to Moral Honesty but wholly guided by those whimsical Fantasies which were by their Ring-leaders called the Revelations and Inspirations of God's Holy Spirit it was referred to a Committee to consider of a way for the Raising of Pensions and allowances out of Deans and Chapters Lands to maintain certain Itinerant Preachers who were Authorized to go up and down and spread abroad their Antimonarchical Doctrine whereby the Rabble might be set up and comply with the Souldiery against the Nobility and Gentry Clergy Lawyers and all orderly Government But upon better consideration fearing that the Liberty might in time overwhelm them with confusion and give such a countenance to the Levellers of whose help they had made no small use for the King's Destruction as would bring upon them inevitable ruine Cromwel moved in their Parliament that the Presbyterian Government might be setled promising his endeavours thereto and that the secured and secluded Members might be again invited to return into the House They likewise imploy'd divers of their Preachers of which Mr. Marshal Mr. Nye Mr. Carrel Mr. Goodwyn and Hugh Peters were the chief to cajole others of their own Coat together with the Citizens and expulsed Members with certain Discourses and Proposals telling them that the Presbyterians did differ with the King in point of Civil Interest which was much more irreconcileable than the Interest of Church Government whatsoever shew was made to the contrary Also that it was the Presbyterians who first made War against the late King brought him low and prepared him to receive his deadly blow from the Independants and therefore that the King would look upon them as equally Guilty with the Independants and endeavour equally to cut them off their design being thereby to cast the Presbyterians into utter despair and so to bring them in point of self Preservation to joyn with their Interests for common defence And to carry on their work with the more shew of Sanctity they ordered that a strict Fast should be kept to humble themselves and implore God's Forgiveness for the Ingratitude of the People who did not sufficiently acknowledge with Thankfulness Gods Great Mercies upon this Land in Freeing them from Monarchy and bestowing Liberty upon them by changing Kingly Government into a Free State or Republick To sweeten likewise the affections of the Vulgar towards them they made most specious pretences of paying all the publick Debts and raising Three Hundred thousand Pounds for supplying the necessities of the Common-wealth as they term'd it without any charge or burthen to the people and to that end passed an Act for abolishing all Deans and Chapters and for sale of their Lands And the better to fortifie themselves and their Usurped Dominion they fram'd another Act whereby they declared certain particulars to be Treason viz. 1. If any man should maliciously affirm their present Government to be Tyrannical usurped or unlawful or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority of the Nation or that should endeavour to alter that their Government 2. If any should affirm their Council of State or Parliament to be Tyrannical or unlawful or endeavour to Subvert them or stir up Sedition against them 3. For any Souldiers of their Army to contrive the death of the General or Lieutenant General or endeavour to Raise Mutinies in the Army or to Levy War against the Parliament or to joyn with any to Invade England or Ireland to Counterfeit their Great Seal or kill any Member of their Parliament or any Judge or Minister of Justice in their duty Soon after this they framed and passed another Act declaring England with all the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging to be a Free State and to be Governed by the Representatives of the People in Parliament without any King or House of Lords Which Act was Proclaimed in the City of London by Alderman Andrews then Lord Mayor Alderman Pennington Wollaston Fowkes Kenrick Byde Edmunds Pack Bateman Atkins Viner Avery Wilson Dethick Foote then attending him The Londoners being by that time brought unto so much Vassalage by these insolent Regicides as that in obedience to a Vote made by their servile Parliament they were constrain'd to invite that wicked Conclave to a Thanksgiving Dinner whereat all of them were to rejoyce together for bringing the Grand Delinquent to punishment that is to say for the Murther of the King for the greater honour of that day the Lord Mayor met the Speaker and the other Members of Parliament at Temple-Bar and there resigning the Sword to him received it again and carryed it before him to Christs Church Whence after a Canting Sermon he conducted them to Grocers-Hall and entertain'd them in the quality of a Free State the Cooks having every one of them an Oath to prepare for those Saints nothing but wholsome Food Being therefore thus seeming firmly setled in their Tyrannical Dominion they went on in passing sundry other Acts in their Pseudo-Parliament of which the Ruling Grandees had the chief benefit viz. 1. To encourage the Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands by the sale of them at Ten years Purchase in case of ready Money or doubling what was due to those as should so purchase 2. Another for the sale of the Goods and Personal Estate of the King Queen and Prince 3. A Third for sale of the Crown Lands with particular Instructions to sell them at Thirteen years purchase 4. Soon after this they passed another Act for Coyning of new Money with direction for the form of the stamp to be thereon 5. Another declaring what Offences should be thenceforth adjudged Treason viz. to express or publish their Government to be Tyrannical or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority 6. And for the quicker riddance of Deans and Chapters Lands they added farther Power and Instructions to the Trustees for the sale of them 7. Next to reward their Bloody President Bradshaw who gave Judgment of Death upon the King they passed another Act for settling Two thousand pounds per annum upon him And that there might be a known mark of distinction betwixt themselves and others they passed an Act for the Subscribing an Engagement whereby every man should promise to be true and Faithful to the Government then established without a King or House of Lords or in case of refusal to have no benefit of the Laws But the Crown-lands so doom'd to be sold went but slowly off they therefore passed another Act to constitute a Committee to remove obstructions in the sale of them Nor was all this sufficient to satisfie their greedy appetites or was evident enough from the aim they had to devour all the Gleabe and Tithes throughout the whole Kingdom To which purpose they passed an Act whereby they nominated certain Commissioners to receive and dispose of all Rents Issues and profits of all Rectories
his desire And having no Answer to that neither he sent a third whereby he offered upon engagement for his freedome and safety in going and returning to come himself to London or Westminster for the space of fourty days and there to treat personally with them offering to commit the Militia of this Realm unto certain persons to be nominated by himself and them equally for such a time and with such powers and limitations as were delivered in by a paper upon the Treaty at Uxbridg After which third Message he received their Answer to his second which was the refusal of a safe-conduct to the Duke and those other who were design'd to go saying that they then had certain Propositions and Bills under consideration which they purposed to tender unto his Majestie for the setling of a safe and well grounded peace as they call'd it which after agreement upon them by the Scotch-Commissioners they resolv'd to present unto him The King not satisfied with this sent a fourth Message whereby he earnestly pressed their embracing his offer for a personal Treaty with them at Westminster And after expectance of an Answer thereto for the space of full twenty days and hearing nothing he sent them a fifth Message to the same purpose enlarging his offers for his People's quiet in sundry particulars But whilst this message was upon the way towards them came an answer to his fourth absolutely negative as to his admittance for coming to them still telling him of the Propositions and Bills which they were preparing to send Which Answer being wholly unsatisfactory and apparently manifesting their aversness to peace he sent a sixth Message to them incessantly importuning