lies if not answered did from their several and respective Counties as also in the Cities of London and Westminster declare The Gentry declare that they were far from any thoughts of revenge it belonging to God alone alluding to that text of Scripture Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord but as for Justice they would acquiesce in the judgment of the approaching Parliament This being done and the whole Parliament at the appointed time The Parliament begins beginning first with their duty to God they follow that golden Pythagorean rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving him hearty thanks for that their freedome of meeting which when they had cordially done they fell in order to their Governour First They fear God then honour the King As the same Pythagoras goes on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The very Heathen we see by the meer light of Nature could dictate that which our Grand Enthusiasts of Religion would not for these many years by the ignis fatuus of their new lighted notion walk after But the Parliament were better principled for after their devotions regularly paid to God they in the very next place own their duty to their Prince upon the first day of May a happy day to be remembred to posterity voting the Government to be by King Kingly government voted Lords and Commons a constitution so incomparably mixed that it may rather be admired then envied neither were they satisfied to rest there but on the Eighth day of the same May caused his Majesty to be proclaimed King of England King proclaimed Scotland France and Ireland which was performed with so much Solemnity and Joy as I presume England I dare say hardly any Kingdome in the World ever saw or were sensible of the like the shouts and acclamations of the pleased people rending the very skies as a token of their extraordinary Thankfulnesse to Heaven and at night by the multitude of their bonfires turning the Darknesse into a kind of lightsome day This hapy beginning thus owned by the general consent of all honest men made the Parliament resolute to prosecute their begun endeavours which the more orderly to do for order befitteth men best both as Subjects and Christians they immediately prepared Commissioners Commissioners sent to the King who were persons choyce for their integrity and wisedome like those heads of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do being intrusted to wait on his Majesty and to desire him to come to his Parliament and People with all convenient speed Before whose arrival his Majesty had withdrawn himself from Bruxels not upon any account as was by the ignorant and malicious insinuated but out of a design of safe guard to his own sacred Person as knowing those two principles of the Romanists si violandum est jus Regni causa violandum est and nulla fides servanda est haereticis might prove dangerous if not fatal to his interest as affairs then stood He well remembred Richard the first his case sirnamed Caeur-du-Lion and what his detention once cost England and therefore had no reason to cast himself into the like hazard Therefore having discharged all Accounts whatsosoever at Bruxels he as I said removes his Court to Breda As that first he might hold the more certain and quick intelligence with his friends in England where there hardly wanted any thing to complete his Restoration and the Kingdomes satisfaction but his Personal presence so in the second place he there knew himself safe being within the jurisdiction of his beloved sister the Princesse Royal Mary Princesse of Orange King at Breda whose tender love and zeal to him in his affliction deserves to be written in brasse and graven with the point of a Diamond During the time of his residence there to shew himself to be a second Solomon a Prince of Peace and not onely so but the most pious and merciful of Princes who was wise as a Serpent yet innocent as a Dove by the Honourable the Lord Viscount Mordant and Sir Richard Grenvile since by his Majesties special grace created Earl of Bath Gentleman of his Majesties Bedchamber He sent a most gracious Declaration with respective Letters to the Lords to the Commons to the City and to the Army Whetein His Majesties Declaration layes Independency dead His Majesty first offers a Pardon for all miscarriages and misdemeanors against his Father or himself to all persons such onely excepted as shall be excepted by the Parliament promising likewise securitie to all whose guilt might otherwise endanger them so as they laid hold on his Majesties Pardon within 40. dayes after the publication thereof 2. He refers the purchasers of Kings Queens and Bishops Lands to Justice to the Law and to the Parliament 3. He assures the Souldiery of their Arrears for past services although done against him and of incouragement and pay for the future under him This Declaration was received with no ordinary joy and solemnity the messenger Sr. Iohn Greenvil being rewarded with 500. pounds ro buy him a Jewell and upon reading thereof and a conference had with the Lords who had now reassumed their Native right by taking their places in the higher House they agree unanimously each in their several house That a Letter be sent in answer to his Majesties gracious Letter and Declaration superscribed To his most Excellent Majestie which were since more immediately drawn up and sent by Commissioners before prepared as is already mentioned sixe from each House who were in the name of both Houses 1. To give his Majesty most humble and hearty thanks for his gracious Letter and Declaration 2. To desire his Majesty to return to the exercise of his Regal Office and come to his Parliament and people with all speed possible And thirdly to that purpose to desire him to appoint a place for the Navy to attend him the Commissioners that went from the house of Peeres were these The Earl of Oxford Earl of VVarwick Earl of Middlesex Lord Brook Lord Berckley Commissioners names that went to the King Lord Visc Hereford Of the House of Commons were selected these following Lord Charleton Lord Bruce Lord Falkland Lord Mandevile Lord Herbert Lord Fairefax Sir George Booth Sir Iohn Holland Sir Antho. Ashly-Cooper Sir Horatio Townsend Sir Henry Cholmly Mr. Hollis The City of London having also received the like Letters and Declarations the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council appoint a loyal and humble answer to be returned wherein they give his Majesty thanks for his tender care grace and favour to their ancient and renowned City which was sent by these worthy Gentlemen For the City of London Alderman Adams Recorder VVilde Alderman Robinson Alderman Bateman Theophilus Biddolph Richard Ford Alderman Vincent Alderman Frederick Alderman VVale John Lewis Esquire William Bateman Esq Alderman Bludworth Major
things briefly Epitomized but to Historize them at large would require a volume as big as the Book of Martyrs These Committees are excellent spunges to suck mony from the people and to serve not only their own but also the Covetous Malicious Ambitious ends of those that raked them out of the dunghil for that imployment and do defend them in their oppressions who is so blind as not to see these men have their protectors the Daemones to whom they offer up part of their rapins to whom they sacrifice Occulta spolia plures de pace Triumphos If there be any intention to restore our Laws and Liberties and free us from Arbitrary Government it is fit these Committees and all associations be laid down having no enemy to associate against and that the old form of Government by Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c. be re-established and the Militia in each County setled as before in Lieutenants and deputy Lieutenants or in Commissioners The rather because the people are now generally of opinion They may as easily find Charity in Hell as Justice in any Committee and that the King hath taken down one Star-chamber and the Parliament hath set up a hundred Nor is it a small artifice to raise money by so many severall and confused Taxes Taxes Whereas one or two ways orderly used and well husbanded would have done the work 1. Royal Subsidie of 300000 l. 2. Pole money 3. The free Loans and Contributions upon the Publick Faith amounted to a vast incredible sum in money Plate Horse Arms c. 4. The Irish adventure for sale of Lands the first and second time 5. The Weekly