47 For the advancing of which designe the Earle of Straford then prisoner in the Tower attempted an escape with Sir William Belfore then Leiutenant of the Tower promising and assuring him twenty thousand pound and the marriage of his daughter to Sir Williams Son if he would but consent unto and assist his escape but Sir William hated such bribes and so the neck of all that plot was broken 48 Then they attempted by foule and false scandals on the Parliament to intice the Army of the Scots then still in the North to a newtrality and to sit still whiles our English Army acted the farther designes hatched and hammered still in their heads and hearts but this plot prevailed not neither Anno 1641. Octob. 23. 49 About this time that inhumane bloody rebellion and monstrous massacring of almost 200000 innocent English Protestants men women and children brake out in Ireland namely about October 23. 1641. These accursed Rebels having had their principal encouragements and Commissions to authorize them in that horrid and hideous rebellion from the Court of England and of purpose to have made England the chiefe seat of the war and all the papists prelates and malignants utmost wrath and rage 50 For the still effecting of this designe the malignant party in private much prevailing still the designe now went on chiefly against the City of London for which purpose the Leivtenant of the Tower Sir William Belfore was for his loyalty displaced by the King from his Leivtenantship and popish Lord Cottington made Constable of the Tower but his dangerous designes being soone discovered he was as soone displaced and Collonell Lunsford was made Leivtenant of the Tower But he also by the Parliaments petition and importunity to the King was displaced and Sir John Byron a desperate malignant who afterward proved the most bloody Lord Byron in Cheshire was made Leivtenant of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also on many just jealousies being petitioned against was at length with much adoe removed and put out thence and Sir John Coyners by the power of the parliament was put in his place To the KINGS most excellent Majesty and the LORDS and PEERS now assembled in PARLIAMENT The humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and prelates now called by His Majesties Writs to attend the Parliament and present about London and Westminster for that Service THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by severall and respective Writs and under great penalties to attend the Parliament and have a clear and indubitable right to vote in Bils and other matters whatsoever debatable in Parliament by the ancient customes Laws and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be protected by your Majesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service They humbly remonstrate and protest before God your Majesty and the Noble Lords and Peeres now assembled in Parliament that as they have an indubitate right to sit and Vote in the House of Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly And that they doe abhominate all actions or opinions tending to popery and the maintainance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their own reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have beene at severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their comming to perform their services in that honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can finde no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these particulars They likewise humbly protest before your maiesty and the Noble House of peers that saving unto themselves all their rights and interests of sitting and voting in that House at other times they dare not sit or vote in the House of peers untill your Maiesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premises Lastly whereas their feares are not built upon phantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good resolutions and much constancy They doe in all duty and humility protest before your majesty and the peers of that most honourable House of parliament against all Laws Orders Votes resolutions and determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27. of this instant month of December 1641 have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter passe in that most Honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most The High Commission-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down and pluralities non residencies damned by Parliament Honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were wilfull and voluntary that most Honourable House might proceed in all their premises their absence or this protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most Excellent maiesty to command the Clerke of that House of peers to enter this their petition and protestation among their Records They will ever pray to God to blesse c. Jo. Eborac Tho. Duresme Rob. Co Lich. Jos. Norw. Jo. Asa. Guli Ba. Wells Gco. Heref. Rob. Oxon. Ma. Ely Golfr Glouc. Jo. Peterburg Morris Landaff 52 The Bishops also had a pestilent plot about this time to subvert and overthrow the Parliament by indeavouring to get the King to protest against their proceedings in it But twelve of them were thereupon presently impeached of high treason and ten of them imprisoned in the Towre of London and afterward they were all disabled from ever sitting againe in the Parliament Bishops Voted downe root and branch Nullo contradicente insomuch