting my trust in God I put Pen to Paper and my life into the scales vvhere God I knovv holds the ballance he vvhose providence takes notice of a Sparrovv falling from the house-top vvill vvatch over me and either protect me against them or receive me from them Cromvvell and Ireton by advice of their thriving Iunto of Independents in the tvvo Houses having mutinied the Army against their Masters the Parliament 2. An Introductory Repetition See my I. Part of the History of Independency sect 7 8 9 10 11 13 14. found that crime could not be defended but by committing greater vvherefore they seized the Kings Person at Holdenby to gaine Authority vvith the People that they might the better subdue the Parliament to their lusts for the better expediting vvhereof Sect. 18 19. they courted the City of London to sit Neuters and let them vvorke their vvills vvith the Parliament vvhich Myne not taking fire they united the scismatical Party of the City and Countrey to them and all such as being guilty of publique cheats and spoyles desired the protection of the Svvord to make good their rapines and accounted all men else as Enemies applying themselves to vvooe and cajole the People easily vvrought upon as being vveary of the VVarre and of the Mis-government Factions confusions and oppressions of their nevv Masters the Parliament vvhich indeed vvere very great but aggravated by them and their Agitators beyond the truth and the vvhole vvaight of them charged upon the more moderate and innocent Party onely because they vvere their Opposites vvhereas had they set the saddle upon the right horse as sure as Iudas bore the Bagge the Independents must have rid before the Cloak bagge they being the Publicans and Sinners that handled most publique treasure The Layers on Exactors Treasurers c. of Taxes the farre more numerous and busie party in all Mony-Committees and gainfull Employments Engrossers of all great Offices and the greatest Sharers of Publique money amongst themselves for Compensations for Losses and Revvards for Services pretended and consequently that Faction vvere the greatest Dilapidators of the Common-vvealth Oppressors of the People and Authors of confusion though according to custome by an impudent fallacy called Translatio criminis the Independent faction lay their Bastards at other Mens dores making a shevv to redresse those faults in other men vvhich themselves are chiefly guilty of vvherefore the better to ingratiate themselves vvith King and People they printed and published Engagements Declarations Remonstrances Manifestoes Proposals and Petitions of their ovvne penning and sent them by their Agitators and sectary Priests into all Counties for concurrence and Subscriptions the better to steale the respects of the People from the Parliament to themselves like Absolom they flattered the People to make Addresses and Complaints against publique Grievances to them onely Boasting themselves for the sole Arbitrators of Peace Restorers of Lavves Liberty and Property Setlers of Religion Maintainers of the Priviledges of Parliament Reformers and Callers to Account of all Committees Sequestrators Treasurers c. Deliverers of the People from that intolerable Excise and other Taxes But above all Preservers of all just Interests and Restorers of the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives vvith honour freedome and safety to his Person originally their ovvne vvords Booke of Declarations of the Army pag. 112. Represent of the Army at S. Albons Iune 23. 1647. B. Decl againe p. 64 Sir Tho Fairfax's Letter to the Houses from Reading Iuly 6. 1647. B. Decl againe p. 75. Proposals of the Army Aug. 1. 1647. Putney Projects p. 1â— 14 4â— and my Animadverssions upon the Armies Remonstrance delivered to the Commons Novemb. 20. 1648. The second part of Englands Nevv Chains and the Hunting the Foxes from Nevv Market and Triplo heath to White hall by five small Beagles p. 6 7. See my Animadversions upon the Armys Remonstrance Nov. 20. 1648 and Putney Projects p. 43. and Major Huntingtons Relation in a Booke caled A plea for King and Kingdome in Answer to the Armys Remonst presented Novemb. 20. 1648. pag 14 15. 16. and Second part of England's New Chaines and the said Hunting of the Foxes c. And the Reasons inducing Major Robert Huntington to lay downe his Commission though since they Quarrell vvith Parliament City for using them Reducers of his Queen and Children vvithout vvhich they openly professe and Declare positively in many printed Papers to the vvorld and the Parliament There can be no setled peace nor happinesse to this Nation The truth of this Assertion vvas obvious to the meanest Capacities and vvill sodainly be proved by deare and lamentable experience To all these undertakings they novv hunt directly counter yet in pursuance of these undertakings the Army by their ovvne Authority made Addresses to his Majesty and presented to him more tolerable Proposals than any he could obtaine from his Parliament They treated vvith him yea they vvrought upon him under-hand to neglect the Propositions from Parliament tendered to him at Hampton-Court and to preferre the Proposals of the Army and then presuming they had him fast lymed they propounded to him anevv as I have it from good hands private Proposals for the Interest of the Independent Grandees and the Army derogatory to the Kingly Povver and Dignity to the Lavves Liberties and Properties of the Subject and destructive to Religion To vvhich his Majesty giving an utter denyall they began to entertaine nevv Designes against the Kings Person and Kingly Gouvernment vvhich they ushered in by setting the Schismaticall and Levelling Party on vvork in City and most Counties to obtrude upon the Houses clamorous Petitions against further Treaties and demanding exemplary Iustice against the King exceedingly laboured by Cromwell himselfe in Yorkeshire both amongst the Gentry and Souldiers c. amongst these the Petition Decemb. 11. 1648. vvas the most eminent these men that insolently petitioned against the fundamentall Government of the Land and Peace by Accommodation vvere entertained vvith Thanks Others that petitioned for Peace by Accommodation vvere entertained vvith Frovvns disfranchisings sequestrations vvounds and death as the Surrey Gentlemen this shevved vvith hovv little reality the over-ruling Party in the Houses Treated vvith the King 2. part of England's Chaines discovered 1. Treaty in the Isle of Wight In order to this Designe of laying aside the King and subverting Monarchy They 1. frighted his Majesty into the Isle of VVight 2. The Parliament that is the predominant Party pursued him thither vvith offer of a Treaty upon Propositions conditionally that before he should be admitted to Treat he passe 4. Dethroning Bills of so high a nature that he had enslaved the People subverted Parliaments and had made himselfe but the Statue of a King and no good Christian had he by his Royall assent passed them into Acts of Parliament 1 par Hist Ind. sect 62 63 64. and the Parliament or rather the Grandees
after his Royall assent might have made themselves Masters of all the other Propositions vvithout his Consent so that this Treaty vvas but a flourish to dazle the eyes of the vvorld His Majesty therefore denied the 4. said Bills and thereby preserved the legall Interests of King Parliament People yet the Faction presently tooke a pretence and occasion thereupon to lay aside the King Ibidem sect 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 74 75. And my said Animadvers p. 10. And the 2 part of Englands new Ch by passing 4. Votes for no more Addresses to him and a Declaration against him vvhich vvere not passed vvithout many threats and more shevv of force then stood vvith the nature of a free Parliament the Army lying neere the Tovvne to back their Party the designe having been layd before hand betvveen Sir Henry Vane Iunior Sir Iohn â—velyn of VVilts Nath â—â—â—nnes Solicitor Saint Iohns and a select Committee of the Army I told you before the People had been throughly instructed formerly by the Army and their Agitators 2. part of England's new Ch discovered p. 4 5. That there could be no peace nor happinesse in England vvithout restoring the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives c. notvvithstanding vvhich the People novv found their hopes that vvay deluded by the Army and their Party vvho had cast off the King upon private discontents the true grounds vvhereof did not appeare and had obstructed all vvayes to Peace and Accommodation and made them dangerous and destructive to such as travailed peaceably in them vvitnesse the sad example of the Surrey-men Kent Essex and all to perpetuate their great Places of povver and profit The minds of the People therefore troubled vvith apprehension that our old Lavves and laudable forme of Government should be subverted and nevv obtruded by the povver of the Svvord sutable to the lusts and Intrests of these ambitious covetous Men and finding besides evident symptomes of a nevv VVarre approaching to consume that small Remainder vvhich the last VVarres had left grevv so impatient of vvhat they feared for the future and felt at present insupportable Taxes Free-quarter insolency of Souldiers Martiall Lavv Arbitrary Government by Committees and by Ordinances of Parliament changed and executed at the vvill and pleasure of the Grandees in stead of our setled and vvell approved Lavves that despaire thrust them head long into Armes in VVales Kent Essex Pontefract c and at the same time a cloud arising in Ireland a storme povvred in from Scotland and the Prince threatning a tempest from Sea these concurrences looked so black upon the Independent Grandees that they gave vvay to a second mock-Treaty in the Isle of VVight 2 Treaty in the Isle of VVight vvhich vvas the fruit of their covvardise and subtilty as appeares by Sergeant Nickolas a Creature of theirs vvho upon Saturday Octob. 28. 1648. moved in the House That the Lord Goring might be proceeded against as a new Delinquent out of mercy because he had Cudgelled them into a Treaty though novv they attribute all to the Kings corrupt Party in the tvvo Houses the Army likevvise kept a mock-fast or day of Humiliatîon at VVindsor to acknovvledge their sinnes and implore Gods mercy for their former disobedience to the Parliament in not Disbanding and their insolent Rebellion in Marching up in a Hostile and Triumphant posture against the Parliament and City August 6. 1647. promising more obedience hereafter and to acquiesce in the judgement of the Parliament and Declared Decl. Iune 14. 1647. That it was proper for them to act in their owne sphere as Souldiers and leave State affairs to the Parliament but this vvas done but to recover the good opinion of the people and City and to keep them from stirring and to stay the moderate Party of the tvvo Houses from Declaring the Army Enemies recalling and Voting their Commissions and established Pay voyde vvhich they might have done vvith ruine to the Army and their Party in that Conjuncture of Affaires and vvith safety to themselves and applause of all honest men of England that had taken part vvith the Parliament from the beginning had not some Grandees of the rigid Presbyterian party both vvithin and vvithout the Houses some cursed thing some Achans vvedge in their bosomes vvhich suggested Their sinnes vvere greater than could be forgiven and therefore they durst not cast dovvne the partition vvall betvveen them and the King this Army though it leane so hard upon them it is ready to overvvhelme them VVarre is necessary for some men of every Faction vvhose crying sinnes peace vvill lay open and naked to the scorne derision and detestation of the vvorld Hovv vvel these sanctimonious Svvord-players of the Army have observed the Duties Undertakings of their said Humiliation let the vvorld judge Have they not returned againe vvith the Dogge to the Vomit have they not cousened God and their ovvne Soules Sure they fasted from sinne then that they might sinne vvith the more greedy appetite novv and asked God forgivenesse of the old score that they might sinne againe upon a nevv score Thus you see the 2. Treaties in the Isle of VVight vvere begotten by feare and that Idol of the Independents to vvhich they offer up all their knaveries necessity They vvere Cocatrice Eggs layd by their Grandees vvhen they had been Crovv-trodden by Armies from abroad Tumults at home See my 1. part sect 65 66 105 106 107. and the Conclusions there Sect. 16 17 18 upon vvhich they sate abrood onely to hatch Scandals and nevv quarrels against the King Anarchy and confusion to the State and Tyranny and oppression of the People to set up the Olygarchy of the Saints or Councel of State the Kingdome of the Brambles vvhich since doth scratch the vvool from off the skin the skin from off the flesh the flesh from off the bones I. have been compelled to use some introductory Repetitions in this part of my discourse that I may give you the vvhole mystery of the 2. Treaties vvith the King in the Isle of VVight vvith the causes efficient and finall of them under one vievv lest some one link of the chaine escaping your observation it become a Chaine of errors to you My first part of the History of Independency ends vvith that vvhich vvas but an unlucky preface to a Treaty vvith the King 3. Hamilton overthrovvne See my 1. part sect 136. namely Cromwel's menacing Letters to the Speaker of the House of Commons dated August 20. 1648. Relating his easie purchase of a great Victory over Duke Hamilton and Lieut. Gen. Bayly vvherein he relates the number of the Scotish Forces farre differing from the former Report of Lieut. Col. Osborne a Scotish Gentleman made in the House of Commons Iuly 20. Sect. 110 111. vvhere of I have spocten in my first part vvho to take avvay the terror of them estimated Hamiltons and Langdales conjoyned Forces to be but 10000.
