that way tending yet was it eagerly debated in Terminis that the Prince should be declared a Rebell and a Traytor Among Other Reasons why it was laid by One was the Covenant a Second was This It would not do well to vote the Prince a Traytour the same day that Messengers were sent to invite The King his Father to a Treaty The clamorous puppy might bethink himself of better Language especially Addressing to an Eminent Person The madness of those men he calls it that cancell'd the votes of non-Addresses and would have sav'd the King c. If all were mad that would have sav'd That King or that love This we should not find many sober Persons in the Kingdom This Fellow keeps so much stir to cleer his Party of any jealousie upon his Excellency that he most evidently creates and discovers one How comes Religon now To trouble our Atheistique Saints These Reprobates have violently taken the Father's Life and thrown the Son out of his Right and Dominions exposing him to the charity of Forreign Princes for a subsistence and after this his Education abroad is made an Argument by this Brute against his Return where will he be next now AS to your own interest in the station where God hath placed you 't is well known what the private sence and opinion of that Party is concerning your Excellency because you have been an Instrument in keeping Scotland many years with so great a vigilance and prudence free from the attempts of that irreconcileable Enemy Admit such a thing were possible which some fancy that you should be the man that would put the Crownagain upon the head of that Family is it not plain what fate setting aside all other Considerations you might expect from a seeming reconciled Enemy and a King too It being the guise of Kings as the Historians from enumerable Examples do Observe ever to recompence with hate their most meritorious Servants making no difference to returne betwixt the highest Obligation and the greaâ—est Injury The examples are so frequent in our own Chronicles as well as forreign that he who runs may read it and 't is not proper here to recite them INdâ—ed he 's hard put to 't to make the danger out from the King to the Generall in case he should restore him If there were nothing else in 't 't were enough to make him Dear to the King and to his party that he Hates you Do not deceive your selves He 'll be a scourge to the Phanatiques and every soul that loves either Piety or Peace will assist him Do not mistake me neither God forbid that all such as have either been misled by cunning practises or else transported by necessities to seek a livelyhood by unlawsull means God forbid I say that all without distinction should be marked with that Infamous Brand No I intend it only of that Frantique crew that preclude mercy by despising it and persecute the Truth with a Determinate Malevolence and spite But Note the man begins to soften ALas Sirs 't is not an Army that shall secure you nor the power of the Militia that can secure our Antient Senators if any who have been engaged can be so fond as to think of security for let the Young man come in with freedom to encounter both Army and Militia with the bare title of King and aâ—tuall possession of the Throne the eyes of Army and Militia will soon be dazeled with the splendour of that Gay Thing and fall down and worship at the sight and hope of the Kingdomes of this world and the glory of them and then all Bonds of agreement if any be will prove but Rushes Oh for God and his peoples sake yea and for the City of Londons sake whom Charles the Father branded in his papers with the Charaâ—ter of Disloyal and Rebellious City though at that time most renowned in her aâ—â—ings set an end to the expectations of malicious enemies and sâ—aggering Friends by clearing up your selves that we may see you in the light vigorously asserting the good Cause of these Nations yea for tâ—e sake of Parliaments we ask it and we doubt it not at your hand seeing the people are not like to be brought to contend any more for Parliaments iâ— after so long a contest he should gain an Opportunity of improving a possessiâ—n of the Crown to an usurpation over the Priviledges of Parliaments THis Thing I 'll lay my life belongs to the Rump it is so much concerned in the behalf of our Antient Senators Truly I 'm half oâ— his minde in what he sayes last That is I do believe his Majâ—sty wâ—uld be made welcome But for Faithlesse nothing but an Abjuring Perjur'd Villain would suspect him See how the Supple slave is come about now how Arrantly the Rogue Beggs Oh! â—or God and his Peoples sake and for the City of 〈◊〉 sâ—ke I am in â—arnest I must laugh before I can wrâ—te on Might not this fellow be laid hold of upon the statute against sturdy Beggars and Lash'd He has absolutely turn'd a piece of one of the Rump-Ballads into Prose Nay my Lord cries the Brewers Clerk good my Lord for the love of God Consider your self Vs this poor Nation and that Tyrant Abroad Don't leave us but George gives him a Shurg instead of a Nod. Come hang your self Beg right here 's your true methâ—d of begging Oh for Tom Scot's sake for Haslerig's for Robinson Holland Mildmay Mounson Corbet Aâ—kins Vane Livesey Skippon Milton Tichbourn Ireton Gourden Lechmore Blagrave Barebones Nedham's sake and to conclude for all the rest of our Impenitent Brethrens sakes Help a company of poor Rebellious Devils that only for murthering their Prince destroying three glorious Nations breaking the bonds of Faith both with God and Men trampling upon Religion and Laws exercising an absolute Tyranny over thâ—ir fellow-Subjects Endeavouring yet once more to engage their native Countrey in Bloud to alienate the honest Soldiery from their Obedience and in fine for playing the Devil in Gods Name are now in danger to Lose the Reward of all their Vertues The Possessions which they have acquired by violence by a Malignant and desperate design of Peace and Settlement This is the State of your Condition and this should be the form of your Application Once more and he bids you farewel BVt my Lord and Gentlemen leaving these things which touch only upon your worldly Interests and Concernments we are bold to say though the jealousies of weaker Brethren be great and many we believe our selves to be sure of you because we have your Souls as well as your personal Interests at pawn for your fidelity to the Publick We remember your Declaration sent from Scotland to the Churches and other Declarations at the same time We might minde you if it were needfull how you have called God to witness That the ground of your lâ—te undertaking in Scotland was The Vindication os the Liberties of the People with the protection