meal 6. The City Loan after the rate of 50 Subsidies 7. The Assesment for bringing in the Scots 8. The five and twentith part 9. The Weekly Assesment for my Lord Generals Army 10. The Weekly or Monthly Assesment for Sir Thomas Fairfax Army 11. The Weekly Assesment for the Scotch Army 12. The Weekly Assesment for the British Army in Ireland 13. The Weekly Assesment for my Lo. of Manchesters Army 14. Free-quarter at least connived at by the State because the Souldiers having for a time subsistence that way are the less craving for their pay whereby their Arrears growing stale will at last either be frustrated by a tedious Committee of Accounts or forgotten in the mean time the Grand Committee of Accounts discount it out of the Commanders Arrears whereby the State saves it 15. The Kings Revenue 16. Sequestrations and Plunder by Committees which if well answered to the State would have carried on the work which thus I demonstrate One half of all the goods and Chattels and at least one half of the Lands Rents and Revenues of the Kingdom have been sequestred And who can imagin that one half of the profits and Goods of the Land will not maintain any Forces that can be kept and fed in England for the defence thereof 17. Excise upon all things this alone if well managed would maintain the War the Low-Countries make it almost their only support 18. Fortification-money c. By these several ways and Taxes about forty Millions in money and money-worth have been milked from the people and the Parliament as the Pope did once may call England Puteum inexhaustum yet it is almost drawn dry A vast Treasure and so excessive as nothing but a long peace could import and nothing but much fraud and many follies could dissipate and we ought not to wonder if it be accounted inter arcana novissimi imperii to be always making yet never finishing an account thereof And as they have artificially confounded the accounts by laying on multiplicity of Taxes Accounts so for the same reason they let the money run in so many muddy obscure chanels through so many Committees and Officers fingers both for collecting receiving issuing and paying it forth that it is impossible to make or ballance any Publick account thereof and at least one half thereof is known to be devoured by Committees and Officers and those that for lucre protect them By these means as they make many men partners with them in the publick spoyls so they much strengthen and increase their party whereby multitudo peccantium tollit poenam If these things were not purposely done 1. Our Taxes would be fewer in number Accounts again and more in effect 2. They would be put to run in one chanel under the fingering of fewer Harpies and perspicuous and true Entries made of all receipts and disbursments which would be publick to common view and examination The Exchequer way of accounts is the exactest antientest and best known way of account of England and most free from deceit which is almost confessed de facto when to make the Kings Revenue more obnoxious to their desires they took it out of the Exchequer way contrary to the fundamental Laws of the Land for both the Higher and Lower Exchequer are as antient and fundamental as any Court in England and put it under a Committee which as all other Committees do will render an account of their Stewardship at the latter day In the mean time divers of that Committee buy in old sleeping Pensions which they pay themselves from the first of their arrears yet other men that have disbursed money out of their purses for the Kings Service can receive no pay for any money laid forth before Michaelmas Term 1643. because forsooth then the Committee first took charge of the Revenue In the mean time the Kings Tenants and Debtors are deprived of the benefit of the Laws and Liberties of the subject which before they enjoyed all Debts and Moneys being now raised by the terrour of Pursuivants and Messengers whose Commissions are only to distrain and levy c. whereas formerly the Exchequer sent out legal Process and the Tenant or Debtor had liberty to plead to it in his own defence if he thought himself wronged but now New Lords new Laws and to countenance their doings the Committee have gotten an addition of some Lords to them 3. If there were fair play above board so many members of both Houses would not be ambitious of the trouble and clamour that attends Task masters Publicans and such sinners as sit at the receipt of Custome being no part of the business for which the Writ Summons or the people choose or trust them and whereby they are diverted from the business of the House but would leave that imployment to other men who not having the character and privilege of Parliament upon them will be lesse able to protect themselves and their agents from giving publick accounts of their receipts and disbursments and from putting affronts and delays upon the Committee of Accompts as it is well known some of them have done Lastly it is scandalous that the same men should be continued so long in their money-imployments because Diuturnitas solitudo carrumpunt Imperia and by long continuance and experience they
grow so hardned so cunning in their way and so backed with dependencies that it is almost impossible to trace them And although when we look upon the many persons imployed we cannot say there is solitudo personarum yet when we consider that by a long partnership in their imployments they are allyed together in one common interest they are to be esteemed but as one man for a Corporation of men is but many men joyned together as one man and with one mind pursuing one and the same end or interest And though they have a general Committee of Accompts yet they were nominated by those Members that ought to give Accompts Committee of Accounts and it must needs be suspicious for an Accomptant to choose those persons before whom he shall accompt And we see after so long a time of their sitting no fruit thereof Whereas the people did hope that after so much money spent and such great debts and arrears left to pay whereby they are threatned with continuance of their Taxes that a full and exact general accompt of all Receipts and Disbursments would have been published in Print for their satisfaction as is usually done in the Low-Countries and as was once done by this Parliament Anno 1641. by a Declaration of the accompts of the Kingdom But it may be the Synod in favour of the Grandees have voted that place in Scripture Render an account of thy Stewardship to be but Apocryphal By these exorbitant courses though they have drayned 40. Millions from the people Wants of the Parliament and how occasioned yet as Philip of Macedon was said to be Inter quotidianas rapinas semper inops they are faln to such ridiculous want and beggery that they have lately pawned almost all the security they have for 200000 l. to disband the Army and enter upon the Irish imployment They have slit Goldsmiths-Hall in sunder and given one side thereof to the City and kept the other half thereof to themselves and that already charged with 200000 l. at least So that if any sudden occasion happen they have put their purse into the hands of the uncircumcised Jews of the City and cannot raise one penny but by new Taxes upon the people It was worth observing to see how officiously some of the old Stagers took leave of the Publick purse before it came into Hucksters hands Alderman Pennington had a debt of 3000 l. he owed to Sir John Pennington forgiven him he never asked forgiveness of his sins more heartily and 3000 l. more given him out of Goldsmiths Hall in course the reason of this bounty was forked or two-fold 1. Because he hath got enough before 2. To comfort his heart for being left out of the City Militia But the most observable thing was to see this old Parliament like a young Prodigal take up money upon difficult terms and intangle all that they had for a security 1. They gave way to the City to hedg in an old debt being a loan of money after the rate of 50 Subsidyes and other old debts 2. Whereas 200000 l. only was the sum to be borrowed the City enjoyned them to take up 230000 l. whereof the od 30000 l. to be bestowed for relief of decayed occupiers of the City so that upon the matter the Parliament pays 30000 l. Broakage 3. That the City may not trust the greatest unthrifts of Christendome with laying out of their own money they put upon them 2 Treasurers of the City