in one Brigade and their Armes taken by their Officers 60 60. Cheats put upon the State and shortly after they have been listed againe in another Brigade and their Armes sold againe to the State after a while to new Arme them And of this sort were those Armes which being found in a Magazine in Town by some zelots and rumoured to belong to the City for the Arming of Reformado's were upon examination found to belong to Oliver Cromwell so the businesse was buried in silence for though the Kings over-sights must be tragically published to the world yet the hainous crimes of the godly must lie hid under the maske of Religion 61 61. Arreares secured although the State owes them nothing And though they have usually taken free-quarter in one place and taken composition money for free-quarter in another place some of them in two or three places at once 3s. a day some of them 5s. for a Trooper and 1s. a day and 1s. 6d. for a foot Souldier whereby no Arreares are due to them but they owe money to the State yet they have compelled the Houses to settle upon them for pretended Arreares 1. The moity of the Excise that they may have the Souldiers help in leavying it Although to flatter the People the Army had formerly declared against the excise 2. The moity of Goldsmiths-Hall 3. Remainder of Bishops Lands 4. The customes of some Garrisons 5. Forrest Lands This Army brags they are the Saviours nay Conquerors of the Kingdome Let them say when they saved it whether at the fight at Nazeby or taking in of Oxford and we will pay them according to the then List And for all the Recruites taken in since the reducing of Oxford it is fit they be disbanded without pay having been taken in without nay against Authority to drive on wicked designes and enthrall King Parliament City and Kingdome 24. Decemb. 1647. 62 62. Four dethroning Bills presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle The two Houses by their Commissioners presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle four Bills to be passed as Acts of Parliament and divers Propositions to be assented to They are all printed so is His Majesties Answer to them wherefore I shall need to say the lesse of them only a word or two to two of the Bills 1. The Act for raising setling 63 63. Act for the Militia and maintaining Forces by Sea and Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Wales c. though it seems to be but for 20 years devests the King his Heirs and Successours of the power of the Militia for ever without hope of recovery but by repealing the said Act which will never be in his nor their power for first it saith That neither the King nor his Heires or Successours nor any other shall exercise any power over the Militia by Land or Sea but such as shall act by authority and approbation of the said Lords and Commons That is a Committee of State of twenty or thirty Grandees to whom the two Houses shall transfer this trust being over-awed by the Army for the ground-work of this Committee was layed by these words though the Committee be erected since And secondly it prohibiteth the King his Heires and Successours c. after the expiration of the said 20 years to exercise any of the said powers without the consent of the said Lords and CoÌ„mons and in all cases wherein the said Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdome to be concerned after the said 20 years expired and shall passe any Bills for raising arming c. forces by land or sea or concerning levying of mony c. if the Royall assent to such Bills shall not be given by such a time c. then such Bills so passed by the Lords and Commons shall haâ—e the force of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Lo â—â—re a foundation laid to make an Ordinance of both Houses equall to an Act of Parliament if this be granted in one case it will be taken in another and then these Subverters of our Religion Laws and Liberties will turne their usurpation into a legall Tyranny 2. It gives an unlimited power to the two Houses to raise what forces and what numbers for land and sea and of what persons without exceptions they please and to imploy them as they shall judge fit 3. To raise what mony they please for maintaining them and in what sort they think fit out of any mans estate 64 64. Bill for adjournment of the Parliament as well for place as time The Bill for adjournment of both Houses to any other place c. will enable the engaged Party of the two Houses and Army to adjourne the two Houses from time to time to or near the Head quarters of the Army where those Members that refuse to enter into the same Engagement shall neither sit with accommodation nor safety and so be shaken off at last this is a new way of purging the Houses Besides the Parliament following the motions of the Army the King shall follow the Parliament whereby the Army having both King and Parliament present with them whatsoever attempt shall be made against the Army shall be said to be against the safety and authority of the King and Parliament and a legall Treason triable by Indictment not a constructive Treason only Triable before the Lords 65 65. The King's Answer debated Monday 3. Jan. the Kings Answer to the said Bills and Propositions was debated in the House of Commons And first Sir Thomas Wrothe Jacke Pudding to Prideaux the Post-master had his cue to go high and feel the pulse of the House who spake to this purpose That Bedlem was appointed for mad men and Tophet for Kings That our Kings of late had carried themselves as if they were fit for no place but Bedlem That his humble motion should consist of three parts 1. To secure the King and keep Him close in some inland Castle with sure Guards 2. To draw up Articles of Impeachment against Him 3. To lay Him by and settle the Kingdome without Him He cared not what form of Government they set up so it were not by Kings and Devils Fretons Speech Then Commissary Ireton seeming to speak the sense 〈◊〉 the Army under the notion of many thousand godly men who had ventured their lives to subdue their enemies said after this manner The King had denied safety and protection to his people by denying their four Bills That subjection to him was but in lieu of his protection to his people This being denied they might well deny any more subjection to him and settle the Kingdom without him That it was now expected after so long patience they should shew their resolution and not desert those valiant men who had engaged for them beyond all possibility of retreat and would never forsake the Parliament unlesse the Parliament forsooke them first After some more debate
THE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCY WITH The Rise Growth and Practices of that powerfull and restlesse FACTION D us AMBROSIUS Nec nobis ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus nec vobis gloriosum est facere quod fecit Judas TACIT Scelera sceleribus tuenda VIRGILIUS sua cuique Deus fit dira libido 1 St. JOHN C. 2. V. 16. Quicquid est in mundo est concupiscentia oculorum concupiscentia carnis aut superbia vitae Printed in the yeare 1648. Reader GEntle or ungentle I write to all knowing that all have now got almost an equall share and interest in this Gallymaufry or Hotchpot which our Grandee Pseudo-politicians with their negative and demolishing Councells have made both of Church and Common-wealth and therefore I write in a mixed stile in which I dare say there are some things fit to hold the judgments of the Gravest some things fit to catch the fancies of the lightest and some things of a middle nature applying my self to all capacities as far as truth will permit because I fore-see the Catastrophe of this Tragedy is more likely to be consummated by maltitude of hands then wisdome of heads I have been a curious observer and a diligent inquirer after not only the actions but the Councels of these times and I here present the result of my endevours to thee In a time of mis-apprehensions it is good to avoid mistakings and therefore I advise thee not to apply what I say to the Parliament or Army in generall if any phrase that hath dropped from my pen in haste for this is a work of haste seem to look asquint upon them no it is the Grandees the Junto-men the Hocas-pocasses the State-Mountebanks with their Zanyes and Jack-puddings Committee-men Sequestrators Treasurers and Agitators under them that are here historified were the Parliament the major part whereof is in bondage to the minor part and their Janisaries and the Army freed from these usurping and engaged Grandees who betrayed the honour and Priviledges of Parliament and Army to their own lusts both would stand right and be serviceable to the setling of a firme lasting peace under the King upon our first principles Religion Laws and Liberties which are now so far laid by that whosoever will not joyne with the Grandees in subvetting them is tearmed a Malignant as heretofore he that would not adhere to the Parliament in supporting them was accounted so that the definition of a Malignant is turned the wrong side outward The body of the Parliament and Army in the midst of these distempers is yet healthy sound serviceable my endeavour is therefore to play the part of a friendly Phisician and preserve the body by purging peccant humours were the Army under Commanders and Officers of better principles who had not defiled their fingers with publick monies their consciences by complying with and cheating all Interests King Parliament People City and Scots for their owne private ends I should think that they carried the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon but clean contrary to the Image presented to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream the head and upper parts of this aggregate body are part of clay part of iron the lower parts of better mettle I cannot reform I can but admonish God must be both the Aesculapius and Prometheus and amend all and though we receive never so many denialls never so many repulses from him let us take heed how we vote even in the private corners of our hearts no Addresses no Applications to him Let us take heed of multiplying sins against God lest he permit our schismaticall Grandees to multiply Armies and forces upon us to war against Heaven as well as against our Religion Laws Liberties Properties upon Earth and keep us our Estates under the perpetual bondage of the Sword which hath been severall waies attempted in the Houses these two last weeks both for the raising and keeping of a new Army of 30000. or 40000. men in the seven Northern Associate Counties upon established pay besides this Army in the South and also for the raising of men in each County of England and all to be engrossed into the hands of his Excellency and such Commanders and Officers as he shall set over them and this work may chance be carried on by the Grandees of Derby-house and the Army if not prevented for the Generall notwithstanding this power was denied him in the House of Commons hath sent Warrants into most Counties to raise Horse and Foot yea to that basenesse of slavery hath our Generall and Army with their under-Tyrants the Grandees brought us that although themselves did heretofore set the rascallity of the Kingdome on worke especially the schismaticall party to clamour upon the Parliament with scandalous Petitions and make peremptory demands to the Houses destructive to the Religion Laws Liberties and Properties of the Land and the