Remonstrance delivered to the Commons Novemb. 20. 1648. The second part of Englands New Chains and the Hunting the Foxes from New-Market and Triplo heath to White-hall by five small Beagles p. 6 7. See my Animadversions upon the Army Remonstrance Nov. 20. 1648. and Putney Projects p. 43. and Major Huntingtons Relation in a Book called A Plea for King and Kingdome in Answer to the Army Remonst presented Novemb. 20. 1648. pag. 14 15 16. and Second part of Englands New Chaines and the said Hunting of the Foxes c And the Reasons inducing Major Robert Huntington to lay down his Commission though since they Quarrel with Parliament and City for using them and Reducers of his Queen and Children without which they openly profess and declare positively in many printed Papers to the world and the Parliament There can be no setled peace nor happiness to this Nation The truth of this Assertion was obvious to the meanest Capacities and will suddenly be proved by dear and lamentable experience To all these undertakings they now hunt directly counter yet in pursuance of these undertakings the Army by their own Authority made Addresses to his Majesty and presented to him more tolerable Proposals than any he could obtain from his Parliament They treated with him yea they wrought upon him under-hand to neglect the Propositions from Parliament tendered to him at Hampton-Court and to prefer the Proposals of the Army and then presuming they had him fast lymed they propounded to him anew as I have it from good hands private Proposals from the Interest of the Independent Grandees and the Army derogatory to the Kingly Power and Dignity to the Lawes Liberties and Properties of the Subject and destructive to Religion To which his Majesty giving an utter denial they began to entertain new Designs against the Kings Person and Kingly Government which they ushered in by setting the Schismatical and Levelling Party on work in City and most Counties to obtrude upon the Houses clamourous Petitions against further Treaties and demanding exemplary Justice against the King exceedingly laboured by Cromwel himself in Yorkeshire both amongst the Gentry and Souldiers c. amongst these the Petition Dâ—cemb 11. 1648. was the most eminent these men that insolently petitioned against the fundamental Government of the Land and peace by Accommodation were entertained with Thanks Others that petitioned for Peace by Accommodation were entertained with Frowns disfranchisings sequestrations wounds and death as the Surrey Gentlemen this shewed with how little reality the over-ruling party in the Houses Treated with the King 2. part of Englands Chains discovered 1. â—reaty in the Isle of Wight In order to this Designe of laying aside the King and subverting Monarchy They 1. frighted his Majesty into the Isle of Wight 2. The Parliament that is the predominant Party pursued him thither with offer of a Treaty upon Propositions conditionally that before he should be admitted to Treat he pass 4. Dethroning Bils of so high a nature that he had enslaved the People subverted Parliaments and had made himself but the Statue of a King and no good Christian had he by his Royal assent passed them into Acts of Parliament 1. par Hist Inâ— sect 62 63 64. and the Parliamâ—nt or rather the Grandees after his Royal assent might have made themselves Masters of all the other Propositions without his Consent so that this Treaty was but a flourish to dazle the eyes of the world His Majesty therefore denied the 4. said Bils and thereby preserved the legal Interests of King Parliament and People yet the Faction presently took a pretence and occasion thereupon to lay aside the King Ibidem sect 65 66 67 68 69 70 71. 72 74. 75. And my said Animadvers p. 10. And the 2 part of Englands new Ch. by passing 4. Votes for no more Addresses to him and a Declaration against him which were not passed without many threats and more shew of force than stood with the nature of a Free Parliament the Army lying near the Town to back their Party the design having been laid before-hand between Sir Henry Vane Junior Sir John Evelyn of Wilts Nath. Fiennes Solicitor Saint Johns and a select Committee of the Army I told you before the People had been throughly instructed formerly by the Army and their Agitators That there could be no peace nor happiness in England 2 part of Englands new Ch. discovered p. 4 5. without restoring the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives c. notwithstanding which the people now found their hopes that way deluded by the Army and their Party who had cast off the King upon private discontents the true grounds whereof did not appear and had obstructed all way s to Peace and Accommodation and made them dangerous and destructive to such as travelled peaceably in them witness the sad example of the Surrey-men Kent Essex and all to perpetuate their great Places of power and profit The minds of the people therefore troubled with apprehension that our old Lawes and laudable form of Government should be subverted and new obtruded by the power of the Sword suitable to the power and lust of these ambitious covetous men and finding besides evident symptomes of a new War approaching to consume that small Remainder which the last Wars had left grew so impotient of what they feared for the future and felt at present insupportable Taxes Free-quarter insolency of Souldiers Martial Law Arbitrary Government by Committees and by Ordinances of Parliament changed and executed at the will and pleasure of ths Grandees instead of our setled and well approved Laws that despair thrust them headlong into Arms in Wales Kent Essex Pontefract c. and at the same time a cloud arising in Ireland a storm powred in from Scotland and the Prince threatning a tempest from Sea these concurrences looked so black upon the Independent Grandees that they gave way to a second mock-Treaty in the Isle of Wight 2. Treaty in the Isle of Wight which was the fruit of their cowardise and subtilty as appeares by Sergeant Nicholas a Creature of theirs who upon Saturday Octob. 28. 1648. moved in the House That the Lord Goring might be proceeded against as a new Delinquent out of mercy because he had Cudgelled them into a Treaty though now they attribute all to the Kings corrupt Party in the two Houses the Army likewise kept a mock-Fast or day of Humiliation at Windsor to acknowledge their sins and implore Gods mercy for their former disobedience to the Parliament in not Disbanding and their insolent Rebellion in Marching up in a Hostile and Triumphant posture against the Parliament and City August 6. 1647. promising more obedience hereafter and to acquiesce in the judgment of the Parliament and Declared Decl. Jun. 14. 1647. That it was proper for them to act in their own sphere as Souldiers and leave State affairs to the Parliament but this was done but to recover
about the thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and two at Beverley in the County of York and upon or about the thirtieth day of July in the year aforesaid in the County of the City of York and upon or about the twenty fourth day of August in the same year at the County of the Town of Nottingham when and where he set up his Standard of War and also on or about the twenty third day of October in the same year at Edgehill and Keinton-field in the County of Warwick and upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the same year at Brainford in the County of Middlesex and upon or about the thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fourty and three at Cavesham-bridge neer Reading in the County of Berks and upon or about the thirtieth day of October in the year last mentioned at or neer the City of Gloucester And upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the year last mentioned at Newbury in the County of Berks And upon or about the one and thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and four at Cropredy-bridge in the County of Oxon And upon or about the thirtieth day of September in the year last mentioned at Bodmin and other places neer adjacent in the County of Cornwall And upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the year last mentioned at Newbury aforesaid And upon or about the eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and five at the Towne of Leicester And also upon the fourteenth day of the same moneth in the same year at Naseby-field in the County of Northampton At which several times and places or most of them and at many other places in this Land at several other times within the years aforementioned And