Dâ—y serve but as Arguments of Eâ—couragement to Gâ—eater Some of us Killed Others Wounded and lead in Triumph Naked through the Streets Two or three Hundred Thousand Perâ—ons Looking on to celebrate the Conquest and the Shame A Citizens Skuâ—l is but a thing to try the Temper of a Souldiers Sword upon Give us â—very Mâ—n a Red-coat for a Cash-Keeper and the work 's done They 're come within a Trifle on 't already and all this while an Order to be Quiet is all our Patient Masters will afford us Give us an Order that may make us Safe although we need not Ask what we can Give our selves Perswade these pâ—ople to be Gone or Bid us Drive them out What Law made Pauls and Gresham Colledge Garrisons If nothing else will do we 'll do 't our selves We have Engaged and sworn the Vindication of the City and nothing can Absolve us from the Oath we have taken This must be done betimes too 't will come too late else to prevent either the Necessity of a Tumult or the greater Mischief of a Supine and Credulous Security A Parliament in Ianuary will do us no more good than a Cordial will do him that was Hanged last Sessions Our Sense at Large we delivered to the world in a Paper Entituled The Final Protest and Sense of the CITY VVhich is Publique enough notwithstanding the great Design used to suppress it and the Insolâ—nces of divers persons disaffected to the good of the Ciâ—y toward those that sold them To That we adhere That Protâ—st of Ours pâ—oduced Another from the Common counsel of the aoth Current to which something ought to bee said The sum of that Order is but in effect the Justification of the Lord Mayor in the matter of Prudence and Inâ—egrity we do not Deny but finding our selves abandoned to all sorts of Outrages by the Cold Proceeding of the Court in our behalf we were transported to some bitter Reflections Involving the present Mayor with his more Criminal Predecessor Ireton in the Imputation We shall not more Gladly find it a Mistake than Readily Confess it one when we reap the Effects of that Care for the Good of the City but so long as Wee are tyed up from all Lawfull Dâ—fence and the Publique Enemy at liberty to practise all Unlawfull Violences upon us we desire to be Pardoned if we suspend in the Case The Cloze indeed is very Noble and worthy of the Court where they Declare For the Fundamental Lawes and the Protestant Religion c. and in fine to endeavour the convening of a Free Parliament in order thereunto But in Contradiction to this Resolve the Committee of Officers have yesterday published a Paper Entituled The Agreement c. fairly telling us That we are to be Governed by People of their Chusing and by a Model of their framing without any regard had to the Practice and Reason of the Antient Laws or to the Interest and Liberty of every Freeborn English-man This Usurpation is to bee considered in its due place at present it concerns us to hinder them from making the Slavery of the City their first Step towards the Subjection of the Nation The seasonable Care of This we do Humbly and Earnestly recommend to the Court of Câ—mmon-counsel Our Hopes are that we are now fallen into Better hands and if our Magistrates will but Command us they have an Hundred Thousand Lives in readiness to Engage for them If we should be so unhappy as to be still delayed wee do however wash our hands of the Consequences And so God Direct and Deliver Us. OBserving how much more Unanimous the Army was to Destroy Us than We to Save our Selves and Finding nothing extant of Direction to the Necessary purpose of an Universal Union I presumed to Publish a Paper containing what I judg'd might Rationally Promote such an Agreement under the Notion of a thing already done It runs Thus. A FREE PARLIAMENT Proposed by the CITY to the NATION GENTLEMEN HAving certain Intelligence of great Preparations against us from Abroad together with the daily and wofull experience of a more Barbarous and Ignoble Enemy at Home we have bethought our selves of an Expedient which may at once both Secure and Deliver the Nation from the Danger of the One and from the Tyranny of the Other In order to this effect The City of London hath constituted 4 Commissioners to Treat Respectively with the rest of the People of England in the behalf of their invaded Rights and in such manner to Proceed as to the said Commissioners shall appear most convenient In persuance of this Appointment We Four whose Names and Authority you shall find in a Schedule to this annexed do in the Name and by the Commission of the City of London earnestly and unanimously desire a General Assistance toward a work of a Publique and Universal Benefit The transaction of this Affair we have committed to Persons eminent both for Honesty and Fortune and to gain Dâ—spatch as well as Privâ—cy wee have at