the Lord Newburge was sent from the King to give the City notice of the late Tumults at Westminster and White-Hall and to recommend unto them the Care of preventing the like disorders for the time to come To this Common-Councell comes Fowks and with him all the Tribe of this new choice and mingle with the old which being an Intrusion without president was earnestly opposed by them that loved the ancient order and honour of the City and foresaw the Inundation breaking in upon them yet out of Respect to the Kings Message and that Lord that brought it the controversie for the present was hushed up and generally they applied themselves to give dispatch to the Answer which they were to returne to the King which was accordingly done and the Answer presently after published in Print So on the 5. of Ianuary being the day after the King went to the House of Commons to demand the Five Members a Common Councell being called by the Kings direction to the Lord Major to which himselfe in Person came to impart unto them the reasons that induced him to goe to the House the day before and to admonish them not to harbour or protect these men in the City Thither came Fowke and his new Elected but not admitted Brethren Fowke having prepared a Saucy Insolent Speech to make unto the King concerning Feares Iealousies touching the Members accused The Priviledges of Parliament and that they might not be tried but in a Parliamentary way The King heard him with admired patience and whereas so disloyall expressions justly deserved his Royal Indignation to have seâ—t him to Newgate or Bride-well especially interposing in that Representative body of which as yet he was no member The King onely returned this short gracious Answer bidding him and the rest to assure themselves That they should have a lust Tryall according to the Lawes of the Land adding that they were dangerous men and that neither he nor they could be in safety as long as these men were permitted to go on in their way It was observed by some very wise men there present that the King at His comming to the Common-Councell was received with Joy and acclamations not much Inferiour to those at His entrance into the City on His returne from Scotland But after the reason of His comming was knowne and the Puritan Party had inâ—tilld into the peoples heads that the great Patriots of the Kingdome were in danger to be called to a Legall Triall for Treason at His returne there was a new face on the Multitude and instead of God save the King there was nothing ecchoed in His eares but Priviledges of Parliament Priviledges of Parliament Great is Diana of the Ephesians was never roared louder The King dined that day at Sheriffe Garrets and the Faction of the Sectaries Brownists and Anabaptists having time to assemble after dinner the house was beset and the streets leading unto it thronged with people Thousands of them flocking from all parts of the City and the clamour still was Priviledges of Parliament which cry first taken up that day and that with so good successe never failed to be Objected to the King and inculcated to the People even unto this day in all their appeales unto them This Tumult sweld to that height that the King in His returne was in great danger the people in a most undutifull manner pressing upon looking into and laying hold on His Coach nay in defiance of His sacred Person and Authority that seditious Pamphlet of Walkers To your Tents O lsrael was throwne either into or very near His Coach Insomuch that those few friends which the King had in the City were heartily glad when they heard that the King was safely arrived at White-Hall for I assure you His fast friends here in the City as the never enough honoured Sir Richard Gurney and Sir Thomas Gardner the Recorder were in great danger being pursued with outcryes as Remember the Protestation others calling them halfe Protesters nay the Lord Major had his Chaine torne from his neck by a Zelous sister This very day the two Houses the leaders in both thinking themselves unsafe at Westminster affrighted with their own guilt resolve to take Sanctuary in London knowing that what ever they had done or ever should doe though never so derogatory to the King never so contrary to Law yet the Puritan Faction in the City would afford them not only protection but power and assistance Both Houses therefore adjourn untill the Tuesday following and cast themselves into a Committee to meet at Guild-Hall or Grocers-Hall To the Committee at Grocers hall come the Five Members in great Triumph guarded and attended by the Train-bands and a strong guard set to secure the place of their sitting Now if ever was the fatall conspiration of Time and Place for Coyning new unheard of Priviledges of Parliament not only to the securing the persons of Traitors but Iustifying Treason it selfe For here was before this day the unheard of Priviledge of Parliament declared That no Member of Parliament ought to be arrested by any warrant whatsoever without consent of that House whereof he is a Member and by the same Ordinance it was declared That they that shall arrest these Members are enimies to the State with free liberty granted for all persons to harbor or converse with them In all which it is evident that the power and strength of London were made the first obstruction of the free course of Iustice and the City made the Asylum and Sanctuary of those whom the King had justly declared Traytors And now having undoubted experience of the affection of the City all eyes being turned from White Hall to Grocers Hall where the Darlings of the People were pompously feasted and fawningly courted on Saturday the eight of Ian. 1641. the Committee consult how the accused Members might come to