the same night also marching down to Westminster and planting themselves in Kingstreet and in and about the Abbey Church and Yard This unusuall assembly at such an unaccustomed hour caused a generall terrour in the hearts and minds of the Inhabitants who dreaded some greater mischief than they were sensible of but the night being past in the morning the Speaker Mr. W. Lenthall at his usuall time came along Kingstreet and had passage through the ranks of Souldiers The Rump turned out of doors till he came to the new Palace gate where his Coach was stopped and himself compelled to return home as wise as he went whereby the house was interrupted from sitting which was the chief thing that Lambert aimed at yet though he had thus wrought his purpose he durst not withdraw but make good his station against the other faction the greatest part of the day each of the Phanatick leaders for so indeed they were both expecting who should give the first blow of which meekness the then council of State taking notice required both to draw off to their quarters which motion was willingly accepted on all hands and so both sides marched away Thus have we seen that rump of pretended authority Observe which in May was with much solliciting many intreaties and not a few specious pretences courted to come into play now again in October with as great scorn and malice laid a side and trampled on Nec lex est justior ulla quam necis artifices arte perire sua It hath been a generall Observation that Treason is alwayes the greatest punishment to it self like the Viper it breeds young with her own destruction and as the Poet speaketh of envy sit licet injustus livor so may I say of it though it be unjust to others yet is it very just to destroy them first that would destroy others The Councill of Officers having thus seized the Government into their hands Officers meet played with it for certain dayes till with the old Philosopher in the question about God finding the more they studyed the less they understood and that they were led by an Ignis fatuus which only trained them to the sight but would never bring them to the certenty of a settlement and pondering their own many weaknesses and infirmities with the exigency of affairs they fell into consideration of what was fit to be done In the debate whereof after many frivolous essayes they agreed at length among themselves to nominate some persons to be a Councill of State which device being applauded and a new name devised for them for they will be called forsooth the Committee of safety these following persons were pitch'd upon They erect a Committee of safety their names and characters Viz. Fleetwood whose folly would have exempted but they were affraid he would have cryed Knowing also that the beft play ever hath a fool in it Lambert a seeming Saint but chief Engenier of the modell Desborow a drunken Clown skill'd in Harrassing the land steel once a sneaking petty fogger now Lord Chancellour of Ireland and a Traytor Whitlock a lump of ingratitude and deceit Sir Henry Vane chief secretary to the seven deadly sins Ludlow once a Gentleman but since by himself Levelled into the plebeyan rank Sydenham nothing good in him but his name Upstart Saloway Strickland once a rumper after a Lord of Nolls edition then a convert to the good old cause Berry pedâ—m nequissimus the wickedst villain among 10000. Lawrence once an upstart privy Counceller now scarce a Gentleman Sir James Harrington Per risum multum possis cognescere Wareston a mickle knave geud faw Sir Ireton and Tichborn two of the City Puckfoists who lye leger in the Common Council to discover plots for the getting of money Henry Brandrith fit for mischief else he had not been here Thompson a dull fellow but a soaking Committee-man Hewson the Common-wealths upright setter Sniveling Col. Clarke Factious Col. Lilburn preaching Col. Bennet and Cornelius Holland a most damnable Apostate both to God and his King To these fellowes thus firly accoutred Comâ— safety their power is the Government committed and not only so but they have power to call Delinquents to account to oppose and suppress all insurrections to treat with forreign States and Princes to raise the militia's in the severall Counties To dispose of all places of trust with many other things by which may be seen what an unlimited arbitrary power they assumed to themselves over the lives and estates of all Englishmen And that all England might take notice hereof Armies decla ation they send out a Declaration in print entitled a Declaration of the General Council of the Officers of the Army wherein they say they have lodged the civil and executive part of Government in the Committee of safety whom they have obliged to prepare such a form of Government as may best sute with a Free-State without a single person Kingship or house of Peers with many equivocating though Saint-like expressions to the like effect with which they hoped to delude the World and continnue their usurpation but Sera venit sed certa venit All their hypocriticall shewes cannot cheat God who