to receive and disburse it for the service for which it was borrowed so you see they have now neither credit money nor a purse to put it in So that the modest Members who have been more forward to help their Country than themselves Modest and middle members are left in the lurch for their losses and exposed to the laughter of their elder brothers the old Junto men and factious leaders of the House all being now morgaged to the Lombards of the City The thriving Members hope their younger brothers will continue as modest as they have been and digest all with patience but others and those neither fools nor knaves hope all the modest and middle men of the Houses such as are ingaged in no faction will be provoked hereby to draw into a third party or Junto to moderate the excesses of the other 2. when any thing prejudicial to the Commonwealth is agitated and to call the old Junto men those land Pyrats to account making them cast up what they have swallowed and bring it to a common divident or rather to pay the Army and Publick debts whereby the people may be eased of their pressures nor let them be discouraged with the supposed difficulty hereof since 20 or 30 men holding together and observing the cross debates and different sway of each party may easily make themselves moderators of their differences and turn the scales for the best advantage of the common which way they please to cast in their Votes since it is very rare to have any question carried by more than eight or ten voices Most of these Grandees are reported to have for their retreat houses in the Low-Countries Grandees provision to save themselves richly furnished with Sequestred Plate Linnen and Stuff and great store of money in bank for their shelter against such stormes as their Rapine Tyranny and Ignorance may happily raise here amongst us In those their retirements these Authors of our miseries will injoy their sins and our spoyls in security attending an opportunity to purchase their peace at last and betray our Safeties and Liberties to the inraged Prince and People This is called robbing of the Aegyptians and doubtless these ambitious State-Mountebanks have brought us into darkness worse than Egyptian The text saith the Egyptians rose not from their places in three days they yet knew where they were which is more than we do every man being out of his place and rank the Servant in place of his Master the Begger in place of the King the Fool in place of the Counsellour the Theif in place of the Judge the cheater in place of the Treasurer the Clown in place of the Gentleman none but God alone can play Daedalus part and give us a Clue to lead us out of this labyrinth into which these unpolitick Hocas Pocasses have brought us These unskilfull workmen that have built up Babel and pulled down Sion Others are said to prepare Forein Plantations for Retreat to People which Chiâ—dren are ravished from their parents Arms and shipped away an abomination not known in England before and therefore no competent Law made against it no more than in antient Rome against Paricides By what hath been already said you see what the several and what the conjoyned interests of these two Junto's or Factions Grandees their several interests and designs and strengths Presbyterian and Independent are let us now consider where their several strength lies The Indepâ—ndent groundeth his strength upon
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
within thirty miles of London 34. Members Engagement with the Army The Army to countenance their Rebellion draw the two Speakers and fugitive Members to sit in consultation and pass Votes promiscuously with the Council of War in the nature of a Parliament and to sign an Engagement dat 4. August to live and die with Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army under his command affirming therein that generally throughout their sense agreeth with the Declaratitn of Sir Tho. Fairfax and his Council of War shewing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of London In which Declaration the Council of the Army take upon them to be supreme Judges over the Parliament Telling you who of the two Houses they hold for persons in whom the publick trust of the Kingdom remaineth and by whose advise they mean to govern themselves in managing the weighty affairs of the Kingdom They declare against the late choice of a new Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster And that as things now stand there is no free nor legal Parliament sitting being through the violence 26. July suspended That the Orders and Votes c. passed 29. July last and all such as shall passe in this assembly of some few Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto Behold here not only a power without the Parliament Houses judging of the very essence of a Parliament and the validity of their resolutions but usurping to themselves a negative Voice which they deny to the King and yet a Schismatical faction in the 2 Houses complying with them and betraying and prostituting the very being Honour and all the fundamental rights and privileges of this and all future Parliaments to an Army of Rebels who refuse to obey their Masters and disband This Engagement so over-leavened the army that their brutish General sent forth Warrants to raise the Trained Bands of some Counties to march with him against the City and both Houses although Trained Bands are not under any pay of the Parliament and therefore not under command of the General by any Order or Ordinance But what will not a Fool in authority do when he is possessed by Knaves Miserable man His Foolery hath so long waited upon Cromwell's and Ireton's knavery 35. The City send Commissioners to the Army Fowks Gibs and Estweck by whom they are betrayed that it is not safe for him now to see his folly and throw by his Cap with a Bell and his Bable The Earl of Essex died so opportunely that many suspected his death was artificiall Yet the City were so desirous of Peace that they sent Commissioners sundry times to the Army to mediate an Accord Who could obtain no more equal terms of Agreement than that They should yeeld to desert both Houses and the impeached Members Call in their Declaration newly Printed and published Relinquish the Militia Deliver up all their Forts and Line of Communication to the Army together with the Tower of London and all the Magazines and arms therein Disband all their Forces Turn all the Reformadoes out of the Line Withdraw all their guards from the Houses Receive such Guards of Horse and Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint to guard the Houses Demolish their works suffer the whole Army to march in triumph through the City as Conquerours of it and the Parliament and as they often give out of the whole Kingdome tearms which they might have had from the great Turk had he sate down before them and broken ground All which was suddenly and dishonourably yeelded to and executed according by such an Army as was not able to fight with one half of the City had they been united But they are the Devils seed-men and have sown the Cockle of Heresies and Scism so abundantly in City and Country especially amongst the more beggarly sort that these men joyning Principles and interests with the Army weaken the hands of all opponents They often brag that they made a civil march free from Plunder I Answer they neither durst nor could do otherwise their Souldiers being ill armed and so few that they were not able to keep stands in the streets and keep the Avenues while their Fellows dispersed to Plunder Charles 8. with a far greater and more Victorious Host durst not offer violence to the far lessâ— City of Florence when Signior Capona put an affront upon him in the Town-house Bidding him beat his drums and he would ring their Bells 36. The fugitive Members returned Upon the 6. of August 1647. The General brought the fugitive Speakers and Members to the Houses with a strong Party who might have returned sooner without a Guard had not their own crimes and designs hindred them the two Palaces filled with armed guards double Files clean through Westminster hall up the stairs to the House of Commons and so through the Court of Requests to the Lords House and down stairs again into the old Palace The Souldiers looking scornfully upon many Members that had sat in the absence of the Speaker and threatning to cut some of their throats And all