directed to elude the Iustice and Necessity of their great Patrons Dissolution I shall not much insist upon the businesse beyond the Obligation of a Formal Answer but I shall take such heed to That as to leave little place for a Return and in the rest make the old saying good that One Fool may ask more Questions than Tâ—enty Wise men can Answer His Quaere's are as follows 1. Whether this be not the Parliament and these the Persons who began the War with the late King And if so whether it doth not highly and neerly concern them even for their own sakes to be the Parliamenâ— that shall take up and Cloze the Quarrel and not leave it to others especially if as the general voice goes the Kings Son must be brought in ANSWER THis is not the Original Parliament That was compos'd of Three Estates King Lords and Commons Further These very Persons now sitting Declar'd the King a Party with them in the Quarrel beginning the War in the Kings Name For Him not With that is as it lies here Against Him If Thus the House must be Divided as well now in the Question as formerly it was so in the War The Parliament even in the Querists sense were those that suitably to their Duties and Engagements Voted a Peace in order to the Preservation of his Majesty but there was a Faction too that contrary to Honour Faith and Conscience did forcibly seclude their Honester Fellows by much the Major Part and Prosecute and put to Death the King Those that have been Honest are Safe nay and so should those be too that will at last be so by my Consent but I Demand What Equity or Reason is there that those Persons who Murthered the Father and are still professed Enemies to the Son should have an Equal Benefit with Others that were Affronted for their Loyalty to the Former and are at present upbraided as if 't were Criminal for their Affection to the Latter If the Kings Son must be brought in whether they will or no what have we to do further with those people that Declare they 'll keep him Out if they Can 2. Whether this Parliaments first undertaking and prosecuting the War with the Late King werâ— Iust and upon good and Warrantable Grounds If it were as no doubt it was and God having by his Providence after a long Interruption of some of them and a longer Seclusion of the rest restored them to their trust whether they ought not now to stand to their first Good principles maintain their first Good Cause and secure all the good people that have been engaged with them and by them ANSWER THe War was Iust in that part of the Parliament which Declared for the King and Acted accordingly but Unjust in thâ—se that Swore to Preserve him and Intended to Murther him That the Parliament ought to stand to their first Good Principles we are Agreed In so doing they are to bring to condigne punishment the Infringers of their Privileges the Introducers of Arbitrary power the Obstructors of Successive Parliaments The Murtherers of the late King the Subverters of the Establish'd Government c. I grant you further that they are obliged to secure all the good people that engaged With them and by them but not consequently all those that acted violently Against and Without them now my Question How is it possible for those that Began upon Principles of Contradiction as the Saving and Destroying of the King c. to stand to their First principles 3. Whether this be not that Parliament and these the very persons who by the good esteem they had among the people of their Integrity Faithfulnesse and Constancy whether I say this be not the Parliament who by these and other means engaged the Honest and well Affected of the Land in the aforesaid War And if so whether this Parliament having now power in their hands are not obliged in Duty and Good Conscience to secure all the said Honest and well affected people for this their Engaging and Acting under them and not leave them as a prey to their professed enemies nor their terms of pece to be made by they know not whom Another Parliament which there is too great cause to fear will be too much made up of such as neither have been nor are friends to the Parliaments cause nor to those that engaged in it ANSWER 'T is not the Gaining of a good Esteem but 't is the practice of Integrity that recommends a Worthy person I may believe well of a Cheat and ha' my pocket pick'd But after that I should deserve a Yellow Coat ever to trust that fellow Again though he should plead he had my good opinion formerly Some I confesse are yet in Being of those whose Interest raised the War but these are not the men our Quaerist means and beside the most considerable of that number are in their Graves For the rest to wave this Argument from Power to Conscience Those people that dare not abide the test of a Free Legal Parliament must not presume to aâ—t themselves as an Authority without Law or Limit In fine If this be the Same Parliament that first engaged then Why should the Secluders and their Adherents Those which by Force of arms Baffled this very Parliament in 48. 'scape better then the Cavaliers that fought against it in 42 4. Whether this be not the Parliament who by many Declarations and Remonstrances by Protestation and Vow by Solemn League and Covenant have declared and engaged themselves before God Angels and Men and have thereby drawen in and therewith engaged all Honest people to assert and defend their just undertaking and one another therein Whether as things now stand when this just Cause which through Gods assistance could not be won from us in the field is in great danger to be stoln from us by the dark contrivances of its and our adversaries if this Parliament should dissolve at such a time as this and leave all both Cause and all engaged by them in it to another Parliament the greatest part whereof may be no friends but enemies or at least strangers or but little concerned in the first undertaking whether this would not be exceeding contrary to all those Former Declarations Remonstrances Protestation Vow and Solemn League and Covenant ANSWER I Do allow the Members of this present Session are those persons that stand engaged by Oath and Covenant and to that OATH and COVENANT we appeal For Granted they stand bound to protect all the HONEST people they have engaged but not the KNAVES the Covenant-Breakers I desire only this Whether or Not are they that took the Covenant bound to protect the Violaters of it Nay can they purge themselves of manifest Perjury and Complication should they not prosecute the obstinate Opposers of it 5. Whether it be not more then sufficiently manifest what will â—e the carriage of these Enemies to the Parliaments Cause and its Adherenâ—s when they get