that the Citizens of London the same night made bonfires and had ringing of bels And for the better securing the City within as well as without the Parliament published an Ordinance thereby injoyning all Popish Recusants inhabiting in and about the City all disaffected persons and such as being able men would not lend any money for the defence of the Commonwealth should forth with confine themselves to their owne houses and not to go forth without speciall licence as they would answer it at their perills to the Parliament Another Ordinance was sent to the Lord Major by which the Trained Bands were authorised to apprehend many of the prime and richest malignants disaffected affected persons in the City whereof were fourâ— Alderman put in safe custody in Crosby house and some in Gressam Colledge 53. About which time a Letter was sent to Mr. John Pym a most eminent Member of the House of Commons a most reviling Letter therein calling him Traytor and in the said Letter inclosed a plague-sore plaister thinking thereby to have destroyed him But God mightily preserved him from the infection of it 54. After this the King himselfe being guarded with about 500. armed ruffianly desperate Cavaliers
Waller with the help of the City of Londons Regiments and the Royalists plots to hinder our brethren of Scotlands comming in to our helpe by letters and Embassadors sent from France and messengers from King Charles to inveagle them to help from us but all in vaine by Gods good providence and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 85 The King granted a cessation of armes with the bloody rebels of Ireland and afterward justified it by a Declaration of his printed and published at Oxford but it was remarkeably observed that he never prospered in any of his great designs after that 86 A Solemn League and Covenant taken by the Lords and Commons in Parliament and by the City of London and all parts of the Kingdome in the Parliaments power for a pure reformation of Religion and Church Government and a mutuall defence betwixt us and our brethren of Scotland 87 A notable plot by the Royalists to have Nottingham Town and Castle betrayed unto them the Officers therein being proffered above 10000 livre. to consent to it but prevented by Colonell Hutchinson who was the Governour thereof 88 A Generall plot against the Protestant Religion over all Christendome and the Danes and Hollanders also but God wrought a mighty overture therein by the sudden breaking out of the Danes plot against the Swedes and their over-running almost all Denmark thereupon that he could do nothing 89 A desperate plot against the City of London under a pretence of petitioning for peace acted by Sir Basil Brook Colonell Read and one Mr. Ripley Vilet 2 Citizens of London and others but discovered and prevented 1645. 90 Two desperate plots for the betraying of Alsbury into the Royalists hands and another against Southampton but all three timely discovered also and prevented 91 One Mr. Edward Stanford a Papist plotted with Captain Backhouse a Capt. of Horse under Colonell Massie for the betraying of the city of Glocester into the Enemies hands and proffered 5000 livre. for a reward thereof 200 li whereof was paid in hand to the said captaine but by Gods providence the plot frustrated and Gloucester safely preserved 92 Englands great wonder to Gods glory there being about May 30 1644. six brave armies in this Kingdome on the Parl. side and other forces for defence of the city of London besides â—3 A plot to have betrayed our whole Army in Cornwall in the West but by Gods blessing most of the Souldiers lives were preserved though with the losse of our Artillery 95 Sir Alexander Carew Sir John Ho ham captain Hotham and the Arch prelate of Canterbury beheaded on Tower-Hill for treason against the Parliament 95. A peace onely pretended by the Royalists at Uxbridge and a treacherous petition framed by the malignants of Buckingham shire wherein one Sir John Lawrence of that County was a great stickler but the mischiefe of both was frustrated 96. A desperate assault on Melcomb-Regis to have betrayed it into the Royalists hands wherein divers of the malignant Townsmen had a principall hand and Colonell Goring and Sir Lewis Dives were agents therein but the plot was frustrated the Towne and Forts recovered and two ships with rich prize from Rhoan in France were seized on to make amends for their trouble 1645. 97. Divers Earles and Lords forsooke Oxford and came in and submitted themselves to the Parliament 98. A desperate plot in the West against the Parliament by the Clubmen but by Gods providence turned to the Enemies greatest hurt in the issue 99. A devillish sudden plot upon Scotland which was almost over-run by traiterous Montrosse but as suddenly recovered againe by Gods blessing on Generall David Lesley and Montrosse discomfited and beaten away into the mountaines 1646. 