their speedy Answer to his former and within few days after a seventh wherein he expressed somewhat in confutation of those frivolous Arguments which they had used against his Personal Treaty with them continuing his desires thereof Certain it is that as they grew in strength and power so their Insolence which thus prompted them to decline all good expedients for accommodation increased more and more Nevertheless his Majestie not totally despairing but that by farther condescensions he might move this hard-hearted Generation sent unto them his eighth Message whereby acquitting himself from having any hand in some passages of the Lord Herbert of Ragland then called Earl of Glamorgan in Ireland which he well knew that they would be apt enough to scandalize him with he offer'd that in case they would admit him to come to London in order to a personal Treaty with them he would leave the management of the War in Ireland wholly to themselves as also the nomination of the Persons to be entrusted with the Militia with such power and limitations as were express'd in the Paper delivered by his Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the Term of seven years as had been by them desired Likewise the nomination of the Lord Admiral Officers of State and Judges And for Religion to give liberty that all those who were unwilling to communicate with the Church of England in the Service already establisht by Act of Parliament should not be urged thereto provided that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably and quietly in and towards the Civil Government should have the free exercise of theirs tendring also unto them a general Act of Pardon and oblivion Which gracious Message so full of condescension produced from them nothing in effect but Scorn and Contempt For though the King caused the Lord Herbert for that his misdemeanor in Ireland to be arrested upon suspicion of Treason and imprisoned they traduced his Majestie with under-hand-compliance therein affirming that he had given that Lord a private Commission with command to manage it with all secrecie and that it contain'd such odious and shamefull things as himself blusht publickly to own or impart to the Marquess of Ormond his Lieutenant there And whereas he had in his said Message most graciously tendred them all that the most wicked and guilty persons could desire or wish viz. Liberty for their Consciences safety for their Persons security for their Estates greatness for their desires and peace to enjoy all nothing would be accepted insomuch as after a full months expectation of some return upon those his offers and hearing nothing by His ninth Message he pressed them for some Answer but all to no purpose For like as a Shadow pursued they still fled from him whereupon after the stay of one month more he sent them His tenth Message wherein taking notice of the duty he owed to God and sense of his peoples miseries that no means might be left unattempted which could conduce to a safe and well-grounded peace he offer'd unto them that in case he might have the Faith of both their Houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour Person and Estate and liberty given to all his faithfull Subjects who had adhered to him to go to their own Houses and there enjoy their estates peaceably without compelling to take any Oath that was not enjoyned by the undoubted Laws of the Kingdome or other molestation he would immediately disband all his Forces dismantle his Garrisons return to his two Houses of Parliament pass an Act of Oblivion and free pardon there and doe whatsoever else they should advise him to for the good and peace of the Kingdome But these great Masters who to captivate the people before they had got sufficient power into their hands had by their most solemn Protestations and Declarations which are publisht in Print to the world profess'd in the presence of Almighty God and for the satisfaction of their consciences and discharge of that great Trust which lay upon them as they then exprest made their solemn Protestation and Declaration to this Kingdome and Nation and to the whole World that no private passion or respect no evil intention to His Majesties person no design to the prejudice of His just Honour and Authority engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. And again we profess from our very Hearts and Souls our Loyalty and Obedience to his Crown readiness and resolution to defend his Person and support his Estate with our Lives and Fortunes to the utmost of our power c. Moreover we profess we desire nothing from his Majesty but that he would return in peace to his Parliament And again We profess in the sight of Almighty God which is the strongest obligation that a Christian and the most solemn publick Faith which any such State as a Parliament can give that we would receive him with all Honour yield him all true obedience and subjection and faithfully endeavour to defend his person and estate from all danger and to the utmost of our power to establish to him and his people all the blessings of a most glorious and happy reign Nevertheless so obdurate were their Hearts being then rais'd to an height of confidence that
civil Government I now descend to those their Arts and Devices whereof by the help and influence of a most subtile corrupt and schismatical party in Parliament they made use in order to the raising this late nefarious Rebellion the consequence whereof viz. the extirpating of Monarchy here was in their design long before however it may be thought by some that Necessity and Despair put them upon that blod Exigent after they had gone farther than they thought they could by any outward reconciliation or pardon be safe for if need were sufficient and undoubted testimony might yet be produced who did hear a principal Actor in this late woful Tragedy about a twelve-month after the barbarous murther of King Charles the First express these words I bless God that I have now lived to see the ruine of Monarchy and that I haue been instrumental in it for I do here acknowledge that it hath been in my design ever since I was at Geneva which is now thirty eight years Of these the first and indeed most fatal Artifices was the reducing his Majesty to Necessities to the end he might be inforc'd to betake himself unto such extraordinary means for supply as would certainly attract the odium of his Subjects For accomplishing whereof that war wherein King Iames became engaged on the behalf of his daughter and her children for recovery of the Palatinate gave them a seasonable opportunity the Story whereof I shall briefly here set down Upon the death of the Emperour Matthias 8. Aug. An. 1619. 17 Iac. Ferdinand his Brother adopted by Matthias in his life time was elected Emperour and crowned 19 Septemb. following Which Election the Bohemians disclaiming they chose for their King Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Who thereupon by his Letters to King Iames whose daughter he had marryed acquaints him therewith craving his advice as to his reception thereof Howbeit before King Iames his answer could come to his hand which was utterly dissuasory he had accepted their choice Whereof King Iames hearing in no little perplexity disavow'd the act and would never stile him by that Title That this unhappy business prov'd most destructive to the Count Palatine will immediately appear For the Emperor Ferdinand became so highly irritated thereat that he soon after publish'd a Proscription against him proclaim'd him guilty of High Treason and declared his resolution to prosecute him as a public Enemy of the Empire and accordingly sent Marquess Spinola with numerous Forces to invade the Palatinate as also Buquoy and D. Balthasar into Bohemia who with a powerful Army gave him Battail near to the City of Prague upon the eighth of November An. 1620 utterly routed the Bohemians and forc'd that new King with his Queen to flee the Country The Report whereof arriving soon after in England caused King Iames to advise with the Lords of his Council upon the 13 th of Ianuary following for recovery and protection of the Palatinate it being the antient Inheritance of his Son in Law and his Children Whereupon thirty thousand Pounds was forthwith sent to the Princes of the Union for their assistance therein and in order to farther help a Parliament call'd to sit at Westminster upon the 30 th of the same month of Ianuary At which Convention the King acquainting the two Houses with what had happened farther represented