Parliament for having Bayes in his Windows or a Minced Pye in Christmas sequester half the Nation because they will not swear back and forward sell Free-born Men by Thousands into Plantations and in fine beside Excise and other Impositions Arbitrary lay on the comfortable Load of 100000 l. a Month upon a Begger'd Nation and at the latter end of the day Is this the Oppression your wise Worship intends Now for the matter of Conscieâ—ce I can help you out there too To shorten let the Oath of Abjuration serve for all You follow this with a sharp charge for making use of Papists I could retort this if I thought it valuable but frankly in a War the subject of the Question is not Religion but Assistance Nor do I tho' I might as well condemn your Party that is the Rump-men for the same practise WOuld you understand the correspondencies mainâ—ained with and the encouragements given to the bloody Irish Rebells sor the Esseâ—ting his design together with the correspondencies and Solicitations settled in Forreign Countreys to the same purpose with all the circumstances evincing the truth THis is the same thing again shake Hands and to the next WOuld you be informed how often and with how much solicitude the Parliament notwithstanding all these things did for peace sake in a manner prostitute themselves and hazzard the whole cause by appointing Treaty after Treaty which he never entertained but with intent of Treachery and thereby frustrated all their good intentions and endeavours before ever they passed the Votes of Non-Address Then we beseech you read the following Declaration and be satisfyed to the full whether or no the late King and his Family deserved deaâ—h and exâ—irpation I Prâ—ethee do not choak us with the venerable sound of Parliament I talk to You and of that Mungrel-mixture you plead for A Parliament cannot do amiss be not too quick now they may have done Amiss and the next Session may repeal or mend it What they did I don't Qâ—estion but what you say will as I humbly conceive admit a Castigation Look back upon your self These are your words Which he never enterteyn'd Treaty that is but with intent of Treachery and thereby frustrated their good Intentions and endeavours before ever they passed the Votes of Non Addresses At this rate you ground the Non Addresses â—pon the Kings Intention of Treachery A Positive disclaim of your Obâ—dience upon a possible Dis-ingenuity in your Prince Come to cut short Dare you say that he promised and failed That 's Treachery to betray a Trust By this Rule of Proceeding had you required his Life and he refused you might have taken it his crime was only the Non-Concession of what you dâ—manded and he gave his Reasons too for that reâ—usall Well but let 's come up to the Vote it self I have already proved that it concerns not the secluded Members and now I shall entreat you to Back my opinion with a slip of your own Pen. Their honest strictness in the Negative afterward and their Adhesion to it through all extremities speaks manifâ—stly the intention of the party and that acquits them 'T is your own Argument in your fourth expostulation You charge his Treaty with a treacherous Intent which you infer from a subsequent manifestation of himself by Action But to dispatch should I Grant all you Claim yet did not the late King and his family deserve death and extripation The premises will not amount to 't Now if you please go on AS for our parts we very well recount the Series of past transactions and do remember that in February 1647. when the two Houses of Parliament passed their Resolves of making no further Address but determined to lay him wholly aside they never were in a greater state of security and freedom never passed any thing with greater deliberation and never the least disturbance or alteration arose in either of the Houses against those Resolves untill some Persons in the Commons House otherwise affected and who by procuring Elections of Persons fit for their turn to serve in Parliament in vacant places brought in new men of the Cavalier sâ—amp as is known like themselves and thereby out-balancing the old Patriots gained the Major Vote of the House and so with heat and by design obtained a revoking of those resolves which had been passed by both Houses in a time of temper upon most serious Consideration so that though we shall not take upon us ex absoluto to justifie the interposure of the Souldiery afterwards and their Exclusion of the Adverse Members it being a transcendent Act not to be measured by ordinary Rule and which nothing can justifie but Supreme necessity yet This we can truly say in their defence In Iudgment and Conscience there was so indispensable a necessity that had they not interposed those Principles and the Concernments of the Common-wealth upon which the aforesaid Resolves of both Houses were founded had been utterly shipwrackt and the whole Cause and its Defenders most inevitably have sunk together seeing the same heady confidence in treaty was then given to the Father which too many now encline to allow unto the Son who were first engaged against them in the War and held out to the time of the last treaty whom of all other Men his party do hate upon that accompt and if they had an opportunity would be sure to make them fall the severest Sacrifices to the Revenge and Memory of his Father THis is already Sifted and a little Picking will serve the Turn here A Cavalier I find is onely an Honest man that crosses a Fantan but the Old Patriots it seems were the Minor part of the House and That 's enough to entitle the Nation to the Benâ—fit of the Treaty resolved upon For Sir if you 'l give us leave we 'l be governed by the Major part It 's true your Supreme necessity is a pretty popular Sophism But As necessity ha's no Law so is it none nor in any case pleadable against Law but by the Judges of the Law which at all hands is confessed to be the Parliament and the Major part of the Two Houses in conjunction with the King have ever denominated That I must needs take a little pains to correct the Gentleman in his next Fleere upon the Presbyterians He hangs like a Cock-sparrow upon the aforesaid Resolves of both Houses which is but an old Trick of laying a Knaves Bastard at an Honest mans door and then he preaches most Infallible Destruction to the first engagers whom the King will be sure to sacrifice to the Revenge and memory of his Father This opinion or rather suggestion of his opposes all Principles of Honesty Generosity and prudence which fall within the latitude of the case Nay Taking for granted the very entrance upon the War Justifiable There might be then a Question Now there 's none They intended only a Reformation here 's a Dissolution A Liberty was there Designed here 's
