in one Brigade and their Armes taken by their Officers 60 60. Cheats put upon the State and shortly after they have been listed againe in another Brigade and their Armes sold againe to the State after a while to new Arme them And of this sort were those Armes which being found in a Magazine in Town by some zelots and rumoured to belong to the City for the Arming of Reformado's were upon examination found to belong to Oliver Cromwell so the businesse was buried in silence for though the Kings over-sights must be tragically published to the world yet the hainous crimes of the godly must lie hid under the maske of Religion 61 61. Arreares secured although the State owes them nothing And though they have usually taken free-quarter in one place and taken composition money for free-quarter in another place some of them in two or three places at once 3s. a day some of them 5s. for a Trooper and 1s. a day and 1s. 6d. for a foot Souldier whereby no Arreares are due to them but they owe money to the State yet they have compelled the Houses to settle upon them for pretended Arreares 1. The moity of the Excise that they may have the Souldiers help in leavying it Although to flatter the People the Army had formerly declared against the excise 2. The moity of Goldsmiths-Hall 3. Remainder of Bishops Lands 4. The customes of some Garrisons 5. Forrest Lands This Army brags they are the Saviours nay Conquerors of the Kingdome Let them say when they saved it whether at the fight at Nazeby or taking in of Oxford and we will pay them according to the then List And for all the Recruites taken in since the reducing of Oxford it is fit they be disbanded without pay having been taken in without nay against Authority to drive on wicked designes and enthrall King Parliament City and Kingdome 24. Decemb. 1647. 62 62. Four dethroning Bills presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle The two Houses by their Commissioners presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle four Bills to be passed as Acts of Parliament and divers Propositions to be assented to They are all printed so is His Majesties Answer to them wherefore I shall need to say the lesse of them only a word or two to two of the Bills 1. The Act for raising setling 63 63. Act for the Militia and maintaining Forces by Sea and Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Wales c. though it seems to be but for 20 years devests the King his Heirs and Successours of the power of the Militia for ever without hope of recovery but by repealing the said Act which will never be in his nor their power for first it saith That neither the King nor his Heires or Successours nor any other shall exercise any power over the Militia by Land or Sea but such as shall act by authority and approbation of the said Lords and Commons That is a Committee of State of twenty or thirty Grandees to whom the two Houses shall transfer this trust being over-awed by the Army for the ground-work of this Committee was layed by these words though the Committee be erected since And secondly it prohibiteth the King his Heires and Successours c. after the expiration of the said 20 years to exercise any of the said powers without the consent of the said Lords and CoÌ„mons and in all cases wherein the said Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdome to be concerned after the said 20 years expired and shall passe any Bills for raising arming c. forces by land or sea or concerning levying of mony c. if the Royall assent to such Bills shall not be given by such a time c. then such Bills so passed by the Lords and Commons shall haâ—e the force of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Lo â—â—re a foundation laid to make an Ordinance of both Houses equall to an Act of Parliament if this be granted in one case it will be taken in another and then these Subverters of our Religion Laws and Liberties will turne their usurpation into a legall Tyranny 2. It gives an unlimited power to the two Houses to raise what forces and what numbers for land and sea and of what persons without exceptions they please and to imploy them as they shall judge fit 3. To raise what mony they please for maintaining them and in what sort they think fit out of any mans estate 64 64. Bill for adjournment of the Parliament as well for place as time The Bill for adjournment of both Houses to any other place c. will enable the engaged Party of the two Houses and Army to adjourne the two Houses from time to time to or near the Head quarters of the Army where those Members that refuse to enter into the same Engagement shall neither sit with accommodation nor safety and so be shaken off at last this is a new way of purging the Houses Besides the Parliament following the motions of the Army the King shall follow the Parliament whereby the Army having both King and Parliament present with them whatsoever attempt shall be made against the Army shall be said to be against the safety and authority of the King and Parliament and a legall Treason triable by Indictment not a constructive Treason only Triable before the Lords 65 65. The King's Answer debated Monday 3. Jan. the Kings Answer to the said Bills and Propositions was debated in the House of Commons And first Sir Thomas Wrothe Jacke Pudding to Prideaux the Post-master had his cue to go high and feel the pulse of the House who spake to this purpose That Bedlem was appointed for mad men and Tophet for Kings That our Kings of late had carried themselves as if they were fit for no place but Bedlem That his humble motion should consist of three parts 1. To secure the King and