Changes are Slow and Dangerous God and Truth are Invariable We were Well till We shifted and never since having tried all other Postures in vain were it not better to attempt That once again than thus expose our selves to be Restlesse for ever My Lord the Author of this is very much Your EXCELLENCIE'S Servant Feb. 4. 1659. THe City of London having of late behav'd themselves a little Crosse disturb'd the self-created Representative exceedingly The Common-Counsel was too Stout and Honest for their purpose The Aldermen but an Unâ—oward Mixture yet those among them that were Right were Eminently so and there were not a few that were so A very Worthy and Particular Instrument in the Frank carriage of the Businesse was the Recorder But Equall to them All was the brave General The Rump was now come to a Forc'd Put. Monies must be Rays'd and the City Subdu'd or the Good Old Cause is Lost. In Order to Both Out comes the Long look'd for 100000. Tax upon Tuesday Feb. 7. which was Follow'd with a Negative Resolve of Common Counsel upon Wednesday but Thursday was the Bloody Day Design'd both to his Excellence and to the Town witnesse the Resolves it pâ—oduced as to the City and the Orders Imposed upon the General His Excellence having drawn his Forces into the City so far Comply'd with his respects even to the least Image of Authority as to Secure diverse Persons by virtue of an Order to that express purpose But to Destroy Their Gates and Portcullices he was very Loth and signifi'd as much to the Members in a Letter from Guild-Hall to which he received in Answer only a more peremptory Command to Proceed which accordingly he Executed the day following and so returned to his Quarters The Resolves of Feb. 9. I must not Omit for they deserve to be Transmitted to Posterity Thursday 9 Feb. THe House received a Report from the Council of State of some Resolutions taken by the Council in relation to the City of London Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State hath done in ordering That the Commissioners for Government of the Army do appoint Forces to be and continue in the City of London for preserving the Peace thereof and of the Commonwealth and for Reducing of the City to the obedience of the Parliament Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State have done in ordering that the Commissioners for the Army do take order that the Posts and Chains in the City of London be taken away Resolved That the Gates of the City of London and the Portcullices there be forth with destroyed Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State and Commissioners of the Army have done in Seizing and Apprehending of Mr. Vincent Merchant in Bishopsgate-Street And Thomas Brown Grocer in Wood-Street Daniel Spencer in Friday Street Laurence Brompfield in Tower-Street Major Chamberlain Mr. Bludworth and Richard Ford in Seething-Lane Major Cox at the Swan in Dowgate Mr. Penning in Faâ—church Street and Lieutenant Colonel Iackson Resolved That the present Common-Council of the City of London Elected for this Year be discontinued and be and are hereby declared to be Null and Void and that the Lord Mayor of London have notice hereof Ordered That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Bill for the Choice of another Common-Counsel with such Qualifications as the Parliament shall think fit with ordet to meet at 8. of the Clock in the Speakers Chamber to morrow morning The House likewise read the Bill for setling the Militia of the City of London and the Liberties thereof the first time and referred it to the Council of State to present names of Commissioners for the Militia of the City of London to the House to moâ—row morning The Parliament taking Notice of the discreet carriage of the Lord Mayor of the City of Londoâ— in the Late transactions of the Common Council Ordâ—red That the Lord Mayor have the thanks of this House and that Alderman Atkins do give him the thanks of the Parliament accordingly THis day produced likewise a remarkable Petition Presented by Praise-God Barebones Pressing that no man might be Admitted into any plâ—ce of Trust except such as should ABjURE A SINGLE PERSON and further Praying that it might be Enacted HIGH TREASON for any man to MOVE OFFER or PROPOUND in PARLIAMENT COUNSEL COURT or PUBLIQUE MEETING any thing in order to CHARLES STEVVART c. and that afâ—er such a LAVV ENACTED it might be deemed HIGH TREASON for any man to move or Propose the REVOCATION of it A man would have thought these people should have had enough already of the Oath of ABjURATION for nothing did more expose them than the eagernesse they had formerly used in the promoting of it which served only to Eurage the Opposâ—rs and to set up for a Marque the Infamous Abetters of it But all this was not sâ—fficient to divert the Gratious Members from a most Particular Order of Thanks to the Petitioners Upon Sâ—turdâ—y â—hâ— memorable 11th of Fâ—b the G neral â—inding himself a little more at Liberty Removed his Quarters inâ—o the Ciâ—y and there Declared himselâ— to the Universal Satisfaction of the Nation Desiring Particularly by Letter the men â—f Westminster to bethink themselves of their Dissolution In the transaction of this Affair there were â—o many untoward Circumstances that to Prevent Mistakes I dispersed Sâ—veral Copies of this ensuing Narrative IN Octob. last when Lambert scattered the Committee of Westminster his Unluckie Excellency thought it then a fit time to set up for himself and in the Head of a Phanatique Party to bid Defiance to all the Sober Interests and Iudgements of the Nation His Principal assistant in the work was Sir Henry Vane the Prophet of that Inspired Rabble The Faction was grown Bold and Formidable when to divert the Course or meet the Fury of it the General was Invited to draw a Force from Scotland into the North and In he came but to a Nobler purpose than ever they Intended They Called him in to save Themselves he Came to save the Nation Upon the first notice of his Advance Lambert was sent with a considerable Army to meet him and London left almost without a Publique Guard such was the Confidence they had in the Anabaptistique Party which was privately Armed and Listed in and about the town In fine after diverse Affronts upon and Tumults in the City the Souldiery Revolted the Fugitive Members Returned Lambert's Army Mouldered away and his Excellency vanished Thus far without a Blow but the more difficult part was still behind for Treacherous friends are much more dangerous than professed Enemies The General resolves next for London and makes it his design both in his Passage and after his Arrive by all means possible to avoid blood-shed His March speaks him a Souldier and a Gentleman for it was Regular and Inoffensâ—ve The Country courted him upon the way
