who can think that at the end of 20 yeares these Usurpers will lay down what they have so unjustly contrary to all Laws Divine and Humane and contrary to their owne Declarations Oaths and Covenants extorted and who can or dare wrest those powers out of their hands being once setled and grown customary in them the peoples spirits broken with an habituall servitude a numerous Army and Garrisons hovering over them and all places of Judicature filled with corrupt Judges who shall by constrained interpretations of the Law force bloudy presidents out of them against whosoever shall dare to be so good a Patriot as to oppose their Tyrannie They that could make steel sharp enough to cut Captain Barlyes throat for attempting to rescue the King out of the hands of a rebellious Army that neither obeyes King nor Parliament will find gold and silver enough to corrupt all the Judges they mean to prefer and make them wyld and vilde enough for their purposes But it is hoped he hath more of King more of man in him then to lose his principles and stumble againe at the same stone dash againe upon the same rock whatsoever Syrens sing upon it knowing he hath a Son at liberty to revenge his wrongs all the Princes of Christendome his Allyes whose common cause is controverted in his sufferings the greatest men of England and Scotland of his bloud and the people generally whose farthest designe was to preserve their Lawes and Liberties and to defend the Parliament from being conquered by the Sword looking with an angry aspect upon these Seducers who by insensible degrees and many forgeries have engaged them farther then they intended not to the defence of Religion Laws and Liberties but to the setting up of Schisme Committee law and Martiall law Impeachments before the Lords and unlimited slavery And I am confident this Faction despaire of working upon the King who like a rock in mediis tutissimus undis whatsoever reports they give out to the contrary having from the beginning made lies their refuge which being wisely foreseen by the King he sent a Message to both Houses by way of prevention delivered in the painted Chamber by the Lord of Lauderdale one of the Scots Commissioners consisting of three heads 1. That He was taken from Holdenby against His will 2. That they should maintain the Honour and Priviledges of Parliament 3. That they should believe no Message as coming from Him during His Restraint in the Army but should only credit what they received from His own mouth These Grandees have cheated all the interests of the Kingdom and have lately attempted the City again and had the repulse But the King is their old customer and hath been often cheated by them and having Him in strict custody peradventure they may perswade Him it is for His Safety to be deceived once more wherefore notwithstanding their many endeavours to root up Monarchy dethrone the King and his Posterity and usurp His power in order to which they have overwhelmed Him and all His with innumerable calamities and reproaches yet since the passing of the Declaration against the King their desperate condition hath enforced them to make new addresses in private to Him notwithstanding their four Votes inflicting the penalty of Treason upon the infringers But Treason is as naturall to Cromwell as false-accusing protesting and lying he is so superlative a Traytor that the Laws can lay no hold of him Lieut. Col. Lylborne in a verball Charge delivered at the Commons Bar accused him of many Treasonable acts which the avoweth to make good and in his Book called A Plea for a Habeas Corpus But as if Cromwell were a Traytor cum privilegio the House of Commons being under his armed Guards dares take no notice of it But the Roman Tribune said to Scipio Africanus in Livy Qui jus aequum ferre non potest in eum vim hand injustam fore He that exalts himself above the law ought not to be protected by the law To conclude Cromwell hath lately had private conference at Farnham with Hammond The Earle of Southampton hath been courted to negotiate with the King and offered the two Speakers hands for his warrant Capt. Titus taken into favour and imployed that way These Grandees have brought themselves into a mist and now wander from one foolish designe to another The Spaniard is said to forecast in his debates what will happen forty years after But these purblind Politicians doe not foresee the event of their Councels forty daies nay howers beforehand but it is a curse laid upon wicked men to grope at noone day 76 76. Debates in the House of Commons upon the Scots Letters 1 1. Concerning the said four Votes About the 5. or 6. of Jan. 1647. the Scots Commissioners had written certaine Letters to the House of Commons one whereof repeating the four Votes against the King propounded to know whether the Houses by their Votes That no person whatsoever do presume to make or receive any Application or addresse to or from the King would debar the Scots to make or receive any Addresses to or from him and so put an incapacity upon Him to perform Acts of Government towards them In the debate the Independents called to mind a more antient Vote whereby it was ordered That the Scots might be admitted to the King Against which was alleaged That these latter Votes being made generall without exception Repealed that former Vote At last by an interpretative Vote it was concluded That notwithstanding the said four latter Votes the former Vote That the Scots Commissioners might make Addresses to the King was still in force Observe that this was done four or five daies after the Scots Commissioners were on their way towards Scotland The second Letter was concerning 100000l due by contract to the Scots from the Parliament 2 2. Concerning 100000l due to the Scots whereof 50000l was payable by assignement to divers Scots Gentlemen who had advanced money to hasten the Scots Army to our Relief whereof 10000l was payable to the Earle of Argyle Sir Henry Mildmay made a long Speech in praise of Argyle saying That he and his party and the Scottish Clergy were the onely men that upheld the English interest in Scotland and were better friends to us then all Scotland besides wherefore he moved that Argyle might be payed his 10000l and the rest continued at Interest at 81. per cent Presently the whole Independent gang with much zeale and little discretion ran that way untill more moderate men stopping them in full cry minded them what dishonour and danger they might bring their friends into by laying him open to suspition After this it was Resolved to send four Cōmons 77 77. Six Commissioners sent into Scotland and two Lords into Scotland as Commissioners with Instructions to send all Independents would not be acceptable Two Presbyterians Commoners therefore were sent one whereof was sweetned with the guift of 1000l
greater distance with the Presbyterian Party and bring them and the Independents Party neerer together he knew the Army abominated nothing more then Disbanding and returning to their old Trades and wduld hate the Authors thereof 8 8. Agitators raised by Cromwel 9 9. The beginning of the project to purge the Houses 10 10. The Army put into mutiny against the Parliament whereby Cromwell monopolizeth the Army And at the same time when he made these protests in the House he had his Agitators Spirits of his and his Son Ireton's conjuring up in the Army though since conjured downe by them without requitall to animate them against the major part of the House under the notion of Royallists a Malignant party and enemies to the Army to ingage them against Disbanding and going for Ireland and to make a Trayterous Comment upon the said Ordinance to demand an Act of indemnity and relie upon the advice of Judge Jenkins for the validity of it and to insist upon many other high demands some private as Souldiers some publick as States-men 11 11. Cromwell's Family in the Army Cromwell having thus by mutinying the Army against the Parliament made them his owne and monopolized them as he did formerly his Brew-house at Ely which he might easily do having before-hand filled most of the chief Offices in the Army with his owne kindred allyes and friends of whose numerous family Lieut. Col. Lilburne gives you a list in one of his Books he now flies to the Army doubting his practises discovered he might be imprisoned 12 12. Cromwell and Ireton usurp Offices in the Army where he and Ireton assuming Offices to themselves acted without Commission having not only been ousted by the self-denying Ordinance if it be of any power against the godly but also their severall Commissions being then expired and Sir Thomas Fairfax having no authority to make generall Officers as appears by his Commission if he make any account of it and therefore Sprigg alias Nathaniel Fines in his Legend or Romance of this Army called Anglia rediviva sets down two Letters sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Speaker William Lenthall one to desire Cromwell's continuance in the Army another of thanks for so long forbearing him from the House see Ang. Red. p. 10 11 29. which needed not had he been an Officer of the Army And now both of them bare-faced and openly joyne with the Army at Newmarket in trayterous Engagements Declarations Remonstrances and Manifesto's and Petitions penn'd by Cromwell himself were sent to some Counties to be subscribed against supposed Obstructers of Justice and Invaders of the Peoples Liberties in Parliament and the Army at Newmarket and Triplo heath prompted to cry Justice Justice against them and high and treasonable demands destructive to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament were publickly insisted upon many of which for quietnesse sake and out of compassion to bleeding Ireland were granted yet these restlesse spirits hurried on to farther designes made one impudent demand beget another and when by Letters and otherwise they had promised that if their then present demands were granted they would there stop and acquiesce yet when they seemed to have done they had not done but deluded and evaded all hopes of peace by mis-apprehensions and mis-constructions of the Parliaments concessions making the mis-interpretation of one grant the generation of another demand so that almost ever since the Parliament hath nothing else to do but encounter this Hydra and roll this stone Having thus debauched the Army 13 13. Securing Oxford and plundring the King from Holdenby he plotted in his own Chamber the securing the Garrisons Magazine and Traine of Artillery at Oxford and surprizing the Kings Person at Holdenby which by his instrument Coronet Joyce with a commanded Party of Horse he effected though afterwards having recourse to his usuall familiarity with Almighty God he used his name to protest his ignorance and innocence in that businesse both to the King and Parliament adding an execration upon his Wife and Children to his Protestation yet Joyce is so free from punishment that he is since preferred and his Arrears paid by their meanes And though both Houses required the Army to send his Royall Person to Richmond to be there left in the hands of the Parliaments Commissioners whereby both Kingdoms might freely make Addresses to Him for they had formerly excluded and abused the Scots Commissioners contrary to the Law of Nations and Votes of both Houses and yet then granted free accesse to the most desperate persons of the Kings Party yet they could obtaine no better answer from these rebellious Saints Manifesto of the Army 27. June 1647. then That they desired no place might be proposed for His Majesties residence neerer London then where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be This was according to their old threats of marching up to London frequently used when any thing went contrary to their desires They knew what dangerous and troublesome guests we should find them here How much is this Army degenerated since Cromwell and his demure white-livered Son-in-law Ireton poysoned their manners with new Principles Anglia Rediviva p. 247. tells us that about Woodstock private overtures were made by some from Court for receiving His Majesty who was minded to cast himself upon the Army but such was their faithfulnesse in that poynt that conceiving it derogatory to the honour and power of Parliament for His Majesty to wave that highest Court and addresse Himself to any others and therefore inconsistent with their trust and duty being Servants of the State they certified the Parliament thereof and understanding it to be against their sense also they absolutely refused to be tampered with Oh how faithfull then how perfidious and Cromwellized are they now let their frequent tampering with the King and His Party to the amazement of the Kingdome and the abusing of the King testifie Read Putney Projects written by a considerable Officer of the Army and a friend to Cromwell though not to his false practises 14 14. Their project to keep the Parliament in wardship 15 15. Purging the Houses again 16 16. Accusing the 11 Members Having thus gotten the King the first and most visible legall authority of England into their possession their next designe is to get the Parliament the second legall authority of England into their power This could not be effected but by purging the two Houses of Presbyterian Members especially the most active and such as had laboured their Disbanding that an Independent Parliament and Army might govern the Kingdome In order to which designe they sent to the House of Commons in the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army a generall and confused Charge of High Treasons and other mis-demeanors against eleven Members for things done for the most part in the House and many of the principall such as the House had long before
examined and acquitted them of and such as the whole Kingdome knows Cromwell and Ireton to be apparently guilty of as Trucking with the King c. One chief Article insisted upon in the Charge was That by their power in the House they caused the Ordinance for Disbanding this Army to passe Here you see where the shooe wrings them This Charge was not subscribed by any Informer that ingaged to make it good or else to suffer punishment and make the House and the Parties accused reparations as by the Stat. 25 Edw. 3. c. 4. 27 Ed. 3. c. 18. 38 Ed. 3. c. 9. 17 R. 2. c. 6. 15 H. 6. c. 4. but especially by 31 H. 6. c. 1. concerning Jack Cade which comes nearest this case ought to be And they professed in the 2 3 4. Article of their Charge That they were disobliged and discouraged from any farther engagement in the Parliaments service or Irelands preservation and demanded the House should forthwith suspend the impeached Members from any longer sitting and acting Whereupon the House after full debate in a full and free Parliament Resolved June 25. 1647. That by the Lawes of the Land no Judgement could be given for their suspension upon that generall Charge before particulars produced and proofes made 17 17. Threates to march up to London 18 18. London solicited to sit Newters Yet the Army which had now learned onely to acquiesce in their owne prudence and justice insolently threatned to march up to Westminster against the Parliament in case the said 11. Members were not suspended and courted the City of London to sit newters and let them work their will with the Parliament The 11. Impeached Members therefore modestly withdrew to free the House from such danger as they might incur by protecting them as in Justice and Honour they were bound to doe After this the Army sent in their particular Charge and Libellously published it in Print by their own Authority To which the 11 Members sent in and published their Answer Upon which there had been no Prosecution because they pretend first to settle the Kingdome but if they stay till these fellowes have either authority will or skill to settle the Kingdome they shall not need to make ready for their Tryall till Doomes day Here you have a whole Army for Accusers and the chief Officers of the Army being Members of the House not onely accusers but parties witnesses and Judges and carrying the rules of Court and Lawes by which they judge in their Scaberds And the Charge or Impeachment such as all men know mutatis mutandis are more sutable to Cromwells and Iretons Actions then the Accused parties If the proceedings in the Kings name against the five Members mentioned in The exact Collection pag. 38. were Voted a Traiterous designe against King and Parliament and the arresting any of them upon the Kings Warrant an Act of publick enmity against the Common-wealth How much more Treasonable were these proceedings and the Armies March towards London to enforce them and their arresting Anthony Nicholls having the Speakers Passe and leave of the House Colonell Burch being upon service of the Parliament going for Ireland and Sir Samuel Luke resting quiet in his owne House 19 19. The first occasion of quarrell against the City 20 20. Courting and cheating the Country and all other interests to lull tâ—em asleep till the Grandees had wrought their will upon City Houses 21 21 Petitions to the Army and for the Army Whilst these things were acting Cromwell finding he could not have his will upon the Parliament but that he must make the City of London who had denyed the newtrality his Enemies cast about how to cheat the Country people of their affections for to have both City and Country his Enemies in the posture his Army was then in was dangerous he therefore by many Printed books and papers spread all England over by his Agitators and by some journey-men Priests who 's Pulpits are the best Juglers Boxes to deceive the simple Absolon-like wooeth them to make loud complaints of the pressures and grievances of the People to neglect the King and the Parliament and make Addresses to the Army as their only Saviours the Arbitrators of Peace restorers of our Laws Liberties and Properties setlers of Religion preservers of all just interests pretending to settle the King in his just Rights and Prerogatives to uphold the Priviledges of Parliament establish Religion to reforme and bring to accompt all Committees Sequestrators and all others that had defiled their fingers with publique money or goods To free the people from that all-devouring Excise and other Taxes To redresse undue elections of Members To relieve Ireland Things impossible to be performed by an Army and now totally forgotten so that they have only accepted of their own private demands as Souldiers That the Parliament should own them for their Army Establish pay for them put the whole Militia of this Kingdome and Ireland both by Sea and Land into their Hands and Vote against all opposite forces But they are now become the only protectors of all corrupt Committee-men Sequestrators Accomptants to the State and all other facinorous persons who comply with them to keep up this Army for their own security against publick Justice Having thus courted and cheated all the publike and just Interests of the Kingdome they deceived the people so far as to make them Issachar-like patiently to bear the burden of free quarter and to make addresses to the Army for themselves by Petitions to which they gave plausible answers That this and This was the sense of the Army as if the sense of the Army had been the supream Law of the Land and to make addresses to the Parliament for the Army not to be disbanded for which purpose their Agitators carried Petitions ready penn'd to be subscribed in most Counties The people being thus lulled asleep 22 22 A quarrell against the City invented they now cast about how to make benefit of a joynt quarrell both against the Parliament and City since they could not separate them or at least against the Presbyterian party in both They had withdrawn their quarters in a seeming obedience to Parliaments commands 30 miles from London of which they often brag in their Papers and presumed the suspension of the 11 Members had strook such an awfulnesse into the Houses that most of the Presbyterian Members would either absent themselves as too many indeed did or turn renegadoes from their own principles to them but found themselves notwithstanding opposed and their desires retarded beyond their expectation by the remainder of that Party They must therefore finde out a quarrell to march against the City and give the Houses another Purge stronger then the former The Army being principled 23 23 The Army demand the City Militia to be changed into other hands and put into a posture sutable to Cromwells desire and the Country charmed
