now with comfort and rejoiceing tell you that I bless God that I have this testimony in mine owne Conscience that the Cause for mannageing of which I am bannished did at the first and all along to this very houre doth appeare to my understanding judgement upon the strictest scrutinie betwixt God and mine owne soule that I am able to make to be as righteous and as just a cause as ever was in the World and all so however Mr. HILL THE CHAIR-MAN reported it to the house yet Mr. PRIMATES PETITION was as fully proved before him and the Committee of Parliament in every circumstance of it so far as its capable of proofe saveing that single clause of SIR ARTHVR HASILRIGS holding private correspondence with some of the Commissioners as any puition in the world need to be proved but it was no wonder it went as it did when SIR ARTHVR HASILRIG WITH Mr. HIL THE CHAIRMAN WITHOVT A THIRD MAN DREW VP THE GREATEST PART OF THE REPORT IN THE SPEAKERS CHAMBER WHILE THE HOVSE WAS SITTING as one that tooke them at it told we with his owne tongue Which report we were never permitted to see nor none for us nor to heare red although we earnestly intreated for it and by importunity endeavoured it And besides I am confident of it there was not three men that judged the cause in the House that ever at the Committee were constant hearers of it from the beginning to the end And by what I have heard from Parliament men that were at the Committee severall daies Mr. HILL NEVER REPORTED TO THE HOVSE ONE TENTH PART OF OVR EVIDENCES AS WEE LAID THEM DOWNE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND THE SAID Mr. HILL WAS OPENLY IN THE HOVSE TAXED WITH SEVERALL MATERIALL OMISSIONS BY A PERSON OR PERSONS THAT HEARD NOT ONE HALFE OF IT AT THE COMMITTEE And besides when the GENERALL HIMSELFE set his shoulders to the worke with all the might he had in the World to have the sentence so pass and goe on it is unimaginable it could goe otherwise then it did for one THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH HIM AND THAT WISHETH ME WELL TOLD ME IT WAS IN THE GENERALLS HOVSE BY HIM AND A CABAL OF PARLIAMENT MEN AGREED OF TWO OR THREE DAIES BEFORE IT WAS VOTED OR DECLARED IN THE PARLIAMENT And some dayes after it was passed the GENERALL HIMSELFE IN THE OPEN HOVSE as one that heard him told me IN ASPEECH OF HIS DID AVERR AND DECLARE VPON HIS CONSCIENCE THAT THE SENTENCE IT SELFE PASSED AGAINST ME WAS AS HONEST AND AS JVST A SENTENCE AS WAS EVER PASSED BY THAT HOVSE But I doubt not through the assistance of God in a short time to make it clearly and evidently to appeare in every circumstance that it is the MOST VNJVST ILLEGAL AND VNRIGHTEOVS SENTENCE THAT EVER WAS passed by any authority or power in the World that ever professed to governe by Lawe As in abundance of their declarations they have professed before God and the World they ought and would doe But at the present I shall only trouble you with one instance and that in a short Declaration of theirs intitled a Declaration of the Parliament of England for maintainning the fundamental Lawes of this Nation dated Feb. 9. 1648. made by them since they tooke of the Kings head declaredly for Tyrannie Oppression and and exerciseing an Arbitrary power in which they positively declare that they are fully resolved to maintaine shall will uphold preserve and keepe the fundamentale Lawes of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and Liberties of the people with all things incident thereunto with the alterations touching Kings and House of Lords allready resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the People Which short declaration of theirs is fully backed by them with a larger delaration made the 17 of March after And although there be an absolute necessity that lies upon me as speedily as I can to goe to the press with such a thing yet in what I write or print by the assistance of God all mighty I shall keepe within the bounds of a Christian THAT VALVES HIS PEACE WITH GOD ABOVE ALL EARTHLY TREASVRES IN THE WORLD and of a rationall man THAT HATH PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOME AND JVSTICE INGRAFTED IN HIM THAT HE WILL NOT BALKE OR CHANGE FOR ALL THE FEARES OF ALL THE DEATHS IN THE EARTH and of an English-man THAT LOVES HIS NATIVE COVNTRIE ABOVE ALL OTHER COVNTRIES IN THE WORLD and in a great measure hath the sense of his duty in acting towards its Freedome and wellfare INGRAVEN VPON HIS VERY HEART and as a discreet man THAT WILL NOT MEDDLE WITH THE NATIONS AFFAIRES OR GOVERNMENT WHERE HE SOIOURNES OR DOE ANY THING TO THE UTMOST OF HIS POWER THAT MAY GIVE THE LEAST DISCONTENT TO THOSE MAGISTRATES UNDER WHOSE PROTECTION IN HIS BANNISHMENT HE LIVES And besides I bless God I have both publicly and privately walked in all peace quietues and uprigtnes towards the General and Parliament since I owned their authority and neither directly nor indirestly medled with them to give them the least offence or to occasion in them the least cause of jealousy of me for undermineing or endeavouring to undermine their power and authority and therfore can I the more glorie and rejoyce under their harsh and cruell dealeing with me BUT THE LORD IS RIGHTOUS AND I AM CONFIDENT WILL SPEEDILY RETURNE IT SEVENFOLD INTO THE BOSOMES of those who were the principal causers of it Judges 1 6 7 and 2 Sam 21 1 2 5 6 14 and 2 Sam 12 31 compared with the 11 of Judges 17 18 19 20 23 27 Ester 7 9 10 and 8 11. and 9 2 3 4 5 15. Isaiah 10 12 13 18. Mat 7 2. Marke 4 24. Luke 6 37 38. Rom 2 3. James 2 12. Revelations 18 6 7 8. But to returne back by my wives Letters I perceive the LORD GENERALL gives a verie unworthy and strange kind of character of me which seemes to worke beleife upon the Spirits of some of my Freinds and further saith that I may thinke my sentence greater then my offence if they did not feare other things by me of which also it seemes some of my Freinds are satisfied In Answer to all which I say its true upon the 28 of March 1649 the present Lord Generall caused me to be fetched out of my bed by a multitude of armed horse and foote and got me sent to the tower for a traitor yet when I came to my triall for my life there was never any thing of that laid unto my charge for which at first I was imprisoned but only actions pretended to be done by me many moneths after my imprisonment when I lay under so many barbarous provocations put upon me by the Generall and his confederates AS HAD BIN SVFFICIENT according to Solomons saying TO MAKE A WISE MAN MAD. But how just it was to goe about to take away my life upon that score I leave you
maintaine the English peoples Lawes and liberties as being not able nor judgeing his conquest so good just and secure a plea to hold his new-gat crowne by „ as an after mutuall compact or Agreement with the People or their representatives „ over whom he was to rule And therfore as the Lord Cooke in the foresaid Chapter page the 12 declares „ a Parliament or a kind of one was held even in the Conquerors time „ See also to this purpoose the Lawbooke of the 21 of Edward the 3 solio the 60 and „ the first part of the Lord Cookes Institutes „ lib 2. Chap. 10. Section 164. fol 110. a. and came to be more Frequently used in his Successors time „ yea even to be once in two yeares in Edward the 1 or 2 his time „ at which notwithstanding the people then grumbled as being an absolute abridgement of their ancient and undoubted libertie ‚ to meet more frequently in their nationall and public assemblies „ to treat and conclude of things for their weale better being The want of which in ancient time ‚ lost the Island of Brittanie to the Romans „ as the said Lord Cooke declares in the said 4 part of his Institutes folio 9 out of Tacitus in the life of Agricola page 306. whereupon it was enacted in full Parliament in Edward the third his time that the King who was the Peoples Officer of trust „ should assemble call the People together in Parliament once every yeare or oftner if need required „ as appeares by the statute of the 4 of Edward the 3 Chapter the 14. But because this was not constantly used by that King but that sometimes he made intervalls of three or sower yeares betwixt Parliament Parliament which was still a diminution of the very Soule and Life of all