In fine they are the Peoples voice and Thaâ—'s the voice of Heaven Why now should we despair of the same Events from the same Means considering what a Drowsie Patient and Phlegmatick people we have to deal with Shall 's Fool a Little Le ts Vote down Magna Charta and the Petition of Right Settle a Preaching Militia and a Fighting Ministry Out with our Whinyards and off with the Names instead of the Heads of the Kings Tryers as Okey did upon the Change Take away Monk's Commission Petition the Souldiery to Petition Us to declare our selves Perpetual Bind up the Nation under Limitations for the next Session and exclude all but our own party from the Choise No matter for the Law or Conscience of the business ARTICLES OF SURRENDER and Publick ACTS of INDEMNIâ—Y amount to nothing OATHS and COVENANTS are but occasionall Submissions to Conâ—eniency not Binding any man that in the very act of Taking thâ—m resolves to Break them Let things come to the Worst when we have Overturned the Government Polluted the very Atlaâ— with our MASTERS BLOOD Cheated the Puâ—lick c. 'T is but to Whine and Snivel to the People tell thâ—m we wâ—râ— mis-led by Cardinall Appetites cloath all our Rogueries in Scripture-Phrase Humble our selves before the Lord But not a Sillable concerning Restitution and they 'l Forgive us Nay perhaps Trust us too Think us their Friends For doing them no more than all the Harme we could 'T is a gooâ— natur'd sort of Beast the Common-People if it be Pleased and 't is the Easiest thing in nature for Fools and Knaves to Please it They have not been gull'd half long enough yet what will you say now to a New-Parliament made of an Did one As Ther 's no Fool to the Old one so there 's no Knave to the Old one What do ye think of your Episcopal Cole-marchant Sir Arthur for Durham and let him bring in his Fellow-Labourer Sir Harry Vane for Newcastle In the City of London you cannot choose amiss provided that Ireton or Titchburn be One and that he choose his Fellows For Kent no Man like Sir Michael Livesy For Norfolk there 's Miles Corbet and if the House does not like him they may send him to the Red-Bull for he personates a Fool or a Devill without the Charge either of a Habit or a Vizâ—r If the Nation be so Charitably disposed as to erect an Hospitall in favour of the Lame the Rotten and the Blind let 'um take in Limping Lykâ— Robinsoâ— Rheumatique Mounson Bobtail'd Scot and the Blinking â—obler But why do I pretend to direct in Particular Among the Kings Tryers Excise-men Sequestrators Clâ—se-Committee-men â—ajor-Generalls Buyers and Sellers of tâ—e Crown and Church-Lands c. they may wiâ—k and chuse Alas they 're all Converted I 'm sâ—re he 's Right cryes one he Told me so Dull Sotts let Us be Right our Selâ—es and then what nâ—ed we care who 's Wrong I 'll put a Case to you suppose upon the Dissolution of this Sâ—ssion six or seven thousand of the Phanatique Souldjery that knowes a Settlement destroyes their Trade should try a Blow for 't yet and by the help of some of their Confederates yet in appearance of Authority should put a Force upon the Honest Party 'T is but to suppose what many of that Gang are bold enough in Publique to declare I have a Phansy you 'l loâ—k on still and betake your selves to your Old senseless Plea They have the Power Which iâ— you do No no you cannot be so Tame and witlesse ☞ Be carefull whom you Trust either in your Militâ—a or Couâ—sels Chuse Persons of Estates Honestly gotten Sâ—ch â—hom the Law Preserves â—ill Preserve the Law Whereas If you chuse such as have an interest of their Own that th'warts the Publique you 're yery Charitaâ—le to believe that those people who all this while have Cheaâ—e You to benefit them Selves should at the last adventure All to preserve You. March 16. 1659. UPon the Dissolution of the House the Phanatick party betook themselves to their wonted Insolence Declaring publickly divers of them that they were not Dissolved Offering to sit again and protesting against the Choice of the next Convention They tamper'd the Army into a Combination and proceeded to that point of Boldnesse that the Common-Counsel found it proper to entreat the Counsel of State and the General to retire into the City during that Interval of Parliament for their greater Security March 19. Observing the Leud Practises of the Faction and desirous to give the world some notice of Particulars in Order to the better Knowledge of them I printed this ensuing Paper THat this Nation hath been long miserable under the power of a violent and Restless Faction is clear to all such as are endued with Memory and Reason nor is it more superfluous to reflect upon their pass'd Miscariages than Necessary to take some notice of their Later Cheats and Insolencies Their Design was to fix themselves in a Perpetual Câ—unsel conâ—rary to Oaâ—h and Law and to cut off successive Parliaments To carry on which Project they had Armed all sorts of Liâ—ertines throughout the Nation particularly threatning London with Fire and Sword if they should not comply Their barbarous purposes weâ—e Disappointed by the General 's Re-introduction of the Secluded Members Together with the united rage of the People against them In this hopeless and Deserted condition what they could not effect by open Force they attempted by Treachery and Corruption They used all Art and Diligence during the Session both to gain Opportunities and to Emprove them but being over-voted in the Main They fell upon a more direct and shameless method of Villany They falsified the Lists of the Militia sollicited Petitions from the City for their Continuance Iuggled the Army-Officers into a Tumult Employed their Instruments to Destroy the General Mutinyed the Army and the City and Finally they engaged a great part of the Souldjery to Remonstrate against the rest of the Nation But all too little to prevent their Dissolution or to Disturb our Hopes of Settlement The General hath approved himself in the calm steady menage of this wild Affair a Person worthy of all the Honour we can give him These Brutish Libertines finding all their Plots Bubbled thâ—ir Mines venâ—ed their Party Weak and Heartless themselves Friendless Abroad and Comfortless at Home as Guilty and as Desperate as Cain after the sad despair of any the least Benefit to themselves they are yet pleased in the Contrivance of our Mischief They 're not Dissolved they tell us and attempt to meet again That 's in vain and now they come to their last shifts These Senselesse Cox-combs offer the Honest Generall the Instrument of Government as if that Noble Generous Soul were to be wrought upon to prostitute his Honour and his safety and all this to preserve a Kâ—â—nel of such Reproâ—aâ—ed and Ridiculous Puppies I wonder seriously how these Pimps and Knighâ—s o'
Coward needs not Fear it You have made the City but a Cage of Broken Merchants Tradesmen are ready to Perish for want of Businesse and their Families for want of Bread nor have the Poor any other Employment than to Curse you Those few amongst you that have any thing are but Covered with the Spoiles of the Nation and out of the Scum of the People you have composed your inconsiderable Rest. Well Gentlemen play your own Cards your selves Wee 'll play Ours you 'll have no Singlâ— Person in the State wee 'll have none neither in the City at least we 'll have no White-Hall-Major we will neither extend our Priviledges an Inch nor abate an Hair of them And in the matter of Blood-shed so let Heaven prosper Us as we shall proceed tenderly But if there be no other way left us than violence whereby to preserve our selves in our Just Rights what Power soever shall presume to Invade the Priviledge of a Citizen shall finde 20000 Brave Fellows in the Head on 't This we doe Unanimously Remonstrate to You and to the World to be our Firm and Finall Resolution THis Dispute Lasted not Long and Lambert's return put an End to any further thoughts of stirring in the City for that Bouâ— The next Opportunity of Moving was upon the Dispatch of the Army into the North to oppose General Monck The Government being then Lodg'd in a Committee of 23 Officers of the Army which gross Usurpation together with the New Militia which they had Imposed upon the City Nov. 11. put the Citizens upon an Absolute Necessity of Endeavour to Free themselves To which end they resolv'd to Petition the Common Counsell for their Assistance towards the obteining of a free-Free-Parliament according to the Antient Constitution of the Nâ—tion A Petition was accordingly Drawn Subscribed and Presented but by reason of some pretended Informality in the Address it was laid aside This Repulse made the Petitioners more Eagâ—r than they would have been especially finding themselves Betray'd by diverse of those Persons to whom they had committed the Care of their Protection Upon Monday Dec. 5. Horse and Foot were dispatch'd into the â—ity by Violence to hinder the Re-enforcement of the Petition where they behaved themselves with an Insolence and Barbarism not to be express'd In thiâ— Action had the Magistracy been but half so carefull to Vindicate the Honour of the City as they were to save the Enemies of it not a soul of them had scaped After some 5 or 6 Dayes expectation what this Affront would produce I thought it not amisse if I could use some meanes to Qâ—icken them and thereupon I Printed a Paper Entitled The Engagement and Remonstrance of the City of London DECEMBER 12. 