depending against Vane and Hazilrig and if they rule on as well as they did when Oliver turned them out of doors with the braod of Knaves Whoremasters and Drunkards to the general rejoycing of the people no doubt we shall be a happy Nation And what esteem the people had of them appears by the elections to the last Parliament wherein though none but persons well affected to Parliaments had Votes and the persons now sitting laboured hard to be chosen very few of them were elected the people generally looking upon them as apostares from the Good Old Cause and therefore no wonder they would have that Parliament to which only they were chosen never dissolved I have now little more to do at present honest and learned Mr. Pryane having saved much of my labour but to let the world see how they go about by the example of the Army whose Apes they are to cozen the people of their Religion Laws Liberties Parliaments and Money with a Raâ—â—le called the Good old Cause which is a very cheat as you may see by the ensuing penitential Letter of one better skilled in their Cheats than I am Mr. Hugh Peters Letter written to a chief Officer of the Army SIR VVHereas the late transactions of the Army have very sore afflicted me and with Heman Psal. 88. ver. 15. have exceed ugly troubled me because of my love to my Native Countrey and the concernments thereof I thought it my duty being under much bodily weaknesse to desire you to take and give notice unto others of these my apprehensions ensuing 1. Though call'd to speak to the Officers I knew not their further intentions 2. When I heard of his Highnesse distasting their meetings I went to Three of the Chief and beg'd as for a penny that they would not proceed in any meeting and did the same to other Officers I met withall The dangers I conceive are these because the Protector and the two Houses as they were Set was the hopefullest way in the whole world to settle these Nations and the crossing thereof most dangerous as now it appears both in the sin and sorrow of it As 1. All the Armies addresses to his Highness to live and die with him are broken and their proclaiming of him everywhere slighted 2. His Family Himself and Lady being truly godly yea such a Family of godlinesse and sobriety not known in the Christian world now broken and the son of Jerubaal not regarded 3. The Authority of the best Parliament and most freely chosen trampled upon yea such a sort of men gathered together as would have been a Defence and establishment against all evils 4. Nothing set up in their place an Enemy at the door a peâ—uâ—ious souldiery thousands of poor perishing that by this time might have been paid Widows and Orphants already dying in the streets Trade gone Private souldiers grown Masters Law and Gospel dying the whole Protestant cause in the whole world overâ—ottering how much animosity discontent and self ends have prevailed herein I know not but if the least encouragement was taken by any word of mine who was a stranger to any design I do here professe my sorrow and grief for the least occasion of it and look upon the whole businesse as very sinful and ruining of which the Child unborn and after Ages will be sensible and this I write from the saddest spirit of a sick man and Your Loving friend Hugh Peters I know but one expedient which is That his Highnesse may be in the same condition with his House and Family and that he be desired to call in as many of the late Parliament as are at hand to make up a House and Councel and Indempâ—ity to passe and so forthwith to settle things And for that which they call the Good Old Cause I look upon it as a Cheat by the Jesuits put upon the Army the which we enjoyed it being Liberty and Peace VVhitehall May 10. 1659. Thus far Mr. Peters But for a further discovery of the Cheat obâ—â—uled upon the people by putting of the Good old Cause I shall to avoid large recicals of Remonstrances Votes and Declarations of Parliament state the true Good old Cause in the House of Commons own words briefly out of their Declaration of the 17th of April 1646. At the end of the War when they were full and free which they caused to be affixed in all the Churches of England to call God and Man to witnesse their sincerity therein And because the title of it is very significant and comprehensive take that at large viz. Die veneris April 17. 1646. A Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament of their true intentions concerning the Antient and Fundamental Government of the Realm the Goverment of the Church The present peace securing the people against all arbitrary Government and maintaining a right understanding between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland according to the Covenant and Treaties The Preamble recites how their good intentions had been misrepresented by divers Declarations and Suggestions of the King and thereby and by other practices the minds of many possessed with a belief that there was no just Cause of the War And that now they had succeeded in the War they desired to exceed or swarve from their first Aims and Principles in the undertaking the War and to recede from the solemn League and Covenant and treaties between the two Kingdoms and that they would prolong these uncomfortable troubles and bleeding distractions in order to