unto them that he had already treated a Peace in this business but Perswasions without power being as he said of little effect he told them that he thought it fit to provide an Army against the Summer following and desired them therefore to think upon his Necessities Which Parliament having sate about four months and done little in this matter the King considering of a Recess for a time in regard of the season that might cause Infection represented to them by the Lord Treasurer his purpose to adjourn them Whereat the Commons growing displeased they desired the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning against it the King therefore taking much exception thereupon judging it derogatory to his Prerogative it being in his sole power to call and adjourn and dissolve Parliaments they thereupon for satisfaction of his Majesty publish'd a Declaration wherein they signified unto him that in case his endeavours by a Treaty could not effect the restitution of the Palatinate upon signification of his pleasure in Parliament they should be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their lives and fortunes to assist him so as by the Divine help of Almighty God he might be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course could not be effected After this the Parliament was adjourn'd from the fourth of Iune until the twentieth of November at which time of meeting again the King being absent for lack of health the Lord Keeper told them that unless they took farther resolutions and were expeditious the Army in the Palatinate would fall to the ground The Lord Treasurer also acquainting them how empty the King's Coffers were and that his Majesty had assisted the Palatine and Princes of the Union with great Sums which had so exhausted his Treasure that he was much in debt Also that notwithstanding the King had declared for War he pursued Peace and resolv'd therefore to close with Spain hoping by that Alliance to heal the breach Which Speech of the Lord Treasurer tending to Peace so startled the House of Commons wherein the Puritan was predominant that they soon after drew up a Remonstrance to his Majesty wherein representing Religion to be in danger by the growth of Popery they incited him to take his Sword into his Hand for the aid of those of our Religion in forreign parts and that the bent of this War might be against that Prince whose Armies and Treasures had maintained the War in the Palatinate Signifying that they had given him one Subsidy for the present Relief of the Palatinate But in this Remonstrance there being also divers things which the King esteem'd to tend unto his high dishonour and to trench upon his Prerogative-royal he forbad them farther to entermeddle concerning his Government and deep affairs of State and particularly with the match of his Son with a Daughter of Spain Certain it is that the Parliament made little hast in the offering of that for which they were chiefly called together viz. the giving to the King considerable aid for relief of the Palatinate in so much as the Lord Digby then took occasion to put the Peers in mind thereof and that it was to that end they were summon'd thither reporting the present distress of that Country and danger thereto by the Duke of Bavaria as also that the Army of Count Mansfeild which came in for defence thereof if not speedily supplyed was like to desert that service But instead of hasting such Relief Christmass approching and the King upon the
the same subject which under colour of a desire to search after his death for some Writings in his Study were by certain Clergy-men who stood disaffected to the Discipline of the Church unhappily lurch'd away they did at length gain those very Books into their hands and not long after the beginning of this late unparallel'd Rebellion for the better accomplishing their long studyed ends most shamefully corrupted them in sundry places omitting divers passages which were unsutable to their purposes and instead thereof inserting what they thought might give countenance to their present evil practises amongst which was this in terminis that though the King were singulis major yet he was universis minor and having so done caus'd them to be publish'd in Print By which fallacy divers well meaning people were miserably captivated and drawn to their Party And at length were not ashamed in that Treaty which they had with his Majesty in the Isle of Wight to vouch the authority of this venerable man in derogation of his Supremacy and to place the Soveraign power in the People that great Antimonarchist William late Vicount Say and Sele being the person who boldly urged it Whereunto the good King answered that though those three Books were not allowed to be Mr. Hookers yet he would admit them so to be and consent to what his Lordship endeavoured to prove out of them in case he would assent to the judgment of Mr. Hooker declared in the other five Books which were unquestionably His. But as to these their indirect dealings in thus corrupting the works of that excellent man whose memory for his profound learning singular piety and most exemplary life will be ever precious to succeeding ages and his necessary vindication therein I shall for more full satisfaction to my Reader refer him to that seasonable Historical discourse lately compiled and published with great judgment and integrity by that much deserving person Mr. Isaac Walton containing a perfect Narrative of the life and death of this right worthy person Of which I hold it necessary that special notice should be taken by reason that since the happy Restauration of our present Soveraign K. Charles II. Dr. Gawden then Bishop of Exeter upon the reprinting those five genuine Books of Mr. Hooker together with the other pretended three taking upon him to write a Preface to the whole and therein to give an account of Mr. Hooker's life hath not only with great confidence used divers Arguments to satisfie the world that those three Books were penn'd by Mr. Hooker notwithstanding those poysonous assertions against the Regal power which are to be found therein but much misreported him in the Narrative of his life representing him to have been a single man with many other gross mistakes as whoso compares it with Mr. Walton's History of him may easily see Moreover well knowing that the City of London in respect of its Riches and Populousness must be the principal stage for this Tragic-Action there was no small care taken for fitting all places of Authority therein especially the Common-Council with such active men as might advance this blessed work Wherein having made a fair and succesful progress but discerning that the Sword must at length be made use of they then began to frequent the Artillery-yard and to be diligent Practisers of military Discipline in which they grew in a short time so great Proficients that most of the cheif Officers in that School were men of that stamp and got into their hands the best and choicest Arms. And that they might make the more secure progress in this their long studyed design they laid the Scene at first in Scotland the Subjects of that Realm being most tainted with Presbytery so that in case this their contrivance should speed there they might the more boldly adventure upon the like here The first thing therefore that was made use of towards their Master-piece in Scotland was an exception or rather cavil by divers eminent persons in that Kingdom at his Majesties Revocation of such things as had been passed away in prejudice of that Crown especially by some of his Progenitors in their minorities though not without example This being advised by those that were then his Majesties Privy-Councellers and Officers of State in that Realm whose late Actions have sufficiently manifested what effect they desired it should produce did accordingly occasion much repining by divers principal persons who thereupon infused into his Subjects a distaste of his Government And though the King was pleased to wave his interest therein and to remit as well the Equity as rigour of the Laws in that point the Male-contents would not be satisfyed but still endeavoured to work a disaffection in the people thereto And whereas his Majesty out of his pious care of the Clergy who had been much opprest by the Laity that pay'd Tythes being pleased to grant out Commissions in their behalf had so good issue therein as that both Parties were abundantly satisfyed the maintenance of the Clergy being thereby improv'd and the Laity freed