it is eleven or tvvelve of the clock before they can get forty Members together to make a House of vvhich number they sometimes faile one time the Members vvould have had the Speaker go on upon businesses vvith a lesse number than forty but he knovving all so done to be illegall and void refused and yet to piece up the House they permit Mr. Blagrave Mr. Frye and Humphry Edwards to sit as Members notvvithstanding their Elections are Voted void by the Committee of Elections and one day an Officer of the Army having taken some Members going to the House and secured them in the Tobacco Roome under Guard The Speaker not being able to muster enough to make a House vvas faine to send to the said Officer to lend him his said Prisoners to make up a Free Parliament This disgrace put upon the Imprisoned Members is purposely intended as an Invitation to all their Enemies to come in and accuse them nay it can be proved that meanes hath been used to suborne VVitnesses against them besides vvhich the faction have made a strict inquisition into their lives and conversations and have hitherto met vvith nothing 25. The day after the House purged in comes Dr. Cromvvell Hen Martyn his Apothecary Thus the House being throughly purged the next day in comes the Doctor Oliver Cromwell out of the Country bringing in under his protection that sanctified Member Henry Martyn vvho had spent much time in plundering the Country had often baffled the House and disobeyed many of their Orders sufficient to have made an honest man a Malignant liable to Sequestration But great is the priviledge of the Saints It fortuned that day the case of the secured Members vvas reported to the House vvhich Harry interrupting desired them to take into consideration the deserts of the Lieutenant Generall vvhich vvith all slavish diligence vvas presently done And the Speaker moved that to morrow might be a day of Humaliation to be kept in the House to humble the Spirits of the Godly much overleavened vvith the Scotish Victory That you may the better understand hovv farre they meane to be humbled Hugh Peters the Pulpit-Buffon vvas one of their Chaplaines vvho in stead of delivering the Oracles of God delivered the Oracles of the Councell of VVarre to them talking obscurely of Accommodation and Moderation and advising them to adjourne till Monday or Tuesday I think that the Army might cut out vvork for these Iourney-men of theirs and might vvorke their vvills upon the City in the meane time vvhen no House should be sitting for the Citizens to addresse their Complaints to for in the interim they Garrisoned Black Fryars and S. Pauls reforming it from the Church of God to a Den of Thieves Stable of Horses and Brothell of VVhores and Robbed diverse Halls in London of vast summes of money by the prerogative royall of the Saints The 11. day of Decemb. 1648. 26. A Declaration of the seâ—ured and secluded Members against the violence of the Army the said secured Members published a printed Paper as follovveth A solemne Protestation of the imprisoned and secluded Members of the Commons House Against the horrid force and violence of the Officers and Souldiers of the Army on VVednesday and Thursday last the 6. 7. of Decemb. 1648. WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament above one hundred in number forcibly seized upon violently kept out of the House by the Officers and Souldiers of the Army under Thomas Lord Fairfax comming thither to discharge our duties on VVednesday and Thursday last being the 6. and 7. of this instant December doe hereby in our Names and in the Names of the respective Counties Cities and Burroughs for vvhich we serve and of all the Commons of England solemnly protest and declare to the whole Kingdome That this execrable force and open violence upon our Persons and the whole House of Commons by the Officers and Army under their command in marching up against their command and placing strong armed Guards of Horse and Foot upon them without and against their Order is the highest and most detestable force and breach of Priviledge and Freedome ever offered to any Parliament of England and that all Acts Ordinances Votes and proceedings of the said House made since the 6. of Decemb. aforesaid or hereafter to be made during our restraint and forcible seclusion from the House and the continuance of the Armies force upon it are no way obligatori but void and null to all intents and purposes And that all Contrivers of Actors in and Assistants to this unparalell'd force and treasonable armed violence are open Enemies to and professed Subverters of the Priviledges Rights and Freedome of Parliament and Disturbers of the peace and setlement of the Kingdome and ought to be proceeded against as such and that all Members of Parliament and Commoners of England by their solemne Covenant and duty under paine of deepest perjury and eternall infamy are obliged unanimously to oppose and endevour to their utmost power to bring them to exemplary and condigne punishment for this transcendent offence tending to the dissolution of the present and subversion of all future Parliaments and of the fundamentall Governement and Lawes of this Realme All which we held it our duties to declare and publish to the world for feare our stupid silence should give any tacit consent or approbation to this most detestable crime and make us guilty of betraying the Priviledges Freedome and Honour of this Parliament to our perpetuall reproach and the prejudice off all succeeding Parliaments Dated at VVestminster Decemb. 11. 1648. 27. The tame Lords and insolent Commons passe and print a Declaration against the said Declaration The said solemne Protestation of the secured Members being complained of vvas sufficiently barked at in the House of Commons and the Lords fell a barking at it too for company and at last that they might confute it vvith Authority instead of Reason both Houses passed this follovving Declaration against it The Declaration of the Lords and Commons Against the first Declaration of the secured and secluded Members THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament talking into their consideration a printed Paper entituled A solemne Protestation of the Imprisoned and secluded Members c. wherein amongst other things it is Declared That all Acts Ordinances Votes and procedings of the House of Commons made since the 6. of this instant Decemb. or hereafter to be made during their restraint and forcible seclusion from the House and the continuance of the Armies force upon it are no vvay obligatory but void and null to all intents and purposes The present visible Government is the Power of the Sword in the hands of Rebels The fundamentall Government of this Kingdome is destroyed by the remaining faction in the Ho. of Commons by their Acts For abolishing Kingly-Government The House of Peers their putâ—ing dovvne Trials by Iury of 12 mâ—n and setting
to his Officers to know what they had against him Who it seemes act all things without his privity and steere all the Armies present counsels and designes according to their absolute wills The publique Declaration and Protestation of William Pryn of Lincolnes Iune Esquire Against his present Restraint and the present destructive Councels and Iesuiticall proceedings of the Generall Officers and Army I William Pryn a Member of the House of Commons and Free-man of England who have formerly suffer'd 8. years Imprisonment four of them close three in exile three Pillories the losse of my Eares Calling Estate for the vindicating of the Subjects just Rights and Liberties against the arbitrary tyranny and 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 freedome 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 publick services Doe here solemely 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 reall grounds of Religion Conscience Iustice Law prudence and right reason for the speedy and effectuall setlement of the peace and safety of our three distracted bleeding dying Kingdomes on Monday Dec. 4. I was on Wednesday morning following the 6 of this instant going to the House to discharge my duty on the Parliament staires next the Commons dore forcibly seized upon by Col. Pride Sir Hardresse Waller and other Officers of the Army who had then beset the House with strong Guards and whole Reg of Horse and Foot haled violently thence into the 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 forcibly detained Prisoner with other Members there restained 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 other accommodations contrary to the known Priviledges of Parl. the fundamentall Laws of the Realm and liberty of the Subject which both Houses the 3. Kingdoms the Generall with all Officers and Soldiers of the Army are by soleme Covenant and duty obliged inviolably to maintaine Since which I have without any lawfull power or authority been removed and kept Prisoner in severall places put to great expences debarred the liberty of my Person calling and denied that hereditary freedome which belongs to me of right both as a Free-man a Member an eminent sufferer for the publike a Christian by these who have not the least shadow of authority or justice to restraine me and never yet objected the least cause for this my unjust restraint I do therefore hereby publickly protest against all these their proceedings as the highest usurpation of an arbitrary and tyrannicall power the greatest breach of faith trust Covenant priviledges of Parliam and most dangerous encroachment on the Subjects liberties and Law 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 freedome in all their Remonstrances whiles they are triumphantly trampling them all under their armed iron feet And doe further hereby appeal to and 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 lesse tyrannicall oppressive unjust and fedifragus to God and men than themselves And doe moreover remonstrate that all their present exorbitant actings against the King Parl. present Government their new modled Representative are nothing else but the designs projects of Iesuits Popish Priests and Recusants who bear chief sway in their Councels to destroy and subvert our Religion Lawes Liberties Government Magistracy Ministry the present and all future Parl. the King his Posterity and our 3. Kingdomes yea the Generall Officers and Army themselves and that with speedy and inevitable certainty to betray them all to our forraigne Popish Enemies and give a just occasion to the Prince and Duke now in the Papists power to alter their Religion and engage them and all forraigne Princes and Estates to exert all their power to suppresse and extirpate the Protestant Religion and Professors of it through all the world which these unchristian scandalous treacherous rebellious tyrannicall Iesuiticall disloyall bloudy present Counsels and exorbitances of this Army of Saints so much pretending to piety and justice have so deeply wounded scandalized and rendred detestable to all pious carnall morall men of all conditions All which I am and shall alwaies be ready to make good before God Angels Men and our whole three Kingdomes in a free and full Parliament upon all just occasions and seale the truth of it with the last drop of my dearest bloud In witnesse whereof I have hereunto subscribed my Name at the Signe of the Kings-head in the Strand Decemb. 26. 1648. William Pryn. 51. The Councell of War forbid all state and ceremony to the King From Dec. 25. to 1. Ianuary Num. 283. 27. Decemb. The Councell of Warre who manage the businesse in relation to the King saith the Diurnall ordered That all state and ceremony should be forborne to the King and his Attendants lessened to mortifie him by degrees and worke Him to their desires 52. Cromwels Sp. in the Ho when it was first propounded to trie the King When it was first moved in the House of Commons to proceed capitally against the King Cromwell stood up and told them That if any man moved this upon designe he should thinke him the greatest Traytour in the world but since providence and necessity had cast them upon it he should pray God to blesse their Councels though he were not provided on the sudaine to give them counsel this blessing of his proved a curse to the King 53. The Ordinance for electing Com Councel men confirmed 28. Decemb. was brought into and read in the House an Ordinance explaining the former Ordinance for electing Common-Councel-men which confirmed the former Ordinance It was referred back againe to the said Committee to consider of taking away the illegall as they please to miscall them Oathes of Allegiance Supremacy and other Oathes usually administred to Officers Free-men c. of the City The 28. Decemb. Tho Scot brought in the Ordinance for Triall of the King it was read and recommitted three severall times 54. The Ordinance for Triall of His Majesty passed