very foundation of Parliaments to which they extorted what Answers they pleased and got a generall Vote That it was the undoubted right of the Subject to petition and afterwards to acquiesce in the wisdome and justice of the two Houses Yet when upon 16. of May 1648. the whole County of Surrey in effect came in so civill a posture to deliver a Petition to the Houses that they were armed for the most part but with sticks in which Petition there is nothing contained which the Parliament is not bound to make good by their many Declarations and Remonstrances to the people or by the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy or Nationall Covenant or by the known Lawes of this Land Yet were they 1. Abused by the Souldiers of White-Hall as they passed by where some of them were pulled in and beaten 2. When those Gentlemen of quality that carried the Petition came to Westminster-Hall they found a Guard of Souldiers at the dore uncivilly opposing their entrance to make their addresse to the House 3. When they pressed into the Hall and got up to the Commons dore they were there reviled by the Guard 4. The multitude which stood in the new Palace because some of them did but whoop as others did who were purposely set on work as is conceived to mix with them and disorder them were suddenly surrounded with a strong party of Horse from the Mewes It is reported by some that Sir H. Mildmay Col. Purefoy and the Speaker doubting the House would give too good an Answer to their Petition sent for these Horse Foot and some more Companies of Foot from White-Hall who by the appointment of the Committee of Schismaticks at Derby-house were ready prepared for this designe and catched them as it were in a Toyle and with barbarous and schismaticall rage fell upon these naked un-armed Petitioners flew and wounded many without distinction telling them They were appointed to give an Answer to their Petition and they should have no other as indeed they had not though the Lieutenant Colonel that did all the mischief was called
into the House of Cōmons and had publick thanks given him at the Bar took many of them Prisoners and Plundred their Pockets Cloaks Hats Swords Horses and some of them even Gentlemen of as good quality as their Generall were stripped of their Doublets Those Gentlemen of quality who were in the Lobby before the Commons dore civilly expecting an Answer were abused and violently driven out by the Guard to take their fortune amongst the rabble what Tyrants ever in the world refused to hear the Petitions and grievances of their people before The most Tyrannical government of the world is that of Russia and John Vasilowich was the greatest Tyrant of that Nation yet shall this Tyrant rise up in judgment at the latter day against these monsters Behold what entertainment your Petitions shall have hereafter if publick peace be the end of their desires yet many Petitions ready drawne are sent up and downe in most Counties by Committee-men and Sequestrators to enforce men to give thanks for the foure Votes against the King And many Petitions from Schismaticks destructive to Religion Laws Liberties and Property have been obtruded upon the Houses and received encouragement and thanks because they tend to subvert the fundamentall government of Church and Common-wealth and cast all into the Chaos of confusion whereby the Grandees may have occasion to keep up this Army and perpetuate their Tiranny and our Burdens And from these Tumults of their own raising the Grandees pretend a necessity to keep this Army about this Town to watch advantages against it Cromwell having often said This Town must be brought to more absolute obedience or laid in the dust in order to which the Souldiers are now dis-arming the Country and then the City is next who being once dis-armed must prostitute their mony-bags to these fellows or be plundred Reader having spoken my sence to thee I leave thee to thy own sence submitting my self to as much charity as God hath endowed thee withall God that made all preserve and amend all This shall be the daily prayer of him that had rather die for his Country then share with these Godly Thieves in eating out the bowels of his Country and enriching himself with publike spoiles Faults escaped correct thus PAg. 1. lin 21. read their differenees p. 9. l. 23. r. hath been p. 15. l. 1. r. publike Proclamation ibid. l. 37. r. had to do to p. 16. l. 13. r. self-defence p. 17. marg l. 6. r. by whom p. 18. l. 20. r. Court of Request p. 29. l. 8. r. whereof you p. 49. l. 21. r. rock is p. 51. l. 21. r. friend into ib. l. 25. r. Presbyterian Commoners p. 53. l. 22. Peaces place p. 56. l. 32. r. Trained Band. p. 61. l. 22. r. promising to ib. l. 23. r. desiring the. p. 66. l. 1. r. instructions to stay ib. l. 24. r. Counties The History of INDEPENDENCY YOu have in The mystery of the two Juntoes The Preamble PRESBYTERIAN and INDEPENDENT presented to your view these two Factions as it were in a Cock-pit pecking at one another which rising originally from the two Houses and Synod have so much disturbed and dislocated in every joynt both Church and Common-wealth I must now set before you Independency Triumphant rouzing it self upon its Legs clapping its Wings and Crowing in the midst of the Pit with its enemy under its feet though not yet well resolved what use it can or may make of its victory But before I go any farther 1 1. What Independency is it is fit I tell you what Independency is It is Genus generalissimum of all Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Schismes A generall name and Title under which they are all united as Sampson's Foxes were by the Tailes and though they have severall opinions and fancies which make their vertiginous heads turne different waies yet profit and preferment being their tailes their last and ultimate end by which they are governed like a Ship by his Rudder and wherein they mutually correspond The rest of your differences being but circumstantiall are easily playster'd over with the untempered morter of Hypocrisie by their Rabbies of the Assembly and their Grandees of the two Houses and Army in whom they have an implicite faith As Mahomet's Alchoran was a Gallemaufry of Jew and Christian so are they a Composition of Jew Christian and Turk Independency is compounded of Iudaisme With the Jew they arrogate to be the peculiar people of God the Godly the Saints who onely have right unto the creatures and should possesse the good things of this world all others being Usurpers A Tenent so destructive to all humane society and civill government that by virtue thereof they may and doe by fraud or force Tax eate up with Free-quarter cousen and Plunder the whole Kingdome and account it but robbing the Aegyptians To this purpose they overthrow all the Judicatories Laws and Liberties of the Land and set up Arbitrary Committees and weather-cock Ordinances in their room made and unmade by their own over-powering Faction in Parliament at pleasure with the help and terrour of their Janisaries attending at their dores Christianisme With the Christians some of them but not all acknowledge the Scripture but so far onely as they will serve their turns to Pharisee themselves and Publican all the world besides men filled with spirituall pride meer Enthusiastiques of a speculative and high-flying Religion too high for Earth and too low for Heaven whereas a true and fruitfull Religion like Jacob's ladder Stat pede in terris caput inter nubila condit must have one end upon earth as well as the other in Heaven He that acknowledgeth the duties of the first Table to God and neglecteth the duties of the second Table to man is an Hypocrite both against God and man Turcisme With the Turke they subject all things even Religion Laws and Liberties so much cried up by them heretofore to the power of the sword ever since by undermining practises and lies they have jugled the States sword into the Independent scabbard 2 2. The E. of Essex and Si◠Will Waller undermined to let in the Independents The Earle of Essex Generall of all the Parliaments Forces a man though popular and honest yet stubbornly stout fitter for Action then Counsell and apter to get a Victory then improve it must be laid by and his Forces reduced The like for Sir William Waller and his Forces that Commanders of Independent Principles and interests with Souldiers sutable to them might by degrees be brought into their room to reap the harvest of those crops which they had sowen This was the ground-work of the Independent designe to Monopolize the power of the Sword into their own hands This could not be better effected then by dashing the Earle of Essex and Sir William Waller one against another for which purpose that hot-headed Schismatique Sir A. Haslerigge was imployed with Sir W. Waller and some others
whose Ashes I will spare with the E. of Essex to break them one upon another This was at last effected by taking advantage of their severall misfortunes the one at Listithyell in Cornwall the other at the Devises in Wiltsh where Hasterigge a man too ignorant to command and too insolent to obey not staying for the Foot who lay round about the Devises in a storming posture charged up a steep hill with his Horse only against the Lord Wilmot's Party one Division so far before another that the second Division could not relieve the first thereby freeing Sir Ralph Hopton from an assured overthrow and bestowing an unexpected Victory on the L. Wilmot he received a wound in his flight the smart whereof is still so powerfully imprinted in his memory that he abhors fighting ever since witnesse his praying and crying out of Gun-shot at the Battle of Cheriton when he should have fought and his complaint openly made in the House of Commons of the Earle of Stanford for Bastonadoing him Which rashnesse of his if it deserve not a worse name was so far from being discountenanced that he received not long after a gift of 6500l from the House and is lately made Governour of Newcastle and 3000l given him to repaire the Works there I shall not need the spirit of prophesie to foresee that the tenth part of the said 3000l will not be bestowed upon those Works Thus was he favoured by his party in the House who were thought to look upon this action as an acceptable service In farther progresse of this designe Manchester a Lord 3 3. The E. of Manchester undermined and therefore not to be confided in was undermined and accused by his Lieutenant Generall Cromwell of high Crimes whom he again recriminated with a Charge of as high a nature and when all men were high in expectation of the event it grew to be a drawn battle between them whereby all men concluded them both guilty Manchester was discarded Out of the ashes of these three arose that Phoenix forsooth a new modell'd Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax a Gentleman of an irrationall and brutish valour fitter to follow another mans counsell then his owne and obnoxious to Cromwell and the Independent faction upon whose bottome he stands for his preferment it being no dishonour to him to become the property to a powerfull Faction 4 4. The Victories of the new Modell how atchieved It pleased God to bestow many Victories upon this Army over the Kings Forces then strong in bulk but weakned by Factions want of Pay and other distractions whereby many of their Commanders not confiding in one another began to provide for their future safety and