in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and six He the said Charles Stuart hath caused and procured many thousands of the free-people of the Nation to be slaine and by Divisions Parties and Insurrections within this Land by invasions from forraigne parts endeavoured and procured by Him and by many other evill waies and meanes He the said Charles Stuart hath not only maintained and carried on the said Warre both by Land and Sea during the years before mentioned but also hath renewed or caused to be renewed the said Warre against the Parliament and good people of this Nation in this present yeare one thousand six hundred forty and eight in the Counties of Kent Essex Surrey Sussex Middlesex and many other Counties and places in England and Wales and also by Sea And particularly He the said Charles Stuart hath for that purpose given Commissions to his Sonne the Prince and others whereby besides multitudes of other Persons many such as were by the Parliament intrusted and employed for the safety of the Nation being by Him or his Agents corrupted to the betraying of their Trust and revolting from the Parliament have had entertainement and commission for the continuing and renewing of Warre and Hostility against the said Parliament and People as aforesaid By which cruell and unnaturall Warres by Him the said Charles Stuart levyed continued and renewed as aforesaid much Innocent bloud of the Free-people of this Nation hath been spilt many Families have been undone the Publique Treasury wasted and exhausted Trade obstructed and miserably decayed vast expence and damage to the Nation incurred and many parts of the Land spoyled some of them even to desolation And for further prosecution of His said evill Designes He the said Charles Stuart doth still continue his Commissions to the said Prince and other Rebels and Revolters both English and Forraigners and to the Earle of Ormond and to the Irish Rebels and Revolters associated with him from whom further Invasions upon this Land are threatned upon the procurement and on the behalf of the said Charles Stuart All which wicked Designes Warrs and evill practises of Him the said Charles Stuart have been and are carried on for the advancing and upholding of the Personall Interest of Will and Power and pretended prerogative to Himself and his Family against the publique Interest Common Right Liberty Justice and Peace of the people of this Nation by and for whom He was entrusted as aforesaid By all which it appeareth that He the said Charles Stuart hath been and is the Occasioner Author and Contriver of the said unnaturall cruell and bloudy Warrs and therein guilty of all the treasons murthers rapines burnings spoiles desolations damage and mischief to this Nation acted or committed in the said Warrs or occasioned therby And the said John Cook by Protestation saving on the behalfe of the people of England the liberty of Exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Charge against the said Charles Stuart and also of replying to the Answers which the said Charles Stuart shall make to the premises or any of them or any other Charge that shall be so exhibited doth for the said treasons and crimes on the behalf of the said people of England Impeach the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publique and implacable Enemy to the Common-wealth of England And pray that the said Charles Stuart King of England may be put to answer all and every the premises That such Proceedings Examinations Tryals Sentence and Judgment may be thereupon had or shall be agreeable to Justice The King smiled often during the reading of the Charge especially at these words Tyrant Traytor Murderer and publique Enemy of the Commonwealth President Sir you have now heard your Charge you finde that in the close of it it is prayed to the Court in behalfe of the Commons of England that you answer to your Charge which the Court expects King I would know by what power I am called hither I was not long ago in the Isle of Wight how I came there is a longer story then I think fit at this time for me to speak But there I entred into a Treaty with both Houses of Parliament with as much faith as is possible to be had of any People in the World I Treated there with a number of Honourable Lords and Gentlemen and treated honestly and uprightly I cannot say but that they did very nobly with Me We were upon a Conclusion of the Treaty Now I would know by what lawful Authority there are many unlawfull Authorities Thieves and Robbers on the High-way I was brought from thence and carried from place to place and I know not what and when I know by what lawfull Authority I shall Answer Remember I am your King your lawfull King and what sinns you bring upon your own heads and the judgment of God upon this Land think well upon it think well upon it I say before you go on from one sinne to a greater therefore let me know by what
facinorous persons who comply with them to keep up this Army for their own security against publick justice Having thus courted and cheated all the publick and just Interests of the Kingdom they deceived the people so far as to make them Issachar-like patiently to bear the burden of free-quarter and to make addresses to the Army for themselves by Petitions to which they gave plausible answers That this and this was the sense of the Army As if the sense of the Army had been the supreme Law of the Land and to make addresses to the Parliament for the Army not to be disbanded for which purpose their Agitators carried Petitions ready penned to be subscribed in most Counties The Peoâ—le being thus lulled asleep 22. A quarrel against the City invented they now cast about how to make benefit of a joynt quarrel both against the Parliament and City since they could not separate them or at least against the Presbyterian party in both they had withdrawn their quarters in a seeming obedience to Parliaments commands 30 miles from London of which they often brag in their Papers and presumed the suspension of the 11. Members had struck such an awfulness into the Houses that most of the Presbyterian Members would either absent themselves as too many indeed did or turn Renegadoes from their own principles to them but found themselves notwithstanding opposed and their desires retarded beyond their expectation by the remainder of that party 23. The Army demand the City Militia to be changed into other hands They must therefore find out a quarrel to march against the City and give the Houses another Purge stronger than the former The Army being principled and put into a posture sutable to Cromwels desire and the Country charmed into a dull sleep now was his time to pick a quarrel with the City that what he could not obtain by fair means he might obtain by foul to make them desert and divide from the Parliament and leave it to be modelled according to the discretion of the Souldiery He could not think it agreeable to policy that the City which had slaiâ— his Compeer and fellow Prince Wat Tyler the Idol of the Commons in Richard the seconds time and routed his followers four times as many in number as this Army should be trusted with their own Militia the City being now greater more populous and powerfull than in his days In a full and free Parliament upon mature debate both Houses by Ordinance dated 4 May 1647. had established the Militia of the City of London for a year in the hands of such Citizens as by their Authority and approbation were nominated by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council and though the Army had recruted it self without Authority and had got themselves invested with the whole power of all the Land forces of the Kingdom in pay of the Parliam so that there was nothing left that could be formidable to them but their own crimes and that it was expected they should go roundly to work upon those publick remedies they had so often held forth to the people in their popular Printed Papers See the Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Army p. 8. 