the Peoples liberties vide â—icet Frequent Often new Parliaments therfore in the 36 yeare of his raigne annuall Parliaments are provided In these very words Item for maintenance of the said articles statutes and redress of divers mischeifs greivances whieh daily happen a Parliament shall be holden every yeare as another time was ordained by a statute of the fourth of Edward the third Chapter the 14. and though in after ages it hath many times bin otherwise practised yet the statutes being still in force the parliaments answer to the King in the booke of Declarations pag 709 holds good that the practise is noe argument against the right But the late King Charles exceedingly faileing to put these Lawes in execution in the Frequent calling of Parliaments also when he had called them dissolved them at his pleasure so made them useles to the Nation Both which the Parliament most notably declared was against his trust in their Declaration of November the 2 1642. first part of the booke of their Declarations page 70 702 709 c. of which the Parliament most bitterly complained in their first Remonstrance Booke of Declarations Part 1 page 5 6 11 in page 10 11 ibidem they positively declare that his destroying of those two grand Freedomes of the People videlicet frequent new successive Parliaments free debates therein had corrupted and distempered the whole frame government of the Nation brought in nothing but destruction waies of tyranny For the preventing of which for the future the Parliament got an Act to pass in the 16 yeare of the late King which was the first yeare of this long-lived Parliament to confirme every tittle of the two fore mentioned acts for annuall Parliaments further in that act they say thus that whereas it is by experience found that the not holding of Parliaments according to the two forementioned acts hath produced sundry great mischeifes inconveniencyes to the Kings Majesty the Church comment weale for the prevention of the like mischeifs inconveniencyes for the time to come be it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty with the consent of the Lords Spirituall and temporall and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled that the said last Forementioned Lawes statutes be from henceforth duly keps and observed And most excellent worthy to be written in Letters of gold were and are those arguments that the Lord George Digby though since a Cavalier used in his public speech in the house of Commons January 19 1640 at and for the passing of the last forementioned Law which speech of his is recorded in a printed booke called speeches passages of Parliament page 12 13 to page 21. And hath not the PRESENT GENERALL in his verball expressions confirmed all these things as most righteous and just for was it not hee or his sonn in law IRETON lately deceased that drew that excellent declaration of the Army dated Iune the 14 1647 printed and published in the booke of their Declarations page 41 42 43 where they positively declare that they were so farr from designeing or complying to have an arbitary power fixed or setled for continuance in any persons whatsoever as that say they if we might be sure to obteine it we cannot wish to have it so in the persons of any whom we could most confide in or who should appeare most of our owne opinions and principles or whom we might have most personal assurance of or Interest in but we doe shall much rather wish that the authority of this Nation in Parliaments rightly constituted that is „ freely equally successively chosen „ according to their originall intention may ever stand have its course therfore we shall applie our selves cheifly to such things as by haveing Parliaments settled in such a right constitution may give most hopes of justice righteousnes to flow downe equally to all in that its ancient channel without any overtures tending either to overthrow that foundation of order government in this Kingdome or to engross that power for perpetuity into the hands of any particular persons or partie whatsoever And for that purpose though as we have found it doubted by many men minding sincerely the public good but not weighing so sully all consequences of things it may and is not unlike to prove that upon the ending of this ParliameÌ„t the election of a new the Constitution of succeeding Parliaments as to the persons elected may prove for the worse many waies yet since neither in the present purgeing of this Parliament nor in the Election of new we cannot promise to our selves or the Kingdome an assurance of justice or other positive good from the hands of men but those who for the present appeare most righteous most for common good „ haveing an unlimited power fixed in them for life or pleasure „ in time may become corrupt or settle into parties or factions „ or on the other side in case of new Elections those that should so succeed may prove as bad or worse then the former „ We therfore humbly conceive that „
knave to be a spy at Middelborow who now is forced to fly to Westminster for Shelter and render him uncapable to receive any more bills of exchange from Mr. Thomas Scot for the paying him his sallery to inable him to drinke drunke night and day to feast whore it swear rant it and domineer rather like a bedlam then a man or to send one of his sluts over to give Mr. Scot if he want it a tast of hir which kind of flesh is notoriously at Westminster knowne he loves as well as Oxford doth as well as to convey his intelligence over and to solicet him if he ly not in sicke of the French Pox to procure him a passe to come over and to meet him at Graves-end or Dover c. and to discourse with him for setling all his affairs And yet my Lord this is not all but that which is the highest of aggrevations is that all this that is done unto me and principally by your selfe is inflicted upon me without I doe avow it and upon my life dare ingage to make it good all shaddow of ground cause provocation or cullour of law or Justice For alas my Lord I was at most upon your owne principles but an accessarie and not principal And to inflict a higher and greater punishment upon me then upon Mr. Primat the principall and now to set him at liberty from his imprisonment and to keepe me still in my banishment and under the lash of my foresaid extraordinary great fine where is in England either the Law equity or justice to avow and warrant it And my LORD admit Mr. Primates Petition about which I am banished had bin all false and not proved which yet I avow to the contrary and admit it conteines in it so high things against Sr. ARTHVR HASELRIGE as if proved would have occasioned as great a sentence to him as you have given to me and therefore per legem talionis you have done by me as you have done Truly MY LORD I will joyne yssue with you there if that be your ground as by some of your members while I was in England I understood it was one of your principallest Yet remember you say in your Declarations that the Law of England is the Inheritance and birth-right of the MEANEST MAN therof as well as of the GREATEST and that you are bound in duty and conscience both to God and Man to dispense it EQUALLY to all WITHOUT FAVOUR OR AFFECTION and therfore be but just to me my Lord and I have done with you For your Attorney Generall PRIDEAUX that unbrac't Drum that makes a great sound noyse without any tune or harmony accused INDICTED me of high-treason and had 〈◊〉 tryed before about 40 judges at Guildhall London in October 1649 for my life therefore and if he had proved it against me I must have died therfore as a traytor and have forfeited all my estate And therfore by your owne rule and your owne Law of proceedings with me in my present case because he accused me could not prove it „ he ought to be hanged therefore and to forfeit 4 parts of 7 of his estate to me „ which when I was at London by common repute he was judged by his Land Postmaster-Generall-ship attorney Generall-ship and the most vast fees that he being a Parliament man OF AN UNACCOUNTABLE PARLIAMENT and thereby so great takes to plead all manner of base Causes to the threatening OUT FACEING overaweing both JUDGES Iurors and Lawyers to have incomeing thereby annually about twenty thousand pounds Although a few yeares