Westminster the Tuesday following and without any long debate it was resolved upon the question That the Sheriffes of London should and might raise a guard of the Traine-bands for the defence of the King and Parliament and that they might warrantablely march out of their Liberties and that you may see that the Scene was right layd there were some ready at that instant to make a tender of the assistance of the Seamen and Mariners whose power should guard them by Water as the Train-bands by Land Next day being Sunday every Pulpit that was at their devotion sounded nothing but the praise of Kimbolton and the Five Members inciting the People to stand up in the defence of these wâ—rthies else if they permitted the King to take away these to day he might goe on to seize on as many more to Morrow untill he had left the Parliament naked of all good Patriots and Zealous assertors of Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom On Munday the tenth of Ian. 1641. the King hearing of these great Preparations an Army by Land and a Navy by Sea
Reformation intended could not be effected but by the sword these places were instantly filled with few or none but men of that Faction We were wont you know to make very merry at their Training some of them in two yeares practice could not be brought to discharge a Musket without winking We did little imagine then that they were ever likely to grow formidable to the State or advance to that strength as to be able to give the King Battle but after a while they began to affect yea and Compasse the chief Offices of command so that when any prime Commanders dyed new men were elected wholy devoted to that Faction and it became a Generall Emulation amongst them who should buy the most and the best Armes Secondly that they might fill all places of authority with such as should advance the designe all care is taken to fill the Bench of Aldermen and the Common-Councel with men disaffected to the Government both Ecclesiasticall and Civill To this purpose if London did not afford men bad enough they would call them from other Corporations as Alderman Atkins from Norwich and the like but if he had been Amsterdam or had been an Adventurer to New England or been the host of the silenced Ministers he was a jewell Nay some will tell you I am much of their opinion that the Faction have had so great a Care of this that they have chosen some men to places of the best esteem in the City whose estates were not able to defray the Charges but have been supported by a Common Purse and if you have not forgotten it there was a Motion you know made That Honest men so they cal thâ—eselves might beare the Magistracy and the Citty beare the Expence some men thought that this proposall had especiall Relation to those two beggerly Captaines Ven and Manuring who having nothing either within or without them to render them fit for government yet in this Rebellious City were thought most fit because most averse from what was by Law established Thirdly because all this could not compasse the end they aymed at unlesse the Clergy did conspire with them and contribute their help and because they found very few of the Setled Clergy here in the Citty except Dr. Gough M. lackeson Votier Simons Walker and a very few more Compliant with their indeavours they laboured by all means possible to introduce that Gibbus or excrescency of the Clergy called Lecturers over their Parochiall Ministers heads whose maintenance being dependent yet a portion by double Leases and other Sacralegious devices stolne from their owne Parsons so that the barren Mountaines of Wales afford not so many poore and as Sir Benjamin Rudyer was wont to call them scandalous Livings together as are to be found within the walls of London must preach such Doctrine as may foment disloyalty and instill such Principles into their Auditors as may first dispose them to and after engage them in Rebellion when things were ripe or else they shall want bread to put into their heads The Truth is Brother Rusticus these Military preparations had effected Little had not the fire been given from the Pulpit And because they saw how Successefull this Course was and what strange effects it wrought in our City a Fourth design was to place some of their Emissaries in all Corporations those Nuâ—câ—ries of Schisme and Rebellion and in the most eminent parts of the Kingdom for this purpose a most specious and pious pretence is held out to the world the buying in of Impropriations Feoffces are appointed men of publique Callings as Clergy-men Lawyers and Citizens whose imployments must needs render them knowne to many and men of noted Zeale in the Opinion of the Woâ—ld such as it was thereby to gaine the reputation of Religion to the undertaking the Lectures and others too deceived by the outside of this Project stirre up the Rich and well affected to Contribute Liberally to this so religious an Act of redeâ—ming the Lords portion out of Lay-hands and amongst the last Counsells given to the dying and then commonly they make deepest impression This was never forgotten by this meanes great Summes were advanced and the World stood at gaze to see the great returne which would be made to the Church of that which Sacraledge had made a Lay-Fee after any were redeemed how long the revenues were held in the Feoffâ—es hands what pittances were allowed to the Incumbents how they robb'd Peter to pay Paul and established a Lecture perhaps in Cornwall with the Tith of a Parsonage in Yorkeshire or the like appertains not to my present purpose The thing that I shall observe unto you is the great care and art used in fitting men for their service and then disposing and securing them in their Imployment from any Molestation