9. Yet the Army contrary to what they promised to the City in their Letter 10. June and their Declaration or Representation 14 June 1647. That they would not go beyond their desires at that time expressed and for other particulars would acquiesce in the Justice and wisdom of the Parliament behold their modesty by a Letter and Remonstrance from Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army with unresisted boldness demanded the Militia of the City of London to be returned into other hands without acquainting the City of their Commissioners then resident in the Army to keep a good correspondency with them therewith upon which Letter alone the House of Commons being very thin and many Members driven away by menaces upon July 22. Voted the repealing the said Vote of 4 May and a new Ordinance for reviving the old Militia presently passed and transmitted to the Lords the same day about seven of the clock at night and there presently passed without debate though moved by some to be put off until the City whose safety and privileges it highly concerned were heard what they could say to it Observe that neither by the said Paper from the Army nor by any man in the two Houses any thing was objected against any of the new Militia And indeed formerly the Parliament never made choice of enlarged or changed the City Militia but they were still pleased fiâ—st to communicate the same to the Common-Council a Resâ—ect justly shewed to that City which had been such good friends to them but of late since the Parliament have shifted their old Pâ—inciâ—les and Interests they have learned to lay by their old Friends The pretence for this hasty passing the Ordinance was to prevent the Armies so much theatned march to London if the Houses refused to pass it and the Cities opposition if not passed before their notice of it But the real design was to strike a discontent and jealousie into the City thereby to force them to some act of self-defence which might give a colour to the Army to march up against them and their friends in the Houses The unexpected news of this changing their Militia 24. The City troubled at the change of their Militia caused the City June 24. being Saturday to meet in Common-Council where for some reasons already expressed and because the repealing this Ordinance upon no other grounds than the Armies imperious desires might justly be suspected to shake all other Ordinances for security of Money sale of Bishops Lands I appeal to Colonel Harvy whether this did not fright him by making them repealable at the Armies pleasure they resolve to Petition the House upon Monday morning following being 26. July which they did by the Sheriffs and some Common-Council men But so it hapned that about one thousand Apprentices wholly unarmed 25. The City Petition the Houses for their Militia again came down two or three hours after with another Petition of their own to the Houses Therein complaining that to Order the Cities Militia was the Cities Birth-right belonging to them by Charters confirmed in Parliament for defence whereof they had adventured their lives as far as the Army And desired the Militia might be put again into the same hands in which it was put with the Parliaments and Cities consent by Ordinance May 4. 26. The tumult of Apprentices 26. July Upon reading these Petitions the Lords were pleased to revoke the Ordinance of July 23. and revive that of May 4. by a new Ordinance of July 26. which they presently sent down to the Commons for their consents where some of the Apprentices presuming they might have as good an influence upon the House to obtain their due as the Army in pay of the Parliament had to
obtain more than their due in a childish heat were over-clamorous to have the Ordinance passed refusing to let some Members pass out of the House or come forth into the Lobby when they were to divide upon the question about it so ignorant were they of the customes of the House which at last passed in the affirmative about three of the clock afternoon 27. The Tumult of Apprentices ceased but artificially continued by Sectaries and then most of the Apprentices departed quietly into the City After which some disorderly person very few of them Apprentices were drawn together and instigated by divers Sectaries and friends of the Army who mingled with them amongst whom one Highland was observed to be all that day very active who afterwards 26. Sept. delivered a Petition to the House against those Members that sate and was an Informer and Witness examined about the said Tumult gathered about the Commons door and grew very outragious compelling the Speaker to return to the Chair after he had adjourned the House and there kept the Members in until they had passed a Vote That the King should come to London to Treat This was cunningly and premeditately contrived to encrease the scandal upon the City yet when the Common-Council of London heard of this disorder as they were then sitting they presently sent down the Sheriffs to their rescue with such strength as they could get ready their Militia being then unsetled by the contradicting Ordinances of the Parliament who at last pacified the Tumult and sent the Speaker safe home which was as much as they could do in this interval of their Militia being the Houses own Act. 28. The Speaker of the Commons complained of a report that he meant to flie to the Army yet run away to the Army The Lords adjourned until the next Friday the Commons but until the next day Tuesday morning the Commons sate again quietly and after some debate adjourned until Friday next because the Lords had done so The next day being Wednesday the monthly Fast the Speaker and Members met in Westminster Church where the Speaker complained in some passion to Sir Ralph Ashton and other Members of a scandalous report raised on him in the City as if he intended to desert the House and fly to the Army saying he scorned to do such a base unjust dishonorable act but would rather die in his House and Chair which being spoken in a time and place of so much reverence and devotion makes many think his secret retreat to the Army the very next day proceeded not so much from his own judgment as from some strong threats from Cromwel and Ireton who were the chief contrivers of this desperate plot to divide the City and Houses and bring up the Army to enthrall them both That if he did not comply with their desires they would cause the Army to impeach him for cousening the State of many vast sums of money And truly I remember I have seen an intercepted Letter sent about the time of his flight from the Army to Will. Lenthal Speaker without any name subscribed to it only the two last lines were of John Rushworths hand earnestly importuning him to retire to the Army with his friends On Thursday morning early 29. The City proclaim against Tumults the newly renewed Militia of London made publick Proclamation throughout the City and Suburbs and set up printed Tickets at Westminster That if any person should distrub either of the two Houses or their Members the Guards should apprehend them and if resistance were made kill them yet notwithstanding the Speaker and his party carrying the causes of their fear in their own consciences in the evening of that day secretly stole away to Windsor to the Head-quarters Upon Friday morning at least 140 of the Members assembled in the House they that fled being about 40. 30. The Houses appear the Speakers being at the Army whither the Sergeant comming with his Mace being asked where the Speaker was answered He knew not well that he had not seen him that morning and was told he went a little way out of Town last night but said he expected his return to the House this morning after that being more strictly questioned about the Speaker he withdrew himself and would not be found till the House after four hours expectation and sending some of their Members to the Speakers house who brought word from his Servants that they conceived he was gone to the Army had chosen a new Speaker 31. New Speakers chosen Master Henry Pelham and a new Sergeant who procured another Mace The like mutatis mutandis was done by the Lords to prevent discontinuance and fayler of the Parliament for want of Speakers to adjourn and so to continue it 32. Petition and Engagement of the City and take away all scruples As for the Petition and Engagement of the City so much aggravated by the Independent party it was directed to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council from divers Citizens Commanders and Souldiers and was occasioned by some intelligence they had that the Army would demand an alteration of the City Militia in order to a design they had against the City It was only intended to the Common Hall but never presented as the Souldiers Petition was to their General which being taken notice of by the Parliament as it was in agitation was so much resented by the Souldiery as to put themselves into the posture they are now in as Lieut. Col. Lilburn says in one of his books to act no longer by their Commission but by the principles of Nature and self-defence nor did the said Engagement contain any thing but resolutions of self-defence in relation to the City so that we cannot see what the Army had to do to declare their sence upon it in their Letter 23. July so put a prejudice upon it in the Houses I have insisted the more particularly upon this Grand Imposture as being the Anvill upon which they hammered most of their subsequent designs violent and illegal accusations 33. Votes passed after new Speakers chosen The new Speakers chosen the two Houses proceeded to Vote and Act as a Parliament And first The House of Commons Voted in the eleven impeached Members next They revive and set up again the Committee of safety by Ordinance of both Houses enabling them to joyn with the Committee of the restored City Militia giving power by several Ordinances to them to List and raise Forces appoint Commanders and Officers issue forth Arms and Ammunition for defence of both Houses and the City against all that should invade them Which Votes and preparations for their self-defence warranted by the same law of Nature as the Armies papers affirm were not passed nor put in execution untill the Army every day recruited contrary to the Houses Orders were drawing towards London and had with much scorn disobeyed the Votes and Letter of both Houses prohibiting them to come