raiseth up the Spirit of one among themselves to chastise the errours of their pride and vain glorious attempts for no sooner is that Infernall crew of Atheists met intheir Committee but they are alarumed with a letter from General Monck out of Scotland wherein he gives them notice that both himself and some Officers of the Army in Scotland Monck dissatisfied with their proceedings were much dissatisfied in reference to the transactions of affairs in England at the same time receiving intelligence that he had seized severall strong holds secured diverse of his dissenting Officers Seizeth Barwick and possessed himself of Barwick which drove them for a time into a kind of Phanatick stupidity that they knew not which way to move in the management of their affairs but at last willing to preserve themselves they order the forces in the North into a posture and command lambert with more Regiments out of the Southerly parts to joyn with them that so they might appear formidable at least at a distance and put a stay to the violence which they foresaw was approaching to them Lambert marcheth against him for the prevention of which storm Col. Cobbet is sent to General Monck with insinuating relations whom the Generall immediately upon his arrivall commits to custody thereby preserving his Army from the dangerous contrivances that Person brought along with him and depriving of the intelligence he might have carried to England back with him which being done by the power of his Commission as one of the seven he straight new models his Army according to his own mind and then declares his resolution to assert the authority of Parliament against all violence whatsoever Upon newes of this our safe Committeemen knowing the pulse of the
luxurious Court and an absolute Tyranny Thus far he which how much truth yea or but probability thereof is therein I dare appeal to the greatest Enthusiast among their whole gange for if there were nothing in it else but the rayling besides all the falsity and Scandall it were sufficient to convince the Speaker to be a Son of Beliall as having so far forgotten grace and laid a side all honesty that he durst rail against the Lords anointed concerning whom the Scripture forbiddeth to have an evill thought but t is the custom of rebells to go on from bad to worse and when they have once drawn the sword against their Prince to throw away the scabbard and never entertain a thought of return or repentance like the bold Usurper in the Poet. The more we are opposed the more wee 'le spread And make our foes our fuell To be head Wee 'l cut off any member and condemn Vertue of folly for a Diadem Banish Religion c. And such was their practice The use of the Juncto's fasting though sometimes especially when encompassed with dangers they hang their head like a bull rush and even but mock God with a fast while they only pray to be prosperous in their villany About this time the whole Nation of England began to grow sick of the abhorred fag end of a Parliament endeavouring to make head against them in Kent Sussex Surrey Hartford Hereford Glocester Bristoll in Cheshire especially England sick of the Rump where many of the Gentry were actually engaged correspondence maintained a rendevous appointed and the antient City of Chesier surprised this indeed was the most formidable appearance in all England for the only appeasing whereof most of the County forces in those parts and several Regiments of the Army from London did speedily march under the command of a hot-spur zealot Mr. G. Lambert whose ambition made old Nol lay him aside as dangerous and that dishonourable discarding created him a desperate Enemy to the Cromwelian name and family which made the Juncto think him the fitter man for their service A rising in Cheshire by Sir G. B. Sir G. B. appeared commander in chief in Cheshire though many other Noble Gentlemen were present so that this seemed to be the most likely place for Action Lambert according to Order being upon his march thither with three Regiments of horse and three Regiments of Foot and one Regiment of Dragoones besides a train of Artillery and the Juncto for his encouragement shot a paper gun by them called a Proclamation after him against Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Middleton Randolph Egerton proclaiming them and their adherents to be Rebells and Traytors and all else that should any way assist abet or conceal the carrying on of their design backed thus he marcheth furiously and in a fourtnight or three weekes time draweth neer to Cheshire in the mean and during his absence the congregated Churches of Schismaticks and Sectaries in and about London raise three Regiments for the security of those parts in the intervalls of which time Sir George Booths Declaration came out in print the contents whereof was setting forth how the Westminster Statesmen had violated all lawes of God and Men that the defence of the lawes and liberties was the chief things he and his aimed at which would never by these self seekers be setled and therefore desired a new free