left altogether remedilesse but to proceed the aforesaid Petition being referred to a Commmittee and the Citizens put off with faire words till this grand Ordinance for the Militia was passed and then presently they thundred as if the Petition had tended to the prejudice of â—â—urch and State 4. If they want money or a new Army to secure themselves that old Asse the Citie must raise men or sund out their Trained Bands for them 〈…〉 of London must pay and beare or else be plundered and what remedy 〈◊〉 whâ—â—â—â—ever the Parliament will exact and the Military men execute the Commons of London must obey and submit to though never so unjust a tax or imposition But you will say the Trained Bands will not be all of a mind but this Partie having prevailed to New-Modelling of the Commissioners you shal see them New-Model the Train Bands also here is the first piece of the frame of Englands slavery must serve if they can carry it for a leading case unto the whole Kingdom The effects yee Commons of London which yee may expect hence are the utter abolition of your free Elections of your Maior Aldermen Sheriffs Common-Councell-men and other publicke Officers of your body and Corporation so that now you may bid all your priviledges adue and the free borne Apprentices after seaven years hard servitude * Marke yee Apprentices expect a Perpetuall vassalage by this means the hopes yee had of the recovery of antient Rights and immunitie are frustrate and yee after all your costs and adventures for your liberties become the first absolute slaves in England if God doe not otherwise prevent or raise up some Othniel Ehud Shamger Barak or Gideon to deliver you And in such hands as these this desperate domineering faction by symptomes and signes purpose to settle the Militia in all the Counties and Corporations of the Kingdom and have already in Durham Cumberland and other places Northward put it principally into their hands who are declared Traytors and Enemies to the State Malignant and Delinquents some of which have been actually in war against the Parliament and their Country as Sir George Vane old Sir Henries Son who was in armes with the King and is now made one of the Deputie Lieutenants of the Militia for Durham a Justice of Peace and a Committee-man and yet scarce good commoditie for the Hang-man S. Wilfrid Lawson of Cumberland such another yet by the prevalency of this partie intrusted with the posse-Commitatus whereby he may raise the Countie and cut all honest mens throats if he imagine cause To tell you of the commands power wherewith Lieutenant Col. Offcere Cap. Musgrave Story Stoddert and divers others are invested and intrusted in those parts who have beene in armes against the Parliament and their Country to the great trouble hazard and affliction of all the faithfull wel-affected there besides many others in other places of the Land would be too tedious let these for present sufflice for example and all rather then to trust the honest and approved in the Land because they are contrary to their treasonable designes and practices and will not suffer themselves not the Country to become their vassalls and pack-horses I wish those Northern Countries had no just cause of complaint against that deceitfull double-dealing Lord Wharton I will for speciall cause not that I fear or regard him or any man farther then he is sincere and vertuously honourable space spare him but it it is good for him and others to repent and doe their first workes lest a worse thing befall them there is nothing hid but it may be made manifest to runne away from a fight for feare is tolleâ—able and is contingent to the greatest * Witnes Generall Leshley Generall but for a professed Souldier of Jesus Christ to turne his backe and flce from the â—ruth is to be abhorred Hath not Christ said He wll be ashamed of such when he shall come in his Fathers glory with the holy Angells Mark 8.38 And did Jehisaphat prosper that tooke part with Ahab Or ever any escape by iniquitie And if Meroz was cursed yea bitterly cursed because they would not helpe what are they that doe hurt And are not they also cursed though they be doing that doe Gods worke negligently Consider these things seriously all yee that are sunke setled upon the lees all the Neuters and indifferent ones that plead moderation non-season and prudence for your basenesse of spirit negligence and cowardice in the great Chuse of God and this distressed Kingdom and yee Timedi yee searfull ones who are more afraid of the face and displeasure of man whose breath is in his nostrels and whose councels perish then of the power and wrath of God Who is a consuming fire and whose councels abide for ever That feare more the losing of your places and profits then the losing of Gods favour and countenance and the peace of a good conscience Read that 21. Rev. and tremble remember your selves rouse up your spirits and shew your selves couragious for truth and justice and zealous for the glory of the Lord of Hosts if yee will not know that deliverance will come to Gods People some other way and yee shall not escape As for M. Hollis and others whose councells and practices tend principally to treason and tyranny injustice and violence I know what I say and doubt not yet but in time to see it proved so who live without Law and act contrary to Law like Traytors and Rebels Let such men know that God will render unto