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A30774
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A letter from Mercvrivs Civicvs to Mercurius Rusticus, or, Londons confession but not repentance shewing that the beginning and the obstinate pursuance of this accursed horrid rebellion is principally to be ascribed to that rebellious city.
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Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing B6324; ESTC R5573
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26,143
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35
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A LETTER FROM MERCVRIVS CIVICVS TO MERCURIUS RUSTICUS OR LONDONS CONFESSION but not Repentance SHEWING That the beginning and the obstinate pursuance of this accursed horrid Rebellion is principally to be ascribed to that Rebellious City En quo discordia Cives Perduxit miseros Virg. Egl. 1. Printed 1643. A LETTER FROM MERCVRIVS CIVICVS TO MERCURIUS RUSTICUS Good Brother RUSTICUS THough there have been some unkinde jars between my brother Aulicus and me yet my earnest desire is to keep a good understanding between your self and me I cannot but congratulate your happinesse that breathe in so free an ayre wherein it is lawfull to heare and speak truth O Truth sacred Truth whither art thou fled if you at Oxford did not give her entertainment I know not where she would find a place of aboad for here at London we fortifie against her to keep her out Nay with us in the City it is come to that passe that it is almost as dangerous to speak truth as Love the King you know how famous we have been here for publishing and printing Lyes he that will not lye to advantage the great Cause in hand is not amongst us thought fit to have accesse either to the Pulpit or the Presse And therefore when I was first set on work to communicate Intelligence to the Kingdom to indear my self to them that imployed me I played my part reasonable well I Lyed my share but at last admonished by our brother Aulicus and to confesse to you touched a little in conscience I began by degrees to take off my self from that unwarrantable course and did here and there sprinkle a little truth yet very sparingly least I should be thought to be turned Malignant or Cavaleer but as little as it was it was distastfull for hereupon Mr Pim and the Remainder of the five Members assisted by Mr Martyn illiterate Serjeant Wild Peard that hath lesse Law if it be possible then the Serjant some others that have sworn never to indure truth again since they have thriven so well by Lies moved at the Close Committee to have me silenced yet to blind the world as if their ayme were not at me alone they involve others in the same doome and for Intelligencers by an Order they bung up all our mouths at once yet knowing how much it coÌ„cerned them that the old trade went on though since they have permitted another to make use of my name yet at first they gave authority to one man onely to lye for all the rest him they call the Parliament Scout not Bulmore the Scout that was slain at Whetley bridge neer you at Oxford I meane not him yet if you look into his weekly Pamphlets you would sweare that he had no more braines in his head then Bulmore had when they were shot out This man indeed tels you some truths but such antiquated ones that they were stale newes above a Thousand yeares since as that on the borders of Scotland there dwelt a People whom they called Picts that there was a Wall built between England and Scotland and the like while he keeps at this distance and comes no nearer he never needs feare that the heeles of the times may chance dash out his teeth he may write on but if once he come to publish any Moderne truths as that his Excellency durst come no nearer Oxford then Thame that Fairfax is beaten in the North and Waller and Warwick in the West or the like he were best looke to himselfe he may read his fate in us These new Reformers will never Brooke it Since therefore we are here inslaved either to Lies or Silence that the world may not for ever be kept hoodwinkt goe on I pray as you have begun to let her see the Miseries under which she dayly suffers But me thinks it would be a work well worthy your endeavour to let the Country see not only their miseries but to point them out the fountain source from whence they flow This discovery hath beene within me as wine that hath no vent redy to burst like new bottles yet as ful as I am I dare not vent my thoughts concerning this here but have chose rather to whisper them to you for it is in vaine to dissemble it your sad stories of the Ruine and devastation of the Countrey are ecchoed in our Streets and though we beare it out in a Vaunting way as if these things concerned not us yet I assure you there are many soules that mourne in private for in publique we must be as mad as the rest or else we suffer as Malignants as knowing how justly we stand charged with all those Calamities which the sword of Rebellion hath brought upon you I never heare that of the Prophet read Woe to the bloody City it is full of Lies and Robbery but I cannot choose but think of London It is too too manifest nor can it be denied but that all your Sufferings have been derived from us when Common-Prayer was in use amongst us I remember such a Query in one of the Prophets Is there any evill in the City and the Lord hath not done it But you may aske Is there any evill in the Countrey and the City hath not done it You have made us Rich and Populous and we in foule Ingratitude have prodigally powerd out both our Wealth and Strength to make you and our selves miserable Well might the Incendiaries of this present Rebellion so I dare call it to you though I dare not speak so plain here bring violent affections eager endeavours to set this flourishing Church and Kingdom in Combustion but alas all this had signified little or nothing had they not gained our consent and we resigned up our persons and estates to their disposall to be made the base instruments to compasse their most Trayterous designes Could Say or Pim and their beggerly Confederates have found money to Levie an Army against their Leige Lord that had not money to pay their own Debts had not we furnished them If we shall without partiality consider the severall helps which this City hath Contributed to this Rebellion we must confesse that both the beginning and continuance of this unnaturall Warre may be ascribed to us So that in all England there is but one Rebell that is London To reflect a little look back on those times when this Rebellion was but an Embrio or else did begin to creepe into the world for we may not think that this Monster was a Brat of a suddain birth though it were conceived some Say neâ—re Banbury shaped in Grays-Inne-Lane where the undertakers for the Isle of Providence did meet and plot it yet you know it was put out to Nurse to London For first you may well remember when the Puritans here did as much abominate the Military-yard or Artillery-Garden as Paris-Garden it self they would not mingle with the Profane but at last when it was instill'd into them that the blessed