keep Him close in some inland Castle with sure Guards 2. To draw up Articles of Impeachment against Him 3. To lay Him by and settle the Kingdome without Him He cared not what form of Government they set up so it were not by Kings and Devils Fretons Speech Then Commissary Ireton seeming to speak the sense 〈◊〉 the Army under the notion of many thousand godly men who had ventured their lives to subdue their enemies said after this manner The King had denied safety and protection to his people by denying their four Bills That subjection to him was but in lieu of his protection to his people This being denied they might well deny any more subjection to him and settle the Kingdom without him That it was now expected after so long patience they should shew their resolution and not desert those valiant men who had engaged for them beyond all possibility of retreat and would never forsake the Parliament unlesse the Parliament forsooke them first After some more debate
whose very names are concealed yet Naboth was murdered by the sword of Justice for the honour of Parliaments give not the people cause to suspect these Gentlemen shall be so too non recurrendum ad extraordinaria quando fieri potest per ordinaria But all this was but to charme a deafe Adder the nine or ten engaged Lords that then possessed the House were thought to be fitter then a Jury of Middlesex to make work for the hang-man 52 52. Arguments proving the Lords to have no power of Iudicature over the Commons and yet they have no Judicature over the CoÌ„mons as appears by the the president of Sir Simon de Berisforde William Taylboys and the City of Cambridge Note that one president against the Jurisdiction of a Court is more valued then a hundred for it because the Court cannot be supposed ignorant of the Law and its own rights but a particular man or client may see Sir John Maynard's Royall quarrell and his Laws subversion Lieut. Col. Lilburne's whip for the present House of Lords and Judge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of the two Houses of Parliament dated 21. Febr. 1647. As for the cases of Weston Gomenes and Hall cited by Mr. Pryn they were for facts done beyond Sea and before the Stat. 1 Hen. 4. ch 14. whereof the Common Law could then have no conusance therefore an extraordinary way of proceeding before the Lords was requisite and by the Kings speciall Authority it was done without which I dare boldly affirme the Lords have no Judicature at all 53 53. The House of Peers no Court of Iudicature at at all properly and per se which thus I make appear 1. The King by delivering the Great Seale to the Lord Keeper makes him Keeper of his Conscience for matter of equity By his Brevia patentia to the Judges of the two Benches and the Exchequer the King makes them administrators and Interpreters of his Lawes But he never trusts any but himself with the power of pardoning and dispensing with the rigour of the Law in Criminall cases And though the Lord Keeper is Speaker of the Lords House of Court yet he is no Member of the Lords House virtute officii The Judges are not Members but Assistants only So that no man in the House of Peers as he is simply a Peere is trusted by the King either with dispensation of law or equity 2. When a Peer of Parliament or any man else is tried before the Lords in Parliament criminally he cannot be tried by his Peers only because in acts of Judicature there must be a Judge superior who must have his inferiors ministeriall to him Therefore in the Triall of the Earle of Strafford as in all other Trialls upon life and death in the Lords House the King grants his Commission to a Lord High Steward to sit as Judge and the rest of the Lords are but in the nature of Jurors So that it is the Kings Commission that authoriseth and distinguisheth them 3. When a Writ of Error issueth out of the Chauncery to the House of Peers they derive their Authority meerly from that Writ For the three Reasons aforesaid The House of Peers is no Court of Judicature at all without the Kings speciall Authority granted to them either by his Writ or his Commission And the Lords by their four Votes having denied all farther addresse or application to the King have cut off from themselves that fountaine from which they derive all their power And all Trialls by Commission must be upon Bils or Acts of Attainder not by Articles of Impeachment a way never heard of before this Parliament and invented to carry on the designes of a restlesse impetuous Faction Had the Faction had but so much wit as to try those Gentlemen by Commission of Oyer and Terminer before Sergeant Wild he would have borrowed a point of law to hang a hundred of them for his own preferment Observe that almost all the cases cited by Mr. Pryn concerning the Peers Trialls of Commissioners were authorized by the King upon the speciall instance of the House of Commons As for the House of Commons they never pretended to any power of Judicature and have not so much authority as to administer an oath which every Court of Pye-pouldres hath 54 54. Blâ—nke impeachments dorment But this way of triall before the pre-ingaged Lords and upon Articles of Impeachment which they keep by them of all sorts and sizes fit for every man as in Birchin-lane they have suites ready made to fit every body was the apter meanes to bring those men to death whom they feared living had not a doubt of the Scots comming in taught them more moderation then their nature is usually acquainted with and to fright away or at least put to silence the rest of the Members with fear of having their names put into blank Impeachments And that it might