morning the Commons sate againe quietly and after some debate adjourned untill Friday next because the Lords had done so 28 28. The Speaker of the Commons complained of a report that he meant to flie to the Army yet ran away to the Army The next day being Wednesday the monthly Fast the Speaker and Members met in Westminster Church where the Speaker complained in some passion to Sir Ralph Ashton and other Members of a scandalous report raised on him in the City as if he intended to desert the House and flie to the Army saying he scorned to do such a base unjust dishonourable act but would rather die in his House and Chaire which being spoken in a time and place of so much reverence and devotion makes many think his secret retreat to the Army the very next day proceeded not so much from his own judgment as from some strong threats from Cromwell and Ireton who were the chief contrivers of this desperate plot to divide the City and Houses and bring up the Army to enthrall them both That if he did not comply with their desires they would cause the Army to impeach him for cousening the State of many vast sums of mony And truly I remember I have seen an intercepted Letter sent about the time of his flight from the Army to William Lenthall Speaker 29 29. The City proclaim against Tumults without any name subscribed to it only the two last lines were of John Rushworth's hand earnestly importuning him to retire to the Army with his friends On Thursday morning early the newly renewed Militia of London made publike protestation throughout the City and Suburbs and set up printed Tickets at Westminster That if any persons should disturb either of the two Houses or their Members the Guards should apprehend them and if resistance were made kill them yet notwithstanding the Speaker and his party carrying the causes of their fear in their own consciences in the evening of that day secretly stole away to Windsor to the Head quarters Upon Friday morning at least 140. 30 30. The Houses appeare the Speakers being at the Army of the Members assembled in the House they that fled being about 40. whither the Sergeant coming without his mace being asked where the Speaker was answered he knew not well that he had not seen him that morning and was told he went a little way out of Town last night but said he expected his return to the House this morning after that being more strictly questioned about the Speaker he withdrew himself and would not be found till the House after four howrs expectation and sending some of their Members to the Speakers house who brought word from his servants 31 31. New Speakers chosen that they conceived he was gone to the Army had chosen a new Speaker Mr. Henry Pelham and a new Sergeant who procured another mace The like mutatis mutandis was done by the Lords to prevent discontinuance and fayler of the Parliament for want of Speakers to adjourne and continue it and take away all scruples As for the Petition and Engagement of the City so much aggravated by the Independent party it was directed to the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councell from divers Citizens 32 32. Petition and engagement of the City Commanders and Souldiers and was occasioned by some intelligence they had that the Army would demand an alteration of the City Militia in order to a designe they had against the City It was only intended to the Common Hall but never presented as the Souldiers Petition was to their Generall which being taken notice of by the Parliament as it was in agitation was so much resented by the Souldiery as to put themselves into the posture they are now in as Lieut. Col. Lilburne sayes in one of his Books to act no longer by their Commissions but by the principles of nature and self-defence Nor did the said engagement contain any thing but resolutions of self-defence in relation to the City so that we cannot see what the Army had to declare their sense upon it in their Letter 23. July and so put a prejudice upon it in the Houses I have insisted the more particularly upon this Grand Imposture as being the anvile upon which they hammered most of their subsequent designes violencies and illegall accusations 33 33. Votes passed after new Speakers chosen The new Speakers chosen the two Houses proceeded to vote and act as a Parliament And first the House of Commons voted in the eleven impeached Members next they revive and set up again the Committee of Safety by Ordinance of both Houses enabling them to joyne with the Committee of the restored City Militia giving power by severall Ordinances to them to List and Raise Forces appoint Commanders and Officers Issue forth Armes and Ammunition for defence of both Houses and the City against all that should invade them Which votes and preparations for their safe defence warranted by the same law of nature as the Armies papers affirm were not passed nor put in execution untill the Army every day recruited contrary to the Houses Orders were drawing towards London and had with much scorn disobeyed the Votes and Letter of both Houses prohibiting them to come within thirty miles of London 34 34. Members emgagement with the Army The Army to countenance their Rebellion draw the two Speakers and fugitive Members to sit in consultation and passe Votes promiscuously with the Councell of War in the nature of a Parliament and to signe an Engagement dat 4. August to live and die with Sir Tho Fairfax and the Army under his command affirming therein that generally throughout their sense agreeth with the Declaration of Sir Tho Fairfax and his Councell of War shewing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of London In which Declaration the Councell of the Army take upon them To be supream Judges over the Parliament Telling you who of the two Houses they hold for persons in whom the publike trust of the Kingdome remaineth and by whose advice they mean to govern themselves in managing the weighty affairs of the Kingdome They declare against the late choice of a new Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster and that as things now stand there is no free nor legall Parliament sitting being through the violence 29. July suspended That the Orders and Votes c. passed 26 July last and all such as shall passe in this Assembly of some few Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto Behold here not only a power without the Parliament Houses judging of the very essence of a Parliament and the validity of their resolutions but usurping to themselves a Negative voice which they deny to the King and yet a Schismaticall faction in the two Houses complying with them and betraying and prostituting the very being honour and all the fundamentall Rights and Priviledges of
this and all future Parliaments to an Army of Rebells who refuse to obey their Masters and disband This engagement so over-leavened the Army that their brutish Generall sent forth Warrants to raise the Trained Bands of some Counties to March with him against the City and both Houses Although Trained Bands are not under pay of the Parliament and therefore not under Command of the Generall by any Order or Ordinance But what will not a fool in Authority doe when he is possessed by Knaves Miserable man His foolery hath so long waited upon Cromwells and Iretons knavery that it is not safe for him now to see his folly and throw by his Cap with a Bell and his Bable The Earl of Essex dyed so opportunely that many suspected his death was artificiall Yet the City were so desirous of Peace 35 35. The City send Commissioners to the Army Fowkes Gibs and Eastweck by which they are betrayed that they sent Commissioners sundry times to the Army to mediate an Accord who could obtaine no more equall tearmes of Agreement then that They should yeild to desert both Houses and the impeached Members Call in their Declaration newly Printed and Published Relinquish their Militia Deliver up all their Forces and Line of Communication to the Army together with the Tower of London and all the Magazines Armes therein Disband all their Forces Turn all the Reformado's out of the Line Withdraw all their Guards from the Houses Receive such Guards of Horse and Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint to Guard the Houses Demolish their Workes And suffer the whole Army to March in Triumph through the City as Conquerers of it and the Parliament and as they often give out of the whole Kingdome Tearmes which they might have had from the great Turk had he sate downe before them and broken ground All which was suddainly and dishonourably yeilded to and executed accordingly by such an Army as was not able to fight with one half of the City had they been united But they are the Devills seedes-men and have sowen the Cockle of Heresie and Schisme so aboundantly in City and Country especially amongst the more beggerly sort that these men joyning Principles and Interests with the Army weaken the hands of all opponents They often brag that they made a civill March free from Plunder I Answer they neither durst nor could doe otherwise their Souldiers being ill Armed and so few that they were not able to keep stands in the streets and keep the Avenues while their fellowes dispersed to Plunder Charles 8. with a far greater and more Victorious hoast durst not offer violence to the far lesse City of Florence when Signior Caponi put an affront upon him in the Town-house Bidding him beat his Drums and they would ring their Bells 36 36. The fugitive Members returned Upon the 6 of Aug. 1647. the Generall brought the fugitive Speakers and Members to the Houses with a strong Party who might have returned sooner without a Guard had not their own crimes designes hindred them the two Palaces filled with armed guards double files clean through Westminster-Hall up the staires to the House of Commons and so through the Courts of Request to the Lords House and down staires againe into the old Palace The Souldiers looking scornfully upon many Members that had sate in the absence of the Speaker and threatning to cut some of their throats And all things composed to so ridiculous a terrour as if they would bespeak without speaking the absence of those Members that sate Placed the Speakers in the Chaires without Vote out of which they had been justly Voted for deserting their calling where the Generall was placed in a Chaire of State enough to make a fool of any man that was not fit for it and received speciall thanks for his service from both Speakers And in the second place a day of thanksgiving was appointed to God I think for his patience in not striking these Atheisticall Saints with thunder and lightning for making him a stale to their premeditated villanies Here Sir Thomas Fairfax with a breath and before any man that was not privy to the designe could recover out of his amazement was made Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts of England and Wales to dispose of them at his pleasure Constable of the Tower of London The Common Souldiers Voted one monthes gratuity besides their pay the Commons being in good case to give gifts before they pay'd debts left to the discretion of the Generall to set what Guards he pleased upon the two Houses Whereby you may perceive in what unequall condition those Members that did not runne away with the Speaker doe now sit after so many reiterated threats of the Generall against them in his printed Papers After this the Generall Lievtenant Generall and the whole Army 37 37. The Armies March in Triumph through the City with other subsequent Acts. with the Traine of Artillery marched through London in so great pomp and triumph as if they would have the people understand that the Authority of the Kingdome in whose hands soever it remaines in these doubtfull times must submit to the power of the sword the hilt and handle whereof they hold They turne out the Lieutenant of the Tower without cause shewne The consequencies of these two actions were that immediately the City decayed in Trade above 200000 l. a week and no more Bullion came to the Mint They displace all other Governours though placed by Ordinance of Parliament and put in men of their owne party for this incroaching faction will have all in their owne hands They alter and divide the City of London setting up particular Militia's at Westminster Southwarke and the Hamlets of the Tower that being so divided they may be the weaker Demolish the Lines of Communication that the City and Parliament may lie open to Invasion when they please and fright many more Members from the Houses with threats and feare of false Impeachments The 11. Impeached Members having leave by Order of the House and licence of the Speaker some to goe beyond Sea and Anthony Nicholls to goe into his owne Country to settle his Affaires some of them as Sir William Waller and M. Den Hollis were attached upon the Sea Nicholls arrested upon the way into Cornewall by the Army and despightfully used and when the Generall was inclined to free him Cromwell whose malice is known to be as unquenchable as his nose told him he was a Traytor to the Army You see now upon whom they meane to fixe the peoples allegeance for where no Allegeance is there can be no Treason and to what purpose they have since by their 4. Votes first debated between the Independent Grandees of the Houses and Army laid aside the King Col Dirch formerly imployed for Ireland by the Parliament was imprisoned and his men mutinyed against him by the Army and Sir Sam Luke resting quietly in