them according to their workes and I am confident that they shall never be able to acomplish their wicked enterprize and that the pit they have digged for others they shall fall into themselves God will take them by their own counsels as he did in old time Aâ—hitophell and Haman and as hee did Strafford and Canterbury in these dayes yea in those two presidents they have prepared a halter for their owne necks and their owne words shall be their Judges Strafford and Canterbury were condemned for reasoanble councells and speeches endeavours and intentions of subverting the fundamentall lawes and frame of government and of setting up an arbitrary power and rule of government And whether Hollis and others his presumptuous complices have not been not only the intenders and indeavourers but the reall authors and actours of these things I doe appeale to all intelligent men who have taken any cognizance of their councels and actions So that if the King as it is a question did want just matter of occasion in his charge of treason against M. Hollis and others in 1641. both he and the whole Kingdome may without much search find enough doubt esse at this time yes have not M. Hollis and others his complices and confederates not onely verified many or most of those * Read consider them and compare them with their actions B. Decla page 34. articles of
and money of the People without the Peoples consent make Judges create Lord Keepers or Chancellours and yet the King in presence for they cannot now pretend a necessity by his absence and making use of his name to violate all Law oppresse the People and to commit all injustices in a word to destroy our Liberties and to execute their own Arbitrary wills They speake of having the Kings power with them virtually but we can neither see nor find any of its proper vertue either among them or from them for his Majestres Regall power is just and mercifull regulated by Law preservative and corrective and not unjust cruell irregular and illegall desacing and destructive as the effects have been of the power which the Parliament hath exercised And concerning the Kings estate and revenues no question but it is accumulated and that they have it in bank for they have been very parcimonious Stewards they can hardly spare either the master money for his necessities or his servants any for wages He like a Ward or Pupill is at their set allowance and content with the pittance his late tutors and guardians will allow him I doubt not but it will prove that some of them have made better allowance to themselves both out of his estate and the Republiques also Second how by reason of the predominancy and power of this tyrannous Party in both Houses whose malignant pernitious influence hath been and still is diffusive throughout all the Parliaments actions all these which have taken this Vew and Protestation are and have been defended in pursuance of the same it is sufficiently manifest For who but they that endeavour to maintain the true reformed Protestant Religion according to the doctrine professed in the Church of England in the power and purity of it are hated illegally prosecuted and persecuted vilifyed and reviled and he is most favoured and soonest preferred that can shew himselfe most virulent and violent against them And if you do but sken or looke like a Hare on the one side at the Kings Crown and Dignity you presently incurre through the powerful Votes of this Party the Parliaments high dislike and displeasure and it is a sufficient badge that you are an enemy because you are so to Traitors to the State witnes the high dissâ—â—e of the Armies wise and just demand of his Majesties royall assent to an Act of indempnity truly if they take a bare Parliament ordinance without the Royall assent I will not give them one farthing for their security and it will be found that their Iudges Chancellours Excise men and Sequestrators are in the same case as the Souldiers And to endeavour or petition for liberty according to the Protestation is as much as to â—eg a Prison to sue for justice is to be accounted seditious in a word to be sincere and honest is to be adjudged worthy of no trust imployment or preferment But to make the truth and the wicked practices and purposes of this destroying Party in both Houses yet more plain and open these cunning contrivers of our intended Vassalage and thraldom frame a combination and confederacy by covenant with the Scots and by power and subtilty surprize and ensnare therein the whole Parliament and Kingdom the which I pray read and observe In their feigned profession of sorrow they acknowledge that their not prizing the Gospell nor labouring to receive Christ into their hearts and they say truly hath been the cause of all other sinnes amongst us And therefore with their hands listed up to the most high God they do solemnly swear sincerely to endeavour a reformation of religion in the three Kingdomes in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches now what meanes this juggle and to the example of the best reformed Churches above they swearâ— and endeavour a reformation and what sincerity is here to make mens impure inventions equivalent to the infallible rule of Gods word to make dogma Presbyteri the opinion of the Priest adaequate to the unalterable last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ only here by this Fâ—yst these deceitfull