1659. ALâ—hough as Citizens wee are reduced to a Necessity of Violence and as Christians obliged to the Exercise of it Unless we will rather prostitute our Lives and Liberties Fortunes and Reputations Nay our very Souls and Altars to the Lusts of a Barbarous and sacrilegious Enemy We have yet so great a tenderness for Christian bloud as to leave unattempted no means of probability to save it This is it which hath prevayl'd with us to Declare First to the World what we Propose and Resolve â—re wee proceed to further Extremities and to satisfie the Publique as well in the Reasons of our Undertakings as to Iustâ—fie our selves in the Menage and Event of them We find in the Midst of us the House of Prayer converted into a Den of Theeves Our Counsels Affronted by Armed Troups our Fellow-Citâ—zens knock'd on the head lâ—ke Doggs at their own doors for not so much as Barking Nay 't is become Death now to desire to Live and Adjudg'd Treason but to Claim the benefit of the Law against it Witnesse those Infamous Murders committed but Monday last upon our unarmed friends and the glorious Iâ—solenâ—ies of that Rabble towards such of the rest as they seized and carried away But this is nothing to make us a Compleat Sacrifice we are to bee Burnt too a thing not only threatned in the Passion of the Tumult but Soberly intended for they have layd in their Materials for the work already a prodigious Quantity of Fire-Balls in Pauls and Gresham College Briefly We are design'd for Fire and Sword and Pillage and it concerns us now to look a little better to our gratious Guards Not to insist upon the losse of Trade how many thousand Families have nothing now to do but Begg and Curse these wretches The Honour and Safety of the City lies at stake and God so blesse us as wee 'll fall together Wee will not live to see our Wives and Daughters ravish'd our Houses Rifled and our Children Beggars that shall only live to Reproach their cowardly Fathers and all this done too by a People which we can as easily destroy as mention by a Party so barbarous and so Inconsiderable together that certainly no creature can be mean enough either to suffer the one or fear the other In this Exigency of Affairs we have found it both our Duty and our Interests to Associate and wee desire a Blessing from Heaven up on us no otherwise than as we do vigorously and faithfully persue what we here Remonstrate First We do engage our selves in the presence of Almighty God with our lives and fortunes to defend the Rights and Liberties of the City of LONDON and if any person that subscribes to this Engagement shall be molested for so doing We will unanimously and without delay appear as one Man to his Rescue Next we demand that all such Troups and Companies as doe not properly belong to the Guard of the City nor receive Orders from the lawfull Magistrates thereof thaâ— such Forces withdraw themselves from the Liberties within 12. hours after the Publication of This upon pain of being deemed Conspiratours and of being Proceeded against accordingly for to this extent both of Judgement and Execution is every Individual qualified in his own defence We are next to demand the Enlargement of our Fellow-Citizens which were taken away by Force and in a tumultuous manner contrary to the known Laws of the Place and Nation This being performed we shall acquiesce in the Enjoyment of those Liberties which we will not lose but with our Lives In Fine to remove all Impediments of the peace we desire Wee do undertake both as Men of Credit and Justice that such of the Souldiers as will betake themselves to honester Employments shall receive their Arrieres from the City and such a further care of their future well-being as is suitable to the Necessities of the One part and the Charity of the Other THis Paper was so well received that it encouraged me to follow it with Another Entitled The Final Protest and Sense of the City HAving diligentâ—y perused two Printed Papers bearing date â—he 14th of this insâ—ant December The One in form of a Proclamation concerning the summoning of a Parliament The Other as an
our best to quiet them till we receive your Answer In Fine the End is honorable and we desire the means that lead to it may be so too Let nothing be omitted that may save blood The Army is necessitous and without pay they must or Steal or Perish Let us consider they are our Countrey-men and many of them the necessity apart our Friends Let such a course be taken that so many of them as shall contribute to the Advantage of a Free Election may without either Fraud or Delay receive their Arriers We shall do our part in the Contribution and in all Offices of Relation to a Religious and Lawfull Settlement as freely engage our Liveâ— and Fortunes with you as we do our Pens in this Profession to you that we are True English men and your Servants Decemb. 6. 1659. THE ENGAGEMENT WE the Free-born people of England having for many years last past been subjected in our Consciences Persons and Estates to the Arbitrary and Lawlesse Impositions of Ambitious and Cruell-minded men finding our selves at present in danger to be Irrecoverably lost partly by Invasions threatned us from Abroad and partly by Factions encroaching upon us at Home without the seasonable mediation of a Free-Parliament We do Declare that we will by all Lawfull means Endeavour the Convening of it and that we will afterward Protect the Members of it as the Blood of our own Hearts We do further Engage in the Presence of Almighty God that if any person or Persons whatsoever shall presume to Oppose us or to impose upon us any other Government Inconsistent with or Destructive to the Constitution of Parliaments we will prosecute him or them as the Betrayers of the Peoples Rights and Subverters of the Fundamentall Laws of the English Nation To the Honorable the Commissioners of the City of London for the Liberties and Rights of the â—nglish Nation GENTLEMEN HAving already satisfied you by what Authority we Act it concerns us next to acquaint you to what purpose we are Sent and what it is which we have in Charge to deliver unto you Your Proposals for the Sâ—ttlement of the Nation and That by the means of a Free-Parliament have been as Faithfully and Generally communicated as you intended they should as Kindly received as you could wish and the whole matter brought to as speedy an issue as was possible for an Affair of that Weight and Quality to admit In Testimony hereof We are to give you the Thanks of the People of England and to assure you that they are not less pleased with your Method of promoting the Publick