threefold upon one or both Houses or upon the King in giving His Royall Assent neither could plead it the Parliament is presumed to consist of such men as dare lay downe their lives for their Country When the King came with force to demand the 5 Members when the City came downe crying for Justice against the Earl of Strafford when the women came down crying for Peace when the Reformado's came down in a much more dangerous Tumult then this of the unarmed Prentices yet the Houses continued sitting and Acting and none of their Acts were nullified That to make their Acts Orders and Ordinances voide ab initio would draw many thousand men who had acted under them into danger of their lives and fortunes who had no Authority to dispute the validity of our Votes we must therefore give them power to dispute our acts hereafter upon matter of fact for to tie men to unlimited and undisputable obedience to our Votes and yet to punish them for obeying whensoever we shall please to declare our acts voide ab initio is contrary to all reason If to act upon such Ordinances were criminall it was more criminall in those that made them And who shall be judges of those that made them Not the Members that went to the Army They are parties pre-ingaged to live and die with the Army and have approved the Armies Declaration calling those that sate a few Lords and Gentlemen and no Parliament they have joyned with a power out of the Houses to give a Law to and put an engagement upon both Houses a president never heard of before of most dangerous consequence it takes away the liberty of giving I and No freely being the very life of Parliaments If all done under an actuall force be voide it is questionable whether all hath been done this 4 or 5 years be not voide and whether His Majesties Royall Assent to some good Bils passed this Parliament may not be said to have been extorted by force if the Kings Party prevaile they will declare this Parliament voide upon the ground your selves have laid 1 Hen. 7. That King urged the Parliament to make voide ab initio all Acts passed Rich. 3. which they refused upon this ground That then they should make all that had Acted in obedience to them lyable to punishment only they repealed those Acts. The debate upon this Ordinance of null and voyde held from Munday 9 of Aug. to the 20 Aug. when it was passed but not without some interloaping debates of something a different na-nature yet all looking the same way occasioned by Messages from the Lords Namely once upon a Message from them The said Declaration from Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Army 43 43. The Lords Message to the Commons to approve the Declaration of the Army concerning their advance to London was read debated in grosse whether the Commons should concur with the Lords in approving it But almost all but the engaged Party and their Pensioners distasted it it was laid by without any question put lest it should prove dangerous to put a Negative upon their Masters of the Army Yet many menaces according to custome were used by the engaged party to get it passed Hasterig affirming that those Gentlemen that sate and voted for a Committee of safety 44 44. The Committee of safety and the Kings comming to London did drive on the designe of the City protestation and engagement To which was Answered That the Committee of safety was not then newly erected by those which sate but the old Committee revived by that Vote which had been long since erected in a full free Parliament when the Army first mutinyed and threatned to March to London and for the same ends Defence of Parliament and City And for the Kings comming to London it was Voted only to get Him out of the power of the Army as formerly in a full and free Parliament he had been voted to Richmond for the same reason 45 45. A Committee to examine the Tumult Upon another Message from the Lords the Commons concurred in an Ordinance to erect a Committee of Examinations to inquire into and examine the City Petition engagement and the force upon the Houses 26 July and all endeavours to raise any forces 46 46. A Sub-committee of Secrecie selected to examine the Tumult c. This Committee consisted of 22 Commons besides Lords almost all of them Members engaged with the Army but because there were some three or four Presbyterians gotten in amongst them to shut these Canaanites forth that the Godly the true seed of Israel might shuffle the Cardes according to their owne minde the 13 Aug. after upon another Message from the Lords there was a Sub-committee of Secrecy named out of this grand Committee of Examinations to examine upon Oath The persons were the Earl of Denbigh and Mulgrave Lord Gray of Wark Lord Howard of Escrig Sir Arthur Hasterig Mr. Solicitor Gourdon Miles Corbet Alderman Pennington Allen Edwards Col Ven or any three of them All persons engaged to live and die with the Army and now appointed to make a clandestine scrutiny and search into the lives and Actions of the Presbyterian party that sate in Parliament doing their duty when the engaged party fled to the Army and brought them up in hostile manner against them The unreasonablenesse of this way of proceeding was much urged 47 47. Debate upon the passing the Committee of Secret examinations and farther alleaged that it was neither consonant to the Customes of the House nor unto common reason That a Sub-committee should be chosen out of the Grand Committee of examinations with more power then the Grand Committee it self had and excluding the rest of the Committee under the pretence of secrecie Besides it was against the priviledge of the House of Commons that the Lords should nominate the Commons in that Sub-committee as well as their own Members But the Independent Grandees would have it passe Breach of Priviledge and all other considerations are easily swallowed when they are subservient to their present designes The party engaged were resolved to be Examiners Informers 48 48. The manner of prosecution and proceeding upon the Tumult and witnesses as well as parties so active was their malice and had so well packed the Cardes that eight or nine Schismaticall Lords engaged likewise with them and the Army should be judges of the Presbyterian party that sate in absence of the two Speakers the better to give the two Houses a through Purge and make them of the same complexion with the Army without which they had no hopes to divide the power and profit of the Land between themselves by 10000. l. 20000. l. in a morning shared amongst the godly and to make the whole Kingdom to be Gibeonites hewers of wood and drawers of water to the faithfull In order to the playing of this game 49 49. Miles Corbet makes report of
impeached hereafter Sir John Maynard the same day was called to Answer Against Sir John Maynard He desired a Copy of his Charge with leave to Answer in writing by advice of Councell as the 11 Members formerly did To examine witnesses on his part and crosse examine their witnesses But these requests were denye◠and he Commanded to answer ex tempore He gave no particular Answer but denyed all in generall as Col Pride whom he cited for his President had formerly done at their Barre He was adjudged to be discharged the House committed to the Tower and farther impeached The like for Commissary Generall Copley whose case differed little The 8 of Sept. the Earl of Suffolke Lincolne Middlesex Against the 7 Lords the Lords Barkley Willoughby Hunsdon and Maynard were impeached of High Treason in the name of the Commons of England for levying war against the King Parliament and Kingdom The Earle of Pembroke then sent to Hampton-Court with the Propositions on purpose to avoid the storm was omitted untill Wednesday following and so had the favour to be thought not worth remembring Sir John Evelyn the younger sent up to the Lords with the Impeachment and a desire they might be committed They were committed to the Black Rodde And so the engaged Lords had their House to themselves according to their desires 50 50. Schismaticall Petitions The 14. Sept. a Petition from divers Schismaticks in Essex came to the Houses bearing this Title To the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled distinct from those Lords and Commons that sate in absence of the two Speakers 16. Sept. a Petition from divers Sectaries of Oxfordsh Bucks Berkesh was delivered the House against diverse Members sitting in the House enemies to God and Godlinesse enemies to the Kingdome c. Vsurpers of Parliamentary Authority who endeavoured to bring in the King upon His owne Tearmes They desired a free Parliament and that according to the desires of the Army those that sate when the Parliament was suspended in absence of the two Speakers might be removed there was a clause against Tythes c. in it Such another Petition came but the day before from Southwarke These Petitions were all penned by the engaged party of the Houses and Army and sent abroad by Agitators to get subscriptions The ayme of these Petitions The designe was to put the two parties in the House into heights one against another to make the lesser party in the House viz. the engaged party but 59 to expell the greater party being above 140. whereby the House might be low and base in the opinion of the people and no Parliament and so leave all to the power of the Sword The Army daily recruiting and thereby giving hopes to all loose people that the Army should be their common Receptacle as the Sea is the common Receptacle of all waters because those who had no hope to be Members of Parliament might become Members of this Army Besides their plausible way of prompting the people to petition against Tythes Enclosures and Copy hold fines uncertain was to encourage them to side with the Army against all the Nobility Gentry and Clergy of the hand from whom the Army did most fear an opposition and to destroy Monarchy it self since it is impossible for any Prince to be a King only of Beggers Tinkers and Coblers But these interloping discourses omitted let us again return to these prodigious Impeachments Against the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens The next in order comes in the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens with whom short work was made Impeachments were sent up to the Lords against them and they sent to the Tower upon a bare report of the Inquisitor Generall Corbet and the reading of some depositions the Witnesses names for the most part concealed and none of them so much as called to the Cōmons Bar to see what they could say for themselves Contrary to Magna Charta 29. chap. and contrary to 28 Edw. 3. enacting that no man shall be put out of his Land c. nor taken nor Imprisoned c. nor put to death c. without being brought to answer by due processe of Law That is according to the Stat. 42 Edw. 3. ch 3. That no man be brought to answer without presentment before Justices or matter of Record or by due process or writ originall according to the old Law of the Land not according to new invented Articles of impeachment but according to those Laws that were well known and old in Edw. 3. time see Stat. 37 Edw. 3. 1 Edw. 6. ch 12. 6 Edw. 6. ch 11. and the Stat. 25 Ed. 3. saith no man shall be taken by Petition or sugestion made to the King or his Councell c. and the House of Peers is no more but the Kings Councell as anon I shall make evident It was moved by divers that these Gent 51 51. Arguments against impeachments before the Lords might be Tried according to Law at the Kings Bench by a Jury of twelve men de vicineto their Peers and equalls to judge of matter of fact alleaging that the Common Law was the Birthright of all the free people of England which was one of the three Principles for which the Parl so often declared in print that they fought and for defence wherof they had entred into a Covenant with their hands lifted up to God the other two principles were Religion and Liberties 1. The Lords were not Peers to the Commoners At the Common Law they shall have sworn Judges for matter of Law of whom they may aske questions in doubtfull poynts nor can they be Judges in their own cases 2. They have sworn Jurors of the neighbourhood for matters of fact whom they may challenge 3. The known Laws and Statutes for rules to judge by which in case of Treason is the Stat. 25 Edw. 3. you cannot Vote nor declare a new Treason And if you could to do it ex post facto is contrary to all rules of justice The Apostle saith Sin is a breach of a Commandement or Law I had not known sin but by the Law the Law therefore most go before the Sin 4. At the Common Law They have Witnesses openly and newly examined upon oath before the Accused's face who may except against them and cross examine them 5. Even in Star Chamber and Chauncery where only hearings are upon Testimonies the Examiners are sworn Officers 6. A man hath but one Tryall and Judgment upon one accusation so that he knows when he hath satisfied the Law In this way of proceeding all these necessary legalities are laid by and these Gentlemen have not so much fair play for their Lives and Estates as Naboth had for his Vineyard he had all the formalities of the law yea he had law it self yet he had not justice because they were the sons of Belial that were set before him what shall we conceive these Witnesses are that do not appear nay
whose very names are concealed yet Naboth was murdered by the sword of Justice for the honour of Parliaments give not the people cause to suspect these Gentlemen shall be so too non recurrendum ad extraordinaria quando fieri potest per ordinaria But all this was but to charme a deafe Adder the nine or ten engaged Lords that then possessed the House were thought to be fitter then a Jury of Middlesex to make work for the hang-man 52 52. Arguments proving the Lords to have no power of Iudicature over the Commons and yet they have no Judicature over the CoÌ„mons as appears by the the president of Sir Simon de Berisforde William Taylboys and the City of Cambridge Note that one president against the Jurisdiction of a Court is more valued then a hundred for it because the Court cannot be supposed ignorant of the Law and its own rights but a particular man or client may see Sir John Maynard's Royall quarrell and his Laws subversion Lieut. Col. Lilburne's whip for the present House of Lords and Judge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of the two Houses of Parliament dated 21. Febr. 1647. As for the cases of Weston Gomenes and Hall cited by Mr. Pryn they were for facts done beyond Sea and before the Stat. 1 Hen. 4. ch 14. whereof the Common Law could then have no conusance therefore an extraordinary way of proceeding before the Lords was requisite and by the Kings speciall Authority it was done without which I dare boldly affirme the Lords have no Judicature at all 53 53. The House of Peers no Court of Iudicature at at all properly and per se which thus I make appear 1. The King by delivering the Great Seale to the Lord Keeper makes him Keeper of his Conscience for matter of equity By his Brevia patentia to the Judges of the two Benches and the Exchequer the King makes them administrators and Interpreters of his Lawes But he never trusts any but himself with the power of pardoning and dispensing with the rigour of the Law in Criminall cases And though the Lord Keeper is Speaker of the Lords House of Court yet he is no Member of the Lords House virtute officii The Judges are not Members but Assistants only So that no man in the House of Peers as he is simply a Peere is trusted by the King either with dispensation of law or equity 2. When a Peer of Parliament or any man else is tried before the Lords in Parliament criminally he cannot be tried by his Peers only because in acts of Judicature there must be a Judge superior who must have his inferiors ministeriall to him Therefore in the Triall of the Earle of Strafford as in all other Trialls upon life and death in the Lords House the King grants his Commission to a Lord High Steward to sit as Judge and the rest of the Lords are but in the nature of Jurors So that it is the Kings Commission that authoriseth and distinguisheth them 3. When a Writ of Error issueth out of the Chauncery to the House of Peers they derive their Authority meerly from that Writ For the three Reasons aforesaid The House of Peers is no Court of Judicature at all without the Kings speciall Authority granted to them either by his Writ or his Commission And the Lords by their four Votes having denied all farther addresse or application to the King have cut off from themselves that fountaine from which they derive all their power And all Trialls by Commission must be upon Bils or Acts of Attainder not by Articles of Impeachment a way never heard of before this Parliament and invented to carry on the designes of a restlesse impetuous Faction Had the Faction had but so much wit as to try those Gentlemen by Commission of Oyer and Terminer before Sergeant Wild he would have borrowed a point of law to hang a hundred of them for his own preferment Observe that almost all the cases cited by Mr. Pryn concerning the Peers Trialls of Commissioners were authorized by the King upon the speciall instance of the House of Commons As for the House of Commons they never pretended to any power of Judicature and have not so much authority as to administer an oath which every Court of Pye-pouldres hath 54 54. Blâ—nke impeachments dorment But this way of triall before the pre-ingaged Lords and upon Articles of Impeachment which they keep by them of all sorts and sizes fit for every man as in Birchin-lane they have suites ready made to fit every body was the apter meanes to bring those men to death whom they feared living had not a doubt of the Scots comming in taught them more moderation then their nature is usually acquainted with and to fright away or at least put to silence the rest of the Members with fear of having their names put into blank Impeachments And that it might be so apprehended Miles Corbet moved openly in the House of Commons that they should proceed with the Impeachments which were ready nothing wanted but to fill up the Blanks they might put in what names they pleased This Inquisitor generall this prologue to the Hang-man that looks more like a hang-man then the Hang-man himself hath since gotten the rich office of Register of the Chauncery as a reward for his double diligence Oh Sergeant Wilde and Mr. Steele despair not of a reward 55 55. Establishment for the Army Friday 17. Sept. the advice of Sir Tho Fairfax and his Councell of War was read in the House of Commons what standing Forces they thought fit to be kept up in England and Wales and what Garrisons Also what Forces to send for Ireland namely for Ireland 6000 Foot and 2400 Horse out of the supernumerary loose forces being no part of the Army And for England upon established pay 18000 Foot at 8d. per diem 7200 Horse at 2s. per diem each Trouper 1000 Dragoones and 200 Firelocks Traine of Artillery Armes and Ammunition to be supplied The Foot to be kept in Garrisons yet so that 6000 may be readily drawn into the field The Independent party argued That the Army were unwilling to goe for Ireland pretending their engagement to the contrary if you divide or disband any part of your Army they will suspect you have taken up your old resolutions against them to disband the whole Army It is now no time to discontent them when the Kings Answer to your Propositions tends to divide you and your Army and the people are generally disaffected to you The Presbyterian party argued That the engagement of the Army ought to be no rule to the Councels of the Parliament otherwise new Engagements every day may prescribe the Parliament new Rules we must look two wayes 1. Upon the people unable to beare the burden 2. Upon the Army Let us keep some power in our owne Hands and not descend so far below the dignity of a Parliament as