agoe since this eternall Parliaments first sitting I could never heare he was judged to be worth two hundred Pounds per annum Now I say my Lord performe this to me I will pay you my seven-thousand-pound fine without any more to doe But besides remember also were not you My Lord at Darby-house in Cheynel-row with the Councel of State upon the 28 of March 1649 the cheife man to mannage an accusation of high-treason against me and got me committed therefore The Narrative of which in breife is conteined in the 8 9 10 11 12 pages of the second edition of the Picture of the Councel of State printed at London 1649. and yet when it came to the yssue there could never one word of it be proved all though I lay prisoner in the Tower almost a yeare there upon and therfore by your owne rule and law of proceedings with me ought not you your selfe my Lord to be HANGED therefore and to forfeit 4 parts of seven of your great estate to me therefore For shame my LORD once in your life learne to be just and remember what you said against Mr. Herbert the Kings attorney Generall in the Case of the LORD KIMBOLTON and the 5 MEMBERS 1 part of the booke of the Parliaments Declarations page 52 53 101 123 201 203 208 210 278 459 660 and give me not too much cause to picture-draw you so that all the artificial or pensil-limners in the world SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPARE WITH IT You know I have a quick sharpe pen My Lord and therefore give me not cause to challenge you or any of your Champions to draw into a short Epitomy or into a larger charge all that evill that in your owne thoughts you can colourably imagine the Buyshops Starr-chamber Counsell-table High-commission or any persons therein were guilty of nay or any persons since their downe-fall by you executed for the highest of treasons tyrannyes oppressions were guilty of yet comparatis comparandis for me to aver that you outstrip them all and in particulars to undertake upon my life to make it good and that those sayings of God by the Prophet Ezekiel chap 16 48 51 52 mentioned on the Title-page may as truly and as justly be verified of you as they were of Iudah or Ierusalem that you have outstrip't comparatis comparandis all those whome you your selfe count the most wicked men that you have pulled downe „ and thereby have done in actions as much as in you lies to justifie all their wickednes „ that in words you have condemned And besides my Lord what faith what truth what honesty can be imagined to be in that man or that generation of men that by a constant series of his or their actions visiby and apparently declare he or they hold it lawfull to commit any manner of wickednes basenes whatsoever that can be named under the sunn for the accomplishment of his or their proposed end whether in it selfe it be wicked or righteous yea to cheat breake faith with and murther the nighest relations a man can converse with when they cross his ends Yea for that end onely to raise warrs upon warrs to the devastation of Kingdomes Nations The gulled cheated abused peoples lives really truly being of no more value with him or them then so many dead doggs serving him or them for no
be to hard for them all and therby know the bottome of their greatest designes before they be a quarter ripe for execution Secondly because by my discourse with some of them I find that not only the Prince himselfe but his cheisest Councellours are for his comeing in by force and conquest which is a principle I as much hate as any man in the World doth and have given as cleare testimonie against such a Principle and practise in any person what soever as any man upon the face of the earth ever did or durst doe I am confident of it But besides I have professed to be a man of Conscience and one that could die for his principles and never could be threatned from them nor courted out of them by anie persons in the World what soever And it hath bin one of my maine principles and so declared by the constant series of my practise that evil must not be done by any that good may come thereby The Apostle by the Spirit of God haveing concluded the damnation of sach practisers to be just Romanes 3 8. but if I should out of Machiavel or any other Politic Author learne such Principles as to joine with the Prince or any other Interest whatsoever out of a designe of being revenged of my adversaries to conquer the People of England that therby he or any else might rule over them by his will and pleasure I should not only account my selfe one of the greatest murtherers in the World but also one of the basest fellowes that ever breathed upon the face of the earth Knowing very well that none is to rule over the sonns of men by will and pleasure but God only and alone But truly I am afraid my LORD GENERALL CROMWELL HIMSELFE hath really that latitude in his Principles that will easily lead him out and permit him to act such a practise as I dare pawne my head by his actions for many yeares together clearly to evince and Manifest And it may without a speedy reconciliation in short time prove the subject of my pen. And therfore he haveing such Principles within himselfe may judge thereby that I have the like and thereby may be left to as large an elbow-roome as himselfe takes But for disputacions sake at present admit that I am so Yet truly I must tell you I have red Machiavil and the History of the Kings of Israel and of Iudah contained in the Scripture and many other Histories and also within this 15 yeares have seene aboundance of experince even in England it selfe out of all which I cannot see the least ground to draw any manner of inference to induce me to side with a man or Interest of men that are beaten out of all and totally to forsake mine owne Interest among those that live under those that are in possesion of all manner of power and strength or to thinke that ever by a forreign Arme or power of force he can ever probably overturne them Especially considering experience teacheth me assuredly to knowe that his bare attempting and endeavouring of it joines them in England all together in one against him although in many other things they are much divided amongst themselves I am sure of it in Scripture I read that when Absalom had a mind to be King of Israel he did not presently goe about to raise force to obtaine it although he nor none of his interest were ever beaten before but he courted the People and stole away their hearts by observeing to them his Fathers negligence to doe the people right when they came to complaine and handsomely reproveing of it in him by telling the People there was no man deputed by the King to heare them and therfore before the People he wished O THAT HE WERE MADE A JUDGE IN THE LAND that every man that had a suit or cause might come unto him and he would doe them justice and when any man came nigh to doe him obeysance he complemented to the purpose with them and put forth his hand and tooke them and kissed them by meanes of which he rivetted himselfe in the Peoples hearts and affections and in process of time therby he made his Father King David to flie before him 2 Sam 15 1 2 3 4 c. So likewise JEHV for his owne ends could cry out come with me and see my zeale for the Lord 2 Kings 10 16. And as I have red the Scripture so I have seene much experience in England and first I have observed the Parliament by their curious oylie and sweet declarations in reference to the People out-courted and out bid the King who in his stood upon the punctillioes of his prerogative and therby won the hearts of the people from him which proved his ruine And afterward in process of time the independent party or the great men of the Armie served the Presbyter or the Parliament the same trick and therfore Sir had I nothing of God in me but only a graine or two of reason left me I should never side with anie partie in the World in endeavouring the overturning the men that rule in England unles it were a partie that in boones and priviledges did in reference to the People outbid all parties that ever went before them in Just and rationall things and soe to ty their hands that if they would they should not without the apparēt running the hazard of there owne ruine doe any mischeef ād therfore it is that by all the honest and industrious meanes that a laborious or studious man can invent or take will I by the assistance of God preserve my Interest in their owne bowells amongst those honest and gallant men that live amongst them which have held forth that in worth and exellency that in it selfe is good and profitable for all sorts of reasonable men that are not sotts and brute beasts in their understandings that never any held out before them videlicet THE AGREEMENT OF the people DATED MAY THE 1. 