of Ecclesiasticall Censures To this end First they account it necessary to plant two Seminaries the first an Initiary Seminary to this purpose they project the buying of a Headship in one of the Vniversities for some eminent man of their own party under whose Influence their Novices might be trained up in their Mysteries though some houses in both Vniversities were notorious enough in this kind before and might have saved them this Labour as Magdaline Hall and New-Inne in Oxford and Emanuel Colledge and Katherine Hall in Cambridge The second was a Practique Seminary and that was at St. Antholines here in London and did in Spiritualibus answer to the Artilery Garden being a place to traine up their young Emissaries where they might take an Essay of their affections and abilities and by the bewitchments of gaine and popular applause deeply ingage them in their Faction and from this Seminary were most of their new bought Impropriations fill'd And as they had their Salary from so they were subordinate to a Classis or Clerâ—-laicall Consistory who had power to transplant their most hopeful Imps either into their purchased Impropriations or else into a Lecture in some of the most populous places of the Kingdom maintained by a borrowed portion from an Impropriation elswhere yet this Consistory did not in their choice strictly tye themselves to the plants of their own Nurceries but if any man had been a Pseudomartyr for their cause or had been sentenced by the high Commission for Non-Conformity or by some Notorious undertaking had evidenced and declared himself and irrevocably without apparant note of Infamy and Levity if he retracted ingaged himselfe to their party or had Letters Testimoniall from Patriarch White of Dorchester Mr. Cotton of Boston or the like for Calamy and Marshall were not as it is said of Dathan and Abiram as yet famous in the Congregation This man was a choice plant and fit for their Soyle Secondly being planted abroad their second care was that whatsoever they Preached though never so derogatory to the Government either Ecclesiasticall or Civill yet they might be free from molestation and Preach on without danger of loosing
their maintenance by Ecclesiasticall censure To this purpose they attempt the buying a Commisâ—aries place there where they intended to make any speciall plantation who being after their own hearts might winke at their irregularities and though the Church-wardens should by chance be so honest to regard their oathes and present them yet by the purchased or bribed Commissary they may secure them from the danger of the Court Lastly for feare least any of their Creatures should fall from them and desert the Cause as some had done when they had got what they looked for wisely they provide that their maintenance shall be dependent on the pleasure of their good Masters the Feoffees alterable by addition or substraction according to their merits or demerits and their persons subject to be Casheered if they Preach not to the advancement of their holy cause and according to the directions sent unto them from the Conclave of their Elders at London That so as much as humane Policy could invent they might to use Mr Foxlies own words speaking in this argument Establish the Gospel by a perpetuall decree When all things were now ready their Emissaries having prepared the hearts of the people to Rebellion first alienating them by frequent slandering the footsteps of Gods annoynted decrying the Government both of Church and State fomenting the causelesse discontents and aggravating the necessities of State with the odious names of Tyranny Arbitrary power Violation of the Subjects Liberty and Property and likewise possessed the credulous multitude that the conformeable Clergy had made a Revolt from the Protestant Religion and had an earnest intention to introduce Popery at last was fulfilled that Prophecy of Iudicious M. Hooker toward the end of the Preface to that incomparable work of Ecclesiasticall Policy that after the Puritans have first resolved that attempts for Discipline are lawfull it will follow in the next place to be disputed what may be attempted against Superiors who will not have the Scepter of that discipline to rule over them Which Prophecy we see exactly fulfilled in our dayes for the Puritans having first rebelled by a Proxey they then thought it seasonable to take an essay what an entertainment the doctrine for taking up Armes against the King would find amongst their Disciples To this purpose Doctor Downing a man fitted for any base imployment and one that what ever he counterfeited ever looked awry on the Church in which being setled and in peace he could never hope to advance farther then Vicar of Hackâ—ney was to feele the Pulse of the Citty while therefore discontents runne high in the North the Scots having in a hostile manner entered the Kingdome the People every where especially in London stirr'd up by some agents to Petition the King for this Parliament D. Downing Preaching to the Brotherhood of the Artilery Garden positively affirmed that for defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church it was lawfull to take up armes against the King He having thus Kindled the fire in the City for feare of being questioned for as yet it was not lawfull to Preach Treason retired privately to the Earle of Warwicks house in Essex the common Randevouz of all Schysmaticall Preachers this Sermon in every place administring matter of discourse People censured it as they stood affected which gave occasion to the Ringleaders of this faction to enter upon a serious examination and study of this case of Conscience and it seems consulting the Iesuites on the one side and the Rigid Puritans on the other