Spirits endeavour to bring in something of their own that with their claw-back Priests they may seem to have something to do with Christ in his Church government and to sit checke by joule with him in his throne and thus they do still dis-esteem the inestimable benefit of the Gospell and oppose it in the power and purity of it even as their Fathers did so do they harden their hearts against the Lord. If the word of God be a sufficient rule to reform and govern the Church by what need then of any other pattern or platforme The best reformed Churches which are this day in Europe need reformation yea the pure Church of Scotland notwithstanding all their pretence For if you observe our Brethrens various double dealings turnings and windings self seeking and advantage-making in every businesse they transact or negotiate with us far unbeseeming men pretending so great conscientiousnes in all things so highly professing the power of Religion in purenes of life and conversation At first they were against the King then while he was with them they spek and write highly for him and now they have made the most they can of him The Scots have made more of the King then Judas did of the King of heaven they are again become adversaries to him one while they press one part of their deceitfull Covenant as at first they did that part for bringing evill instruments unto condign punishment whilst that Delinquents troubled them Afterward where by craft they had gotten the King among them hoping thereby to have had him established their Presbyterian Church-government within this Kingdom they were very zealous for that part of the Covenant which concerns the preservation and defence of his Majesties person and authority Now both the former are forgotten and they are at this instant extreme urgent and importune for that part of the Covenant which concernes the reformation of Religion in the three Kingdomes in dextrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches by which words the example of c. they would have it granted that their Kirke of Scotland is the best reformed in all the worldâ— and therefore we are bound by this clause of the Covenant they conceive to reforme by their pattern and to make their government our example as if they blind Beetles had obtained the very Sâ—â—mum gradâ—m of the government of the Church of Christ comprehended in the Gospel thus using the Covenant as a Waterman doth his Saile to turn every way and hereby they justify the Scripture which saith a double minded manty unstable in all his wayes Iam. 1. 8. but not one Word do they speak for justice or liberty of the Subject though they see all oppression and violence rage
fruits and effects are nothing but impiety and hypocrisie a Reli on which consists more in outward formes and rites after the manner of Moses then in power and piety according to the Gospel which conduceth as appears more to tyranny then Christianity And so I will pretermit their Vowes and Oaths and come to some of their speeches and sayings and here I will shew you another truth by the discovery of another falshood and treacherous vanting act of the same traiterous party or faction which serves as a patterne representation or image of the forme of the yoake of bondage which it may be suspected they study and intond to put upon all the Counties and Corporations in the Kingdome and by which with the helpe of their determined new Army of Horse it is probable they purpose if they can to subjugate the whole Land and to consorme the People to their arbitrary wills even to pay and bease doe and suffer whatsoever they shall thinke sit to enjoyne them or exact upon them as well in respect of things spirituall as civill In the Parliaments Remonstrance of the 2 of November 1642. Book Decl. pag. 700. they tell us That all Rights or Interest of publicke trust are only for the publicke good and not for private advantages nor to the prejudice of any mans particular interest much lefle of the publique And in May 1642. Book Decla 172. They call God to witnesse that the safetie of the Kingdome and peace of the people is their onely aime and because the King would not believe them therein and well had it been for us if we bad never so done nor trust them wholly therewith great grew the contestation as yee may well remember betweene the King and the Parliament about the setling of the Militia of the Kingdome and indeed it was one unhappy cause of the quarrell between them The Parliament then pretending that the King ought not to lettle it without them that it behoved them to have the nomination of such persons as were to be intrusted therewith in whom they might conside the King affirmes and they afterwards grant That the whole power thereof was intrusted by Law in him for the preservation and defence of the Kingdom yet because the King would not passe the Ordinance in Febu 1641. for the setling it in such forme as they desired though the persons they nominated were not refused they presently protest I with they were as quick to doe justice as they are to take exceptions to dispose of it without him and accordingly resolve Rebus sit stantibus nolenti Regi that is they expresse in extream distraction when sorreigne forces are probably invited and a malignant Pepish paritie offended c. the ordering it to be in them for the observe preservation of the Republicke and to prevent the turning the