subsistence but above all they had generally lost the peoples affections To these their Victories the constant pay and supplies and all other helps and encouragements from a concurring State which their working and restlesse Faction carefully accommodated them withall far beyond what any other Army had formerly did much conduce in so much as they cleared the field and took in all the enemies Garrisons with so much facility that to many men they seemed rather Cauponantes bellum quà m belligerantes to Conquer with silver then with steel 5 5. Artifices to make Cromwell and his new Modell popular Thus this Faction having got a Generall fit for their turne and a Lieutenant Generall wholly theirs in Judgment and interest were diligent to make him famous and popular by casting upon him the honour of other mens Atchievements and valour The News-books taught to speak no language but Cromwell and his Party and were mute in such actions as he and they could claim no share in for which purpose the Presses were narrowly watched When any great exploit was half atchieved and the difficulties overcome Cromwell was sent to finish it and take the glory to himself all other men must be eclipsed that Cromwell the Knight of the Sun and Don Quixote of the Independents and his Party may shine the brighter 6 6. The new Modell new-modelled by degrees to put the Sword into the hands of Schismaticks And that Cromwell's Army might be sutable to himself and their Designes carried on without interruption or observation of such as are not of their Principles all the Sectaries of England are invited to be Reserves to this Army and all pretences of scandals and crimes laid hold of at their owne Councels of War to casheer and disband the Presbyterian party that Independents might be let into their rooms though such as for the most part never drew Sword before so that this Army which boasteth it self for the Deliverer nay the Conquerour of two Kingdoms is no more the same that fought at Nazeby then Sir Francis Drake's Ship that brought him home can be called the same Ship that carried him forth about the earth having been so often repaired and thereby suffered so many substractions and additions that hardly any part of the old Vessell remained It was therefore nominally and formally not really and materially the same The said Mystery of the two Junto's farther tells you that the Independent Junto bottomed all their hopes and interests upon keeping up this Army whereby to give the Law to King Kingdom Parliament and City and to establish that Chimaera called Liberty of Conscience That this was Cromwell's ambition formerly the Earle of Manchester's aforesaid Charge against Cromwell though let fall without prosecution lest so great a mystery should be discovered makes it probable and his later practises upon which I now fall makes it infallible The Houses long since for ease of the people in a full and free Parliament ordained the disbanding of this Army 7 7. The Army Voted to be Disbanded through Cromwell's craft onely 5000 Horse 1000 Dragoons and some few Fire-locks to be continued in pay for safety of this Kingdome and some of them to be sent for Ireland for which purpose they borrowed 200000l of the City being the same summe which disbanded the Scots and for the rest of their Arrears they were to have Debenters and security without all exceptions such tearms of advantage as no other disbanded Souldiers have had the like neither are these like to attain to again so that they have brought the Souldiers into a losse as well as into a labyrinth their continuing in Armes without nay against lawfull authority being a manifest act of Treason and Rebellion and so it is looked upon by the whole Kingdome nor can the Parliaments subsequent Ordinances which all men know to be extorted by force as hereafter shall appear help them To the passing of this Ordinance Cromwell's Protestations in the House with his hand upon his brest In the presence of Almighty God before whom he stood that he knew the Army would disband and lay downe their Armes at their dore whensoever they should command them conduced much This was malitiously done of Cromwell to set the Army at a
greater distance with the Presbyterian Party and bring them and the Independents Party neerer together he knew the Army abominated nothing more then Disbanding and returning to their old Trades and wduld hate the Authors thereof 8 8. Agitators raised by Cromwel 9 9. The beginning of the project to purge the Houses 10 10. The Army put into mutiny against the Parliament whereby Cromwell monopolizeth the Army And at the same time when he made these protests in the House he had his Agitators Spirits of his and his Son Ireton's conjuring up in the Army though since conjured downe by them without requitall to animate them against the major part of the House under the notion of Royallists a Malignant party and enemies to the Army to ingage them against Disbanding and going for Ireland and to make a Trayterous Comment upon the said Ordinance to demand an Act of indemnity and relie upon the advice of Judge Jenkins for the validity of it and to insist upon many other high demands some private as Souldiers some publick as States-men 11 11. Cromwell's Family in the Army Cromwell having thus by mutinying the Army against the Parliament made them his owne and monopolized them as he did formerly his Brew-house at Ely which he might easily do having before-hand filled most of the chief Offices in the Army with his owne kindred allyes and friends of whose numerous family Lieut. Col. Lilburne gives you a list in one of his Books he now flies to the Army doubting his practises discovered he might be imprisoned 12 12. Cromwell and Ireton usurp Offices in the Army where he and Ireton assuming Offices to themselves acted without Commission having not only been ousted by the self-denying Ordinance if it be of any power against the godly but also their severall Commissions being then expired and Sir Thomas Fairfax having no authority to make generall Officers as appears by his Commission if he make any account of it and therefore Sprigg alias Nathaniel Fines in his Legend or Romance of this Army called Anglia rediviva sets down two Letters sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Speaker William Lenthall one to desire Cromwell's continuance in the Army another of thanks for so long forbearing him from the House see Ang. Red. p. 10 11 29. which needed not had he been an Officer of the Army And now both of them bare-faced and openly joyne with the Army at Newmarket in trayterous Engagements Declarations Remonstrances and Manifesto's and Petitions penn'd by Cromwell himself were sent to some Counties to be subscribed against supposed Obstructers of Justice and Invaders of the Peoples Liberties in Parliament and the Army at Newmarket and Triplo heath prompted to cry Justice Justice against them and high and treasonable demands destructive to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament were publickly insisted upon many of which for quietnesse sake and out of compassion to bleeding Ireland were granted yet these restlesse spirits hurried on to farther designes made one impudent demand beget another and when by Letters and otherwise they had promised that if their then present demands were granted they would there stop and acquiesce yet when they seemed to have done they had not done but deluded and evaded all hopes of peace by mis-apprehensions and mis-constructions of the Parliaments concessions making the mis-interpretation of one grant the generation of another demand so that almost ever since the Parliament hath nothing else to do but encounter this Hydra and roll this stone Having thus debauched the Army 13 13. Securing Oxford and plundring the King from Holdenby he plotted in his own Chamber the securing the Garrisons Magazine and Traine of Artillery at Oxford and surprizing the Kings Person at Holdenby which by his instrument Coronet Joyce with a commanded Party of Horse he effected though afterwards having recourse to his usuall familiarity with Almighty God he used his name to protest his ignorance and innocence in that businesse both to the King and Parliament adding an execration upon his Wife and Children to his Protestation yet Joyce is so free from punishment that he is since preferred and his Arrears paid by their meanes And though both Houses required the Army to send his Royall Person to Richmond to be there left in the hands of the Parliaments Commissioners whereby both Kingdoms might freely make Addresses to Him for they had formerly excluded and abused the Scots Commissioners contrary to the Law of Nations and Votes of both Houses and yet then granted free accesse to the most desperate persons of the Kings Party yet they could obtaine no better answer from these rebellious Saints Manifesto of the Army 27. June 1647. then That they desired no place might be proposed for His Majesties residence neerer London then where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be This was according to their old threats of marching up to London frequently used when any thing went contrary to their desires They knew what dangerous and troublesome guests we should find them here How much is this Army degenerated since Cromwell and his demure white-livered Son-in-law Ireton poysoned their manners with new Principles Anglia Rediviva p. 247. tells us that about Woodstock private overtures were made by some from Court for receiving His Majesty who was minded to cast himself upon the Army but such was their faithfulnesse in that poynt that conceiving it derogatory to the honour and power of Parliament for His Majesty to wave that highest Court and addresse Himself to any others and therefore inconsistent with their trust and duty being Servants of the State they certified the Parliament thereof and understanding it to be against their sense also they absolutely refused to be tampered with Oh how faithfull then how perfidious and Cromwellized are they now let their frequent tampering with the King and His Party to the amazement of the Kingdome and the abusing of the King testifie Read Putney Projects written by a considerable Officer of the Army and a friend to Cromwell though not to his false practises 14 14. Their project to keep the Parliament in wardship 15 15. Purging the Houses again 16 16. Accusing the 11 Members Having thus gotten the King the first and most visible legall authority of England into their possession their next designe is to get the Parliament the second legall authority of England into their power This could not be effected but by purging the two Houses of Presbyterian Members especially the most active and such as had laboured their Disbanding that an Independent Parliament and Army might govern the Kingdome In order to which designe they sent to the House of Commons in the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army a generall and confused Charge of High Treasons and other mis-demeanors against eleven Members for things done for the most part in the House and many of the principall such as the House had long before