alter the fundamental constitution and frame of this Kingdom To leave all Government in the Church loose and unsetled and themselves to exercise the same arbitrary power over the persons and estates of the subjects which that Parliament had thought fit to abolish by taking away The Star Chamber High Commission and other arbitrary Courts and the exorbitant power of the Councel Table Then they declare in General that they will settle Religion in purity according to the Covenant maintain the antient and fundamental Government of this Kingdom preserve the rights and liberties of the subject lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well grounded peace in the three Kingdomes and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland according to the Covenant and Treaties Then to give fuller satisfaction they declare particularly concerning Church Government that they are for the Presbiterial Government with a due regard that tender consciences which differ not in any fundamentals of Religion may be so provided for as may stand with the word of God and the peace of the Kingdom Then they declare that there was nothing they had more earnestly desired nor more constantly laboured after than a safe and good peace with the King which is the just end of a just War and â—here they assert the fundamental constitution and Government of this Kingdome to be by King Lords and Commons which they will not alter Then
they conclude that the first and chiefest grounds of the Parliaments taking up Armes in this cause was to suppress attempts of introducing an arbitrary Government over this Nation and Protecting Delinquents enemies of our Religion and liberties by force from the Justice of Parliament and declare that they will not interrupt the ordinary course of Justice in the several Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdome This is the good old Cause the Parliament owned And therefore let all that fear God in the three Nations consider whence they are fallen even from the Good old Cause held forth in the Votes Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Vows and oaths of the Parliament published in maintenance of our Ancient and well tempered setled Government by King Lords and Commons to a sneaking Oligarchical Tyranny under the bare name of The Good Old Cause which is as changeable as the addle heads that contrive it as oppressive as the corrupt wâ—â—ls of licentious men can make it must be as arbitrary as the Army will have it and shall be more fully deciphered if they persist in it which they never dare do if the people who yet seem to be in a Lethargy remember their first works and be as resolute to assert their Religion Lawes and Liberties as these desperaâ—e men of lost fortunes and reputations are bold to trample them under foot and make this great people once famous is through the world for valour wisdom and Religion a scorn and derision to all that are round about us and themselves Monsters of men by their Aâ—heism Apostacy and Inconstancy I shall conclude with some advice now it 's seasonable To the Army To the people of all sorts and degrees and to the members sitting at Westminster 1. Faithful aduice to the Army First remember the ends for which you were raised for defence of king Parliament Religion and Liberties that you were servants to them and received their wages and were 〈◊〉 by oathes to them 2. Remember how in 1647 you were fiâ—st by some of your ambitious Officers most whereof are since dead seduced to Rebel against and betray your masters whom you accused falsely and to refuse to disband when the War was ended whereby you are become Oppressers and Robbers ever since And meer 〈…〉 3. Remember how in December 1648. you rebelled the second time against your masters and forceably and traitâ—rously as well as perjuriously bâ—oak the Parliament imprisoning and driving away most of the faithful members keeping only a few that prostituted themselves and the rights and liberties of the Kingdome with the lives of the King Nobles and Commons to their own ambition and to your lusts and wills as your pentioners in the house till April 1643. when you rebelled against them and for their self seeking and notorious crimes and miscarriages printed then at large in your Declaration you absolutely dissolved them to the general satisfaction of the people 4. Remember how giddily and impiously your ambitious wicked Officers have lead you through horrid Murders Treasons and breach of Oathes from a happy settled Government under a King and Parliament First to a Ridiculous Commonwealth thence to a new kind of Protector thence To Prayse God Bare-bones little Parliament thence to a Protector with an instrument of Lamberts making but never in tune thence to Tyrannical Major Generals thence to a new Crochet called The Petition and Advice thence to a New Protector and two Houses of Parliament whereof one was still-born thence To build up the things which you destroyed whereby you have made your selves transgressors Gal. 2. 