from a dangerous dependance upon Subjects yet the Nobility and Lay-Patrons fretting privately for being rob'd as they conceiv'd of the dependance of the Clergy and Laity bent their envy against the Bishops under pretence that they were the principal causers thereof To quiet therefore these discontents in the year 1633 his Majesty made a progress into Scotland and was there crowned having not been personally there till then since the death of his Royal Father at which time he also held a Parliament in that Realm wherein great suggestions were made of fears that dangerous Innovations in Religion would be attempted as also instead of acceptance of an Act for Ratification of all other Acts concerning the Religion professed and established it was dissented to by divers of the after-chiefest Covenanters And no sooner was he returned back into England but that infinite Libels were disperst abroad to impoyson the People with his Majesties proceedings at that Parliament Of which Libellers amongst others the Lord Balmerino was found guilty by his Peers and accordingly should have receiv'd sentence of death for it nevertheless through his Majesties goodness was not only pardoned but enlarg'd and afterwards became an eminent Covenanter Which Insolency of the Scots did not a little animate and encourage the Puritan-faction here who loudly declaimed against the Discipline of the Church as it then by Law stood establish'd and to beget a greater contempt thereof in the generality of the people represented it to be superstitious and like to usher in Popery dispersing many scandalous seditious and libellous Pamphlets to that purpose infusing likewise into them strange apprehensions that their Liberty and Property were in no little danger and the better to give colour to their pretended fears of these approaching Evils they took ready hold of this following occasion The Soveraignty of the Brittish-Seas by antient right justly appertaining to the Crown
of such Members of Parliament and Citizens of London as had any Hand in calling him in Cromwel took a Journey on purpose to Windsor and there flattered him with fair promises of Life and though he could get nothing out of him nevertheless he caused Bradshaw to carry a favourable countenance towards him upon his Tryal in Westminster-Hall the Lord Grey of Groby Colonel Wayte and Hugh Peters being likewise imploy'd to him upon the like Errand who told him that they would not much obstruct him Pretended Plea of Quarter from Lambert upon Articles Peters also promising him to witness the same for him though Wayte upon his Report to the House of Commons of the manner how he took him had affirmed that he yielded at discretion and that Lambert was not near him Nay honest Hugh seem'd so zealous in his behalf that he Prayed openly for him as his Lord and Patron and fed him with no small hopes in case he would impeach those whom they suspected But Hamilton in stead of complying with them therein expecting otherwise to save his Head did not only offer them an hundred thousand Pounds for his Life intimating what Service he would do them in Scotland but assured them that he would joyn Interests with Argile and be a Servant to them there Whereupon Messengers were sent Post thither to know Argile's mind who resolving that none should share with him in so Glorious a Work refused any conjunction with him The Wind therefore blowing in that Door Bradshaw used him more roughly upon his Farther Tryal than before and Hugh Peters renounc'd what he had formerly testified insomuch as Sentence of Death was given against him Nevertheless that he might still expect Life and not give that Glory to God in this his Judgment and cast Infamy upon them by a Christian acknowledgment of his own and Argile's mutual Practises they soon cut off his Head And immediately after this they passed an Act for discharging all people from their Allegiance to the late King's Issue and abolishing the Kingly Office Likewise for abolishing the House of Peers as useless and dangerous but with favour to some Lords who had demeaned themselves with honour courage and fidelity to the Common-wealth as the words are so that they might be capable of Voting in Parliament if elected Philip Earl of Pembroke being the first which had the benefit of this Act being admitted a Commoner in this new fram'd Parliament and the Lord Howard of Escrick the Second After whom followed William Earl of Salisbury And wisely considering that as the Preachers had been their chief Instruments for infusing such Principles into the Vulgar sort of People by their Seditious Lecturing Sermons as had at last accomplisht their long studied design for the abolishing of Monarchical Government Lest therefore that by the same Engine the like ruine in time might be brought upon themselves they ordered that no Minister in the Pulpit should meddle with any State-Matters therein pursuing the practise of the Netherlanders who had done so before for the prevention of mischief to their own Common-wealth But now to digress a little let us here behold what a Brain-sick Generation in a short space of time sprung up from this precious root of Presbytery About this time there came Six Souldiers into the Parish-Church of Walton upon Thames in Surrey near Twylight in the Evening Mr. Faucet the Preacher there having not till then ended his Sermon one of which number with a Lanthorn in his hand and a Candle burning in it and in the other Hand four Candles not lighted desired the Parishoners to stay a while saying that he had a Message from God unto them and thereupon offered to go up into the Pulpit But the people refusing to give him leave so to do or to stay in the Church he went into the Church-yard and there told them that he had a Vision wherein he had received a command from God to declare his will unto them which he was to deliver and they to receive upon pain of damnation it consisting of Five Lights 1. That the Sabbath was abolisht as unnecessary Iewish and meerly Ceremonial And here quoth he I should put out my first Light but the wind is so high I cannot kindle it 2. That Tithes are abolisht as Iewish and Ceremonial a great Burthen to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage and here I should put out my Second Light c. 3. That Ministers are abolisht as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of his Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations And here I should put out my Third Light c. 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come among us and hath erected the Kingdom of the Saints upon Earth Besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberty of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane Inventions And here I should put out my Fourth Light c. 5. Then putting his Hand into his Pocket and pulling out a little Bible he shewed it open to the People saying Here is a Book you have in great Veneration consisting of Two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you it is abolished it containeth Beggarly Rudiments Milk for Babes but now Christ is in Glory amongst us and imparts a farther measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford I am commanded to burn it before your Face So taking the Candle out of his Lanthorn he set fire on it Then putting out the Candle he said and here my Fifth Light is extinguished Nay the stream at that time carryed Multitudes so violently this way that the Souldiers fell to Preaching in many places six of them in one day exercising their Gifts in that kind at White-Hall in so much as that Grand Impostor Cromwel subtilly observing the bent of this Tide ascended the Pulpit there himself pretending that he was called up by the Spirit of God and standing a good while with his Eyes lifted up as it were in a Trance his Head inclining to one side he fetcht many deep Groans spent one hour in his Prayer and near two in his Sermon In which Prayer his Humility was such that in imitation of Moses he desired God to take off from his Shoulders the Government of this Mighty People of England as being too heavy for him to bear And so much did he then pretend to Revelations and Inspirations that when any weighty matter was propounded to him he usually retired for a quarter of an hour or more and declared what was revealed to him But to proceed About this time they passed an Act for supporting of their Military Forces by imposing a Tax of Ninety thousand Pound Per Mensem upon the Kingdom And that the people might be totally confounded as to matter of Religion or have any regard