into a dull sleep now was his time to pick a quarrell with the City that what he could not obtain by fair means he might effect by foule To make them desert and divide from the Parliament And leave it to be modelled according to the discretion of the Souldiery He could not think it agreeable to policy that this City which had slaine his Compeere and fellow Prince Wat Tyler the Idoll of the Commons in Rich. 2. time and routed his followers four times as many in number as his Army should be trusted with their own Militia The City being now far greater more populous and powerfull then in his dayes In a full and free Parliament upon mature debate both Houses by Ordinance dated 4 May 1647. had established the Militia of the City of London for a year in the hands of such Citizens as by their Authority approbation were nominated by the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell and though the Army had recruited it self without Authority and had got themselves invested with the whole power of all the Land forces of the Kingdome in pay of the Parliament so that there was nothing left that could be formidable to them but their own crimes and that it was expected they should goe roundly to work upon those publick remedies they had so often held forth to the people in their popular printed Papers yet the Army contrary to what they promised to the City in their Letter 10. June and their Declaration or Representation 14. June 1647. That they would not goe beyond their desires at that time expressed and for other particulars would acquiesce in the justice and wisdome of the Parliament behold their modesty by a Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army See the Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Army pag 8 9. with unresistible boldnesse demand the Militia of the City of London to be returned into other hands without acquainting the City or their Commissioners then resident in the Army to keep a good correspondency with them therewith Upon which letter alone the House of Commons being very thin many Members driven away by menaces upon July 22. Voted the repealing the said Vote of 4 May and a new Ordinance for reviving the old Militia presently passed and transmitted to the Lords the same day about seven of the clock at night and there presently passed without debate though moved by some to be put off untill the City whose safety and priviledges it highly concerned were heard what they could say to it Observe that neither by the said paper from the Army nor by any man in the two Houses any thing was objected against any of the new Militia And indeed formerly the Parliament never made choice of enlarged or changed the City Militia but they were still pleased first to communicate the same to the Common Councell A respect justly shewed to that City which had been such good friends to them But of late since the Parliament have shifted their old Principles and Interests they have learned to lay by their old friends The pretence for this hasty passing the Ordinance was to prevent the Armies so much threatned March to London if the Houses refused to passe it and the Cities opposition if not passed before their notice of it But the reall designe was to strike a discontent and jealousie into the City thereby to force them to some act of self-defence which might give a colour to the Army to march up against them and their friends in the Houses The unexpected news of this changing their Militia 24 24. The City troubled at the change of their Militia caused the City June 24. being Saturday to meet in Common Councell where for some reasons already expressed and because the repealing this Ordinance upon no other grounds then the Armies imperious desires might justly be suspected to shake all other Ordinances for security of mony sale of Bishops lands I appeal to Colonel Harvy whether this did not fright him by making them repealable at the Armies pleasure they resolved to petition the Houses upon munday morning following being 26. July which they did by the Sheriffs and some Common Councell men 25 25. The City petition the Houses for their Militia again 26 26. The Tumult of Apprentices 26. July But so it hapned that about one thousand Apprentices wholly unarmed came down two or three howers after with another Petition of their own to the Houses Therein claiming that to order the City Militia was the Cities Birth-right belonging to them by Charters confirmed in Parliaments for defence whereof they had adventured their lives as far as the Army And desired the Militia might be put again into the same hands in which it was put with the Cities consent by Ordinance May 4. Upon reading these Petitions the Lords were pleased to revoke the Ordinance of July 23. and revive that of May the 4. by a new Ordinance of July 26. which they presently sent downe to the Commons for their consents where some of the Apprentices presuming they might have as great an Influence upon the House to obtain their due as the Army in pay of the Parl had to obtain more then their due in a childish heat were over-clamorous to have the Ordinance passed refusing to let some Members passe out of the House or come forth into the Lobby when they were to divide upon the question about it so ignorant were they of the customs of the House which at last passed in the Affirmative about three of the clock afternoon and then most of the Apprentices departed quietly into the City After which 27 27. The Tumult of Apprentices ceased but artificially continued by Sectaries some disorderly persons very few of them Apprentices were drawn together and instigated by divers Sectaries and friends of the Army who mingled with them amongst whom one Highland was observed to be all that day very active who afterwards 26. Sept. delivered a Petition to the House against those Members that sate and was an Informer and Witness examined about the said Tumult gathered about the Commons dore and grew very outragious compelling the Speaker to return to the Chaire after he had adjourned the House and there kept the Members in untill they had passed a Vote That the King should come to London to Treat This was cunningly and premeditately contrived to encrease the scandall upon the City yet when the Common Councell of London heard of this disorder as they were then sitting they presently sent down the Sheriffs to their rescue with such strength as they could get ready their Militia being then unsetled by the contradicting Ordinances of the Parliament who at last pacified the Tumult and sent the Speaker safe home which was as much as they could do in this intervall of their Militia being the Houses own Act. The Lords adjourned untill the next Friday the Commons but untill the next day Tuesday
morning the Commons sate againe quietly and after some debate adjourned untill Friday next because the Lords had done so 28 28. The Speaker of the Commons complained of a report that he meant to flie to the Army yet ran away to the Army The next day being Wednesday the monthly Fast the Speaker and Members met in Westminster Church where the Speaker complained in some passion to Sir Ralph Ashton and other Members of a scandalous report raised on him in the City as if he intended to desert the House and flie to the Army saying he scorned to do such a base unjust dishonourable act but would rather die in his House and Chaire which being spoken in a time and place of so much reverence and devotion makes many think his secret retreat to the Army the very next day proceeded not so much from his own judgment as from some strong threats from Cromwell and Ireton who were the chief contrivers of this desperate plot to divide the City and Houses and bring up the Army to enthrall them both That if he did not comply with their desires they would cause the Army to impeach him for cousening the State of many vast sums of mony And truly I remember I have seen an intercepted Letter sent about the time of his flight from the Army to William Lenthall Speaker 29 29. The City proclaim against Tumults without any name subscribed to it only the two last lines were of John Rushworth's hand earnestly importuning him to retire to the Army with his friends On Thursday morning early the newly renewed Militia of London made publike protestation throughout the City and Suburbs and set up printed Tickets at Westminster That if any persons should disturb either of the two Houses or their Members the Guards should apprehend them and if resistance were made kill them yet notwithstanding the Speaker and his party carrying the causes of their fear in their own consciences in the evening of that day secretly stole away to Windsor to the Head quarters Upon Friday morning at least 140. 30 30. The Houses appeare the Speakers being at the Army of the Members assembled in the House they that fled being about 40. whither the Sergeant coming without his mace being asked where the Speaker was answered he knew not well that he had not seen him that morning and was told he went a little way out of Town last night but said he expected his return to the House this morning after that being more strictly questioned about the Speaker he withdrew himself and would not be found till the House after four howrs expectation and sending some of their Members to the Speakers house who brought word from his servants 31 31. New Speakers chosen that they conceived he was gone to the Army had chosen a new Speaker Mr. Henry Pelham and a new Sergeant who procured another mace The like mutatis mutandis was done by the Lords to prevent discontinuance and fayler of the Parliament for want of Speakers to adjourne and continue it and take away all scruples As for the Petition and Engagement of the City so much aggravated by the Independent party it was directed to the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councell from divers Citizens 32 32. Petition and engagement of the City Commanders and Souldiers and was occasioned by some intelligence they had that the Army would demand an alteration of the City Militia in order to a designe they had against the City It was only intended to the Common Hall but never presented as the Souldiers Petition was to their Generall which being taken notice of by the Parliament as it was in agitation was so much resented by the Souldiery as to put themselves into the posture they are now in as Lieut. Col. Lilburne sayes in one of his Books to act no longer by their Commissions but by the principles of nature and self-defence Nor did the said engagement contain any thing but resolutions of self-defence in relation to the City so that we cannot see what the Army had to declare their sense upon it in their Letter 23. July and so put a prejudice upon it in the Houses I have insisted the more particularly upon this Grand Imposture as being the anvile upon which they hammered most of their subsequent designes violencies and illegall accusations 33 33. Votes passed after new Speakers chosen The new Speakers chosen the two Houses proceeded to vote and act as a Parliament And first the House of Commons voted in the eleven impeached Members next they revive and set up again the Committee of Safety by Ordinance of both Houses enabling them to joyne with the Committee of the restored City Militia giving power by severall Ordinances to them to List and Raise Forces appoint Commanders and Officers Issue forth Armes and Ammunition for defence of both Houses and the City against all that should invade them Which votes and preparations for their safe defence warranted by the same law of nature as the Armies papers affirm were not passed nor put in execution untill the Army every day recruited contrary to the Houses Orders were drawing