and the Lords concurrence rejected The 16. Ian. 1648. was passed an Act of the Commons for adjournment of Hillary Terme for forty daies This was in order to the Kings Triall but the Commissioners of the Great Seale declared That they could not agree to seale Writs of Adjournment without the Lords concurrence the assent of one Lord being requisie their tame Lordships sent downe to the Commons to offer their readinesse to joyne therein But the Commons having formerly Voted The Supreme Power to be in themselves as the Peoples Representative and that the Commons in every Committee should be empowered to Act without the Lords The Question was put Whether the House would concurre with the Lords herein which passed in the Negative so the Lords were not owned Afterwards they ordered that the Commoners Commissioners for the Great Seale should issue forth Writs without the Lords 78. The Agreement of the People presented to the House of Commons by the Officers of the Army Diurnall from Ian. 15. to 22. 1648. nu 286. 20. Ianuary Lieut. Generall Hammond with many Officers of the Army presented to the Commons from the Generall and Councell of the Army a thing like a Petition with The Agreement of the People annexed Mr. Speaker thanking them desired them to returne the hearty thanks of the House to the Generall and all his Army for their gallant services to the Nation and desired the Petition and Agreement should be forthwith printed to shew the good affection between the Parliament and Army I cannot blame them to brag of this affection being the best string to their bowe About this time some wel-meaning man that durst think truth in private published his thoughts under the Title of Six serious Quaeries 79. 6. Que es concerning the Kings Triall by the nevv High Court of Iustice concerning the Kings Triall by the High Court of Iustice 1. Whether a King of three distinct Kingdoms can be condemned executed by one Kingdom alone without the concurrent consent or against the judgement of the other two 2. Whether if the King be indicted or arraignd of high Treason he ought not to be tried by his Peers whether those who are now nominated to trie him or any others in the Kingd be his Peers 3. Whether if the King be triable in any Court for any Treason against the Kingdome He ought not to be tried onely in full Parliament in the most solemne and publique manner before all the Members of both Houses in as honourable a way as Strafford was in the beginning of this Parliament And whether He ought not to have liberty and time to make His full defence and the benefit of his learned Counsell in all matters of Law that may arise in or about his Triall or in demurring to the jurisdiction of this illegall new Court as Strafford and Canterbury had 4. Whether one eight part only of the Members of the Commōs House meeting in the House under the Armies force when all the rest of the Members are forcibly restained secluded or scared away by the Armies violence and representing not above one eight part of the Counties Cities Boroughs of the Kingdome without the consent against the Vote of the majority of the Members excluded and chased away and of the House of Peeres by any pretext of Authority Law or Justice can erect a New great Court of Justice to Trie the King in whom all the rest of the Members Peeres and Kingdome being far the major part have a greater interest then they Whether such an High Court can be erected without an Act of Parl or at least an Ordin of both Houses and a Commission under the Great Seal of England And if not whether this can be properly called a Court of Justice and whether it be superiour or inferiour to those who erected it who either cannot or dare not trie and codemn the King in the Com House though they now style it The Supreme Authority of the Kingdom whether all who shall sit as Judges or act as Officers in it towards the Deposing or taking away the Kings life be not realy guilty of High Treason and all those who were aiding or assenting to the erection thereof in such an irregular manner by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme 5. Whether those who are professed Enemies to the King by their Remonstrances Speeches actions professe they desire his bloud seek his life can either in Law or Conscience be reputed competent Judges to trie him for his life It being a just exception to any Jury-man who is to trie the basest or poorest Felon and a legall challence for which he must be withdrawne that he is a professed Enemy and Prosecutor who seeks his life and therefore no lawfull nor indifferent Trier of him for it 6. Whether the triall and taking away of the Kings life by such an illegall and arbitrary High Court of Iustice as this will not prove a most dangerous inlet to the absolutest tyranny and bloudiest butchery ever yet heard of or practised in this or any other Nation a ready way to teach us how to chop off one anothers heads till we are all destroyed For if they may take away the Kings head in it without and against all rules of Law then by the same or stronger reason they may in like manner chop off the heads of any Noblemā Peere Member Gentleman or inferiour Subject for any imaginary treason or offence and confiscate their Estates The Ansvver of the Generall Councell of Officers touching the secluded Members Ian. 3. 1648. there being no assurance they will stop at the Kings And if those who are confessed to be the majority of the Com House therefore excluded or the Prince of Wales next Heir to the Crown or the Malignant party or any other Faction whatsoever which may arise should at any time hereafter get the upper-hand by the Peoples general adhering to them or any divisions of the Army or by any meanes Gods providence should administer who hath thousands of wayes to pull downe the proudest Tyrants dissipate the strongest Armies in a moment as he did Senacharibs the Midianites the Moabites and Ammonites with sundry others recorded in sacred Writ and prophane Stories and the Scots Army but few months since they may by like authority and president erect the like new Court to cut off the heads of all the Members now sitting and of the present Generall Councell of the Army and all the Commissioners acting in this new Court and so fall a murthering and butchering one another till we were all destroyed one by another and made a spectacle of most unnaturall tyranny and cruelty to the whole world Angels and Men and a prey to our common Enemies Upon which consideration let every man now seriously lay his hand upon his owne breast sadly consider what the bloudy tragicall issue of this new Phaleris Bull may prove to him or his
more than My owne particular ends makes Me now at last desire that I having something to say that concerns both I desire before Sentence be given that I may be heard in the Painted Chamber before the Lords and Commons this delay cannot be prejudiciall to you whatsoever I say if that I say no reason those that heare Me must be Iudges I cannot be Iudge of that that I have if it be reason and really for the welfare of the Kingdome and the liberty of the Subject I am sure its very well worth the hearing therefore I doe conjure you as you love that which you pretend I hope its reall the Liberty of the Subject and peace of the Kingdome that you will grant Me this hearing before any Sentence passed but if I cannot get this liberty I doe protest that your faire shewes of Liberty and Peace are pure shewes and that you will not heare your King The President said This was a declining the Iurisdiction of the Court and a delay Yet the Court vvithdrevv for half an hovver advised upon it and sate againe Bradshaw said to the King That the Court had considered what He had moved and of their owne Authority the returne from the Court is this That they have been too much delayed by You already and they are Judges appointed by the highest Authority and Judges are no more to delay than they are to deny justice and notvvithstanding vvhat You have offered they are resolved to proceed to Sentence and to Judgement that is their unanimous resolution The King pressed againe againe that He might be heard by the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber with great earnestnesse and was as often denied by Bradshaw at last the King desired that this Motion of His might be entered Bradshaw began in a long Speech to declare the Grounds of the Sentence much aggravating the Kings offences and misapplying both Law and History to his present purpose When Bradshaw had done speaking the Clerk read the Sentence drawn up in Parchment to this effect 84. The Sentence against His Majesty THat whereas the Commons of England in Parliament had appointed them an high Court of Iustice for the Trial of Charls Stuart King of England before whom He had been three times Convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other high crimes and misdemeanors was read in behalfe of the Kingdome of England c. * Here the Clerk read the aforesaid Charge Which Charge being read unto Him as aforesaid He the said Charls Stuart was required to give His Answer but He refused so to doe and so expressed the severall passages at His Tryall in refusing to Answer For all which Treasons and crimes this Court doth adjudge That He the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytour Murtherer and a publique Enemy shall be put to Death by severing of His Head from His Body After the Sentence read the President said This Sentence now read and published it is the Act Sentence Iudgement and resolution of the whole Court Here the whole Court stood up as assenting to what the President said King Will you heare Me a word Sir Bradshaw Sir You are not to be heard after the Sentence King No Sir Bradshaw No. Sir by your favour Sir Guard withdraw your Prisoner King I am not suffered to speak expect what Iustice other people will have These are the Names of such Persons as did actually sit as Judges upon the Tryall of His Majesty with the Councel and Attendants of the Court. Oliver Cromwel Lieu. Generall Com. Gen. Ireton Major Gen. Skippon Sir Hardresse Waller Colonel Thomas Harrison Col. Edward Whalley Col. Thomas Pride Col. Isaac Ewer Col. Rich Ingolsby Sir Henry Mildmay Thomas Lord Grey Philip Lord Lisle Will Lord Munson Sir John Danvers Sir Tho Maleverer Sir John Bowcher Sir James Harringtoâ— Sir William Brereton Will Hennigham Es Isaac Pennington Ald Thomas Atkins Ald Col. Rowland Wilson Sir Peter Wentworth Col. Henry Martyn Col. William Purefoy Col. Godfrey Bosvill Colonel John Berkstead Sir Will Cunstable Col. Edward Ludlow Col. Jo Hutchingson Col. Rob Titchburne Col. Owen Roe Col. Adriaen Scroop Col. John Oky Col. John Harrison Col. John Desborough Cornelius Holland Es Miles Corbet Esq Francis Allen Esq Peregrin Pelham Esq John Gourdon Esq Serj. Francis Thorp Tho Challoner Esq Col. John Moore John Aldred Esq Col. Francis Lassels Henry Smith Esq James Chaloner Esq Dennes Bond Esq Humph Edwards Esq Gregory Clement Esq John Fray Esq Tho Wogan Esq Sir Greg Norton Serj. John Bradshaw Col. Edm Harvey John Dove Esq Col. John Venn John Foulks Alder Thomas Scot. Tho Andrewes Ald William Cauwley Esq Col. Anthony Stapley John Liste Esq John Corbet Esq Thomas Elunt Esq Thomas Boone Esq Col. George Fleetwood Col. James Temple Sir Peter Temple Col. Thomas Wayte John Browne Esq Mr. Bradshaw nominated President Counsellours assistant to this Court and to dravv up the Charge against the KING are Doctor Dorislaus Master Aske Master Cooke Serjeant Dandy Serjeant at Armes Mr. Phileps Clerke to the Court. Messengers and Dore-keepers are Master VValford M. Radley M. 