For a Conclusion In answer to the witness of God upon our solemn Appeal you say you have not so learned Christ to hang the equity of your Cause upon events We could wish that blindness had not been upon your Eyes to all those marvellous Dispensations which God hath wrought lately in England But did not you solemnly Appeal and Pray Did not we do so too And ought not we and you to think with fear and trembling of the Hand of the Great God in this Mighty and strange appearance of his but can slightly call it an event Were not both your and our expectations renewed from time to time whilst we waited on God to see which way he would manifest himself upon our Appeales And shall we after all these our Prayers Fastings Teares Expectations and solemn Appeales call these bare Events The Lord pitty you Surely we fear because it hath been a merciful and gracious deliverance to us I beseech you in the Bowels of Christ search after the mind of the Lord in it towards you and we shall help you by our Prayers that you may find it For yet if we know our Hearts at all our Bowels do in Christ yearne after the Godly in Scotland It is not unworthy of Observation likewise that as this signal dissaster to the Presbyterians did very much raise the Spirits of the Independant Grandees so did it incite them to give all possible encouragement to the rest of that Party and to all other Sectaries of whose help upon occasion they might stand in need They therefore first passed an Act Intituled An Act for the relief of Religious and peaceable People from the rigour of former Acts of Parliament in matter of Religion amongst which those of primo and 35 o Eliz. which concern the Subjects obedient repairing to Church were repealed And shortly after that another Act whereby they directed all proceedings at Law scil Writs Pleadings Patents Books of Reports and other Law Books to be in English Next they imposed a Tax of an hundred and twenty Thousand Pounds a Month for the support of their Army and not long after passed an Act declaring that their new Great Seal Engraven with a Cross and an Harp with this Circumscription The Seal of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England should be the Seal of the Parliament of that Common-wealth and be only used by order of Parliament and that it should be Treason to counterfeit the same Most certain it is that the late wonderful defeat which the Scots received at Dunbar by the English then commanded by Cromwel did not a little startle the whole Godly Party in that Nation For whereas before though it was through the advantage they made of the King's Name whom they had got thither as hath been already observed that they rais'd their Army 't is very well known that His Majesty was not permitted to have any hand in the conduct thereof no not so much as to be Personally in that part of the Realm in which it was lest his presence should have had any influence thereon in reference to his own just Rights so much did their own guilt of Disloyalty terrifie them But the case was now altered For soon after this great overthrow they sent to His Majesty earnestly desiring his presence with them and to Court him with the fairer assurance of their fidelity appointed a certain day for his Coronation which was accordingly perform'd with great Solemnity So that then standing clear with his best Subjects of that Kingdom he began to form an Army upon his own and their Interest Yet not without the assistance and Joynt-help of the Kirk-Party there which in humane reason might have been thought to his advantage In the Head whereof he entred England at Carlisle upon the Seventh of August and marcht to Worcester without any great opposition But whether there was any thing of Treachery in them that then over-perswaded His majesty to make stay there against his own judgment or whether Almighty God would not give his Blessing to the aid of those who had formerly been so false and perfidious to His Royal Father and himself is hard to say Sure we are that so great was the confluence from most parts of England to Cromwell's assistance the Presbyterians then joyning with him and divers of their Preachers Marching with him in a Military way that after a most sharp dispute at and near that City being over-powered with strength and numbers his Army was totally routed and destroy'd himself and some few others being necessitated to escape by flight It may seem strange I presume to some that I should here touch the Presbyterians so near the Quick there being some of opinion that though the most rigid of that Sect were at that time forward against the King yet that His Majesty had many Well-wishers of them in this his adventure But if I be herein censured I desire to know what this expression used by those Thirty six Presbyterian and Independant Ministers which joyn'd together in a Petition for respiting the Execution of Mr. Love one of their own coat of whom I have already given some touch doth mean viz. that in putting him to death the hopes and expectations of the Common Enemy against compliance with whom he had made open protestation at his Tryal will be heightened And that the forbearance of so putting him to death would manifest to the World that you id est the Parliament do put a difference betwixt those who offend from Principles of Enmity against God and his People and others who transgress through the mistakes of an erroneous conscience in the midst of great and various changes Again I would gladly know what construction is to be made of those words Printed in one of the News-books of that year viz. The Presbyterians in Lancashire and parts adjacent have not only declaimed against the late defection in Norfolk but declared against the Conjunction and Proceedings of Iockey and their young King with Middleton Ogilby and the rest of the Royal Party and are resolved to adhere to the present Government and to walk close and stedfast in the ways of Truth and Holiness ¶ Here it will not be impertinent I hope to make a little pause and contemplate the infinite goodness and mercy of God in so wonderful a preservation of the King our present Sovereign after this fatal ruine of his Army at Worcester Who though pursued and sought for with all the art and skill that these Bloody Regicides and their whole Party could devise was through the signal fidelity of some few persons of whom certain Narratives of the particular passages therein which are already made publick do make honourable mention so well secured from their fury and with such admirable contrivance and skill conducted that he Landed safely upon the Fifteenth of October following at New-Haven in France And as so strange and little less than
House of Commons at Westminster and there taking their places and chosen Mr. Rows to be their Speaker admiring the great goodness of God that had put it into the Generals Heart to select them for so great a work they Voted themselves to be the Parliament of England and by that Title to be known and called Having so done they fell vigorously to work for a thorough Reformation Dreaming of nothing less than that Iesus Christ must shortly Reign with them here on Earth To prepare the way therefore to his Personal coming they considered of abolishing the Ministerial Function as favouring in their opinion totally of Popery Likewise for the taking away of Tithes as the Reliques of Judaism Also to abrogate the Old English Laws as Badges of Conquest and Norman Slavery And lastly to suppress the Universities and all Schools for Learning as Heathenish and unnecessary with all Titles of Honour and distinctions as not agreeable to Christianity All which they had without question soon effected but that some few of them of better judgments gave a stop to their Frenzy But the Court of Chancery they really Voted down and passed an Act for the solemnizing of all Marriages by Justices of Peace after Publication made of such purpose in the Church or open Market and that the Birth but not Baptizing of Children should be thenceforth Registred which shews of what Judgment they were in that point The Act likewise for Subscribing that Instrument call'd the Engagement which was passed 2. Ian. An. 1649. they Voted unfit to continue and totally repealed it And for the Tryal of what they called Treason or High Crimes they Erected a new High Court of Iustice. By which Phrentick doings having made themselves as well distastfull as ridiculous to the World their Grand Master Cromwel to ingratiate himself farther with