be so apprehended Miles Corbet moved openly in the House of Commons that they should proceed with the Impeachments which were ready nothing wanted but to fill up the Blanks they might put in what names they pleased This Inquisitor generall this prologue to the Hang-man that looks more like a hang-man then the Hang-man himself hath since gotten the rich office of Register of the Chauncery as a reward for his double diligence Oh Sergeant Wilde and Mr. Steele despair not of a reward 55 55. Establishment for the Army Friday 17. Sept. the advice of Sir Tho Fairfax and his Councell of War was read in the House of Commons what standing Forces they thought fit to be kept up in England and Wales and what Garrisons Also what Forces to send for Ireland namely for Ireland 6000 Foot and 2400 Horse out of the supernumerary loose forces being no part of the Army And for England upon established pay 18000 Foot at 8d. per diem 7200 Horse at 2s. per diem each Trouper 1000 Dragoones and 200 Firelocks Traine of Artillery Armes and Ammunition to be supplied The Foot to be kept in Garrisons yet so that 6000 may be readily drawn into the field The Independent party argued That the Army were unwilling to goe for Ireland pretending their engagement to the contrary if you divide or disband any part of your Army they will suspect you have taken up your old resolutions against them to disband the whole Army It is now no time to discontent them when the Kings Answer to your Propositions tends to divide you and your Army and the people are generally disaffected to you The Presbyterian party argued That the engagement of the Army ought to be no rule to the Councels of the Parliament otherwise new Engagements every day may prescribe the Parliament new Rules we must look two wayes 1. Upon the people unable to beare the burden 2. Upon the Army Let us keep some power in our owne Hands and not descend so far below the dignity of a Parliament as
greater distance with the Presbyterian Party and bring them and the Independents Party neerer together he knew the Army abominated nothing more then Disbanding and returning to their old Trades and wduld hate the Authors thereof 8 8. Agitators raised by Cromwel 9 9. The beginning of the project to purge the Houses 10 10. The Army put into mutiny against the Parliament whereby Cromwell monopolizeth the Army And at the same time when he made these protests in the House he had his Agitators Spirits of his and his Son Ireton's conjuring up in the Army though since conjured downe by them without requitall to animate them against the major part of the House under the notion of Royallists a Malignant party and enemies to the Army to ingage them against Disbanding and going for Ireland and to make a Trayterous Comment upon the said Ordinance to demand an Act of indemnity and relie upon the advice of Judge Jenkins for the validity of it and to insist upon many other high demands some private as Souldiers some publick as States-men 11 11. Cromwell's Family in the Army Cromwell having thus by mutinying the Army against the Parliament made them his owne and monopolized them as he did formerly his Brew-house at Ely which he might easily do having before-hand filled most of the chief Offices in the Army with his owne kindred allyes and friends of whose numerous family Lieut. Col. Lilburne gives you a list in one of his Books he now flies to the Army doubting his practises discovered he might be imprisoned 12 12. Cromwell and Ireton usurp Offices in the Army where he and Ireton assuming Offices to themselves acted without Commission having not only been ousted by the self-denying Ordinance if it be of any power against the godly but also their severall Commissions being then expired and Sir Thomas Fairfax having no authority to make generall Officers as appears by his Commission if he make any account of it and therefore Sprigg alias Nathaniel Fines in his Legend or Romance of this Army called Anglia rediviva sets down two Letters sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Speaker William Lenthall one to desire Cromwell's continuance in the Army another of thanks for so long forbearing him from the House see Ang. Red. p. 10 11 29. which needed not had he been an Officer of the Army And now both of them bare-faced and openly joyne with the Army at Newmarket in trayterous Engagements Declarations Remonstrances and Manifesto's and Petitions penn'd by Cromwell himself were sent to some Counties to be subscribed against supposed Obstructers of Justice and Invaders of the Peoples Liberties in Parliament and the Army at Newmarket and Triplo heath prompted to cry Justice Justice against them and high and treasonable demands destructive to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament were publickly insisted upon many of which for quietnesse sake and out of compassion to bleeding Ireland were granted yet these restlesse spirits hurried on to farther designes made one impudent demand beget another and when by Letters and otherwise they had promised that if their then present demands were granted they would there stop and acquiesce yet when they seemed to have done they had not done but deluded and evaded all hopes of peace by mis-apprehensions and mis-constructions of the Parliaments concessions making the mis-interpretation of one grant the generation of another demand so that almost ever since the Parliament hath nothing else to do but encounter this Hydra and roll this stone Having thus debauched the Army 13 13. Securing Oxford and plundring the King from Holdenby he plotted in his own Chamber the securing the Garrisons Magazine