18. Thus have you marched so fast from one Government to another ' that the poor people wearied out are fain to return home and sit still in a maze abhorring your unstable ungodly ways and crying to God in secret that he will at length restore unto England Our Kings and Nobles as at the first and our Judges as at the beginning making it a quiet habitation which by your ungodly courses hath been so long a howling wildernesse full of birds of prey and beasts that do devoure I have no moâ—e to say to you but that if your mistâ—ading Officers can reconcile your actings since 1646 to the Scripture rule which you find Luke 3. 14. By which all Christian souldiers much more then Heathen are to walk viz. Do violence to no man neither accuse any falsly and be content with your wages then leâ— them go for honest men and count me mistaken But if this discourse of mine by God's blessing becomes instrumental for the awakening your Drowzie consciences to see your Long course of Sins and Provocations and to repent Then let me tell you your Work is short to make your Selves and the Kingdome happy for as you have lately gone Six yeares backward at one Step viz. from this time to April 1653. So if your Officers and You will but make one Step more viz. from April 1653 to December 1648 to our Ancient Long-experienced and fundamental Constitution of Government by KING LORDS and COMMONS you will justifie your Repentance to be sincere and render it famous to all the World and deserve and have Rewards from your Countrey instead of Indempnity which you now beg from every Power that Sits 2. Advise to the People of all sorts and degrees Delirant Reges plectuntur Achivi your rulers doâ—e and go astray but you suffer by it as well as they Therefore strive to set them right though they forget their Oaths and Promises do you remember yours Have you ever seen quiet or settlement since the King was inhumanely murdâ—ed this own Gate and our ancient Government by King Lords and Commons changed since our Covenant was counted an Almenack out of date this was one in 1648. shall I perswade you to return whence you are fallen I need not I know you are ready for it and watch your opportunity Let me only tell you the time is now come for having tryed all other ways insomuch that we are going round again where we first turned aside you see no Foundation to build upon but our Ancient one strive therefore for the restoring of King Lords and Commons that you may enjoy them and be happy Remember how the Ministers and others of London Essex Suffolk Northamptonshire Lancashire and other Counties gave their Testimony against the King's death in 1648 and repent for that Bloud with which the land is defiled Let those who so boldly in their late mutinous Representation to the Protector moved for a Justification of the Kings death and all acts done in pursuance thereof know that they may as soon pull the Stars out of God's right hand as make those that fear his name in England justifie such a horrid impiety for which God hath made us an unsetled people ever since and hath given them and the Kingdome no rest ever since nor will till they repent and do their first works and call all the Members of the Long-Parliament together to sit
Atkin Rich Alderman Pennington Pedantick Thomas Scot Hastily rich Cornelius Holland Single hearted preaching Sir Henry Vane now become old Sir Harry Prideaux Attorney General to all Governments Smiling Sir James Harrington Levelling Ludlow Pembrochian Oldsworth that made the Earl his Masters wise speeches Vain-glorious hair-brained Haslerigge with repentance like the Armies in his conscience and the Bishoprick of Durham at his back Sir Thomas Middletons man Jones Doting Purefoy without purity or faith Coll. White the Lord Fairfax's Secretary got before his Master Religâ—ous Harry Nevil Mr. Say the famous Lawyer Mr. Blagrave better known at Reading then here Coll. Bennet Sir Henry Vane's little second at preaching Mr. Brewster a Cypher to make up the number Serjeant Wilde best known by the name of the Wilde Serjeant John Goodwin alias Herbe John Mr. Lechmore the Attorney Generals second at all Governments Augustin Skinner a Kentish Christian Mr. Downes another cypher Mr. Dove a Brewer of Salisbury come to help in this new Brewing Mr. John Lenthal William Lenthal's own Son Saloway a smart prating Apprentice newly set up for himself M. John Corbet such another Lawyer as Miles and of his own colour M. Valton that will never forget his Son furnished Blacks for the Protectors Funeral Gilbert Millington the Church snuffers who desires no better trade then Scandalous Ministers Mr. Gold newly married to get more the Common-wealth being poor Coll. Sydenham a Dorset shire couple in at all Governments who rather talk then fight yet will venture to doe any thing being backt with an Army against the naked people Coll. Ayre whose name fills his head Mr Smith a Six Clerk that wishes he could write and read Coll. Ingâ—lshy that fought so well lately for the Protector against Fleetwood And Fleetwood that holy man who so smoothly supplanted the Protector that he perswaded him three Crowns were not worthy a drawn sword Stole on the sudden into the House the Invitation of the Army for the sitting of the Long Parliament as they call it being first published in VVestm. Hall Upon notice of their sitting there being double their number Members of the same Parliament in Town and many of them in the Hall to prevent the mischiefs of a sureptitious packt Parliament they agreed among themselves in the Hall though they were doubtful that Parliament was disloved that