100. A Discovery of grosse impiety in the Oxonians pretending a desired Treaty with the Parliament for a well-grounded peace and yet at that time the Earle of Glamorgan had a Commission to the ruine of all the Protestants in Ireland and so consequently of us in England also 101. The Great Seale broken before the Lords and Commons on Tuesday the 11. of August 1646. Die Sabbati 5. April 1645. Be it Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That all and every person of what degree or quality soever that hath lived or shall live within the Kings Quarters or been aiding assisting or adhering unto the forces raised against the Parliament and hath or shall come to inhabit or reside under the power and protection of the Parliament shall sweare upon the holy Evangelist in manner following The Negative Oath I A. B. Doe swear from my heart that I will not directly nor indirectly adhere unto or willingly assist the King in this Warre or in this Cause against the Parliament nor any Forces raised with the consent of the two Houses of Parliament in this Cause or Warre And I do likewise sweare that my comming and submitting my selfe under the power and protection of the Parliament is without any manner of designe whatsoever to the prejudice of the proceedings of the two Houses of this present Parliament and without the direction privity and advice of the King or any of his Councell or Officers other then what I have now made knowne So helpe me God and the Contents of this Book And it is further Ordained by the authority aforesaid that the Commissioners for keeping of the Great Seale of England for the time being shall have power and are hereby authorised to render and administer the said Oath unto any Peere or Wife or Widow of any Peere so comming to inhabit as abovesaid And it shall be lawfull to and for the Committee of the House of Commons for Examinations the Committee for the Militia in London and all Committees of Parliament in the severall Counties and Cities of the Kingdome to tender and administer the said Oath unto every person so comming to inhabit as abovesaid And if any person not being a Member of or Assistant unto either of the Houses of Parliament shall refuse or neglect to take the said Oath so duly tendered unto him or her as abovesaid the said Commissioners and Committees respectively shall and may commit the same person to some prison there to remaine without Baile or Mainprize untill he shall conforme thereunto Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum 1646. The King escaped out of Oxford in a disguised manner with two onely in his company one of which was Mr. Ashburnham the King and the other Party going for the said Ashburnham's men The King carried a Cloak-bagge or Portmantle behind him like a serving man Ordered that it be declared and it is hereby declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled that what person soever shall harbour or conceale or know of the harbouring or concealing of the Kings person and shall not reveale it immediately to the Speakers of both Houses shall bee proceeded against as a Traytor to the Common-wealth forfeit his whole estate and dye without mercy A Letter from the Commissioners of Scotland
dagger shall so soon as I am recouered of my plague-sore In the meane time you may be forborn because no better man may be endangered for you Repent Traitor Anno 1643. 72. A notable plot against the City of London imediately upon the Cities preferring a petition to the King by the hands of two Aldermen and foure Commoners of the said City in reply to which petition the King sending as his messenger one Captaine Hâ—rn to the City and the whole body of the City assembling at a Common Hall this Hern desires Faire play above board of them But the businesse being found to be a notable designe of the malignant-Citizens against the Parliament and the then Lord Major of London and the Government of their City the major cry out in the hearing of Hern they would live and dye with the parliament and so sent Hern away with a flea in his care 73. Another plot contrived at Oxford by a Letter sent to all the Freemen Iourneymen and Apprentices of the said City to assemble at their severall Hills and there the Masters and Wardens of all Companies to read the Kings Letter to them and to perswade them to yeeld to all the Kings commands against the City but this Letter was crost in the necke and nicke of it and voted to be evill and scandalous 74. A plot also to betray Bristol into the Royalists hands by one Yeomans and Bowcher and divers other their associates but discovered two principall conspirators were by Martiall Law condemned and hanged 75. Cheapside-crosse Charing crosse and all other Crosses in and about London utterly demolished and pulled downe and that abominable and blasphemous booke of tolerating sports and pastimes on the Lords dayes voted to be burnt and shortly after accordingly burnt together with many Crucifixes and popish trinckets and trumperies in the very same place where Cheapside-crosse stood and at the Exchange 76. Mr. Pryn sent by the Parliament to the Towre of London to search the Arch prelate of Canterburies chamber and study there where he was prisoner who accordingly searching his study and his pockets of his wearing cloaths a just requitall of his dealing with Mr. Pryn and others found the originall Scotch Service booke with the Arch-bishops owne hand-writings in it the cause of all the Scots wars and his Diary Devotions and discoveries under his own hands of matters of high concernment 77. The City of London to have been betrayed into the hands of the Royalists under a pretence of a petition for peace plotted by Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons M. Tompkins M. Challenor and others and this plot termed by King Charles in his Letter to the Queen one of his Fine Designes But Waller one of the prime complotters was by the sentence of the Parliament fined 10000 l. in his estate and sent out of the Kingdome into perpetuall banishment and Tompkins and Challenor hanged in London 78. The