to them directed from Leicester My Lord THere is a Letter which hath passed the Press under your Name dated at Leicester 23. Ian. and directed unto Mr. Rolle to be communicated to the rest of the Gentry of Dâ—von c. Whether this be your Excellencies Act or not is the question Iâ— so it be we receive it as a noble Respect from General Monk to his Friends and Country men if Otherwise we look upon it as the Aâ—tisice of an Anti-Parliamentary Faction under the prâ—tence of yoâ—r Concurrence and Aid to Delude and Eâ—slave the Nation It is one thing for a Person of Honour freely to communicate his Thoughts and Reasonings although in favour of a possible mistake still referring the Issue to the determinations of Divinity and Reason and it is another thing for a Confederate Party to charge such a Person with failings properly their own To hasten the dispatch of that little we have to say the Authors of this are of that number to whom your Letter directs We shall proceed according to our Duties and Instructions and briefly acquaint your Excellency with the sense of those that have entrusted us We shall begin my Lord with the Concession of what wee much Suspect and take for Granted that the Letter so inscribed is really Yours We are next to return you the Thanks of your Country-men for the expressions of your Piety and Care therein contained and particularly that in the head of your Army you have rather chosen Arguments of Reason than of Force That you propose the word of God for your Rule and the Settlement of the Nation for yâ—ur End That you take notice of many Factions and Interests introduced and yet professe a service to None of them That you so earnestly desire to Compose Old Differences at Home and to Prevent New Mischiefs from Abroad And finally That you submit the Result of all to a Fair and Rational Examination To profess and to persue all this is but like your self and to these purposes we shall not stick to live and dye at your Feet If upon Discussion of the Reasons you alledge we assume the Liberty which your Candour allows us of declaring wherein we differ we beg to be understood with all tenderness toward your Excellency to whom as a stranger to our late Oppressions and Calamities the state of our Affairs and Affections may probably be misrepresented To observe your own Method our Letter to the Speaker importing the recalling of the Secluded Members was the occasion of Yours to Us which sayes that Before these Wars our Government was Monarchical both in Church and State but as the case now stands Monarchy cannot possibly be admitted for the future in these Nations because it is incompatible with the several Interests which have ensued upon the Quarrel viz. the Presbyterian Independent Anabaptists c. as to Ecclesiasticks and the Purchasers of Crown and Bishops Lands Forfeited Estates c. as to Civils by which means the support it self is taken away so that the Constitution qualified to fix all Interests must be that of a Republique To which the Secluded Members of 1648. will never agree many of them being Assertours of Monarchy and Disclaimers to all Lawes made since their Seclusion Over and above that the Army also will never endure it The Conclusion This that it were better for us to desist from that Paper and rely upon the Promises of this Parliament for a due Representative a Provision for succeeding Parliaments and a Peaceable Settlement than by an unseasonable Impatience to embroil the Nation in a fresh Engagement From hence it appears that we might be allowed a Free Parliament but for Four Reasons First The Major Part Inclines to Monarchy and they that have swallowed the Revenues of the Crown declare against it Secondly The Entangled Interests of this Nation can never be United but under a Republique Thirdly The Army will never endure it Lastly It would beget a new War whereas this Parliament promises to settle us in a lasting Peace To all which in Order and First concerning Monarchy not as the thing which we contend for we onely wonder why it is Prejudged and particularly by those Persons who have sworn to defend it But my Lord you have hit the Reason they have Gained by Dissolving it and they are afraid to Lose by Restoring it Having put the Father to Death whom they Covenanted to Preserve they Abjure the Son whom they Fear to Trust. By Force they would Maintain what by Force they have Gotten In effect the Question is not so much what Government as what Governours A Single Person will down well enough with the fâ—ercest of them when it lies fair for any of Themselves Witness the late Protectour and the Later Lambert Briefly since the Death of the late King we have been Govern'd by Tumult Bandy'd from One Faction to the Other This Party up to day That to Morrow but stâ—ll the Nation Under and a Prey to the Sâ—rongest It is a feeble Argument against Monarchy that we never have been hapâ—y since we lost it and yet nothing hath appeared to obstruct our Quiet but the Division of the Booâ—y What Hath been Shall be so long as this Violence continues over us nor can any other Government Settle the Nation than that which pleases the Universality of it And in that we pretend not to direct our Representatives but which way soever they encline we shall with our Lives and Fortunes Justifie and Obey their Appointments Whether we have Reason or not in this Particular let your Excellency Judge The Second Objection against a Free Parliament is drawn from the Necessity of a Republique to reconcile all Interests To This we offer First that it is not Necessary next that it is not so much as Effectual to that purpose and Lastly that a Free Parliament ought to Introduce it if it were both the One and the Other The First we prove thus It is not the Form of Government but the Consent of the People that must Settle the Nation The Publike Debt must be secured out of the Publique Stock and That disposed of by an Engagement of the Publique Faith to such Ends and purposes as the Representative of the Nation shall deem expedient for the Good of it In like manner may all other Interests be secured whether of Opinion or Property under what Form of Government soever a Free Parliament shall think fit to unite us That it is not Necessary enough is said We are now to deduce from your Lordships Text that a Free-State would be as little effectuall also as to our concerns You are pleased to intimate the Dangerous Inclination of the People to Monarchy and to Ballance the Satisfaction the Right and the Universall Vote of the Nation with the Interests of some Few persons that would Rule us Themselves for that 's the English of the Settlement they propose By this Argument a Republique excludes the Negative and more Considerable