〈◊〉 M. Pâ—vvell Mr. Hull and M. King Cryer 85. Observations upon the Tryall of His Majesty This is a Relation of his Majesties Tryall by a mixed Court of Justice erected by 50. or 60. Confederate Members of the House of Commons sitting under the power of the Army after all the rest of the Members above 250. had been violently secured secluded frighted away And in order to this designe against the King the House of Peers voted downe and yet the House of Commons when intire is no Court of Judicature nor can give an Oath Had indifferent men been permitted to take Notes you had had a more perfect narrative yet as it is truth shines forth to the confusion of this bloudy cheating tyrannicall faction could they have wrought the King to have submitted to the Jurisdiction of this Arbitrary Court His example should have been urged as an irrefragable Precedent against the lives and liberties of the whole Kingdome and urged to be of as great Authority as if He had established that Court by Act of Parliament So that the King is to be looked on as a Civill Martyr dying for the Liberty of the People And although they have failed of this device yet they will have some other Arbitrary bloudy Inquisition to cut off the lives without Law of such as they desire to remove without which this Tyrannous Kingdome of the Saints or Brambles cannot subsist And therefore on Thursday 2. Februarij Cromwell and Ireton and their Canniball Counsell of Officers projected to get an Act passed by their House of Commons where all their Requests are Commands to enable the said Councell to hang all such as they shall adjudge Disturbers of the Army 1. Part of Englands lyberty in Chaines sub fine And the Hunting of the Foxes c although no Members of the Army they must
from those their treasonable practises and tyrannicall usurpations which We cordially desire and entreat them by all obligations of love and respect they have to God Religion their King Country and Posterity timely to doe We doe hereby denounce and declare them to be Traytors and publique Enemies both to the King and Kingdome and shall esteem and prosecute them with all their wilfull Adherents and voluntary Assistants as such and endeavour to bring them to speedy and condigne Punishment according to the Solemne League and Covenant wherein We trust the whole Kingdome all those for whom We serve and the Lord of Hosts himself to whom We have sworne and lifted up our hands hearts and fervent prayers will be aiding and assisting to us and all our Brethren of Scotland and Ireland who are united and conjoyned with us in Covenant to our GOD and Allegiance to our Soveraigne King CHARLES the Second who we trust will make good all His destroyed Fathers Concessions which really concerne our peace or safety and secure Us against all force and tyranny of our Fellow-subjects who now contrary to their Trusts and former Engagements endeavour by the meer power of that Sword which was purposely raised for the protection of our Persons Government Religion Laws Liberties the KING 's Royall Person and Posterity and the Priviledges of Perliament to Lord it over Us at their pleasure and enthrall and enslave Us to their armed violence and lawlesse martiall wills which we can no longer tolerate nor undergoe after so long fruitlesse and abused patience in hope of their repentance 109. A Paper entituled Foure true Positions c. About the same time came out another Paper entituled ⧠Foure true and considerable Positions for the sitting Menbers the new Cours of Iustice and new Iudges Sheriffs Officers Lawyers Iustices and others to ruminate upon 1. THat the whole House of Commons in no Age had any Power Right or Lawfull Authority to make any Valid or binding Act or Ordinance of Parliament or to impose any Tax Oath Forfeiture or capitall punishment upon any Person or Free-man of this Realme without the Lords or Kings concurrent assents much lesse then can a small remnant onely of the Members of that House doe it sitting under an armed force which nulls and vacates all their Votes and procedings as the Ordinance of 20. August 1647. declares whilst most of their Fellow-Members are forcibly detained and driven thence as Mr. St. Iohn proves in his Speech concerning Ship-mony p. 33. and in his Argument concerning the Earle of Strafford's Attainder p. 70. 71. 76. 77. 78. and Sir Edw. Coke in his 4. Instit c. 1. 2. That the few Members now sitting in and the House of Commons being no Court of Iustice of it selfe and having no power to heare and determine any civill or criminall Causes nor to give an Oath in any case whatsoever cannot by the Lawes and Statutes of the Realm nor by any pretext of authority whatsoever erect any new Court of Iustice nor give power or authority to any new Iudges Iustices or Commissioners to arraigne trie condemn or execute any Subject of meanest quality for any reall or pretended crime whatsoever much lesse their owne Soveraigne Lord the King or any Peers of this Realme who ought to be tried by their Peers and by the Law of the Land alone and not otherwise And that the condemning and executing the King or any Peere or other Subject by pretext of such an illegall Authority is no lesse than High Treason and wilfull Murther both in the Members the Commissioners Iudges or Iustices giving and executing Sentence of Death in any such arbitrary and lawlesse void Court or by vertue of any such void illegall Commissions 3. That the House of Commons and Members now sitting have no power nor authority to make or alter the Great Seale of England or grant any Commissions to any Commissioners Iudges Sheriffs Justices of the Peace or any other That all the Commissions granted by them under their New or any other Seale are meerly void illegall and all the new Writs and proceedings in Law or Equity before any Iudges Iustices Sheriffs or other Officers made by them meerly void in Law to all intents coram non judice 4. That the deniall of the KING's Title to the Crowne and plotting the meanes to deprive Him of it or to set it upon anothers Head is High Treason within the Stature of 25. Ed. 3. ch 2. And that the endeavouring to subvert the Fundamentall Lawes and Government of the Realme of England by King Lords and Commons and to introduce a tyrannicall or arbitrary Government against Law is High Treason at the Common Law especially in Iudges and Lawyers not taken away by any Statute Both which Mr St. Iohn in his Argument at Law concerning the Bil of attainder of high Treason of Tho E. of Strafford published by order of the Com House An. 1641. p. 8. 14. to 33. 64. to 78. And in his Speech at a Conference of both Houses of Parl concerning Ship mony An. 1640. hath proved very fully by many reasons and presidents and Coke in his 7. Report f. 10 11 12. 3. Instit c. 1. That the Commons now sitting in making a new Great Seale without the Kings Jmage or Style in granting new illegall Commissions to Iudges Justices of Peace Sheriffs and other Officers in the name of Custodes Angliae in the generall in omitting and altering the Kings Name Style and Title in Writs Processe Indictments and proceedings at the Common Law and thereby indeavouring to Dis-inherit the Prince now lawfull King by and since his Fathers bloody murther and to alter and subvert the Fundamentall Lawes and Government of the Realme by such Commissions and proceedings and by the power of an Army to enforce them and the Iudges Iustices Sheriffs and other Officers who accept of such Commissions and all those especially Lawyers who voluntarily assist consent and submit to such Commissions and Alterations by such usurped illegall Authority and the Commissioners sitting in the New Courts of Justice are most really guilty of both these high * Whereupon six Judges refused to accept any new Commissions or to act as Iudges Treasons in which there are no Accessories and lesse excusable than Strafford or Canterbury whom some of these new Iudges and sitting Members impeached and prosecuted to death for those very Treasons themselves now act in a more apparent and higher degree than they and in respect of their Oaths Covenant Callings and Places are more obliged to maintaine the Kings Title the Fundamentall Lawes and Government the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdome and Parliament then they and therefore if they persevere therein may justly expect the self-same capitall punishments they underwent if not farre worse especially since they attempt to reduce the antientest Kingdom of all Christendom into the puniest and most contemptible State in all the World and thereby to render us the