1649. And this Interest I shall Increase widen and strenghten as much as possible I can with all persons what soever that will embrace it not doubting but that in the conclusion it will prove like Aarons rod that devoured the rods of all the Egiptian conjurers Exodus the 7 and the 20 „ Swallowing up all Interests into it selfe „ And you may remember when I was indited for my life at Guildhall October 1649 that it was laid unto my charge in the said Inditement as an act of treason that I had held out in print the same thing to the Prince by name the words of which as they were conteined in the inditement yow may read in the first part of the historie of my said tryall page 58 59 60. And I must now acknowledge unto yow that a learned and I am sure of it as honest a judge as ever I knew in England videlicet BARON RIGBY upon a serious discourse with him told me in these verse words that if
build me a wide house and large chambers and cutteth him out windores and it is seeled with cedar and painted with vermilion Shalt thou reigne because thou clothest thy selfe in Cedar did not thy Father eat and drinke and doe judgment and justice and then it was well with him he judged the cause of the poore and the needie then it was well with him was not this to know me saith THE LORD But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy Coveteousnes and FOR TO SHED INNOCENT BLOOD and for oppression and for violence to doe it therfore saith the Lord thou shalt be buryed with the buryal of an Asse without lamentation saying AH MY BROTER or AH LORD or AH HIS GLORY Therfore let not the Generall for all his greatnes despise the day of small things For who would have beleived or immagined 10 yeares agoe that Oliver Cromwell a meane private inconsiderable man in comparison should by this day have had 3 Nations at his becke and command for I am sure of it when he I about 10 yeares agoe by the Parliaments authoritie were first made captains my particular Interest in England was soe far beyond his that I could then have easily raised a hundred volenteers to have followed my banner for his one and injoy really a greater power in them then ever any of there most Absolute Kings this 500 yeares had Fiftly I answere that I have heard from travellers that the ELEPHANT which of all the beasts in the world is the most warlike one carrying a Castle able to secure many men upon it's backe and being in many places in the East-Indies soe expert in warr that if an Iron chaine be tyed to its trunke it will with it mowe downe whole rows of men and yet for all this of all the creatures in the world is the most affraid of the little silly contemptible pismire the which if it Creepe up it's trunke and git into it's brains as some tyms they doe the little creature will more mad that great furious strong beast then the shakings of multitudes of speares and the powring of shewers of warlike darts and arrows upon it I wish my LORD GENERALL for his owne sake haveing done soe great things in England as he hath done may seriously consider what he will git at my hands when he hath done the worst he can to me for if I fall I can as I have often through the goodnes of God rise againe but soe can not he for his fall if it come will bee soe great it will breake his necke and I looke upon him as my grand adversary and against great nor small must I now not fight nor contest with to the purpos saveing only himselfe And truly I am apt to thinke how contemptable soever he may Judge me to be that if he force me to it to the utmost nesessitie I shal be able through the strength of almighty God to trouble him as bad as the greatest Army of Cavileers that ever he fought with in his life did and to make his very hartstrings to ake for skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life But peace with him not only for my owne good but the good and benifit of the whole Nation is the thing I desire from my hart and soule Therefor I will heere presume to advice him as Joab advises David when he had like to have taken in the City of Rabbath and therefore advised him to gather his people together take it in himselfe least he tooke it and it should be called by his name even soe say I a New Parliament is the people of Englands right and the obtaineing of one for them is even at the very doore I am sure of it therfore let my Lord Generall arise and gather his Army about him and effectually and in good earnest revive his or our Agreement and speedily procure thereby a New Parliament for the people which I dare avow infalliby to demonstrate he may as easily freely and safely doe it if he will but say the word as kiss his owne hand I will maintaine it he hath no real dureable safety in the world but in the doeing of it but I thinke Politicus in his notable preambles to his thursday newes-bookes hath already sufficiently cleared that point I say therfore if he will in the hearts of the honest and understanding people of England be esteemed and bee really their darling let him arise and doe it with all his might quickly least I or some other contemptible or unthought of instrument or instruments doe it for the people in despight of him and so run away with the honour of it and have it called by our name For let him remember when the Scots first invaded England in the yeare 1639 by their declareing they came in for to procure the English people their liberties and that they might enjoy a Parliament which they had bin without ten or eleven yeares together they tied the Kings hands behind his back therby and won the Zealous stout English peoples hearts away from him and thereby procured for the English People a Parliament in spight of the teeth of all that opposed it Nay and thereby made the Kings owne Soldiers knock their commanders on the head that were leading them against the said Scots I say no more at present but bid himselfe make the farther application only adding that I am consident of it that hee will be the highlyest esteemed man to the people of England that is in the world that can or shall be an Instrument upon the principles aforesaid to procure a New Parliament for them thereby rationally probably to free deliver them from their unsupportable and un-imaginable oppression bondage and slavery which they are under worse and greater by a thousand degrees then ever it was in the worst of the late Kings times For now I will maintaine it there is no man in England that can rationally or upon any probable grounds call either his land his trade his Estate his life his wife or his children his owne or be sure to enjoy them free from violence one single day to an end And in the multitude of instances I need to give you no more then mine owne which is now upon me For have I done the Generall or the Nation or any particular man in it any wrong oppression or injustice if it be said I have I challenge the sight of my whole charge and a particular declaration that I shall enjoy the benefit of the Petition of right and the Parliaments and Generalls pass freely to come into England „ and there to stay for a time and returne back againe without let or molestation and I doe hereby engage with speed to meet by Gods assistance the greatest and stoutest adversary that I have in England there at the barr of iustice And I am sure if they can legally prove me guilty of any wickednes or oppression