Parliament This as it carried nothing in it but what was reall true so it gave very great satisfaction to all understanding people though by the Phanatick rout it was descanted upon otherwise but Gods time was not yet come for Lambert no sooner arrived with his Army neer Sir George Booth and his forces Sir G. B. â—â—â—â—â—ed but he fell on them with valour and violence which produced a very sharp engagement but the Country not being acquainted nor used to such hot surious work quickly yielded ground Sr. Georges whole body being afterwards drawn forth neer Northwich and possessed of the bridge they drew up their foot in the meadowes yet Lamberts Men being commanded to attempt the pass did it with such resolution that they soon beat the Enemy from them and made way for the whole Army who having passed the river immediately gave them a totall rout The newes of this victory so fleshed our bloodhounds that they began to boast above measure vaunting the Lords mercy to them his own people forsooth but Justice to their adversaries in so apparently blasting their Trayterous undertakings in every corner of the land like the turkes reckoning the goodness of their cause by the keenness of their sword Their maxime to make good their cause and denying that any thing may properly be called Nefas if it can but win the Epithete of Prosperum The Juncto upon this set forth a Declaration to invite all the people to thanksgiving for this great deliverance to the Parliament and Common-wealth Lamberts policy as they stiled themselves but Lambert intends to make use of his success against the loyall party for himself and to that end in a seeming slighting and neglect of himself writes to the Parliament his Souldiers merits with whom the sooner to endear them he is more than usually familiar and the Parliament have no sooner voted him 1000 l. to buy him a Jewell as a mark of their favour but he presently distributes it among his Souldiers endeavouring by that and all other means to engage them wholly to himself so as to venture in one bottom with him he yet carried himself so that his ambitious design was not discovered and that he might the better conceal at this time Sir George Booth Sir G. B. taken who had fled from the battle at Northwich in Cheshire was taken at Newport-Pannel in disguise upon notice whereof he is committed close prisoner to the Tower of London for high Treason in levying warr against the Parliament and Common-wealth and that a Committee be appointed on purpose to examine him all which was done accordingly and Sir Henry Vane and Sir Arthur Haselrig two Saints of the Divells last edition went to him to take his examination While things are thus in handling here Lambert seeks cunningly to get all the strength of those Counties into his own hands which the Parliament at his request grant him by giving him power to seize all armes for their use as he pretended in the same of which piece of service they seemed to be very glad as also of letters that came out of Scotland assuring Generall Monkes fidelity to them against the interest of the Stuarts or any other whatsoever so that now they began to descant on the late design A triall of the royall family laying all the blame on the loyall party whose game they said it was though he least appeared in it taking occasion also from thence to blast the royall family with hellish scandalls the safety of which the divine providence hath alwayes had
neither a Souldier nor a garison nay not a town where he might with safety repose his head things being at this pass and his Majesty with much adoe gotten into Scotland as afore said which the Juncto at Westminster having perfect intelligence of and weighing with themselves that promise of the Scots to bring the murtherers of the Kings Father to condign punishment they begin to think it high time to provide for their own safety in consulting whereof after much time spent it is resolved the safest wisest and to them least chargeable course to wait on the Enemy in his own Country whereby they carried the war from home and not to stay for him to bring it to their own doors As a strong motive to this just at the instant they discover that many of the Presbyterians of England had by their agents agreed with the Scots at Bredah to re-establish his Majesty in all his Dominions Whereupon many eminent persons are seized on and among them Mr. Case Mr. Jenkins Mr. Jackson Mr. Love c. Which Mr. Love together with one Mr. Gibbons suffered death together on Towerhill Mr. Love and Gibbens beheaded at the earnest sute of Cromwell protesting he would not march into Scotland unless they were cut off Being moved hereby as well as by their own fear and guilt Cromwell invades Scotland his Majesty is scarce in Scotland but Cromwell is at the borders with 16000. Horse and Foot on their behast to whom Leslly L.G. of the horse which were now raised after some expostulations by Letters and Declarations sends word that he is in armes upon the account of the good old cause and not upon the account of the King Scots divided among themselves