towards London and had with much scorn disobeyed the Votes and Letter of both Houses prohibiting them to come within thirty miles of London 34 34. Members emgagement with the Army The Army to countenance their Rebellion draw the two Speakers and fugitive Members to sit in consultation and passe Votes promiscuously with the Councell of War in the nature of a Parliament and to signe an Engagement dat 4. August to live and die with Sir Tho Fairfax and the Army under his command affirming therein that generally throughout their sense agreeth with the Declaration of Sir Tho Fairfax and his Councell of War shewing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of London In which Declaration the Councell of the Army take upon them To be supream Judges over the Parliament Telling you who of the two Houses they hold for persons in whom the publike trust of the Kingdome remaineth and by whose advice they mean to govern themselves in managing the weighty affairs of the Kingdome They declare against the late choice of a new Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster and that as things now stand there is no free nor legall Parliament sitting being through the violence 29. July suspended That the Orders and Votes c. passed 26 July last and all such as shall passe in this Assembly of some few Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto Behold here not only a power without the Parliament Houses judging of the very essence of a Parliament and the validity of their resolutions but usurping to themselves a Negative voice which they deny to the King and yet a Schismaticall faction in the two Houses complying with them and betraying and prostituting the very being honour and all the fundamentall Rights and Priviledges of
his own house was there seized upon and carryed Prisoner into the Army All these acts of terror were but so many Scar-crowes set up to fright more Presbyterians from the Houses and make the Army masters of their Votes 38 38. Proceedings of both Houses under the power of the Army I must in the next place fall upon the proceedings in both Houses acted under the power and influence of this all-inslaving all-devonring Army and their engaged party To attaine the knowledge whereof I have used my utmost industry and interest with many my neere friends and kinsmen sitting within those walls heretofore when Kings not Brewers and Draymen were in power the walls of publique liberty 39 39. Ordinance to null and voide all Acts passed in absence of the two renegado Speakers The Lords that sate in absence of the two Speakers all but the Earle of Pembroke whose easie disposition made him fit for all companies found it their safest course to forbeare the House leaving it to be possessed by those few Lords that went to and engaged with the Army which engaged Lords sent to the Commons for their concurrence to an Ordinance To make all Acts Orders and Ordinances passed from the 26 July when the tumult was upon the Houses to the 6. of August following being the day of the fugitive Members returne void and null ab initio This was five or six severall dayes severally and fully debated as often put to the Question and carryed in the Negative every time yet the Lords still renewed the same Message to them beating back their Votes into their throats and would not acquiesce but upon every denyall put them againe to roll the same stone contrary to the priviledges of the Commons 40 40. Menaces used by the engaged party in the House The chief Arguments used by the engaged party were all grounded upon the Common places of feare and necessity M. Solicitor threatning if they did not concur the Lords were resolved to vindicate the Honour of their House and sit no more they must have recourse to the power of the sword the longest sword take all That they were all engaged to live and die with the Army They should have a sad time of it Hasterig used the like language farther saying Some heads must fly off and he feared the Parliament of England would not save the Kingdome of England they must look another way for safety They could not satisfie the Army but by declaring all void ab initio and the Lords were so far engaged that no middle way would serve To this was answered that this was an Appeal from the Parliament to the Army And when these and many more threats of as high nature were complained of as destructive to the liberty and being of Parliaments the Speaker would take no notice of it Sir Henry Vane junior Sir John Evelin junior Prydeaux Gourdon Mildmay Tho Scott Cornel Holland and many more used the like threats Upon the last negative being the fift or sixth the Speaker perceiving greater enforcements must be used pulled a Letter out of his pocket from the Generall and Generall Councel of the Army 41 41. A threatning Remonstrance from the Army to the House for that was now their style pretending he then received it But it was conceived he received it over night with directions to conceal it if the Question had passed in the Affirmative It was accompanyed with a Remonstrance full of villanous language and threats against those Members that sate while the two Speakers were with the Army calling them pretended Members Charging them in generall with Treason Treachery and breach of Trust And protested if they shall presume to sit before they have cleared themselves that they did not give their assents to such and such Votes they should sit at their perill and he would take them as Prisoners of Warre and try them at a Councell of Warre What King of England ever offered so great a violence to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament as to deny them the Liberty of Voting I and No freely Certainly the little finger of a Jack Cade or a Wat Tyler is far heavier then the loynes of any King Many Members were amazed at this Letter and it was moved That the Speaker should Command all the Members to meet at the House the next day and should declare That they should be secured from danger And that it might be Ordered that no more but the ordinary Guardes should attend the House But these two motions were violently opposed with vollies of threats by the aforesaid parties and others And after more then two houres debate the Speaker refused to put any question upon them or any of them and so adjourned to the next morning leaving the Presbyterian Members to meet at their Perill The next day being Friday the 20 Aug. there was a very thin Assembly in the House of Commons the House having with so much violence denyed protection to their Members the day before made most of the Presbyterian party absent Some went over to the Independent party others fate mute At last a Committee was appointed presently to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation which was suddainly done and passed and is now Printed at the latter end of the said menacing Remonstrance of the Army a Childe fit to waite upon such a Mother 42 42. Debate in passing the Ordinance of null and voide Thus was this Ordinance of null and voyde gotten which hath been the cause of so much danger and trouble to Multitudes of people by the Lords reiterated breaches upon the Priviledges of the House of Commons The engaged parties threats within doores The Armies thundring Letters and Remonstrance Their Guardes upon their doores and a Regiment or two of Horse in Hide Parke ready to make impressions upon the House in case things had not gone to their mindes diverse of whose Commanders walking in the Hall enquired often how things went protesting they would pull them forth by the Eares if they did not give speedy satisfaction Thus for the manner of passing that Ordinance the matter of Argument used against it was as far as I can hear to the purpose following It was alledged that the force upon Munday 26 July ended that day that the next day being Tuesday the House met quietly and adjourned That upon Friday following the Houses fate quietly all day and gave their Votes freely and so forward the City having sufficiently provided for their security That this tranfient force upon Munday could have no influence on the Houses for the time to come That the Supream power of no Nation can avoide their owne acts by pretended force This would make the common People the Jurors and Judges to question all acts done in Parliament since one man can and may judge of force as well as another This were to being the Records of the House into dispute Magna Charta was never gotten nor confirmed but by force force was
impeached hereafter Sir John Maynard the same day was called to Answer Against Sir John Maynard He desired a Copy of his Charge with leave to Answer in writing by advice of Councell as the 11 Members formerly did To examine witnesses on his part and crosse examine their witnesses But these requests were denye◠and he Commanded to answer ex tempore He gave no particular Answer but denyed all in generall as Col Pride whom he cited for his President had formerly done at their Barre He was adjudged to be discharged the House committed to the Tower and farther impeached The like for Commissary Generall Copley whose case differed little The 8 of Sept. the Earl of Suffolke Lincolne Middlesex Against the 7 Lords the Lords Barkley Willoughby Hunsdon and Maynard were impeached of High Treason in the name of the Commons of England for levying war against the King Parliament and Kingdom The Earle of Pembroke then sent to Hampton-Court with the Propositions on purpose to avoid the storm was omitted untill Wednesday following and so had the favour to be thought not worth remembring Sir John Evelyn the younger sent up to the Lords with the Impeachment and a desire they might be committed They were committed to the Black Rodde And so the engaged Lords had their House to themselves according to their desires 50 50. Schismaticall Petitions The 14. Sept. a Petition from divers Schismaticks in Essex came to the Houses bearing this Title To the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled distinct from those Lords and Commons that sate in absence of the two Speakers 16. Sept. a Petition from divers Sectaries of Oxfordsh Bucks Berkesh was delivered the House against diverse Members sitting in the House enemies to God and Godlinesse enemies to the Kingdome c. Vsurpers of Parliamentary Authority who endeavoured to bring in the King upon His owne Tearmes They desired a free Parliament and that according to the desires of the Army those that sate when the Parliament was suspended in absence of the two Speakers might be removed there was a clause against Tythes c. in it Such another Petition came but the day before from Southwarke These Petitions were all penned by the engaged party of the Houses and Army and sent abroad by Agitators to get subscriptions The ayme of these Petitions The designe was to put the two parties in the House into heights one against another to make the lesser party in the House viz. the engaged party but 59 to expell the greater party being above 140. whereby the House might be low and base in the opinion of the people and no Parliament and so leave all to the power of the Sword The Army daily recruiting and thereby giving hopes to all loose people that the Army should be their common Receptacle as the Sea is the common Receptacle of all waters because those who had no hope to be Members of Parliament might become Members of this Army Besides their plausible way of prompting the people to petition against Tythes Enclosures and Copy hold fines uncertain was to encourage them to side with the Army against all the Nobility Gentry and Clergy of the hand from whom the Army did most fear an opposition and to destroy Monarchy it self since it is impossible for any Prince to be a King only of Beggers Tinkers and Coblers But these interloping discourses omitted let us again return to these prodigious Impeachments Against the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens The next in order comes in the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens with whom short work was made Impeachments were sent up to the Lords against them and they sent to the Tower upon a bare report of the Inquisitor Generall Corbet and the reading of some depositions the Witnesses names for the most part concealed and none of them so much as called to the Cōmons Bar to see what they could say for themselves Contrary to Magna Charta 29. chap. and contrary to 28 Edw. 3. enacting that no man shall be put out of his Land c. nor taken nor Imprisoned c. nor put to death c. without being brought to answer by due processe of Law That is according to the Stat. 42 Edw. 3. ch 3. That no man be brought to answer without presentment before Justices or matter of Record or by due process or writ originall according to the old Law of the Land not according to new invented Articles of impeachment but according to those Laws that were well known and old in Edw. 3. time see Stat. 37 Edw. 3. 