God should suffer the Prince to follow the advice conteined in the three foresaid pages that in one three or 4 moneths after he would not give SIXE PENCE for all the Parliaments Interest in England And least I should faile of my purpose in maintaineing the peace of mine owne Conscience and my Interest among my foresaid honest Freinds in England I have for many yeares together and still doe give unto my selfe this mot to „ that honesty is the best Policy „ as being the truest most lasting and successfull ïn the world all things being truly and duly weighed and confidered from first to last In the maintaining of which I have for many yeares walked and doe resolve by the assistance of God allmighty so to doe to my dieing day all though all the sorrowes of the world should be my portion therfore And therfore it is that I have fixed my resolution „ to be irrevocably „ one of those that doe and shall hold forth such a thing to the people of England as is truly able to take of all their jealousies and feares from them that if I should get up with my Interest I intend by my selfe or by my Interest to doe that with them which the forementioned persons did when they had obteined their ends to get uppermost which was to ride the people and abuse them rather worse then those that were before them whom they had pulld downe and walke in larger way ies of wickednes then their predecessors as may be clearly seen in ABSALOM and JEHU for which God cut them short as is verified by 2 Sam 15 10 11 12 14 23. and Chap. 16 20 21. and Chap. 17. 1 2 18 23 26. and 2 Kings 10 29 30 31 32. and „ who ever shall read but the Parliaments first Remonstrance „ dated December 1641 „ printed in the first part of the booke of their declarations „ page 3 4 5 c. „ and their declaration of the 19 of May 1642 page 207 214. and their declaration of the 26 of May 1642 page 263 264 267 270. and their declaration of August 1642 page 491 492 494 496 and their Reply to the Kings answer of theirs of the 26 of May 1642 page 693. and read also their said booke page 36 342 656 660 690 and their declarations of the 6 of May 1643 and of the 17 of April 1646 in the 2 de part of the booke of their declarations „ fol 95 879 and you shall clearly find they held forth most glorious expressions to the People of regaining their „ lost Lawes liberties and freedomes „ as that which was not only their principal aime but also as that which was their obliged duty and say they „ woe be to us „ if we discharge not our duty in order to which they adjure and call out upon all those that have any sense of piety honour or compassion to come in and helpe a distressed state But they walkeing in too nigh an affinity „ to Absaloms and Iehues „ latter steps the Army layes seige unto them and tells them soundly and particularly of it and holds forth in effect the same things which they had done before them but with a great deale of more lustre and glorie then they had done As appeares by the Booke of the Armies declarations page 23 25 26 35 37 39 42 43 44. Which pages being red with seriousnes will make it clearly appeare that their words were smoother then oile nay dropped like the hony combe into the mouths of the hungry oppressed People How were their words seemingly bedewed with teares of pitty and compassion to the distressed people how did they represent their hearts divided and rent in sunder with heareing the doleful cryes and beholding the bloodie teares of the oppressed what professed gallant resolutions did the seeming deepe impressions that the peoples miseries had made upon their hearts beget in them how did they appearingly slight their estates and the injoyment of their nearest relations yea and of their dearest blood in comparison of the Peoples liberties what gallant principles of freedome and righteousnes did they then profess how lowd were their cries against all arbitrary powers whatsoever and all seekers of private and particular Interests how positive and absolute were they in their resolutions to have all the Liberties of the Nation cleared and secured how did they seeme impatient of any delaies or protraction of time What Valiant Champions did these men appeare to bee for Englands Freedome how did old English valour and undaunted courage to oppose the stoutest enemies of the Public Interest and advantage sparkle forth in them upon June 4 5 1647. When they boldly engaged in opposition to the Parliament and their special orders not to disband nor to divide nor suffer themselves to be disbanded or divided untill they had security that the free borne people of England should not be subject to the like injury oppression and abuse as had bin lately attempted to be exercised upon them Did ever the most faithfull patriots to the most noble Nation of England pass a larger engagement to their Countrie then this who could have forborne to conclude that these would have bin our worthy Ehuds of whose valour and bravery for his Country you may read in Judges the 3.12 13 14 c. that would have peirced the bowells of every oppressour and destroyer of England who could upon the sight of this engagement but imagin that these would never have given themselves rest untill they had seen the top-stone laid in the beautyous Fabric of Englands native Freedome did they not oblige themselves in this ingagement to bid defiance to every oppressor and abuser of the People in Parliament Committees amongst Iudges or Lawyers and all others whatsoever were they not hereby bound to stand like the Jewes with good Nehemiah with their swords in their hands not only untill Englands breaches were repaired but also untill the strongest possible iron gates were composed and set up to defend the Conscientious Persons Liberties and Estates of all English men from oppressors indeed could any engage to procure more perfect Freedome for the People then they did in this engagement can more be said then this that they would have security that the People should not be subjest to the like injuries or abuses as had bin attempted All men know there had bin attempts to offer all kinds and degrees of wrong and abuse to the people and therfore they promised and engaged to secure them for the future from them all Secondly how were the purest and most exact principles of Freedome and of righteousnes professed by these to be the only grounds upon which they thus engaged even against the Parliament The undefiled Law of Nature was declared to be the rule of their proceedings In their Declaration of June 14 1647. the establishment of common and equall right and Freedome to the whole Nation was promised should be their Study all purposes and designes to advance
painted paper „ what jealous heart could have imagined „ that these promiseing Patriots were only sweet mouthed dissemblers „ Who could have harboured the leasts suspition that these seeming visible starrs of heaven „ were but blazing Comets „ that would quickly turne their backs as they have perfectly done upon all these glorious promises and declarations and prove the vilest apostates that ever the earth bore and have made it their worke „ to imprison arreigne condemne shoot and murder men that have but put them in mind of their owne serious promises and ingagements in which the present General himselfe hath bin the cheif ringleader And I wish that you and many of those that „ outwardly profess godlynes and honesty in England „ were free from a zealous countenanceing of him in it Although both they and hee cannot out know that the righteous god of Heaven and earth brought a desperate famine upon Israel for three yeares together because Saul had broke and violated that solemne contract and engagement that the Israelites had made with the heathen Gibeonites although it was not voluntary but obteined by fraud and deceit Yet nothing would appease the wrath of God and satisfie the Gibeonites but the hanging up of seven of the sonns of Saul before the Lord who was the man that had broken and violated the contract with them At the doeing of which „ the anger of God was turned away from Israel „ All which appeares by Joshua 9 3 4 5 16 17. and 2 Sam 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 14. And though it were that god prospered IEHV while he was doeing his worke in cutting of the „ wicked house of Ahabs „ made him prosperous and victorious in all his encountres wherby his heart was so elevated and lifted up that he cried out Come see my zeale for the Lord yet when he turned his back upon God and the waies of Justice and righteousnes „ god then cut him and Israel short and gave them up with a mighty slaughter to their Enemies „ the 2 Kings Chap. 10. Therfore as a man that intirely loves