to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation which was suddenly done and passed and is now printed at the latter end of the said menacing Remonstrance of the Army a Child fit to wait upon such a Mother 42. Debate in passing the Ordinance of null and void Thus was this Ordinance of null and void gotten which hath been the cause of so much danger and trouble to multitudes of people by the Lords reiterated breaches upon the Privileges of the House of Commons The engaged parties threats within dores The Armies thundring Letters and Remonstrance Their Guards upon their doors and a Regiment or two of Horse in Hide Park ready to make impressions upon the House in case things had not gone to their minds diverse of whose Commanders walking in the Hall enquired often how things went protesting they would pull them forth by the Ears if they did not give speedy satisfaction Thus for the manner of passing that Ordinance The matter of Argument used against it was as far as I can hear to the purpose following It was alleged that the Force upon Monday 26. July ended that day that the next day being Tuesday the House met quietly and adjourned that upon Friday following the Houses sate quietly all day and gave their Votes freely and so forward the City having sufficiently provided for their security that the transient force upon Monday could have no influence on the Houses for time to come That the Supreme power of no Nation can avoid their own Acts by pretended force this would make the Common people the Jurors and Judges to question all Acts done in Parliament since one man can and may judge of force as well as another this were to bring the Records of the House into dispute Magna Charta was never gotten nor confirmed but by Force Force was three-fold upon one or both Houses or upon the King in giving his Royal assent neither could plead it the Parliament is presumed to consist of such men as dare lay down their lives for their Country When the King came with force to demand the 5. Members When the City came down crying for justice against the Earl of Stafford When the Women came down crying for Peace When the Reformadoes came down in a much more dangerous Tumult than this of the unarmed Apprentices yet the Houses continued sitting and acting and none of their Acts were nullified That to make their Acts Orders and Ordinances void ab initio would draw many thousand men who had acted under them into danger of their lives and fortunes who had no Authority to dispute the validity of our Votes we must therefore give them power to dispute our Acts hereafter upon matter of fact for to tie men to unlimited and undisputable obedience to our Votes and yet to punish them for obeying whensoever we shall please to declare our acts void ab initio is contrary to all reason If to act upon such Ordinances were criminal it was more criminal in those that made them And who shall be Judges of those that made them not the Members that went to the Army They are parties pre-ingaged to live and die with the Army and have approved the Armies Declaration calling those that sate a few Lords and Gentlemen and no Parliament They have joyned with a power out of the Houses to give a Law to and put an engagement upon both Houses a president never heard of before of most dangerous consequence it takes away the liberty of giving I and No freely being the very life of Parliaments If all done under an actual force be void it it questionable whether all hath been done this four or five years be not void and whether his Majesties Royal assent to some good Bils passed this Parliament may not be said to have been extorted by force If the Kings partie prevail they will declare this Parliament void upon the ground your selves have laid Fabian's History 1. Hen. 7. that King urged the Parliament to make void ab initio all Acts passed Rich. 3. which they refused upon this ground that then they should make all that had acted in obedience to them liable to punishment only they repealed those Acts. The debate upon this Ordinance of Null and Void held from Monday 9. of Aug. to the 20. Aug. when it was passed but not without some interloaping debates of something a different nature yet all looking the same way occasioned by Messages from the Lords 43. The Lords Message to the Commons to approve the Declaration of the Army Namely once upon a Message from them The said Declaration from Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Army concerning their advance to London was read and debated in grosse whether the Commons should concur with the Lords in approving it But almost all but the ingaged party and their pensioners distasted it it was laid by without any question put lest it should prove dangerous to put a Negative upon their Masters of the Army Yet many menaces according to custome were used by the engaged party to get it passed Haslerigge affirming that those Gentlemen that sate and voted for a Committee of safety and the Kings comming to London 44. The Committee of safety did drive on the design of the City Protestation and Engagement To which was answered That the Committee of safety was not then newly erected by those which sate but of the old Committee revived by that Vote which had been long since erected in a full and free Parliament when the Army first mutined and threatned to march to London and for the same ends defence of Parliament and City and for the Kings coming to London it was Voted onely to get him out of the power of the Army as formerly in a full and free Parliament he had been Voted to Richmond for the same reason Upon another Message from the Lords 45. A Committee to Examine the Tumult the Commons concurred in an Ordinance to erect a Committee of Examination to inquire into and examine the City Petition Engagement and the force upon the Houses 26. July all endeavours to raise any forces c. This Committee consisted of 22. Commons besides Lords almost all of them Members engaged with the Army but because there were some three or four Presbyterians gotten in amongst them to shut these Canaanites forth that the Godly 46. A Sub-committee of secrecy selected to examine the Tumult the true seed of Israel might shuffle the cards according to their own mind the 13. August after upon another Message from the Lords there was a Sub-Committee of Secrecy named out of this Grand Committee of Examinations to examine upon Oath the persons were the Earl of Denbigh and Mulgrave Lord Gray of Wark Lord Howard of Escrig Sir Arthur Haslerigge Mr. Solicitor Gourdon Miles Corbet Alderman Penington Allen Edwards Col. Ven or any three of them all persons engaged to live and die with the Army and now appointed to make a clandestine