whom he cleerly disowned Straughan and Ker not only disown the King but say positively they will fight against him so that now it was not Bellum Regale a war to maintain the Kings honour and the points of the treaty but bellum Presbyteriale a war for the Kirke of Scotland against the Independent faction of England those two great parties being come now to a second contest for superiority for Leven commanded the Foot and Leslly as I said before the horse and these two unaminously drew out against Cromwell and fought him within six miles of Edenburgh though to little purpose 1. Fight at Edenburgh for he immediately after became Master of the field and took Garririsons as fast as he came to them defeating them at Musselbourgh and pursuing them to Pentlan-hills 2. Fight at Mus selbourgh where the Scots had him in a straight and might have destroyed him but the cerrainty as they thought of the victory caused them to delay by which and the fatal necessities of sickness hunger and cold pressing upon Cromwells Army made them choose rather at one fight desperately to hazard all then timourously to become the scorn of an insulting foe which they knew they should find following this resolve with diligence they whisper about the word to each other in the midst of a dark and rainy night they crept up the hill and fell on the Scots so suddenly and beyond expectation that they were disordered by the first attempt 3. Dunbar fight and totall defeat yet by reason of their multitudes and a little courage they held up a while till surrounded on the back by Cromwells horse the Scots horse affrighted begin to retreat and soon after to flie in good earnest leaving their foot to mercy who were taken in greater numbers then the English Army consisted of the Independent power by this victory being absolute conquâ—rors King in the North of Scotl. private and the Presbyterian pride laid groveling in the dust During this quarrell between the said two factions the King as disowned so not interested therein retires first to St. Johnstons and after that privately into the North of Scotland where he contiâ—ued expecting what God would do for him assuring himself that this defeat at Dunbar as things then stood could not be for his prejudice which indeed King sent to and returnes quickly fell out according to his expectation for the Scots upon that overthrow were somwhat humbled in Spirit and now began again to think of their late abused King wishing in their hearts he were among them fearing to speake the truth least he would have joyned with Northern and loyal Highlanders to prevent which they send M. G. Montgomery with forces to intreat his Majesties return who finds him out and affectionately delivers his message which the King received even with joyfull tears as minding the justice of God upon those perfidious Scots whose pride in success carried them beyond all bounds of allegiance and like a stubborn child must be soundly whiptere they will kneell and the good manners they obtain must be beaten into them Yet he accepts of their request and accordingly goes towards them Who but so good a King would have exposed himself to such mens trust in so dangerous a time Innocentia est sibt munimentum for he resolves to return King crowned Upon notice hereof and his arrivall the Parliament address themselves to him and appoint the time for his Coronation which was accordingly with much State pompe and Ceremony performed on the first of January following at Schone the particulars whereof I shall not enter upon severall relations thereof being already extant His Majesty thus invested in his throne undauntedly proceeds to secure both his person and Kingdom K. raiseth an army to which end he begins to raise and levy an Army both of horse and foot which in short time by the conflux of loyal hearts from all parts became even formidable to its Enemies especially having their Prince engaged in person whose every hair was valued at ten thousand lives and an equall sharer with them in all things As they did encourage the hearts and strengthen the hands of all that were faithfull so they were a torment of Spirit to the insulting Enemy who for the present seeing that force alone would not serve the turn politickly resolves to undermine and weaken them by division among themselves knowing that rule to be true Divide impera and indeed so it proved Scors divided for with so much divellish cunning did the English work that they procured Straughan with some sorces together with Ker to declare against the King Lastly with others stand for Kirk and King But Brown Middleton c. with the best and honest part of the Army vow to sacrifice their Lives and Estates in defence of the Kings person In this tottering and unstable condition stood affairs when Cromwell alwayes mindfull to lay hold on the first advantage and being certainly informed of the height and heat of these divisions he takes time by the forelock and striking while the Iron was hot he sends to Straughan and wins him over to him to fight against his lawfull Soveraign rejoycing to have debauched such a Souldier whose
