murdering and powring out the pretious Bloud of so many of Gods dear children and true assertors of Englands Freedoms and by his good hand which doubtless will in time be avenged of these bloudy enemies to their shame and confusion upon the Forces under the General suppressing that Rebellion and Insurrection so could the Conqueror brand the People with Infamy and Rebellion after Conquest though himself was the greatest Tyrant and archest Robel from whence the present pretended Parliament had successively their first Institution that ever lived in this Nation and so preventing the sad and fearful Consequence which it might have produced no question it had been a sad and fearful Consequence to you in dissolving your pretended power but the happiest consequence that ever befel this Nation by having you called to an Account for all the millions of Publick Treasury which you have bestowed upon your selves and Creatures for easing the people of all their pressing and unsupportable burthens for making us really and not verbally a Free Nation but not Common-wealth for setling a just Representative and redressing all the Peoples grievances disposing of your great Places and Offices for the good of the Nation c. all which to you would have been of sad Consequence and therefore you have just cause to complain held themselves in duty bound to acknowledge Gods goodness therein still Gods goodness must be as it hath alwayes been abused to cover over all Trayterous and devillish Designs and to look upon it as a pledge of future Mercies to this poor and unworthy Nation which may in time be inriched again out of those vaste Estates which your selves have stoln from it and then it may retort your jeer upon your selves and call you poor unworthy Oppressers and of his willingness to heale it it we will be healed well jeer on And therefore the Parliament do Enact and Ordain and be it Enacted and Ordained that a day of publike rejoycing Sure they mean publike feasting and Thanksgiving to our gracious God who saies he will not hear the prayers of the wicked and their Sacrifices are an abomination unto him for this wonderful and singular mercy was it a wonderful morcy in that 3000 Horse and Foot well armed and accomodated should take 300 naked men in their beds or was it not a greater wonder and mercy that 400 should escape out of their beds though 3000 armed men had surrounded them If truth was known this was surely the cause of their thanksgiving and Feasting or should be so at least wise be observed on Thursday the 7. of June 1649. in all Churches and Chappels within the City of London Westminster and the late Lines of Communication and Weekly Bills of Mortality but we find most of them had more grace and honesty then to be so profane to rejoyce at so great a judgement and in all other Churches and Chappels within England and Wales on Thursday the 28 of the same moneth what for murdering and butchering the People of God! away for shame and blush at this great blasphemy and unheard of cruelty They require the said daies to be solemnly and religiously observed that God be not provoked and dishonored thereby as if they knew God was not much provoked and dishonored by some of their Gluttenies Drunkenness and as I was credibly informed Whoredoms on that day and will not God be reâ—enged on such ae blasphemous people who call his infinite Majesty to patronize all their Tyranie Oppression Murthers and Cruelties by their Solemn Hypocritical and Vain-glorious daies of Thanks-giving I profess my heart doth melt to think of Gods heavie judgments that will ere long I fear be executed on them 4. June A motion was made against M. Case and others that prayed for Charls the second The crutelties of all other Tyrants are mercies to these The Quorum for relieving persons grieved in Articles ordered to be 9. because they may never meet 9 yeers time would not get 9 of a Committee together unless they were seasted as in the business of the 〈…〉 almost daylie The Prisoners of Dobt petitioned the 〈◊〉 passing their Ordinance which is now so altered by the Câ—â—â—pillars the long-robe men of the House that it will little or â—â—thing avail them when past Many Members this day adâ—â—â—â— There is a necessity for it because else they could not baâ—â—â— a House Ninteen thousand pounds of the Speakers own money in the Rolls borrowed by some in necâ—lity none are grieved it it because got so unjustly 15000 l. ordered for supplies of shiping provisions and when their present stock is exhausted then C. will pray and weep again to be reconciled to those called Leveilers Capt. Bishop ordered 100 l. per. Annum for himself and and 12 d. per diem a piece for his Deputy Catch-poles to serze all those called Levellers as dis-affected persons to the present Tyranical proceedings of the Juncto and their Councel of Cheaâ—â— 3000 l. ordered Mrs Blaikeston in respect of her late husbaâ—â—s losses which