about a dozen or fourteen of them should immediately goe to the House And the persons that did so were these viz. Mr. Ansley Sir George Booth Mr. Iames Harbert Mr. Prynne Mr. Geo. Monntague Sir Iohn Eveling Mr. Iohn Harbert Mr. Gewen Mr. Eveling Mr. Knightley Mr. Clive Mr. Hungerford Mr. Harley Mr. Peck VVho though with much ado they got into the Lobby they were not suffered by the Officers of the Army to go into the House though they disputed their priviledge of sitting if the Parliament were yet in being but Reason as well as the Laws must be silent amongst men of VVar and therefore after they had fairly made their Claim and found the House under force they retired and resolved by Letter to acquaint the Speaker and those Gentlemen assembled with him what usage they had received And according'y on Monday the 9. of May they went to Westminst. where understanding that there were no Guards upon the House Mr. Ansley Mr. Prynne and Mr. Hungerford went up to the House and had free admittance receiving the Declaration of the 7. of May at the door which were published this day but M. Ansley walking afterwards into the Hall the House not being ready to sit to let the Members know that though they were repulsed by force on Saturday the House was open for honest men this day at his return Capt. Lewson of Goffe's Regiment as he confessed himself and other Officers denied him entrance he asking them whether they were a Committee to judge of Members without doors they said no but they were commanded by their superiour officers to let none in that had not sate till Apr. 1653. After some reasoning the case with them the Capt. told Mr. Ansley that if he would give his Paroll to return without sitting he might go in and speak with whom he pleased so upon his paroll passed to the Captain he was permitted to go in the second time and soon after returned telling the Captain as he came out that he had kept his Paroll and wished he and his souldiers would do the like Mr. Prynne continued still there and resolved so to do since he saw there was force again upon the House The discourse Mr. Prynne had within dores and how he made them lose that morning and adjourn by reason of his presence without the Speakers taking the chair you may expect from another pen And how he attempted to sit again in the afternoon but found there a troop of horse and two companies of red coats Keepers of the liberties of England and so bid them farrewel immediately after which to prevent further inturruption in their works of darkness from honest men they barred the door against three parts of four of the Members of the House by the following Votes Ordered That such persons heretofore members of this Parliament as have not sate in this Parliament since the year 1648. and have not subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of engagement of this House shall not sit in this House till further order of the Parliament Whereupon Sir George Booth Mr. Ansley Mr. Knightly Mr. Prynne and the rest who had agreed on a Letter to be sent to them finding them in their old temper of trampling the priviledges of Parliament under foot and Judging without Hearing resolved to make no application to them But a coppy of a Letter coming to my hands I judge it so worthy of the persons that subscribed it and of the publick view that I have here inserted it It was directed To William Lenthall Esquire Speaker to the Members of the House of Commons now sitting at Westminster SIR WE the persons subscribing and others Members of the House coming to Westminster-Hall on Saturday the 7th of this moneth understood that the Officers of the Army had by their Declaration dated the day before invited the Members of Parliament to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trust by virtue of an Act of Parliament passed 17 Caroli wherein are these words And be it declared and Enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same that this present Parliament now assembled shall not be dissolved unless it be by Act of Parliament to be passed for that purpose nor shall be at any time or times during the continuance thereof prorogued or adjourned unless it be by Act of Parliament to be likewise passed for that purpose and the House of Peers shall not at any time or times during this present Parliament be adjourned unless it be by themselves or their
free that they or a new Parliament called by their advice may upon the secure Terms offered at the isle of wight by the KING and such further reasonable Additions as the Times may require restore us to our Antient Government and put an End to our Giddinesse and Confusion which destroys Trade encreaseth Poor and threatens ruine to our Religion and Laws And let none be any longer deluded with the Bastard Good Old Cause now cryed up by some which is but the setting a self-seeking Generation of Unstable Bloody men in supreme Authority who as zealous as some of them seemed lately in the new dissolved Parliament for the Liberties of the People think now that by their Hypocrisie and Falshood as well as Force they have advanced themselves upon the Ruine of their Countrey that the work is done And though they have cryed down a single Person and another House think you such Fools or Slaves that you will not take Notice that an armed General is