Good than they are Obliged by those Affections which have disposed you to endeavour it Particularly they are exceeding glad to find that the City hath entrusted such Persons in the Businesse as beside all other due Qualifications for the Employment have This also that they were never Parties in the Quarrell It hath been our Care likewise to proceed by the same rule and for this Reason If Both Parties should be taken in there might possibly be some Animosities started sufficient to obstruct the Proceeding And again should Either of them be lest out the matter would probably be carried by Faction This we are commanded to represent rather as a Fair Expedient than an Absolute Necessity In the next place we are to inform you that the Engagement you sent us found so prone a Reception that we reckon it with us a greater difficulty to Find an Enemy to the Intent of it than to Subdue any whatever that shall presume to appear against the Promoters of it We do however hold our Selves bound to assure you that we are perfectly resolved to Joyn in the Charge and Hazard of the Dispute with you and that we are as Unanimous in This Cause as if the Treasure of the Nation had but one Master and the Strength of it were but directed by the Same Mind The List of the Subscribers we have here in Town If you desire to see it you may but if Otherwise we offer to your Prudence to consider if it may not be of more Advantage and Security to the Businesse in hand rather totally to conceal the Subscribers if not also the Commissioners themselves For the Thing it self we are not only Willing but Desirous to make That Publique It is of so Honest and Reasonable a Nature that no Man Dares oppose â—t who dares not be Damn'd no man Will that deserves to Live upon English ground and to conclude no Man Shall and escape Unpunish'd Parliaments are the Constitution Fundamentall of the Nation the Safeguard and the Honor of it nor are we more concern'd to Support them than to be wary lest we Mistaâ—e them We are to Distinguish betwixt Names and Things that we be not govern'd by Delusions Where have we a greater Cheat than that which stiles it self the Publique Faith Greater Subverters of our Liberties than some that write themselves the Conservators of them 'T is not for 40 people to call themselves our Representative Is 't not enough that they have Robb'd us unless they Govern us too They 'll say we Chose them so did we chuse above 300 more and we 'll be Rul'd by All or None of them Without more adoe having Formally assured you of an absolute Concurrence from the Nation as to what they have received in Proposition from you It remains now only that we recommend some Additionals to you which we conceive may be of some Benefit to the Common Interest of the whole In the First Place we Propose That no Petition be presented to this Pretended Parliament from the City of London and we Undertake as much for our Selves Secondly That no Levies of Men or Monies be suffered in persuance of thâ—ir Pretended Acts and in case of any Force attempted upon the Refusers that we immediately Arm our Selves and by Violence Repell it Thirdly we judge it very fit in regard of Dangers Imminent both Forein and Domestique That a Free Parliament be speedily convened the Time and Mâ—nner of Summons instantly agreed upon with a Salvo Jure to all Interests By a Free Parliament we understand an Assembly of such Persons as by the Law are Qualified to chuse without any othâ—r Restreint than what the Law imposes Not that we claim to our selves the Right of Calling Parliaments but the Impossibility of procuring one Regularly and the Absolute Necessity of having something like one Suddenly This is enough to aâ—quit us before God and Men. By these means all Differences may be composed all Parties reconciled and to â—hese purposes we are ready to Sacrifice our Lives and Fortunes GENTLEMEN We are your faithfull Servants January 3. 1659. UPon the 17 of Ian. Mr. Bampfield the Recorder of Exceter delivered a Leading Declaration to the Pretended Speaker from the Gentry of Devonshire Demanding the Readmission of the Secluded Members and filling up of Voyd Places without any Previous Engagement This Netled the Rump and Drew from Them
Proposition FREEDOME there can be none to the People where a Particular and Little party pretends to impose upon a number forty times greater and enslave them Nor SAFETY where in that Dispropoâ—tion the Nation is engaged against a Faction and every Sword that 's rais'd against it carries damnation upon the point on 't Neither do they act as Men. Man is a Reasonable and Sociable Creature Here 's a Design that breaks the Bond of Order and betrayes a manifest Folly by a contrivance so impracticable and mischievous at once Idly to labour the saving of a few guilty persons at the price of an universal Desolation For Christianity either my Bible's false or their Opinion that shall pretend to raise a Christian Government upon a Basis of Rebellion and Bloudshed From hence the terible Trifle proceeds to the distribution of his Design into three Heads First what the CAVALIER saies Secondly what the PRESBYTERIAN thinkes Thirdly what the Armies best Friends scornfully called COMMON-WEALTH-MEN and PHANATICKS do foresee concerning the present transactions in the three Nations And lastly his own Observations and seasonable Advice He tels us The CAVALIER's OPINION that the Generals intention is to bring in the King and grounded upon tâ—eâ—e â—easons Fiâ—st â—haâ— upon the 11 th of February last he sent an imposing Leâ—ter to the Parliament in scorn called the Râ—Mâ— and thereupon without any Order from them marched with their Army into LONDON then esteemed and made by Him in destroying their Gates c. their implacable enemies and at night suffered so many Bonfires and â—inging of Bels and publickly drinking healths to the KING and a free-FREE-PARLIAMENT Roasting and burning of Rumps hearing and seeing his MASTERS in open Street declared MURTHERERS and TRAYTORS c. Feasted and associated with the Kings Friends c. This is a grievous charge assuredly and by the license of our Observator This I Reply The General 's Commission expired upon the Tenth of February so he was free the Eleventh Again it was the design of the Rump to make the General odious and therefore they imposed on him such barbarous Orders as probably might leave him to retreat While he professed to Act by any Derivation from Them malice it self cannot but say His Excellency stood firm to every point of Military obedience at last when they proceeded so severely against the City he interposed but his Mediation was rejected and more imperious commands sent to him this is enough to prove 't was not the General that made London the Rumps implacable Enemies but 't was the sordid Insolences of the Members that made the Conventicle hateful to the whole Kingdome and this appeared by the Universal Joy that followed upon their disappointment If the Rump at Westminster did by a Sympathy fellow-feel the suffering Rumps in the City the Case indeed was hard but for the rest thâ— Murtherers and Rebels they were call'd methinks it should not trouble folks to be call'd by their Names that 's only Liberty of Conscience and I dare say the people spake as they thought Are these Gentlemens Ears so tender and their Hearts so hard Is the Sound of Treason and Murther so dreadful and the Exercise of it so Trivial I must confesse to stay away Ten dayes together from the 11th of Feb. til the 21th as that his Masters charge him with was something a long Errand But seriously Gentlemen considering 't was his first fault