and Traine of Artillery at Oxford and surprizing the Kings Person at Holdenby which by his instrument Coronet Joyce with a commanded Party of Horse he effected though afterwards having recourse to his usuall familiarity with Almighty God he used his name to protest his ignorance and innocence in that businesse both to the King and Parliament adding an execration upon his Wife and Children to his Protestation yet Joyce is so free from punishment that he is since preferred and his Arrears paid by their meanes And though both Houses required the Army to send his Royall Person to Richmond to be there left in the hands of the Parliaments Commissioners whereby both Kingdoms might freely make Addresses to Him for they had formerly excluded and abused the Scots Commissioners contrary to the Law of Nations and Votes of both Houses and yet then granted free accesse to the most desperate persons of the Kings Party yet they could obtaine no better answer from these rebellious Saints Manifesto of the Army 27. June 1647. then That they desired no place might be proposed for His Majesties residence neerer London then where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be This was according to their old threats of marching up to London frequently used when any thing went contrary to their desires They knew what dangerous and troublesome guests we should find them here How much is this Army degenerated since Cromwell and his demure white-livered Son-in-law Ireton poysoned their manners with new Principles Anglia Rediviva p. 247. tells us that about Woodstock private overtures were made by some from Court for receiving His Majesty who was minded to cast himself upon the Army but such was their faithfulnesse in that poynt that conceiving it derogatory to the honour and power of Parliament for His Majesty to wave that highest Court and addresse Himself to any others and therefore inconsistent with their trust and duty being Servants of the State they certified the Parliament thereof and understanding it to be against their sense also they absolutely refused to be tampered with Oh how faithfull then how perfidious and Cromwellized are they now let their frequent tampering with the King and His Party to the amazement of the Kingdome and the abusing of the King testifie Read Putney Projects written by a considerable Officer of the Army and a friend to Cromwell though not to his false practises 14 14. Their project to keep the Parliament in wardship 15 15. Purging the Houses again 16 16. Accusing the 11 Members Having thus gotten the King the first and most visible legall authority of England into their possession their next designe is to get the Parliament the second legall authority of England into their power This could not be effected but by purging the two Houses of Presbyterian Members especially the most active and such as had laboured their Disbanding that an Independent Parliament and Army might govern the Kingdome In order to which designe they sent to the House of Commons in the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army a generall and confused Charge of High Treasons and other mis-demeanors against eleven Members for things done for the most part in the House and many of the principall such as the House had long before
to spit thanks in their mouthes and make much of them These 4 Votes were generally sinisterly taken and filled mens mindes with suspicion what forme of government the Grandees would set up now they had laid by the King and every mans minde presaged a new War which they conceived the Independent Grandees were willing to have to colour their keeping up this Army and raising money to maintaine them and every man began to lay the project of a new War at their door notwithstanding by way of prevention they had impeached divers Members and Citizens of London for endeavouring a new Warre when they did but raise men for their selfe-defence 72 72. The Declaration against the King To shew the people therefore the reasons of these 4 Votes the Independent Grandees appointed a Committee to search into the Kings Conversation errours of his Government publish them in a Declaration to the world wherein they objected many high crimes against Him concerning His Fathers death the losse of Rochell and the Massacre and Rebellion in Ireland which upon debate in the House were very much moderated by the Presbyterians of which Declaration I will only say That they have set forth no new matter therein which they have not formerly published in parcells since which time they have taken and caused others to take the Nationall Covenant whereby they vow to maintaine the Kings Person Crown and Dignity in defence of Religion Laws and Liberties and therefore to reprint only the same things as Arguments to lay by the King savours more of designe then justice I will wade no farther in the censure of the said Declaration lest I imitate the Authors of it and as they by a feeble accusation have done the King much right so I by a weak defence should doe him much wrong The people were as ill satisfied with this Declaration as with the four Votes 73 73. Tho Hasterig's Letter concerning the King wherefore 24. Febr. Mr. Speaker with much seriousnesse presented to the House a Letter out of Leicester-shire from Thomas Hasterig brother to Sir Arthur which was read to this purpose That there was one Mr. Smalling a Committee-man of Leicester-shire who had been a Deputy-examiner in the Star-chamber and affirmed that above twenty years since there being a suite in Star-chamber betweene the Earle of Bristoll complainant and the Duke of Buckingham defendant