my native Countrey I shall request you to commend unto the serious and hearty consideration of the LORD GENERALL and his Confederates the Advice of their valiant and learned Champion MR. MILTON who haveing much spent his eloquence to rout the forces of SALMASIVS in the Epilogue of his Latin booke „ called a Defense of the People of England „ turnes his speech to his Masters that had set him on worke whom he with much faithfullnes and Freedome bespeakes on this manner One thing is remaineing and that haply of the greatest moment that you o my Countrymen and Fellow-Cityzens should your owne selves undertake the refutation of this your adversary which I doe not see how you can otherwise possibly effect save by endeavouring with tooth and naile to make your gallant actings the eternall confutation of all your Enemies raileings God did graciously give care to your Vowes and most ardent petitions when being oppressed with more then a single bondage you fled to him for succour You in the first place among all Nations has he gloriously delivered from Tyranny and Superstition the greatest plagues donbtles of humane life and most prejudiciall to all virtue and true Gallantry Into you it is that he hath insused that height of courage as that you have not doubted to be the first of Mankind that have by a famous judgement tryed a King and punnished him being condemned after that you had by your Armes procur'd his Conquest and surrender After which so glorious a transaction you ought not now to thinke much less to act any thing that is Mean and Low Which that it may be your commendation you have no more to doe but to take this course namely to make it appeare to all the World that you are as well able in the middest of peace and disarmed most valiantly to conquer Ambition Avarice Mammon and those corruptions of manners that attend prosperity wich are wont to conquer other Nations and generations of men as you have bin to vaquish your Enemies in a time of Warr and to shew forth as much Iustice Temperance and Moderation in the preservation of your Liberties as ever you have manifested courage in casting the yoake of bondage from of your necks By these arguments and these alone by such testimonies as these alone you will be able to evince that you are none of those public Enemies Traitors Theives Murderers Parricides Fantastic Enthusiasts whom this man railes upon that you have not moved with ambition or a desire to invade anothers right nor pricked and spurred on with sedition any base lusts madnes or sury murdered a King but that you have being inflamed with the love of liberty religion justice common honesty and your native Countrey punished a tyrant But if which I beseech thee o good God may never come to pass your minds shall be otherwise enclined if haveing bin valiant in warr you shall in time of peace prove base and unworthy you who have had manifest experience of Gods fighting in such a manner for you and against your enemies if casting behind your backs so â—are and never to be for gotten an example of divine Presence you shall forget to seare God and execute Righteousnes for my part I shall certainly grant and consess for it will be past all denial that all those things are true which malignant liers and railers have at any time most ignonimiously thought or said of you and that you shall in a short time find God more incensed with wrath against you then ever yet your enemies have found him averse or you have felt him benigne favourable „ and fatherly-affected unto you more then to all the Nations at this time inhabiting the face of the whole earth and soe far for Mr. Miltons excellent and faithfull advice to them And therefor now to goe on Is it not true Sir that successive or new Parliaments equally chosen by the People of England are confessed on all hands to be the very soul and life of all their Freedomes and doe not the Law-bookes of England shew that a Parliament which in its owne constitution is excellent good physick but never was intended nor ever safely can be used for constant diet because it has allwaies bin pretended by the members thereof to be unlimited and arbitrary was called and held fresh and fresh some times twice a yeare and that even before the Conquest as is declared by Lambert in his collection of Lawes before the conquest amongst the Lawes of King Edgar chapter the 5 and by Sir Edward Cooke in his margent in the 9 page of his 4 part of Institutes in the Chapter of High-Court of Parliament which with other of the liberties of England being by force of armes subdued by the Norman Conqueror although the people of England forced him three severall times to take his oath after his being owned for King to
ingaged or shall ingage in warr against the right of Parliament and Interest of the Kingdome therein or have adhered to the Enemies thereof may be capable of electing or being elected at least during a competent number of yeares nor any other who shall oppose or not joyne in agreement to this settlement 4 That it be declared that as to the whole Interest of the people of England such representatives have and shall have the SVPREME POWER trust as to the makeing of Lawes Constitutions and Offices for the ordering preservation and government of the whole and that in the NEGATIVE they may not render up or give or take away any of the foundations of common-right liberty or safety conteined in this settlement agreement AND THIS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY A GENERALL CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHICH THEY THERE REQUIRE MAY HAVE THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS THEREUNTO and that withall it may be provided that none may be capable of any benefit by the agreement who shall not consent subscribe thereunto nor any King be admitted to the Crowne or other person to any Office or place of public trust without express accord and subscription to the same and also they press the Parliament to consider such sperial overtures as have bin tendred to them in the petitions of well wishers to public good and especially and particularly That large petition from many in and about London dated the 11th of September 1648 that so they may when they lay downe their trust which they press may be speedily leave a good favour behind them both to the name of Parliaments also of men professing Godlynes and therein cheifly to the honour of Allmighty God who hath in his rich grace and mercy done such wonders for them And did not the present Generall the rest of the Officers of the Armie draw up and cause to be presented unto the House upon the 20 of January 1649 or rather 1648 by Lieutenant Generall Hammond Coll Okey and other Officers of the Armie a petition and a draught of such an Agreement which was afterwords by their order printed at London by Iohn Partridge Rich Harford Giles Calvert George Whittington all Bookesellers in London In which said petition they use these very words Now as nothing did in our owne hearts more justifie our late undertakeings towards many members in this Parliament then the necessity therof in order to a sound settlement in the Kingdome and the integritie of our intentions to make use of it only to that end So we hold our selves obliged to give the people all assurance possible that our opposeing the corrupt closure endeavoured with the King was not in designe to hinder peace or settlement therby to render our employments as Soldiers necessary to be continued and that neither that extraordinary course we have taken nor any other proceedings of ours have bin intended for the setting up of any particular Party or Interest by or with which to uphold our selves in power and dominion over the Nation but that it was and is the desire of our hearts in all we have done with the hindering of that imminent evill and destructive conjunction with the King to make way for the settlement of a peace and government of the Kingdome upon grounds of common Freedome and safety And the introduction of the said agreement is in these very words An agreement of the people of England and the places therewith incorporated for a secure present peace upon grounds of common right Freedome and safety Haveing by our late labours and hazards made it appeare to the