th Post Scot and his Fellows scape the fury of the People That Rabbet-sucking Rascall with his Fellow Cheats and Pandars these are the Youths Gentlemen that offer you like Doggs to any Master that will bestow the Haltering of you For shame bethink your selves To be as short as possible thus farr you 're safe but yet these Tumblers have not shew'd all their Tricks their last Recourse is to the Forgery of Letters but so ridiculously framed they are rather argument of Sport than Anger for the Brewer is much better at a Cheaâ— than at a Stratagem There are diverse Scandalous Papers dispersed in the Name of the King and as the sense of the Royall Party You shall do well to take notice that nothing of that Quality proceeds â—ither from Himself or his Friends The Project is Phanatique and tends only to hinder our Expected and Approaching Settlement To mention One for All there is a Phamphlet of yesterday Enâ—ituled News from Brussels in a Letter from a near aâ—tendant on his Maiesties Peâ—son to a Person of Honour Here Which Casually became thus Publick Do but obsâ—rve this Formall Noddy how he Boggles upon the very Title-page How Casually Good-man Sense-lesse Did it Dâ—op into a Printing House and Publish it self his Title is followed with a Suitable Text of so Pityfull an Ayre and Fashion I am ashamed to confesse the reading of it Indeed I would advise the Secretary rather to returne to his Placket-Politiques for he is not half so good at State as Bawdery To deliver his aim in other termes for fear of giving the Reader a Vomit The principal drift of his discourse is to Personate a Royalist Charging the Presbyterians with the murther of the King and professing an Implatable Anâ—mosity against the whole party Not to employ more subtilty than needs upon so Fâ—ivolous a Subject Let this suffice Who Murthered the King the Nation knowes and who interposed to Save him who they are that at this instant Oppâ—sâ— a Settlement and who Desire it Nay More we know who cannot Live Under a Peaceable Government and who cannot Live Without it And it is fit to shew all honest people to distinguish Those that have designed Us for Slavery it is but reason to mark them oâ—t for Iustice yet I should advise tenderness whereby saving a Few Infamous Malefactours we do not hazzard a more Considerable Loss He that Forgives them extends his Charity but he that Trusts a man of them Betrayes his Countrey March 24. 1659. THe Agitators were now grown so Busie in the Army that tâ—e Counsel of State put forth a Proclamation against them and had not the singular prudence of the General check'd the Malice of that Confederacy It would have prov'd of dangerâ—us Consâ—quence Finding themselves thâ—s disappointed of those earâ—y hopes they had as to the Army Their next Trick was to procure Elections for their purpose and this thâ—y laboured to â—ffect by Tampering with the Sheriffs where they found any capable of a Practise and by their Interest in some pedling Faâ—tious Boroughs to get Themselves and their Friends chosen This being the present Danger I Dispersed some Hundreds of Papers the Title and Coppy whereof follows A Necessary and Seasonable Caution Concerning Elections THe miserable dissettlement of this Nation arising principally from Abuse of Trust practised by those Persons whom we chose to Represent the Pâ—ople it concerns us now at last to provide warily against future Inconveniences by a more diligent Examination and Knowledg of those we elect for the time to come We find the Naâ—ion Impoverished the Government both of Church and State dissolved and all the Supports of a Puplick Magistracie devoured by those very people who instead of Freeing us from Smal and few miscariages themsâ—lves notoriâ—usly exercised over us the greatest oppressions Imaginable For prevention of the like evils hereaftâ—r we are to be very wary how we chuse 1. Such persons as Preach without a Call and deliver the Delusions of Satan for the Iâ—spirations of the Holy Spirit We may know the Tree by its Fruit. 2. Such as either out of Fear or Interest Sacrifice the Publique Good to Passion or Benefit shifting from Party to Party This Day for the King and Parliamen the next Pensioners to the Protectour the Third for the Rump the Fourth for any thing that comes next Under this notion I comprise such as make use of a Parliament-Priviledge to Elude Creditors to Deâ—ain ill-gotten Possessions and to put themselves out of the Reach of the Law thâ—râ—by hindering the due course of Proceedings against them 3. And Lastly take heed of chusing any Persons that have already Falsified their Trust by engaging in Illegall Close-Committees In any Relation whatsoever of Malice towards the Late King in Purchasers of Sellers of the Publique Revenues In Usâ—rped Imposiâ—ions upon the People In Short such as have at the price of an Universal Ruine enriched Themselves and laid the Foundations of their New Babel in Sacriledge Perjury Murther and Treason This may suffice for a Caution to all such as are not resolved upâ—n Beggery and Bondage THe Phanaâ—icks had at this time many Irons in the Fire and not without Reason for they had many Difficulties to Encounter Their Instant and most prâ—ssing Concern was to Nip the Militia in the Bud and either totally to hinder the next appointed Choice or so to Qualifie and Over-awe it that we should only be subjectâ—d still to the same Faction with somewhat more Pretense of Equity and Form They knew the Vote and Strength of the whole Nation would be against them And they set all their Heads and Hands at work to disappoint it Briefly they had their Firebrands in the City their bold and publick Agents in the Countrey but their great Trust was in the Army where they had poyson'd a Considerable party And by whose Ayd they made no doubt of Lambert tho then a Prisoner to head them so soon as the Designe were Ripe enough to need him Upon this point of Exigence that nothing might be wanting to procure another War they cast abroad in Swarms Seditious Pamphlets tending not only to Disgrace the Person and the Office of the King his Fathers Memory his Friends and Cause but likewise to provoke the Weaker and the lâ—sse Considerate men of his own Party by an Unseasonable and Mistaking Zeal to blast the Businesse The Rise and Course of the whole war is search'd into for Matter to involve the Murtherers of the King with those that would have Sav'd him in the same Hazard Interest Crime and Quarrel One of the Modestest of these Discourses was put into my hand with an Express Desire that I would print an Answer to it which accordingly I did but rather for my promise sake then that I thought it worth the while and This was it A Sober Answer to a Jugling Pamphlet Entituled a LETTER INTERCEPTED c. I Have heard of one that has made himself a Cuckold that has