1 Edw. 6. ch 12. 6 Edw. 6. ch 11. and the Stat. 25 Ed. 3. saith no man shall be taken by Petition or sugestion made to the King or his Councell c. and the House of Peers is no more but the Kings Councell as anon I shall make evident It was moved by divers that these Gent 51 51. Arguments against impeachments before the Lords might be Tried according to Law at the Kings Bench by a Jury of twelve men de vicineto their Peers and equalls to judge of matter of fact alleaging that the Common Law was the Birthright of all the free people of England which was one of the three Principles for which the Parl so often declared in print that they fought and for defence wherof they had entred into a Covenant with their hands lifted up to God the other two principles were Religion and Liberties 1. The Lords were not Peers to the Commoners At the Common Law they shall have sworn Judges for matter of Law of whom they may aske questions in doubtfull poynts nor can they be Judges in their own cases 2. They have sworn Jurors of the neighbourhood for matters of fact whom they may challenge 3. The known Laws and Statutes for rules to judge by which in case of Treason is the Stat. 25 Edw. 3. you cannot Vote nor declare a new Treason And if you could to do it ex post facto is contrary to all rules of justice The Apostle saith Sin is a breach of a Commandement or Law I had not known sin but by the Law the Law therefore most go before the Sin 4. At the Common Law They have Witnesses openly and newly examined upon oath before the Accused's face who may except against them and cross examine them 5. Even in Star Chamber and Chauncery where only hearings are upon Testimonies the Examiners are sworn Officers 6. A man hath but one Tryall and Judgment upon one accusation so that he knows when he hath satisfied the Law In this way of proceeding all these necessary legalities are laid by and these Gentlemen have not so much fair play for their Lives and Estates as Naboth had for his Vineyard he had all the formalities of the law yea he had law it self yet he had not justice because they were the sons of Belial that were set before him what shall we conceive these Witnesses are that do not appear nay
when the House was ready for the question Cromwell brought up the Reare Cromwell's Speech And giving an ample character of the valour good affections and godlinesse of the Army argued That it was now expected the Parliament should govern and defend the Kingdome by their own power and resolutions and not teach the people any longer to expect safety and government from an obstinate man whose heart God had hardned That those men who had defended the Parliament from so many dangers with the expence of their bloud would defend them herein with fidelity and courage against all opposition Teach them not by neglecting your owne and the Kingdoms safety in which their owne is involved to think themselves betrayed and left hereafter to the rage and malice of an irreconcilable enemy whom they have subdued for your sake and therefore are likely to find his future government of them insupportable and fuller of revenge then justice lest despair teach them to seek their safety by some other means then adhering to you who will not stick to your selves And how destructive such a resolution in them will be to you all I tremble to think and leave you to judge Observe he laid his hand upon his Sword at the latter end of his Speech that Sword which being by his side could not keep him from trembling when Sir Philip Stapleton baffled him in the House of Commons This concluding Speech having something of menace in it was thought very prevalent with the House 66 66. The four Bills for no addresses nor applications passed The first of the foure Questions being put That the two Houses should make no more addresses nor applications to the King The House of Commons was divided 141. yeas 91. noes so it was carried in the affirmative The other three Votes followed these votes with facility see them in print 67 67. The Committee of Sâ—fety revived and enlarged The Members had been locked into the House of Commons from before nine of the clock in the morning to seven at night and then the dores were unlocked and what Members would suffered to go forth whereby many Presbyterians thinking the House had been upon rising departed when presently the House being grown thin the Vote to revive the Committee of both Kingdoms called the Committee of Safety at Darby House passed by Ordinance dated 3. Janu. 1647. in these words Resolved c. That the powers formerly granted by both Houses to the Committee of both Kingdomes viz. England and Scotland in relation to the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland be now granted and vested in the Members of both Houses only that are of that Committee with power to them alone to put the same in execution The originall Ordinance that first erected this Committee and to which this said Ordinance relates beareth date 7. Feb. 1643. in which the English Committees were appointed from time to time to propound to the Scottish Commissioners whatsoever they should receive in charge from both Houses and to make report to both Houses to direct the managing of the War and to keep good correspondency with forain States and to receive directions from time to time from both Houses and to continue for three moneths and no longer The Members of this Committee are now The Earl of Northumberland Ro. Earl of Warwick The E. of Kent Edw Earl of Manchester Will. Lord Say Seâ—â— Phil. L. Wharton John Lord Roberts Will. Pierre poynt Sir Henry Vane sen Sir Gilbert Gerrarde Sir Will. Armine Sir Arthur Hasterig Sir Hen. Vanc Iun. John Crew Rob. Wallope Oliver St. Johns Sol. Oliver Cromwell Samu. Browne Nath. Fiennes Sir John Eveline Iunior But this Ordinance 3 Janu. 1647. vests the said powers in the Members thereof only and alone words excluding the two Houses and for a time indefinite There were then added to this Committee Nathaniel Fiennes in place of Sir Phil. Stapleton Sir John Evelin Junior in place of Mr. Recorder and the Earl of Kent in stead of the Earl of Essex 22. Janu. following the Lords sent down a Message for a farther power to this Committee which was granted in these words Power to suppresse Tumults and Insurrections in England c. and at Barwick and for that purpose the Committee to have power to give orders and directions to all the Militia and forces of the Kingdome The addition of four Lords and eight Commoners likewise to this Committee was desired but denyed 68 68. White-Hall and the Mewes Garrisoned Friday 14 Janu. after a long debate it was ordered that Sir Lewis Dives Sir John Stowell and David Jenkins be tryed as Traitors at the Kings Bench the Grand Jury had found the Bill against Jenkins Master Solicitor c. appointed to manage the businesse * but Jenkins is so great a Lawyer See Iudge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of Par. 21. Feb. 1647. that the Solicitor durst not venture upon him the long sword being more powerfull in his mouth then the Law wherefore the Solicitor found an Errour in the Indictment turned him back againe upon the House to be impeached before the Lords to whose Jurisdiction he pleaded so the Solicitor put the affront from himself upon the Houses It was now 12. of the clock and many of the Independent party began to cry Rise rise The Presbyterians thinking all had been done many went to dinner yet the Independents sate still and finding the House for their turne moved That a Letter might be forthwith sent to Sir Tho Fairfax to send a convenient number to Garrison White-Hall and a party of Horse to quarter in the Mewes The Lords concurrence was not desired to this Vote but the Letters immediately drawn and sent Observe that before this Vote passed diverse forces were upon their March towards the Towne and came to White-Hall Saterday following by eight of the Clock in the morning Saterday 15. Janu. 69 69. The Armies Declaration thanking the Commons for their 4 Votes The Army sent a Declaration to the House of Commons Thanking them for their 4 Votes against the King and promising to live and die with the Commons in defence of them against all opponents Many of the Lords had argued very hotly against the said 4 Votes insomuch that it was ten Lords to ten but this engagement of the Army 70 70. The Lords passe the 4 Votes and the unexpected garrisoning of White-Hall and the Mewes turned the scales so that they passed the said 4 Votes only adding a short preamble little to the purpose holding forth some reasons for passing them to which the Commons when they came down assented When presently about 12. of the clock the House being thin Dennis Bond moved That whosoever should act against those 4 Votes or incite others to act against them should be imprisoned and sequestred Three or four dayes after the Lords had passed the said 4 Votes 71 71. The Army thanks the Lords the Army vouchsafed