breaking of Sir John Hothams rotten heart and infidelity to the Parliament in his attempted plot for the betraying of that mighty strong Town of Hull into the Queens hands which treachery was plotted and contrived between Sir John the father Captaine Hotham his son and Sir Edward Roades and began to be suspected by Sir John Hothams deserting of the noble Lord Fairfax by an intercepted letter of the Queens to the King and divers other sumptomes of it but especially by Captaine Moyers letter to Mr. Ripley and Mr. Ripley's faithfull acquainting the Major of Hull therewith and their first seizing on the Block-houses Castles and Commanders of them and at length their apprehending of the persons of Sir John Hotham and Sir Edward Roades for which treachery Sir John Hotham and Captaine Hotham his Son was also apprehended and both of them beheaded at the Tower of London The 2 of May 1643. the Crosse in Cheapeside was pulled downe a Troope of Horse 2 Companies of foote wayted to garde it at the fall of the tope Crosse dromÌ„es beat truÌ„pets blew multitudes of Capes wayre throwne in the Ayre a greate Shoute of People with ioy the 2 of May the Almanake sayeth was the invention of the Crosse 6 day at night was the Leaden Popes burnt in the place where it stood with ringinge of Bells a greate Acclamation no hurt done in all these actions 10 of May the Boncke of Sports upon the Lords day was burut by the Hangman in the place where the Crosse stoode at Exchange Die Mercurij May 10. 1643 By vertue of an Order of the House of Commons and agreeable to a Bill passed by both Houses of parliament for suppressing of divers innovations in Churches and Chappels this Committee doth require you and every of you to take away and demolish every Alter or Table of Stone within your Church or Chappell and to remove the Communion Table from the East end of the said Church or Chappell and to place the same in some other convenient place of the body of the said Church or Chappell and to remove and take away all Tapers Candlesticks and Basons from the Communion Table and to take away and demolish all crucifixes crosses and all Images and pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinity or of the Virgin Mary and this Committee doth further require you to demolish all crucifixes crosses Images or pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinity or of the Virgin Mary upon the outside of your said Church or Chappell or any open place within your parish Whereof you are to give an account to this Committee before the 20 day of this moneth To the Church-Wardens of the parish of c. and every of them 79 A desperate plot for the betraying of the City and Towne of Lincolne by the two Purfries two Captains of Hull who let in 60 Cavaliers by night in disguised habits and who issuing out about 12 of the clocke that night to act their designe where a plain fellow of the Town discharging a peece of Canon upon them slew 10 of them at one shot the rest slaine and taken by the cenâ—inels and Souâ—â—ers of the Towne and so by Gods mercy the City preserved 80 The Queen wrote a dangerous letter to the King to come with all his force to surprize London but by Gods over power wisdome and good providence the King refusing that councell resolved to take Gloucester first which he fiercely assaulted but was as bravely repulsed and by Gods blessing on Major Generâ—l Massies fidelity timely aide comming to relieve the Towne it was admirably freed and by the Lord Generalls Army and the City of London Regiamenâ—â— delivered 81 A desperate rebellion raised by the Kentish malignants but by Gods mercy timely suppressed about Tunbridge by the valour of Collonell Brown and the wel-affected Gentry of the County of Kent 82 A Ship bound from Denmark to the King of about 300 tun richly laden with armes and ammunition another Ship
lamentably molested us at home in England but attempted the like on our brethren in Scotland indeavouring to impose upon their consciences also a New Liturgie and a booke of Canons upon the first introducing whereof into their Church they not induring them threw stones and stooles at the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews head and beat him out of the Church crying out a Pape a Pape and so rid themselves of them 28 Upon which refusall of theirs O what foule calumnies and scoffes were immediatly cast upon them and they called and counted rebels and traytors yea so proclaimed in all Churches in England 29 An Army was also raised to oppresse and suppresse them for thus resisting the Arch-prelates most injurious impositions on them A mighty and tumultuous rising of Apprentices and young men in Southwarke and Lambeth side with clubs and other weapons especially at the Arch-bishops house which put him into such a fright as made him flye to Croyden to convey himselfe to some more private and remote place and although Pharoahs Magisians were so honest that at the fight of the dust of the earth turned into lice they cryed out it was the finger of God but he grew more and more outragious and caused one to be hanged and quartered and his head set on London-Bridge 30 Our Brethren of Scotland likewise raising an Army in their own just defence and by force of armes inforcing their owne peace 31 A first pacification being then made by the King and some of his Nobility and ratified under hand and Seal twixt them and the Scots yet was it shortly after shamefully violated and broken quite off by the Arch-prelate of Canterbury