and plunderings fines and taxes but at last we must all be decimated We were tanquam Oves destined for slaughter and such was our misery there was none to redeem sad testimonies whereof were Geraâ—d Grove and others about this time whose blood only could expiate a crime they never thought or were guilty off In this unlimited posture of arbitrary power did the the Kingdom stand when that Arch-Machiavilian Cromwell adding strength to the wings of his ambitious mind soared an Eagle-height and made all the circumference of his actions to center at the royall State thinking with a grasp of the Scepter to ennoble his name and family not minding either the danger of the passage or the slipperriness of the station when arrived at the top And indeed such was his fortune that he did ascend the throne in which it was for the future his restless endeavour to settle himself and his posterity and the better to cast a seeming gloss of legality upon his usurpation Cromwels second Parliament confirm him as Protector he summons another Parliament in the Year 1656. hoping thereby to work his ends unseen and so he did as to the vulgar eye for soon after their meeting and first triall of their temper he so moulds them to his own humour by a recognition that they are over-hastily delivered of a strange abortion by them called the petition and advice c. in which with much solemnity though damnable hypocrifie they desire him to be King but in more general terms to take upon him the government and be chief Magistate which he very gravely considering of diverse dayes returnes his denyall in part but withall insinuates in part his willingness to be setled Lord Protector at which newes his faction rejoycing with many Eulogies for his humility in refusing the Kingship he is by the said Parliament who adjourned for the same end solemnly installed Protector at Westminster by Widdrington who was the Speaker to that convention by Whitlock Lisle Warwick c. And upon their resisting he is petitioned to accept of almost two millions by the year for his support to maintain a crew of idle wenches his daughters whose pampered lusts were grown almost insatiable 2. To erect a new house of Lords of his own Creatures who being indebted to him for their raising durst do no other than by a slavish submission perform his tyrannous will 3. To name his successor that so he might entail his yoke of tyrannical Usurpation and slavish oppression on the Kigdom and severall other things which with much adoe after many perswasive intreaties and much unwillingness God knowes he accepts of No sooner is this done The said Parliament dissolved but the fox laughs in his sleeve to see how he has cheated the Parliament And therefore to make them know their rider after a few words of exhortation to them of the want of them in the Country and the necessity of their retiring thither for the peace of the Nation with a friendly nod he dismisseth them and sends them home Thus with much cunning and dissimulation having attained the perfection of his desires Cromwell seeks to strongthen himself knowing that such greatness must be upheld with allies and every noble coat of armes must have his supporters he strengthens himself at home by intermixing with noble blood marrying own of his Daughters to the Lord Faulconbridge and an other to the heir apparent of the Earldom of Warwick the later of which though in the prime of his yourâ— finding the disagreement between Noble and Rebell blood was soon over-heated and by the suddenness of his death left his wife the widow of a loathed bed In the next place he seeks friendships and leagues abroad and intending to close with France He closeth with France he directly quarrels with the Spanyard and affronts him in severall places near about one time particularly he sends one part of the Fleet under the command of Pen to Hispaniola but with so little disadvantage that he was enforced to retreat thence with no small loss falling soon after on Jamaica with better success winning a part thereof though most inconsiderable the whole Island being not worth the tenth part of the blood and treasure it hath cost this Kingdom being no way at all serviceable either for the advance or security of trade in those parts Mazarine in France finding the benefit of these helps upon the very first motion strikes with him a league offensive and defensive Cromwell promising to assist the French with 7000. Men to maintain the war against the Flanders which at this time he sent they proving so helpfull by their valour that in a short time they gain Mardike Dunkirke gained Gravelin and Dunkirke the last of them according to articles being delivered up to the English in whose hand it yet remains In the interim while these things were transacting Cromwell suspicious of every blast of wind and fearfull of every motion contrives in himself to take off two or three of the most eminent of the Kings party in England to daunt the rest among whom he separates one layman Sir Henry Slingsby and one Churchman Dr. Dr. Hewits death