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
examined and acquitted them of and such as the whole Kingdome knows Cromwell and Ireton to be apparently guilty of as Trucking with the King c. One chief Article insisted upon in the Charge was That by their power in the House they caused the Ordinance for Disbanding this Army to passe Here you see where the shooe wrings them This Charge was not subscribed by any Informer that ingaged to make it good or else to suffer punishment and make the House and the Parties accused reparations as by the Stat. 25 Edw. 3. c. 4. 27 Ed. 3. c. 18. 38 Ed. 3. c. 9. 17 R. 2. c. 6. 15 H. 6. c. 4. but especially by 31 H. 6. c. 1. concerning Jack Cade which comes nearest this case ought to be And they professed in the 2 3 4. Article of their Charge That they were disobliged and discouraged from any farther engagement in the Parliaments service or Irelands preservation and demanded the House should forthwith suspend the impeached Members from any longer sitting and acting Whereupon the House after full debate in a full and free Parliament Resolved June 25. 1647. That by the Lawes of the Land no Judgement could be given for their suspension upon that generall Charge before particulars produced and proofes made 17 17. Threates to march up to London 18 18. London solicited to sit Newters Yet the Army which had now learned onely to acquiesce in their owne prudence and justice insolently threatned to march up to Westminster against the Parliament in case the said 11. Members were not suspended and courted the City of London to sit newters and let them work their will with the Parliament The 11. Impeached Members therefore modestly withdrew to free the House from such danger as they might incur by protecting them as in Justice and Honour they were bound to doe After this the Army sent in their particular Charge and Libellously published it in Print by their own Authority To which the 11 Members sent in and published their Answer Upon which there had been no Prosecution because they pretend first to settle the Kingdome but if they stay till these fellowes have either authority will or skill to settle the Kingdome they shall not need to make ready for their Tryall till Doomes day Here you have a whole Army for Accusers and the chief Officers of the Army being Members of the House not onely accusers but parties witnesses and Judges and carrying the rules of Court and Lawes by which they judge in their Scaberds And the Charge or Impeachment such as all men know mutatis mutandis are more sutable to Cromwells and Iretons Actions then the Accused parties If the proceedings in the Kings name against the five Members mentioned in The exact Collection pag. 38. were Voted a Traiterous designe against King and Parliament and the arresting any of them upon the Kings Warrant an Act of publick enmity against the Common-wealth How much more Treasonable were these proceedings and the Armies March towards London to enforce them and their arresting Anthony Nicholls having the Speakers Passe and leave of the House Colonell Burch being upon service of the Parliament going for Ireland and Sir Samuel Luke resting quiet in his owne House 19 19. The first occasion of quarrell against the City 20 20. Courting and cheating the Country and all other interests to lull tâ—em asleep till the Grandees had wrought their will upon City Houses 21 21 Petitions to the Army and for the Army Whilst these things were acting Cromwell finding he could not have his will upon the Parliament but that he must make the City of London who had denyed the newtrality his Enemies cast about how to cheat the Country people of their affections for to have both City and Country his Enemies in the posture his Army was then in was dangerous he therefore by many Printed books and papers spread all England over by his Agitators and by some journey-men Priests who 's Pulpits are the best Juglers Boxes to deceive the simple Absolon-like wooeth them to make loud complaints of the pressures and grievances of the People to neglect the King and the Parliament and make Addresses to the Army as their only Saviours the Arbitrators of Peace restorers of our Laws Liberties and Properties setlers of Religion preservers of all just interests pretending to settle the King in his just Rights and Prerogatives to uphold the Priviledges of Parliament establish Religion to reforme and bring to accompt all Committees Sequestrators and all others that had defiled their fingers with publique money or goods To free the people from that all-devouring Excise and other Taxes To redresse undue elections of Members To relieve Ireland Things impossible to be performed by an Army and now totally forgotten so that they have only accepted of their own private demands as Souldiers That the Parliament should own them for their Army Establish pay for them put the whole Militia of this Kingdome and Ireland both by Sea and Land into their Hands and Vote against all opposite forces But they are now become the only protectors of all corrupt Committee-men Sequestrators Accomptants to the State and all other facinorous persons who comply with them to keep