Armes of the Kingdome upon it selfe see the Parliaments answer to their owne question pag. 150. of the Booke of Decla But I hope the case is now altered for although our distractions be still continued by the destructive Councell of a pernicious sactions partie in both Houses the heads of which were and are the cause both of those distractions and these who like katchers of Eeles love to fish in the troubled waters here is now no seare of invited forreign forces and as for that malignant Popish partie then so much condemned it is utterly subdued and suppressed and therefore in all reason Rebus nunc sic stantibus that is the so much feared publicke adversary being long since conquered all visible danger removed and the King recovered out of the hands of evill Counsellors and at present with themselves and not legally divested of his Regall power and right of trust in a word all just pretext and colour of extremity being taken away they take too much upon them and abuse both King and People who in this opportunitie 〈…〉 Royall Assent may be had doe dispose of the Militia without him neither requiting his consent therein nor admitting the People according to the Law to the Election of a thing the King allowed them the persons who are to be intrusted with the dispose and command of their strength and armes and so by consequence of 〈◊〉 estates liberties and lives I am certaine in case as God â—oâ—bid the Royall Throne should by â—xigeâ—t beâ—ome vold the Parliaments are not their owne Mesters nor can by the fundamentall Law and constitution of this Kingdome dispose of us the Commons of England and out power armes or interest without our consents how much lesse at this instans All the Commons of England have more just ground of jealousâ—e from them in now so doing and of complaint and accusation against that malevolent ill-affected party among them by whose power and influence it hath beene effected considering the persons unto whom the Militia and strength of the Kingdome is in divers places of late 〈…〉 then the Parliament ever had from and against the King for refusing onely to 〈◊〉 in their way and manner for they chose the persons and he approved them but the Parliament are herein both choosers and approvers as in many things many of them are both Judge and Witnesse though we neither approve nor assent and thus wee as 〈…〉 the King are in this particular debarred from them of our right and priviledge but this is not the greatest detriment we sustaine and are likely without prevention to suffer and which this predominant malicious partie intends hereby for doe but cast your eye and see and consider what persons are put out of the Militia and what persons are continued admitted and intrusted and yee will presently judge by a little what the whole meanes For example first for for an introduction the pretended Lord Maior Aldermen and Comon-Councell must petition in the name of the Citie though the Citie never propounded it to them to have the Militia setled in their owne hands as they had formerly and why not then to have it by their Charter but by Ordinance for a certaine time and this by the power and prevalency of the malevolent partie is forthwith obtained because it tends to their predominant tyrannous ends approved Alderman Pennington who stood in the breach when they all were afraid whose sidelitie and abilitie was throughly experimented at such time when as the winds blew highest and the stormes grew strongest a man adjudged by the Citie worthy to be their Parliament-man and by the Parliament worthy to be Lieutenant of the Tower of London is now no longer worthy to be intrusted with the Militia but turned out as a man suspected so are the Aldermen K. Foulk Weaver and 〈◊〉 Col. Wilson though a Member of the House also Col. Player Tichburn and others And why they are not absolute for the Faction they were opposite to Bunce and Bellamy the Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell in the prosecution of the last indirect illegall and factious Remonstrance of Presbytery and therefore they are
and therefore endeavour by all meanes to bring the Land into a confusion and so to make our latter end worse then our beginning This Stapletoas Speech veresies who lately said Iâ—â—s now come to this that either we must sinke them meaning the Army and their friends or they sink us unto this end it seems they have so highly provoked the Army For prevention of which calamity and to procure our selves â—ase and remedy we must take them away charge them home and demand their persons to be delivered up to justice why feare we what power hath any Parliament man that he hath not received from them that chose him And it a King so soon as he ceaseth to rule by the known Law doth degenerate into a Tyrant and is worthy to be ejected what are those Parliament men Manchester Hollis Stapleton and others of this Faction who have so probably contrary to their Oaths Trusts and Duties left all rule of Law and Justice and by their power and prevalency have dealt with us and disposed of our estates and liberties after their owne wicked crooked wils and what are these men worthy of according to law and reason expulsion is too little and beheading is too honourable But happily some of them may say by mee because I declare that which they no wayes colour that I am mad I am sure they are their madnesse doth appear to all men otherwise