forgive him The second motive to the Cavaliers Discourse that his Excellency will restore the King is that notwithstanding his engagement by Letter and Verbal promise to His MASTERS that had ventured their All to secure him from being ruin'd by Lamberts Army he yet admiâ—s the Secluded Members to sit most of whom he absolutely knew to be for the Restauration of CHARLES STUART c. To this it is notorious that Designes were laid to murther the General That the Rump Received and Kept in Members impeached That they promoted and gave Thanks for BAREBONES Petition containing matters of direct contradiction to their Professions In the next place instead of the Rumpers saving the General from being ruin'd by Lambert the General saved them and touching their Opinions concerning CHARLES STVART as this Villain prates the King The Noble General regarded their Trust not their Opinions nor did he enquire what they were Thirdly say they â—he General will bring the King in for he hath suffered â—he secluded Members to release Sir GEORGE BOOTH and his Party c. Again they have de novo voted the COVENANT to be Printed Read and set up c. acknowledging the late King's Posterity as likewise suffering to be maintained in the House that none but Iesuites and Priests are for Free-Sate Government Observe yet further sayes the CAVALIER that he imprisons Common-wealth-men and releases Royalists c. These Rumpers have gotten such a trick of breaking Parliaments that 't is their publick Profession now become to enforce them to the bent of the ARMY SUFFER still is the word The General SUFFERED the secluded Members to Release Sir GEORGE BOOTH The next point is yet more remarkable These very COVENANTERS ABJURE the COVENANT As for the SUFFERING there 't is again to be maintained that only Iesuites c. the General is not properly to take cognisance of what passes in the House the King was chidden for 't see Exact Collections the Petition of both Houses Decemb. 14. 1641. now for imprisoning and releasing If it so happen that some Commonwealth-men deserve to be laid up and some Royalists to be enlarged not as such it is but â—uâ—tice to do the one and the other for at the rate of this subtile Argument Free-state-men shall be Protected against the Lâ—w and Royalists so Persecuted likewise Lastly the Cavaliers conclude as much from the Generals countenancing the Militia being raised and formed to murther and destroy the Army and that the same thing was done long since in Scotland besides the Irish Army have proceeded answerable to himself And divers Officers that served the late King have had fair promises from him and several of the Kings sriends are peaceably returned from exile c. and again there 's a Proviso in the ACT of DISSOLUTION concerning the LORDS being a part of the PARLIAMENT c. To be short the General encourages the Militia to Save the Countreys not to Ruine the Army next if long since done in Scotland the better done the sooner for England hath been only Rump-ridden for want of it To this the conform motion of Ireland proceeds from their Commune Concerne with England in delivering themselves from the Tyranny of the Rump for the Generals promises I am glad to hear it but truly I know nothing of it In truth 't is a sad business Alderman Bunce his return and the Proviso in the Act of dissolution for certainly by the known Law the Lords are no part of the Parliament To speak my thoughts freely I am very glad to hear that
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
Interest in favour of a Small and a Partial one and if it be granted that a Free Parliament will never agree upon a Free State it follows necessaâ—ily that That Form will never doe our Businesse Lastly what Government soever is forced upon us must certainly expire with the Force that imposes it and the Voice of the People in this case is the Declaratory Voice of Providence The Third Difficulty is The Army will never endure it This is to say You are to be Govern'd by the Sword To Conclude The Fear of a New War and the Promise of a speedy Composure are the last Suggestions of Disswasion to us Alas my Lord doe we not see that Parties are uniting against us Abroad and we conspiring against our selves at Home How certainly shall we be Attempted and how easily Overcome without such a Medium to Reconcile us All as may Please us All but we are promised fair We beseech you Lordship to consider the Promisers Are not These the People that vow'd to make our Last a Glorious King Just such a Glorious Nation will they make of Us. Did they not next Abjure a Single Person and yet after that set up ANOTHER with Another Oath Not to pursue this Subject further These Men we dare not Trust nor any other of that Leaven we have have no thoughts but of Justice to all Interests and in order to that Settlement and Good we wish the Nation we shall empower our Representatives with the Command of all we are worth and most remarkably evidence our selves My Lord Your Excellencies Servants Ian. 28. 1659. THe Generall waâ— plyed with Addesses for a Free-Parliament throughout his whole Passage and the Nation entirely Concurr'd to the same Effect Upon Tuesday Feb. 2. a Considerable Party of the Red-Coates Tumulted for Pay Cast off their Officers and Formally Engarrison'd themselves in Somersâ—t-House Publiquâ—ly Reproaching the Rump and Declaring for the City and a Free-Parliament Finding the Citizens well enough disposed to emprove the Mutiny I appointed Immediately the Printing of Two Papers directing them to Associate and in These Terms The SENSE of the ARMY WHereas the Calamities of this Unhappy Nation are charged upon those that have ventured their Bloods for the preservation of it We hold it necessary to acquit our selves both to God and Men by declaring to these following Particulars First That we will engage our Lives against all opposers of a Free-Parliament Secondly That we will according to the best of our Knowledge observe and cause to be observed the Known Lawes of the Land Thirdly That we will practice no violence but what we are obliged to by the Laws of Honesty and Nature Lastly That we will not leave our Quarters unsatisfied nor lay down our Arms without our Pay Somerset-House Feb. 2. 1659. The Citizens DECLARATION for a FREE PARLIAMENT WEe the Young Men in and about London doe unanimously Declare That we will Assist and proâ—ect to our uttermost what Party soever we shall find opprest for desiring a FREE-PARLIAMENT And that such of the Souldiery as shall joyn with us in so necessary and just an Undertaking shall receive half their Aâ—rieres upon the first Rendezvous anâ— the Rest upon the Accomplishment of the Work Feb. 2. 