the People put a Period to their Sitting the manner whereof was thus In the Morning a little sooner than usual 12. Dec. those of the Members which were Cromwel's chiefest Confidents came to the House where finding then but few of the Anabaptists an Eminent Member stood up and addressing himself of the Speaker told him that he must disburthen himself of some things that had a long time lain upon his Heart That he was now to speak to the Esse or being rather than the Bene Esse or well-being of the Common-wealth which was ready to sink under them through the ill management of the power betrusted with them and that for his own part he must resign his power from whence he had it foreseeing cleerly that their Waitings and Expectations of ever coming on the things of publick good were more and more disappointed and so descended to these particular instances 1. That they had dealt disingeniously with the Army in moving that the Officers should be treated with to lay down their Pay and when they could not effect that the Bill of Assessments was endeavoured to be cast out 2. That they had not a Spirit to do Justice which appeared in their Act for confirming the sale of Sir Iohn Stowells Estate though he were relieved by the Court of Articles And however he was as vile as could be imagined so was his expression yet he knew not but that man was left to be a Tryal upon them whether they would do Justice or not 3. That they had a Principle amongst them of destroying and pulling down though nothing were set up in the stead and that this was especially manifested in their Vote for removing the Chancery and total alteration of the Laws 4. That though they called their selves a Parliament yet they Acted most unlike unto it and that appeared in their endeavours to destroy propriety in attempting to take off the Power of Patrons to present to Church Livings 5. That they would destroy the Ministry it self which appeared by their Vote on Saturday before and that for these Considerations they could not satisfie themselves to sit any longer and so be guilty of bringing confusion and desolation upon the Nation But if any would yet be so hardy as to continue there he would say unto them in the words of the Prophet Ephraim hath joyned himself to Idols let him alone This being seconded and after him pressed earnestly by some others much startled the Anabaptists then present who spoke fiercely against it Insomuch as those who had appeard for their Dissolution fearing lest by delaying time in Speeches more of the Anabaptists might come in and out-Vote them moved that all who were for their Dissolution should rise and walk out Whereupon the Speaker and divers other forthwith went out of the House But Squib Moyer St. Nicholas and some more of that Gang to the number of about Twenty sate still and having placed Mr. Moyer in the Chair fell to protesting against what the rest had done professing in the presence of the Lord that their Call of God to that place was the Principal Motive that drew them thither and that they apprehended their said Call was chiefly for promoting the Interest of Iesus Christ. Whereupon they continued there until Colonel Goffe with some Musketeers came and asked them What they sate there for Whereunto it was Answered to seek the Lord But perceiving what the Issue thereof was like to be they nevertheless departed and Subscrib'd an Instrument whereunto some others had set their Hands before for surrender of their Power into the Hands of their Master Cromwel Which Instrument so signed being brought to His Excellency he lifted up his Eyes with seeming great admiration and at first with no less modesty faintly refus'd it but at length after assiduous and importunate sute earnestly representing to him the welfare of the Nation inculcating to him also how zealous a Patriot he had ever been for the People he was at last overcome though unwillingly to receive it ¶ This Pageant therefore being thus formally over the next work was his assuming to himself the sole Dominion and Rule a thing which sew could think it safe for any of them to aspire unto considering what had been acted by him and his Party utterly to eradicate Monarchique Government But as the Common Water-men look always the contrary way to that they Row so did this Grand Impostor The contrivance thereof being secretly laid by himself and Major General Lambert who had an aime in time to succeed him in the Government Lambert was the man that dealt with the Principal Officers of the Army to carry on this design with all subtilty imaginable Whereupon he first told them how much the Governing by a single Person would conduce to the General quiet and advantage of the Publick and next to the peculiar Interest of each of them in particular in case it were bounded with sober limitations and not to be by the Title of King For an expedient therefore they resolv'd on the name of Protector and of a formal Instrument wherein should be contained the Rules of his
day of March instant be presented chosen or appointed to any Benefice formerly called Benefice with Cure of Souls or to Preach any publick setled Lecture in England or Wales shall before he be admitted c. be Iudged and Approved by the Persons hereafter named to be a Person for the Grace of God in him his Holy and unblameable Conversation as also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit to Preach the Gospel viz. Francis Rous Esq Dr. Thomas Goodwyn Dr. Iohn Owen Mr. Thankful Owen Dr. Arrowsmith Dr. Tuckney Dr. Horton Mr. Joseph Caryll Mr. Philip Nye Mr. William Carter Mr. Sidrak Simpson Mr. William Greenhill Mr. William Strong Mr. Thomas Manton Mr. Samuel Slater Mr. William Couper Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. Iohn Tombes Mr. Walter Cradok Mr. Samuel Faircloath Mr. Hugh Peters Mr. Peter Sterrey Mr. Samuel Bamford Mr. Thomas Valentine of Chaford Mr. Henry Iesse Mr. Obediah Sedgwick Mr. Nicholas Lockyer Mr. Daniel Dike Mr. Iames Russel Mr. Nathaniel Campfield Robert Tichburne Alderman of London Mark Hildesley Thomas Wood. John Sadler William Goff Thomas St. Nicholas William Packer Edward Crescet Esq or any five or more of them Having now ended this year 1653. as to the Principal Transsactions at Home I must look back a little and take notice of our farther Military contests with the Dutch wherein I find that on the second of Iune upon another sharp Fight in Yarmouth rode they much worsted those Hogen-mogens so likewife on the last day of Iuly wherein Van Trump their famous Admiral was slain But both parties at length growing weary of this chargeable and destructive War before the end of this year a Peace was concluded betwixt them though not ratified till April ensuing Which Peace with the Dutch and the slavish condition whereunto this Monster Cromwell had brought the People of these Nations made him not only much Idolized here by all his Party but somewhat feared abroad For certain it is that most of the Princes of Europe made application to him amongst which the French King was the first his Embassador making this Speech to him in the Banquetting-house at White-Hall Your most serene Highness hath received already some principal assurances of the King my Master and of his desire to establish a perfect Correspondency between his Dominions and England His Majesty gives unto your Highness this day some publick Demonstration of the same and sending his Excellency for his Service in the quality of Embassador to your Highness doth plainly shew that the esteem which his Majesty makes of your Highness and the Interest of his People have more power in his Councils than many Considerations that would be of great concernment to a Prince less affected with the one and the other This proceeding grounded upon such sound principles and so different from that which is only guided by Ambition renders the Friendship of the King my Master as much considerable for its firmness as for the Utility it may produce and for that reason it is such eminent esteem and sought after by all the greatest Princes and Powers of the Earth But his Majesty doth Communicate none to any with so much Ioy and Chearfulness as unto those whose vertuous deeds and extraordinary Merits render them more eminently Famous than the greatness of their Dominions His Majesty doth acknowledge all these advantages wholly to reside in your Highness and that Divine Providence after so many Troubles and Calamities could not deal more favourably with these three Nations nor cause them to forget their past Misery with