he means the Protestant and Cause that is the Peoples Laws and Liberties was irreligiously betrayed by our late Soveraign Who lost his head in defence of one and th' other the Caution he puts in against the Son is of the same alloy a Person so indulgent to his People that out of his particular Necessities he yet relieved the English prisoners that were taken in Flanders although his Enemies and in point of Conscience further so tender that he preserves the Church of England in the Dominions of the King of Spain and still his Honour with his Religion But let us a little examine his Instances for he pretends now to proceed to proofs The Scotish Ministers as he tells us proclaimed and published in 1644. That the late King had spilt more blood than was shed in the Ten Persecutions of the Christians and the Ministers of London declared him a Man of blood c. That is the High Priests and Officers cryed out saying Crucifie him Crucifie him That 's the Original But to come closer to the Business the Scotisâ— and the Scotch Ministers are a clear different thing Scotisâ— denotes the Antient Factionâ— of the Nation No Favourers of Kings and Scotch relates to their Nativity alone abstracted from the Party First they were Argyles Creatures selected to promote Argyles designs So not the Ministry of Scotland but a Pack of Scotish Ministers Next of no more Authority to the Rump against the King than to the Nation against the Rump in which they are as much unsatisfied The Ministers of London did as much he sayes That 's something truly till we consider what those Ministers were and by whom placed and moulded for that purpose Marshall was the prime person in the Agency betwixt the two Nations He that cursed MEROZ He that was sent Commissioner into Scotland taught them their Lesson there and then returning taught some of our reputative Divines to sing the same Tune Here. This is the Man that clos'd with Nye when Presbytery went down and carried the 4. Bills to â—he King at Carisbrook-Castle for which they had 500 l. apiece I could tell you of some more of the Gang that under question for confederacy with Love after a due formality of seeking God delivered as upon accompt of Inspiration that Oliver Protectour was the person and his the Govâ—rnment of all that ever were or should be the most agreeable to God This is not to lessen the esteem of Holy Orders neither to fix a rash irreverend Censure upon the Ministry No Man reveres the Character of a Church-man more than my self But 't is to shew the World how much our Pamphlet-Merchand is steer'd by Interest and Passion and how little by Reason and Truth The grinning Whelp now betwixt snarling and fawning would fain perswade the General and his Officers and all the world beside that the Resolve of Non-Addresses by the Lords and Commons was introductive to the MURTHER of the King Murther I say that 's the Plain English of what he stiles A MOST NOBLE ACT OF IUSTICE His Method lyes through direct Contradictions to the Universal Rules of Logique Truth and Honesty By this Insinuation he charges that Exorbitance upon the two Houses and drawes an inference from the Impardonable Quality of that Action to the Necessity and Reason of pursuing it This he pretends to make appear in spight of Ignorance and Envy from the Commons Declaration in persuance of the resolve of Both Houses conteyning the Reasâ—ns why no further Address and thence proceeds to a Determination upon the Fathers Life and the Son's Inheritance as poâ—itively fixing upon the Kings Accompt those Plagues this Nation has endured as if the Graceless Villain were of Counsell with the Eternal Wisedom I shall observe in order and First I 'll prove that the vote of Non-Address was not properly an Act of the two Houses or if it were so that it did not rationally direct to the Kings Life Secondly That Declaration of the Commons SINGLY declaring the Reasons of the resolve of Both Houses Joyntly does not amount eitheir to a justification or intention of taking the Kings life No not though I should grant the Members Free which I cannot and the Authority Full which I do not To the First They were under a Force Upon a Debate in the Commons House concerning the Answer to the 4. Bills presented to him Dec. 24. 1647. and debated Ian. 3. Commissary Ireton delivered himself after this manner The King hath denied safety and protection to his People by denying the 4. Bills that subjection to him was but in lieu of his protection to his People this being denyed they might well deny any more subjection to him and settle the Kingdom without him That it was now expected after so long patience they should shew their Resolution and not desert those valiant men who had engaged for them beyond all possibility of retreat and would never forsake the Parliament unless the Parliament forsook them first From hence naturally results the menace of the Army in case the Parliament should forsake them and Ireton understood the Souldjery too well to mistake them As yet here 's nothing Capital pretended against the King After some more debate CROMWELL urged that it was now expected the Parliament should govern and defend the Kingdom by their Own Power and Resolutions and not teach the People any longer to expect safety and Government from an Obstinate man whose heart God had hardened That those men who had defended the Parliament from so many dangers with the expence of their Blood would defend them herein with Fidelity and Courage against all Opposition Teach them not by neglecting your Own and the Kingdomes safety in which their own is involved to think themselves betrayed and leâ—t hereafter to the Rage and malice of an irreconcilable enemy whom they have subdued for your sake and therefore are likely to finde his future Government of them insupportable and fuller of Revenge then Iustice Notâ— lest Despayr Teach them to seek their safety by some other means than adhearing to you who will not stick to your selves how destructive such a Resolution in them will be to you all I tremble to think and leave you to Iudge This Speech concluded the debate and the better to Impress his meaning he laid his hand upon his sword at the end of it If this be not a Force what is The Power and Inclination of the Army being the only moving Arguments to obtain the Vote The Question was then put and Carried for no more Addresses But no pretence still that extends to Life I shall appeal now to the Declaration it self to which our Regicidall Babler refers the world for satisfaction First the Sectarians had stoln a Vote Ian. 4. to Engarrison Whitehall and the Mews the Lords not mentioned in the case their manner of obtaining it was this 'T was Noon and the Independent party called to Rise The Presbyterians went their wayes to Dinner the