Committee-men persons for the most part of weak fortunes and weaker wits and partly from the frantick zeal of the Mayor of Canterbury who for his Religion prudence and honesty may well be younger brother to Warner Lord Mayor of London upon Christmas day 1648. sundry people going to the Church of Canterbury to solemnize that day were uncivily interrogated and roughly handled by the Mayor as if it were superstition nay impiety to serve God on that day or as if some dayes were exempted from serving God as some days are exempted from worldly labour This grew to a Tumult which the Committee of the County hearing they presently gathered forces to make ostentation of their power in suppressing it but were prevented by intelligence that all was quiet but this quietnesse was rather a truce than a lasting peace a desire of revenge against the Mayor for wounding some of the People like fire hid under ashes broke forth two dayes after but was presently pacified by the discreet indeavours of Sir W. Man Ald. Sabin and Mr. Lovelace a Lawyer The Committee of that County presently assemble forces with which together with their Chaplains other instruments of war they march to reduce the City and though they had newes that all was appeased yet would they not believe it but continued their march in triumph where finding the Gates open they took them off and burnt them threw down part of their Walls thereby degrading the City and turning it into a Village as a trophy of their high indignation committed many to Prison upon light suspicions amongst whom the aforesaid 3 Peace-makers for being so saucy as to compose the difference and thereby deprive their highnesses of a Triumphant Victory For these upstart Committees mounted above the sphere of their activity and having stolen his Majesties Sword His principal marke of Soveraignty wherewith he protects his people out of his Scabbard know not how to use it but to the destruction of the people like ill-natured Children they have gotten a gay thing and must do mischief with it And for farther magnifying of their power to the Country and their diligence to the Parliament they charged the prisoners with High Treason and so forgot them languishing in Gaol had not those Gentlemen remembred themselves and clamoured for a Trial which at last was granted them by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to Sergeant Wyld and Sergeant Creswell the Juries were men known to be wel-affected to the Parliament who found Ignoramus upon the Bill and notwithstanding many checks and taunts from the Committee and the refusing of the return adhered so that the Court adjourned for some months Hereupon the Kentish men fearing the tyrannical disposition of their Committees consulted with the said Grand Jury upon the place concerning a Petition to the Parliament for Peace to end our distractions which Petition was subscribed by the Grand Jury in the name of the whole County The Committee jealous that these things would hearten the People and loosen the bonds of that slavish foâ—r wherein they had hitherto held them captive printed and caused to be published in all Churches a Paper prohibiting the same Petition and branding it with the name of seditious and tumultuous saying they would hang two in every Parish that were promoters of it and sequester the rest And endeavoured first to raise forces in the County but at last made their complaint to the Army When the Country saw their just desires like to be suppressed by Arms and themselves to be still Committee-ridden they resolved upon a place of meeting to promote their Petition and to come Armed thither for their own defence onely But the County Committee plied their businesse so well with the Committee of Derby House and the Army that they first drew a party of Horse into the County who committed many murders according to Custome and then the whole Army which at Black-heath encamped on the same place where the Petitioners intended to Rendezvouz So the result of all is but this The whole County of Kent oppressed by a tyrannous Committee and a lingting war now likely to be renued prepare to present a Petition to the Parliament for Peace and had appointed a day and place of meeting which by reason of the large extent of the County they could not alter at the pleasure of the Committee and being terrified by the menaces and warlike preparations of the said Committee brought their Arms with them in order onely to self-defence allowed by the Laws of God and Man and by the doctrine and practice of this Parliament and Army and peradventure induced thereto by the sad Massacre of the Surry Petitioners The Committee to support their usurped illegal authority invite an Army to break in upon them with fire and sword and so enforced them upon thoughts and actions of War never before thought on as will appear 1. Because many of the Petitioners went home the next day after the Rendezvouz 2. The County had provided no General nor no old Commanders 3. They never thought of forming an Army until Sir Tho. Fairfax was storming one of their Towns 4. The Kentish-men were compelled to take in Sandwich and the 3 Castles lest they should fall upon the backs of them when the Army marched against them yet did they hurt no man in person or goods which argued a peaceable disposition ayming only at defence Thus you see a whole County always wel-affected to the Parliament complaining of a few Independent sectary Committee-men Sequestrators c. for infinite oppressions and cheats dayly committed they being weighed in the scales together the whole County are thought too light for want of an unpartial holding the ballance even one prudential consideration that they must not discountenance their friends as they call the Committee and something else more substantial being put upon the Committees scale hoyseth the whole County into the ayr And when the Parliaments Army was at Black-heath the County sending some of their Gentry with Petitionary Letters to the House of Commons declaring the peaceablenesse of their inclinations their continued obedience to the Houses and a desire their grievances against their Committee might be put into a way of examination and redresse they could obtain no other Answer the schismatical ingaged party overpowering the House with the near approach of their own Army for it is no bodies else than that they would send them an answer by their General which was as much as if they had said They would send an answer by the Executioner the terrour of this answer made the Country desperately ingage in an un-premeditated War for which they were wholly unprovided as the irresolute and distracted managing of it makes manifest But this advantage was greedily laid hold of by the Saints to ravish a victory from the Country which they were resolved to use with so much secrecy and solemn cruelty that the example thereof should strike an awfulnesse into the hearts of all that
Common-wealth to a Watch which they had taken in pieces and advised them to keep every piece and pin safe and put all in their right places again but now all the principal pieces are either broken or lost God grant them to number their houres better hereafter and to cloze well with our Master Work-man for though this Kingdom hath alwaies been Ruled by King Lords and Commons yet by the KING architectonicè and by the other Two organicè the King as the Architect the Lords and Commons as His Instruments each in his proper sphere of Activity without interfering and till this again come in use look for no peace The Independent Grandees of the Parliament and Army are much offended with the City and their adherents 107. The Armies Aspect upon the City and personal Treaty in Petitioning for a Personal Treaty with the King and give out That when they have done with Colchester they will humble the City and bring it to better obedience for which purpose they have already taken all the Block-houses upon the River East of the City Windsor-Castle West of the City and are now fortifying Gyddy-tall neer Rumford in Essex South from the City the like they intend at Hampton Court and to build a Fort upon the Isle of Dogs to keep under the Sea-men whereby possessing the principall ways and Avenues to the City they shall neither feed nor Trade but at the discretion of the Army In the mean time the Cities desires of a Personal Treaty are delayed and made frustrate by a tedious Conference between a Committee of Parliament and a Committee of Common-Council And Counter-Petitions against a Personal Treaty are sent about by Alderman Gybs Foukes Estwicke Wollaston Andrewes Nye the Independent Priest and others who hold rich Offices by favour of the Grandees to be subscribed even by Apprentice Boyes whereby it appears the Independents have no intent to make peace with the King but to engage in a new War thereby to contiune their Army and our Slavery The yearly Income they raise upon the people under colour of this War besides the Kings Revenue Sequestrations and Compositions amounts to three Millions sterling per annum being six times as much as ever the most greedy and burdensom of our Kings raised where our Stewards hide these our Talents publick Debts and Arrears being unpaid were worth finding out if any but the Devil