they are become Masters Usurpers of the name of the Army of the name of the Parliament under which Visors they have levelled destroyed all the Authority of this Nation for the Parliament indeed in truth is no Parliament but a Representative Glasse of the Coūcell of Warre and the Councell of Warre but a Representative of Cromwell Ireton and Harrison and these are the All in All of the Nation which under the guises and names of Parliament Army Generall Councell High Court and Councell of State play all the strange pranks that are played And further p. 13. The conclave of Officers have sucked in the venome of all former corrupt Courts and Interests the High Commission Starre-Chamber the House of Lords the King and his privy Councell are all alive in that Court called The Generall Councell of the Army 1. The King stood upon it That He was accountable to none but God The House by Vote 5. Dec. 16. 8 voted the King's Concessions a ground c. And the Army secured expelled 250. Members for using liberty to vote according to their consciences and over-ruled those fevv they left sitting to unvote in a thin House vvhat vvas voted in a full House this is more than to usurp a Negative Voice over them returne to sect 18. 23. 28. that He was above the Parliament and People and to whom will these men be accountable to none on earth and are they not above the Parliament they have even a Negative Voice thereover formerly the Commons could passe nothing without the House of Lords and now they dare passe nothing without the concurrence of the conclave of Officers we were formerly ruled by King Lords and Commons now by a Generall Court Martiall and House of Commons what is the difference the Lords were not Members both of the House of Peers and of the House of Commons but the Officers our martiall Lords are Members both in the House or Councell of Officers and in the House of Commons we have not the change of a Kingdome to a Common-wealth we are onely under the old cheat A transmutation of Names but with the addition of new Tyrannies for casting out one uncleane Spirit they have brought with them in his stead seven other uncleane Spirits more wicked than the former and they have entered in and dwell there and the last state of this Common-wealth is worse than the first Lastly they set downe some illegall proceedings and Examinations before the Councell of Warre exceeding the High Commission and Starre-Chamber 127. The Authors censure of the Levellers These three Books shew the late endeavours of the Agitators and that party which the Grandees politickly mis-call to cast an odium upon them Levellers they are the truest Assertors of humane liberty and the most constant and faithfull to their Principles party of any in the Army though they have many redundancies and superfluous Opinions fit to be pruned off by conversing with discreet honest Men or rather by a discreet just publique Authority which I am confident is feasible since their principles concenter in the publique not in their owne private Interest and Opinions and are no otherwaies changable than conduceth with the emergent occasions of the Commō-wealth yet they are but like the water-boughs of a healthy fruit Tree rather troublesom than dangerous whereas the designes of their Antagonists like rocks under water or poyson in well-cooked meat destroy before they are discovered 128. The Authors censure of His Majesties Posthumus vvorke entituled The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majesty in His Solitudes and Sufferings About this time arose a Phoenix out of His Majesties Ashes that most excellent Issue of His Brayne entituled THE POURTRAICTURE OF HIS SACRED MAIESTY IN HIS SOLITUDES AND SUFFERINGS A Book full fraught with wisdome Divine and Humane shewing Him to be more than Conquerour of His Enemies in His rare Christian patience and charity the very reading of it aggravateth our losse of so Gracious and excellent a Prince that had learned the whole method of humane perfection in the schoole of adversity Herod and his Iewes never persecuted Christ in his swadling-clouts with more industrious malice then the Antimonarchicall Independent Faction this Book in the Presses 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 forme of VVrits for Elections changed The Commons assented to a new Forme 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 Foot they thought sit to be kept up for the service of England and Ireland 103. A nevv establishment for the Army reported to the House from our nevv Masters the Councell of State and the Monthly charge which estimated comes 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 Chaines saith We shal 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 worke of a thorow Reformation in our purses as well as they have done in the Church 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 thiter 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 breake our hearts with popetry and make them take what impressions of slavery they please to set upon them this Conventicle of State will engrosse all the Coyne Treasure of the Land into their owne hands then subdue us therewith 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 approacheth which their barbarous and illegall Sequestrations unstocking mens Farmes 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 than by the Sword in order to which they have destroyded the Trade of the City undone multitudes of Trades-men who being disabled to pay their Taxes the Army cause all their Arreares to be leavied upon the City by a new Tax upon the rest of the Inhabitants the Ourlandlords and when Cromwell was told this would undoe the City He answered It was no matter the more were undone the more would
of Commons nay this very Act denounceth slavery and bondage to the Nation and therefore is an Act of the highest tyranny and a snare 158. The Levellers Randezvous in Oxford-shire May 6. 1649. The honest Levellers of the Army for that is the Nick-name vvhich Cromwell falsly and unchristianly hath christned them vvithall Enemies to Arbitrary Government tyranny and oppression vvhether they find it in the Government of one or many vvhether in a Councel of Officers a Councel of State or a fag end of a House of Commons vvhether it vayle it selfe vvith the Title of a Supreme Authority or a Legislative povver drevv together to a Randezvouz about Banbury in Oxfordshire to the number of 4000 or 5000. others resorting to them dayly from other parts This gave an Alarme to our Grandees fearing the dovvnfall of their domination Cromwell not knovving vvhat Party to dravv out against them that vvould be stedfast to him shunned the danger and put his property the Generall upon it to oppose the Randezvouz and looking as vvan as the guilles of a sick Turkey-cock marched forth himselfe VVestvvard to intercept such as drevv to the Randezvouz In the meane time the said Levellers printed and published this ensuing Paper entituled Englands Standard advanced or A Declaration from Mr. VVill Thompson and the oppressed People of this Nation now under his conduct in Oxford-shire Dated at their Randezvouz May 6. 1649. WHereas it is notorious to the whole world that neither the Faith of the Parliament nor yet the Faith of the Army formerly made to the People of this Nation in behalf of their Common Right Freedome and Safety hath been at all observed or made good but both absolutely declined and broken and the People onely served with bare words and faire promising Papers and left utterly destitute of all helpe or delivery And that this hath principally been by the prevalency and treachery of some eminent Persons now domineering over the People is most evident The Solemne Engagement of the Army at New-market and Triploe-heaths by them destroyed the Councell of Agitators dissolved the blood of War shed in time of Peace Petitioners for Common Freedome suppressed by force of Arms and Petitioners abused and terrified the lawfull Triall by 12 sworn Men of the Neighbourhood subverted and denied bloody and tyrannicall Courts called an high Court of Justice and a Councell of State erected the power of the Sword advanced and set in the Seat of the Magistrates the Civill Lawes stopt and subverted and the Military introduced even to the hostile seizure imprisonment tryall sentence and execution of death upon divers of the Free People of this Nation leaving no visible Authority devolving all into a factious Juncto and Councell of State usurping and assuming the name stamp and Authority of Parliament to oppresse torment and vex the People whereby all the lives liberties and estates are all subdued to the Wills of those Men no Law no Justice no Right or Freedome no case of Grievances no removall of unjust barbarous Taxes no regard to the cries and groanes of the poore to be had while utter beggery and famine like a mighty torrent hath broke in upon us and already seized upon severall parts of the Nation Wherefore through an inavoidable necessity no other meanes left under Heaven we are enforced to betake our selves to the Law of Nature to defend and preserve our selves and Native Rights and therefore are resolved as one Man even to the hazard and expence of our lives and fortunes to indeavour the redemption of the Magistracy of England from under the force of the Sword to vindicate the Petition of Right to set the unjustly imprisoned free to relieve the poore and settle this Common-wealth upon the grounds of Common Right Freedome and Safety Be it therefore known to all the free People of England and to the whole world that chusing rather to die for Freedome than live as Slaves We are gathered and associated together upon the bare accompt of English-men with our Swords in our hands to redeem our selves and the Land of our Nativity from slavery and oppression to avenge the blood of War shed in the time of Peace to have justice for the blood of M. Arnold Schot to death at Ware and for the blood of M. Robert Lockyer and divers others who of late by Martiall Law were murthered at London And upon this our Engagement in behalf of the Common-wealth We doe solemnly agree and protest That we will faithfully laying all self respects aside endeavour the actuall reliefe setlement of this distressed Nation And that all the world may know particularly what wee intend and wherein particularly to center and acquiesce for ever not to recede or exceed the least punctilio We do declare from the integrity of our hearts that by the help might of God we will endeavour the absolute setlement of this distracted Nation upon that forme and Method by way of an Agreement of the People tendered as a Peace-offering by Lieut. Colonel John Lilburne Mr. Will Walwyn Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. Rich Overton bearing date May 1. 1649. the which we have annexed to this our Declaration as the Standard of our Engagement thereby owning every part and particular of the Premises of the Agreement promising and resolving to the utmost hazard of our Lives and Abilities to pursue the speedy and full Accomplishment thereof and to our power to protect and defend all such as shall Assent or Adhere thereunto And particularly for the Preservation Deliverance of L. Col. John Lilburne M. Will Walwyn Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. Richard Overton Captaine Bray and Mr. William Sawyer from their barbarous and illegall Imprisonments And wee Declare That if a haire of their heads perish in the hands of those Tyrants that restraine them That if God shall enable us we will avenge it seventy times seven fold upon the heads of the Tyrants themselves and their Creatures And that till such time as by Gods Assistance we have procured to this Nation the Declared purpose of this our Engagement we will not Divide nor Disband nor suffer our selves to be Divided or Disbanded resolving with sobernesse and civility to behave our selves to the Country to wrong nor abuse any man to protect all to our power from violence and oppression in all places where we come resolving to stop the payment of all Taxes or Sessements whatsoever as of Excise Tythes and the Tax of Ninety thousand pounds per mensem And having once obtained a New Representative according to the said Agreement upon such Terms and Limitations therein expressed We shall then freely lay down our Armes and returne to our severall Habitations and Callings And concernings the equity necessity justice of our undertaking We appeale to the judgement of the oppressed betwixt their Destroyers and Vs Whether by the law of God of Nature and Nations it be not equally justifiable in us to engage for the Safety and Deliverance of