some of them would not have so basely reproached his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax who came to London only because of his disease staid there a while for his infirmity and weaknes in saying it was fitter for him to be with his Army which is in a distemper then to be in Hide Park courting of Ladies If the Army be distempered hath not Manchester Stapleton Hollis and that turbulent faction distempered them by their im-parliamentary Declaration against them and ingratefull abuse of them Nay do they not distemper and trouble the Parliament and whole Kingdom are not they the only obstructers of our settlement in England and of the reliefe of distressed Ireland are not these I say the cause of all our distraction and disturbance I wish they were not and as for Sir Thomas his courting of Ladies I would Sir Peter Temple Sir John Mâ—râ—â—ck Sir John Hipsly M. Mâ—yâ—e Moore Bell Brwyer and too many more among them did not more court Harlots visit Whores and exercise drunkennesse * Foth what a stinke is here Oh sweet Reformers and other baseness then honourable Sir Thomas worthy man doth delight in courting 〈◊〉 Ladies I do remember when the Earle of Essex and his chieâ—e Commanders Mâ—rrick one of the trayterous crew and the rest came to London to laze smoake Tobacco and drinke saâ—k court complement vaunt and vapour of that they never did and a potent enemy at hand in the field who came up to Brainford to the hazzard of the whole Army and City before they were discovered and no Chief Officer there either to command or deliver forth * Thanks false Merrick thou didst the like and worse at Edge-hill Ammunition and when not only the Generall but all the chief Officers while there was a destroying enemy in power abroad came and staid their own time in London to revell ramble and rore drink domineer and whore while the souldier was left without restriction or order to range raven and plunder spoile and make waste at St. Albans and in the Country thereabouts and no complaint made of distemper or disorder either by the House or any of their Members but the Proverb is that some may better steale a Horse then others look over the hedge If Sir Thomas his Officers or souldiers were like wicked Col. Graves then this evill Faction might say they were distempered indeed yet this lewd shamelesse man is Stapletons onely Minion and the principall Instrument as truely most fit for their wicked purpose in the Army for this malicious malevolent party but these men like Toads are so big swoln with pride and despite that they are ready to burst and their poyson will never be purged out nor we freed from the diffused venome of it till some of them be highly exalted and made an example Take away the wicked from the King saith Solomon and his Throne shall be established in righteousnesse take away the wicked and trayterous out of both Houses of Parliament and the Parliament shall be upright and prosper and we poore Commons be soon established in peace and happinesse In the Book of Declarations pag. 207. they seem to cleare themselves of a charge laid upon them by the King saying That there was no colour that they went about to introduce a new Law much lesse to exercise * Marke an arbitrary power but to prevent it How true this taxe or charge hath since proved let the whole Land judge and their own actions witnesse for if they have not brought in a new Law I am sure they have made no use of the old unlesse it hath been for evill And whether they have exercised an Arbitrary power I need not aske the question for it is past doubt or scruple But they say in the same Declaration That this Law is as old as the Kingdome to wit That the Kingdome must not be without a meanes to preserve it selfe It is well yet truely granted By their own principle you see the naturall or reall body politique in case the Representative or virtuall faile and deceive their trust * Mark and make uâ—e of it hath power to preserve it selfe Marke yee free Commons of England here is a sure ground for yee to stand on yee are not yet past hope nor destitute of meanes of helpe therefore cheere up your spirits and quit your selves like men imploy and improve your just powers for the preservation of your selves against all those selfe-seeking ambitious trayterous tyrannicall spirits in both Houses who have forsworn themselves betrayd their trust and imployed all their power and interest wherewith yee intrusted them for your good and safety to your woe and misery And yee faithfull in the House of Commons whose hearts have ever been upright although yee have been awed and overpowered to God your King and Countrey beware of these seducers who would involve you in the same treasonable workes with them that so they like Pick-pockets may the better scape in a crowd unseen rather protest against them and their proceedings and declare them to the Kingdome serve them as they have served others thus yee will acquit your selves of jealousies and guilt discharge your trust and duties and endeare your selves to your Countries otherwise you must expect to suffer as partakers and to undergoe the consure of confederates and compactours Sure and stable is this principle Salus populi est suprema Lâ—x The welfare and safety of the People is the supream Law and therefore where this end is by Trustees perverted or neglected the People by the Law of