could give an Account thereof But this is an unsoundable Gulf here my plumb-line faileth me 108. Major Gen. Skippon's complaint The 10. of July Major General Skippon complained in the House of Commons of a printed Paper called A Motive to all loyal Subjects to endeavour the preservation of his Majasties Person wherein he pretended he was falsly and scandalously slandered for speaking some words in the House to divert the Examination of Mr. Osborn's Charge against Rolf. The House that is the Independents were as diligent to become his Compurgators and vindicate his credit by passing and Printing 5. Votes for him as they had formerly been to ruine the KING'S Honour by passing a Declaration against Him This fellow Skippon was heretofore Waggoner in the Low-Countries to Sir Francis Vere after that came over into England a poor forlorn Commander and obtained of the King his Letters of Commendation to keep a kinde of Fencing School in the City Military yard and teach the Citizens the postures of the Pike and Musket and Train them where he wore the mask of Religion so handsomly that he soon insinuated into their favours and found them very bountifull Patrons to him there he got his fat belly and full purse from the City he became Major Generall to the new-modelled Army and observing some discontents arising between the City and Army and being willing to keep two strings to his bow that he might uphold his credit with the City he voluntarily submitted himself to some affronts purposely and politickly put upon him in the Army and yet that the Army might understand him to be their creature he marched with the Army in their Triumph through the City still carrying himself as a moderate reconciling man and sweetning the insolencies of the Army by making milde and fair interpretations of their Actions yet still so much magnified the power of the Army as if he would perswade the City they were beholding to the Army for making no worse use of their strength against them Thus as many other moderate prudential men do he lay a good while undescried in the bosome of the City and there as a Spie and Intelligencer kept Centry for the Army untill such time as the City petitioning the Commons for restoring of their own Militia to them again the Council of the Army to mock them with an uneffectuall Militia by their engaged party in the House and the Committee of Derby-house of which Cabal Skippon is one caused their confiding man Skippon not only to be named of the Committee of the Militia although no Citizen but to be obtruded upon the City as their Major General Commander in Chief of all their Forces without whom nothing is to be acted This being resented and opposed as contrary to the Cities Charter and Liberties Skippon found he was discovered and then taking advantage of the Earle of Holland's going forth into Arms upon a Report from the Committee of Derby-house the Commons ordered that a Party of Horse should be raised and listed under Skippon Skippon by vertue of this Order granted Commissions to divers schismaticall Apprentices to raise men underhand and authorized the said Commissioned Apprentices to grant Sub-commmissions again to other Apprentices under them for the like purpose This was pretended to prevent Tumults and Insurrections but indeed it was to joyne with the Independent party of the City and the army when they have done their work at Colchester in purging the Presbyterians out of the Common-Council and Parliament in reference whereto the Army have resolved not to march Northwards against the Scots untill they have brought this City to more absolute obedience or laid it in the dust according to Cromwel's advice as a preparative to which design the prevailing party in the House Yet they knew they came in by Authority of the Parl. of Scotland July 15. hand over head Voted All such Scots as are come into England in hostile manner without consent of both Houses of Parliament of England Enemies to the State and all such English as do or shall adhere to aid or assist them Traitors and the next day following Weaver oâ—enly in the House affirmed that the Scotish design of D. Hamilton the Colchester design and that of the Earl of Holland were all begun and carried on in the City of London to which Ven the two Ashes Harvy Scot Miles Corbet Blackstone Sir Peter Wentworth and others gave applause loe here a foundation laid for a new Charge against the City when the Army are at leasure to make use of it This Hypocrite
the Independent Faction whose interest it is to keep themselves rich and all men else poor argued the case meerly upon point of profit and conveniency and neglected the right and jus of the businesse They alleged That men of desperate resolutions would not reward the losse of their own lives so as they might preserve their Wives and Children That the State as they pleased to stile it would lose much by such an example they could not therefore approve of the lenity of the Lords and Commons used in Walls case many had been Sequestred after death and so arguing à facto ad jus alleged that in case of Monopolies satisfaction had been awarded out of dead mens Estates But they forgot that out of Sequestrations no satisfaction is given to the parties wronged the Committees and Sequestrators imbezelling the profits of them to increase their own gains not bestowing them to repair injured mens losses and so the equity upon which this President is founded faileth in case of Sequestrations Thus you see these greedy Canibal Saints like the hungry dogs that ate Jesabel will devour carrion or any thing that will make them fat and full yet they declared They were willing this Sequestration should be bestowed upon Master Copley as a Gratuity not as a Right for fear of the example Observe that if Master Copley had waived his Title by Composition and accepted this Wardship as a Gift they would presently have published it in their News books and Gilbert Mabbot should have proclaimed to all the world that Presbyterians and Independents might be thought alike guilty of impoverishing the Kingdom for the Faction labours nothing more than to have Companions in their sins and shames At last it was passed That Mr. Copley should have the Wardship restored to him but great care taken it should not be drawn into example hereafter that a man may not be Sequestred for Delinquency after his death Cavete vobis mortui atque sepulti dead mens graves are not secure from these Lycanthropi these Lou-garons 129. The Messengers to the King Report their Message in the House of Commons Monday 14. August Master Bulkeley in the name of himself and his fellow-Commissioner Sir I. Hippesly sent to the King to acquaint him with the Vote of the two Houses That they desired a Treaty with the King upon the Propositions of Hampton-Court in what place of the Island of Wight He should think fit and that the Treaty shall be with Honour Freedom and Safety to His Majesty Reported to the House of Commons all the circumstances and emergencies of their imployment the Kings Letter of Answer being carried to the Lords by the Earl of Middlesex and therefore not delivered to the Commons for the present which with much candor were related as followeth That the KING bad them welcom saying they came about a welcom businesse PEACE which no man desired with more earnestnesse than Himself and if there did not ensue a Peace the fault should not lie at his dore and that He feared no obstructions from any but those who gained by the War He farther said that His Majesty desired immediatly after the delivery of the Votes to speak a word with them in private which they modestly excused for want of Commission That about two days after his Majesty seeing the said Commissioners of the Parliament standing in the Presence Chamber first beckoned the Earl of Middlesex to him and had some short discourse singly with him and then with Sir John Hippesly and Master Bulkeley one after another These three Gentlemen afterwards comparing their notes found the Kings discourse to every of them to be all to one effect viz. Expressing His desires of a good peace and importuning them to do all good Offices conducing thereto He farther related that when they took leave of His Majesty He delivered His Answer in writng to them unsealed telling them He doubted not their fidelity though ill use had been made of His last Answer which he sent open it having been debated in private and a prejudice put upon it before it was presented to the Houses This free and unpartial Report shewing how earnest his Majesty is for Peace did the King so much Right that the Antimonarchical