in one Brigade and their Armes taken by their Officers 60 60. Cheats put upon the State and shortly after they have been listed againe in another Brigade and their Armes sold againe to the State after a while to new Arme them And of this sort were those Armes which being found in a Magazine in Town by some zelots and rumoured to belong to the City for the Arming of Reformado's were upon examination found to belong to Oliver Cromwell so the businesse was buried in silence for though the Kings over-sights must be tragically published to the world yet the hainous crimes of the godly must lie hid under the maske of Religion 61 61. Arreares secured although the State owes them nothing And though they have usually taken free-quarter in one place and taken composition money for free-quarter in another place some of them in two or three places at once 3s. a day some of them 5s. for a Trooper and 1s. a day and 1s. 6d. for a foot Souldier whereby no Arreares are due to them but they owe money to the State yet they have compelled the Houses to settle upon them for pretended Arreares 1. The moity of the Excise that they may have the Souldiers help in leavying it Although to flatter the People the Army had formerly declared against the excise 2. The moity of Goldsmiths-Hall 3. Remainder of Bishops Lands 4. The customes of some Garrisons 5. Forrest Lands This Army brags they are the Saviours nay Conquerors of the Kingdome Let them say when they saved it whether at the fight at Nazeby or taking in of Oxford and we will pay them according to the then List And for all the Recruites taken in since the reducing of Oxford it is fit they be disbanded without pay having been taken in without nay against Authority to drive on wicked designes and enthrall King Parliament City and Kingdome 24. Decemb. 1647. 62 62. Four dethroning Bills presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle The two Houses by their Commissioners presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle four Bills to be passed as Acts of Parliament and divers Propositions to be assented to They are all printed so is His Majesties Answer to them wherefore I shall need to say the lesse of them only a word or two to two of the Bills 1. The Act for raising setling 63 63. Act for the Militia and maintaining Forces by Sea and Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Wales c. though it seems to be but for 20 years devests the King his Heirs and Successours of the power of the Militia for ever without hope of recovery but by repealing the said Act which will never be in his nor their power for first it saith That neither the King nor his Heires or Successours nor any other shall exercise any power over the Militia by Land or Sea but such as shall act by authority and approbation of the said Lords and Commons That is a Committee of State of twenty or thirty Grandees to whom the two Houses shall transfer this trust being over-awed by the Army for the ground-work of this Committee was layed by these words though the Committee be erected since And secondly it prohibiteth the King his Heires and Successours c. after the expiration of the said 20 years to exercise any of the said powers without the consent of the said Lords and CoÌ„mons and in all cases wherein the said Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdome to be concerned after the said 20 years expired and shall passe any Bills for raising arming c. forces by land or sea or concerning levying of mony c. if the Royall assent to such Bills shall not be given by such a time c. then such Bills so passed by the Lords and Commons shall haâ—e the force of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Lo â—â—re a foundation laid to make an Ordinance of both Houses equall to an Act of Parliament if this be granted in one case it will be taken in another and then these Subverters of our Religion Laws and Liberties will turne their usurpation into a legall Tyranny 2. It gives an unlimited power to the two Houses to raise what forces and what numbers for land and sea and of what persons without exceptions they please and to imploy them as they shall judge fit 3. To raise what mony they please for maintaining them and in what sort they think fit out of any mans estate 64 64. Bill for adjournment of the Parliament as well for place as time The Bill for adjournment of both Houses to any other place c. will enable the engaged Party of the two Houses and Army to adjourne the two Houses from time to time to or near the Head quarters of the Army where those Members that refuse to enter into the same Engagement shall neither sit with accommodation nor safety and so be shaken off at last this is a new way of purging the Houses Besides the Parliament following the motions of the Army the King shall follow the Parliament whereby the Army having both King and Parliament present with them whatsoever attempt shall be made against the Army shall be said to be against the safety and authority of the King and Parliament and a legall Treason triable by Indictment not a constructive Treason only Triable before the Lords 65 65. The King's Answer debated Monday 3. Jan. the Kings Answer to the said Bills and Propositions was debated in the House of Commons And first Sir Thomas Wrothe Jacke Pudding to Prideaux the Post-master had his cue to go high and feel the pulse of the House who spake to this purpose That Bedlem was appointed for mad men and Tophet for Kings That our Kings of late had carried themselves as if they were fit for no place but Bedlem That his humble motion should consist of three parts 1. To secure the King and keep Him close in some inland Castle with sure Guards 2. To draw up Articles of Impeachment against Him 3. To lay Him by and settle the Kingdome without Him He cared not what form of Government they set up so it were not by Kings and Devils Fretons Speech Then Commissary Ireton seeming to speak the sense 〈◊〉 the Army under the notion of many thousand godly men who had ventured their lives to subdue their enemies said after this manner The King had denied safety and protection to his people by denying their four Bills That subjection to him was but in lieu of his protection to his people This being denied 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 unlesse the Parliament forsooke them first After some more debate
when the House was ready for the question Cromwell brought up the Reare Cromwell's Speech And giving an ample character of the valour good affections and godlinesse of the Army argued That it was now expected the Parliament should govern and defend the Kingdome 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 hardned That those men who had defended the Parliament from so many dangers with the expence of their bloud would defend them herein with fidelity and courage against all opposition Teach them not by neglecting your owne and the Kingdoms safety in which their owne is involved to think themselves betrayed and left hereafter to the rage and malice of an irreconcilable enemy whom they have subdued for your sake and therefore are likely to find his future government of them insupportable and fuller of revenge then justice lest despair teach them to seek their safety by some other means then adhering to you who will not stick to your selves And how destructive such a resolution in them will be to you all I tremble to think and leave you to judge Observe he laid his hand upon his Sword at the latter end of his Speech that Sword which being by his side could not keep him from trembling when Sir Philip Stapleton baffled him in the House of Commons This concluding Speech having something of menace in it was thought very prevalent with the House 66 66. The four Bills for no addresses nor applications passed The first of the foure Questions being put That the two Houses should make no more addresses nor applications to the King The House of Commons was divided 141. yeas 91. noes so it was carried in the affirmative The other three Votes followed these votes with facility see them in print 67 67. The Committee of Sâ—fety revived and enlarged The Members had been locked into the House of Commons from before nine of the clock in the morning to seven at night and then the dores were unlocked and what Members would suffered to go forth whereby many Presbyterians thinking the House had been upon rising departed when presently the House being grown thin the Vote to revive the Committee of both Kingdoms called the Committee of Safety at Darby House passed by Ordinance dated 3. Janu. 1647. in these words Resolved c. That the powers formerly granted by both Houses to the Committee of both Kingdomes viz. England and Scotland in relation to the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland be now granted and vested in the Members of both Houses only that are of that Committee with power to them alone to put the same in execution The originall Ordinance that first erected this Committee and to which this said Ordinance relates beareth date 7. Feb. 1643. in which the English Committees were appointed from time to time to propound to the Scottish Commissioners whatsoever they should receive in charge from both Houses and to make report to both Houses to direct the managing of the War and to keep good correspondency with forain States and to receive directions from time to time from both Houses and to continue for three moneths and no longer The Members of this Committee are now The Earl of Northumberland Ro. Earl of Warwick The E. of Kent Edw Earl of Manchester Will. Lord Say Seâ—â— Phil. L. Wharton John Lord Roberts Will. Pierre poynt Sir Henry Vane sen Sir Gilbert Gerrarde Sir Will. Armine Sir Arthur Hasterig Sir Hen. Vanc Iun. John Crew Rob. Wallope Oliver St. Johns Sol. Oliver Cromwell Samu. Browne Nath. Fiennes Sir John Eveline Iunior But this Ordinance 3 Janu. 1647. vests the said powers in the Members thereof only and alone words excluding the two Houses and for a time indefinite There were then added to this Committee Nathaniel Fiennes in place of Sir Phil. Stapleton Sir John Evelin Junior in place of Mr. Recorder and the Earl of Kent in stead of the Earl of Essex 22. Janu. following the Lords sent down a Message for a farther power to this Committee which was granted in these words Power to suppresse Tumults and Insurrections in England c. and at Barwick and for that purpose the Committee to have power to give orders and directions to all the Militia and forces of the Kingdome The addition of four Lords and eight Commoners likewise to this Committee was desired but denyed 68 68. White-Hall and the Mewes Garrisoned Friday 14 Janu. after a long debate it was ordered that Sir Lewis Dives Sir John Stowell and David Jenkins be tryed as Traitors at the Kings Bench the Grand Jury had found the Bill against Jenkins Master Solicitor c. appointed to manage the businesse * but Jenkins is so great a Lawyer See Iudge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of Par. 21. Feb. 1647. that the Solicitor durst not venture upon him the long sword being more powerfull in his mouth then the Law wherefore the Solicitor found an Errour in the Indictment turned him back againe upon the House to be impeached before the Lords to whose Jurisdiction he pleaded so the Solicitor put the affront from himself upon the Houses It was now 12. of the clock and many of the Independent party began to cry Rise rise The Presbyterians thinking all had been done many went to dinner yet the Independents sate still and finding the House for their turne moved That a Letter might be forthwith sent to Sir Tho Fairfax to send a convenient number to Garrison White-Hall and a party of Horse to quarter in the Mewes The Lords concurrence was not desired to this Vote but the Letters immediately drawn and sent Observe that before this Vote passed diverse forces were upon their March towards the Towne and came to White-Hall Saterday following by eight of the Clock in the morning Saterday 15. Janu. 69 69. The Armies Declaration thanking the Commons for their 4 Votes The Army sent a Declaration to the House of Commons Thanking them for their 4 Votes against the King and promising to live and die with the Commons in defence of them against all opponents Many of the Lords had argued very hotly against the said 4 Votes insomuch that it was ten Lords to ten but this engagement of the Army 70 70. The Lords passe the 4 Votes and the unexpected garrisoning of White-Hall and the Mewes turned the scales so that they passed the said 4 Votes only adding a short preamble little to the purpose holding forth some reasons for passing them to which the Commons when they came down assented When presently about 12. of the clock the House being thin Dennis Bond moved That whosoever should act against those 4 Votes or incite others to act against them should be imprisoned and sequestred Three or four dayes after the Lords had passed the said 4 Votes 71 71. The Army thanks the Lords the Army vouchsafed
to spit thanks in their mouthes and make much of them These 4 Votes were generally sinisterly taken and filled mens mindes with suspicion what forme of government the Grandees would set up now they had laid by the King and every mans minde presaged a new War which they conceived the Independent Grandees were willing to have to colour their keeping up this Army and raising money to maintaine them and every man began to lay the project of a new War at their door notwithstanding by way of prevention they had impeached divers Members and Citizens of London for endeavouring a new Warre when they did but raise men for their selfe-defence 72 72. The Declaration against the King To shew the people therefore the reasons of these 4 Votes the Independent Grandees appointed a Committee to search into the Kings Conversation errours of his Government publish them in a Declaration to the world wherein they objected many high crimes against Him concerning His Fathers death the losse of Rochell and the Massacre and Rebellion in Ireland which upon debate in the House were very much moderated by the Presbyterians of which Declaration I will only say That they have set forth no new matter therein which they have not formerly published in parcells since which time they have taken and caused others to take the Nationall Covenant whereby they vow to maintaine the Kings Person Crown and Dignity in defence of Religion Laws and Liberties and therefore to reprint only the same things as Arguments to lay by the King savours more of designe then justice I will wade no farther in the censure of the said Declaration lest I imitate the Authors of it and as they by a feeble accusation have done the King much right so I by a weak defence should doe him much wrong The people were as ill satisfied with this Declaration as with the four Votes 73 73. Tho Hasterig's Letter concerning the King wherefore 24. Febr. Mr. Speaker with much seriousnesse presented to the House a Letter out of Leicester-shire from Thomas Hasterig brother to Sir Arthur which was read to this purpose That there was one Mr. Smalling a Committee-man of Leicester-shire who had been a Deputy-examiner in the Star-chamber and affirmed that above twenty years since there being a suite in Star-chamber betweene the Earle of Bristoll complainant and the Duke of Buckingham defendant concerning Physick presumptuously administred by the said Duke to K. James the said Smalling took many depositions therein and was farther proceeding in the Examinations untill a Warrant signed by the King was brought him commanding him to surcease and to send him the Depositions already taken which Smalling did yet kept notes by him of the principall passages doubting what farther proceedings might be hereafter in a businesse of such importance Sir Henry Mildmay moved that Smalling be sent for and examined upon oath by the Committee that penned the said Declaration but upon motion of the Presbyterians he was ordered to be examined at the Commons Bar. Smalling came produced the Warrant but no notes so this Chimaera vanished What the said Committee would have made of this who knows God blesse us all from clandestine examinations especially when they are taken by parties preingaged 3. Caroli this businesse had been ventilated and examined against the Duke and no mention made of poysoning or killing K. James It was then only called an Act of high presumption and dangerous consequence in the Duke nor was there then the least reflection upon K. Charls yet now because K. Charls dissolved that Parliament the Independent party were willing to raise a suspition against him concerning his Fathers death whereas the Accusation against the Duke of Buckingham 3 Caroli contained seven or eight Charges against him the least whereof might occasion the dissolving of that Parliament These desperate courses to dishonour the King and make him uncapable of Government to ruine his Person Crown 74 74. Why the Independents went so high against the King To usurp the Regall power into themselves either in the Houses purging or in the Committee of safety at Derby house and Dignity and extirpate Monarchy root and branch were taken in order to the usurping of the Kingly power into the Grandees of the Parliament and Army and in case they could not purge the two Houses and make them wholly Independent which they now dispair of then into the hands of the Committee or Councell of State at Derby House and Grandees of the Army In order to which they are now contriving to strengthen the said Committee with more power and more Members and to adjourn the Parliament and send downe the Presbyterian Members into the Country upon pretence of service where if any Tumults happen for which their extortions will give sufficient provocation the said dissenting Members shall bear the blame and have Blanck Impeachments given them to purge them out of the Houses if not out of the world or at least be sequestred for now they have squeezed what they can out of the Kings party by Sequestrations the next fuell to their covetousnesse is to sequester the Presbyerians and then to sequester one another for they are already divided into pure Independents and mixed Independents and have feuds amongst themselves for this Faction insatiate with mony and bloud are all beasts of prey and when they want prey will prey upon one another nor shall the Houses meet above one Month or two in a Year to ratifie and approve what Derby house and the Junto of the Army shall dictate to them and to give an Account to the domineering party how each Member hath carried himself in the Country Thus in stead of one King we shall have twenty or thirty Tyrants in chief and as many subordinate Tyrants as they please to imploy under them with the Iron yoak of an Army to hold us in subjection to their Arbitrary Government 75 75. Why the Grandees doe still continue to truck with the King notwithstanding the said 4 Votes Notwithstanding the aforesaid four Votes and Resolutions the Caball of Grandees still keep Ashburnham and Barkley in the Army and have sent diverse turn-coat-Cavaleers and Emissaries underhand disguised to the King who pretending that by Bribes they have bought their admission to him after some insinuations endevour with false and deceitfull newes and arguments to shake his constancy and perswade him to passe the said 4. dethroning Bils for these usurpers of Soveraign Authority long to turne their Armed and violent Tyrannie into a legall Tyrannie or at least to make him declare against the Scots comming in In both which cases he will dishearten his friends who endeavour to take the golden reines of Government out of the gripes of these Phaëtons and restore them againe to his hand un-king himself and his posterity for ever be carryed up and down like a stalking horse to their designes and be Crowned Ludibrio Coronae with straw or thornes For