the same Instant and by safe hands dispersed True and Exact Copies of These to you throughout England and Wales Our Application should have been more Regular but for three or four false Brethren in our Counsels whom wee dare not confide in We find few the Honesteâ— for the Quarrel thaâ— are the Richer for it and no other Enemies to the Peace of the Nation but the Gainers by the Ruine of it Uâ—oÌ„ a due scanning of the whole mâ—tter we hâ—ve concluded that nothing can restore us but a Free Parliament Nor can any thing compose that but a Frâ—e Voâ—e without either Force or Faction The most l kely means to procure this will be a general Engagement to endeavour it We ask no more than that you will follow our Example That Paper which we commend to you is already subscribed by many Thousands of this City If you Appâ—ove it doe as much and if you think Fit chuse out of every County Two Persons of a Known Integrity that may be still Among us and at hand to preserve a fair Intelligence betwixt us No longer since thaâ— Yesterday the Conseâ—vators of our â—iberties Hewâ—on and his Mirmidons put an affront upon us and with some mischief too upon this very Point The very mention of a Free-Parliament enrages them and there is Reason for it Their Heads are forfeited and if the Law Lives They must Perish But all this while we 're in a good condition when the Trangreâ—â—ors of the Laws must be the Iudges of it The very Boyes and Women had destroyed the Party to a man but that with much adoe we hindred them The Tâ—uth is in such a Confusion more honest blood might have been spilt than that Rabble was worth Upon this the City is grown so impatient of the Souldiers that 't is to be feared they will sodainly break out into an open violence upon them Thâ—y have already entred into a solemn Engagement to that purpose But we shall doe
Another Declaration Ian. 23. wherein they express'd all Tenderness possible for the Publique in a Fawning Canting way and especally Insisting upon such Particulars as might tender their Design of setling in a Free-State the more Plausible to General Monck who was now as far as Leicester toward London This Declaration moved me to Print this Ensuing Paper A PLAIN CASE Ian. 24. 1659. IT were no hard Matter to Trace the Course of Government thorough all it 's severâ—l Forms and Mixtâ—res from the very Fountain of it and to Deduce the Story from it's Original in Paradâ—se down to this wretched Place and Instant The Sanction and Assignment of it being proved That the Almighty Wisdom placed ONE RULER over the World Enquiry might be made into the Reasons and Equity of those ensuing Changes which either Force Craft or Agreement afterward produced To come a little neerer Home much might be added concerning our Religion Parliaments Magna Charta c. but the Presse groans under the Subject and the Nation under the Dispute Conviction puts an end to Argument The Question is no longer Right but Power and our Reasonings are only Answered with Blowes It 's true in the Infancy of the Quarrell when Rebellion like a Painted Whore under the Masque of Loyalty and Conscience Cheated the People into an Engagement when onely some Mis-governments in Church and State were to be Reformed and that Pretence back't with a Thousand Oaths to strengthen the Delusion Dominion and Obedience Law and Conscience were then a Proper and a necessary Theame to undeceive the Nation but now 't is out of Season The Sword 's the onely Iudge of Controversies Our businesse is to Talk more Sensibly and lesse Learnedly Alas to tell the Simple that which they can never understand and the Wise that which they know already Who 's the Better for 't The Injuries we suffer are Notorious and Understood as universally as Felt. The skill would be to find out a Fair Remedy for a Foul Disease In order to that I shall be Plain and short Prove what I say and keep my self within the Compasse of my Page This Nation is at this instant upon the Brink of a Reprochfull and Ridiculous Condiâ—ion of want and slavery Nor is the Truth of our Calamity more evident than the Reason of it Half the Revenue of the Land is already shared among the Saints and in Reward for robbing us of That we are to Give the Rest and purchase our Bondage dearer than our Fore-Fathers did their Liberties Indeed a Hundred Thousand Pound a Moneth when we have scarce Money left for Bread is a modest Proportion and to endear the Proposition to us 't is to maintain a warre against the established Law and consummatâ— our Thraldome After this Tax is paid they 'll Ask no more but Take the rest without the Ceremony and we deserve to Lose All If we Levy This. By Violence they keep themselves In and their Fellowes Out By Violence they Sit and Vote and Exâ—cute They 're not the Twentieth part of those we Chose and