world at how high a rate wee value our just Freedome God haveing so far owned our cause as to deliver the Enemies thereof into our hands we doe now hold our selves bound in mutuall duty to each other to take the best care we can for the future TO AVOID BOTH THE DANGER of returning into a slaveish condition the chargeable remedie OF ANOTHER WARR For as it cannot be imagined that so many of our Country men would have opposed us in this quarrel if they had understood their owne good so may we hopefully promise to our selves that WHEN OVR COMMON RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES SHALL BE CLEARED their endeavours will be disappointed that seeke to make them selves our Masters Since therefore our former oppressions and not yet ended troubles have been occasioned either by want of frequent national meetings in councel or by the undue or unequal constitution thereof or by rendring those meetings uneffectuall We are fully resolved agreed God willing to provide that hereafter our Representatives be neither left to an uncertainty for time nor be unequally constituted nor made useles to the ends for which they are intended In order whereunto we declare agree 1 THAT TO PREVENT THE MANY INCONVENIENCYES APPARENTLY ARISEING FROM THE LONG CONTINV ANCE OF THE SAME PERSONS IN SVPREME AVTHORITY this present Parliament end and disolve upon or before the last day of April in the yeare of our Lord 1649. And for the excellency common utility safety of settleing the distressed Nation of England upon such an agreement after the shakeing the foundations of the government therof by so many bloody warrs in their printed Declaration annexed to the said agreement wherby they recommend it to the serious consideration of the people of England they have these verie words Wee shall not otherwise commend it that is the said agreement then to say it conteines THE BEST AND MOST HOPEFVLL FOVNDATIONS FOR THE PEACE AND FVTVRE WELL GOVERNMENT OF THIS NATION THAT WE CAN DEVISE OR THINKE ON WITHIN THE LINE OF HVMANE POWER and such wherein all the people interessed in this Land that have not particular Interests of advantage power over others divided from that which is common public are indifferently equally provided for save where any have justy forfeited their share in that common Interest by opposeing it and so rendred themselves incapable thereof at least for some time And we call the Consciences of all that read or heare it to wittnes whether we have therein provided or propounded any thing of advantage to our selves in any capacity above others OR OVGHT BVT WHAT IS AS GOOD FOR ONE AS FOR ANOTHER And a little further in the said Declaration they aver and say And we for our parts being far from any desire or thought to assume or exercise a law-giveing or judicial power over the Kingdome or to meddle in any thing save the fundamentall settleing of that power in the most EQV ALL hopefull way for COMMON RIGHT FREEDOME AND SAFETY as in this Agreement and haveing not meanes nor time for nor the necessity of some present generall settlement admitting the delay of such a consideration as seemes requisite in relation to such numerous particulars we have purposely declined the inserting of such things into THIS AGREEMENT And did not the present GENERALL the rest of his Officers publish a Declaration dated
in December 1648 which expresseth the reasons of their then advance with their Army to London to purge OR RATHER PLVCK VP BY THE ROOTES the Parliament and doe they not in that Declaration positively declare that the Parliaments treating with the King and rejecting all better wholsomer counsells given them IS NO LESS THEN A TREACHEROVS OR CORRVPT NEGLECT OR AN APOST ATIZING FROM THE PVBLIC TRVST REPOSED IN THEM Yet not ASSVMING to themselves as there in words they say a standing power of judgement AS OF RIGHT OR TRVST to conclude others thereby acknowledging that to lie most properly in those whom the people DVLY CHOOSE AND TRVST TO IVDGE FOR THEM But considering that such power where ever it is IS COMMITTED BVT IN TRVST and that neither this Nation nor any other people DID EVER GIVE VP THEIR NATVRALL CAPACITIES OF COMMON SENSE OR REASON as to the ends fundamentalls of that trust And as for the Parliaments breach of trust there being no formal power of man in beeing to appeale to in the present case they positively declare They cannot but exercise that common judgement which in their NATVRALL CAPACITY is left to them and therfore considering that the Parliaments then BREACH OF TRVST was so transcendently great as that it was an hazard of totall destruction to that Interest to those people for which especially they say the trust was reposed And seeing there is no orderly open way left for a just succession of another formal and proper judicature to bee appealed unto in due time therfore they there renounced the then Parliament AS NO PARLIAMENT AT ALL with confidence APPEALED TO THE COMMON IVDGEMENTS OF INDIFFERENT AND VNCORRVPTED MEN exciteing all those that yet were faithfull to their trust in the Parliament to COME OVT joyne with them and in such a case of extremity they promise to looke upon them not as a Parliament but as persons materially haveing the cheife trust of the Kingdome remaining in them THOVGH NOT A FORM ALL STANDING POWER to be continued in them or drawne into ordinary president yet the best and most rightfull that can be had as the present State and exigency of affaires then stood and wee shall say they accordingly owne them adhere to them be guided by them in their FAITHFVLL PROSECVTION OF THEIR TRVST which they there declare to be onely in order unto MARKE IT WELL and VNTILL THE INTRODVCEING OF A MORE FVLL AND FORMALL POWER IN A JVST REPRESENTATIVE TO BE SPEEDILY INDEAVOVRED AND RATIFIED BY AN AGREEMENT AND SVBSCRIPTION OF THE PEOPLE THEREVNTO And did not the present Generall for upon him I principally looke and judge him in a manner to be all in all and not only one man but his word in England to be more then ten thousand lay it as an act of treason to the late King Charles charge his in his for so I may truly call it late impeachment of him dated the 20 of January 1648 that he had KEPT OF FREQVENT AND SVCCESSIVE PARLIAMENTS OR NATIONAL MEETINGS IN COVNCEL which as before is averred ought to be once every yeare or oftner if need require And did not the Generalls then two principall agents to wit the LORD PRESIDENT BRADSHAW and Mr. JOHN COOKE now Lord cheife justice in Ireland notably with all their Eloquence and Rhetoric aggravate that against the King as a most transcendent crime see the 11 page of the Lord Bradshawes last speech against the King being upon the 27 of January 1648 and Mr. Iohn Cooke his State of the Kings Case page 7 11 14 17 18 20. in the last of which Mr. JOHN COOKE averrs THAT THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND NOT ONLY BY SEVERAL STATVTE LAWES OVGHT TO HAVE A PARLIAMENT ONCE A YEARE OR OFTNER IF NEED REQVIRE BVT ALLSO OF COMMON RIGHT THEY OVGHT TO HAVE IT and that the Kings makeing of Parliaments when he called them VSELES to the END for which they were instituted was a crime in him EQVALL to his not calling them for nine or ten yeares together And I wish the present Generall were not much more guiltie then ever the King was of all those tamperings juggleings machiavilian devices that he speakes of in his 17 18 and 20 pages to make a Parliament useles in any thing BVT TO SERVE HIS OWNE LVSTS AND OPPRESS THE PEOPLE THEREBY So that then by Mr. Iohn Cookes conclusion to speake in his owne words the Generall may throw the gauntles challenge all the MACHIAVELS IN the world to invent such an EXQVISITE PLATFORME of tyrannicall domination such a PERFECT TYRANNIE without MAIME or BLEMMISH as he is Prince or Emperour of and that by a Law which saith Mr. JOHN COOKE is worst of all And did not the present Generall before the late battel at Worcester ingage and promise before God several Officers of his Armie of the good people of England that if God blessed him with that victorie he would immediately be the effectual instrument to procure unto the people of England their naturall common legal and undoubted birth-right TO ELECT AND CHOOSE A NEW PARLIAMENT and did he not after the battaile engage