the City Oh Oliver what a barbarous John of Leyden art thou become Oh London how wretched a Munster wilt thou become at last they drove those silly unarmed wretches into Leaden hall and took many of them Prisoners none of the Trained Bands nor Citizens appearing to help these poor Boyes but leaving the Souldiers to get as bloudy and as boyish a Triumph over them as they pleased they are now imprisoned in Cromwell's shambles at White Hall This is the truth of the businesse notwithstanding the long-winded lying report made by Alderman Foukes at the Commons Bar a man that hath feathered his nest well these miserable times and hath much publike money sticking to his fingers who when he gave in his Accompt before the generall Committee of Accounts refused to give it in upon Oath as other men did alleaging Magna Charta that no man was bound to accuse himself It should seem he had something in his Conscience that would not endure the Test of an Oath But he is one of the Godly and therefore the good things of this world belong unto him The House of Commons upon this occasion gave 1000l to the Souldiers for this valorous exploit and voted 1000. Foot and 100. Horse to be kept in the Tower The Garrisons of White Hall and the Mewes to be strengthned three Barges capable of 50. Musquetiers a piece to lie at White Hall for the Souldiers to convey themselves to any landing place to disperse such Water-men as shall assemble The City Chaines to be taken away from their posts and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to Issue forth to murder more of these Children legally The Major having kindled this fire in the City stole out at a window disguâ—sed and hid his foolish head in the Tower The House of Commons over-ruled by the Grandees Voted a day of Thanks-giving for this Delivery So bold are these Saints as to mock Gods holy Name with impious devotions to colour their designes 86 86. The Lord Inchiquin The Lord Inchiquin president of Munster and Generall of the Army there had a long time been heaved at by the Independent faction The Lord Lysle who gaped after his imployment Sir John Temple Cromwell the Lord Broughill Sir Arthur and Sir Adam Loftus and others who by obstructing all supplies of Money Ammunition Victuall Cloathes laboured to mutiny and disband his Army that they might send Schismaticks of their owne party to Lord it there as they doe here and keep Ireland as a Retreat for the Saints for the better effecting whereof they had sent over many emissaries whom they had commended to him to be officers in his Army When this would not doe they printed Scandalous Articles against him put infinite provocations upon him to incite him to doe that which they falsly accused him to have done already But the many gallant services he performed since the publishing those Articles gave them the lie and confuted all their slanders at last under colour of sending a supply of forces to him they projected to surprize him and bring him away prisoner So that he hath suffered all the convulsions that treacherous friends and malicious enemies could put upon him And lately for the more close conveiance of the designe the Houses sent three Commissioners towards Ireland to survay his actions but as if it were purposely done when the Commissioners came as far on their way as Bristoll about a dozen renegado Officers of his Army met the Commissioners and turned them back againe The said Officers posted up to the Parliament before the Commissioners the 13. Aprill were called in to the Commons Barre where they made a relation to the House to this purpose That the Lord Inchiquin having made an expedition into the County of Kerry upon his returne sent for these Officers into his presence Chamber and told them He intended to declare against the Army and Independent party in England who kept the King and Parliament under a force That he would stand for the liberty of the King and Parliament and a free conference to settle Peace and that he expected all his Officers should joyne with him in so honourable an undertaking but should take an Oath of secresie before he discovered himselfe farther to them They answered They could take no such Oath before they knew whether they might with a safe Conscience keep it saying they would be true to the Parliament My Lord Inchiquin replied So have I and will be delude me not with ambiguous words Doe you mean this pretended Parliament telling them farther he had good correspondence with all the Presbyterians in Scotland and England as well in the Parliament as out of it that he doubted not to goe through with his undertaking and if the worst hapned to make good conditions for himself and his party That he would make peace with the Lord Taffe and that he knew the Independents in England were upon treaty with Owen Roc Oneal who was a man of their humour and loved to keep all in a combustion They refusing to joyne he dismissed them for England The same day Letters from Captaine John Crowther Vice-admirall of the Irish Seas from a Ship-board were read in the House much to the same purpose though not so large wherein he said he had already blocked up all my Lord Inchiquines Havens Presently Allen the Goldsmith moved 87 87. Allen the Goldsmith moveth to put the House to the touch by some Covenant Declaration That since the Lord Inchiquine had discovered that he had a correspondency with the Presbyterians in the House before they dealt with their Enemies without doores they should try who were their enemies within doors by putting all men to some Covenant Engagement or Protestation c. and Lieutenant Generall Cromwell said That being to debate this businesse to morrow whosoever with crosse Arguments shall spin out the debate and so retard our proceedings by my consent shall be noted with a black coale to which was Answered That this tended to take away freedome of debate which was the life of Parliaments and of all Councells and was destructive to the very being of Parliaments It is not amisse to insert here by way of digression what I formerly omitted Sir Henry Mildmay long since moved That 150. rich Guard-Coates of the Kings might be sold for 800.l to finde fire and candle for the Souldiers in White-Hall The Question put The Speaker gave judgement the Yeas had it Master Edw. Stephens declared the Noes had it They were unwilling to divide upon such a Question But M. Stephens persisted and Robert Reynolds said aloud notice shall be taken of him for putting such a dishonour upon the House Upon the Division the Noes carried it by nine voices Thereupon complaints was made against Reynolds for attempting against the liberty of Voting but no redresse But to returne from my digression The next day 14 of Aprill it was moved that my Lord Inchiquins son a child of 8
or 9 years old going to Schoole at Thistleworth might be secured in the Tower and kept for an Hostage To which was Answered That no man could give an Hostage An Hostage must be given upon the publick faith upon some stipulation and must be so received by mutuall agreement you cannot punish the Child for the Fathers fault yet he was Voted to the Tower and sent My Lord Inchiquins Commission as president of Munster and Generall of the Army Voted voide and no man to obey him himselfe Voted a Traytor Yet no man examined upon Oath against him nor any man sent to take information of the businesse into Ireland and his professed enemy the Lord Lisle is to goe Generall into Munster in his roome and the said fugitive Officers all rewarded as if they had brought acceptable newes This day Reynolds revived Allens motion for putting the Members to the Test by some Covenant Protestation or Declaration subscribed That this is a free Parliament and that they would live and die with this Parliament and Army To which was Answered 1. That by Ordinance of both Houses all men were enjoyned to take the Nationall Covenant This Covenant is the true Touch-stone of the Parliament and so agreed upon by the wisdome of both Nations Yet many sit here who refuse to obey this Ordinance I know no reason therefore why any man should obey you in any other Ordinance of this nature let us keep the old Covenant before we take any new 2. It hath been moved in this House that the Oathes of Justices of the Peace and Sheriffes might be taken away I hope you will not abolish legall Oathes and impose illegall Oathes This House hath not so much Authority as to administer an Oath much more to impose one you must allow to others that liberty of Conscience which you demand for your selves 3. Major Gray told you my Lord Inchiquine said he had correspondency with all the Presbyterians in the House who had made their peace with the King But my Lord Inchiquine told him farther the Independents were upon Treaty with Owen Roc Oneal let them clear themselves of that imputation first before they give a purgation unto others otherwise what you doe will savour of force 4. The true Touch-stone to try every mans integrity is To examine who have inriched themselves by the calamities of the times and your service and who are impoverished 5. This is a new device to Purge the House The Grandees of the House have cantonized the Kingdome between 88 88. The Counties compelled to give thanks to the Houses for their Votes against the King them every man in his division protecting the Country Committees and receiving tribute from them in recompence of their protection and Prideaux the Postmaster being king of the West Saxons his Viceroy or Lord Deputy for the County of Somerset is that running Colonel John Pyne who being often inspired with Sack rules the Committee and County by inspiration Pyne and his Peers of the Committee to please his Superiours set on foot a draught of a Petition to be handed by the Country Giving thanks to the Parliament for their 4 Votes against the King and promised to live and die with the Parliament and Army and desired the County might be freed from Malignants Neuters and Apostates which in their interpretation signifies Presbyterians and moderate men who will not daunce about the flame when the Independents make a bonfire of the Common-wealth The Easterne Division of Somerset-shire rejected the Petition in the Westerne Division Pyne and his Committee sending abroad their Sequestrators with the Petition and threatning to take them for Malignants and sequester them that refused got many subscriptions but the Subscribers since better enformed of the danger and mischief of those Votes retracted what they had done by a counter Petition wherein they declared that their Subscription to the former Petition was contrary to their judgment and conscience and extorted by terror of Sequestrators and threats of being sequestred This affront stung the Committee and opened the eyes of the Country as the like foolish attempt of Sr H. Mildmay did the eyes of the County of Essex Wherefore to find a playster for this broken pate Sergeant Wylde he that hanged Capt. Burly comming that Circuit care was taken to have a selected Grand Jury of Schismaticks and Sequestrators blended together who made a presentment subscribed by 19. of their hands which Sergeant Wylde preserved in his pocket and upon Tuesday 18. April delivered with as much gravity as a set speech and set ruffe could furnish him withall in the House of Commons and was read and hearkened unto by the thriving godly with as much attention as pricking up of ears and turning up of eyes could demonstrate the contents of this Presentment were the same with the aforesaid revoked Petition Great care was taken to give thanks to the high Sheriffe and Grand Jury who had so freely delivered the sense of that well-affected County and as much care taken to improve this Talent and put it to interest throughout the Kingdome Colonel Purefoy is now at this worke in Warwick-shire Sir Arthur Hasterig about Newcastle others in other places Pitifull Crutches to support a crippled reputation which now halts and begs for relief worse then their owne maymed Souldiers do and with as bad successe they have juggled themselves out of credit and would fain juggle themselves in again Behold the wisdome of our Grandees wise religious new-modelled Politicians who have brought themselves and the whole Kingdome into these deplorable contemptible straights take notice of your Representative you that are Represented call them to a seasonable account But whither doth my zeale carry me I shall anon stumble upon a new-fangled Treason to be declared against me 89 89. Mens tongues tied up by an Ordinance Friday 21. April an Ordinance was presented to the House intituled For suppressing all Tumults and Insurrections the Committee of Safety at Darby house had before an ample power conferred upon them for that purpose but guilty consciences though they be safe are never secure like Cain they think that every man will slay them it was passed after some amendments to this purpose That any three Committee men shall have power to Imprison and Sequester all such as shall actually adhere to any that shall raise or endeavour to raise Tumults and Insurrections or shall speak or publish any thing reproachfull to the Parliament or their proceedings Behold here an excise amounting to the value of all you have set upon every light word A man made an offender for a word to the utter ruine of him and his posterity under colour of defending Lawes Liberties and Properties you are cheated of them all and reduced to meer and absolute slavery and beggery you are not masters of your own carkasses yet your mouths are buttoned up you must not be allowed that silly comfort of venting your griefs by way of complaint what
judgements at Law or else to attend the Councell of Warre wheresoever they sit to shew cause to the contrary And when Lieut. Colonell Lylborne was ordered to be brought to the Kings Bench-Barre upon his habeas Corpus Easter Terme 1648. Cromwell sent word to the Lieutenant of the Tower not to bring him and Cromwell was obeyed not the Judges Thus the Laws of the Land are daily baffled that men may be accustomed to Arbitrary Government and those actions which no Law of the Land calls a crime may be interpreted Treason when our Grandees please to have it so 4. Their allowing Mony to some Committees to reward Informers Spies Intelligencers to betray even their nearest friends relations 5. Their holding Honest Generous and Grave men in suspicion and making the Houses of Parliament and Army snares to them expelling them with false and extrajudiciall Accusations 6. Their owning dishonest base minded men that have cheated the State as instruments fit to be confided in and associate with them in time of danger 7. Their impoverishing the people with confused Taxes decay of Trade and obstructing of the mint and thereby breaking their spirits 8. Their changing and dividing the Militia of London purposely to weaken it 9. Their not restoring to the Countries their Militia and trusting them to defend their owne houses as formerly 10. Their nourishing factions in the Common-wealth Schismes in the Câ—â—â—ch 11. Expelling learned Divines to let in ignorant men All these are Tyrannicall policies grounded upon the old principle That a Tyrant should deprive His Subjects of all things that may nourish courage strength knowledge mutuall confidence and charity amongst them which Maxime the best Politicians say containes the whole Systeme or method of Tyrannicall Government 4 4. The Independents divide the Taxes Spo les Preferments of the Land between them 4. As this encroaching faction have usurped all the Military and Civill power of both Kingdomes so they have Monopolized all the great Offices Rich imployments and Treasure of the Land They are cleerly the predominant party in all money Committees They give daily to one another for pretended Services Aâ—â—ars and loosses great summes of money many of their largisses I have already set down They gave lately to Colonel Hammond Governour of the Isle of Wight for his Table 20l. a week 1000l in money and 500l a year land to Major Gen. Skippon 1000l per annuÌ„ land of Inheritance to Col. Mitton 5000l mony All the cheating covetous ambitious persons of the land are united together under the name and title of The Godly the Saints c. and share the fat of the land between them few of them pay any Taxes but all the Land paies Tribute to them It is thought this Faction their under-Agents and Factors have cost this Common-wealth above 20 millions never laid forth in any publike service Nay the Treasurers and Publicans of this Faction have clipped and washed most of the mony that comes into their fingers before they pay it forth knowing that any mony that comes out of their fingers will be accepted two Gold-smiths are thought to be dealers this way yet they lay the blame on the Scottish Army as the Cuckow laies her brood in other nests 5. Having thus imped their