and the Earle of Straford and burnt by the hangman at the Exchange 4 Parliament 32 A fourth Parliament was thereupon shortly after called again by those complotters meanes but to a very ill intent and another Parliament summoned also at the same time by the Earle of Straford in Ireland both of them onely to levy and procure monies to raise another Army and wage a new War against the Scots 33 The Ships and goods of our Brethren of Scotland were in all parts and ports of this Kingdome and of Ireland also surprised and seized on for the King their Commissioners denyed audience to make their just defence to the King and the whole Kingdome of Scotland and England too hereupon much distracted and distempered with leavying of monies and imprisoning all among us that refused the same 34 This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King Canterbury and Straford in this Episcopal war against the Scots was soon dissolved broken up by them and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of waste and confusion and the very next day after the dissolution thereof some eminent members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing cloathes betimes in the morning before they were out of their beds searched for letters and writings and some of them also imprisoned and a false and most scandalous declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings name 35 A forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London to be made a president if it prevailed there for the whole Kingdom but some Aldermen refusing were sorely threatned and imprisoned 36 In which interim the Clergies Convocation continuing notwithstanding the dissolution of the Parliament new conscience-oppressing Canons were forged and a strange Oath with a monstrous c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it 37 In this Convocation sore taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergie even no lesse than six Subsidies besides a bountifull contribution to forward that intended war against our brethren of Scotland 38 For the advancing of which said summes for this war the Popish pontifician party and their scandalous priests were most free and forward yea and a solemn prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where to be used and read in all Churches against the Scots as rebels and traytors 39 The papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a totall toleration and a Popes Nuncio suffered amongst us to act and govern all Romish affaires yea a kind of a private popish-parliament kept in the Kingdom and popish jurisdictions erected among them 40. Commissions were also secretly issued out for some great and eminent papists for martiall Commands for levying of Souldiers and strengthening their party with Armes and Ammunition of all sorts and in great plenty 41. His Majesties treasure was by these meanes so extreamly exhausted and his revenues so anticipated that he was inforced to compell as it were his own Servants Judges and Officers of all sorts to lend him great summes of money and prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments yea many High-Sheriffes summoned into the Star-chamber and to the Councel-Board and some of them imprisoned for not being quicke enough in levying of Ship money and such like intolerable taxations 42. In summe the whole Kingdome was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us and no hope of humane help but dolour desperation and destruction to be the portion of all The Arch-Prelate of St Andrewes in Scotland reading the new Service-booke in his pontificalibus assaulted by men Women with Crickets stooles Stickes and Stones The rising of Prentises and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the Arch-bishops of Canterburys House at Lambeth 5. Parliament Anno 1640. Novemb. 3. 44. But behold a desperate plot and designe was herein also immediately set on foot to spoyle or poyson it in the very Embrio and constitution of it in the first choyce of the Members thereof by Letters from the King Queen malignant and Popish Earles Lords Knights and Gentry posted into all parts of the Kingdome to make a strong party for them But by admirable divine providence this their plot was counterplotted and wonderfully frustrated and the Parliament most hopefully congregated and setled 45. Shortly after a very formidable Spanish-Fleet or Armado appeared on our English narrow Seas in sight of Dover and was comming in as was on very strong grounds more than probably conjectured as a third party to help to destroy us the Spaniards hoping that by this time we and the Scots were together by the eares but they were by Gods mercy beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland And we fighting against them we fought against our friends The Souldiers in their passage to Yorke turn Reformers pul down Popish pictures breake downe rayles turne altars into tables and those Popish Commanders that were to command them they forced to eat flesh on Fridayes thrusting it downe their throats and some they slew 46. In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing
concerning His Majesties comming to the Scotch Army May 5. 1646. RIght Honourable The discharging of our selves of the duty wee owe to the Kingdome of England to you as Commissioners from the same moves us to acquaint you with the Kings comming in to our Army this morning which having overtaken us unexpectedly hath filled us with amazement and made us like men that dreame wee cannot thinke that hee could have beene so unadvised in his resolutions as to have cast himselfe upon us without a reall intention to give full satisfaction to both Kingdomes in all their just and reasonable demands in all those things that concerne Religion and Righteousnesse whatsoever be his disposition or resolution you may be assured that we shal never entertaine any thought nor correspondency with any purpose nor countenance any indeavours that may in any circumstance incroach upon our League and Covenant or weaken the union oâ— confidence betwixt the nations that union to our Kingdom was the matter of many prayers and as nothing was more joyful unto us then to have it set on foot so hitherto have we thought nothing too deare to maintaine it and we trust to walke with such faithfullnesse and truth in this particular that as we have the testimony of a good conscience within our selves so you and all the world shal see that we mind your interest with as much integrity and care as our owne being confident you will entertaine no other thoughts of us Signed May 5 1646. LOTHIAN His Majesties letter to the Parliament of England touching his good intention not to prolong the warre but to secure his person and labour the composing of the differences betwixt him and the Kingdomes The King Escapes out of Oxford in a disguised maner A Remonstrance exhibited in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-councell of the City of London to the High Court of Parliament Some particulars whereof are these following 1 That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all private and separate Congregations 2 That all Anabaptists Brownists Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and all such Sectaries as conforme not to the publique discipline established or to bee established by the Parliament may fully be declared against and some effectuall course settled for proceeding against such persons 3 That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdome so all may be equally required to yeeld obedience to the Government either set or to be set forth 4 That no person disaffected to the Presbyterian Government set or to be set forth by the Parliament may be imployed in any place of publique trust His Majesty gave speedy order to several Officers for the surrender of the Towne Castles and Forts which then were in the hands of the Kings Commanders viz. Oxford Worcester Litchfeild and Wallingford A Petition delivered to his Excellency from the Officers and Souldiers in the Army touching their faithfullnesse in the Parliaments service doing Summer service in the Winter season c. Further presented severall designes of theirs 1. That an Ordinance of Indempnity with the Royall assent be desired 2. That satisfaction may be given to the Petitioners for their arrears both in their former service and in this Army before it be disbanded 3. That those who have voluntarily served the Parliament in this Kingdome may not be prest to serve in another Kingdome c. 4. That those who have lost lives limbs or estates may be provided for and relieved A letter from his Excellency to the severall officers of the Army for the advance of the Irish service and prevention of all hindrances c. 1647. The Apology in answer to his Excellencies letter relating their sense of a second storme now hanging over their heads by the malice of a secret enemy worse then the former now vanquished expressing their sorrow that they cannot desire their owne security without hazard to his Excellency c. A second Apology of all the private Souldiers in the Army to their Commission officers Concerning the abuse to divers wel-affected to the Army by imprisonment to the ruine of their estates and losse of their lives And for their candid intentions and endeavours declared no lesse then troublers and enemies to the State and Kingdome resolving rather to dye like men then to be enslaved and hanged like dogs c. Whereunto were annexed divers particulars agreeable to the former delivered in to his Excellency March 21. 1646. A Letter from his Excellency to the Earle of Manchester concerning the votes of both Houses as also his griefe of heart for the distractions betwixt the Parliament and Army desiring that all things may be determined in love c. A Letter from his Excellency to both Houses concerning the Kings being brought from Holdenby That some Souldiers secure the King from being secretly conveyed away That the Souldiers of Holdenby with the Kings consent brought him away from thence c. That his Majesty was unwilling to returne backe againe to Holdenby c. And that the removall of his Majesty from Holdenby was no designe knowledge or privity on his part c. A particular charge against the eleven Members impeached by the Army 1. That Mr. Denzil Hollis being one of the speciall Commissioners for the Parliament to present propositions to the King at Oxford made private addresses to the Kings party then in armes against the Parliament and did secretly plot and advise them against the Parliament c. 2. That the said Mr. Denzil Hollis and Sir Phillip Stapleton during the late war when the Earle of Lindsey went from the Tower to Oxford sent severall messages of intelligence to the Earle of Dorset c. 3. That the said Mr. Hollis Sir Phillip Stapleton Sir Wil. Lewis Sir John Clotworthy Sir Wil. Waller Sir Joh. Maynard Ma. Gen. Massie Mr. Glyn Mr. Long Col. Edward Harley and Anthony Nicholas in the months of March April May and June last in