up this Army for their own security against publick Justice Having thus courted and cheated all the publike and just Interests of the Kingdome they deceived the people so far as to make them Issachar-like patiently to bear the burden of free quarter and to make addresses to the Army for themselves by Petitions to which they gave plausible answers That this and This was the sense of the Army as if the sense of the Army had been the supream Law of the Land and to make addresses to the Parliament for the Army not to be disbanded for which purpose their Agitators carried Petitions ready penn'd to be subscribed in most Counties The people being thus lulled asleep 22 22 A quarrell against the City invented they now cast about how to make benefit of a joynt quarrell both against the Parliament and City since they could not separate them or at least against the Presbyterian party in both They had withdrawn their quarters in a seeming obedience to Parliaments commands 30 miles from London of which they often brag in their Papers and presumed the suspension of the 11 Members had strook such an awfulnesse into the Houses that most of the Presbyterian Members would either absent themselves as too many indeed did or turn renegadoes from their own principles to them but found themselves notwithstanding opposed and their desires retarded beyond their expectation by the remainder of that Party They must therefore finde out a quarrell to march against the City and give the Houses another Purge stronger then the former The Army being principled 23 23 The Army demand the City Militia to be changed into other hands and put into a posture sutable to Cromwells desire and the Country charmed
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
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
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
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
to spit thanks in their mouthes and make much of them These 4 Votes were generally sinisterly taken and filled mens mindes with suspicion what forme of government the Grandees would set up now they had laid by the King and every mans minde presaged a new War which they conceived the Independent Grandees were willing to have to colour their keeping up this Army and raising money to maintaine them and every man began to lay the project of a new War at their door notwithstanding by way of prevention they had impeached divers Members and Citizens of London for endeavouring a new Warre when they did but raise men for their selfe-defence 72 72. The Declaration against the King To shew the people therefore the reasons of these 4 Votes the Independent Grandees appointed a Committee to search into the Kings Conversation errours of his Government publish them in a Declaration to the world wherein they objected many high crimes against Him concerning His Fathers death the losse of Rochell and the Massacre and Rebellion in Ireland which upon debate in the House were very much moderated by the Presbyterians of which Declaration I will only say That they have set forth no new matter therein which they have not formerly published in parcells since which time they have taken and caused others to take the Nationall Covenant whereby they vow to maintaine the Kings Person Crown and Dignity in defence of Religion Laws and Liberties and therefore to reprint only the same things as Arguments to lay by the King savours more of designe then justice I will wade no farther in the censure of the said Declaration lest I imitate the Authors of it and as they by a feeble accusation have done the King much right so I by a weak defence should doe him much wrong The people were as ill satisfied with this Declaration as with the four Votes 73 73. Tho Hasterig's Letter concerning the King wherefore 24. Febr. Mr. Speaker with much seriousnesse presented to the House a Letter out of Leicester-shire from Thomas Hasterig brother to Sir Arthur which was read to this purpose That there was one Mr. Smalling a Committee-man of Leicester-shire who had been a Deputy-examiner in the Star-chamber and affirmed that above twenty years since there being a suite in Star-chamber betweene the Earle of Bristoll complainant and the Duke of Buckingham defendant concerning Physick presumptuously administred by the said Duke to K. James the said Smalling took many depositions therein and was farther proceeding in the Examinations untill a Warrant signed by the King was brought him commanding him to surcease and to send him the Depositions already taken which Smalling did yet kept notes by him of the principall passages doubting what farther proceedings might be hereafter in a businesse of such importance Sir Henry Mildmay moved that Smalling be sent for and examined upon oath by the Committee that penned the said Declaration but upon motion of the Presbyterians he was ordered to be examined at the Commons Bar. Smalling came produced the Warrant but no notes so this Chimaera vanished What the said Committee would have made of this who knows God blesse us all from clandestine examinations especially when they are taken by parties preingaged 3. Caroli this businesse