Tyrant was ever so barbarous so indiscreet as to do the like It was moved that Offendors of this kind might be bound to the good Behaviour and the offence proved openly at the Assizes or Sessions before so destructive a punishment be inflicted There are three principles in law of which the Laws are very tender and will not suffer them to be touched but upon great offences cleer proofs and exact formalities observed life liberty and estate by Magna Charta the Petition of Right and many other Statutes these principles are so sacred that nothing but the Law can meddle with them Nemo imprisonetur aut disseisietur nisi per legale judicium parium suorum you have made the people shed their money and bloud abundantly pretending defence of Religion Laws and Liberties let them now at last being a time of peace enjoy what they have so dearly paid for and delay them not with a pretended necessity of your owne making you now make all that is or can be neer and deer to them lyable to the passions of three Committee men to judge and execute according to their discretion without Law or so much as a formality thereof And yet both Houses of Parliament have often heretofore offered to abolish those Committees as men whose wickednesse and folly they and the whole Kingdome were ashamed of The Grandees of the Parliament and Army when the Houses are called and full have resolved to draw their Forces nearer about the Towne and by that terrour to try the temper of the Houses such Members as will not comply with them they will with fresh Charges purge out of the Houses and publish base and infamous scandalls against them to which if they submit with silence they betray their reputations for ever and spare the credits of their jugling enemies If they make any defence for their honours by way of apology they shall be brought within the compasse of this devouring enslaving Ordinance as men that reproach the Parliament and their proceedings Thus the same whip shall hang over the shoulders of the Presbyterian party who wil not agree to King-deposing Anarchy Schism as it did formerly over the Kings party And the Presbyterians shall be squeezed into the Independents coffers as formerly the King's party were so long as they had any thing to lose for the whole earth is little enough for these Saints who are never satisfied with money and bloud although they never looke towards Heaven but through the spectacles of this world The old elogium and character of the English Nation was that they were Hilaris gens cui libera mens libera lingua But now Country-men your tongues are in the stocks your bodies in every gaole your souls in the darke and estates in the mercy of those that have no mercy and at the discretion of those that have no discretion Farewell English Liberty 90 90. Generall Conclusions Out of these Premises I shall draw these Conclusions following 1 1. The Grandees have subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome and why 1. THe engaged Party have laid the Axe to the very root of Monarchy and Parliaments they have cast all the mysteries and secrets of Government both by Kings and Parliaments before the vulgar like pearle before swine and have taught both the Souldiery and people to looke so far into them as to ravell back all Governments to the first principles of nature he that shakes fundamentalls means to take down the fabrick Nor have they been carefull to save the materialls for posterity What these negative Statists will set up in the room of these ruined buildings doth not appeare only I will say they have made the people thereby so curâ—â—us and so arrogant that they wil never find humility enough to submit to a Civill rule their ayme therefore from the beginning was to rule them by the power of the Sword a military Aristocracie or Olgarchy as now they do Amongst the aincient Romans Tentare Arcana Imperii to profane the mysteries of State was Treason because there can be no forme of Government without its proper mysteries which are no longer mysteries then while they are concealed Ignorance and admiration arising from Ignorance are the parents of civil devotion and obedience though not of Theologicall 2 2. They have subverted the Church 2. Nor have these Grandees and their party in the Synode dealt more kindly with the Church then with the Common-wealth whose reverend Mysteries their Pulpits and holy Sacraments and all the functions of the Ministery are by their connivence prophaned by the clouted shooe the basest and lowest of the people making themselves Priests and with a blind distempered zeal Preaching such Doctrine as their private Spirits spirits of illusion dictate to them But let them know that their burning zeal without knowledge is like hell-fire without light Yet the greatest wonder of all is The Sacrament of the Lords Supper discontinued and why That they suffer the Lords Supper that Sacrament of Corroboration to be so much neglected in almost all the Churches in the Kingdome Is it because men usually before they receive our Saviour that blessed guest sweep the house cleane casting out of their hearts those living Temples of the holy Ghost Pride Ambition Covetousnesse Envy Hatred Malice and all other unclean Spirits to make fit roome to entertaine Jesus that prince of peace whereby the people having their mindes prepared for Peace Charity and Reconciliation may happily spoile the trade of our Grandees who can no longer maintaine their usurped dominion over them then they can keep them disunited with quarrels and feudes and uphold those Badges of factions and tearmes of distinction and separation Cavaleers Round-heades Malignants Well-affected Presbyterians and Indedendents or is it because they fear if the Church were setled in peace unity it would be a means to unite the Common-wealth as a quiet cheerfull minde often cureth a distempered body I will not take upon me to judge another mans servant but many suspect this is done out of designe not out of peevishnesse 3. That these Grandees governe by power 3 3. The Grandees rule by the arbytrary power of the Sword not by the Lawes not by loâ—â— and the the Lawes of the Land which was my last assertion appears by 1. The many Garrisons they keep up and numerous Army they keep in pay to over-power the whole Kingdome more then at first the Parliament Voted 2. Their compelling the Parliament to put the whole Militia of England and Jreland by Land Sea into the power of Sir Tho Fairfax and their party 3. Nor do they think the Laws of the Land extensive enough for their purposes therefore they piece them out with Arbitrary Ordinances Impeachments before the Lords and Marshall Law which is now grown to that height that the Councell of War Generall and judge Advocate of the Army doe usually send forth instructions to stay suites and release
judgements at Law or else to attend the Councell of Warre wheresoever they sit to shew cause to the contrary And when Lieut. Colonell Lylborne was ordered to be brought to the Kings Bench-Barre upon his habeas Corpus Easter Terme 1648. Cromwell sent word to the Lieutenant of the Tower not to bring him and Cromwell was obeyed not the Judges Thus the Laws of the Land are daily baffled that men may be accustomed to Arbitrary Government and those actions which no Law of the Land calls a crime may be interpreted Treason when our Grandees please to have it so 4. Their allowing Mony to some Committees to reward Informers Spies Intelligencers to betray even their nearest friends relations 5. Their holding Honest Generous and Grave men in suspicion and making the Houses of Parliament and Army snares to them expelling them with false and extrajudiciall Accusations 6. Their owning dishonest base minded men that have cheated the State as instruments fit to be confided in and associate with them in time of danger 7. Their impoverishing the people with confused Taxes decay of Trade and obstructing of the mint and thereby breaking their spirits 8. Their changing and dividing the Militia of London purposely to weaken it 9. Their not restoring to the Countries their Militia and trusting them to defend their owne houses as formerly 10. Their nourishing factions in the Common-wealth Schismes in the Câ—â—â—ch 11. Expelling learned Divines to let in ignorant men All these are Tyrannicall policies grounded upon the old principle That a Tyrant should deprive His Subjects of all things that may nourish courage strength knowledge mutuall confidence and charity amongst them which Maxime the best Politicians say containes the whole Systeme or method of Tyrannicall Government 4 4. The Independents divide the Taxes Spo les Preferments of the Land between them 4. As this encroaching faction have usurped all the Military and Civill power of both Kingdomes so they have Monopolized all the great Offices Rich imployments and Treasure of the Land They are cleerly the predominant party in all money Committees They give daily to one another for pretended Services Aâ—â—ars and loosses great summes of money many of their largisses I have already set down They gave lately to Colonel Hammond Governour of the Isle of Wight for his Table 20l. a week 1000l in money and 500l a year land to Major Gen. Skippon 1000l per annuÌ„ land of Inheritance to Col. Mitton 5000l mony All the cheating covetous ambitious persons of the land are united together under the name and title of The Godly the Saints c. and share the fat of the land between them few of them pay any Taxes but all the Land paies Tribute to them It is thought this Faction their under-Agents and Factors have cost this Common-wealth above 20 millions never laid forth in any publike service Nay the Treasurers and Publicans of this Faction have clipped and washed most of the mony that comes into their fingers before they pay it forth knowing that any mony that comes out of their fingers will be accepted two Gold-smiths are thought to be dealers this way yet they lay the blame on the Scottish Army as the Cuckow laies her brood in other nests 5. Having thus imped their wings for flight 5 5. The Independents provided of Places of retreat to flie to they have provided themselves of places of retreat in case they cannot make good their standing in England Ireland is kept unprovided for that they may find roome in it when necessity drives them thither If their hopes faile in Ireland they have New-England Bermudas Barbadas the Carybi Isles the Isle of Providence Eleutheria Lygonia and other places to retreat to and lay up the spoiles of England in nay they usually send chests and vessels with mony plate and goods beyond Sea with Passes from the two Speakers To let them passe without searching the Navy is in their power to accommodate their flight and by their Instruments called Spirits they have taken up many Children and sent them before to be Slaves and drudges to the Godly in their schismaticall Plantations as the Turke takes up Tribute-children from the Christians to furnish his nursery of Janisaries and so they have their Agents that buy up all the Gold they can get Cromwell not long since offered 11000l in silver for 10000l in gold besides he is well furnished with the Kings Jewels taken in his Cabinet at Nazeby many of them known jewels as the Harry and the Elisabeth 6. Nor shall the vulgar sort of Independents either in Parlialiament Army or City fare better then the rest of the Kingdome 6 6. The vulgar Independents but props and properties to the Grandees The Grandees both of Parliament and Army endevouring to adjourn the Parliament and draw all the power of both Houses into the Committee of Derby-house consisting but of 20. or 30. the rest of the Independent Members will find their power dissolved in the adjournment and swallowed up by that Committee and rheir services forgotten nor shal they have any power in the Militia which is the only quarrell between them and the King the Grandees disdaining to have so many Partners in that which they have got by their own wits for know that the Grandees have alwaies been winnowing the Parliament First they winnowed out the moderate men under the notion of the Kings party then the Presbyterians and now they will winnow forth the lighter and more chaffy sort of Independents who stand for the Liberty of the people a thing which Cromwell now calleth a fancy not to be engaged for and so they will bring all power into their own hands Thus having contracted the Parliament into a Committee of Safety they will adjourne themselves though the Parliament cannot to Oxford or some other place which they more confide in then London and this is the setling the Kingdom without the King they so much ayme at and which they had rather the people should be brought to practically and by insensible degrees then by Declarations held forth to them before hand or by politick Lectures in the Pulpit Thus is it decreed that this Caball of Godly men at Derby-house shall with a Military Aristocracy or rather Oligarchy rule this Nation with a rod of Iron and break them in pieces like a Potters vessell Observe that the Ordinance by which the Committee of Derby-house is revived and the additions of power to it are purposely penned in such ambiguous tearms that he that hath the Sword in his hand may make what construction of them he pleaseth neither were they clearly penned is it in the power of the Houses being but the Trustees of the people to transfer or delegate their trust to a lesser number of men a trust not being transferable by law and the people having chosen a Parliament not a Committee to look to their safety and peace 7 7. The Army hindeâ—â— Peace and Setlement