or indeed because without admitting this doctrine all their former endeavours would vanish into smoak they stood doubtfull no longer but closed with these two contrary Factions yet shaking hands in this poynt of Rebellion and subscribed to D. Downings doctrine as an Evangelicall truth And that in this I may not be thought to speak as if I were a Parliament intelligencer still for the truth of this I appeale to M. Stephen Marshall himselfe who being pressed by M. Simons that herâ—ofâ—re he was of another opinion ingenuously confessed it but withall affirmed that on D. Downings Sermon having a hint given them the Brethren did enter upon an examination of the Doctrine and upon examination found it truâ— Tâ—ough the truth is they whispered this doctrine long before in their Conventicles but never durst proclaime it in their Pulpits before they saw an army in the bowells of the Kingdom to make it good by the sword and a Faction in a Parliament comeing on that would Authorize Rebellion under this pretence by their Votes and Ordinances After it was once owned as a Truth and a Truth first scann'd and then avowed by Marshall Calamy Downing and Colonell Cornelius Burges and the rest of their Elders That for the cause of Religion it was lawfull for the Subject to take up Armes against his Lawfull Soveraigne good God! how violently did the People of London rush into Rebellion how plyable did the Faction in Parliament find them to raise Tumults make outcries for justice call for innocent blood subscribe and preferre Petitions against the holy Lyturgy and the Hierarchy Root and branch if Doctor Burges did but hold up his finger to his Mermidons or Captain Ven send his summons by his Wife to assemble the Zelots of the City But because all other attempts had been to little purpose while the power of the sword remained in His hands into which God had put it the Heads of this Rebellion consider that it was more seazable by secret practises to render the King unable to withstand them then for them openly to oppose the King therefore their main indeavour is to wrest the power of the Militia out of the Kings hands by degrees and to put it there where they might place the greatest confidence But this was a work not easily effected great Changes could not be ushered in but by great preparations to make it way for them hereupon the Faction in Parliament make it their first work to make this City wholly theirs that one soule as it were might animate both representive bodies That of the Kingdome and this of the City knowing that it was in vaine for the Faction in Parliament to contrive unlesse the Faction in the Common-Councellin London would execute for though there were some flourishes made from Buckingham-shire in the behalfe of M. Hampden and from Leicester-shire in the behalfe of Sir Arther Hasterigge and the like yet the standing Guard and power of the Faction in Parliament on which they relied to affront the King and save themselves from the justice of the Laws was that fixed here in London And because where feare doth possesse the multitude it makes them work not like agents but like instruments and moulds them to a Temper fit to receive impressions from those in whose wisdoms or Loves they repose themselves making them pliaâ—le to all directions and Counsells which shall be given by them whom they esteeme Patriots of the Common-wealth and Assertors of
the Liberties and safety of the People all possible art was used to possesse the Kingdome but especially the City with strange â—ealousies and Feares and therefore besides the often inculcating the fained intention of introducing Popery great preparations in France and Denmarke to invade the Kingdome to inable the King to governe Arbitrarily to the subversion of the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome together with the Liberty and Property of the Subject Theames that did continually possesse both the Pulpit and the Presse which how truâ— though most impudently affirmed the World now sees each day did produce a discovery of some new Treason and to indâ—â—â—e the City the more it must be so contrived That in these monstrous fictions you shall continually find the Parliament and City fained to be involved in the same danger To possesse the Kingdom how mortally the Parliament and City the two vitall parts of the Kingdome as Pym calls them were threatned in the time of the Recesse they take opportunity of the Petition delivered by the Troopâ—rs from the North and by an order from the Committee they appoynt strong watches to be kept in all high-wayes Villages and Townes within twenty miles of London that Travellers into all parts of the Kingdome passing through these Guards might report when they came home in how much danger the Parliament and City were for their sakes And that the Credulous People might not think but that this was done on good grounds a Letter is writteâ— from the Parliament Commissioners in Scotland M. Hampden M. Fiennes and the rest to M. Pym and the close Committee here to inform them of a strange conspiracy discovered in Edenburgh to seize on the persons of the Marquesse Hamilton and the Earles of Argile and Lanâ—ricke the Committee wisely considering that it was no stâ—ange thing for Treason to make a step out of Scotland into England instantly provided against it at least so they would be thought by publishing an Order commanding the Iustices of Peace of Middlesex Surrey and Southwarke to secure the City and the places adjoyning from all danger by strong guards well armed and give this reason for their Order Because the Mischievous designes and conspiracies lately discovered in Scotland against some Principall and Great men there by some of the Popish Faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maintain correspondency here and practise the like mischiefe Presently upon the neck of this M. Pim's life to the great detriment of the Kingdom and Nation is indangered by a contagious plaister of Plague sore wrapt up in a letter and directed to him but God be thanked the infection did not take though throwing away the plaister only he put the letter in his Pocket he being reserved for another manner of death we hope then to dye privately in his bed with a few spectators to bear witnesse of his end Then comes a Tailor out of a ditch in Finsbury fields having miraculously escaped being runne nine times besides the body for like a wise Tailor wheresâ—ever he made ilotholes he would be sure to make none in his own skinne though to gain credit to the relation and he tells a strange discovery of a Treason which he overheard two men talking of a Conspiracy against the life of the Lord Say and some of the chief Members of both Houses A thing so improbable indeed so Ridiculous that had they not thought that the world stood prepared to receive any thing for truth which came from them 't was a wonder how they durst own it And now I have named a Taylor it puts me in mind of Perâ—ins my Lord Say's Taylor who at a Common-Councell produced a copy of a Letter from an I know not what Irish Lord in Paris to such an other Irish Lord in London intimating some strange designe against the City which took as passionately with the People as if it had been certified from M. Strickeland his worship himselfe Embassador for the two Houses uâ—to the States-Generall of the united Provinces But the most monstrous of all the rest aâ—d that which if the people had not been accursed to believe Lies was the invisible Army quartered under ground at Ragland Castle discovered by Iohn Davis servant to Mistris Lewis an Inne-keeper at Rosse to Alderman Actons Coachman except the blowing up the Thames with Gunpowder to drowne the City one of the most dangerous plots that ever affrighted London And as by their own fictions they endeavoured to possesse the People with Iealousies so whatsoever the King did never wanted a sinister interpretation glossed to the multitude to traduce His actions as if in them there were ever some evill intended to the City and Parliament When the King removed Belfore from the Lieutenancy of the Tower and placed Sir Thomas Lunsford in that charge the Citizens and their Wives could not sleep quietly in their bedds for feare of having their houses beaten down about their eares To satisfy their Clamours though nothing were objected against him the King reassumes the Trust and presently deposites it with Sir Iohn Byron the Faction were as ill satisfied in him yet it was not easy what to object against him nay it was a Query that did not a little trouble them in what to quarrell him at last Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavite man and Nicholson the Chandler complaine in the Common-Councell that since Sir Iohn Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower the Mint to the great prejudice and dishonour of the Kingdome stood still Those that knew what trade these men drove by the poor retaile of Broomes Candles and Mustard their chief merchandize to improve brasse farthings into Groats and Sixpences accounted the Objection as inconsiderable as the Authors that alleadged it yet as meane and false as it was it served some mens turnes to slander the King to His People and raise a Clamour The King out of the abundant goodnesse of His Nature hoping to winne them by some condescendments which now the world sees is impossible Puritans being of another manner of Temper then to be overcome with kindnesse removes Sir Iohn Byron and confers this great trust on Sir Iohn Coniers a man of whom the Faction it seems conceived better hopes and indeed hitherto if you consider his exaction upon the Kings friends in his custody or retaining the name of Lieutenant but resigning the power contrary to his expresse oath and that on his own Petition to the Train bands of the City he hath not given them any occasion to repent them of their acquiescence in him It were endlesse Brother Rusticus to relate all the meanes used to heighten the fears of this miserable City and by consequence of the Kingdome especially after the Faction in Parliament had shewen them the way by publishing that great Buggbeare to affright the People the Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdome At last to make experiment what good effect all these arts had produced the maine Engineers resolve on
Twelfe night to see what partee they had in the City and what assistance they might expect if occasion served by giving a false Allarme To this purpose in the night a Rumour is divulged and suddenly dispersed through the City That the King and Cavaleers with fifteene hundred horse were coming to surprize the City you would wonder to consider how this report prevailed insomuch that in an instant London was in Armes no lesse then 50000 or 60000 men ready provided to incounter they knew not what the Women who as M. Peters did instruct 〈◊〉 in the Pulpit have huggd their Husbands into this Rebellion provide hot water besides what they sprinkled for feare to throw on the Cavaleeres joynt-stooles foormes and empâ—y tubbes are throwne into the Streets to intercept the Horse Had you been at Lord Majors that night as I was you might upon the Aldermens coming to him to consult against the common danger easily perceive which of the Aldermen were privy to this designe and who were not thought fit to be intrusted with so great a Mysterie some of them and when time serves I can tell you their names came so neat as if they had spent the whole day to be