1659. LAâ—e at night The Apprentices drew into a Party in the City and were scattered by the Army Horse whereas had they rather drawn down into the Strand and joyned themselves with Those in Somerset-House it was believed by sober Persons that they might have carried it About One in the Morning the Revolted Party was False-Alarmed and perswaded out of their security upon Pretense that if they were not Instantly Posted to hinder Monks Entrance into the Town they would have all their Throats cut in their Quarters This Device brought them out and so That morning they were Commanded away Leaving the Town Quiet and in Condition to entertain Honester Guests Upon Friday Afternoon Feb. 3. his Excellency marched in the Head of his Army to his Quarters at White-Hall and the Day following I took the Liberty to shoot another Bolt under the Title and Form here-ensuing For his EXCELLENCY Generall MONCK MY LORD YOu are too Wise and Noble to need either a Direction or a Spur where your Iudgement or Honor lies at Stake And to tell you that to make your self the Happiest Person in Nature you must Deliver us from being the most Miserable People is but to speak your own Thoughts and Purposes Yet such is the Passion I have for your Personall and for the Publique Good that a Burthen lies upon my Soul till I have given some Testimony of my Respects and Tendernessâ— both for the One and the Other how-supeâ—fluous-soever toward a Iudgement and Inclination so well Qualified for the Knowledge and Practice of what is Honorable My Lord We are a wretched People and Providence hath put it in your power to finish all our Troubles The Eyes of Men and Angels are upon You and the whole Nation courts You as their Tutelâ—ry Spirit Never was any Action so easie and so Glorious at once as our Deliverance 'T is wrought without the â—azzard or expence either of Blood Time or Treasure The Hearts the Hands and Fortunes of the People are all at Your Devotion Nay lest You should submit to be misled by Popular Applâ—use Ambition or any other Frailâ—y Heaven hath annexed Your Interest to Your Duty forgive the Language You must be Mad too to be Wicked and Quit all other Principles of Beneficiall Prudence with those of commune Honesty and Conscience Ballance my Lord the main Accompt Heaven and Hell are the Difference One way You are sure to be as Great and Safe as Love and Gratitude can make You whereas all other Acquisitions are deceitfull A word now of the means to effect our Quiet and that with all due respect to better Reason First In the Case of differing Perswasions be pleased to form such an Expedient that all may quietly enjoy and exercise their opinions so far as they Consist with the Word of God and with the publique Peace Secondly Appoint an Act of Oblivion to be drawn if you please as Comprehensive of all Interests as care and skill can make it and afâ—er this let a Free-Parliament be called with this previous Engagement imposed upon them That they shall first secure these two Particulars of Conscience and Property according to the true Intention of the Parties therein Concerned ere they proceed further and that they may then apply themselves to other Debates at Liberty and settle what Government they shall think fit This I presume not to deliver as the Arrogant Imposition of a single Person but I doe offer it humbly as the sense of a Numerouâ— and Sober party Some Mutinous and Peevish Spirits there are whom nothing can please but what displeases all the World beside It were pitty to alter the whole Frame of the Law to gratifie the humour of so Inconsiderable a part of the People
as their Deliverer and he deserved it For he hath proved himself no lesse The strict reserve he used was but what best became his Dignity and Prudence he was too Generous to betray Another and too Wise to be betrayed Himself Under this Guard of Honour and of Caution he past his Journey not to trouble you with long stories how the waies were thronged with Cries and Addresses of the Nation for a Free-Parliament what Conference he had with the good Aldermen what Complements were made him by the Other men of Westminster c. To come to the Point upon Friday afternoon the third of this Instant February General Monck took up his Lodgings in Whitehall On the Monday following his Excellency was conducted by Scot and Robinson with the formality of a Mace carried before them in o a place commonly called the Parliament-House where he deliver'd himself according to good Discretion and soon after return'd to his Lodgings Laden with the Thanks of the House Tuesday and Wednesday were the General 's daies of rest but not so to the City for upon Tuesday the 10â—â—00 l. Tax came out which Netled the Citizens shrewdly and the day following they met in Common-Counsell to advise upon it Where they resolved to adhere to a former Vote of the Court in the Negative At the same sitting was communicated a Declaration from Warwiâ—k shire for a free-Free-Parliament it was of a fair signification and Authority the Gentlemen that brought it received the Thanks of the Court not to mention the peevishnesse of 2 or 3 Dissenters 't is hoped they may be wiser and honester hereafter This was a Day of Businesse in London and produced a Busier Night at Westminster for the Counsell of State after a tedious Puzzle and Debate Issued out Orders to Gâ—nerall Monck for the Reducing of the City directing him to proceed in such a Method as they had prescribâ—d him In persuance thereof his Excellency marched early upon Thursday the Ninth current Horse and Fâ—â—t into the City by thâ—â— means frustrating a Respect which the Court had designed him the Day before Having appointed four Aldermen and eight Commoners to attend him the next Morning His entrance into the Town brought all the Horror and Satisfaction with it Imaginable nor did the People understand for a long while wâ—ether they should Curse or Adore him at last in compliance with his Orders he seized divers eminent Citizens and sent them to the Tower and took up his Quarters that Night in the City By this time the People beyond all doubt pronounced him the most execrable Creature that ever came within their Walls not understanding that the Mischief he did them was but Iest and the Good he Intended them was Earnest That in consideration of a weeks Imprisonment he would reward them and their Posterity wâ—th Perpetuall Liberty This however carried an appearance of severity which was in effect but a point of Military Honor For his Inclination and Duty in this Action Led him several waies as a Souldier he obeyed a Barbarous Order as an Englishman he made it his care to take off the edge on 't and he was bound to doe That this day by Commission Which he resolved to undoe two dayes after upon a Nobler Principle upon Friday the 10th of the Moneth and the laâ—t of his Commission the General demanded the Cities last Resolve from thâ— Aldermen who sâ—ill adhered to their former Judgement His Excellency hereupon gave command to demolish the City Gates and so Returned to Whitehall Observe that his Displeasure and Commission died together For the next Morning Saturday he made the Town a large Amends Declaring Solemnly to joyn with them and their Associates for a Free Parliament but having fairly first discharged himself to those at Westminster by a Letter in commune with his Officers who have behaved themselves as men of Honor in the Businesse The Truth is had not the Generall been nimble with them they had undermined him for contrary to Faith and Honesty to their expresse Agreement they had not onely entred into a secret combination with the Sectaries but publickly encouraged their Assemblings and Petitions and more particularly contrived the direct Ruine of that Person who had so lately preserved them This is a Theame transports me The Bloody Votes were passed that Dismall Night Let Nedham tell you but never was a Joy so Universall wise men grew mad upon 't and mad men sober The Cryes the Bonfires and the fume of Rosted Rumps did quite take down the Legislative Stomack 'T is thought the Thing at Westminster is vanished In fine the Hand of God is in 't his Name be praysed Feb. 12. 