prosecution of their evill designs met in divers places with persons disaffected to the State for holding correspondency with the Queen of England now in France and incouraged her party there 4. And indeavoured to bring in forraigne forces and listed divers Commanders and Souldiers there to raise and leavy a new warre 5. And affronted divers Petitioners that came in a peaceable manner boysterously assaulting them c. 6. Imprisoned some Members of the Army and to dis-obliege the Army from the Parliament The solemn engagement of the Citizens Commanders officers and Souldiers c. The Sollomne Engagement of the Citizens Commanders and Souldiers A Pamphlet of Paul Bests burnt according to the order of Parliament The Army marching toward the City orders were given to the Traine-bands to goe to the workes The Auxiliaries are raised to defend the City A Proclamation by beat of the Drum for all that are able to beare Armes and are not listed to come to receive them The House of Commons and the Lords likewise met according to the
the Nobility by taking away their negative voyce and with whom the levellers doctrine is rather countenanced then punished and as for their intentions to my person their changing and putting more strict guards upon me with the discharging most of all the servants of mine who formerly they admitted to wait upon me doe sufficiently declare nor would I have this my retirement mis-interpreted for I shall earnestly and uncessantly endeavour the settleing of a safe and well-grounded peace where ever I am or shall be and that as much as may be without the effusion of more Christian blood for which how many times have I prest to be heard and yet no care given to me and can any reasonable man thinke according to the ordinary course of affaires there can be a settled peace without it or that God will blesse those that refuse to heare their own King surely no I must further adde that besides what concernes my selfe unlesse all other chiefe interests have not onely a hearing but likewise just satisfaction given to them to wit the Presbyterians Independents Army those who have adhered to me and even the Scots I say there cannot I speake not of miracles it being in my opinion a sinfull presumption in such cases to expect or trust to them be a safe and lasting peace now as I cannot deny but that my personall security is the urgent cause of this my retirement so I take God to witnesse the publicke peace is no lesse before mine eyes and I can finde no better way to expresse this my profession I know not what a wiser man may doe then by desiring and urging that all chiefe interests may be heard to the end each may have just satisfaction as for example the Army for the rest though necessary yet I suppose are not difficult to consent ought in my judgement to enjoy the liberty of their consciences and have an act of oblivion or indempnity which should extend to the rest of all my subjects and that all their arrears should be speedily and duely paid which I will undertake to do so I may be heard and that I be not hindred from using such lawfull and honest means as I shall choose To conclude let me be heard with freedome honour and safety and I shall instantly breake through this cloud of retirement and shall shew my selfe to be pater patriae C. R. The copy of the paper entituled by the mutinous Agents An Agreement of the people c. In briefe Having by their labour and hazard got their enemies into their hands they are resolved to avoid danger of returning into a slavish condition and the chargeable remedy of another war c. Doe declare 1. That the people of England being very unequally distributed by Counties c. for the election of their deputies in Parliament ought more indifferently to be proportioned c. 2. From the inconvenience arising from the long continuance of the persons now in authority this Parliament be dissolved September the last 1648. 3. That the people of course do choose them a Parliament once it two years c. 4. That the power of this and all future representations of this Nation is inferiour onely to those that choose them c. 5. That matters of Religion and the wayes of Gods worship are not at all intrusted to us by humane power c. A great Tumult Insurection and Muteny in London breaking open divers houses and Magazines of Armes and Ammunitian breaking open divers Houses Seazing on the Drumes Gates Chaines Watches of the Citty assaulted and Shot into the L Mayors house and killed one of his guard etc. 6. That impresting any of us and constraining us to serve in the war is against our freedome c. At this Common-councel Mr Alderman Fowk and Mr. Alderman Gibs by the directions of the Committee of the Militia of London did make a large Relation of the great Tumult Insurrection and mutiny which happened in this City on the last Lords day and on Munday last by many evill disposed persons which first began on the Lords day in the afternoon in the County of Middlesex where they seized the Colours of one of the Trained Bands of the said County who were there imployed for the suppressing of such persons as did profane the Lords day and being dispersed by some of the Generalls forces did gather together within the City of London and Liberties thereof and in a Riotous manner did break open divers houses and magazines of Arms and Ammunition and took away Arms Plate Money and other things and did seize upon the Drums of the Trained-Bands of this City which were beating to raise their Companies and armed