Hewit for the slaughter and conscious to himself that they had done nothing contrary to the law of the land he durst not try them by a Jury but re-erects his monstrous high Court of Justice before which being brought they denyed the authority thereof as unwarrantable which so wrought upon the patience of Mr. Lisle their bloodily learned President and the rest of the gange that they according as they were fore-instructed by their Master Divell Oliver without any great matter of circumstance condemne them both to be beheaded which sentence was accordingly executed on them the 8th Day of June at Towerhill notwithstanding all the means their friends could use of engagements perswasions and money and the deep earnest and continued intreaties sollicitations and supplications of Mrs. Claypoole his best beloved daughter Mrs. Clapooles death for so inexorable he continued that like the deaf adder he stopped his ears to the charmer charme he never so wisely at which unheard of cruelty and for that Dr. Hewits Lady as is said was then with child Mrs. Claypoole took such excessive grief that she suddenly fell sick the increase of her sickness making her rave in a most lamentable manner calling out against her Father for Hewits blood and the like the violence of which extravagant passions working upon the great weakness of her body carried her into another World even at the heighest thereof No sooner did Cromwell receive the deplorable newes of this sad death of his Daughter but himself falls into a desperate melancholly Observe which never left him till his Death which was not long after Give me leave here to relate a passage which I received from a Person of Quality Viz. It was believed and that not without some good cause that Cromwell the same
day of May and the better to compass their ends by a base and clandestine surprise they gave out that they would not sit till Tuesday the tenth of May yet surreptitiously as I say they met early on Saturday in the painted Chamber at Westminster and wanting of their number to make up a house they sent for those two debauched lustfull Devills the Lord Munson and Harry Martin out of prison where they were in Execution for debt with Whitelock and Lisle of the Chancery Court making in all forty two the Chancery Mace also for hast being carried before them William Lenthall Esq their tender conscienc'd Speaker together with the said L. Names of the Rumpers Munson Henry Martin Mr. Whitlock Mr. Lisle Mr. Thomas Chaloner Alderman Atkins Alderman Penington Thomas Scot. Cornelius Holland Sir Henry Vane Mr. Prideaux Att. Ge Sir James Harrington L. G. Ludlow Michael Oldsworth Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr. Jones Col. Purefoy Col. White Harry Nevill Mr. Say Mr. Blagrave Col. Bennet M. Brewster Sergeant Wilde John Goodwin Mr. Nich. Lechmore Augustine Skinner Mr. Downes Mr. Dove Mr. John Lenthall Mr. Saloway Mr. John Corbet Mr. Walton Gilbert Willington Mr. Gold Col. Sydenham Col. Bingham Col. Ayre Mr. Smith Col. Ingoldsby And Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood Stole on a sudden into the house the invitation of the Army for sitting of the long Parliament being first published in westminster-Hall Upon notice of this surprise of the house by so few there being more than double the like number of members of the same Parliament there and about town some of them at the same instant in the Hall they to prevent future mischief whereof this packing of Parliament men was an ill Omen to the number of fourteen went immediately into the Lobby and the persons that did so were these Viz. Mr. Anslewy Sr. George Booth Mr. James Harbet Mr. Prinne Mr. George Montague Sir John Evelin Mr. John Harbert Mr. Gowen Mr. Evelin Secluded members Mr. Knightly Mr. Clive Mr. Hungerford Mr. Harbey Mr. Pecke But assoon as they came near the door they were not suffered by the Officers of the Army to go into the house though they disputed their priviledge of sitting if the Parliament were not dissolved but reason not prevailing after they had thus fairly made their claim they retired resolving to acquaint the Speaker by letter of their usage And accordingly on Munday the 9th of May they went to Westminster where the guards being not yet come Mr. Ansley Mr. Prinne and Mr. Hungerford went freely into the house receiving the Declaration of the 7th of May at the door But Mr. Ansley walking down into the Hall the house not being ready to sit at his return was by one Capt. Lewson of Goffes Regiment and other officers denyed entrance Mr. Prinne continued within and resolved so to do Vote against the secluded members since he saw there a new force upon the house whose only staying so guilty were the rest of their evill actions made them loose that morning and adjourn without the Speakers taking the chair And to prevent his or any other honest mans coming in among them after that they barred the door by the following Vote Ordered That such persons heretofore Members of this Parliament as have not sate in this Parliament since the year 1648. And have not subscribed the