things composed to so ridiculous a terrour as if they would bespeak without speaking the absence of those Members that sat placed the Speakers in the Chairs without Vote out of which they had been justly Voted for deserting their calling where the General was placed in a Chair of State enough to make a fool of any man that was not fit for it and received special thanks for his service from both Speakers And in the second place a day of thanksgiving was appointed to God I think for his patience in not striking these Atheistical Saints with thunder and lightning for making him a stale to their premeditated villanies Here Sir Thomas Fairfax with a breath and before any man that was not privy to the design could recover out of his amazement was made Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts of England and Wales to dispose of them at his pleasure Constable of the Tower of London The common Souldiers Voted one moneths gratuity besides their pay the Commons being in good case to give gifts before they pay debts left to the discretion of the General to set what Guards he pleased upon the two Houses Whereby you may perceive in what unequal condition those Members that did not run away with the Speaker do now sit after so many reiterated threats of the General against them in his printed Papers After this the General Lieutenant General 37. The Armies march in Triumph through the City with other subsequent Acts. Major General Skippon heretofore Waggoner to Sir Francis Pere and one that hath got well by serving the City and the whole Army with the Train of Artillery marched through London in so great pomp and Triumph as if they would have the People understand that the Authority of the Kingdom in whose hands soever it remains in these doubtfull times must
Principles for which the Parliament so often declared in print that they fought and for defence whereof they had entered into a covenant with their hands lifted up to God the other two principles were Religion and Lâ—berties 1. The Lords were not Peers to the Commoners At the common Law they shall have sworn Judges for matter of Law of whom they may ask questions in doubtfull points nor can they be Judges in their own cases 2. They have sworn Jurors of the Neighbourhood for matter of fact whom they may challenge 3. The known Laws and Statutes for Rules to judg by which in case of Treason in the Stat. 25. Ed. 3. you cannot Vote nor declare a new Treason And if you could to do it Ex post facto is contraty to all rules of justice The Apostle saith sin is a breach of a Commandment or Law I had not known sin but by the Law the Law therefore must go before the Sin 4. At the Common Law They have Witnesses openly and newly examined upon Oath before the accused's face who may except against them and cross examine them 5. Even in Star-chamber and Chancery where only hearings are upon Testimonies the Examiners are sworn Officers 6. A man hath but one Tryal and Judgment upon one accusation so that he knows when he hath satisfied the Law In this way of proceeding all these necessary legalities are laid by and these Gentlemen have not so much fair play for their Lives and Estates as Naboth had for his Vineyard he had all the formalities of the Law yea he had Law it self yet he had not justice because they were the sons of Belial that were set before him what shall we conceive these Witnesses are that do not appear nay whose very names are concealed yet Naboth was murdered by the sword of Justice for the honour of Parliaments give not the people cause to suspect these Gentlemen shall be so too non recurrendum ad extraordinaria quando fieri potest per ordinaria But all this was but to charm a deaf Adder 52. Arguments proving the Lords to have no power of Judicature over the Commons the nine or ten engaged Lords that then possessed the House were thought to be fitter than a Jury of Middlesex to make work for the hang-man and yet they have no Judicature over the Commons as appears by the President of Sir Simon de Berisford William Talboys and the City of Cambridge Note that one president against the Jurisdiction of a Court is more valued than a hundred for it because the Court cannot be supposed ignorant of the Law and its own rights but a particular man or Client may see Sir John Maynard's Royal quarrel and his Laws subversion Lieutenant Col. Lilburn's Whip for the present House of Lords and Judge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of the two Houses of Parliament dated 21 Feb. 1647. As for the cases of Weston Gomenes and Hall cited by Mr. Pryn they were for facts done beyond Sea and before the Stat. 1. Hen. 4. ch 14. whereof the Common Law could then have no connusance and therefore an extraordinary way of proceeding before the Lords was requisit and by the Kings special authority it was done without which I dare boldly affirm the Lords have no Judicature at all which thus I make appear 1. The King by delivering the Great Seal to the Lord Keeper 53. The House of Peers no Court of Judicature at all properly and per se makes him Keeper of his conscience for matter of equity By His Brevia patentia to the Judges of the two Benehes and the Exchequer the King makes them administrators and interpreters of his Laws But he never trust any but himself with the power of pardoning and dispensing with the rigor of the Law in Criminal cases And though the Lord Keeper is Speaker of the Lords House of course yet he is no Member of the Lords House virtute Officii the Judges are not Members but assistants only so that no man in the House of Peers as he is simply a Peer is trusted by the King either with dispensation of Law or Equity 2. When a Peer of Parliament or any man else is tried before the Lords in Parliament criminally he cannot be tryed by his Peers only because in acts of judicature there must be a Judge Superior who must have his inferiors ministerial to him therefore in the trial of the Earl of Strafford as in all other trials upon life and death in the Lords House the King grants his Commission to a Lord high Steward to sit as Judge and the rest of the Lords are but in the nature of Jurors So that it is the Kings Commission that Authoriseth and Distinguisheth them 3. When a Writ of Error issueth out of the Chancery to the House of Peers they derive their Authority meerly from that Writ For the three Reasons aforesaid the House of Peers is no Court of Judicature without the Kings special Authority granted to them either by his Writ or his Commission and the Lords by their four Votes having denied all further address or application to the King have cut off from themselves that fountain from which they derived all their power and all trials by Commission must be upon Bills or Acts of Attainder not by Articles of Impeachment a way never heard of before this Parliament and invented to carry on the designs of a restless impetuous faction Had the Faction had but so much wit as to try the Gentlemen by Commission of Oyer and Terminer before Sergeant Wild he would have borrowed a point of Law to hang a hundred of them for his own preferment Observe that almost all the cases cited by Mr. Pryn concerning the Peers trials of Commissioners were Authorised by the King upon the special instance of the House of Commons as for the House of Commons they never pretended to any power of Judicature and have not so much Authority as to Administer an Oath which every Court of Pye-Poulders hath 54. Blank Impeachments dormant But this way of tryal before the pre-ingaged Lords and upon Articles of Impeachment which they keep by them of all sorts and sizes fit for every man as in Birchin-lane they have suits ready made to fit every body was the apter means to bring men to death whom they feared living had not a doubt of the Scots comming in taught them more moderation than their nature is usually acquainted with and to fright away at least put to silence the rest of the Members with fear of having their names put in blank Impeachments and that it might be so apprehended Miles Corbet moved openly in the House of Commons that they should proceed with the Impeachments which were ready nothing wanted but to fill up the Blanks they might put in what names they pleased This Inquisitor General this Prologue to the Hang-man that looks more like a Hang-man than the Hang-man himself hath since gotten a