of the City Thirdly never to beare any Office in the Kingdome Fourthly to be committed prisoner to Colchester Gaole for two yeares and lastly at the expitation of that tearm to give security for the good behaviour such as the Parliament if they then sare should then thinke fitting and in case the Pariament were dissolved such as the Lord Keeper for the time being should approve of how will this Sentence for ever justifie the severest that were ever given either in the Star-Chamber or High Commission That did doome a man to ruine for no other fault then what themselves had authorized and judged it against the Liberty of the Subject to oppose it even by their owne Order The Committee for the posture of Defence being by these dishonest practices made Lords of the Militia and being armed with as much power as will to serve the most desperate Treasonable designes which either Say or Pym should suggest they now goe on without checke or controuâ—e and beate downe all before them that stand in their way On Triviall pretences or for necessary obedience to the Kings Iust Commands they remove honest Sir Richard Gurney whose name in after Chronicles will outshine famous Walworths and upbraid this Rebellious City to all posterity from the Governement of the City and 〈◊〉 his place substitute Little Isaac rejecting the Olive and advancing that Bramble out of which I feare will come that Fire which will consume this seditious City Now the People are authorized by Ordâ—nance of both Houses and encouraged and pressed even in point of Conscience by their Boutefeau Lecturers to List horses in Moorefields send in money and plate to Guild-Hall for the service of the King and Parliament and because they would be sure to have an Orator in every Pulpit to quicken the people to poure out their wealth Liberally to further the Rebellion intended they cause the very dregs and sâ—um of every Parish to petition against the Orthodox Clergy who being imprisoned or fle they sequester their Livings for the use of their owne Levites so that at this day there is not a true Orthodox Minister left freely speaking his Conscience and exercising his Ministery in the whole City so that whatsoever they pretend that they take up Armes for the defence of the Protestant Religion if they meane the Protestant Religion as it is by Act of Parliament established in the Church of England I assure you Brother were you here you could no more see a face of the Church of England then you can at Amsterdam They have not onely banished all Decency and Order together with the established Liturgy out of our Churches but in stead of the Gospel our new Preachâ—rs entertaine their Auditories with newes which upon examination prove but fictions and Lyes to blind the people or else with bitter invectives against the King and his Government and as for Faith Charity and Repentance they are laid aside as impertinent arguments all their exhortations now are to Treason and Rebellion So that as in the Holy League of France as my Author speakes our pulpits are made the Chaires of Iuglers Nay the very Sacraments escape not their Blasphemy and Prophanation â—o these vile purposes I doubt not but you have heard of M. Case his Invitation of the Congregation to the Lords Table who in stead of you that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sinnes and be in Love and Charity with your Neighbours and intend to lead a new Life c. bespake them thus You that have freely and liberally Contributed to the Parliament for the defence of Gods cause and the Gospels draw neere To the rest he threatned Damnation as comâ—â—ing unworthily to the holy Sacrament it were endlesse to 〈◊〉 unto you it deserves somâ— mans labour in particular to acquaint you and the Kingdome with the Blasphemies Prophanations and Absurdities which he and his Brethren in Evill vent every day in their Extemporary Prayers and Sermons Yet were aâ—l this Treason set out mix'd with wit or did they preach Rebellion aduantag'd by the alluring helpes of art and Elâ—quence it might perswade some amongst us not to turne Recusaâ—ts from their Assemblies but they are the dâ—yest and the dullest beasts that ever peepd over a pulpit while these remaine in the City Rotheram the Lecturer never needs feare to be heard in his deprecation that we might never see such a famine here in London as was once in Samaria where an Asses head was sold for fourescore pieces of Silver Thankes to him and the rest wee have great plenty here and while we have so many there is no feare that they will ever rise to so high a price But when people are disposed uâ—to a Reâ—ellion small helpes will serve their Turne a Rams-Horne is as good as Shebahs Trumpet yet they have one art and I may not forgâ—t it because it takes much with the People and it is this you shall have one and the same argument possesse most of our Pulpit on the same day the same matter is the Subject â—iâ—her of their rayling invectives or Rebellious Exhortations The undiscerning multitude not piercing into this Imposture fâ—ndly are perswaded that this is no lesse then the inspiration of the Holy Ghost when God knowes this is no more then an Iâ—timation given from the Heads of the Faction to Calamy and the Iunto that meet at his house from whom their Emissaries receive directâ—ons what concernes the present opportunity and is necessâ—ry to be preâ—ched unto the people By these and the like Arts 't is a wâ—nder to see what â—orces have been raised what summes have beene advanced and pourâ—d out to further this Rebellion It is the Opinion of very wise men amongst us here that have observed the severall hâ—lpes which the City of London haâ—h contributed to this present unnaturall Warre that they have supplyed the Treasury of the Rebells with no lesse then Three Millions of money and their Aâ—my with threescore Thousand men first 〈◊〉 then recreâ—â—ing their mangled bâ—aten Regiments at so great Expence both of Treasure and Blood hath this proud unthankfull City been to disthrone the King and râ—ine the Kingdom And that they might not want supplies of men to keepe this Rebellion on Foot they have cancelled or dispensed with all the Obligations and Tyes of Religion Nature and Lawes They have given the Sonne power not only without but contrary to the parents commands to List himselfe and take entertainment in their Army the same liberty they have given to Apprentises and Servants to take Armes not only without but contrary to the command of their Masters and Mistresses How many poore Pâ—rents how many poore Trades-men nay how many poor Widdowes and their distressed Orphans be here in this City that had no other Subsistence but what was hardly earned by their Children or Apprentises industry and labour are now all like to starve or are necessitated to fly to the Almes of the Parish though the