engagement in the Roll of engagement of this House shall not sit in this house till further order of the Parliament Thus to the griefe of all honest and true hearted Christians the same pretended Parliament that was fitting in 1653. till Oliver disseized them sitting again in 1659. upon a Declaration of the Army with the same resolutions they had before minding nothing but prefering one another The good old cause what and their friends into good Offices and commands and Counsellors places as appears by their Vote of the 29th of May Viz. The Parliament doth declare that all such as shall be employed in any place of trust or power in the Common-wealth be able for the discharge of such trust and that they be persons fearing God and that have given testimony to all the people of God and of their faithfulness to this Common-wealth according to the Declaration of Parliament of the 7 th of May. Now who they mean by persons fearing God in their canting language by their very next work you shall see which is the nominating a Councill of State Councill of State nominated into whose hands is given the dispose of all places of trust and profit yea and the command of the wealth of the Kingdom those of the house are as follow Sir Arthur Haselrig Sir Henry Vane Ludlow Jo. Jones Sydenham Scot. Saloway Fleetwood Sir James Harrington Col. Walton Nevill Chaloner Downes Whitlock Harb Morley Sydney Col. Thomson Col. Dixwell Mr. Reignolds Oliver St. Johns Mr. Wallop Of Persons without the house Ten. Viz. John Bradshaw Col. Lambert Desborow Fairfax Berry Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper Sir Horatio Townsend Sir Robert Hâ—â—ywood Sir Archibald Johnson And Josia Berners Who under the mask of the good old cause began now to act as high villains as ever before having forgotten how justly they formerly had been laid aside but they are like the dog that returnes to his vomit and with the sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire And the better to cast a seeming gloss over the foulness of their actions The good old cause what it is and their clandestine intrusion into the Government they send forth a Declaration in print the particulars whereof might very well have been here observable if they had not already been so cleerly demonstrated by the laborious pen of learned Mr. William Prinne in his book entituled The Republicans good old cause stated having therein so fully detected them Remainder of Crown â—ands to be fold that there remains nothing more to be said in the same matter And now as if already they had not wasted enough by exposing to sale the Kings Queens Princes Nobles and Gentries Lands and Goods being very quick sighted and of a long and large memory whereby they knew all was not sold therefore about the beginning of June to shew us further what they meant by the good old cause they ordered the bill for publick sales to be brought in A sweet act to enrich the saints as they in their canting language called themselves but their necessities by the long deteining of the publick purse from them being grown very pressing and though they thought the money arising from those sales would be sure yet for their present urgencies not being able to stay till that could be raised they appointed the same afternoon to consider of a more speedy way for raising money for that was all they ever aimed at or hoped for and to this purpose a bill of Assessement is concluded the most fitting Quaerenda pecunia primum est And because they would leave no stone unturned from which they might
that offers most is to have the purchase VVill. Tayler Clarke c. At the same time they appointed to sell ten brace of Buckes or more out of Hampton-Court Parkes and so from time to time Thus did they strive to make havock of whatever belonged to the King which indeed and no other was the good or rather cursed old cause that these miscreants so lustily fought for and so loudly cryed up And now lest they should seem ingratefull to Richard Cromwell who had so tamely left the chair of State to these Mountebanks to sit in they vote him an exemption from all arrests for any debt whasoever for six moneths and appoint a Committee to examine what was due for mourning for the late Lord Generall Cromwell R. Cromwell protected and to consider how it may be paid for without charge to the Common-wealth Kind Gentlemen surely they are they take all he hath from him and then allow him a pension they rob him of a pound and give him a farthing not a feather of his own bird and well so too for his ambitious stepping into the royall feat deserved a greater punishment which 't was a wonder how he escaped since Usurpation and Tyranny in different hands are generally vehement scourges to each other and alwayes torments to themselves as will appear by the sequel For these godly great ones being now newly warm in their seats New plots and jealousies begin as of old to dream of Jealousies and fears Plots Plots nothing but Cavaleer plots rings either in their ears or mouths if two Gentlemen do but meet accidentally in the Street and