Answer â—o the Scots Declaration About the 24 of February the Answer to the Scots Declaration began to be debated in parts in which Debate the Covenant was much undervalued and called An Almanack out of Date Nathaniel Fiennes argued against it That that clause in the Covenant To Defend the Kings Person Crown and Dignity c. was inconsistent with their four Votes for making no Addresses to the KING To which was answered by some That then they would relinquish the four Votes and adhere to the Covenant About the beginning of March was given to Col. Sydenham and Col. Bingham 1000 l. a piece as part of their Arrears 80. Money shared amongst godly Members their Accounts not yet stated To the Lord of Broghil 2000 l. To Mr. Fenwick 500 l. for losses To Mr. Millington 2000 l. for losses To Col. Ven 4000 l. notwithstanding in was moved he might first account for Contribution money the plunder of the Country about Windsor and the Kings Houshold-stuff Hangings Linnen and Bedding Mr. Purie the Petty-bag office besides 1000 l. formerly given him To Purie's Son the Clerk of the Peaces place and 100 l. a year all Independents The 7. of March an Ordinance passed the Commons to settle 2500 l. a year land out of the Marquess of Worcesters estate 81. Cromwel upon Lieut. Gen. Oliver Cromwel I have heard some Gentlemen that know the Mannor of Chepstow and the rest of the Lands setled upon him affirm that in the particulars the said lands are so favourably rated that they are worth 5000 l. or 6000 l. a year It is farther said those lands are bravely wooded You see though they have not made King CHARLES a glorious King as they promised yet they have setled a Crown Revenue upon Oliver and have made him as great and glorious a K. as ever John of Leyden was Wonder not that they conspire to keep up this Army as well to make good these Largesses as to keep their guilty heads upon their Shoulders Thursday 9. March 82. A Message froÌ„ the Lords desiring the Commons concurrence to the Ingagement of the Members with the Army The Ingagem approved by threats the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons To desire their concurrence to the Ingagement of those Members that fled to the Army to live and die with the Army It was debated all day untill 7. of the clotk at night and at last the ques ion put That this House doth approve the subscription of the said Members to the said Ingagement The House divided upon the question yeas 100. noes 91. Observe 1. that Mr. Solicitor Haslerig and many more when they perceived difficulty in passing it began to skirmish with their long Sword again And many told them they must live content without dores meaning the Army as well as within else all would go naught 2. 44. Of those Members that ingaged with the Army sate in the House and Voted in their own case many of them carrying themselves very high and insolent in their gestures and expressions 3. Many Presbyterians left the House because it was late and some as it is thought not daring to Vote in the Negative 4. This Engagement about six months ago had been sent to the Commons by the Lords once or twice and was rejected yet now was obtruded upon them again by the Lords who would not acquiesce contrary to the privileges of the House of Commons 5. This approbation thus surreptitiously gotten is equal to a Pardon sued forth before Conviction which in Law amounteth to a Confession of the Crime 83. The temper of the House tried had the Ingagement not been approved a new Charge from the Army intended 6. The Agitators tell you in Derby-house Projects pag. 7. That this Engagement was sent down to the Commons to try the temper of the House and if the House had not approved of the Eagagement the resolution of their secret Counsel was to fly to their Armes and make a new Charge against their principal opposers for they acknowledge amongst themselves That they Rule by Power only and that the House of Commons is no longer theirs than they overawe them and that they fear the Critical day will come which will discover the Parliament to be no longer theirs than while they have a force upon it As men ready to sink embrace every shadow of help and catch hold of leaves twigs and bulrushes to support them so these desperate and purblind protectors having engaged themselves in a way of Tyranny out of which they can find no issue lay hold of frivolous inventions to peece up from time to time their ill-laid designs like the man in the parable That patched up his old Garment with new cloath which breaking out again left the rent wider than it was before Their last project was to unite all Interests in the Houses City and Army 84 A project to unite all Interests To which purpose Cromwel the heaviest basest and most ridiculous Tyrant that ever any noble Nation groned under made a Speech in the House of Commons To which was Answered That the Members were chosen and trusted by the people to pursue one common Interest which was the common good the safety and Liberty of the People and whosoever had any peculiar Interest eccentrick from that was not fit to sit in that assembly and deserved to be called to a strict account by those that trusted him Observe See the Argument against all accommodatioÌ„ between the City and Grandees c. and the seasonable caution to the City printed at the latter end of this Book that the extent of this project was to conjoyn these three Interests from upholding the greatnesse of the Grandees in the Parliament City and Army for in all three the vulger multitude and the more modest and honest sort are but in the same condition with other men the Parliament bearing the Authority the Army the Sword and the City the purse The first shall be the Task-masters and impose Tribute The second the Sheriffs or rather free-booters to leavy it by distresse And the third the Brokers to receive and buy it off But it pleased God to bestow so much providence and integrity upon the City that when upon Saturday 8. April 1646. Cromwel and his fellow Grandees offered this temptation at a Common-Councel to them The City grew wiser than our first Parents and rejected the Serpent and his subtilties insomuch that Cromwel netled with the affront called his Solicitor Glover to account by what Authority he had offered the restitution of the Tower and Militia and the inlargement of their accused Aldermen who answered he did it by his Authority and delivered him a Warrant to that purpose signed by Sir Thomas Fairfax Oliver Cromwel Mr. Solicitor and young Sir Henry Vane which Cromwel had the impudence to put in his pocket Cromwel had felt the pulse of the City long before by his Agents Glover and Watkins
85. A device to put the Apprentices into a Tumult and found them averse from complying with him wherefore being a man of an early as well as an implacable malice he by the advice of the Committee of Derby-house cast about with the Schismatical Lord Mayor Warner he that raised the ridiculous Tumult at Christmas about Rosemary and Bayes a man that had been chosen Mayor by power of Parliament out of course to carry on the design of the faction and with the Lieutenant of the Tower how to put the City into some distemper of which they might take advantage The Citizens were well acquainted with their jugling tricks they had no hopes to work upon them wherefore they contrived how to put a provocation upon the silly Apprentice Boys and put them forth into some rash action of which they might make use to carry on their designes against the whole City wherefore upon Easter-day 1648. in the evening some few apprentices playing in Finnisbury fields some Souldiers were sent to drive them away which they did and imprisoned some of them for not readily obeying upon Sunday following 9. April divers Apprentices being at play according to custome in Moor-fields the Mayor sent Capt. Gale one of the new Captains of the Hamlets a Silk-Throster and a Tub-preacher and one that ran away at the fight at Newbury wash and hid himself in a Ditch as my L. Wharton at the Battle of Keynton hid himself in a Saw-pit thither to disturb them with about 50. or 60. of his Trained Band and no more that he might the better encourage the Boys to resist him who surlily asking them What they did there some of them answered they did no harm but only play and since all Holy dayes have been Voted down they had no other time of Recreation The Captain insolently commanded them to be gone they replyed he had no authority so to do and continued playing whereupon