wings for flight 5 5. The Independents provided of Places of retreat to flie to they have provided themselves of places of retreat in case they cannot make good their standing in England Ireland is kept unprovided for that they may find roome in it when necessity drives them thither If their hopes faile in Ireland they have New-England Bermudas Barbadas the Carybi Isles the Isle of Providence Eleutheria Lygonia and other places to retreat to and lay up the spoiles of England in nay they usually send chests and vessels with mony plate and goods beyond Sea with Passes from the two Speakers To let them passe without searching the Navy is in their power to accommodate their flight and by their Instruments called Spirits they have taken up many Children and sent them before to be Slaves and drudges to the Godly in their schismaticall Plantations as the Turke takes up Tribute-children from the Christians to furnish his nursery of Janisaries and so they have their Agents that buy up all the Gold they can get Cromwell not long since offered 11000l in silver for 10000l in gold besides he is well furnished with the Kings Jewels taken in his Cabinet at Nazeby many of them known jewels as the Harry and the Elisabeth 6. Nor shall the vulgar sort of Independents either in Parlialiament Army or City fare better then the rest of the Kingdome 6 6. The vulgar Independents but props and properties to the Grandees The Grandees both of Parliament and Army endevouring to adjourn the Parliament and draw all the power of both Houses into the Committee of derby-Derby-house consisting but of 20. or 30. the rest of the Independent Members will find their power dissolved in the adjournment and swallowed up by that Committee and rheir services forgotten nor shal they have any power in the Militia which is the only quarrell between them and the King the Grandees disdaining to have so many Partners in that which they have got by their own wits for know that the Grandees have alwaies been winnowing the Parliament First they winnowed out the moderate men under the notion of the Kings party then the Presbyterians and now they will winnow forth the lighter and more chaffy sort of Independents who stand for the Liberty of the people a thing which Cromwell now calleth a fancy not to be engaged for and so they will bring all power into their own hands Thus having contracted the Parliament into a Committee of Safety they will adjourne themselves though the Parliament cannot to Oxford or some other place which they more confide in then London and this is the setling the Kingdom without the King they so much ayme at and which they had rather the people should be brought to practically and by insensible degrees then by Declarations held forth to them before hand or by politick Lectures in the Pulpit Thus is it decreed that this Caball of Godly men at Derby-house shall with a Military Aristocracy or rather Oligarchy rule this Nation with a rod of Iron and break them in pieces like a Potters vessell Observe that the Ordinance by which the Committee of Derby-house is revived and the additions of power to it are purposely penned in such ambiguous tearms that he that hath the Sword in his hand may make what construction of them he pleaseth neither were they clearly penned is it in the power of the Houses being but the Trustees of the people to transfer or delegate their trust to a lesser number of men a trust not being transferable by law and the people having chosen a Parliament not a Committee to look to their safety and peace 7 7. The Army hindeâ—â— Peace and Setlement
THE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCY WITH The Rise Growth and Practices of that powerfull and restlesse FACTION D us AMBROSIUS Nec nobis ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus nec vobis gloriosum est facere quod fecit Judas TACIT Scelera sceleribus tuenda VIRGILIUS sua cuique Deus fit dira libido 1 St. JOHN C. 2. V. 16. Quicquid est in mundo est concupiscentia oculorum concupiscentia carnis aut superbia vitae Printed in the yeare 1648. Reader GEntle or ungentle I write to all knowing that all have now got almost an equall share and interest in this Gallymaufry or Hotchpot which our Grandee Pseudo-politicians with their negative and demolishing Councells have made both of Church and Common-wealth and therefore I write in a mixed stile in which I dare say there are some things fit to hold the judgments of the Gravest some things fit to catch the fancies of the lightest and some things of a middle nature applying my self to all capacities as far as truth will permit because I fore-see the Catastrophe of this Tragedy is more likely to be consummated by maltitude of hands then wisdome of heads I have been a curious observer and a diligent inquirer after not only the actions but the Councels of these times and I here present the result of my endevours to thee In a time of mis-apprehensions it is good to avoid mistakings and therefore I advise thee not to apply what I say to the Parliament or Army in generall if any phrase that hath dropped from my pen in haste for this is a work of haste seem to look asquint upon them no it is the Grandees the Junto-men the Hocas-pocasses the State-Mountebanks with their Zanyes and Jack-puddings Committee-men Sequestrators Treasurers and Agitators under them that are here historified were the Parliament the major part whereof is in bondage to the minor part and their Janisaries and the Army freed from these usurping and engaged Grandees who betrayed the honour and Priviledges of Parliament and Army to their own lusts both would stand right and be serviceable to the setling of a firme lasting peace under the King upon our first principles Religion Laws and Liberties which are now so far laid by that whosoever will not joyne with the Grandees in subvetting them is tearmed a Malignant as heretofore he that would not adhere to the Parliament in supporting them was accounted so that the definition of a Malignant is turned the wrong side outward The body of the Parliament and Army in the midst of these distempers is yet healthy sound serviceable my endeavour is therefore to play the part of a friendly Phisician and preserve the body by purging peccant humours were the Army under Commanders and Officers of better principles who had not defiled their fingers with publick monies their consciences by complying with and cheating all Interests King Parliament People City and Scots for their owne private ends I should think that they carried the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon but clean contrary to the Image presented to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream the head and upper parts of this aggregate body are part of clay part of iron the lower parts of better mettle I cannot reform I can but admonish God must be both the Aesculapius and Prometheus and amend all and though we receive never so many denialls never so many repulses from him let us take heed how we vote even in the private corners of our hearts no Addresses no Applications to him Let us take heed of multiplying sins against God lest he permit our schismaticall Grandees to multiply Armies and forces upon us to war against Heaven as well as against our Religion Laws Liberties Properties upon Earth and keep us our Estates under the perpetual bondage of the Sword which hath been severall waies attempted in the Houses these two last weeks both for the raising and keeping of a new Army of 30000. or 40000. men in the seven Northern Associate Counties upon established pay besides this Army in the South and also for the raising of men in each County of England and all to be engrossed into the hands of his Excellency and such Commanders and Officers as he shall set over them and this work may chance be carried on by the Grandees of Derby-house and the Army if not prevented for the Generall notwithstanding this power was denied him in the House of Commons hath sent Warrants into most Counties to raise Horse and Foot yea to that basenesse of slavery hath our Generall and Army with their under-Tyrants the Grandees brought us that although themselves did heretofore set the rascallity of the Kingdome on worke especially the schismaticall party to clamour upon the Parliament with scandalous Petitions and make peremptory demands to the Houses destructive to the Religion Laws Liberties and Properties of the Land and the very foundation of Parliaments to which they extorted what Answers they pleased and got a generall Vote That it was the undoubted right of the Subject to petition and afterwards to acquiesce in the wisdome and justice of the two Houses Yet when upon 16. of May 1648. the whole County of Surrey in effect came in so civill a posture to deliver a Petition to the Houses that they were armed for the most part but with sticks in which Petition there is nothing contained which the Parliament is not bound to make good by their many Declarations and Remonstrances to the people or by the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy or Nationall Covenant or by the known Lawes of this Land Yet were they 1. Abused by the Souldiers of White-Hall as they passed by where some of them were pulled in and beaten 2. When those Gentlemen of quality that carried the Petition came to Westminster-Hall they found a Guard of Souldiers at the dore uncivilly opposing their entrance to make their addresse to the House 3. When they pressed into the Hall and got up to the Commons dore they were there reviled by the Guard 4. The multitude which stood in the new Palace because some of them did but whoop as others did who were purposely set on work as is conceived to mix with them and disorder them were suddenly surrounded with a strong party of Horse from the Mewes It is reported by some that Sir H. Mildmay Col. Purefoy and the Speaker doubting the House would give too good an Answer to their Petition sent for these Horse Foot and some more Companies of Foot from White-Hall who by the appointment of the Committee of Schismaticks at Derby-house were ready prepared for this designe and catched them as it were in a Toyle and with barbarous and schismaticall rage fell upon these naked un-armed Petitioners flew and wounded many without distinction telling them They were appointed to give an Answer to their Petition and they should have no other as indeed they had not though the Lieutenant Colonel that did all the mischief was called
whose Ashes I will spare with the E. of Essex to break them one upon another This was at last effected by taking advantage of their severall misfortunes the one at Listithyell in Cornwall the other at the Devises in Wiltsh where Hasterigge a man too ignorant to command and too insolent to obey not staying for the Foot who lay round about the Devises in a storming posture charged up a steep hill with his Horse only against the Lord Wilmot's Party one Division so far before another that the second Division could not relieve the first thereby freeing Sir Ralph Hopton from an assured overthrow and bestowing an unexpected Victory on the L. Wilmot he received a wound in his flight the smart whereof is still so powerfully imprinted in his memory that he abhors fighting ever since witnesse his praying and crying out of Gun-shot at the Battle of Cheriton when he should have fought and his complaint openly made in the House of Commons of the Earle of Stanford for Bastonadoing him Which rashnesse of his if it deserve not a worse name was so far from being discountenanced that he received not long after a gift of 6500l from the House and is lately made Governour of Newcastle and 3000l given him to repaire the Works there I shall not need the spirit of prophesie to foresee that the tenth part of the said 3000l will not be bestowed upon those Works Thus was he favoured by his party in the House who were thought to look upon this action as an acceptable service In farther progresse of this designe Manchester a Lord 3 3. The E. of Manchester undermined and therefore not to be confided in was undermined and accused by his Lieutenant Generall Cromwell of high Crimes whom he again recriminated with a Charge of as high a nature and when all men were high in expectation of the event it grew to be a drawn battle between them whereby all men concluded them both guilty Manchester was discarded Out of the ashes of these three arose that Phoenix forsooth a new modell'd Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax a Gentleman of an irrationall and brutish valour fitter to follow another mans counsell then his owne and obnoxious to Cromwell and the Independent faction upon whose bottome he stands for his preferment it being no dishonour to him to become the property to a powerfull Faction 4 4. The Victories of the new Modell how atchieved It pleased God to bestow many Victories upon this Army over the Kings Forces then strong in bulk but weakned by Factions want of Pay and other distractions whereby many of their Commanders not confiding in one another began to provide for their future safety and subsistence but above all they had generally lost the peoples affections To these their Victories the constant pay and supplies and all other helps and encouragements from a concurring State which their working and restlesse Faction carefully accommodated them withall far beyond what any other Army had formerly did much conduce in so much as they cleared the field and took in all the enemies Garrisons with so much facility that to many men they seemed rather Cauponantes bellum quà m belligerantes to Conquer with silver then with steel 5 5. Artifices to make Cromwell and his new Modell popular Thus this Faction having got a Generall fit for their turne and a Lieutenant Generall wholly theirs in Judgment and interest were diligent to make him famous and popular by casting upon him the honour of other mens Atchievements and valour The News-books taught to speak no language but Cromwell and his Party and were mute in such actions as he and they could claim no share in for which purpose the Presses were narrowly watched When any great exploit was half atchieved and the difficulties overcome Cromwell was sent to finish it and take the glory to himself all other men must be eclipsed that Cromwell the Knight of the Sun and Don Quixote of the Independents and his Party may shine the brighter 6 6. The new Modell new-modelled by degrees to put the Sword into the hands of Schismaticks And that Cromwell's Army might be sutable to himself and their Designes carried on without interruption or observation of such as are not of their Principles all the Sectaries of England are invited to be Reserves to this Army and all pretences of scandals and crimes laid hold of at their owne Councels of War to casheer and disband the Presbyterian party that Independents might be let into their rooms though such as for the most part never drew Sword before so that this Army which boasteth it self for the Deliverer nay the Conquerour of two Kingdoms is no more the same that fought at Nazeby then Sir Francis Drake's Ship that brought him home can be called the same Ship that carried him forth about the earth having been so often repaired and thereby suffered so many substractions and additions that hardly any part of the old Vessell remained It was therefore nominally and formally not really and materially the same The said Mystery of the two Junto's farther tells you that the Independent Junto bottomed all their hopes and interests upon keeping up this Army whereby to give the Law to King Kingdom Parliament and City and to establish that Chimaera called Liberty of Conscience That this was Cromwell's ambition formerly the Earle of Manchester's aforesaid Charge against Cromwell though let fall without prosecution lest so great a mystery should be discovered makes it probable and his later practises upon which I now fall makes it infallible The Houses long since for ease of the people in a full and free Parliament ordained the disbanding of this Army 7 7. The Army Voted to be Disbanded through Cromwell's craft onely 5000 Horse 1000 Dragoons and some few Fire-locks to be continued in pay for safety of this Kingdome and some of them to be sent for Ireland for which purpose they borrowed 200000l of the City being the same summe which disbanded the Scots and for the rest of their Arrears they were to have Debenters and security without all exceptions such tearms of advantage as no other disbanded Souldiers have had the like neither are these like to attain to again so that they have brought the Souldiers into a losse as well as into a labyrinth their continuing in Armes without nay against lawfull authority being a manifest act of Treason and Rebellion and so it is looked upon by the whole Kingdome nor can the Parliaments subsequent Ordinances which all men know to be extorted by force as hereafter shall appear help them To the passing of this Ordinance Cromwell's Protestations in the House with his hand upon his brest In the presence of Almighty God before whom he stood that he knew the Army would disband and lay downe their Armes at their dore whensoever they should command them conduced much This was malitiously done of Cromwell to set the Army at a