7. The Grandees of the Parliament and Army have brought the Kingdome to so miserable a condition that they have left no Authority in England able to settle peace the King is a close Prisoner to the Army therefore all he shall doe will be clearly void in law by reason of Dures The Parliament is in Wardship to them who keep armed Guards upon them Garrisons round about them and by illegall Accusations Blancke Impeachments threatning Remonstrances and Declarations c. fright away many Members and compell the rest to Vote and un-Vote what they please whereby all the Parliament doth is void and null in Law ab initio it being no free Parliament but a Sub-committee to the Army and living as the Aegyptians did under vassalage to their own Mamaluchi or Mercenaries The people therefore must resolve either to have no Army or no Peace 8. They have put out the eyes of the Kingdome 8 8. The two Vniversities destroyed the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and have brought the whole Land to make sport before them knowing that Learning and Religion as well as Laws and Liberties are enemies to their barbarous irrationall and Russian way of Government 9. Many honest men took part with this Parliament 9 9. Many honest men seduced by faire pretences took part with them never intending to leave their first principles and enslave King and Kingdome seduced by those fair pretences of defending Religion Laws and Liberties which they first held forth to the people and being unwilling to have a Parliament conquered by the Sword not thinking it possible that a prevailing Faction in Parliament should so far prevaricate as to conspire to enslave King Parliament and Kingdome to subvert the Laws Liberties and fundamentall Government of the Land under which they and their Posterity were and were likely to be so happily governed and betray Religion unto Hereticks and Schismaticks and share the spoiles of the Common-wealth between them and think of enriching themselves with them in foraine lands yet many at the beginning much disliked that Religion should be used as an ingredient to the carrying on of a Civill War and that Schismaticks should have so great a stroak in managing the businesse yet were pacified with this consideration that we must refuse no helps in our defence if a man be assaulted by Thieves on the high way he will not refuse to joyne with Schismaticks or Turks in a common defence the same authority that then countenanced those Schismaticks it was hoped would be able to discountenance them again when the work was done But the Grandees of the Houses having other designes had so often purged the Houses that they left few honest moderate men in them to oppose their projects still bringing in Schismaticks and men of their owne interests by enforced undue Elections into their rooms and so by insensible degrees new modelled the House sutable to their owne corrupt desires and new modelled this Army accordingly so that the people who had no intention to be intrusted so far were step by step so far engaged before they were aware that they could not draw their feet back and do now find to their grief that the Bit is in their mouths the saddle fast girt on their galled backs and these Rank riders mounted who will spur them not only out of their Estates Lawes and Liberties but into Hell with renewed Treasons new Oaths Covenants and Engagements if they take not the more heed and be not the more resolute they have changed their old honest principles and their old friends who bore the first brunt of the businesse and have taken new principles and friends in their roome sutable to their present desperate designes and now that they have squeezed what they can out of the Kings party they think of sequestring their old friends because they adhere to their old principles 10 10. Who are the King 's bitterest enemies 10. Amongst those that are most bitter against the King his own Servants especially the Judasses of the Committee of the Revenue that carry his purse and have fingered more of his mony and goods then they can or dare give an account for are the greatest Zealots those that take upon them imployments about his Revenue and share what allowances to themselves they please for their pains those that buy in for trifles old sleeping pensions that have not been payed nor allowed this thirty years and pay themselves all arrears those that rent parcells of the Kings Revenue for the eighth or tenth part of the worth as Cor Holland who renteth for 200l per annum as much of his Estate as is worth 1600l or 1800l per annum Thus you see the Lion Lord of the forrest growing sick and weak become a prey and is goared by the Oxe bitten by the Dog yea and kicked by the Asse Look upon this president you Kings and Princes and call to mind examples of old that of Nebuchadnezzar others lest by exalting your selves too high you provoke God to cast you too low The Epilogue I Am not Ignorant that there is a naturall purging a naturall phlebotomy belonging to politicke as well as to naturall bodies and that some good humours are alwaies evacuated with the bad yet I cannot but deplore what I have observed That the honestest and justest men of both sides such as if they have done evill did it because they thought it good such as were carried aside with specious pretences and many of them seduced by pulpit-Devils who transformed themselves into Angels of light have alwaies fared worse then other men as if this difference between the King Parliament were but a syncretismus or illusion against honest men nay I do farther foresee that in the period and closing up of this Tragedy they will fare worst of all because they have not taken a liberty to enrich themselves with publick spoyles and fat themselves by eating out the bowels of their mother but are grown lean and poor by their integrity whereby being disabled to buy friendship in the daies of trouble they will be put upon it to pay other mens reckonings When Verres was Praetor of Sicily he had with wonderful corruptions pillaged that Province and at the same time the Praetor of Sardinia being sentenced for depeculating and robbing that Province Timarchides Verres correspondent at Rome writ a very anxious Letter to him giving him warning of it But Verres in a jolly humour answered him that the Praetor of Sardinia was a foole and had extorted no more from the Sardinians then would serve his own turn but himself had gathered up such rich Booties amongst the Sicilians that the very overplus thereof would dazle the eyes of the Senate and blind them so that they should not see his faults such I foresee will be the lot of the more just and modest men who shall be guilty because they were fools as the other sort shall be innocent because they
were knaves whatsoever befalls you cleer and innoxious souls be not ashamed be not afraid of your integrity if this Kingdom be a fit habitation for honest men God wil provide you a habitation here if it be not capable of honesty God will take you away from the evills to come and poure out all the vials of his wrath upon this totally and universally corrupted Nation this incurable people Qui nec vitia sua nec eorum remedia ferre potest for my own part if I am not such already I hope God will make me such a man Quem neque pauperies neque mors neque vincula terrent and if Moses in a heroick zeal to draw a remission of the peoples sin from God desired to be blotted out of his booke the book of life and S. Paul to be Anathema for his brethren why should not I with relation to my self submission to Christ say oportet unum mori pro populo it is fit one man die for the people and devote my self to death for my Country as the Family of the Decii in ancient Rome were wont to do I have read and admired their examples why not imitate them is it because as Machiavell saith the Christian Religion doth too much breake enfeeble and cowardize the spirit of man by persecuting subduing nature by denying her due Liberty tying her to be more passive then active At facere pati fortia Romanum imo Christianum est or is it because in this generall deluge of sin and corruption all publick spirit and all excellency in virtue is accounted a degree of madnesse or is it because of the corrupt Judgement of these times which makes a man more infamous for his punishment then for his sin and therefore Heroick acts are out of fashion the Circumstances and Ceremonies of death are more taken notice of then Death it self these follies weigh not with me Sublimis an humi putrescam parvi refert The theif upon the Crosse found a ready way to Heaven how much more an honest man many a man out of prison steps into Heaven no man out of Paradise ever found the way thither Salebrosa sit via modo certa modo expedita alte succinctus ad iter me accingo THe premises considered I do here in the name behalf of all the free Commons of England declare and protest that there is no free nor legall Parliament sitting in England but that the two Houses sit under a visible actuall and a horrid force of a mutinous Army and of a small party of both Houses conspiring and engaged with the said Army to destroy expell and murder with false Accusations and blank and illegall Impeachments and Prosecutions the rest of their fellow Members who sate in Parliament doing their duty when the two Speakers with a small company of Members secretly fled away to the Army and sate in Councell with them contriving how to enslave King Parliament City and Kingdome and how to raise Taxes at their pleasure which they share amongst themselves and their party under the name and title of the Godly the Saints And afterwards they brought the Army up to London against the Parliament and City in hostile manner A designe far exceeding the Plot of Jermine Goring c. to bring up the Northerne Army to London to over-awe the Parliament I doe farther protest that the two Houses have sate under the said force ever since the 6. of Aug. last and therefore all they have done and all they shall doe in the condition they now sit in is void and nul in Law ab initio by their owne doctrine and judgement included in their Ordinance of the 20. of Aug. last whereby they nul and void ab initio all Votes Orders c. passed from the 26. July 1647. to the 6. Aug. following FINIS