concerning Physick presumptuously administred by the said Duke to K. James the said Smalling took many depositions therein and was farther proceeding in the Examinations untill a Warrant signed by the King was brought him commanding him to surcease and to send him the Depositions already taken which Smalling did yet kept notes by him of the principall passages doubting what farther proceedings might be hereafter in a businesse of such importance Sir Henry Mildmay moved that Smalling be sent for and examined upon oath by the Committee that penned the said Declaration but upon motion of the Presbyterians he was ordered to be examined at the Commons Bar. Smalling came produced the Warrant but no notes so this Chimaera vanished What the said Committee would have made of this who knows God blesse us all from clandestine examinations especially when they are taken by parties preingaged 3. Caroli this businesse had been ventilated and examined against the Duke and no mention made of poysoning or killing K. James It was then only called an Act of high presumption and dangerous consequence in the Duke nor was there then the least reflection upon K. Charls yet now because K. Charls dissolved that Parliament the Independent party were willing to raise a suspition against him concerning his Fathers death whereas the Accusation against the Duke of Buckingham 3 Caroli contained seven or eight Charges against him the least whereof might occasion the dissolving of that Parliament These desperate courses to dishonour the King and make him uncapable of Government to ruine his Person Crown 74 74. Why the Independents went so high against the King To usurp the Regall power into themselves either in the Houses purging or in the Committee of safety at Derby house and Dignity and extirpate Monarchy root and branch were taken in order to the usurping of the Kingly power into the Grandees of the Parliament and Army and in case they could not purge the two Houses and make them wholly Independent which they now dispair of then into the hands of the Committee or Councell of State at Derby House and Grandees of the Army In order to which they are now contriving to strengthen the said Committee with more power and more Members and to adjourn the Parliament and send downe the Presbyterian Members into the Country upon pretence of service where if any Tumults happen for which their extortions will give sufficient provocation the said dissenting Members shall bear the blame and have Blanck Impeachments given them to purge them out of the Houses if not out of the world or at least be sequestred for now they have squeezed what they can out of the Kings party by Sequestrations the next fuell to their covetousnesse is to sequester the Presbyerians and then to sequester one another for they are already divided into pure Independents and mixed Independents and have feuds amongst themselves for this Faction insatiate with mony and bloud are all beasts of prey and when they want prey will prey upon one another nor shall the Houses meet above one Month or two in a Year to ratifie and approve what Derby house and the Junto of the Army shall dictate to them and to give an Account to the domineering party how each Member hath carried himself in the Country Thus in stead of one King we shall have twenty or thirty Tyrants in chief and as many subordinate Tyrants as they please to imploy under them with the Iron yoak of an Army to hold us in subjection to their Arbitrary Government 75 75. Why the Grandees doe still continue to truck with the King notwithstanding the said 4 Votes Notwithstanding the aforesaid four Votes and Resolutions the Caball of Grandees still keep Ashburnham and Barkley in the Army and have sent diverse turn-coat-Cavaleers and Emissaries underhand disguised to the King who pretending that by Bribes they have bought their admission to him after some insinuations endevour with false and deceitfull newes and arguments to shake his constancy and perswade him to passe the said 4. dethroning Bils for these usurpers of Soveraign Authority long to turne their Armed and violent Tyrannie into a legall Tyrannie or at least to make him declare against the Scots comming in In both which cases he will dishearten his friends who endeavour to take the golden reines of Government out of the gripes of these Phaëtons and restore them againe to his hand un-king himself and his posterity for ever be carryed up and down like a stalking horse to their designes and be Crowned Ludibrio Coronae with straw or thornes For
and an Office before they would trust him with them were sent Mr. Hearle and Mr. Marshall Marshall when he saw Independency prevaile 78 78. M. Marshall had secretly turned his coat the wrong side outward and joyned interest with Mr. Nye But before he declared himself he was to do some service for his new party Wherefore when the Army looked with a threatning posture upon the Parliament and City before they marched through London the common Souldiers being in such discontent for want of pay that they were ready to mutiny and disband and their Officers scarce daring to governe them the first fruits of Marshall's service to his new friends was to perswade the City to lend the Parliament 50000l to pacifie the Souldiers assuring them by Letters that the Army had nothing but good thoughts towards the City onely the common Souldiers was troubled for want of pay after the City had laid down the said 50000l his next labour was to perswade the Citizens to let the Army march through the City without opposition for avoiding of bloudshed and firing and to let them possesse the Tower