into a dull sleep now was his time to pick a quarrell with the City that what he could not obtain by fair means he might effect by foule To make them desert and divide from the Parliament And leave it to be modelled according to the discretion of the Souldiery He could not think it agreeable to policy that this City which had slaine his Compeere and fellow Prince Wat Tyler the Idoll of the Commons in Rich. 2. time and routed his followers four times as many in number as his Army should be trusted with their own Militia The City being now far greater more populous and powerfull then in his dayes In a full and free Parliament upon mature debate both Houses by Ordinance dated 4 May 1647. had established the Militia of the City of London for a year in the hands of such Citizens as by their Authority approbation were nominated by the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell and though the Army had recruited it self without Authority and had got themselves invested with the whole power of all the Land forces of the Kingdome in pay of the Parliament so that there was nothing left that could be formidable to them but their own crimes and that it was expected they should goe roundly to work upon those publick remedies they had so often held forth to the people in their popular printed Papers yet the Army contrary to what they promised to the City in their Letter 10. June and their Declaration or Representation 14. June 1647. That they would not goe beyond their desires at that time expressed and for other particulars would acquiesce in the justice and wisdome of the Parliament behold their modesty by a Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army See the Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Army pag 8 9. with unresistible boldnesse demand the Militia of the City of London to be returned into other hands without acquainting the City or their Commissioners then resident in the Army to keep a good correspondency with them therewith Upon which letter alone the House of Commons being very thin many Members driven away by menaces upon July 22. Voted the repealing the said Vote of 4 May and a new Ordinance for reviving the old Militia presently passed and transmitted to the Lords the same day about seven of the clock at night and there presently passed without debate though moved by some to be put off untill the City whose safety and priviledges it highly concerned were heard what they could say to it Observe that neither by the said paper from the Army nor by any man in the two Houses any thing was objected against any of the new Militia And indeed formerly the Parliament never made choice of enlarged or changed the City Militia but they were still pleased first to communicate the same to the Common Councell A respect justly shewed to that City which had been such good friends to them But of late since the Parliament have shifted their old Principles and Interests they have learned to lay by their old friends The pretence for this hasty passing the Ordinance was to prevent the Armies so much threatned March to London if the Houses refused to passe it and the Cities opposition if not passed before their notice of it But the reall designe was to strike a discontent and jealousie into the City thereby to force them to some act of self-defence which might give a colour to the Army to march up against them and their friends in the Houses The unexpected news of this changing their Militia 24 24. The City troubled at the change of their Militia caused the City June 24. being Saturday to meet in Common Councell where for some reasons already expressed and because the repealing this Ordinance upon no other grounds then the Armies imperious desires might justly be suspected to shake all other Ordinances for security of mony sale of Bishops lands I appeal to Colonel Harvy whether this did not fright him by making them repealable at the Armies pleasure they resolved to petition the Houses upon munday morning following being 26. July which they did by the Sheriffs and some Common Councell men 25 25. The City petition the Houses for their Militia again 26 26. The Tumult of Apprentices 26. July But so it hapned that about one thousand Apprentices wholly unarmed came down two or three howers after with another Petition of their own to the Houses Therein claiming that to order the City Militia was the Cities Birth-right belonging to them by Charters confirmed in Parliaments for defence whereof they had adventured their lives as far as the Army And desired the Militia might be put again into the same hands in which it was put with the Cities consent by Ordinance May 4. Upon reading these Petitions the Lords were pleased to revoke the Ordinance of July 23. and revive that of May the 4. by a new Ordinance of July 26. which they presently sent downe to the Commons for their consents where some of the Apprentices presuming they might have as great an Influence upon the House to obtain their due as the Army in pay of the Parl had to obtain more then their due in a childish heat were over-clamorous to have the Ordinance passed refusing to let some Members passe out of the House or come forth into the Lobby when they were to divide upon the question about it so ignorant were they of the customs of the House which at last passed in the Affirmative about three of the clock afternoon and then most of the Apprentices departed quietly into the City After which 27 27. The Tumult of Apprentices ceased but artificially continued by Sectaries some disorderly persons very few of them Apprentices were drawn together and instigated by divers Sectaries and friends of the Army who mingled with them amongst whom one Highland was observed to be all that day very active who afterwards 26. Sept. delivered a Petition to the House against those Members that sate and was an Informer and Witness examined about the said Tumult gathered about the Commons dore and grew very outragious compelling the Speaker to return to the Chaire after he had adjourned the House and there kept the Members in untill they had passed a Vote That the King should come to London to Treat This was cunningly and premeditately contrived to encrease the scandall upon the City yet when the Common Councell of London heard of this disorder as they were then sitting they presently sent down the Sheriffs to their rescue with such strength as they could get ready their Militia being then unsetled by the contradicting Ordinances of the Parliament who at last pacified the Tumult and sent the Speaker safe home which was as much as they could do in this intervall of their Militia being the Houses own Act. The Lords adjourned untill the next Friday the Commons but untill the next day Tuesday
his own house was there seized upon and carryed Prisoner into the Army All these acts of terror were but so many Scar-crowes set up to fright more Presbyterians from the Houses and make the Army masters of their Votes 38 38. Proceedings of both Houses under the power of the Army I must in the next place fall upon the proceedings in both Houses acted under the power and influence of this all-inslaving all-devonring Army and their engaged party To attaine the knowledge whereof I have used my utmost industry and interest with many my neere friends and kinsmen sitting within those walls heretofore when Kings not Brewers and Draymen were in power the walls of publique liberty 39 39. Ordinance to null and voide all Acts passed in absence of the two renegado Speakers The Lords that sate in absence of the two Speakers all but the Earle of Pembroke whose easie disposition made him fit for all companies found it their safest course to forbeare the House leaving it to be possessed by those few Lords that went to and engaged with the Army which engaged Lords sent to the Commons for their concurrence to an Ordinance To make all Acts Orders and Ordinances passed from the 26 July when the tumult was upon the Houses to the 6. of August following being the day of the fugitive Members returne void and null ab initio This was five or six severall dayes severally and fully debated as often put to the Question and carryed in the Negative every time yet the Lords still renewed the same Message to them beating back their Votes into their throats and would not acquiesce but upon every denyall put them againe to roll the same stone contrary to the priviledges of the Commons 40 40. Menaces used by the engaged party in the House The chief Arguments used by the engaged party were all grounded upon the Common places of feare and necessity M. Solicitor threatning if they did not concur the Lords were resolved to vindicate the Honour of their House and sit no more they must have recourse to the power of the sword the longest sword take all That they were all engaged to live and die with the Army They should have a sad time of it Hasterig used the like language farther saying Some heads must fly off and he feared the Parliament of England would not save the Kingdome of England they must look another way for safety They could not satisfie the Army but by declaring all void ab initio and the Lords were so far engaged that no middle way would serve To this was answered that this was an Appeal from the Parliament to the Army And when these and many more threats of as high nature were complained of as destructive to the liberty and being of Parliaments the Speaker would take no notice of it Sir Henry Vane junior Sir John Evelin junior Prydeaux Gourdon Mildmay Tho Scott Cornel Holland and many more used the like threats Upon the last negative being the fift or sixth the Speaker perceiving greater enforcements must be used pulled a Letter out of his pocket from the Generall and Generall Councel of the Army 41 41. A threatning Remonstrance from the Army to the House for that was now their style pretending he then received it But it was conceived he received it over night with directions to conceal it if the Question had passed in the Affirmative It was accompanyed with a Remonstrance full of villanous language and threats against those Members that sate while the two Speakers were with the Army calling them pretended Members Charging them in generall with Treason Treachery and breach of Trust And protested if they shall presume to sit before they have cleared themselves that they did not give their assents to such and such Votes they should sit at their perill and he would take them as Prisoners of Warre and try them at a Councell of Warre What King of England ever offered so great a violence to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament as to deny them the Liberty of Voting I and No freely Certainly the little finger of a Jack Cade or a Wat Tyler is far heavier then the loynes of any King Many Members were amazed at this Letter and it was moved That the Speaker should Command all the Members to meet at the House the next day and should declare That they should be secured from danger And that it might be Ordered that no more but the ordinary Guardes should attend the House But these two motions were violently opposed with vollies of threats by the aforesaid parties and others And after more then two houres debate the Speaker refused to put any question upon them or any of them and so adjourned to the next morning leaving the Presbyterian Members to meet at their Perill The next day being Friday the 20 Aug. there was a very thin Assembly in the House of Commons the House having with so much violence denyed protection to their Members the day before made most of the Presbyterian party absent Some went over to the Independent party others fate mute At last a Committee was appointed presently to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation which was suddainly done and passed and is now Printed at the latter end of the said menacing Remonstrance of the Army a Childe fit to waite upon such a Mother 42 42. Debate in passing the Ordinance of null and voide Thus was this Ordinance of null and voyde gotten which hath been the cause of so much danger and trouble to Multitudes of people by the Lords reiterated breaches upon the Priviledges of the House of Commons The engaged parties threats within doores The Armies thundring Letters and Remonstrance Their Guardes upon their doores and a Regiment or two of Horse in Hide Parke ready to make impressions upon the House in case things had not gone to their mindes diverse of whose Commanders walking in the Hall enquired often how things went protesting they would pull them forth by the Eares if they did not give speedy satisfaction Thus for the manner of passing that Ordinance the matter of Argument used against it was as far as I can hear to the purpose following It was alledged that the force upon Munday 26 July ended that day that the next day being Tuesday the House met quietly and adjourned That upon Friday following the Houses fate quietly all day and gave their Votes freely and so forward the City having sufficiently provided for their security That this tranfient force upon Munday could have no influence on the Houses for the time to come That the Supream power of no Nation can avoide their owne acts by pretended force This would make the common People the Jurors and Judges to question all acts done in Parliament since one man can and may judge of force as well as another This were to being the Records of the House into dispute Magna Charta was never gotten nor confirmed but by force force was
Examinations taken at the close Committee First against the Committee of Safety Miles Corbet Interpreter to that State-puppet-play behinde the curtain commonly called The close Committee of examinations upon the 3. Septemb. stood up and began his Report from that Inquisition saying he would begin with the Committee of safety wherein many Members were concerned and it was necessary to purge the Houses first But farther said he would suppresse the Nantes of many of his Witnesses because the Depositions he should report were but prepatory examinations and it would be for service of the State to conceal their names He first produced many Warrants signed at the Committee of Safety by the Earles of Pembroke Suffolke Middlesex Lincolne Lord Willoughby of Parham Maynard Mr. Hollis Sir Phil Stapleton Sir William Waller Mr. Long Mr. Nicholls Sir William Lewes Mr. Baynton Next Corbet reported he had a Witnesse who deposed that a Gentleman with a red head had signed many Warrants supposed to be Mr. Edward Baynton Against Master Baynton at length after much wyer-drawing of the businesse one Warrant was shewn to Mr. Baynton which he confessed to be his hand And presently Haslerigge moved that Mr. Baynton might forthwith Answer against which was objected That since these were but preparatory examinations not legall proofs no man was bound to answer them otherwise a man shall be put to as many severall answers as severall new matters of Charge come in against him and shall day by day be liable to new vexations and never know when he hath cleered himself But Corbet who of an Examiner was now become the Kings Solicitor or Advocate Criminall moved to proceed to judgment against him but first to ask him some preparatory questions But it was answered that it was illegall to squeese examinations out of a mans own mouth neither was a man bound to answer where his words may condemn but not absolve hiâ— for so much as depends upon the testimony of Witnesses against this Gentleman you cannot proceed unlesse he be by and have liberty to put crosse questions to the Witnesses It is alleaged Warrants were signed and all done in relation to a new war It is answered it was done in order to self-defence allowable by the Lawes Long before this occasion when the Army first mutinied and threatned to march up to London and use such extraordinary means against the Parliament and City as God had put into their hands you then in a full and free Parliament appointed a Committee of safety for your defence who sate and acted This Committee was but the same revived and upon the like or worse threats and menaces as by the many printed Papers from the Army will appear you have no Testimony against this Gentleman by name but only a Character of his haire and for signing the Warrant confessed by himself he is acquitted by the Proviso of the Ordinance 20. August last which excepteth only such as acted upon the force But when the Committee of safety was revived the Parliament was freer from force then it is how Mr. Baynton notwithstanding was adjudged to be suspended the House during pleasure of the House which is as much as to say So long as the Tyranny of this domineering Faction lasteth The 4. Against Master Walker of Sept. Corbet reported he had a Witnesse but named him not because they were but preparatory examinations who deposed that an elderly Gentleman of low stature in a gray suit with a little Stick in his hand came forth of the House into the Lobby when the Tumult was at the Parliament dore and whispered some of the Apprentices in the eare and encouraged them supposed to be Mr. Walker Mr. Walker denied he spake then with any man in the Lobby or saw any face that he knew there and so neglected the businesse as a thing not considerable But the next day Corbet moved that Mr. Walker might be ordered to put on his gray Suite againe and appeare before the Close Committee and the Witnesse who saith he knoweth him againe if he see him I heare Mr. Walker desired to know seeing the Witnesse had not named him by what authority the Examiners should take such a Deposition and make application thereof to him and seeing there were many Gentlemen in the House that day with whom that Character agreed as well as with himself why the Reporter did not move that all to whom that Character was applyable might be put to that test as well as himselfe but singled him out for a marke to shoot at complaining he was not ignorant out of what Quiver this Arrow came he had beene threatned with a Revenge by some of that Close Committee and had other enemies amongst them that could bite without barking He told them that yesterday Mr. Corbet Reported that the supposed old man whispered c. but desired those that were then in the House to call to mind that the noise was then so great in the Lobby that no whisper nay the lowdest words he was able to speak could not be heard Then Corbet changed his Tale saying the words were What you doe doe quickly and were spoken aloud and said the Character agreed best with Mr. Walker for that the Deponent said the Gentleman was a Leane meager man Here Mr. Walker desired the House to take notice that the Reporter had twice varyed his Report 1. In the words spoken from a whisper to lowd speaking 2. In the Character inlarged with the words leane and meager Here is Hayle-shot provided if one misse the other must hit Yet with this addition there were divers in the House with whom the Character agreed as well as with himself And by the incivility of his words it should seem the Witnesse is a man of no breeding wherefore he desired to hear his Name that he might enquire of his credit and repute If the Reporter thinks he may be practised he doth not think him a man of honesty and then he had more cause to suspect him He farther complained that to make Hue and Cry after him as it were upon fresh suite upon a character of his person and cloths five or six weeks after the supposed fact he never having absented himselfe one day from the House favoured too much of a party overswayed with malice and Revenge Your close Committee of examinations carry on businesses so in the darke being parties ingaged with the Army and not sworne to be true in their office that no man can see how to defend himself or how he is dealt with or when he is free from trouble and danger It seems we are here called ex tempore to answer for our lives ore tenus And our Accusation beginneth with the examination of our persons to make us state a Charge against our selves to betray our selves and cut our own throats with our tongues contrary to Magna Charta the Petition of Right and all those laws of God and man which in the KING'S time were