1659. THis was not yet enough to put the Rump out of Countenance The blessed Members met again as Formally as ever Acted with a Confidence tha t might exuse the Common peoples Iealousie over the General He was too Wise to walk too Open and They not Wise enough to comprehend the Policie of his Reserve And yet they wanted not a Will to Understand him They study'd nothing else but his Intentions That which most puzzled them was a Confeâ—ence at Alderman Wale's betwixt Sâ—veral of the Sâ—cluded Mâ—mbers and of the Rump Joyning to That His Excellencies Answer to a Proposal of Raysing Forces to secure themselves which was That He himself would Interpose betwixt the City and all Danger Observing how prejudicial these Mistakes were to the Publique Interest of Seâ—tlement and with what Art and Industry they were Assisted by the Adverse Party I took it for a Seasonable and Good Offâ—ce to do somthing that might Create a better Understanding Or at the worst Excite the Citizens to Act by Tichborn's President and of Themselves in Case of any further Baffle or Delay in setling their Militia For these Reasons I Publish'd this Ensuing Paper A Word in Season to General MONK with his Officers c. To the CITY and To the NATION My Lord and Gentlemen YOu are at present in the Heart of the Nation and in the Arms of your Friends where you are Safe and Beloved You have the Strength and Affections of the City at your Dâ—votion and it is your Commune Interest to unite in a Concurence both of Power and Kindnesse You stand and fall together You are all of the same Stock Born to the same Freedom Subjected to the same Laws Nurs'd up in the same Religion And in fine Obliged by the same Rules of Duty and Wisdom to promote the same Ends. I might adde that you are likewise exposed to the same Danger and from the same Enemy by whose Hypocrisie and Skill should you be Dâ—luded into a Belief of such who never kept Fâ—ith forgive me your Reputation is lost with your Security and you Fall without either Redress or Pity In this very Instant while you Treat the Mine is working The Instruments and Means of your Destruction are already agreed upon Some arâ— employed to Infect your Councils and Alienate your
appointment 'T is too Malicious for a private Passion and too Dangerous for one that writes not either for Bread or Life Take it in gross 't is an Alarm to all the Phanatiques in England couched under the specious notion of an Appeal to the General and his Army assâ—rting to all purposes the interests and Justifying the â—orrid Practises of the Regicide-Party It Remonstrates Expostulates Tempts Threatens Flatters Begs Prevaricates and by all Artifices toward all Humours it moulds it self into an application suitâ—bâ—e oâ—ly upon the Blood and Family of the late King it lashes out into an Impious and Inhumane fury sufficient to Disgrace the Sober in comparison promoters of his Death aâ—d to Startle their very Consciences that spilt his Blood with Pleasure Nor does the Brutish Rebel only quiâ— the Man in point of Tenderness his rage against the Royall Line disturbs his Reason too otherwise smooth enough to delude such as are not very well aware of him Whether it be the Agony and Horrour of a Wounded Soul which thus transports him or that in these excesses he only Personates the last Convulsions of a Heart-broken Faction It matters not Thus much we may collect from his distempers That Rabble is at this instant upon a Combination to Tumulâ—uate the Army and the People and such as will not share the Guilt of their Conspiracy they labour to engage within the Reach and Danger of it That we may better understand what they Design wee 'll see a little what they Say This Phamphlet speaks the sence of the whole Gang and throughly Examined will discover the frame and the extent of of their lewd Purposes I look upon 't as an Affront to Christianity and to Reasonable Nature so scandalous I vow to God in Favour meerly of Humanity I would suppresse it were no more Copies extant of it but 't is too late for that The Countreys are already furnished and the Town yet full of them thâ— singular and earely care of the Publick Magistrate to hinder it notwithstanding so that it rests now only to lay open the vile interests of this bloody Faction and Antidote the People against the danger of their Pestilent Infusions Let Time produce the Author if it be lawfull to Prophane the Light with such a Monster The Matter only of this Licentious Paper must be my Subject IF we must never be quiet til these People think themselves Safe we must stay till divine Justice is dissolved till they believe the word and Power of God a Fable till they can Lay that Devil Conscience and Blot out of the Table of their Memories all their Presumptuous outrages both agaiâ—st Heaven and Earth till they can Quench those raging Horrours that Exagitate their Souls Remove those hideous Fantomes that whereso'ere they fly pursue them with the images of those that they have murther'd Bleeding afresh and when they think to Turn away their Looks from the Dire object to the other side they meet with a Remembrancer that mindes them of their Sacrilege and Treason and then they start again another way and there they meet with a Sword drawn to revenge their Perjuries In fine their Injuries are of a large extent and such by consequence must be their fears while they persist in their Impenitence In this distresse rather of Thought than Danger of Terrour from within rather than Violence without They do well to implore the Generals help to save their Lives that would have taken His especially obliging him in Surplus with this additional respect That they have made him Free oâ— the Phanatiques Embarqued him in the same Bottom with themselves and Finally involved the Honour and the Saver of his Countrey in common with the Blemish and the Pest of all mankinde Say MILTON NEDHAM either or both of you or whosoever else Say where this Worthy Person ever mixt with you That is You or those that Employ you and allow you wages more then in order to those very purposes to which he still adheres and from whence you recede The returne of that Family which Pretends as this Tumbler phrases it to Govern us nor was nor is the Question The publick interest that he fought for and you swore to was the Preserving of our BIRTH-RIGHTS the good old LAWS his MAJESTIES LEGAL AUTHORITY the PRIVILEDGES of PARLIAMENT c. Read the Old Declarations not to maintain a Canting Faction in the Army a Py-bald Ministry or which amounts to all the Residence the Errata's of an Honest Parliament Again to comply fairly with an Universall Vote That does our Scribler call forgetting of a publique Interest and keeping of the Covenant or an Oath is with him lulling of a Man's conscience asleep A desire to be well again after a Cursed fit of the Spleen and ply'd with steel too of well-nigh Twenty years conâ—iâ—uance our Demy Levite terms it a Hankâ—ring after our 〈◊〉 Leeks and Onions For that Every man as he likes you 're for a Rump it may be I'm for somewhat else Believe me I had rather Liâ—e poor and Honest than Hang Rich and Treacherous thâ—n give my self a turn in one of the King 's old Houses But De Gustibus non est Dispuâ—andum I 'm sorry my first Page is Printed I shall be thought a Fool now for suspecting our Plain-English-man of Wit Something there 's in his vein like bottle Ale Stir it It Tumults â—putters and at last it spends it self in Foam but Nourishment or Comfort there 's none in 't The Fellows Jadish Dull out of his Beaten and Known Rode but when he comes to rail against the King he 's in his Element There he 's a Thorough pac'd Egregious villain and yet a Stumbler but a false step or two may be allowed him This Formal Devil how great an honour does he to the Royall Famiâ—ly in his reviling of it The Injuries and Oppressions it haâ— done to Church and People trouble him sore The Bloâ—â—ing out of EXIT TYRANNUS sticks in his stomach too but though the Statues gone the story shall stand firm there lyes his Consolation Audacioâ—s Brute the Blot and the Deformity of Humane Race During the Warr the Nation lay oppresâ— under the Common fate of an Intestine Broyl The Quarrel was disputed both with Pens and weapons doubtfully as to the Vulgar among the wiser sort some steer'd their course by Interest or Passion others resign'd themselves abstracted from all other thoughts to what they reckoned Piety and reason Thus for the Burtheâ—â—eems divided After this the King is made â— Prisoner and his Parâ—y sunk now I Demand Who has oppress'd us since but those that Swore till then they fought to save us If we look back beyond the Warr our Mischief there was that we were better fed than taught We were Rich Wanton and Rebellioâ—s But I begin to waver in my undeâ—taking I find I have a Wâ—lâ— to deal with not a Man That preys upon the Dead A Devil whose Business is to break the Bonds of