the Captain commanded his Musquetiers to shoot amongst them which they forbearing he took a Musquet himself and discharged amongst them when presently two or three schismatical Musquetiers of his Company following his example discharged upon them likewise and killed or as the Schismaticks say wounded only one of the Boyes whereat the Boys making a great out-cry more company gathered to them and so with stones brick-bats and sticks they dispersed the Trained Band and at last got their Colours and instantly in a childish jollity marched un-armed as they were towards the Mewes when presently a party of Horse ready prepared for this forelaid design met them charged and with ease routed them Cromwel himself animating the Troopers to shoot and spit them and to spare neither man woman nor child All Sunday night the Apprentices kept in a body in the City locked the City gates but set no guards upon them whereby you may see this business proceeded meerly from the rash and unpremeditated folly of Children not from the advice of Men howsoever the Independent faction in the House of Commons have since aggravated it to countenance their future cruelty and rapines upon the City Monday morning Sir Tho. Fairfax sent a strong party into the City who fell upon the Boyish rabble routed and killed many and shot poor Women great with Child sitting in their stalls one whereof the Child lived two hours in her belly after her brains were shot out a man likewise not knowing of their coming as he was drinking Milk at the corner of a street was shot as it were in sport as they rid they cryed Cuckolds keep your Houses cutting and wounding all they met Cromwel who followed in the Reer safe enoogh the Van having cleered the streets before him cryed out to them to Fire the City Oh Oliver what a barbarous John of Leyden art thou become Oh London how wretched a Munster wilt thou become at last they drove those silly unarmed wretches into Leaden-hall and took many of them Prisoners none of the Trained Bands nor Citizens appearing to help those poor Boys but leaving the Souldiers to get a bloody and boyish Triumph over them as they pleased they are now imprisoned in Cromwels shambles at White-hall This is the truth of the businesse notwithstanding the long-winded lying report made by Alderman Fouks at the Commons Bar a man that hath feather'd his nest well these miserable times and hath much publick money sticking to his fingers who when he gave in his accompt before the General Committee of Accounts refused to give it in upon Oath as other men did alleging Magna Charta that no man was bound to accuse himself It should seem he had something in his Conscience that would not endure the test of an Oath but he is one of the Godly and therefore the good things of this world belong unto him The House of Commons upon this occasion gave 1000 l. to the Souldiers for their valorous exploit and Voted 1000 Foot and 100 Horse to be kept in the Tower The Garrisons of Whitehall and the Mewes to be strengthened 3 Barges capable of 50 Musquetiers apiece to lie at Whitehall for the Souldiers to convey themselves to any landing place to disperse such watermen as shal assemble The City Chains to be taken away from their Posts and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to issue forth to murder more of these Children legally The Mayor having kindled this fire in the City stole out at a window disguised and hid his foolish head in the Tower The House of Commons over-ruled by the Grandees Voted a day of thanksgiving for this delivery So bold are these Saints as to mock Gods holy name with impious devotions to colour their designs 86. The Lord Inchiquin The Lord Inchiquin president of Munster and General of the Army there had a long time been heaved at by the Indepeâ—dent faction The Lord Lisle who gaped after his imployment Sir John Temple Cromwell the Lord Broughill Sir Arthur and Sir Adam Loftus and others who by obstructing all supplies of Money Ammunition Victual Cloathes laboured to mutiny and disband his Army that they might send Schismaticks of their oâ—n party to Lord it there as they do here and keep Ireland as a Retreat for the Saints for the better effecting whereof they sent over many Emissaries whom they had commended to him to be officers in his Army When this would not do they Printed scandalous Articles against him and put infinite provocations upon him to incite him to do that which they falsly accused him to have done already But the many gallant-services he preformed since the publishing those Articles gave them the lie and confuted all their slanders at last under colour of sending a supply of forces to him they projected to surprise him and bring him away prisoner so that he hath suffered all the convulsions that trecherous friends and malicious enemies could put upon him And lately for the more close conveyance of the design the Houses sent three Commissioners towards Ireland to
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
declared principles and doctrine of their Pulpits and Army are That they must break the powers of the Earth in pieces Monarchy must down all the world over first in England then this Army must put over and manumit the Peasants of France the Boore of Germany c. And divers of this party have reported That they have supplied the Revolters of France with money their Licenced News-Books are full of this Doctrine and of many Invectives against the Tyranny of the French King 134. Harry Martin's Judgement of the King and Kingly Government Such were their proceedings against the King or rather against Kingly Government which was cut off by the same Axe that murthered the King and was indeed first in their intention though last in execution as appeareth by Harry Martin's Speech in the House upon the Debate Whether a King or no King That if they must have a King he had rather have had the last than any Gentleman in England he found no fault in His person but in his Office 135. The Councel of Officers endeavour to joyn Interest with the Papists in England and Ireland The King had offended the Papists in the last Treaty by granting so much to the Parliament for their suppression The Independents perceiving it and willing to joyn with any Interest to make good their design It was proposed at the Councel of Officers That the Papists should raise and pay about 10000 Additional Forces for this Army in recompence whereof all penal Laws concerning them should be repealed all Taxes and Contributions taken off and they to have the protection of this Parliament and Army Under the same notion they endeavoured to joyn Interests with Owen Roe Oneale Owen Roe Oneale that commanded the bloody party of massacring Irish with which they had formerly taxed the King they supplied him with Ammunition and admitted O Realy The Popes Nuntio the Popes Irish Nuntio to a Treaty here in England Sir John Winter was taken into imploiment and the Arrears of his Rents gathered for him by Souldiers to the regret of the Countrey Sir Kenelme Digbie had a pass to come into England and came as was foretold by a Letter from an Independent Agent for the Army from Paris to an Independent Member of the House of Commons a creature of the Army bearing date 28. Nov. 1648. and printed at the latter end of The true and full Relation of the Officers and Armies forcible seizing of divers eminent Members c. Walter Mountague let forth upon Bail what becomes of this Negotiation and whether those that have played fast and loose with all Interests in the Kingdom have not done the like with the Papists I cannot yet learn This Winter 136. Scarcity of Coals how occasioned and why Coals as well as other things had been at excessive rates in the City whereby many poor perished with cold and hunger what the reason thereof was besides unreasonable Taxes Excise and Souldiers quartering in and neer the City was diversly disputed most men imputed the blame to Sir Arthur Haslerigge Governour of Newcastle who without any publique Authority presumed to lay on a Tax of 4 s. a Chaldron upon the Coals there which is estimated to amount to 50000 l. a year what use that Money was put to was as variously whispered as likewise what design they had in bringing so pinching a want upon the City some said it was to inforce the poorer sort into Tumults and then to charge the wealthier sort with the crime and ensnare them others said it was to cast an odium upon