Independents staid and did their business Tâ—e Lords opposed the vote for Non-Addresse 10. to 10. but the Engagement of the Army cast it who sent a Declararation to the Commons of thanks for their 4. Votes against the King â—ngaging to defend them with their Lives c. Is this a Force yet Soon after this comes forth a Declaration and Reasons c. Drawn by a Committee appointed by the Independents c. So that even That too was a piece Contrived by the Designers of our Mischief and by a Force Extorted from the Sober rest that would have saved us This appears from the interpose of the Presbyterians to moderate the Eagerness of it upon the debate The last 4. lines of the said Declaration will be sufficient to stop the mouth of any Reasonable person as to the point of life even without the Violence which undenyably produced the rest After an Enumeration of diverse particulars objected against the King The Declaration concludes thus These are some few of the many Reasons why we cannot repose any more Trust in him and have made those former Resolutions meaning the 4. Votes concerning Non-Addresses yet we shall use our utmost Endeavours to settle the present Government as may best staâ—d with the Peace and Happiness of this Kingdom This very Declaration touches not his life it is not said settle A present Govâ—nment but THE relating properly to an Amendment not an Abolition Considering the Grammar of it I do not wonder much at a Complyance in some Measure to an indecency in ordâ—r to prâ—vent a greater Ill that threatned Them and Us and That was their design for when it came at Last to the Result of Life â—nd Death as then 't was evident it amounted to no lesse those Gentlâ—men whom the Author of Plain English would willingly engage as Complicates those Gentlemen I say did then oppose themselves against the Murthâ—râ—us Faction and voted for a Treaty Dec. 4. Upon the 6. they were Imprisoned and Affronted by the Army for their pains When the more moderate Party was removed the Rest were left at Liberty to consummate the Kingdoms Ruine and thâ—ir own Daâ—â—ation Come I 'll go further with the angry man put case thâ—se Gentlemen had gone yet forward and dipp'd as deep as he could wish they had Frailty is an inseparable from our nature 'T is Humane to Transgresse 'T is Christian to forgive and 't is our Interest to Repent He that Delivers me by Dâ—sign though but from that mis-fortune which he himself engaged me in upon Mistake he is so far from any Reason to apprehend my Revenge he has a Title to my Kindness but our incorrigible MONITOR sets up his Rest upon a Finall Reprobated Impenitence I have been Tedious out of a desire to be Clear but I shall hasten and contract as much as possible Having already proved the Declaration of the Reasons why no more Addresses to have been an evident contrivance of the Independent Faction in the very frame of it and publish'd while the Army stood to dare and Over-awe the Sober Party that was likely to oppose it I do not hold my self conâ—erned in any further notice of the Particulars therein Conteined and which our Challenger produces as an unanswerable eviction that the Late King and his Family deserved Death and extirpation as by and by he tells you Yet something shall be said even to his Queries thence extracted in due place but I must first unvail him to the people and that by laying open the Dilemna he proceeds upon He reasons Thus My businesse sayes he to himself must be to hinder an Agreement with the King The Presbyterian party I 'm afraid enclines to 't If he returne we 're Lost My own Soul tells me we have sin'd without Remission and yet I see no way to hinder it neither The nation is United against us the Presbyterian abhorrs us as much as the Royal party does and the Army it self begins to declare it self our Enemy What 's to be done must be both Qâ—ick and Home These Six wayes lye before us First the Army must be wrought into a Tumult Secondly The Presbyterian must be Right or Wrong involved with us in Guilt and consequently in danger They must be made to share in the Blood of the Father and in the Detestation of the Son and be possessed that there can be no safety to Them but in a common interest with our selves To this end we may forge Letters from Brussels Suborn Witnesses to swear the King a Papist c. Thirdly the Cavalier must be perswaded that the Presbyter only designes to set up for himself and Arguments drawn from by-past and mistaken Failings upon promise to beget a Jealousie The inconsistency of Episcopall with Presbyterian Principles must be objected c. Fourthly All Persons interessed in Estates got by the War must be engaged for fear of losing them Fifthly The General himself must be solicited to take the Goâ—ernment upon him Promises urged no matter whether râ—al or false If this won't do advise him as a Friend to have a care of the City and bid the City look to him Perplex them both We 'll confound all the World rather then perish Lastly We may publish the Declaration of the Reasons for no further Addresses and try it that way we can either make a Party among themselves or with the People We may so bring it in it shall be dangerous to reply upon for fear of disobliging and as unsafe to let alone for fear of seducing Here 's the Dilemma It will be answered or it will not if it be 't will startle the Presbyterian if otherwise 't will puzzle the People I wish our Common Enemy would go this open way to work Here 's the true State and Method of our Adversaries Thoughts and Actions Now to his Quaeres wherein I shall be tender how I revive Disputes either unkind or unseasonable and yet not wanting to my undertaking that is my undertaking to make Evident that his Foundation is Sandy and the Entire Structure composed of Rotten Materials I 'll take his what shall I call them Suppositions Objections Questions or call them what you will one by one and reply upon them in his own Order Here he begins WOuld you see how and by whom the Irish Rebellion began and upon whose score those unparallel'd barbarous Massacres of hundreds of thousands of the Protestants in Ireband do lye NO we would not see How We question not but you 'd be kind enough to shew us and cut our Throats here just as those Rebels did their Fellow subjects there For an Irish Rebel is but the Anagram of an English Phanatique By whom now is another Question and a Harder Beshrew me 't is a Peevish point Why the Irish Rebellion began by the Irish Rebels as the English Rebellion did by the English Rebels I hope Commotions in Ireland are no Miracles nor is it needfull to assign them any other reason than