trimme at midnight their beards put into a feasting posture not a haire awry a cleare demonstration that they had not consulted their pillows that night Their Ruffes set as compleatly as if they had beene to dine with the Masters of their Companies or were prepared to beare a part in my Lord Majors shew but the rest that slept in the simplicity of their hearts and went to bed so farre from misconceiving their gracious Soveraigne to have any evill intention against the City that they thougâ—t themselves safe under his Protection these came in a farre different garbe one came in his nightcap forgot his Hat another had his Hat but did not remember to take his Ruffe one trots along in his slippers another for haste not staying to garter his stockings had lost them had not his shooâ—s 〈◊〉 on so that it was easy to distinguish who were Consâ—iding Aldâ—rmon as they call them and who Malignants And as by degrâ—es they wrought the people to this height of Iealousie so by degrees too proportionable to their 〈…〉 they disarme the King and Arme themselves At first they did only wrest the Sword out of the Kings Hau◠〈◊〉 as their party grew stronger they turned the point upon him When their Feares were but young the Faction of the City desired 〈◊〉 more but a strong guard of the Train-Bands and this 〈◊〉 called The Safety of the City when their Feares grew Stronger then in a Common-Councell they move for The Posture of defence which was the Egge of which afterwards was natched â—hat Cockatrice of the Militia But because it was impossible to disarme the King as long as the Lord Major stood firme in his Loyalty and invested in his power their maine work therefore was first to pack a Common-Councell of men of their own Faction and then by advancing the power of their Common-Councell by the assistance of the House of Commons above the Lord Majors to draw the Voting of all Queryes and the Resolution of all doubts or matters under debate unto the decision of a Major part and if any Obstacle lay in their way to these ends which was not in their power to remove presently at a dead lift Penington or Ven or Vassels bring an order from the House of Commons which never failed to determine all things for their own Creatures And because the Practices of these men deserve not to be buried in Silence I shall give you a short account how the power of the Militia of the City came to be taken out of the Lord Major and Court of Aldermens hands and â—eated in a Major part of the Commons In which you shall see how a Faction in the City conspired with a Faction in the Parliament and this Faction in the Parliament with that in the City untill between both the King was inforced for fear of their tumults and Insolencies to withdraw himself into the Country The time of Election of Common-Councell men comming on at St Thomas day 1641. When these feares and Jealousies had distracted the City it was no difficult matter for this active faction to instill into their fellow Citizens how much it Concerned them to make choyce of Godly men so they miscall themselves and such as would oppose the Popish Party under which notion they comprehend all such as stand well affected to the Government established whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill They accuse the Old Common-Councell-men as men not Zelous for Religion Ready to comply with the Court for loanes of Monies and which was worse many had not only set their hands to but were active in promoting the intended Petition for Episcopacy and the Booke of Common Prayer These Objections which duly considered had been so many convincing arguments for them so prevailed with these silly men who thought all to be in danger vnlesse the government were put into new hands that in most Wards the old Common-Councell men were turned out and new chosen in wholy devoted to the Puritan faction especially in those Wards where their Aldermen inclined that way amongst these the most remarkable were Atkins Wâ—llastone George Garrat the Draper Wardner and Towse Now outgoe all the grave discreet well-affected Citizens as Sr George Benyon M. Drake M. Roger Clarke M. Roger Gardner Deputy Withers M. Cartwright and others and in their stead are chosen Fowke the Traytor Ryley the squeeking Bodyes-maker Perkins the Taylor Norminton the Cutler young beardlesse Coâ—lson the Dyer Gill the Wine-Cooper and Iupe the Laten-man in Crooked-Lane Beadle of the Ward in the place of Deputy Withers So that a man would swear they meant to fulfill what a wise Lord Keeper once spake to a Recorder of London dyning with him upon occasion of a Wood Cock-Pyâ— brought to the Table with the heads looking out of the Lid Mr Recorder you are welcome to a Common-Councell These new men though chosen on S. Thomas day are never returned by the constant custome of the City before the Munday after Twelfe-day nor have power to 〈◊〉 in the Common-Councell or concurre in doing any act before the Indentures of their Election be returned from the Wardmoâ—e Inquest to the Town-Clark and a Warrant is sued fortâ— from the Lord Major to the Serjeant of the Chamber to Summon them Yet in the Yeare 1641. the small space of time betweene S. Thomas day and the day of this Returne was a very active time and that which laid the Ground-work of that Revolt of this City from their Loyalty to Rebellion which presently followed Therefore Impatient to stay the time of their ordinary calling and knowing the Necessity of their presence for the advancement of the work in hand when the King gave order to the Lord Major for calling that Common-Councell held December 31. 1641. when
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