then the Quality of the Faction is as Inconsiderable as the Number The Nation looks upon them as a Herd of Wolves they live by Blood and Rapine and 't is the Publique Interest to Hunt theâ— They are too Few for us to Fear too False to Trust too Wicked and Imperious to Obey 'T is not their Ianizaries that will doe their Businesse when the whole Body of the People is united against them The very Souldier that hath Raised them Hates 'em as being at once Instrumental to their Guilt and to their Pâ—nisâ—ment They are neither to be Obliged by Oathes nor by Benefits How meanly have they treated the very Officers that preserved and Restored them and Perfidiously all that ever Trusted them Those Summes which were designed for the Satisfaction of Publike Accompts they divide among themselves and Turn those Troops to Free-quarter whose Pay is already in their own Pockets After all this the Laws must be as well subdued as the People no other Title left us to our Lives and Estates but what depends upon the Vote of a Legislative Committee It is already construed Sedition to Demand what the Law tells us is Treason to Oppose and the bare mention of a Free-Parliament puts our blessed remnant into a Sweat There 's Violence designed upon us and Violence must meet it The Axe is laid to the root the Commune Freedome of the English Nation lies at stake and 't is our Commune Interest to defend it The Iust and peaceable assertion of our Undoubted rights is Voted Breach of priviledge and he that draws his Sword to save his Countrey forfeits his head for 't This will not doe These worthy Squires of the Fagg end must take their Turns too Suppose the City should refuse the Tax the Countries are resolved upon 't How Certain and Inevitable is their Ruine The veâ—y fiâ—st attempt of Force sets the whole Nation in a Flame They Rise together and the Work is done 'T is not the stifling of the Presse can break their Correspondence nor the Old Cheat of Creating New Plots that will divert them These Iugglers have shewed all their Tricks and the whole World 's Convinced of their Intentions The Design walks bare-fac'd It is now evident that they purpose to make us perpetual Slaves and to enure us to no other Law than the Imperious Will of our hard Masters Their very best Friends and Assistants are now discarded by these Thanklesse Wretches the Scrupulous and Congregationall Party being cast into the Ballance with the Commune Enemy and both alike Excluded from the Government they promise us to shew that their Ambition is as well Insociable as Boundlesse To Finish All what Security or Quiet can that Faction expect which never Requited a Friend or Spared an Enemy What Comfort can that Nation look for that subjects it self to the Faith and Mercy of such a Faction UPon the 25 of Ian. Sir Robert Pye and Major Fincher were Ordered to the Tower for Presenting and Subscribing a Deâ—laration from Berâ—shâ—re for a Free and Full Parliament It being Voted A Breach of the PRIVILâ—GE of PARLIAMENT SEDITIOUS and tending to the Raysing of a New War The Squires of the Rump Scot and Robinson were by this Time doing their Complements to his Excellency and the City-Commissioners upon their way toward him In which Juncture came forth a Paper Entitled A Letter of General George Monck's Dated at Leicester 23. Jan. and Directed to Mr. Rolle to be communicated unto the rest of the Gentry of Devon Occasioned by a Late Letter from the Gentry of Devon dated at Exceter 14 Ian. and sent by Mr. Bampfield to the Speaker to be communâ—cated unto the Parliament Read in Parliament Jan. 26. To this Letter I took the Liberty to Draw what followes in Answer Addressed To His Excellency GENERAL MONCK A Lâ—tter from the Gentlemen of Devon in Answer to his Lordships of January 23.
as their Deliverer and he deserved it For he hath proved himself no lesse The strict reserve he used was but what best became his Dignity and Prudence he was too Generous to betray Another and too Wise to be betrayed Himself Under this Guard of Honour and of Caution he past his Journey not to trouble you with long stories how the waies were thronged with Cries and Addresses of the Nation for a Free-Parliament what Conference he had with the good Aldermen what Complements were made him by the Other men of Westminster c. To come to the Point upon Friday afternoon the third of this Instant February General Monck took up his Lodgings in Whitehall On the Monday following his Excellency was conducted by Scot and Robinson with the formality of a Mace carried before them in o a place commonly called the Parliament-House where he deliver'd himself according to good Discretion and soon after return'd to his Lodgings Laden with the Thanks of the House Tuesday and Wednesday were the General 's daies of rest but not so to the