and Line of Communication After these services the Grandees of the Parliament and Army finding him sutable to them received him into an avowed favour and then four Independents and four Presbyterian Divines conjoyning their interests were sent to season the Army and new tune them according to the more moderne designe Marshall was one where after he had preached according to the Dictates of the Grandees of the two Houses and Army for divers weeks Marshall was thought fit to attend the Commissioners into Scotland He and Mr. Nye had been sent to Carisbrooke Castle formerly with those Commissioners that carried the four Bills to the King and had 500l a piece given them for their journey Scotland a longer journey promised a larger reward it is good being a postilion of the Gospel at such rates The Sunday before he went he preached at Margarets Westminster and as much cried up Presbytery and the Covenant there as he had before slighted them in the Army This was a preparation Sermon to make him acceptable to the Scots that he might cajole them the easier Before he went he sent his Agents from house to house at Westminster to beg mens good wills towards his journey He was willing upon this pretence to get what he could from St. Margarets Parish where he found the people to grow cold in their affections and contributions to him Wherefore having made his bargain before he went to leave S. Margarets and officiate in the Abby where he is to have 300l per annum certain allowance he would rob the Aegyptians at S. Margarets for a parting blow This Priest married his owne Daughter with the Book of Common-prayer and a Ring and gave for reason That the Statute establishing that Liturgy was not yet repealed and he was loath to have his Daughter whored and turned back upon him for want of a Legall Mariage yet he can declare against all use of it by others He hath so long cursed Meroz and neutrality that he hath brought Gods curse upon the land and hath put Church and Common-wealth into a flame but himself and his Brats have warmed their fingers at it as monies are decried or enhaunced by the Kings authority so is every mans Religion cried up or down by Marshall's authority and stamp About the 24. 79 79. The Answer to the Scots Declaration Feb. the Answer to the Scots Declaration began to be debated in parts in which Debate the Covenant was much undervalued and called an Almanack out of Date Nath Fiennes argued against it That that clause in the Covenant To defend the Kings Person Crown and Dignity c. was inconsistent with their four Votes for making no Addresses to the King To which was answered by some That then they would relinquish the foure Votes and adhere to the Covenant About the beginning of March 80 80. Mony shared amongst godly Members was given to Col. Sydenham and Col. Bingham 1000l apiece as part of their Arrears their Accounts not yet stated To the Lord of Broghill 2000l To Master Fenwicke 500l for losses To Mr. Millington 2000l for losses To Col. Ven 4000l notwithstanding it was moved he might first account for Contribution-money the Plunder of the Country about Windsor and the Kings Houshold-stuffe Hangings Linnen and Bedding Mr. Pury the Petty-bag Office besides 1000l formerly given him To Pury's Son the Clerke of the Peers place and 100l a yeare all Independents The 7. of March 81 81. Cromwell an Ordinance passed the Commons to settle 2500l a year land out of the Marquesse of Worcester's Estate upon Lieutenant Generall Oliver Cromwell I have heard some Gentlemen that know the Mannor of Chepstow and the rest of the Lands setled upon him affirm That in the particulars the said Lands are so favourably rated that they are worth 5000l or 6000l a year It is farther said those Lands are bravely wooded You see though they have not made King Charles a glorious King 82 82. A Message from the Lords desiring the Commons concurrence to the engagement of the Members with the Army as they promised yet they have setled a crowne Revenue upon Oliver and have made him as great and glorious a king as ever John of Leyden was Wonder not that they conspire to keep up this Army as well to make good these Largesses as to keep their guilty Heads upon their shoulders Thursday 9. March the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons To desire their concurrence to the Engagement of those Members that fled to the Army The engagement approved by Threats to live and die with the Army It was Debated all day untill seven of the clock at night and at last the question put That this House doth approve the subscription of the said Members to the said Ingagement The House divided upon the question yeas 100. noes 91. Observe 1. that Mr. Solicitor Hasterig and many more when they perceived difficulty in passing it began to skirmish with their long sword againe And many told them they must give content without dores meaning to the Army as well at within or else all would go naught 2. 44 Of those Members that engaged with the Army sate in the House and voted in their owne case many of them carrying themselves very high and insolently in their gestures and expressions 3. Many Presbyterians left the House because it was late and some as it is thought not daring to vote in the negative 4. This engagement about six Months agoe had been sent to the Commons by the Lords once or twice and was rejected yet now was obtruded upon them again by the Lords who would not acquiesce contrary to the Priviledges of the House of Commons 5. This approbation thus surreptitiously gotten is equall to a Pardon sued forth before conviction which in law amounteth to a confession of the crime