Minstred to me and doe renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary 11. To dispence with our Protestation and Covenant so Zealously enjoyned by both Houses on all sorts of People 12. To dispose of the Forts Ships Forces Offices and places of Honour Power Trust or Profit to whom they please to their own Party 13. To Displace and Remove whom they please from their Offices Trusts Pensions Callings and Franchises at their pleasures without any Legall cause or Tryall 14. To make what New Acts Lawes and Reverse what Old ones they think meet to ensnare and inthrall our Consciences Estates Liberties and Lives 15. To create new monstrous Treasons never heard of before and to declare Reall Treasons against the King Kingdome and Parliament to be no Treasons and Loyalty Allegeance due obedience to our known Lawes and a Conscientious observing our Oathes of Allegance and Supremacy and the Covenant to be no lesse then High Treason for which they may take away our Lives and confiscate our Estates to their new Exchequer Thereby at once repealing Magna Charta c. 29. 5 Edw 3. c. 6. 25 Edw. 3. c. 4. 28 Edw. 3. c. 3. 37 Edw. 3. c. 18. 42 Edw. 3. c. 3. 25. Edw. 3. c. 2. 11 Rich. 2. c. 4. 1 Hen. 4. c. 10. 2 Hen. 4. Rot. Parl. 11. n. 60. 1 Edw. 6. c. 12. 1. M. c. 1. The Petition of Right 3 Car. So much commended this Parliament and laying all our Lawes Liberties Estates and Lives waste after they have drawne so much Bloud and Treasure from us in defence of them 16. To raise and keep up what forces by Land and Sea they please and impose what Taxes they please and renew increase and perpetuate them to support their more then Regall or Parliamentary power 17. To pack and shuffle themselves into a Councell of Lords This 17. is added by the Abridger States Generall without any provinciall States 40. Hogens Mogens with Supream Regall and Arbitrary power in absence of Parliaments which are Abolished by these Usurpations as well as Monarchy 4. The principall ends proposed in the pretend Act for imposing this 90000 l. a moneths Tax oblige all men not to pay it viz. The keeping up this Army under the Lord Fairfax 1. Because this Army by Rebelling against their Masters the Parliament and waging Warre upon them and by conspiring with their owe party of the sitting Commons have occasioned all the Mischiefs last mentioned to the ruine of King Parliament and Kingdome Religion Lawes Liberty and Property and daily threaten an utter dissolution both in their Deeds and Words Both Officers and Souldiers Boasting That the whole Kingdome and all we have is theirs by Conquests Tbat we are but their Conquered Slaves and Vassals and they Lords of the Kingdome That our Lives are at their Mercy and Courtesie That when they have gotten all we have from us by Taxes and Free-quarter they will seize our Lands and turne Vs and our Families out of Dores That there is no Law in England but the Sword as Hugh Peters the Rebels Apostle saith The present power must be obeyed saith parasiticall Iohn Goodwin that is the power of the Sword still More hath been raised by Taxes these last eight years then in all the Kings Raignes since the Conquest and no account given 2. No Tax ought to be imposed but upon necessity for good of the People 25 Edw. 1. chap. 6 Cookes 2. Instit pag. 528. But the keeping up this Army is the Bane of the People 1. Because they are already exhausted with Warre Plunder Taxes Free-quarter c. 2. Because the Souldiers have decayed Trade and brought a Dearth upon the Land 3. This Tax of 90000 l. a Moneth destroyed Trade by Forestalling and Engrossing most of the Money now left in the Kingdome 4. There is no Enemy in the Kingdome visible nor no fear of any if we will believe our Grandees 5. When the King had two Armies in the Field and many Garrisons this whole Army consisted but of 22000. Men and had an Established pay but of 45000 l. a Moneth See Ordinances 15. Feb. 1644. and 6. Aprill 1646. Exact Collect. pag. 599. 876. But when the Army by confederacy with their Party in the House took the boldnesse to encrease their number without Order 60000 l. a Moneth was thought abundantly sufficient to pay the Army and take off Free-quarter and why this Tax should now be raised to 90000 l. a Moneth when sundry Regiments of it are Assigned for Ireland and yet Free-quarter continued is a mystery of Iniquity which fills the Saints Pockets with Money and all the World with Wonder 6. The Counties Militia so much contended for with the King would better defend the Kingdome from Forraign Invasions then a Mercinary Army Therefore there is neither necessity nor publique utility in keeping up this Army or raising Taxes to maintaine them or pay their pretended Arreares The Free-quarter they have taken in kind and leavyed in Money will treble their Arreeres and make them much indebted to the Country Thus farre and much farther Master Pryn whose whole Booke at large I commend to all mens serious perusall The Marquesse of Ormonds happy atchievements in Ireland beginning to look formidably 204. Cromwell sets sayle for Ireland had cooled the hcat of K. Olivers courage though not of his Liver insomuch that he and his intimate Friends began to project how without losse of reputation to take him off from so desperate an Engagement as at that time that seemed to be unnecessary delaies were used in Shipping his Men. Hasterigge and his Party reported great terrours from Scotland Oliver and his Bloud-hounds of the Faction made a shift to smell out a silly Plot in Dorset-shire for surprisall of Weymouth and Portland for the KING now laughed at and exploded by their owne New-books And the tender-conscienced Brethren were prompted to apprehend their owne dangers and put into a Petitioning posture That such a Worthy of Israel such a chosen Instrument of Gods mercy might not in a time of danger leave the Land of his Nativity the Habitation of the Saints to seeke foraigne adventures in a Heathen Land Whilst these preparations were making to withdraw Olivers stake he appeared not openly in them but making more shew of the Lyons skin than the Foxes had written to Col. Iones how heartlesse his Souldiers were and that unlesse Iones did by some successfull Sally lessen their terrour he should not be able to get them on Ship-board This was like the Monkey to rake Chesse-nuts out of the fire with the Catts foot to take a presage of his owne successe at Col. Iones hazard Iones makes an attempt with better luck than he expected though not with half so good successe as was reported Saturday 12. August when the newes first came to Towne the Lyon is not so terrible as he is painted it is a peculiar priviledge of the Saints to lie without sinne or at least without
imputation of sinne for the good Cause either in Re or in mode Rei in the matter or manner in the thing or the extent thereof yet this successe was enough to invite Cromwell over to pursue the Victory and partake of the spoyles if not to usurp the whole Honour of the Atchievement to himselfe by his accustomed speciall prerogative So upon the 16 or 17. of August K. Nol set sayle towards his new Principality carrying contrary to the custome of the Sea his Lanthorne in his Proawe not in his Poope where we will leave him for the present to his adventures 205. The Association between Oneale and C. Monke See the Paper at large I have formerly hinted to you the Agreement made between Colonel Monke in behalfe of the Parliament of England and Owen Roe Oneale the massacring Irish Rebell I have now occasion to speake more at large of it and examine the truth of a Paper called The true state of the Transactions of Col. George Monke with Owen Roe Oneale as it was reported to the Parliament by the Councell of State c. Printed by Edward Husbands 15. August 1649. The said Agreement made between the Antimonarchicall Independent Party in Ireland and the massacring Antimonarchicall Popish Party under Owen Roe Oneale being a meer conspiracy to root out Monarchy and Protestancy first in Ireland and then in England and a second crucifying of Christ in his members between two Thieves the Schismatique and the Papist was so generally abhorred by the English Souldiery that many there tooke occasion to forsake the English Parliament and many here disbanded rather than they would accompany Cromwell in so wicked an expedition Wherefore Cromwell writ Letters to his Creatures of the Councell of State by Monke himself complainig how much the miscarriage of that Agreement had retarded his said Voyage desiring them for satisfaction of the Souldiery and People to Treat with Monke to take the whole businesse upon himselfe and to cleer the Councell of State the Parliament and Cromwell himselfe from having any hand at all in it which upon Tearmes of safety and advantage he said he already found him inclinable to doe The better to carry on the scene this Agreement was with much heat of zeale complained of in the Apocryphall House of Commons by a Brother who had his cue beforehand and by the Iuncto was referred to the Councel of State as was forelaid where their High and Mightinesses after some private conference with Monke to accommodate the businesse voted their dislike of it Scot having studied the Politiques in a Brewers Tally is become a great Statesman in our new Babel See the said Paper The true state c. Bradshaw reprehending Monke in jest therefore And at last they Ordered That the whole businesse with Monks Reasons for his justification should be reported by Thomas Scot to the House of Commons which was accordingly done Upon Friday 10. August Monke was called in to the Barre where amongst other things the Speaker asked him What Persons he meant in his Letter to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland wherein he saith He made the Agreement with Oneale with the advice of some others Monke answered that he did it upon his owne score without advice of any other Person onely having discourse with Col. Iones Iones told him if he could keep Owen Roe and Ormond from joyning it would be a good service This Answer such as it is was taken for Satisfactory in so Comick an Interlude The next demand was Whether he had any advice or Directions from the Parliament Councell of State Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or any other Person here to do the same which he did expresly deny saying he did it upon his owne score Hereupon the House voted as followeth Resolved c. That this House doth utterly disapprove of the proceedings of Col. Monke in the Treaty and Cessation as they please to call it made between him and Owen Roe Oneale and that this House doth detest the thoughts of any closing with any Party of Popish Rebels there who have had their hands in shedding English blood Neverthelesse the House being satisfied that what the said Col. Monke did therein was in his apprehension necessary for the preservation of the Parliament of Englands Interest That the House is content the further consideration thereof as to him be laid aside and shall not at any time hereafter be called in question So exit Monke and the Play was done wherein take notice of these following Observations 1. The Armies Doctrine See the Answer of the Councel of Officers to the Parliaments Demand