City for upon Tuesday the 10â—â—00 l. Tax came out which Netled the Citizens shrewdly and the day following they met in Common-Counsell to advise upon it Where they resolved to adhere to a former Vote of the Court in the Negative At the same sitting was communicated a Declaration from Warwiâ—k shire for a Free-Parliament it was of a fair signification and Authority the Gentlemen that brought it received the Thanks of the Court not to mention the peevishnesse of 2 or 3 Dissenters 't is hoped they may be wiser and honester hereafter This was a Day of Businesse in London and produced a Busier Night at Westminster for the Counsell of State after a tedious Puzzle and Debate Issued out Orders to Gâ—nerall Monck for the Reducing of the City directing him to proceed in such a Method as they had prescribâ—d him In persuance thereof his Excellency marched early upon Thursday the Ninth current Horse and Fâ—â—t into the City by thâ—â— means frustrating a Respect which the Court had designed him the Day before Having appointed four Aldermen and eight Commoners to attend him the next Morning His entrance into the Town brought all the Horror and Satisfaction with it Imaginable nor did the People understand for a long while wâ—ether they should Curse or Adore him at last in compliance with his Orders he seized divers eminent Citizens and sent them to the Tower and took up his Quarters that Night in the City By this time the People beyond all doubt pronounced him the most execrable Creature that ever came within their Walls not understanding that the Mischief he did them was but Iest and the Good he Intended them was Earnest That in consideration of a weeks Imprisonment he would reward them and their Posterity wâ—th Perpetuall Liberty This however carried an appearance of severity which was in effect but a point of Military Honor For his Inclination and Duty in this Action Led him several waies as a Souldier he obeyed a Barbarous Order as an Englishman he made it his care to take off the edge on 't and he was bound to doe That this day by Commission Which he resolved to undoe two dayes after upon a Nobler Principle upon Friday the 10th of the Moneth and the laâ—t of his Commission the General demanded the Cities last Resolve from thâ— Aldermen who sâ—ill adhered to their former Judgement His Excellency hereupon gave command to demolish the City Gates and so Returned to Whitehall Observe that his Displeasure and Commission died together For the next Morning Saturday he made the Town a large Amends Declaring Solemnly to joyn with them and their Associates for a Free Parliament but having fairly first discharged himself to those at Westminster by a Letter in commune with his Officers who have behaved themselves as men of Honor in the Businesse The Truth is had not the Generall been nimble with them they had undermined him for contrary to Faith and Honesty to their expresse Agreement they had not onely entred into a secret combination with the Sectaries but publickly encouraged their Assemblings and Petitions and more particularly contrived the direct Ruine of that Person who had so lately preserved them This is a Theame transports me The Bloody Votes were passed that Dismall Night Let Nedham tell you but never was a Joy so Universall wise men grew mad upon 't and mad men sober The Cryes the Bonfires and the fume of Rosted Rumps did quite take down the Legislative Stomack 'T is thought the Thing at Westminster is vanished In fine the Hand of God is in 't his Name be praysed Feb. 12. 1659. THis was not yet enough to put the Rump out of Countenance The blessed Members met again as Formally as ever Acted with a Confidence tha t might exuse the Common peoples Iealousie over the General He was too Wise to walk too Open and They not Wise enough to comprehend the Policie of his Reserve And yet they wanted not a Will to Understand him They study'd nothing else but his Intentions That which most puzzled them was a Confeâ—ence at Alderman Wale's betwixt Sâ—veral of the Sâ—cluded Mâ—mbers and of the Rump Joyning to That His Excellencies Answer to a Proposal of Raysing Forces to secure themselves which was That He himself would Interpose betwixt the City and all Danger Observing how prejudicial these Mistakes were to the Publique Interest of Seâ—tlement and with what Art and Industry they were Assisted by the Adverse Party I took it for a Seasonable and Good Offâ—ce to do somthing that might Create a better Understanding Or at the worst Excite the Citizens to Act by Tichborn's President and of Themselves in Case of any further Baffle or Delay in setling their Militia For these Reasons I Publish'd this Ensuing Paper A Word in Season to General MONK with his Officers c. To the CITY and To the NATION My Lord and Gentlemen YOu are at present in