talk together straight there is a confederacy and they must be committed to prison for doing nothing so that we might say with that Noble Romane Cicero Circumspice omnia membra Reipublicae quae nobilissima sunt nullum reperitur profecto quod non fractum debilitatumve sit O rem miseram dominum ferre non potuimus conservis vero jam servimus A sad cause of complaint to live in such a slavery but our Taskmasters would fain seem mercifull witness their Act of Indemnity Act of indemnity pardons all but Cavaliers which came out in print about July wherein they except none from pardon but only such whose consciences are not large enough to approve of open Rebellion as the last clause of their said mock-Act will shew wherein all are debarred the benefit of the same even from sixteen years of age unless they subscribe against a single person Kingship or house of Peers all sins can be digested by these fellowes except lawfull obedience to magistracy which they so abominate that all persons that are tainted therewith must not only depart out of London but out of England in either whereof if they be taken they shall be proceeded against as Traytors and all persons are impouered to take and apprehend them for encouragement of which roguery every one that discovers or takes such a person was to have ten pounds from the Councill of State Surely they are in a great fear else what should they make all this noise and bustle so furiously on a sudden to settle and raise a new militia but latet anguis in herba for now it being the Dog-dayes the house grew so hot that diverse members withdrew whereby the rest in regard of their fewness being become incapable to act because not enough to make up a house according to their own phantasticall modell on Friday 22. of July did Resolve That the Members of Parliament Members to attend who have had Letters to attend the service of the Parliament or have actually attended since the 7th of May 1659. be hereby injoyned to give their attendance in Parliament every Morning at eight of the clock for fourteen dayes and if employed by Parliament within a fourtnight Alas poor men the harvest truly was great but the labourers few therefore it was time to call for more help for which now they are so put to it that they hardly know which way to turn themselves they complain of designes of buying up of Armes to disturbe the peace which made a great one among them say this restless Spirit of the common Enemy should excite the friends of the Common-wealth to diligence and to study unity that advantage may not be given by divisions but that we may be all of one Spirit to uphold and promote the common cause that hath been contended for And the better to colour their villanies according to their usuall custome in like cases when they had mischief to do they set apart a day of fasting and humiliation A fasting day set a part for mischief and to shew that they were the same men and of the same if not worse mind than formerly for rapine and blood they proclaim J. Mordant Esquire with severall others traytors and order the Lady Howard Sr. E. Byron and Mr. Sumner to be brought to a speedy triall for dangerous and trayterous designes of bringing this Nation into blood and confusion again that is for endeavouring to restore his Sacred Majesty to his lawfull birth-right and dominions for which the whole current of the law is constant encourager although these mens effrontery is such that they dare say any thing by an infallible Spirit as they imagine and the World is bound to believe them But their vizor being now ready to fall off Commotions and the people not willing to be any longer blinded begin to move in most parts of England which so mads the Phanatick faction that they seaze upon persons horses and armes all about London increase and double their guards stop passengers even on the Road the Councill of State so called sits night and day without intermission whereby the City militia and all the forces throughout England were drawn into a bâ—dy to prevent the danger Yea so generall was the fear that they begin to court the people in their canting way And because you shall see their desperate fear of and divellish malice to the King and his Friends take the words of one of themselves as they pass A cantingâ— lye Viz. The Lord stir up the hearts of his people to prayer and sincere humiliation and fill them with unanimity and courage in this evill time and make the People to see that whatever fair pretences may be made use of by the common Enemy to get power into their hands yet should they prevail no man that hath been of a party against them heretofore yea no man that hath been a meer Neuter but must expect that his private Estate as well as the publick Liberty shall become a prey to a desperate crew of ravenous and unreasonable men for saith he like an irreverent Villain let but CHALES STUART get in and then to satisfie the rable of followers and the payment of forreyners to enslave you you shall soon see them entailed upon your selves and your Posterity to maintain the pompe and pride of a