concerning their secured Members And their Answer thereto and use of apprehended necessity and good intentions to justifie evill actions approved of by this example of the Parliament as they will be called 2. This Agreement though it were at least twelve Weeks agoe publiquely knowne in England and divulged in their owne Licenced Newes-bookes was never scrupled untill now That 1. the said Agreement was expired 2. That Oneale was so beaten by the Lord Inchiquine that he is as their owne Newes-books say inconsiderable and must suddenly joyne with the Marquesse of Ormond or be destroyed 3. That these Votes call this * Let me not seem over-bold in maintaining a different opinion since Parliaments are no more infallible than Popes and all humane opinions are equall unlesse Reason make the difference I hope we have not lost our Reason with our Lawes and Liberties nor the exercise and use of it Agreement but a Treaty and Cessation of Armes which I affirme to be a League Defensive and Offensive against Ormond Inchiquine and all that doe and shall uphold Monarchy if not Protestancy too for these Reasons 1. Article second saith Tbat upon all occasions both Parties be ready with their Forces to assist one another untill a more absolute Agreement be made and condiscended unto by the Parliament of England This is beyond a Cessation 2. Article third saith That the Creaghts of Ulster residing within the Quarters of Col. Monke shall pay Contribution to Generall Owen Oneale This is a Concession of a great latitude farre beyond the authority of any subordinate Commander or Generall and against the Lawes and Liberties of the Land to grant Taxes It should seem by this that Oneale and his Army were become Mercenaries taken into pay by Monke 3. Article fourth saith That if Generall Owen Oneale shall happen to fight against the Forces under the Command of the Marquesse of Ormond the Lord Inchiquine or any other Enemies of the Parliament of England and thereby spend his Ammunition if he be neer unto my Quarters and be distressed for want of Ammunition I shall then furnish him This was actually performed when my Lord Inchiquine Besieged Dundalke I make the same interpretation of this Article that I have made of the third 4. The fifth Article alloweth to Oneale the use of any Harbours within Col. Monkes liberty which likewise is too much
best to his most holy will and it is therefore good holy just because he willeth it His Divine pleasure being the rule and standard of goodnesse holinesse justice Mistake me not I doe not meane his bare providence or permissive will which no man can take notice of and Traytors Tyrants Thieves and Reprobate Saints execute and boast of to their owne assured damnation Therefore Gods employing wicked Instruments can be no president for our Alchimy Saints to doe the like unlesse Cromwells * Councell of Officiers of State and Parliament three Iuntoes and faction will usurp Gods prerogative as they have done the Kings 5. The 15. August the Letter saith that Coote called a Councell of Warre who resolved It was better to accept of the assistance of those who proclaimed themselves Friends to us and the Interest we fight for c. Here you see O Neale's bloody Party those Parliament Champions united and friendly conspiring to uphold one Common Interest which can be nothing but the downfall of Monarchy and Protestancy 6. The 15. August the Letter further saith that we Coote and his Councell of Warre added to the Articles this wary Proviso not to use their assistance longer then the approbation of the State of England should go a long with us therein c. It should seem by this warinesse that for the time they had used their help which was ever since the 22. of May last the approbation of the said State as they call it hath gone along therewith And for the time they meane to use their assistance hereafter it is left indefinite no longer then the approbation of the State shall goe along with us therein which may happily be untill Domes-day notwithstanding the Order Dated the 24. August 1649. voting That their Vote of the 10. August in the Case of Col. Monke be communicated to Sir Ch Coote as the Resolution of the House c. For who knowes whether the Copies of that Vote may miscarry or be stayed by the way either accidentally or purposely 7. The 14. August the Letter saith See Monke's Letter of Answer to Oneale Dated 26. April 1649. from Dondalke contained in the last foregoing Section but one See the said Paper entituled The Propositions of Owen Roe O Neale sent to C. Monk c. printed at Corke 1649. O Neale was pleased to communicate to him certaine Proposalls which he saith were long since transmitted into England to the Parliament by C. Monke and though for his owne part and the prime Officers with him these are privie to the secret carriage of the businesse and therefore may well be satisfied with what is done already they do not doubt but the Proposalls are already yeilded to by the State yet in regard their Army and Party in all other parts of the Kingdome these are ignorant of the juggle and causes thereof cannot be satisfied therewith untill the Parliament be pleased to declare themselves more publiquely therein it should seem they have done it privately already for satisfaction of O Neale and his said prime Officers he hath therefore desired me humbly to intreat your Lordships to declare your Resolution therein with as much speed as may be Here you see O Neale and his prime Officers who know the juggle satisfied already with a private confirmation of the Articles But to satisfie the rest of his Army and Party to whom this mystery is not yet revealed a publique Declaration thereof is desired that they may Vnanimously and cheerfully endeavour the preservation of the Parliaments Interest The Articles of Agreement between O Neale and Coote conclude clearly a League or Warre Offensive and Defensive against the Enemies of both or either untill a more absolute Agreement be made and condiscended unto by the Parliament of England This more absolute Agreement is now in agitation and private Directions sent to Coote how to behave himselfe in the Transaction thereof See the 1. Vote die veneris 24. August 1649. See the Relation of the Transactions between Sir Charles Coote and Own Roe O Neale printed by Order 28. Aug. 1649. The Votes upon these Letters and Articles were two Upon part in the first Vote I have observed something already in the 6. branch of this Section viz. that their Votes of the 10. Aug. in Case of Col. Monke be communicated to Coote and a Direction for him how to behave himselfe in the Transaction between him and Own Roe O Neale this Transaction is called in the Articles ut supra a more absolute Agreement These Letters Articles and Votes being Apologetically published for satisfaction of the Souldiery and People it had been fit to have communicated the said Directions also to their Trustors and Soveraigne Lords the People that they might have seen faire play above board and not to have sent clandestine Directions to Coote in so suspitious a busines how to behave himself in the Transaction with O Neale which implies the said Transaction shal be continued and may be compleated the rather for that their second Vote saith The House is well satisfied of the diligence faithfulnesse and integrity of Sir Charles Coote in preserving the Garrison of London Derry now it was preserved by his said Conjunction with O Neale who raised the Siege About this time came forth a Booke called 208. The Levellors vindicated or The Case of the twelve Troops c. The Levellors vindicated or The Case of the 12. Troops which by Treachery in a Treaty were lately surprized at Burford Subscribed by Six Officers in the name of many more Wherein p. 2. they say That under colour of the Armies solemne Engagement at New-market and Triplo-heath Iune 5. 1647. and many other their Declarations Promises and Protestations in pursuance thereof which Engagement they affirme against their Preaching Coronet Denne was never retracted by any Generall Councell of the Army nor upon any Petition of the Souldiers nor their Agitators ever by them recalled or dismissed The whole fabrik of this Common-wealth is fallen into the grossest and vilest Tyranny that ever English-men groaned under all their Laws Rights Lives Liberties and Proporties wholly subdued to the boundlesse wills of some deceitfull Persons having devolved the whole Magistracy of England into their Martiall Domination c. Pag. 7. They say That the Souldiers Paper-Debentures are good for nothing but to sell to Parliament-men for 3. or 4. in the pound which they are forced to sell them for to keep them from starving because they will not pay one penny Arreares to such as they put out of the Army any other waies that so they may rob the Souldiers of their Seven yeares Servìce and make themselves and their Adherents Purchasers of the Kings Lands for little or nothing and for ought appeares the Money they buy these Debentures with is the Money the Nation can have no Account of That they have dealt as basely with other Soldiers who never resisted their Commands 1. They turned them off with
Councell of State 3. Parliament and left her in a Military posture with a Sword to strike but no scales to weigh withall Our licenced News-Books like Ill-Boading-Birds fore-told and fore-judged Morrice's death a Month before He died resolutely Observe the thing aimed at in this new forme of Endictment of High Treason for leavying warre against the King and Parliament is first that the word King may hold in the Edictment which otherwise would be found to have errour in it and though the word for Leavying Warre against the Parliament be a vaine surplusage signifying nothing yet at last by help of their owne Iudges new-made presidents to leavy warre against the Parliament shall stand alone be the onely Significator and take up the whole roome in the Edictment and thrust the word King out of dores and then Treason shall be as frequent as Malignancy is now Morrice had moved he might be Tryed like a Soldier by a Councell of Warre alleaging the inconvenience of such a president if the Kings Party should retaliate it which would not be granted yet Col. Bethel writ to the Generall and his Councell of Warre desiring he might be reprieved but Col. Pride opposed it urging That it would not stand with the justice of the Army you see now who is the fountaine of Iustice nor the safety of the Common-wealth to let such Enemies live the Parliament having adjudged him worthy of death without hearing and given instructions to the Iudges accordingly O serviceable Iudges so the Generall was overborne by this Dray-man This fellow sitteth frequently at the Sessions-house in the Old Bayly where the weight of his Slings turneth the scale of Iustice which way he pleaseth Col. Prides's Dray-horses 210. Capt. Plunkett and the Marquesse of Ormonds Brother voted to be Tryed the Commons in Parliament assembled not yet satisfied with Blood because they are out of danger of bleeding themselves have Voted that Capt. Plunkett and the Marquesse of of Ormond's Brother Prisoners in Ireland shall be brought to Tryall If the King's Party in imitation of their Cruelty shall put to death the Prisoners they have taken the Parliament will save their Arreares for their owne privy purse These two cases are examples of the greatest danger and the highest contempt