the same and did he not come up to London and in the Parliament House immediately after his comeing up express himselfe full of zeale for the immediate calling a new-Parliament „ As that which they were bound in Conscience and duty both to God and Man forthwith to call „ And were not the Spirits and Hearts of thousands and ten thousands of the honest people of England refreshed thereby and cried him up as their earthly Saviour Redeemer therfore yet was his carriage therein any other then A PERFECT CHEAT AND DECEIT on purpose in peace quietnes to get disbanded scatterd all those forces that in their hearts longed for it and in their words expressed so much and it may be he feared were at Worcestor twice so many as hee all those that durst then joyne with him against it which necessitated him to give them good woords and faire promises till he got all the „ new-raised forces who were full of Life for a new Parliament disbanded „ all his owne Regiments that he was jealous of disperst scattered into small companies abroad in the Nation¿ and under the pretence of case of the Peoples taxes ordered hee not his Officers to disband a certaine number our of their troopes companies of the most choycest men that he was afraid were Possessed with such principles and did he not to the saddening of the Vniversality of honest mens hearts in England when hee imagined he had done his worke to his hearts desire vote declare the Parliament should after they had sate almost twelve yeares sit three yeares longer if they pleased and at three yeares end they may sit as long as they or hee lives if he please So that the people shall never have a New Parliament And upon this did not you and divers other honest men
Leaders or Preachers to severall of the most CONSCIENTIOVS CONGREGATIONS OF INDEPENDENTS AND ANABAPTISTS in and about the Cittie of London repaire to him and with greife of heart freely and fully to his face lay open his wickednes in this very thing as the most gross hypocrisie and basenes that could be acted by a man against which did you not tell him you judged your selves bound in duty and conscience before God the world to beare wittnes against this his practise to endeavour as of duty and of right to the hazard of your lives and all that in this world you could call yours „ immediately to procure a new Parliament and when by your discourses with him he grew choleric hot and would not well endure freely to be spoke to did not some of the „ cheifest Independents amongst your companie „ tell him to his face that seeing he was so altered changed from what he used to be that now he would not endure plainely to be told his owne you would leave him in his declined condition and goe home to your closets and by prayer cry aloud to God against him and have not some of the cheifest of the same company I meane Independents since declared to some of their acquaintance that they absolutely found and judged the Generall now by cleare experience to be as false as juggleing a man as the worst or highest of his adversaries had ever reported him to bee and that his juggleing deceit would be quickly the apparent hazard of the ruine of all the honest men in England And did not you all lay your heads together and abstract the very quint-essence of your braines into reasons deducted both from the Right Profit and Necessity of haveing a NEW PARLIAMENT out of hand the duty that lies upon your Consciences particularly to stickle vigorously for the procureing of it and did you not deliever the said reasons in writeing to the Generalls owne hands¿ and upon his continuing obstinate against your just desires have you not since kept SEVERALL FASTS AT GREAT ALL-HALLOWES IN THAMES STREET LONDON from morning till night twelve 14 or 16 of you praying in one day and have not your hearts bin lifted up to God earnestly to beg assistance from him to inable you to goe on couragiously and actively with faithfullnes and success not withstanding all opposition to the contrary to accomplish fully that great good for the people of England „ to wit the procureing a new-elected Parliamen for them And hath not the Generall himselfe with his Sycophantizeing agents Chaplaines MR. or Dr. OWEN the new Deane of Christ-church Mr. LOCKYER Mr. SYDRACH SIMPSON AND Mr. PHILIP NYE bin extremely curaged and mad with you therfore and used to severall of you not only threats but also sugred perswasions to cause you to desist there from have you not nevertheless persevered and gone on and sent your Letters and agents to all or the most part of your Freinds in all the Counties of England or Wales to excite them to joyne with you therein and can you now without horror of Conscience upon any pretences whatsoever and an apprehension of the Wrath Vengeance and curse both of God and man to seaze immediatly upon you and your Families goe back sit still or grow cold or lukewarme especially if you but seriously read ponder and meditate upon what I have here writt unto you which is all the Inference that at present I shall draw from the premises Only I shall now take the Libertie to give you the reasons why I write these lines to you the First is Because I know no man of mine ancient acquaintance that professeth Religion Zeale Conscience or Common-good as your selfe doth that is so familiarly acquainted with all the fower forementioned great Sword-men or the major-part of them as your selfe is and so well heard by them as you are and because I hate to grapple in good earnest with the greatest adversary I have in the world but I will if it bee possible tell him before hand what weapons I will bee at with him that so he may if he please choose a Composure if not let him doe his pleasure and I shall doe the best I can for my selfe Secondly because I understand since I saw you you have bin very civil and respective to my poore distressed disconsolate wife and least by any after actions of mine you should repent of any civilitie you have alreadie done her or be unwilling to doe her any more hereafter because I would give as much satisfaction to her whom my soule hath loved still doth love if I know any thing of mine owne heart as intirely as ever husband loved a wife as far as with a good conscience mine owne Sasetie I possibly can and that I am a rationall man willing to stoope for her Satisfaction so Farr as with the maintaineing of mine owne peace it may bee The Generall haveing medled with me without the least shadowe of ground or cause or the least provocation given him by me I am confident of it and thereby pickt a quarrell with me as Benhadad the King of Assyria did with the King of Israel who would not be contented with any thing that the King of Israel could profer to him unless he would give him every thing that was pleasaunt in his eyes as appeares the 1 Kings 20 who paid deare enough for his Insolency as in that Chapter you may read And I for my part challenge the Generall to instance if he can any one seemeing provocation that I have of late given him for I am sure of it since our last outwardly solemne reconcilement I never in the least Disserved him but waited upon him since his comeing from Worcester at his owne House and had an houre or two's private discourse with him in his Gallerie gave him all the ingagements from me that are fit either for a man of Honour Conscience or Integritie to give to a great man whose absolute vassall he cannot bee And he assured mee he would receive no Information against me behind my back but he would send for me and speak with me before it should stick or find beleife with him protesting he had absolutely buried in the grave of forgetfullnes the remembrance of all by-past things betwixt us and now should be as ready to serve me as any Freind I had in England commending my Ingenuitie and proffers to him in the difference betwixt SIR ARTHVR HASILRIG my Freinds which was in the first place I proffered the Generall that so hee might see as I told him that I had no desire to ruffle with any that I knew hee was intimate with that I had a very high apprehension of his Integritie of the Justice of the cause which for my Freinds I mannaged against SIR ARTHVR HASILRIG and therfore First that if his Honour with deliberation would vouchsafe to heare the buysines fully I