had been ventilated and examined against the Duke and no mention made of poysoning or killing K. James It was then only called an Act of high presumption and dangerous consequence in the Duke nor was there then the least reflection upon K. Charls yet now because K. Charls dissolved that Parliament the Independent party were willing to raise a suspition against him concerning his Fathers death whereas the Accusation against the Duke of Buckingham 3 Caroli contained seven or eight Charges against him the least whereof might occasion the dissolving of that Parliament These desperate courses to dishonour the King and make him uncapable of Government to ruine his Person Crown 74 74. Why the Independents went so high against the King To usurp the Regall power into themselves either in the Houses purging or in the Committee of safety at Derby house and Dignity and extirpate Monarchy root and branch were taken in order to the usurping of the Kingly power into the Grandees of the Parliament and Army and in case they could not purge the two Houses and make them wholly Independent which they now dispair of then into the hands of the Committee or Councell of State at Derby House and Grandees of the Army In order to which they are now contriving to strengthen the said Committee with more power and more Members and to adjourn the Parliament and send downe the Presbyterian Members into the Country upon pretence of service where if any Tumults happen for which their extortions will give sufficient provocation the said dissenting Members shall bear the blame and have Blanck Impeachments given them to purge them out of the Houses if not out of the world or at least be sequestred for now they have squeezed what they can out of the Kings party by Sequestrations the next fuell to their covetousnesse is to sequester the Presbyerians and then to sequester one another for they are already divided into pure Independents and mixed Independents and have feuds amongst themselves for this Faction insatiate with mony and bloud are all beasts of prey and when they want prey will prey upon one another nor shall the Houses meet above one Month or two in a Year to ratifie and approve what Derby house and the Junto of the Army shall dictate to them and to give an Account to the domineering party how each Member hath carried himself in the Country Thus in stead of one King we shall have twenty or thirty Tyrants in chief and as many subordinate Tyrants as they please to imploy under them with the Iron yoak of an Army to hold us in subjection to their Arbitrary Government 75 75. Why the Grandees doe still continue to truck with the King notwithstanding the said 4 Votes Notwithstanding the aforesaid four Votes and Resolutions the Caball of Grandees still keep Ashburnham and Barkley in the Army and have sent diverse turn-coat-Cavaleers and Emissaries underhand disguised to the King who pretending that by Bribes they have bought their admission to him after some insinuations endevour with false and deceitfull newes and arguments to shake his constancy and perswade him to passe the said 4. dethroning Bils for these usurpers of Soveraign Authority long to turne their Armed and violent Tyrannie into a legall Tyrannie or at least to make him declare against the Scots comming in In both which cases he will dishearten his friends who endeavour to take the golden reines of Government out of the gripes of these Phaëtons and restore them againe to his hand un-king himself and his posterity for ever be carryed up and down like a stalking horse to their designes and be Crowned Ludibrio Coronae with straw or thornes For
and an Office before they would trust him with them were sent Mr. Hearle and Mr. Marshall Marshall when he saw Independency prevaile 78 78. M. Marshall had secretly turned his coat the wrong side outward and joyned interest with Mr. Nye But before he declared himself he was to do some service for his new party Wherefore when the Army looked with a threatning posture upon the Parliament and City before they marched through London the common Souldiers being in such discontent for want of pay that they were ready to mutiny and disband and their Officers scarce daring to governe them the first fruits of Marshall's service to his new friends was to perswade the City to lend the Parliament 50000l to pacifie the Souldiers assuring them by Letters that the Army had nothing but good thoughts towards the City onely the common Souldiers was troubled for want of pay after the City had laid down the said 50000l his next labour was to perswade the Citizens to let the Army march through the City without opposition for avoiding of bloudshed and firing and to let them possesse the Tower and Line of Communication After these services the Grandees of the Parliament and Army finding him sutable to them received him into an avowed favour and then four Independents and four Presbyterian Divines conjoyning their interests were sent to season the Army and new tune them according to the more moderne designe Marshall was one where after he had preached according to the Dictates of the Grandees of the two Houses and Army for divers weeks Marshall