the PRINCE as if His Ships had kept in the Colliers The 23. March 1648. The Commons ordered 137. The Lo. Major ordered to proclaim in person the Act for abolishing the Kingly Office and punished for neglect That the Lord Major of London in person be required to publish and proclaim in the City the aforesaid Act for dissolving Kingly Government and to give an account thereof to the House The Major refusing this service was by the Commons called to the Bar fined 2000 l. committed prisoner to the Tower and outed of his Majoralty and Alderman Andrews a man after their own heart chosen by a few Schismaticks in his place Ordered by the Commons upon a report from the Councel of State that Commissioners he appointed to make Sale of the Kings 138. The Kings Queens and Princes personal Estate ordered to be sold Queens and Princes personal estate upon Inventorie and Apprisal for satisfaction of all just Debts due to well-affected persons Viz. Men of their Faction in this Nation before the beginning of these Wars But first 30000 l. to be taken out of it for the use of this Summers Fleet and that it be referred back to the 40 Hogen Mogens or Councel of State to consider what they think fit to be sold and what they think fit to keep and reserve for the use and furniture of them and their Attendants Observe that by that time this gulph is stopped the whole remainder to be sold for payment of Debts aforesaid may be written with a Cypher 139. Crown Lands shar'd amongst the Godly I hear the House hath given away the Kings House Parks and Honour of Eltham to Sergeant Bradshaw their quondam President Greenwich to Bulstrode Whitlock The Lions Skin is now dividing amongst the party Thus have they killed and taken possession and the Kings Revenue hath proved as ominous to Him as Naboth's Vineyard was to his Master 140. Another Report for an establishment for the Army Diuâ—nal Mar. 30 31. 1649. This day another Report was made to the House from the Committee of the Army of the particular sums to be Monthly levied in each County to make up the whole sum of 90000 l. Monthly for the Armies of England and Ireland besides 20000 l. per mens out of Fee-farm Rents 28 March 1649. The Commons in pursuit of the advice given them by Monsieur Paw 141. An Order that no Preacher meddle with State affairs and according to the example cited by him of the Low Countries Ordered That no Minister in his Pulpit should meddle with any State affairs had this been observed from the beginning these Pulpit-Incendiaries had never kindled a War between the King and Parliament 142. The 5. Lights of Walton About the beginning of Lent last Master Faucet Minister of Walton upon the Thames in Surrey preached in his Parish Church after dinner when he came down out of his Pulpit it was twilight and into the Church came six Souldiers one of them with a Lanthorn in his hand and a Candle burning in it in the other hand they had four Candles not lighted He with the Lanthorn called to the Parishioners to stay a little for he had a Message to them from God and offered to go up into the Pulpit but the Parishioners would not let him then he would have delivered his errand in the Church but there
examine the Leases that have been made and the fines that have been paid thereupon and how disposed and by what authority with power to give reliefe and allowance to the said poor Knights and other poor people not exceeding their former allowance Oh take heed of too much charity and also to take a Catalogue of all Hospitalls within this Common-wealth and the revenewes of them they are sure to mind that And that the Masters and Governours do return to this Committee the constitution of the respective hospitalls and how the profits thereof have been and are disposed of and by what authority before the first of December 1659. And to report the whole matter to the house Ordered That all Masters and Governours of hospitalls be and are hereby prohibited to grant or renew any Leases of any Lands Tenements and hereditaments belonging unto any of the said respective hospitalls untill this house take further Order Notice of which is to be given to the respective concerned persons by the Councill of State See here how greedy is the zeal of these devouring Statists which yet is clothed in the garbe of a seeming Sanctimonious care but this hypocrisie must not go long unpunished neither does it for now begins to appear the result of Lamberts designments abroad in a remonstrative address from the Army at the very first newes whereof the Parliament is so startled that fearing to be whipped with their own rod they ordered Col. Ashfield Col. Cobbet and Lieutenant Col. Duckenfield Armies remonstrate the Juncto send for â—ome Officers three of the chief promoters of it to bring to them the original paper intended to be presented upon notice of which order given immediately a letter was delivered into the house signed by many persons of the Army superscribed to the said three summoned persons by whose hands they desired the inclosed paper might be presented to the Lord Fleetwood and after to the generall Councill which inclosed paper was intituled to the supream authority of these Nations the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England The humble Petition and proposalls of the Officers under the Command of the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert in the late Northern expedition the manner and method of which paper the Juncto so highly resented as supposing it to strike at their very root that they presentely voted That this house doth declare Observe this crack that to have any more Generall Officers in the Army than are already setled by Parliament is needless chargeable and dangerous to the Common-wealth Here was the first step to that division which afterwards grew into a flame but the Army Officers finding their design was not yet ripe enough by a dissembled acquiescency seemed to lay aside their proposalls by signifying to the Parliament that they would adhere to their authority in opposition to the common Enemy and that they would stand by them in the settlement of the Common-wealth against all disturbances whatsoever which lulled the Juncto into a kind of security the City also at this time seeming to claw them by an invitation to a Thanksgiving dinner whereat the field Officers of the Army were also to be present Thanksgiving dinner in the City so that now being in a manner rid of their fear they fall upon sequestring the Gentry about Sir George Booths business settle the Excise and revive the Assessements for the Militia using all their skill and power for amassing together the wealth of the Nation into their private purses concluding with the Epicureans ede lude bibe post mortem nulla voluptas so sottishly stupid were they grown in their high flown ambition But now least they should forget their duty the Officers of the Army present a new address requiring answer thereto Armies new address which made them take it into the several pieces wherein it was proposed wherein among other things to shew you the harmony that was then between them they give to their third proposall this answer Juncto angry there with Viz. The Parliament declares that every Member of the Army as free Men of England have a right of petitioning the Parliament but withall thinks fit to let them know that the Petitioners ought to be very carefull both in the manner and in the matter of what they desire that the way of promoting and presenting the same may be peaceable and the things petitioned for not tending to the disturbance of the Common-wealth nor to the dishonour of the Parliament And that it is the duty of petitioners to submit their desires to the Parliament and acquiesce in the judgment thereof By this Declaration they intended to curb the Wallingford party by teaching them manners and to know their distance but they being Men of another spirit and knowing they had the power of the sword in their own hands would not be so put off which the Juncto perceiving and beginning to grow jealous of their own safety and satisfyed that the Army could not subsist without money which is the Nerve of War to engage the People to themselves and to dis-inable the Officers from raising any money in case they should which they now much doubted interrupt them in their sitting they passed an Act against raising of monies upon the people without their consent in Parliament