Nature have power to preserve and secure themselves and as certaine is that Rule that Major qui facit quà m quod fit He which makes is greater then that which is made and therefore is to be preferred and in case that which is made prove uselesse hurtfull or unprofitable he which makes hath power to modifie restraine remove or nullifie even as seemeth good unto him and may most conduce to his good and benefit And therefore in case we cannot receive justice from the Parliament let us force our powers and apply our selves my friends and fellow Commoners to have justice upon the Authors of our injustice and oppressions and no longer stand still like People without life and spirit and suffer our just and reasonable demands and requests to be distasted and despised as dung or dirt our Petitions for liberty and justice to be illegally censured and sentenced to be burnt as some horrid treasonable and blasphemous opinions or papers and our neighbours friends and fellow Commoners to be tyrannically imprisoned and barbarously used before our eyes for standing up in the behalfe of the Kingdome and petitioning for our native and lawfull rights and liberties by a desperate wicked party of false perfidious men in both Houses Machiavilians and Traytors whose Votes and Counsels waies and workings tend onely to secure their guilty carcases from justice and to enslave and destroy us and our rights and freedomes who have no feare of the Lord before them nor any compassion or tender respect to their native Country this destressed Nation And now yee grave and wealthy Citizens of the Presbyterian faction whose eyes are swoln with fatnesse and whose hearts with pride and ambition who happily according to the generall fortune of the great men of London are endued with a greater portion of riches state and presumption then of prudence integrity or wisedome Give me leave to tell you an Itinerant story or a parabolicall tale of two Travellers There were two Travellers met upon the road and passed friendly a long time in silence together at length they discover to each other whither they are going and the end and intention of their travell and the way they would walke and they agreed both in one mind and upon one thing and so they ratifie their association and friendship but the one was not onely weary but ore-weakned at least he so appeared both in strength and purse by reason of his long journey and the many difficulties and dangers hee had already incountered and overcome and very knowing was hee of the way that was yet to be travelled and of the dangers and difficulties which would oppose them therein before they should come to their journies end the other albeit he had come as farre yet by reason hee was throughly well furnished and provided of monies and all needfull supplies at his first setting forth did retaine the more ability and strength and had the most monies for his support throughout but alas he was not so knowing in the way nor skilfull as the other to avoid the dangers therein whereupon he promiseth the other assistance with his purse and strength to carry him through all straits till they come to their journies end so that he would be aiding and assisting to him with his counsell and advice for the suppressing and passing of those oppositions and perills which were in the way yet unpassed both agreed rejoyced and on they journied with all reciprocall officiousnesse and respect each to other the weake man hee wanted not supply or support the other hee wanted no comfortable words counsell or politick advice untill after many extremities and straights past they came to the last and greatest and that was a steep craggie mountaine full of straight passages slippery by waies and dubious windings with desperate precipices on each side the faire and safe way which led to a better end lying direct in the middle Here these two Travellers were put to a stand the weak wearied man was not able of himself to ascend the other notwithstanding his strength durst not adventure alone lest hee should slip and fall or lose his way and become a prey at length the weak man lends the other his staffe to stay him up and defend him and the strong man by his strength takes up the weake and so they both with much hazzard and trouble gat up to the top of this inaccessible Mountaine and now they might see the long desired end of their journey and themselves past all danger which made them both glad and to congratulate * Observe But the weary weak man having now been brought at the charge and by the strength and support of the other through all straites and difficulties and knowing himselfe to be much in arreare to his friendly fellow Traveller and that hee would expect satisfaction and recompence and like beneficence from him when they were at rest and all things were accomplished Hee tooke his staffe from him which hee had lent him for a stay and defence unto him untill hee had carried him up the hill and taking an occasion to quarrell with him about some slip denyall of some monies or neglect of his advice fell upon him and beate him bound him and robbed him of his money and treasure and so left him in the middest of a thicket destitute and so destroyed and undone The weake weary man yee may suppose to be the Parliament The stronger and better provided to be the wise Lord Major Aldermen and Common-councel-men with the rest of the Presbyteriall faction in London The