was thought fit to attend the Commissioners into Scotland He and Mr. Nye had been sent to Carisbrooke Castle formerly with those Commissioners that carried the four Bills to the King and had 500l a piece given them for their journey Scotland a longer journey promised a larger reward it is good being a postilion of the Gospel at such rates The Sunday before he went he preached at Margarets Westminster and as much cried up Presbytery and the Covenant there as he had before slighted them in the Army This was a preparation Sermon to make him acceptable to the Scots that he might cajole them the easier Before he went he sent his Agents from house to house at Westminster to beg mens good wills towards his journey He was willing upon this pretence to get what he could from St. Margarets Parish where he found the people to grow cold in their affections and contributions to him Wherefore having made his bargain before he went to leave S. Margarets and officiate in the Abby where he is to have 300l per annum certain allowance he would rob the Aegyptians at S. Margarets for a parting blow This Priest married his owne Daughter with the Book of Common-prayer and a Ring and gave for reason That the Statute establishing that Liturgy was not yet repealed and he was loath to have his Daughter whored and turned back upon him for want of a Legall Mariage yet he can declare against all use of it by others He hath so long cursed Meroz and neutrality that he hath brought Gods curse upon the land and hath put Church and Common-wealth into a flame but himself and his Brats have warmed their fingers at it as monies are decried or enhaunced by the Kings authority so is every mans Religion cried up or down by Marshall's authority and stamp About the 24. 79 79. The Answer to the Scots Declaration Feb. the Answer to the Scots Declaration began to be debated in parts in which Debate the Covenant was much undervalued and called an Almanack out of Date Nath Fiennes argued against it That that clause in the Covenant To defend the Kings Person Crown and Dignity c. was inconsistent with their four Votes for making no Addresses to the King To which was answered by some That then they would relinquish the foure Votes and adhere to the Covenant About the beginning of March 80 80. Mony shared amongst godly Members was given to Col. Sydenham and Col. Bingham 1000l apiece as part of their Arrears their Accounts not yet stated To the Lord of Broghill 2000l To Master Fenwicke 500l for losses To Mr. Millington 2000l for losses To Col. Ven 4000l notwithstanding it was moved he might first account for Contribution-money the Plunder of the Country about Windsor and the Kings Houshold-stuffe Hangings Linnen and Bedding Mr. Pury the Petty-bag Office besides 1000l formerly given him To Pury's Son the Clerke of the Peers place and 100l a yeare all Independents The 7. of March 81 81. Cromwell an Ordinance passed the Commons to settle 2500l a year land out of the Marquesse of Worcester's Estate upon Lieutenant Generall Oliver Cromwell I have heard some Gentlemen that know the Mannor of Chepstow and the rest of the Lands setled upon him affirm That in the particulars the said Lands are so favourably rated that they are worth 5000l or 6000l a year It is farther said those Lands are bravely wooded You see though they have not made King Charles a glorious King 82 82. A Message from the Lords desiring the Commons concurrence to the engagement of the Members with the Army as they promised yet they have setled a crowne Revenue upon Oliver and have made him as great and glorious a king as ever John of Leyden was Wonder not that they conspire to keep up this Army as well to make good these Largesses as to keep their guilty Heads upon their shoulders Thursday 9. March the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons To desire their concurrence to the Engagement of those Members that fled to the Army The engagement approved by Threats to live and die with the Army It was Debated all day untill seven of the clock at night and at last the question put That this House doth approve the subscription of the said Members to the said Ingagement The House divided upon the question yeas 100. noes 91. Observe 1. that Mr. Solicitor Hasterig and many more when they perceived difficulty in passing it began to skirmish with their long sword againe And many told them they must give content without dores meaning to the Army as well at within or else all would go naught 2. 44 Of those Members that engaged with the Army sate in the House and voted in their owne case many of them carrying themselves very high and insolently in their gestures and expressions 3. Many Presbyterians left the House because it was late and some as it is thought not daring to vote in the negative 4. This engagement about six Months agoe had been sent to the Commons by the Lords once or twice and was rejected yet now was obtruded upon them again by the Lords who would not acquiesce contrary to the Priviledges of the House of Commons 5. This approbation thus surreptitiously gotten is equall to a Pardon sued forth before conviction which in law amounteth to a confession of the crime