poores stock it selfe be invaded and spent in this Warre while â—hose that fed them are left in this unnaturall Rebellion Nay how many disconsolate parents have you in the Country that sent their Children hither to this City and gave great summes with them to bind them Apprentises to Trades Manufactures hoping that hereafter they might live like men nay perhaps some of their Mothers out of an overweaning opinion might fancy to themselves hopes that they might live to see their sonnes Lord Majors of London and why not that now sit mourning and wringing their hands and curse the day not onely in which they sent them hither but in which they were borne not because they have lost a Legge or an Armâ— or returned maimed so that all they can hope for is to have entertainment in an Hospitall and that no longer neither then till the Kings maimed Souldiers shall come and tell them that that Charity was never provided for men disabled fighting against their King but because they have lost their lives and not onely their lives but their pretious souls too dying in a grievous sinne in the very act of Rebellion methinks you in the Country if there be any bowels of compassion yearning over the fruit of your bodies if there be any sense of that eternall condition that doth attend them after this life if there be any hope of the joyes of Heaven or feare of the Torments of Hell should be very sensible of this And though God hath manifestly fought against them for the King giving him victory in many Battailes when all humane helpes and advantages were on the Robells side though God hath miraculonsly and beyond the hope of man restored unto Him the hearts of the people which the heads of this Rebellion by slanders had stolne from Hâ—m thâ—ugh from small and contemptible beginnings in the eyes of His enemies few or 〈…〉 for Hâ—m but God and the justâ—ce of his Cause God hath prospâ—red Him into many mighty Armies which â—ender him formidabâ—e to the proudest and stoutest of the Rebells â—â—ough every Victory hath beene seconded by a 〈◊〉 of peace and with an overture of pacification so that as himself speâ—kes in 〈◊〉 Declaration Puâ—lished Iuly â—â—â—643 He could not probably 〈◊〉 unden the Scandalous Impâ—â—â—tion which haâ—h usually 〈◊〉 His Messages of pâ—ace 〈◊〉 they proceed from tâ—e Wâ—akâ—esse of His Pâ—â—er â—ot lâ—ve of His People Lastlyâ—though like aâ— indâ—â—gent Father of Râ—bellious Children He hath 〈◊〉 his City and VVood it by many pardons many and often repeated Acts of Grace and Favour to recall us to our former Loyalty 〈…〉 we were Loyall yet inconsiderate unthankfull wretches as we are we overlooke or sleight all these invitations For 〈…〉 we have added this as the complement of our other Râ—bellions that whether more unthankfully or undutifully I â—â—â—â—not tell we have cast dirt in our Soveraignes faâ—â— and 〈◊〉 the fooâ—stpes of Gods Anoynted as if he were guilty of all 〈◊〉 Miseries which at this time threaten the subversion of this Naâ—â—on we will no longer wrong our King secretly through 〈◊〉 sides of His evill Counsellors or Cavallers but â—hrage him 〈◊〉 and poynt blanke as in that most seditious Declaration or what every you will call it presented by Sir Dauid VVatkins and that broken Citizen out at elbowes called Satten Shute to the Common-Councell and by them to the remainder of the 〈◊〉 House if it be not breach of priviledge to call it so How willing have we obâ—yed every Commandement except God and the Kings How forward have we beene to imploy the large Revenues of our severall Companies and Brotherhoods as heretofore to excesse and gluttony so now to support this Rebâ—llion how ready even bâ—yond our Abâ—lities have we bin to submit to every Tax and illegall Impistion even to the bondage and slâ—very of 〈◊〉 bâ— which we are not so much Proprietaries of our owne as Stewards or Cashieres to the heads of the Rebellion and all this to no other end but to keepe up the Rebellion wee have not only protected supported the Kings Mortall Enemies but as much as in us lay have persecuted all His Friends or if but suspected to stand well-affected to Him and the Justice of his cause not sparing the effusion of Iâ—nocent blood as that of M. Tomkins and M. Chaloner which like the blood of Abel calls loud to Heaven for vengeance on this bloody City and Qâ—â—stionlesse will in time be heard For not Content to buy these mens bloods with great summes of monies which could not be advanced but on this Condition that M. Tomkins and M. Chaloner be delivered up to their pleasure and murthered for a strange Conspiracy called Obedience to the King but being dead in an unheard of barbarousnesse they presse into the houses where their dead bodies lay before their Funeralls and thinking they could never be sure enough of so great a guilt they will not beleeve that they are dead unlesse they force the houses to see the bodies of them whom themselves had murthered Insomuch that to avoyd further violence and rage of the Citizens they were faine to set open the doores where their bodies say and expose them to the view of all that so they might glut themâ—elves with beholding that sad spectacle which themselves had made That the Kings Gracious offers of Peace have beene sleighted and rejected with scorne and Conâ—empt and His Messengers that brought them contrâ—ry to the Law of Armes and Nations Imprisoâ—ed That those miserablâ— distractions which have rent and 〈◊〉 this flourishing Kingdome are so farre from being closed that they are rather made wider That the sword of Warre so long dâ—vouring is not yet sheathed except in one anothers bowells That this Kingdome is still made the Scene of Marthers Rapines Oppression and Pâ—nderings and whereon all the horrid acts of rage and injustice are every day acted and the Nation put almost out of hope