Part whereof take as followeth Be it enacted c. That all Orders Act against raising money without consent of Parliament makes the Souldiery mad Ordinances and Acts made by any single person and his Councill or both or either of them or otherwise or by any assembly or convention pretending to have Authority of Parliament from and after the 19th Day of April 1653. and before the 7th of May 1659. And which have not been or shall not be enacted allowed or confirmed by this present Parliament be and are hereby declared deemed taken and adjudged to be of no force and effect from and after the said seventh day of May 1659. And be it further enacted that no person or persons shall after the eleventh of October 1659. Assess Levy Collect gather or receive any Custom Impost Excise Assessment contribution Tax Tallage or any summe or summs of money or other imposition whatsoever upon the people of this Common-wealth without their consent in Parliament or as by law might have been done before the third of November 1640. And that every person offending contrary to this Act shall be and is hereby adjudged to be guilty of high Treason and shall forfeit and suffer as in case of high Treason When the Juncto had thrown abroad this killing thunderbolt to shew that they durst own the power which they yet conceived themselves Masters off they took into consideration a Letter dated October the 5th and signed by diverse Officers of the Army and directed to Col. Okey and also a printed paper called the humble representation and Petition of the Officers of the Army to the Parliament c. Upon the reading of which two
Chamberlin Colonel Bromfield Sir James Bunce Bar. Alderman Langham Alderman Reinoldson Alderman Brown Sir Nicholas Crispe Alderman Tompson All these Letters were sent away but the first that arrived to his Majesties hand was from his Excellency the Lord General Monck who by the leave of the House sent the same by his brother in Law Sir Thomas Clergies who was as being the first beyond all expression welcome and after some long but not tedious conferences Knighted and at length dismissed with as much kindnesse as he was at first received with joy Commissioners how received by the King After whom arrived shortly all the forenamed Commissioners together with some of the Ministry and were received by his sacred Majesty his two illustrious brothers of York and Glocester and his sister of Orange with demonstrations of affections on both sides such as are not capable of a description by my rude pen for they were such as may be imagined onely not defined like the joyes of a condemned soul now at point to dy when suddenly and beyond expectation it is not onely snatcht out of the very jawes of death but mounted aloft into a seat of Honour how it is even overpressed with the overflux of such a sudden yet joyful change and stands extasied not knowing or at leâ—st not well discerning the realities of those violent emotions under the happinesse whereof it at present labours which surpassing joy grown over and they dismissed with abundance of satisfaction with all speed his Majesty according to the earnest request of his Parliament prepared for England his Royal brother the most illustrious Duke of York Lord high Admiral taking order for the Navy And in the way to the Sea-side his Majesty was honourably entertained by the States General at the Hague of whom having taken his leave and thanked them for their Treatment and Presents he proceeded in his journey During this time the Navy under the conduct of General Mountague was come to attend and wait on his Royal pleasure upon notice of which attended by the Princesse of Orange and her son and the Queen of Bohemia he comes aboard the Naseby Frigot The King comes aboard for England and lands at Dover by him then named the Charles and after a repast there parting with high satisfaction pleasure and content on both sides with his Royal and Princely attendants he lanched forth and quickly with a prosperous and safe gale of wind anuuente Coelo came within two leagues of Dover Monck meets him a place formerly not so infamous for receiving the Barons in their rebellious wars against the King and harbouring Lewis of France as now it was famous for its loyalty in the joyful reception of its lawful Soveraign when he was come thither he sends Post for the General being resolved not to set foot on English ground till he came thither who upon the first hearing of that happy news presently took Post to meet him having before taken care for Pallaces to entertain him and left order for several Regiments of Horse to attend him for his Majesties security Providing with valor against open enemies and with prudence against pretended and basely false friends which being performed according to Order His Excellency waites upon his Majesty at Dover He is no sooner come thirher but upon knowledge thereof the King Landed at whose Honored feet in the most humble posture of a Loyal Subject on his Knees Our Great General presents himself and was received and imbraced by his Majesty in the open armes of an endeared mercy with so much affection as might well manifest the great respect the King bore to his high deserts for to shew that his embrace was signal and far from a meer complement he went nearer and kissed him No endearment is ever thought too great where there is grounded Love neither rested he there but like a true friend and lover indeed takes a delight in his society for the more clear demonstration whereof to all the world he took him with his two Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester into his Coach with him to Dover aforesaid KINGS journey to London and the manner of it where after a dutiful acknowledgment from the Magistrates there and solemn though short entertainment he rid to the City of Canterbury so famed for her Arch-bishops Sea his Majesty being in the middle between his two brothers and the Duke of Buckingham and the General riding bare before him In this Equipage with the whole Gentry and Nobility of England attending and thousands of the meaner ranke he arrived as I said at Canterbury being met by the Magâ—stracy in their richest habiliments of Honour and by the Ministry of the place who after a grave Speech and hearty Gratulation presented him with a rich Bible as He was Defender of the True Faith and afterwards with a Golden Boul full of Gold rendring it as a Tribute to him to whom Tribute was due From Canterbury where he rested all Sunday and gave thanks to God his Father and mighty Deliverer On Munday he came to Cobham-Hall in Kent a House belonging to the Duke of Richmond but without any stay there passed on the same night to Rochester from whence on Tuesday May the 29. the day of the week which was fatal for the murther of his Royal Father but happy to himself not onely for his Birth but also for giving the first hopes of his long wished and prayed for return by the Vote of the Parliament on Tuesday the 1. of May and his being proclaimed nemine contradicente on Tuesday the 8. of May. I say on that day attended by the Duke of Buckingham the Earle of North-hampton the Earle of Cleaveland the Earle of Norwich the Earle of Shrewesbury and many others with their several respective Troops of the choyce Nobles and Gentry of the Land and his Excellency with many Regiments of his best Horse the Lord Gerard with the choyce Life-guard and the whole Countrey flocking in cutting down Palmes and strowing the wayes with all sorts of Fragrant Flowers and decking the Lanes and Passage with the greatest variety of Country Pomps Garlands beset with Rings Ribands and the like the Air ecchoing all along and redoubling the perpetually iterated Hosanna's He came to London The Metropolis of his Kingdome whose preparations were no lesse sumptuous then joyful making a short stay onely at Black-heath a place many yeares since and more then once noted and remembred for the tumultuous assemblies of several Rebels but now much more famous for the united Congregation of the whole Kingdomes Loyalty from hence about n on order was given for a speedy march to London in which Major General Broun did lead the Van with a compleat Troop of Gentlemen all in cloth of Silver Doublets Alderman Robinson followed him with an other select company the severall Lords came after with their respective Troops then came the Life-Guard After the Marshals and Heralds with some antient Lords