of Souldiers that ever were set on foot in any Age or Nation 29. August 1649. came forth a Booke called 211. An Our crie of the young Men and Apprentises London concurring with those fasly called Levellors An outcrie of the young Men and Apprentises of London Or An Inquisition after the lost fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of England truly Pathetically setting forth the slavery misery danger of the Common Souldiery People of this Nation and the causes thereof well worth the reading About this time came forth an Act for sooth for the speedy raising and leavying money upon the Excite 212. Excise that is as the Act telleth you upon all and every Commodities Merchandizes Manufactures as well imported or exported as made or growing and put to sale or consumed c. That is to lay impositions upon all we eate drinke weare or use as well in private houses as victualling houses ware-houses cellars shops c. as well what the Souldier devoures in Free-quarter upon us as otherwise under unheard-of penalties both pecuniary and personall to be paid and leavied with rigor And to make every mans house lie open to be searched by every prowling Rascall as often as he or they please 213. Foraigne Plantations The Traytors Tyrants and Thieves the Commons in Colonel Prides Parliament assembled are now againe frighted into a consideration of Foraigne Plantations And passing Acts That they shall all be subject to the new Babel or State of England for which purpose they are very busie to undermine devide and subject the old and first Planters that if need be these reprobate Saints may come in upon their labors the better to accommodate themselves there In the Act for sale of the Kings Queens and Princes personall Estate they have given leave to their Agents the Commissioners to transport beyond sea that is to say to their owne Plantations under pretence of sale the rarest and choicest of the Kings Gods they heap up abundance of wealth by Excise Taxes Goldsmiths-hall Haberdashers-hall Sequestrations cousening the Souldiers c. That they may transport the whole wealth of the Land with them and leave England naked disarmed and oppressed with famine and disabled to pursue them for revenge or recovery of their losses 214. More Guifts to the Faction The said Commons are never wearied with exercising their bounty amongst their owne Faction out of the publique purse about 1300 l. to Col. Fielder to Scobell their Clerke heretofore a poore under-Clerke in the Chauncery who writ for 2d. a sheet besides an employment he hath already in the sale of publique Lands worth 1000 l. a yeare a Pension of 500 l. a yeare and a Noble Fee for every Copie of an Order taken forth toties quoties although most of their Orders containe not above three or four lines an extortion farre surmounting the Starre Chamber or Councell Table of which themselves so much complained the Diurnall tells you Numb 319. from Monday Sept. 3. to Monday Sept. 10. an Act was read for satisfying the sufferings of two Members who have been in the late Warre damnified many thousands these I conceive to be Sir Tho Iervys and Mr. Robert Wallope this satisfaction must be made out of the publique purse which must be filled by Taxes againe out of their private purses who have lost as well as they without satisfaction or hopes of satisfaction notwithstanding many Votes that all should be satisfied O Cromwell hath reduced the Officers in Col. Jones his Regiment and other Dublin Regiments 215. O Cromwell reduceth Iones own Regiment and other Regiments in Dublin Let Sir C. Coote and his Regiment in London-derry expect the like notwithstanding their valour fidelity shewne in raising the Siege of Dublin you see he will trust none but his owne immediate Creatures this Faction casts out all other men as Quicksilver spues out all other mettals Gold excepted so that by this and many other examples they may see that all their faithfull services and bloodshed are poured into the bottomlesse tub of oblivion as their Arreares are cast into the bottomlesse bagge of the Publique faith Sunday 9. Sept. 1649. 216. A violent irruption of the Parl Ianisaries upon the Protestants at Church in St. Peters Pauls-wharfe Sunday morne 9. Sept. 1649. At the Church of Saint Peters Pauls-wharfe Master Williams reading Morning Service out of the Booke of Common-prayer and having prayed for the KING as in that Liturgy established by Act of Parliament he is enjoyned Six Souldiers from Saint Pauls Church where they quarter came with Swords and Pistols cocked into the Church commanding him to come downe out of the Pulpit which Williams immediately did
went quietly with them into the Vestry when presently a party of Horse from Saint Pauls rode into the said Church with Swords drawne and Pistols spanned crying out Knock the Rogues on the Head shoot them kill them and presently shot at randome at the crowd of unarmed Men Women and Children shot an old Woman into the head wounded grievously above forty more whereof many are likely to die frighted Women with Child and rifled and plundred away their cloaks hats and other spoiles of the Aegyptians and carried away the Minister to White-hall Prisoner You see these Hereticks Schismaticks and Atheists that crie so loudly upon Liberty of Conscience for their owne Blasphemies will allow no Liberty of Conscience to Protestants notwithstanding their Doctrine and form of Service is antient allowed and commanded by known Lawes and approved of by all the Reformed Churches of Christendome This strongly argues a Designe in the three Kinghdomes to root out Protestancy as well as Monarchy carried on by a conjunction of Councels and Forces between that triumvirate of Rebells O Neale O Cromwell and as many wise men thinke Argyle who would not otherwise keep the Scots from complying with the KING upon modest and moderate termes such as shall leave him in the condition of a Governing King able to protect His People from injuries at home and abroad without which He is but magni nominis umbra the shadow and May-game of a King Observe This Mutiny was not begun by Levellors this provocation was put upon the City when an artificiall Mutiny was raised at Oxford and against the Great Horse-race appointed to be at Brackley the 11. September to draw both City and Country to joyne with the Mutineers and then the Souldiers should have made their peace by themselves and have left the rest to the mercy of the State to raise more money upon them for O Cromwells expedition in Ireland who hath writ for more recruits of Men and Money Those bloody Saints that accompanied O Cromwell into Ireland to make that Kingdome as miserable slavish as they have made this doe now poure forth the blood of their owne bowels in great abundance 217. O Cromwell's Men sick in Ireland Gods vengeance having visited most of them with the Bloody flux whereof many die But this is a secret that must not be knowne to the Ungodly and therefore O Cromwell and his Councell of Warre at Dublin have made an Order Declaring That if any Person residing within the Garrison of Dublin whether Inhabitants or Soldiers shall upon pretence of writing to their Freinds signifie the Transactions of the Army between O Neale and O Cromwell it may be or their Engagements with the Enemy so as to setforth their Successe or Losse untill first the Generall or Councell of Warre have signified falsified the same to his Parliament of England they shall incurre the breach of the Article against Spies and be accordingly punished with Death c. Here you see O Cromwell in the first Yeare nay in the first Month of his reigne sets up a military tyranny in Ireland to which all People as wel not Souldiers as Souldiers must submit their lives fortunes the writing of news to their Friends in England whereby their Lies Forgeries may chance to be cōtradicted shall be construed to be a Breach of the Article against Spies not because Reason Truth or the Customes of Warre calls it so but because the Sword puts this construction upon it Take notice Ireland that this is the first yeare of thy Bondage if they prevaile And take notice England that O Cromwell and his Councell and Party are resolved to Lie without controule if they prevaile not their Letters speake him to be 15000. strong before Tredah which hath Articled to yeild That the next he will vouchsafe is Dundalke and that Ormond flies from the face of this Josua and Lying Prophets are sent over to gull the People into a beliefe But the truth is he is not able to draw together above 4000. or 5000. men unlesse his Confederate O Neale joyne with him And Ormond hath wit enough to know that sickenesse and famine in that wasted Country are sufficient to deale with O Cromwell without his running the hazard of an engagement with such desperate forlorne Wretches 218. Vnreasonable Fees extorded by Birckhead by Dures of Imprisonment with the connivance of the Commons Col. Bromfield Hooker Cox and Baynes Citizens who the last yeare were committed upon suspition of High Treason to which every offence against this new Babel-state is now wrested notwithstanding the Stat. 25. Edw. 3. for limitation of Treasons as in an infectious season all diseases turne to the plague and were then discharged for want of matter to make good the charge are now againe imprisoned in the first yeare of Englands Liberty at the request of Birkhead Sergeant at Armes to the Commons untill they pay such unreasonable Fees as he pleases to exact from them This had been great Extortion and Tyranny in the KING's time when this Nation enjoyed so much freedome as to call a Spade a Spade an Extortioner an Extortioner a Tyrant a Tyrant And reason good for if such Fees be legally due Birkhead hath Legall meanes to recover them if not Legally due it is Extortion in him to demand them in so violent a way and Tyranny in his Masters the Commons to maintaine him in it Sir Henry Mildmay lately comming to the Tower 219. Sir Har. Mildmay's Politicke Observations Chaste Conversation and first initation at Court and perceiving the Countesse of Carlisles window had some prospect to Col. Lylbornes grates out of his parasitical diligence told the Lieutenant of the Tower That notwithstanding the distance was such as they could not communicate by speech yet they might signifie their intentions by signes upon their fingers to the prejudice of the tender infant State and accompanying this admonition with some grave and politick Nods hasted away to the Councell of State and being both out of breath and sense unloaded himself of his Observations there and was seconded by Tho Scot the Demolisher of old Palaces and Deflowrer of young Maydenheads before they are ripe who much aggravated the danger and applauded the Observator Sure Sir Henry hath not yet forgot the bawdy Language of the hand and fingers since he first in Court began to be Ambassadour of Love Procuror Pimp or Pandor to the Duke of Buckingham and laboured to betray the honour of a faire Lady his nearest Ally to his Lust had not she been as Virtuous as he is Vitious if it be possible for any Woman to be so and did actually betray others to him I can tell you that very lately Sir Harry pretending himselfe taken with the Wind-collick got an opportunity to insinuate himselfe into a Citizens house in Cheapside and tempted his Wife but had a shamefull repulse but more of this I will not speake lest his Wife beat