more content and satisfaction than by submitting them to so just a Government And whereas it is not enough for the compleating of their happiness to make them enjoy Peace at Home since it depends no less on a good correspondency with Neighbour-Nations abroad the King my Master doth not doubt but to find also the same disposition in your Highness which his Majesty doth express in those Letters which his Excellencie hath Order to present unto your Highness After so many Dispositions exprest by his Majesty and your Highness towards the accommodation of the two Nations there is cause to believe that their wishes will be soon Accomplisht As for me I have none greater than to be able to serve the King my Master with the good liking and satisfaction of your Highness and that the happiness I have to tender unto your Highness the first assurances of his Majesties esteem may give me occasion to deserve by my respects the honour of your Gracious Affection Being therefore thus puft up he soon after passed an Act of Grace and Pardon to all Persons of the Scottish Nation excepting Iames late Duke Hamilton William late Duke Hamilton Iohn Earl of Crawford-Lindsey Iames Earl of Calender and many more therein specially named As also another Act for making Scotland one Common-wealth with England Whereby it was likewise Ordained that thirty Persons of that Nation should serve in Parliament here for Scotland And that the People of that Nation should be discharged of their Allegiance to any Issue of the late King Also that Kingship and Parliamentary-Authority should be there abolished and the Arms of Scotland viz. St. Andrew's Cross should thenceforth be borne with the Arms of this Common-wealth All which being done he removed his Lodgings which were before at the Cockpit into those of the late King in his Royal Pallace at White-Hall About this time it was that Colonel Venables having been imploy'd by Cromwell to attempt some of the chief Plantations made by the Spanyard in the West-Indies Landing his Men in Hispaniola and expecting with little trouble to have taken S. Domingo he received a shameful defeat But the next Month he had better success in those Forreign parts For the Spaniards in Iamaco timorously flying before them when they Landed there an easie acquisition was made by the English of that large Island which hath since proved a very prosperous and beneficial Plantation But to return Cromwell by this time being grown very great to make himself the more formidable to all his late Majesties good Subjects then called Royalists by establishing his Dominion upon more Innocent blood having by the wicked practises of his Emissaries trayn'd in some Persons purpose of endeavouring their own and the Peoples freedome from his Tyrannous Power he caused another bloody Theater to be erected in Westminster-Hall calling it an high-Court of Iustice where Mr. Iohn Gerard and Mr. Wowell two Gentlemen of great Loyalty received Sentence of Death and were accordingly Sacrificed as a peace-Offering to this Moloch For the better maintenance likewise and encouragement of Preaching-Ministers and for uniting and severing of Parishes he made another Act which begins thus Whereas many Parishes in this Nation are without the constant and Powerful Preaching of the Gospel through want of competent maintenance c. Also another for Souldiers which had serv'd the Common-wealth in
preamble whereof beginneth thus for asmuch as the Prosperity and Safety of this Nation and the Dommions thereunto belonging very much dependeth under God upon the security and preservation of the person of his Highness c. In which Act several offences were adjudged Treason and certain Commissioners for England and Wales therein nominated for the Tryal of Offenders against the said Act. Which foundation being so laid it was by his Friends and Favourers then thought high time to discover what they would be at and accordingly moved that whereas this Nation had for thirteen hundred years at the least been governed by Kings and though some of them had offended the people yet that Title had never been abolished Also whereas the Government by the said Title was interwoven with the Laws and accommodated to the dispositions of the people that they should humbly Petition and Advise his Highness to take upon him the same Title Which motion took such effect that there was an Instrument soon drawn up by them called the Humble Petition and Advice whereby they besought his Highness so to do Whereunto that he might not seem to have any knowledg of what they were about much less any desire thereof but be still more and more sought to and importuned therein he answered with all shew of modesty that indeed those Arguments which they had used to him were persuasive but not compulsive and that the Title of Protector might be well accommodated to the Laws To which they replyed that the Title ought to be such as was suitable to the Laws and the Laws not be made suitable to the Title urging the Statutes of 9. Edw. IV. and 3. Henr. VII whereby it was provided that no one should suffer for bearing Arms on the behalf of him that was de facto King though he had no just right to the Crown Which Arguments were made use of to him meerly for shew the better to disguise his ambitious aim as though without such strong motives he could not have been won thereto But the plain truth is that after this business came thus in question the Sectaries of all sorts nay a great part of the Souldiery shewed a vehement dislike thereof being privately instigated by Lambert and some other of the Principal Officers who did themselves upon Cromwels death expect to have succeeded him in the Place of Protector it being Elective as is manifest from the Instrument of Government whereby that Tyrant was at first so Constituted whereas had he been advanced to the Title of King the case might have been otherwise So that this crafty Fox discerning no small peril to himself by such divisions as might thereby arise especially in the Army wherein lay his chief strength and support thought it the safest way to decline it and to stick still to that of Protector yet to have the Government setled in a kind of Monarchic manner And so in imitation of that which had formerly been Regal to have a House of Peers But against that also there were great and high oppositions so that though it was with much ado agreed that there should be another House yet it would not be allowed the Title of an House of Peers Whereupon the result was that an Act Intituled The Humble Petition and Advice should pass whereby they ordained what Stile the chief Magistrate should have idest Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging Likewise that Parliaments consisting of two Houses should be called once in three years with qualifications of such as should serve therein And that the number of such as should sit in the other House should be nominated by the Lord Protector and approved by the House of Commons Moreover that he should have power to nominate his Successor And that a Confession of Faith should be agreed on by his Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures Which Act being presented to him accordingly was assented to and passed But that Act being in some sort deficient about a month following they passed another relating thereto and called The Explanatory Petition and Advice Wherein inter alia is this Clause viz. Whereas in the Fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to the Elected to serve in Parliament it is hereby explained and declared to such Ministers and Preachers only as have maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In which Act is also contained the Oaths of the Lord Protector and of his Privy-Council as also the Oaths of the Members of that Parliament Soon after which he was again in WestMinster-Hall standing under a Rich State solemnly invested into his Old Title of Lord Protector and into the Government thus new modelled Where in the presence of the Members of that Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker delivered unto him in the name of them all and as Representatives of all the people in the three Kingdoms a Purple Robe lyned with Ermine as also a Bible Sword and Scepter descanting upon each of them as significant in some respect All which being performed the Instrument of that new Modelled Government called The Humble Petition and Advice was publickly read Whereunto assenting he was then and there Proclaimed Protector of England Scotland and Ireland with