were never 300 l. he lately purchased 7000 l. in the Bishoptick but never worth the seventh part of that sum 4000 l. per annum to be setled on the General you are very free of the Peoples Revenues Did the people ever give you power thus to dispose of the Treasury of the Nation to onâ—â— your selves and your creatures Do not many of the meaner far sell their clothes from their backs to pay Assesments and must the rich swallow it up at your pleasures Think you not we expect an account from you The Sword of the City to be delivered up to the Speaker when the Juncto comes to reast with their Custard-bellies a wise City and well governed A large Debate about Knighting the Lord Maior the stinking Alderman and M. Isaac Bul because some were cowards others knaves and fools these words of course were laid aside The Lieut. General and his Excellency the Councel of Cheats and the petty Junctâ— feasted by the City Loggerheads The Lieut. General and the General had Gold and Plat besides presented to them but all this kindness was more for fear then love The Army and Juncto feared a surprise by the Levellers and therefore most of the forces in or neer the City must Guâ—â—d them under pretense of an honorable Attendance FINIS
A BOOK WITHOUT A TITLE HAving long observed the folly of this Nation to be taken most with highest Titles and lowest Matters in all weekly Transactions and much pittying the People in this Delusion could find no other way herein for their future prevention then to present them with A Sheet without a Title And as it may seem strange to some though not so strangeas true because not usual so it will appear honest to all in speaking truth without fear to every Interest for undeceiving the people which others dare not do though never so prejudicial I shall begin with the Act this day published for setting a part a day of Publick Thanksgiving which recites How God hath appeared in the Cause of the Parliament and People against the Common Enemy since the first beginning of these late Wars God is still put in the Van to maintain and support the unjust Causes of all people under the Sun as the Scripture is to prove all Religions best and sonndest But why the Peoples Cause They are not the Original of your Authority and therefore you nor any other can pretend to hold out their Cause unless intrusted and required by them But all still must go in the name of the People because there is no other way to ruin and enslave them But they did well to put the Parliament and People together though they are very impudent to put Parliament before People as if the People the Supream were Inferior to a few of their pretended Servants whom they own not either as to call or enforcements They go on and judge of the Cause by success which is both absurd and ridiculous against the Common Enemy both of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Nation but who so common an Enemy as they that sit by an unjust power the original whereof being cut off and stile themselves the Supream Authority of England Tax Assess and Dispose of all the Estates of the Free Commoners without then consent making them beleeve they sit for restoring their Freedoms to give them ease set up a true Religion reforme all things in Church and 〈◊〉 are whereas like cuning Cheats they sit only to enrich themselves with all the vast Receipts of the Publicke upon Excise Customs Dean and Chapters and Bishops Lands Assessements Forrest Lands Parks Chases King Queen and Princes Revenue sale of all the Royal Goods c. which though it amount to neer a hundred and sifty thousand pounds a mouth yet they lay greater Assessements upon the people then ever they did before they had these Revenues in their possessions and continue Fre-Quarte upon them though all Assessements paid and yet the whole Charge of the Army and Navie is under the incombe of their Publick Receipt And doth it not appear by their daily purchasing great Estates sending over Coffers of Silver beyond Sea marrying their Children to the greatest for tunes in the Nation though most of themselves had but small Estates before that with these Publick Monies and the great benefit they have by all the great Places and Offices in the Nation which they have bestowed upon themselves but ought to be imployed for the publick good of the Notion they still sit to Delude the people and inrich themselves with the ruins of the Nation and can the people have greater Enemies or sadder Judgements then these Catterpillers that devoure all before them And are they not good preservers of the Liberties of the Nation when as they destroy al the Laws of the Land which only gives Liberty to the Nation and Act by Arbitrary Acts and Ordinances whereby no man hath any certainty of his Estate Life or Being mixing the Martial power with the Civil as in the time of the cursed Conqueror seizing the Persons and Estates of the people with Souldiers for pretended