a worse single Person and such a Coordinate Senate as they intend by the Proposals of the Army which now are come to the House by way of Petition as if they had not been agreed on before a worse other House than the last which was the worst that England ever saw And this Rump of a cashiered House of Commons taken into service again at Mercy and new dressed by Sir Henry Vane another single person amongst them worse than the late House of Commons which was full and free or than the Long Parliament restored to its Freedom or than any other that may be chosen by the free Votes of your selves and Legally summoned to Sit and Decree our Settlement I shall say no more to you but desire you to consider what I have said to the Army with hearts ready to forgive them and pay them their Arrears with additional Rewards if now at length they Repent and Restore our violated Government and obediently submit to what They and the KING shall Ordain for the Settlement of these Distracted and no otherways to be cured Nations for we see by Experience than one FACTION devoures another and will at length devoure the People and their Liberties in the ways of Sin and Guilt that we are in Let all of you therefore insist on this That the Members of the Long Parliament who have been unjustly imprisoned and secluded may be Restored to Discharge the Trust you have put in them and then we may hope for Settlement which we have tryed almost Eleven yeares that we cannot have without them And if the Army shall again interpose and interrupt you in your Sober and honest Endeavours for Settlement Let them find by your vigorous Appearing against them that you know them to be the Meanest of the People and so Few in Number that they are not One in every Parish in England and many single Parishes have Ten times their Number of PEOPLE 3. Advice to the Members sitting at westminster First remember the volumes of Remonstrances Declarations Votes Ordinances Protestations Oa hs and Covenants wherein you as members of that house with others have held forth to God and the world The good old Cause you ingaged in to be for the defence of the King Parliament Protestant Religion priviledges and liberties of the people and that you renounced all other Causes wherewith you were aspersed and never owned any other till that in March 1649. after you had injuriously joyned with the Army in forcing away the majority of the House of Commons and the whole house of Lords you perjuriously apostatized from the Good old Cause and set up another of A Common wealth or free State opposite to it and which you had ever formerly disowned as a scandal cast on you when you were charged but with an intention that way 2. Remember and be ashamed that you have stuck at no oaths but have taken the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy The Protestation The vow and Covenant The solemn league and Covenant The engagement The Recognition of Protector Oliver The oath to be true and faithful to Protector Richard and have kept these contrary oaths and engagements all alike and now do set men of the same stamp in offices and places of trust instead of men of courage fearing God and hating covetousnesse But do not think all is well when you have advanced your selves and friends rather believe that though returning to what you have so often sworn to maintain you cannot so many of you be Councellers of state Iudges and Officers military or civil yet you may become honest men and Christians which will better become you and bring you more comfort and peace at the last 3. Remember that though by lyes subterfuges men may be deceived and abused for a while God is not mocked Gal. 6 7. but will though he bear long at length wound the hairy scalp of such as go on still in their wickednesse Psal. 28. 21. and pierce you thorow with many forrows 4. Consider how God hath emptied us from vessel to vessel and led us through a wildernesse of changes these eleven yeares of Apostacy and gives no settlement return therefore to December 1648. where you forsook settlement when it was offered by the King and accepted by the Parliament and in doing your first works for King and Parliament in a full and free house God will blesse you and this Kingdome as at the first and the present Protector cannot but rejoyce also to part with his power upon those termes which both he and his brother the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland must needs grudge to have wrested from him by you and his treacherous relations I intended a word also of justification of Mr. Prynne but that his Learned and seasonable writings praise him in the gates and carry such evidence of undeniable truth with them and so clear a testimony from A Martyr for the People against the abominable iniquity and horrid impieties of this iron Age that the Railing Rabsh kahs of the time in what they belch out against him do but as dogs that bark against the Moon and therefore I shall leave him to the cure prescribed by God himself for such tongues in the 120 Psal. v. 3. 4. What shall be given unto thee or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue sharp arrowes of the mighty with coals of Juniper And do depend as I believe Mr. Prynne doâ—h also upon that Scripture word that in due time the mouth of alâ— iniquity shall be stopt FINIS