sound of 〈◊〉 and afterwards in the City of London So likewise at Dublin in Ireland and Edenburgh in Scotland Which new devised Government so much resembling Monarchy though the Title did not sute thereto did so 〈◊〉 please the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men that they 〈◊〉 spired his ruin by a sudden Insurrection but their 〈◊〉 being timely discerned came at length to nothing 〈◊〉 reupon for prevention of farther mischief he committed to Prison several persons of no small note whose power with the Souldiery might otherwise have much endangered his safety Viz. Lawson one of his Admirals at Sea Harrison Rich Danvers and some other Colonels Nay Lambert himself being aware that his hopes of succeeding him were then by that new framed Government frustrated began to fall off from him and to incline to the Fanaticks Which so awakened the Protector that he took from him his Commission of Lieutenant General and gave it to Fleetwood who by the Marriage of his Daughter stood more nearly typed to his Interest And that he might the better allure those of the Army and some other which were no great friends to him to conform the more pliantly to this his new setled Dominion he tickled them with the specious Title of Lords by calling them to fit in the other House obliging also many other desperate and mean persons which were Officers of the Army with the like shadows of Honour The names of which persons so called were as followeth viz. Richard Cromwel his eldest Son Henry Cromwel his other Son then Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fienes
their main design were then necessitated to dissemble it for a while and therefore seeming to lay aside their over-bold proposals represented to the Parliament that they would adhere to their Authority in opposition to the Common Enemy and that they would not at all fail to stand by them in the settlement of the Common-Wealth against all disturbances whatsoever Which fair expressions did lull the Rumpers into such a seeming security the City also feasting them at a Thanksgiving Dinner whereat the Officers of the Army were also present that being totally void of any fear from those dangers so lately obvious they fell upon Sequestring such new Delinquents as had at that time appeared in Sir George Booth's Rising As also setled the Excise Revived the Assesment for the Army neglecting no other means imaginable for gaining the whole wealth of the Nation into their Ravenous Clutches But the design of the Army being shortly after ripened the Officers which for a while had cunningly shadowed their purposes under a plausible disguise began again to appear in their proper colours and presented the House with such another bold Address as they had formerly done Which so startled the Rumpers that they gravely declared That every Member of the Army as freemen of England had a right of Petitioning the Parliament but withal thought fit to let them know that the Petitioners ought to be very careful both in the manner and in the matter of what they desired that the way of promoting and presenting the same may be peaceable and the thing Petitioned for not tending to the distrubance of the Common-Wealth nor to the dishonour of the Parliament And that it was the duty of Petitioners to submit their desires to the Parliament and acquiesce in the judgment thereof Nevertheless doubting as they might do very well that the Souldiers which so often before had made themselves Masters of the Parliament would again follow the example of Oliver either in turning them out of Doors or making them Hackneys to their ambitious ends being not ignorant that without mony those Sword-men could no way subsist and that none was like to be so plausibly raised as by the name of a Parliament to the end therefore that they might the more insensibly diminish their power they passed an Act That all Orders Ordinances and Acts made by any single Person and his Council or both or either of them or otherwise or by any Assembly or Convention pretending to have Authority of Parliament from and after the nineteenth day of April 1653. and before the seventh of May 1659. and which had not been or should not be Enacted Allowed or confirmed by that present Parliament should be and were thereby declared deemed taken and adjudged to be of no force and effect from and after the said seventh day of May 1659. And that no person or persons should after the eleventh of October 1659. Assess Levy Collect Gather or Receive any Custom Impost Excise Assesment Contribution Tax Tallage or any sum or sums of mony or other Imposition whatsoever upon the people of that Common-Wealth without their consent in Parliament or as by Law might have been done before the third of November 1640. And that every person offending contrary to that Act should be and was thereby adjudged to be guilty of High Treason and should forfeit and suffer as in case of High Treason And thinking then that their whole work was in effect done they lookt upon themselves as men of such might that they Voted the Commissions of Lambert Desborow and some other eminent Magnifico's of the Army null and void and that they and every of them should be discharged from their respective Military imployments Likewise that the Army should be governed by seven Commissioners the most confiding men you may be sure viz. Lieutenant General Fleetwood Lieutenant General Ludlow General Monke Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Golonel Valentine Walton Colonel Herbert Morley and Colonel Robert Overton or any three or more of them who were to give notice unto Lambert and the rest that they were each of them discharged of their respective Military imployments Which was no sooner made known to those Sword-men than that General Lambert and his party prepared for their defence on the other side the Commissioners for the Rumpers issuing out Orders suitable to the exigency of their affairs Of which Lambert and his followers being made aware they drew down to Westminster in an Hostile equipage where they possessed themselves of the Palace-Yard and all avenues leading thereto having before-hand given out that they found it absolutely necessaray to Dissolve the Parliament for the good of the Nation But for the support of that Convention commonly called the Rump another part of the Army were no less earnest and active and in opposition to Lambert did at the same time march thither also placing themselves in King's-street and other parts about Westminster All which was done betimes in the morning so that when Lenthal the Speaker came in his Coach according to the usual time to sit in the House though he found his way clear enough through the Souldiers in King-Street when he came to the Palace-Yard he saw it otherwise and therefore made his return It was then thought by some that the Souldiers thus met would not have departed so tamely But Lambert having his ends by shutting out the Rumpers both parties retreated quietly closing again in a seeming friendly manner But that there might not be wanting some shadow of a Civil Power did wisely agree upon a Committee of Safety viz. General Lambert Major General Desborow Bulstrode Whitlock Colonel Edward Ludlow Colonel Sydenham Major Saloway Mr. Strickland Colonel Berrey Mr. Lawrence Sir James Harrington Alderman Ireton Sir Archibald Iohnston Lord Wareston Alderman Tichburne Mr. Henry Brandreth Mr. Thompson Colonel Hewson Colonel Clarke Colonel Lilburne Colonel Bench. Cornelius Holland Giving them Authority to call Delinquents to account to suppress all Insurrections to treat with Forein States and Princes top raise the Militia in the several Counties and to dispose of all places of Trust with a farther large and unlimited power setting also forth a Declaration in Print intituled A Declaration of the General Council of the Officers of the Army whereby they publisht that they had lodged the Civil and executive Power of Government in the Committee of Safety whom they had obliged to prepare such a form of Government as might best sute with a free State without a single Person Kingship or House of Peers CHAP. XLII WHerewith whilst they were in hand came a Letter out of Scotland from General Monke importing that himself and some of the Officers there with him were much dissatisfied with their transactions here and that he had not only secured divers strong Holds in that Kingdom but committed to safe custody those of his Officers who were Dissenters from him therein as also Possessed himself of the Garrison of