the Heart of the Nation and in the Arms of your Friends where you are Safe and Beloved You have the Strength and Affections of the City at your Dâ—votion and it is your Commune Interest to unite in a Concurence both of Power and Kindnesse You stand and fall together You are all of the same Stock Born to the same Freedom Subjected to the same Laws Nurs'd up in the same Religion And in fine Obliged by the same Rules of Duty and Wisdom to promote the same Ends. I might adde that you are likewise exposed to the same Danger and from the same Enemy by whose Hypocrisie and Skill should you be Dâ—luded into a Belief of such who never kept Fâ—ith forgive me your Reputation is lost with your Security and you Fall without either Redress or Pity In this very Instant while you Treat the Mine is working The Instruments and Means of your Destruction are already agreed upon Some arâ— employed to Infect your Councils and Alienate your
Souldiers Others sit among you to Betray you What by Open Force cannot be Effected must be assisted by a Dagger or Poyson You have the Substance of this already upon Evidence and Experiment Next to this Caution towards your Professed Adversaries allow me to propose a more Ingenuous and Open Clearnesse towards your Usefull Friends if it were but to prevent Mis-understandings Beside that the very Doubt is both Injurious and Painfull Offices of Respect and Comfort ought to be performed with Liberty and Chearfullness without any the least mixture of Scruple or Reserve These Frank and Mutual Enterchanges of Succour and Advice beget a Trust and Kindness And That 's the true Foundation of a happy and Lasting Union That Friendship which admits a Ielousie wâ—vers When You My Lord your Officers and Army are become One with this City you have then but Contracted a nearer Alliance with the Nation whose several Counties and Divisions how remote soever are with this Town but Parts still of the same Body By a Consent of Interest and Sense they Prosper or they Wither they Grieve or Ioy they â—ive or Dye Nor are they more united in their Interests than in their Votes and Resolutions for they have unanimously engaged with the City to maintain their Rights and Liberties the Reformed Religion and the Freedom of Parliaments against all Hazzards and Oppositions whatsoever I need not tell your Lordship by what Audacious anâ— Illegal Violences this Dâ—claration and Remonstrance was extorted from them The Nation stood condemn'd to Servitude and Beggery even by those whom they themselves had Raysed from that Condition to aggravate the Bondage by the more Intollerable Authors of it 'T is now become a Crime to name a Full Free Parliament and Treâ—son to appeal to any other Law than the Insipid Vote of a Legislative Conventicle The Gaols are full of Prisoners upon that very score Was it not time My Lord to bid these People hold their Hands after the expense of so much Blood and of so many Milions and all this only to perpetuate a dearer and a more Infamous Thralldom The Pulpits were enured to Blasphemie and Non sense and the Government prostituted for money to Persons able to disgrace a Bawdy-House These and the like Indignities put the Nation upon their Just and necessary Defence And in that Posture they now stand Ready and Resolved Your Excellency hath been tender hitherto of Blood but if a speedy Order be not taken to Regulâ—te those stragling Troops that Act still in the Countries in Opposition to a Settlement It will come yet to Blows For questionlesse in case of a Necessity thâ— People will not stand still and suffer themselves to be picked out man by man till they be all Dâ—stroyed The Gentry and Nobiâ—ity are Slaves to every pedling Pursuivant 'T is but a Warrant from our Masters and all is Fish that comes to Net No matter for a Crime if there be Booty All that the People ask all they design is but the Benefit of the Law Will any English man deny it us First They have sworn to defend it Next VVe have sworn â—ather to dye than lose it This Factioâ— hath cost the Nation more than 60. Millions besides the Blood they have Lapp'd and yet 100000. l. a Month and not a farthing lesse will do their Businesse that is 5â—00 l. a Man or some such Trifle For that the Iunto shares perhaps the Souldier once in a year or 2. may get his Mornings draught and then be turn'd to Graze upon Free Quarter and hang'd for Mutiny if he but talks of Money It s the trick they served all that have served them Who ever strikes or payes on their behalf fights but for Bondage and contributes to his own Chaines If they had any Faâ—ih they might be Trusted But Oaths go down with them like Pills of Butter they are dissolved as soon as taken That Perjury which would poyson a good Christian is but their Nutriment Nay worse than Wolves they are False to