Civil offences and killing the pour Watermen and others with Musketiers for Rowing upon the Sablâ—â—â— though they had not any Prohibition before for so doing yet they willingly allow of Coaches on that day an offence every wayes equal to the former Examine men upon matter of Fact against themselves and commit them close Prisoners without any allowance only upon suspition of Treason and continue them so without Tryal or Discharge contrary to the Law of the Land and in violation to our chiefest Liberties and Freedoms Then they tell us of another Cloud that threatned a Storm by the list Summers Insurrection the Scors Invasion and the Revolt at Sea is al which most of themselves by subtile connivance private assistance or publick action had as deep a finger therein as the Common Enemy by whâ—â—â— many of them had both assurance of Pardon and Reward And yet they say they cannot but transmit the memory of these Mercies to Posterity that the Generations to come may praise the Lord and still the name of the Lord must be used prophanely to make the people believe all their vain Delusions though they make it their sole work and end of all their Designs to impoverish and enslave them which is most cleer and apparent if you consider the substance of what L. G. C. lately delivered upon Discourse with other Officers of the Army viz. That the only way to settle and maintain an Arbitrary Power and Government in this Nation was To oppress the People with Assessements and Free-Quarter and when they were in a low and poor Condition they should submit to any thing And if we compare the present proceedings of the Army with those of the things called the Parliament and Councel of State we shall easily find those Expressions now put in Execution for the ruining of the Free People of this oppressed Nation Then they tell us That after all these Deliverances and strange providences of the Almighty carrying on the Parliament in execution of Justice on the chief Author not the hundredth part so great an Oppressor and cruel Tyrant as themselves and some of the eminent Instruments of both these Wars which they did on purpose to exalt themselves into the Throne and stile themselves the Supreme Authority of this Nation whereby they might the better exercise their Tyrannie and cruelty upon the People And that some hopeful Progress hath bin made in setling the Government of this Common-wealth upon the rotten Foundations of Injustice Oppression Self-Interest Bloud Tyrannie and what not in such a way as by Gods blessing well jest not too long with your hypocrifie for God will not be mocked as may secure it from the like Tyranie for the future not a greater then now we are under and be a foundation of Happiness and Freedom why do you jeer the poor people so often with those most desired words and never intended things Freedom and Happiness You know well their Freedom will be your ruine And that the Parliament having by these Troubles in England occasioned onely for your own Promotions and Self-Interests as we now find by woful expérience bin â—â—nterrupted for sending relief
to Ireland What do you now plow with Hollis and Stapletons heifer that when they could not disband the Army under pretense of Ireland therefore the honest party must be then as now â—iled the interrupters of the relief of Ireland which they then as much â—â—tended to relieve as L.G.C. does now did now resolve by Gods assiâ—â—ance which you have little cause to expect to speed a considerable force or reducing that Land to the obedience of the Parl. of England But 〈◊〉 by so fast Do you really intend to reduce it or is it your old Design to â—â—sen the People to advance monies upon the purchasing the Deans and Chapters lands as you did handsomly fool them before in selling thâ—â— the Rebels lands before they were in your possession or their persons conquiredâ— It could hardly have bin suspected that any especially such as have professed zeal for God his Truth and People you do not surely mean your selves should have retarded so good a work but rather should have given assistance thereunto what for to suppress one enemy and plaâ—â— anuther or else to make it a Sanctuary for you to fly to against a Free â—â—presentative is called Do you think men will venture lives and estates rain their wives and families only to support your Tyrannies and private Interests in that Nation as this before they have eased the people of 〈◊〉 oppressors and oppressions and setled a sure foundation of a just Government by an equal Representative the security of England and Religion is self being so much concerned in it Are you not ashamed to mention Religion as to a Martial Engagement or if not what Religion do you mean the Peoples eys are opened now you cannot longer cheat them with these specious pretenses of Religion unless your selves were guilty in some measure of being religious which if some say you are yet your works will