Faction looked upon it as done to their wrong and Herbert Morley presently spit out his Venom to this purpose Mr. Speaker These Gentlemen have delivered all to you but what they should deliver that is the Kings Answer which they have suffered first to be carried to the Lords they might have delivered you at least a Copy thereof it should seem Morley had forgot that the House proceeds not upon Copies My motion is that since these Gentlemen have exceeded their Commission by conferring privatly with the King the House may do well either to question them therefore or give them an Act of Oblivion for their good service This was cried upon a long time by the whole kennell of the Faction and at last put off till the next day when the Lords sending down the Kings Letter the House should have the whole businesse before them The next day being Tuesday 15. August 130. The aforesaid Messengers again the Kings aforesaid Letter of Answer with divers Votes thereupon were sent down from the Lords to the House of Commons when presently the Beagles of the Faction spent their mouths freely against the said Commissioners again for lending the KING the civility of an eare in private as abovesaid After a long debate at last this Objection stopped the Mouths of Malice it self That if these Gentlemen had reported an aversnesse in the King to Peace and aggravated His Words as other Messengers had formerly done whereof the King seem'd to complain it would have proved a welcome discovery and have been rewarded with Thanks instead of an Act of Oblivion So with much adoe Thanks were given to the said Gentlemen with approbation of their proceedings The same day the Militia of London were called into the House of Commons 131. The Militia of London Concerning private Listing by Skippon and the Militia of the City where Alderman Gybs in the name of the Common-Council and Militia not by Petition but in a set Speech delivered the fears and jealousies of the City even of the gravest wisest and best affected occasioned by Skippon's underhand Listing of Schismaticks Antimonarchists his setting up thereby a power against a power to the endangering of a civil War within the Bowels of the City weakning of the Trained Bands deboshing Servants from their Masters Children from their Parents That under colour of Skippon's private Listings other private Listings were carried on by Malignants the Magistrates of the City not being able to question either and distingush one from the other That fear was a violent passion and was now grown so universal that the Common Council knew not how to give satisfaction therein the Citizens usually clamouring that if the Houses did not give them leave to look to
all the Parliaments Declarations and Remonstrances held forth to the world their Treaties and promises made to the Scots when they delivered the Kings Person into our hands against our promises made to the Hollanders and other Nations and against all the Professions Declarations Remonstrances and Proposals made by this Army when they made their Addresses to the King at New-market Hampton-Court and other places William Pryn. Clem Walker January 19. 1648. 75. The Coun of Officers order 2. Petitions for the Commons House against Tythes 2. against the Stat. for Banishing the Jews Aout this time the Generall Councell of Officers at White-Hall ordered That two Petitions or mandates rather should be drawn and presented to their House of Commons One against Payment of Tythes the other for Repealing the Act for Banishment of the Jews Hear you see they shake hands with the Jews and crucifie Christ in his Ministers as well as in his Anointed the King About this time Col Tichburn and some schismaticall Common-Councell-men 57. Col Tichburns Petition and complaint against the Lord Mayor and their Orders thereupon The like Petitions were invited from most Counties where a dozen Schismâ—ticks and two or three Cloaks represented a whole Country presented a Petition to the supreme Authority the Commons in Parliament demanding justice against all grand and capitall Actors in the late Warres against the Parliament from the highest to the lowest the Militia Navy and all Places of power to be in faithfull hands that is in their own Faction all others being displaced under the generall notion of disaffected to settle the Votes That the supreme Authority is in the Commons in Parliament assembled They complained That the Lord Mayor and some Aldermen denied to put their Petition to the Question at the Common Councell and departed the Court with the Sergeant and Town-Clerke That the Court afterwards passed it Nemine contradicente The Commons thanked the Petitioners for the tender of their assistance and Ordered That the Petition should be entered amongst the Acts of the Common Councell and owned them for a Common Councell notwithstanding the departure of the Lord Mayor c. And about four or five daies after the Commons Ordered * See a just and solemn Protest of the free Citâ—zens of London against the Ordinance 17. Decemb. 1647. disabling such as had any hand in the City Engagment to bear Office That any six of the Commons Councell upon eme gent occasions might send for the Lord Mayor to call a Common Councell themselves and any forty of them to have power to Act as a Common Councell without the Lord Mayor any thing in their Charter to the contrary notwithstanding Thus you see the Votes of this supreme thing the House of Commons are now become the onely Laws and Reason of all our actions 77 An Act passed for adjournment of part of Hillary Term and the Lords concurrence rejected The 16 Jan. 1648. was passed an Act of the Commons for adjournment of Hillary Term for fourty daies This was in order to the Kings Triall but the Commissioners of the Great Seal declared That they could not agree to seal Writs of Adjournment without the Lords concurrence the assent of one Lord being requisite their tame Lordships sent down to the Commons to offer their readiness to joyn therein But the Commons having formerly Voted The Supreme Power to be in themselves as the Peoples Representative and that the Commons in every Committee should be empowered to Act without the Lords The Question was put Whether the House would concurre with the Lords therein which passed in the Negative so the Lords were not owned Afterwards they ordered that the Commoners Commissioners for the Great Seal should issue forth Writs without the Lords 78. The Agreement of the People presented to the House of Commons by the Officers the Army Diurnall from Jan. 15. 10. 22. 1648. nu 286. 20. January Lieut. Generall Hammond with many Officers of the Army presented to the Commons from the Generall and Councell of the Army a thing like a Petition with The Agreement of the People annexed Mr. Speaker thanking them desired them to return the hearty thanks of the House to the Generall and all his Army for their gallant services to the Nation and desired the Petition and Agreement should be forthwith printed to shew the good affection between the Parliament and Army I cannot blame them to brag of this affection being the best string to their bowe About this time some wel-meaning man that durst think truth in private published his thoughts under the Title of Six serious Quaeries concerning the Kings Triall by the High Court of Justice .. 79. 6. Queries concerning the Kings Triall by the new High Court of Justice 1. Whether a King of three distinct Kingdoms can be condemned and executed by one Kingdom alone without the concurrent consent or against the judgement of the other two 2. Whether if the King be indicted or arraignd of high Treason he ought not to be tried by his Peers whether those who are now nominated to trie him or any others in the Kingd be his Peers 3. Whether if the King be triable in any Court for any Treason against the Kiâ—gdom He ought not to be tried onely in full Parliament in the most solemn and publike manner before all the Members of both Houses in as honourable a way as Strafford was in the beginning of this Parliament And whether He ought not to have liberty and time to make His full defence and the benefit of his learned Counsel in all matters of Law that may arise in or about his Trial or in demurring to the jurisdiction of this illegal new Court as Strafford and Canterbury had 4. Whether one eighth part only of the Members of the Commons House meeting in the House under the Armies force when all the rest of the Members are forcibly restrained secluded or scared away by the Armies violence and representing not above one eighth part of the Counties Cities Boroughs of the Kingdom without the consent and against the Vote of the majority of the Members excluded and chased away and of the House of Peers by any pretext of Authority Law or Justice can erect a New great Court of Justice to try the King in whom all the rest of the Members Peers and Kingdom being far the Major part have a greater interest then they Whether such an High Court can be erected without an Act of Parl. or at least an Ordin of both Houses and a Commission under the Great Seal of England And if not whether this can be properly called a Court of Justice and whether it be superiour or inferiour to those who erected it who either cannot or dare not try and condemn the King in the Com. House though they now stile it The Supreme Authority of the Kingdom and whether all who shall sit as Judges or act as Officers in it towards the