ever to injoy her former Peace and plenty is our fault and ours wholly Had not the heads of this Rebellion beene animaâ—ed by this City and Incouraged by promises of more supplies of men and Moâ—ies They had long 〈◊〉 this layd downe their Armes and come with halters about their necks and cast themselves at the Kings feet submissely begging those Pardons which they have presumptuously rejected Time was when the two Houses gave a Law to the City now it is come to that passe that the City prescribes to the Reliques of the two Houses They must not Conclude of Warre or Peace without consulting the City if they doe they reckon without their Hoste Nay though Fairfax be utterly routed in the North and William once sirnamed Conqueror be totally defeated in the West yet they can neither be perswaded nor beaten into thoughts of Peace on the 20 Iuly last no longer agoe many Thousâ—nds as the printed Paper tells you preferred a Petition to the House of Commons presented by M. Norbury of
the Cursitors office and Iohn Haâ— an Atturney of Guild-Hall both pernicious men which as it evidently shewes their Obstinate aversion from Peace so it is the most desperate divellish slander that ever yet durst looke the World in the Face for first they tell the House of Commons and in them the World That the King without any touch of Conscience and in defiance of God hath raised an Army of Papists Out-lawes and Traitors for the Robbing Burning Murthering and destroying of His Relgiious Honest and well meaning People And then knowing not onely their Interest in but their power over the House of Commons they doe not so much Petition as Coâ—â—and them to accept of their assistance for the raysing a new Army and in expresse Termes prescribe unto them and limit them to a Committee of their owne nomination for the seizing and receiving of such Summes as the willing shall thinke fit to offer or they shall thinke fit to extort from the â—â—willing for this service And that you may Judge of the whole Bunch by some they name Pennington the pretended Lord Major Strode one of the five Members Harry Martiâ— Plunder-master-Generall and Dennis Bend Burgesse of Dorchester and Pâ—â—riarch Whites owne disciple a man of a double Capacity to be a Rebell and finding themselves more alone in these undertakings then they did imagine like desperate Traitors they call on the whole Kingdome aâ— one man according to the intent of the late Covenant to joyne with them in this Rebellion And having thus taken a course to raise new forces on Saturday the 29 of Iuly at a Common Hall they voted Sir William Waller Generall of their new intended Army whom to indeare the more they interest him in the Governement of the City hoping that being as mad as his Lady he will hold up the Rebellion as long as he can and then be one of the last to runne away I meane not from Battell for in that hee shewed himselfe as forward as the foremost but from Iustice and the due reward of his disloyalty By all which it is most evident that this Languishing Rebellion had before this day gasp'd its last and given up the Ghost had not this Rebellious City by its wealth and Multitudes fomented it and given it life If therefore Posterity shall aske who broke downe the bounds to those streames of blood that have stained this earth if they aske who made Liberty captive Truth criminall Rapine just Tyranny and Oppression Lawfull who blanched Rebellion with the specious pretence of defence of Lawes and Liberties Warre with the desire of an established Peace Sacriledge and Prophanation with the shew of Zeale and Reformation Lastly if they aske who would have pulled the crown from the Kings head taken the government off the hinges dissolved Monarchy inslaved the Lawes and ruined their Countrey say 'T was the proud unthankefull Schismaticall Rebellious Bloody City of London so that what they wanted of devouring this Kingdome by cheating and couzening they meane to finish by the Sword That therefore these dangerous defluxions and continuall not small distillations but floods of Men Money Ammunition and Armes descending from the Head City and Metropolis of the Kingdome may not for ever dissolve the nerves and luxate the Sinewes of this admirably composed Government it will highly concerne this Nation to looke about them to undeceive themselves and to consult their owne peace and safety by joyning with their Gracious Soveraigne in chastizing these rebellious insolences reducing this Stubborne City either to Obedience or Ashes Yet that the World may not thinke that this inundation of wickednesse wherein the Divels of Rebellion rage in the Children of disobedience hath involved all of us in the same disoyalty let not good Brother the name Rusticus neither deterre you as if it were a Solecisme to tell the Murthers Robberies Plunderings and other Ouâ—rages committed in the City nor deprive us a handfull of faithfull Subjects in comparison of the Rebells the Puritans Brownists and Anabaptists of so great an Opportunity to justifie our Innocence Let the Country know that we have been at the charges to undoe not onely them but our selves too the Collosse which we have built is fallen on the builders the Fire which we have kindled devoures the bellowes which first blowed it up some of us repent of our fond credulity to be deceived and fooled by the empty name of a Parliament God grant it be not too late yet how ever let Posterity know this too that the King hath his Martyrs in London all are not in the Country And to make this good secretly as much as the close obstructions of the wayes of conveyance will permit you shall not faile of Intelligence from Your affectionate Brother MERCURIUS CIVICUS London Aug. 5. 1643 1641. The French Hist. p. â— 805.