give them the ly and disclaim it Yet at this time a new distemper discovered it self no marvel when the whole Body of the Common-wealth is sick even to death by murthers oppressions cruelties tyrannies c. that distempert shall break out kindle and foment by some turbulent spirits before whom never any tyranie could yet stand and by whom you and yours shall fal such when none of you durst appear to assert and own the Peoples freedoms did like faithful Patriots maintain them in times of greatest danger and prosecuted the obstructers thereof till death had satisfied his indignâ—riâ—â— upon them actâ—d by Jesuitical Councels and Principles and those 〈◊〉 your own I am sure none have more right to patronize those bruts of Rome then your selves destructive to Government You dare â—ut say destructive to Just Government but onely to your usurped Tyranie whith you call Government who disliking every thing whereof themselves might not have the honour when as they never yet propounded any thing for honor or profit to themselves though you do all for both but such 〈◊〉 may be essentially good for all the Free people of the Nation did design 〈◊〉 pluck up all that bath bin planted you mean all the weeds or tries thâ—â— bring forth bad fruit which ought not only to be pluckt up but cast 〈◊〉 the fire to bring the Nation into consusion what by relieving the distressed easing the People of their burdens and Oppressors destroy 〈◊〉 Propriety not by declaring this Nation a Common-wealth as you have lately done which must of necessity destroy all interests if you understand it as it is really and not nominally for the best Authors define it a woâ—â—â— equally common to all the Inhabitants of that Land which holds forth that Government But besides Do you not find the greatest Provision made in their Agreement for preserving Interest and Propriety how then can you but blush to mention it Eradicate the Law and true Liberty at once All that they stand for as the maintenance of the Laws of the Land and destruction of your Arbitrary power against Law but surely Mr Prideaux meant in stead of Law and Liberty they would have destroyed the benefit of his Two Places of Atturney General for the State and Master of the Post and Currcers which run him in 10000 l. per annum profit although he never did the Nation 10000 pence benefit and obstruct the Relief of Ireland you are resolved I see to wear this old and false aspersion thred bare before you leave it which by this might otherwise have been sent thither And to that end by traducing the Actions of Parliament in the things which before they were done themselves Petitioned for what were those are you afraid to name them or shall I do it for you and tell your meaning viz. The taking off the Kings head and the Lords but were they ever against taking them off without Law and legall proceedings if they were did not they expect thereby to be made a Pree People by having the Normand yoke taken off the Land eased of their burdens and a new and equal Representative soon after called an Act of Oblivion past and Account given of all the spent Treasure c. and not to lye under greater oppressions and misery then formerly And upon unjust scandals of some chief Officers of the Army the General himself being not exempted whom God had made Instrumental in so many Victories and preservations of the whole Nation Why so much fawning and clawing upon his Excellency you love him as well as a Leveller and both as one But speak really are not you ashamed to mention what these scandals were for fear this with the rest should have been disproved or did you only flourish these generals to beg a belief in the people having no particulars to mention and by holding such specious pretences of Liberty and benefit to the People as you have done for eight yeers together had seduced some few of the Infirior Officers of the Army and a considerable number of the Souldiery to decline the Service of Ireland till this Nation was setled upon Foundations of Justice and Freedom and wrought a dis-affection thereunto in many of those who were designed to that work How dangerous that Design was in it self and how deeply laid to the apparent hazard of Ireland What again and the imbroyling this Nation in a fâ—â—ther and most desperate War for the recovery of their Lives Liberties and Estates which are now daily taken from them and which only is the just Ground of any Martial Engagement The Parliament of England being very sensible and considering the special providence of God in the timely discovery of it and why must God still be thus prophaned in his Providence as if some secret discovery was made by it when as all the Nation knows the Engagement was publick and open and the just grounds thereof several times published in Print to the view of all and the seasonableness of the Mercy in crushing the Serpent in the Egge or rather the unseasonableness of this Judgement in