83 83. The temper of the House tried had the engagement not been approved a new Charge from the Army intended 6. The Agitators tell you in Derby-house projects p. 7. That this engagement was sent down to the Cōmons to try the tēper of the House and if the House had not approved of the Engagement the resolution of their secret Councel was to flie to their Arms and make a new Charge against their principall Opposers for they acknowledge amongst themselves that they Rule by power only and that the House of Commons is no longer theirs then they over-awe them and that they fear the Criticall day will come which will discover the Parliament to be no longer theirs then while they have a force upon it As men ready to sinke embrace every shadow of help and catch hold of leaves twigs and bulrushes to support them so these desperate and purblind Projectors having engaged themselves in a way of Tyranny out of which they can find no issue lay hold of frivolous inventions to peer up from time to time their ill laid designes like the man in the parable that patched up his old Garment with new cloth 84 84. A project to unite all Interests which breaking out again left the rent wider then it was before Their last project was to unite all interests in the Houses City and Army To which purpose Cromwell the heaviest basest and most ridiculous Tyrant that ever our noble Nation groaned under made a Speech in the House of Commons to which was answered That the Members were chosen and trusted by the people to pursue on common interest which was the common good the Safety and Liberty of the people and whosoever had any peculiar interest eccentricke from that was not fit to sit in that Assembly and deserved to be called to a strict account by those that trusted him Observe that the extent of this project was to conjoyne these three interests for upholding the greatnesse of the Grandees in the Parliament City and Army for in all three the vulgar multitude and the more modest and honest sort are but in the same condition with other men The Parliament bearing the Authority the Army the Sword and the City the Purse The first shall be the Task-masters and impose Tribute The second the Sheriffs or rather Free-booters and leavy it by distresse And the third the Brokers to receive it and buy it off But it pleased God to bestow so much providence and integrity upon the City that when upon Saterday 8. April 1648. Cromwell and his fellow Grandees offered this temptation at a Common Councell to them The City grew wiser then our first Parents and rejected the Serpent and his subtilties in so much that Cromwell netled with the affront called his Solicitor Glover to account by what authority he had offered the restitution of their Tower and Militia and the enlargment of their accused Aldermen who answered he did it by his authority delivered him a Warrant to that purpose signed by Sir Tho Fairfax Oliver Cromwell Mr. Solicitor and young Sir Henry Vane which Cromwell had the impudence to put in his pocket Cromwell had felt the pulse of the City long before by his Agents Glover and Watkins 85 85. A device to put the Apprentices into a Tumult and found them averse from complying with him wherefore being a man of an early as well as an implacable malice he by advice of the Committee of derby-Derby-house cast about with the schismaticall Lord Mayor Warne◠he that raised the ridiculous Tumult at Christmas about Rosemary and Bayes a man that had been chosen Mayor by power of Parliament out of course to carry on the designe of the Faction and with the Lieutenant of the Tower how to put the City into some distemper of which they might take advantage The Citizens were well acquainted with their jugling tricks they had no hopes to work upon them wherefore they contrived how to put a provocation upon the silly Apprentice Boyes and put them forth into some rash action of which they might make use to carry on their designes against the whole City wherefore upon Easter-day 1647. in the evening some few Apprentices playing in Finnisbury fields some Souldiers were sent to drive them away which they did and imprisoned some of them for not readily obeying Upon Sunday following 9. April divers Apprentices being at play according to custome in Moore fields the Mayor sent Captaine Gale one of the new Captains of the Hamlets a Silke-Throster and a Tub-preacher and one that ran away at the Fight at Newbury-wash and hid himself in a Ditch as my L. Wharton at the Battle of Keynton hid himself in a Saw-pit thither to disturbe them with about 50. or 60. of his Trained Band and no more that he might the better encourage the Boyes to resist him who surlily asking them what they did there some of them answered they did no harm but only play and since all Holydaies have been Voted down they had no other time of recreation The Captain insolently commanded them to be gone they replied he had no authority so to doe and continued playing whereupon the Captaine commanded his Musquetiers to shoot amongst them which they forbearing he took a Musquet himself and discharged amongst them when presently two or three schismaticall Musquetiers of his Company following his example discharged upon them likewise and killed or as the Schismaticks say wounded onely one of the Boyes whereat the Boyes making a great out-cry more company gathered to them and so with stones Brick-bats and sticks they dispersed the Trained Bands and at last got their Colours and instantly in a childish jollity marched unarmed as they were towards the Mewes when presently a party of Horse ready prepared for this fore-laid designe met them charged and with ease routed them Cromwell himselfe animating the Troupers to shoot and spit them and to spare neither man woman nor child All Sonday night the Apprentices kept in a body in the City locked the City gates but set no Guards upon them whereby you may see this businesse proceeded meerly from the rash and un-premeditated folly of Children not from the advice of men howsoever the Independent faction in the House of Cōmons have since aggravated it to countenance their future cruelty and rapines upon the City Monday morning Sir Tho Fairfax sent a strong party into the City who fel upon this boyish rabble routed and killed many and shot poor Women great with child sitting in their stalls one whereof the child lived two howers in her belly after her braines were shot out a man likewise not knowing of their comming as he was drinking milke at the corner of a street was shot as it were in sport as they rid they cried Cuckolds keep your houses cutting and wounding all they met Cromwell who followed in the Reare safe enough the Van having cleered the streets before him crying out to them to fire
Tyrant was ever so barbarous so indiscreet as to do the like It was moved that Offendors of this kind might be bound to the good Behaviour and the offence proved openly at the Assizes or Sessions before so destructive a punishment be inflicted There are three principles in law of which the Laws are very tender and will not suffer them to be touched but upon great offences cleer proofs and exact formalities observed life liberty and estate by Magna Charta the Petition of Right and many other Statutes these principles are so sacred that nothing but the Law can meddle with them Nemo imprisonetur aut disseisietur nisi per legale judicium parium suorum you have made the people shed their money and bloud abundantly pretending defence of Religion Laws and Liberties let them now at last being a time of peace enjoy what they have so dearly paid for and delay them not with a pretended necessity of your owne making you now make all that is or can be neer and deer to them lyable to the passions of three Committee men to judge and execute according to their discretion without Law or so much as a formality thereof And yet both Houses of Parliament have often heretofore offered to abolish those Committees as men whose wickednesse and folly they and the whole Kingdome were ashamed of The Grandees of the Parliament and Army when the Houses are called and full have resolved to draw their Forces nearer about the Towne and by that terrour to try the temper of the Houses such Members as will not comply with them they will with fresh Charges purge out of the Houses and publish base and infamous scandalls against them to which if they submit with silence they betray their reputations for ever and spare the credits of their jugling enemies If they make any defence for their honours by way of apology they shall be brought within the compasse of this devouring enslaving Ordinance as men that reproach the Parliament and their proceedings Thus the same whip shall hang over the shoulders of the Presbyterian party who wil not agree to King-deposing Anarchy Schism as it did formerly over the Kings party And the Presbyterians shall be squeezed into the Independents coffers as formerly the King's party were so long as they had any thing to lose for the whole earth is little enough for these Saints who are never satisfied with money and bloud although they never looke towards Heaven but through the spectacles of this world The old elogium and character of the English Nation was that they were Hilaris gens cui libera mens libera lingua But now Country-men your tongues are in the stocks your bodies in every gaole your souls in the darke and estates in the mercy of those that have no mercy and at the discretion of those that have no discretion Farewell English Liberty 90 90. Generall Conclusions Out of these Premises I shall draw these Conclusions following 1 1. The Grandees have subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome and why 1. THe engaged Party have laid the Axe to the very root of Monarchy and Parliaments they have cast all the mysteries and secrets of Government both by Kings and Parliaments before the vulgar like pearle before swine and have taught both the Souldiery and people to looke so far into them as to ravell back all Governments to the first principles of nature he that shakes fundamentalls means to take down the fabrick Nor have they been carefull to save the materialls for posterity What these negative Statists will set up in the room of these ruined buildings doth not appeare only I will say they have made the people thereby so curâ—â—us and so arrogant that they wil never find humility enough to submit to a Civill rule their ayme therefore from the beginning was to rule them by the power of the Sword a military Aristocracie or Olgarchy as now they do Amongst the aincient Romans Tentare Arcana Imperii to profane the mysteries of State was Treason because there can be no forme of Government without its proper mysteries which are no longer mysteries then while they are concealed Ignorance and admiration arising from Ignorance are the parents of civil devotion and obedience though not of Theologicall 2 2. They have subverted the Church 2. Nor have these Grandees and their party in the Synode dealt more kindly with the Church then with the Common-wealth whose reverend Mysteries their Pulpits and holy Sacraments and all the functions of the Ministery are by their connivence prophaned by the clouted shooe the basest and lowest of the people making themselves Priests and with a blind distempered zeal Preaching such Doctrine as their private Spirits spirits of illusion dictate to them But let them know that their burning zeal without knowledge is like hell-fire without light Yet the greatest wonder of all is The Sacrament of the Lords Supper discontinued and why That they suffer the Lords Supper that Sacrament of Corroboration to be so much neglected in almost all the Churches in the Kingdome Is it because men usually before they receive our Saviour that blessed guest sweep the house cleane casting out of their hearts those living Temples of the holy Ghost Pride Ambition Covetousnesse Envy Hatred Malice and all other unclean Spirits to make fit roome to entertaine Jesus that prince of peace whereby the people having their mindes prepared for Peace Charity and Reconciliation may happily spoile the trade of our Grandees who can no longer maintaine their usurped dominion over them then they can keep them disunited with quarrels and feudes and uphold those Badges of factions and tearmes of distinction and separation Cavaleers Round-heades Malignants Well-affected Presbyterians and Indedendents or is it because they fear if the Church were setled in peace unity it would be a means to unite the Common-wealth as a quiet cheerfull minde often cureth a distempered body I will not take upon me to judge another mans servant but many suspect this is done out of designe not out of peevishnesse 3. That these Grandees governe by power 3 3. The Grandees rule by the arbytrary power of the Sword not by the Lawes not by loâ—â— and the the Lawes of the Land which was my last assertion appears by 1. The many Garrisons they keep up and numerous Army they keep in pay to over-power the whole Kingdome more then at first the Parliament Voted 2. Their compelling the Parliament to put the whole Militia of England and Jreland by Land Sea into the power of Sir Tho Fairfax and their party 3. Nor do they think the Laws of the Land extensive enough for their purposes therefore they piece them out with Arbitrary Ordinances Impeachments before the Lords and Marshall Law which is now grown to that height that the Councell of War Generall and judge Advocate of the Army doe usually send forth instructions to stay suites and release
were knaves whatsoever befalls you cleer and innoxious souls be not ashamed be not afraid of your integrity if this Kingdom be a fit habitation for honest men God wil provide you a habitation here if it be not capable of honesty God will take you away from the evills to come and poure out all the vials of his wrath upon this totally and universally corrupted Nation this incurable people Qui nec vitia sua nec eorum remedia ferre potest for my own part if I am not such already I hope God will make me such a man Quem neque pauperies neque mors neque vincula terrent and if Moses in a heroick zeal to draw a remission of the peoples sin from God desired to be blotted out of his booke the book of life and S. Paul to be Anathema for his brethren why should not I with relation to my self submission to Christ say oportet unum mori pro populo it is fit one man die for the people and devote my self to death for my Country as the Family of the Decii in ancient Rome were wont to do I have read and admired their examples why not imitate them is it because as Machiavell saith the Christian Religion doth too much breake enfeeble and cowardize the spirit of man by persecuting subduing nature by denying her due Liberty tying her to be more passive then active At facere pati fortia Romanum imo Christianum est or is it because in this generall deluge of sin and corruption all publick spirit and all excellency in virtue is accounted a degree of madnesse or is it because of the corrupt Judgement of these times which makes a man more infamous for his punishment then for his sin and therefore Heroick acts are out of fashion the Circumstances and Ceremonies of death are more taken notice of then Death it self these follies weigh not with me Sublimis an humi putrescam parvi refert The theif upon the Crosse found a ready way to Heaven how much more an honest man many a man out of prison steps into Heaven no man out of Paradise ever found the way thither Salebrosa sit via modo certa modo expedita alte succinctus ad iter me accingo THe premises considered I do here in the name behalf of all the free Commons of England declare and protest that there is no free nor legall Parliament sitting in England but that the two Houses sit under a visible actuall and a horrid force of a mutinous Army and of a small party of both Houses conspiring and engaged with the said Army to destroy expell and murder with false Accusations and blank and illegall Impeachments and Prosecutions the rest of their fellow Members who sate in Parliament doing their duty when the two Speakers with a small company of Members secretly fled away to the Army and sate in Councell with them contriving how to enslave King Parliament City and Kingdome and how to raise Taxes at their pleasure which they share amongst themselves and their party under the name and title of the Godly the Saints And afterwards they brought the Army up to London against the Parliament and City in hostile manner A designe far exceeding the Plot of Jermine Goring c. to bring up the Northerne Army to London to over-awe the Parliament I doe farther protest that the two Houses have sate under the said force ever since the 6. of Aug. last and therefore all they have done and all they shall doe in the condition they now sit in is void and nul in Law ab initio by their owne doctrine and judgement included in their Ordinance of the 20. of Aug. last whereby they nul and void ab initio all Votes Orders c. passed from the 26. July 1647. to the 6. Aug. following FINIS