their own Kind and enter-worry one another I should be endlesse to pursue this Subject till I want Matter In brief My Lord look to your self and to your Friends Life and Death are before you Chuse May Heaven direct and bless your Counsels and Endeavours so far as you proceed with Pietie and Honour To prevent Mistakes I do declare that there are divers moderate and sober Persons in the Mixture for whom I have a fair Respect and that the tartnesse of my Language only concerns the Furious and Phanatique of them A word now to the CITY and that a short one Gentlemen upon your fair compliance with the General depends much of your safety that is so far as he comports himself with terms of Prudence Equity and Honour and he is too Noble to go Lesse next to himself you find his Officers of an Ingenuous and clear Conversation and worth your Friendships their Commands apart you likewise find the body of the Army Civil and well disciplin'd you do exceeding well to pay them all due respects and to joyn Interests and Councils with them you have done Wisely Honestly and Bravely too to oppose Taxes that is Taxes imposed without a Law to be employed against your selves and such as had you granted them your President would have extended to enslave your Posteritie Your care next to disarm the Sectaries was very seasonable Your City had probably been in Ashes else by this time Consider they bear the same mind still and where they had those weapons they can quickly have more You cannot be secure without your Militia nor can any thing fairly obstruct your Procurement of it In Tichburn's Case it was by the Commons ordered that any six of the Common-Counsell upon emergent occasions might send for the Lord Mayor to call a Common Counsell and in case of default call it themselves and any 40. of them to have power to act as a Common-Councell without the Lord Mayor any thing in their Charter to the contrary Notwithstanding See the Hist. of Independency part 2. p 83. Not to exceed my limits Forget not your suffring Friends and stand firm to your Associates and Allies He that tamely suffers One Injury Provokes Another Now to the NATION for a Farewell I need not presse my Country-men with many Cautions your Freedom of Elections that 's your Birth-right 'T is that you all declare to Live Dye for you are too wise to be cheated with Restrictions and Qualifications as if the Question were the Number rather than the Choice at this rate you may have a full House indeed but How That is full of the Brats the Kindred and the Partizans of those that sit already and then they that have gull'd you all this while shall govern you for ever your very Declarations against the Present Tyranny have brought you to that Point that there 's no safety left you but in violence for while you talk you dye your scattered Friends are
gathered up one by one whereas your SEASONABLE UNION MAKES ALL SURE As your Intentions are Honorable so let your Actions be How far the Law extends in case of Brutish and Illegal cruelty see St. Iohns Argument against the Earl of Strafford and with That I conclude He that would not have had others to have Law why should he have any himself Why should not that be done to him that himself would have done to others It is true we give Law to Hares and Deers because they be Beasts of Chase it was never accounted either cruelty or fowl play to Knock Foxes and Wolves on the head as they can be found because thesâ— be Beasts of Prey The Warrener sets traps for Powlcats and other Vermin for Preservation of the VVarren Feb. 18. 1659. ABout This time the Schismatiques had all their Instruments at work to disappoint the Generall Design and Hope of a Free Parliament The Bolder and the more Ingenious sort of Honest men were Gather'd up by Flying Troops that they had every where Diâ—pers'd to hinder a Conjunction nay they were come to That Degree of Impudence to threaten Banishment and Sequestration to the whole Party of Declarâ—rs Nor did they Act these Outrages upon the Gentry without a due regard of Popular and specious Application to the Vulgar The House should be Immediately Fill'd The Form of the VVrit was already Published The Qualifications Agreed upon and in Fine They would Instantly proceed to a Settlement of Church and State what would they more In the mean while The Presses are at Work by Libells against the King By Arguments of Interest and by False Intelligence to Corrupt and Deceive the People No Stone is left unturn'd The Common-wealtbmen They 're a Birding too and Tell their Little Tales of Rome and Venice Nor does the Generall himself escape their wild Attempts either upon his Honesty by Large and Insignificant Donations or else by Plots against his Person The Party had their Friends too in the City either by Tedious Speeches From the Point to make their Meetings Fruitlesse or upon Frivolous Pretenses to Delay the very Calling of a Counsell Retarding the Militia by that means to the great Hazzard of the whole Affair This was the Face of Things when the Brave Generall Cleer'd the way for the Return of the Secluded Members who being Entred Feb. 21. fell Instantly upon the Nulling of those Sputious Orders which Related to their First Seclusion in Dec. 1648. Proceeding Thence to the Enlarging and Confirming of the Generall 's Commission and the disabling of the Rump's Commissioners for the Government of the Army The Discharging of Prisoners Illegally Committed and the Appointment of a new Convention Apr. 25. 