an Intollerable Slavery Imposed Those quitted when they saw thâ—ir error These for that very Reason proceed There is in fine This difference One side would Destroy the King the Other would Preserve him These would Govern Without Law and the Other would be governed by Law After all this peremptory rudeness at large he bethinks himself at last of an Apology to the General and now the Pageant moves WE urge not these things with an intent to make the least reflection upon your Excellencie and our Brethern the Officers under your Command as if we suspected your sincerity and constancy after so many plain and positive Declarations against returning to our old Bondage under that Family which God so wonderfully cast out before us and wherein we are confident he for his own name and peoples sake will never more take pleasure but in regard the Old Adversaries behave themselves insolently and proudly and publickly give out the time is coming wherein they shall satisfy their lusts upon us we thought it convenient to whet your Spirits with a repetition of these things as we have done our own that the world may see we yet own our Cause and do believe that what we have done as Instruments in driving out that Family we have done in judgment and Conscience and that you take a convenient time to let men understand plainly that you also will continue of the same perswasion with uâ— for as much as there are none of the particulars charged upon the late King in the following Declaration which would not with many more have been proved to his face by a Cloud of witnesses if he would have put himself upon tryal when he was called to aâ—swer for his actions ALas good Gentleman you suspect the General No body can have such a Thought sure you do but mind him of his Duty now and then Refresh his Memory and whet his Spirits He has declared himself against returning to our old BONDAGE under that Family which God so wonderfully cast out before you but not against the Liberty and Title of that Person whom God may no lâ—sse wonderfully bring in before you and I suppose my confidence is better grounded that the people will never more take pleasure in you then yours is thaâ— God will take no pleasure in Him the Nation will as little endure the Rump as you the King But all this while you Beg the Question How comes the King to be mentioned The Young man as your gravity descends to call him he 's poor his Friends Beggâ—rly You have the Ballance of Propriety on your side too my Masters you 're safe enough then I would advise you now to wait and not prejudge Authority You 're to Obey not to impose a Government If you proceed to Murmure and shew your Teeth when you cannot Bite 't will be the worse for you Indeed your Good old Patriots will be the Minor Vote again of the nâ—xt Parliament if you behave not your selves more modestly the people will suspect you for Mutinous Servants prove but Untoward Masters Monopolies and some misgovernments were the True Cause that engaged the well meaning people in the quarrel not extirpation of both Laws and Governours But if your Adversaries do as you say grow proud and insolent in such a case you may be allowed to whet your Spirits as you express your selves any thing but your knives you were at that sport once your judgment and your conscience we are satisfyed in alas the difference betwixt yours and ours is but a Trifle What we take to be slavery you call Freedom A Rebell in our Judgment is a Patriot in yours Murther a Sacrifice Robbâ—ng of Churches in your soft Opinion is but unclothing of the Whore a thing the Rump's a little given to we term that Sacriledge One frailty I must needs take notice of among you for all you talk of Providence I finde the Arme of Flesh strikes a great stroke in your spiritual coflicts and when y' are worsted you 'l take eggs for your money and acquiesce as well as your neighbours This I obseâ—ve to be one Article of your Faith you argue from Divine Omnipotency that providence is ever on the stronger side Suppose the Gentlemen of the Back-side should look on for a fit now the Royall Family you say God cast out before us Who casts out these But to make all sure you prâ—sse the General and his Officers to Declare that they 'l continue of the same perswasion with you This perseverance I confess is a main point you should do well to leave a note where they may find you for you 're a little variable and they 're a little shy of medling with those that are given to change You 're possibly this day resolved for a Republick the next for a Protector by and by a Counsell of Officers and then a Committee of Safety Come come Gentlemen the General will be just without your Counsels and steady in despight of all your Arguments Speak on GIve us leave we beseech you to add one thing more which we had almost forgotten to shew the madness of those men that cancelled the votes of Non-Address and would have brought back the late King by the Isle of Wight-Treaty and would now if they might have their wills bring in his Son by the like viz. that at the very time when that Treaty was on foot though this young man who was then at Sea in the revolted Ships declared all to be null which should be agreed on by his Father yet hand over head in they would have had him as others would now restore the Son upon the very same termes which he so positively declared himself an enemy to in his Fathers dayes Good God! what a spirit of slumber hath seized such men who were once deeply engaged with us in the Common Cause As for your Excellencie far be it from us to entertain any suspition concerning you supposing you must needs have upon your heart the true interest of Religion and your Own too and how much it is concerned in keeping Out of that Family whose restitution we believe God will not now permit unto any designers seeing he hath from time to time so signally blasted all former undertakings As to what concerns Religion you know what hath been their Education and Dependency abroad should they returne 't is Obvious all Other parties would be put upon their Guard to defend themselves against him and his Clergy at home and so all sorts of Religious Parties being constrained to combine for mutuall preservation and liberty the War will soon be renewed upon the point where it at first began WHat pitty 't would have been this Gentleman should have forgot a thing that never was the King indeed sent an express to the City the coppy whereof was carried to the House by the Sheriffs and some of the Common-Counsell 3. Aug. 1647. But not a syllable of what he mentions in it nor any thing