Mountaine to be the Presbyters designe and the Staffe to be the Militia which is now put into the hands of the Presbyterian party in London The application I leave to the apprehension of them and of all judicious Citizens and Commoners of England And will conclude with wise Solomon There is no new thing under the Sunne that which hath been is now And what is there that hath been which may not be againe Praemoniti praemuniti forewarned halfe armed and praevisa minus laedunt things fore-seen doe lesse hurt I wish you really well yee grave Citizens of London both for your owne and Englands sake and God make you discerning and wise that yee may not by the dissembling epistles and speeches of a deceitfull hypocriticall Nation and the subtill sophistry of an ambitious aspiring party in both Houses of Parliament such as Stapleton Hollis c. and of the proud covetous Clergy be made the instruments after you have served their turnes of your owne ruine and the Lands I could here take occasion as there is good reason howsoever what is for present pretermitted is not forgot to shew you deare friends and fellow Commoners how yee have been abused and betrayed by this very party and faction in both Houses their Agents and instruments from the beginning at Sherborne Northampton Worcester Edgehill Kingston Brainford Newarke Exeter Reading Thame O Thame the Devizes Chalgrove field
wheresoever or in whomsoever I find it but a traytor or felon by the Law looseth not any of his franchizes possessions and estate before he be convict let Cesar have his due and us the free Commons ours if not I doubt not but you will in due time have yours If the King be King let him raigne if he have otherwise deserved why proceed ye not legally against him that the World may see and judge and ye be cleared of all calumny and aspersion But as you d ee and deale with us so ye deale with him Us ye doe unjustly imprison and oppresse rob and spoyle destroy our Liberties take away our estates and undoe our Families and shew us no Law Cause or Reason but a tyrannicall unjust illegall or treasonable Vote Order or Ordinance Sic vultis sic jubet's stat pro ratione voluntas Your Arbitrary wills are become Englands Lawes And would yee know yee Commons of England why the King is not in all this time b ought home nor any thing resolved nor determined of him I will tell you deare friends what I conceive I see The Earle of Manchester M. Hollis Stapleton and others who are absolutely the chiefe instrumentall causes of all the evils wee have lately suffered and doe still sustaine and some of which have received vast summes of monies whereof they know themselves unable to give any good account are in danger to be punished as traytors and deceivers and be sacrificed to justice and therefore through their power prevalency and policy a settlement between King and Parliament is deferred because by reason of the Army whose integrity and zeale for justice they feare and therefore onely would disband them they cannot impose such particular peculiar conditions upon the King as will fully secure them and conduce to their Presbyterian designe this I doe beleeve is the summe of all But must the King and his People be stâ—ll divided the breach lye open and the difference uncomposed the Kingdome unsetled the peoples pâ—ace and happâ—nesse still delayed and our miseries still prolonged and continued to satisfie the unjust desires of a company of matchlesse Machiavilian traytors who to save themselves have endeavoured by all meanes to destroy us Must wee languish in our sufferings and sorrowes to waite their opportunities It is neither meet nor right it should be so nor prudence nor wisedome to permit it so let us therefore have an end of our troubles and distractions or else apply our selves to put an end to their tyranny treason and Lordlinesse that they may noâ— wholly and utterly lay us waste and ruine us And if in case of the Kings failing of his trust and denyall to settle the Militia or strength of the Kingdome in such hands and in such a way as the people may be thereby safe and secured the Parliament the representative body may for the safety of his Majesty and Kingdomes take the dispose and ordering of it into their hands then by the same rule forsomuch as the Parliament have failed of their trust and put the Militia and strength of the Kingdome into such hands and in such a way as wee cannot confide or be safe in Wee the free Commons of England the reall and essentiall body politicke or any part of us may order and dispose of our owne Armes and strength for our owne preservation and safety and the Army in particular without question may lawfully retaine order and dispose of their armes and strength to and for the preservation and safety of the King and Kingdome the principall end for which they were raised This is the Parliaments owne doctrine as you may read in Booke Declarations page 93. and 150. and therefore I hope neither heresie nor schisme blasphemy nor treason I have done and a rush for him that is angry and as much for him who is fearefull in a just cause Let such weigh well that saying of the holy Spirit Prov. 29.25 and then happily they may looke up and take courage The feare of man bringeth a snare but whosoever trusteth in the Lord shall be safe Timida problâ—as nunquam Reipublicae est utilis Cowardly honesty is never profitable to the Common-wealth FINIS