1660. In Fine they had enough to doe for one while to Vacate the mis doings of their Predeeessors which thing it self they did with all convenient Modesty and Tendernesse As their Businesse was onely to Settle the Nation without Perpetuating Themselves so did they make all Haste was Possible to Finish it The Militia's they Placed in Good Hands and Empowred a Counsell of State to Govern in the next Intervall which being done and Provision made for a New Election March 16. they Dissolved Themselves The Independent Gang were strugling now for Life and Laboured by a Thousand Shifts and Cheats to make a Party in the new Militia During That Transaction I caused this Following Paper to be Published A Seasonable Word I Do not write out of an itch of Scribling or to support a Faction my Duty bids me write Nor do I love Hard words or Many Plain and Few suit all Capacities and Leisures I would be Read by all and Understood by all for my Business extends to all Not to spend time in Complement or Apology The Readers Wisdome or the Authors Weakness is not the Question The Nation is in Distress and every Englishman must lend his hand to save it Nay That must be done Quickly too and Vigorously Delay is Mortal Can any thing be more Ridiculous then to stand Formalizing in a Case where 't is impossible to be too early or too zealous The event of things takes up our thoughts more then the Reason of them what Newes more than what Remedy As if it concerned us rather to know whose Fools and Slaves we shall be next then to be such no longer That which completes the Wonder and the Oversight is That the Miseries we suffer were before hand as easily to be Fore-seen and Prevented as they are now to be Felâ— and we are only to look Backward to take a perfect measure of the Future so obvious and formal is the Method that leads to our destruction If we are not in love with Beggery and Bondage let us at last bethink our selves of Freedom and from a due inquiry into the Rise and Growth and present State of our Calamities learn to be wise and Happy for the time to come It may be observed that since Church-men dabled in Politiques and States-men in Divinity Law and Religion have been still subjected to the Sword and in â—ffâ—ct those same Excursions and Adulterate mixtures are but the workings of a Party already in motion toward that End He that designes a Change of Government must begin by imposing a Delusion upon the People and whatsoever is Necessary to his Purpose must be Accomodate to their Humour The Pulpet by false glosses and Puzzling distinctions under the Doctrine of Conditionate Obedience suggesâ—ing Liberty cousens the Multitude into a Rebellion Oaths and Covenants are but like Iugglers knots Fast or Loose as the Priest pleases The Weaker sort being thus prepared and poyson'd by a Seditious Clergy 't is then the Statesman's part to push those Mutinous Inclinations into Action and to divide the Cause betwixt Conscience and Property the better to involve all Interests in the Quarrel Under the Masque of Piety and Publiqueness of Spirit of Holy men and Patriots the Crafty cheat the Simple engaging by those specious pretenses the Rash mis-judging People with good Intentions but wanting Care and Skill in Sacrilege and Treason This was the very Root and this hath been the Process of our Evills Under the notion of Gods glory the Safety and the Honour of the King the Fundamentall Lawes and Freedomes of the People the Priviledge of Parliaments c. the Kingdome was gulled into a Complyance with an Ambitiouâ— and Schismaticall Faction The main Pretense was the Assertion of the Subjects Legall Rights against the grand Prerogative and That directed only to the Limitation of an Intended Arbitrary Power the Regulation of such and such Mis-Governments c. and all this Saving their Allegeance to His Sacred Majesty whose Person Crown and Dignity they had so often and so deeply sworn to maintain This was a Bait so Popular it could not fail of drawing in a Party and That produced a War The Formal Story of the Quarrel is little to my purpose the Logique of it Less How by the same Authority