themselves and beat up Drums and put themselves in a warlike posture and seized upon the Gates Chaines and Watches of this City and then marched to the Lord Majors house there assaulted the Lord Major Sheriffes Committee of the Militia of London and other Magistrates of the same and did shoot into the Lord Majors house beat backe his Guards killed one of them wounded divers others and seized and took away a piece of Ordnance from thence with which they did afterwards slay and wound divers persons and committed many other Outrages All which matters being largely debated and many particulars insisted upon both for the Discovery and Punishment of the said misdemeanours and outrages and also for the preventing of the like for time to come It was at the last concluded and agreed by this Common-councell as followeth First this Common-Councell doth generally conceive that this City was in great danger by reason of the said Outrages and Misdemeanours and that if the same had not so timely beene prevented and stayed the whole City would have been exposed to the fury and rage of the said Malefactors and this Common-councell doth Declare That the same Misdemeanor and Outrage was a horrid and detestable act tending to the destruction of the City and that they do disavow the same and with an utter detestation do Declare their dislike thereof And this Common-councell doe appoint the Committee of the Militia of London to make the same known to the Honourable Houses of Parliament and also to make an humble Request unto them That an Order may be issued forth from them to the several Ministers of this City and the places adjacent that they may be directed to give publique Thanks to Almighty God the Author of this great and wonderfull deliverance from that imminent danger wherein this City and parts adjacent were involved And further the said Committee are appointed by this Court to apply themselves to the Honourable Houses of Parliament for the obtaining of a speciall Commission of Oyer Terminer for the trying and punishing of the Malefactors that had a hand in this detestable action according to the known Laws of this Land And this Court with thankfull hearts do acknowledge the instruments under God by which they obtained this Deliverance to be by the Forces raised and continued by the Parliament under the command of his Excellency the Lord Generall Fairfax and to manifest the same this Common-councell do also Order That the said Committee of the Militia in the Name of the City as a thing agreed upon by an unanimous consent shall return their hearty Thanks to his Excellency for his speedy and seasonable Ayd afforded unto the City in this their great straight and danger And this Court with a general consent do well approve of the Endeavours of the said Committee of the Militia for London for the raising of the Forces of the City and in their procuring of the said ayd and help from his Excellency in this Extremity and what else they have done for the appeasing and suppressing of the said Tumul s. And this Court do give Thanks to the said Committee of the Militia for their care and pains by them taken upon this sad occasion And they doe appoint Mr. Alderman Fowk to declare the same their Thanks to such of the said Committee as are not of this Court And this Court doth also with all thankfulnesse acknowledge the pains and care of the Right Honourable the Lord Major and the Right Worshipfull the Sheriffes of this City therein And this Court doe generally declare That it is the duty of every Citizen of this City by himselfe and all that doe belong unto him or is under his command to be ready upon all occasions to be ayding and assisting unto the Lord Major and the rest of the Magistrates of this City for the suppressing of all tumults and disorders within the same And the severall persons now present at this Common councel by the holding up of their hands have promised That for the time to come they will use their utmost endeavour and be ready upon all occasions to doe the same MICHEL A rising in Norwich where they seised upon the Magazine and those that fired the same were destroyed but those that were cordiall friends to the Parliament being underneath the house fell part of it upon them that part below them and the powder were all saved one having his head seen was digged out after he was out he told of others untill all were digged out without losse of life or limbe Sir Marmaduke Langdale tooke Barwicke by vertue of a Commission from the Prince Sir Thomas Glenham and Sir Phillip Musgrave tooke Carlile Sir Gilbert Errington took Harbotle Castle in Northumberland for the King The Commissioners of the Parliament of England presented a paper to the Parliament of Scotland to declare against those in Barwicke and Carlile but it was laid aside no answer to any other papers the Commissioners of the Kirke of Scotland have declared against the Declaration of the Parliament of Scotland the Parliament past another Declaration and putting it to vote whether it should be sent at all to the Commissioners of the Kirke it was resolved in the negative the Commissioners of War sit daily to put the Kingdome into a posture nothing talked of but War divers new colours preparing for severall Regiments The routing of the Welch in Southwales under the command of Major General Laughorne being 8000. Horse and Foot took all their Ammunition and Armes 25. Captaines 32. Lieutenants 27. Ensignes 10. private Gentlemen Souldiers in custody 2000. FINIS