England although I dare say at least five hundred to one if they were free from the terrour of an Army would disavow these horrid Acts so little are the People pleased with these doings notwithstanding the new Title the Conventicle of Commons have gulled them withall Voting the People of England to be The Supreme Power and the Commons representing them in Parliament the Supreme Power of the Nation under them This was purposely so contrived to ingage the whole City and make them as desperately and impardonably guilty as themselves and certainly if this Tumult of the People amounting to a publick disclamour of the Act had not happened the whole City had been guilty by way of connivance as well as these Aldermen and the illegal Common Councel newly packed by the remaining Faction of Commons contrary to the Cities Charters to carry on these and such like Designs and intangle the whole City in their Crimes and Punishments * The Names of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London that personally proclaimed the Act for abolishing Kingly Government Alderman Andrews Lord Mayor Alderman Pennington Ald. Wollaston Ald. Foulkes Ald. Kenrick Ald. Byde Ald. Edmonds Ald. Pack Alderman Bateman Ald. Atkins Ald. Viner Ald. Avery Ald. Wilson Ald. Dethick Ald. Foot The Pharisaical House of Commons voted an Act June 1. 171. A Thanks-giving Dinner in the City for the General c. for a day of Thanks-giving to set off K. Olivers Victory over the Levellers with the more lustre and to sing Hosanna to him for bringing the grand Delinquent to punishment The wise Lord Mayor and his Brethren in imitation invited the Parliament Councel of State the General and his Officers to a Thanks-giving Dinner upon that day The Commons appointed a Committee under pretence of drawing more money from Adventurers for the Relief of Ireland to ingage the City farther to them Cromwel had the Chair in that Committee the device was that the Common Councel should invite the Parliament Councel of State and Officers of the Army to Dinner and feast them as a Free-State and then move the Supplies for Ireland But if the Levellers had prevailed the Thanks-giving white-broth and custard had been bestowed upon those free-spirited Blades whom Oliver raised into a mutiny with one hand and by advantage of his Spies cast down with another for the glory of his own Name and that he might have occasion to purge the Army as he had done the Parliament of all free-born humours 172. The Councel of State sit in pomp at White-hall White-hall is now become the Palace of a Hydra of Tyrants instead of one King where our Hogens Mogens or Councel of State sit in as much state and splendour with their Rooms as richly hanged I wish they were so too and furnished if you will believe their licenced News-books as any Lords States in Europe yet many of these Mushromes of Majeâ—ty were but Mâ—chanicks Gold-smiths Brewers Weavers Clothiers Brewers Clerks c. whom scornful Fortune in a spiteful merriment brought upon the Stage and promoted to act the parts of Kings to shew that Men are but her Tennis-balls and when she is weary with laughing at their disguises will turn them into the Tyring Room out of their borrowed cases and shew us that our Lions are but her Asses The Kings poor Creditors and Servants may gape long enough like Camelions to see the aforesaid Ordinance executed for sale of the Kings Goods to pay their Debts they poor Souls are left to starve while these Saints Triumphant revel in their Masters Goods and Houses 173. A general survey to be taken of the whole Kingdome that every mans Estate both real and personal may be taxed Orders about this time were sent forth into London and the Counties adjacent for certain Committees to enquire upon Oath and certifie the improved value and revenue of every mans estate real and personal wherein good progress hath been made already the like is to go forth throughout the Kingdome That our forty mechanick Kings now sitting in White-hall and the self-created supreme Authority of the Nation may take an exact survey in imitation of William the Conquerors Book of Survey called Domes-day remaining in the Exchequer of their new conquered Kingdome and know what they are like to get by their villanies and how to load us with Taxes and Free-quarter and what the value of their Estates are when they have compleated their Design of Sequestring the Presbyterians as they have done the Royalists The faction in the House are this beginning of June 174. An Act enabling Committees to give Oaths 1649. sitting abrood upon an Act to inable Committees to give Oaths in some cases and yet the House of Commons never had nor pretended to have power to give Oathes themselves though every Court of Py-p wders hath because the House of Commons is no Court of Judicature but only the Grand Inquest of the Kingdome to present to the King the grievance and the necessities of the People by way of humble Petition as appears by the Law-books and Statutes and therefore the Commons can grant no more than they have themselves But now the remaining faction of the House have voted themselves to be the supreme Authority of the Nation and have a Sword to maintain it they and we must be what they please yet I must affirm that to take illegal Oaths is never justifiable before God nor Man and no less than damnable But it may be that by accustoming the People to take these new-imposed illegal Oaths they hope to make them the more easily swallow their intended new Oath of Allegiance to their new State and their own Damnation together hereafter All the Scrivenors about the Town are commanded by the Supreme thing to produce their Shop-books 175. Scrivenors commanded to shew shop-books that notice may be taken who are guilty of having money in their purses that the fattest and fullest may be culled out and sequestred for Delinquents now that their almighty Saint-ships have occasion to use it for defence of their Free-State if they would but search one anothers private pockets they would finde money enough The like attempt onely in the Kings time was cried out upon as a high piece of tyranny but nothing can be tyranny under a Free-State The Supreme Authority being so full a Representative-glass of the People that it takes our very substance into it self and leaves us onely the shadow whilst we wander up and down like our own Ghosts who having lived under the Monarchy of Good King CHARLES are now dead and descended like shades into the Kingdome of Pluto The 7. June 176. The aforesaid Thanksgiving solemnized 1649. the Thanks-giving spoken of Sect. 172. was solemnized in the City The Lord Mayor meeting the Speaker resigned to him as formerly was used to the King the Sword of State as had been ordered by the House the day before and received it again from
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 Commotiâ—ns 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 body 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 Viz. A canting lye 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 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. The use of the Juncto's fasting And such was their practice 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 where many of the Gentry were actually engaged correspondence maintained England sick of the Rump a rendevous appointed and the antient City of Chesâ—er 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 Châ—shire 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 libâ—rties 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—u 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 furious 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 as they stiled themselves Lamberts policy 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