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
and encouragement of the Godly and the Faithfull therein c. and that you have no intention or purposes to return to our old Bondage but that the providence of God having made us free at the cost of so much bloud you will never be found so unfaithfull to God and his People as to lose so glorious a Cause but to resolve with God's assistance to endeavour a maintaining of our dear-purchased Liberties both Spiritual and Civil But seeing these Declarations made before God Angels and Men as your selves have said do so much concern your Souls in the observation of them that they cannot but be much upon your hearts therefore we mention them not as doubting you or endeavouring to perswade you but to ease our own mindes and to comfort the hearts of our Brethren who have need to be comforted and do wait for a good time when your Excellency shall break forth and more visibly appear through all the Clouds of Fear and Iealousie a Defence and Protection through the goodness of God to all his people that fear him in these Nations and so their hearts universally will return unto you in assurance whereof and that you will be very much confirmed and encouraged after the reading of the Declaration We remain My LORD Your Excellencies most faithfull Friends and Servants in the Common Cause March 22. 1659. STill I perceive you 're sure and yet for your weak Brethrens sake you minde His Excellency of a Pawn he has engag'd for his Fidelity to the Publick only his Soul in a Declaration before God Angels and Men that he hath no intent to return to his old Bondage Why you Impudent Sots does a Confederacy with a Pedling Little Sniv'ling Faction that would subvert Order and Government amount to a Fidelity to the Publick or does the avoiding the Old Bondage you keep such a Coil with Imply the setting up a New and more Tyrannical Imposition In sine the mention of the King proceeds from your own Guilt and Fears that have so much abused him The General meddles not at all to impose upon us but only stands betwixt Authority and Violence His Excellency refers all to the Appoâ—ntment of such Persons as the People shall chuse to Act in their behalf and cannot in Honour side with a Party of Juglers that only call themselvâ—s our Representatives and we disclaim This is enough said to convince you and the World where the Abuse lies Now having eased your mindes in your own Language you may go ease your bodies too for I dismisse you and all 's but giving of the Rump a Purge Cursed is he that removeth his Neighbours Land-mark April 2. 1660. UPon this pinch of Time the Good Old Cause was hard put to 't as appears by their more than ordinary earnestnesse toward all Parties but chiefly they solicited the Army in an Audacious Pamphlet Entituled An ALARVM to the ARMIES of ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND the substance whereof may be collected from this ensuing Answer to it THis last Week has brought to light two Pamphlets so exquisitely impious as if they had been fram'd in Hell by OLIVER and BRADSHAW They speak the Language of the Damned Horrour Despairs and Desolation These goodly pieces are Christen'd PLAIN ENGLISH and AN ALARUM I suppose they are Twins the Issue of the same Brain as they are related to the same main End I had nigh finish'd a Reply upon the â—â—â—mer when the latter came to my hand comparing which with the other I â—inde they correspond so aptly and so universally to the same seditious Purpose that there 's not any Interest 'scapes their Malice and Attempt They advance their Dispute and March together that what they cannot gain by force of Argument they may be ready to Essay by dint of Sword PLAIN ENGLISH is a reasoning of the case first with the General claiming from his Engaging for the Publick Liberty a title to his aid in favor of a private and enslaving Faction It labours then to puzzle the Presbyterian into a jealousie of the Kings faith and honour and consequently into a doubt of his own safety should His Majesty be restored Nay not content to blaspheme the Kings Integrity by a bold censure of his secret thoughts the shameless Beast the Author of it proceeds to charge the secluded Members with the guilt of the Kings bloud upon a senceless inference drawn from the Declaration of both Houses in 1647 touching the Reasons of the Votes for non-Address His aim is here to perswade them to accuse themselves How those Votes were obtained I have shewed at large in answer to PLAIN ENGLISH and it suffices the whole Nation knows that though the Plague was in both Houses then yet All were not infected the Rumpers only had the Tokens nor all these neither so that at last the seclusion of so many as opposed the Capital prosecution of the King amounts to a clear Act of discrimination a separation of the clean from the unclean Having there set the Presbyterians at work upon the Question of Interest and safety and after many a lame complement to his Excellency he cuts out worse employment for the Phanatick Souldiery and at the same time breathing Hot and Cold Reason and Mutiny he solicites the General into a Complyance and the Army into a Tumult To disabuse the multitude if any should be mad enough to be deluded by so gross a cheat I 'll lay the juggle open in as few and familiar words as posssible The Title speaks the business of the Pamphlet 'T is AN ALARUM and the Application To the OFFICERS and SOLDIERY c. the malice there 's Treason in the very Face on 't If the first two words cost not the Nation a hundred thousand lives 't is not the Authors fault His second page places the Legislative power in the Army challenging their promise That before they would SVFFER themselves to be disbanded or divided they would see the Government of these Nations establisht upon the just and secure fundamentals and constitutions of Freedome and Safety to the People in relation as Men and Christians and that in the way of a Common-wealth or Free-state-Government without a King single Person or House of Lords These Gentlemen I see resolve to be their own Carvers not SVFFER themselves to be disbanded This RUMP would be a perpetuall ARMY as well as a perpetual PARLIAMENT Let the Nation observe now the Quality of this suggestion First By the Law of Arms 't is Death that which these Fellows would engage the Army in that mutiny against their General for they give him for lost Next 'T is TREASON by the Law of the Land the VSVRPATION Thirdly 'T is MVRTHER Murther intentional in the bare conception of it and actual sure enough so soon as that intention is but known Now let us weigh the Benefits it brings against the Crimes and dangers that attend it FREEDOME and SAFETY to the People both as MEN and CHRISTIANS there 's the