Changes are Slow and Dangerous God and Truth are Invariable We were Well till We shifted and never since having tried all other Postures in vain were it not better to attempt That once again than thus expose our selves to be Restlesse for ever My Lord the Author of this is very much Your EXCELLENCIE'S Servant Feb. 4. 1659. THe City of London having of late behav'd themselves a little Crosse disturb'd the self-created Representative exceedingly The Common-Counsel was too Stout and Honest for their purpose The Aldermen but an Unâ—oward Mixture yet those among them that were Right were Eminently so and there were not a few that were so A very Worthy and Particular Instrument in the Frank carriage of the Businesse was the Recorder But Equall to them All was the brave General The Rump was now come to a Forc'd Put. Monies must be Rays'd and the City Subdu'd or the Good Old Cause is Lost. In Order to Both Out comes the Long look'd for 100000. Tax upon Tuesday Feb. 7. which was Follow'd with a Negative Resolve of Common Counsel upon Wednesday but Thursday was the Bloody Day Design'd both to his Excellence and to the Town witnesse the Resolves it pâ—oduced as to the City and the Orders Imposed upon the General His Excellence having drawn his Forces into the City so far Comply'd with his respects even to the least Image of Authority as to Secure diverse Persons by virtue of an Order to that express purpose But to Destroy Their Gates and Portcullices he was very Loth and signifi'd as much to the Members in a Letter from Guild-Hall to which he received in Answer only a more peremptory Command to Proceed which accordingly he Executed the day following and so returned to his Quarters The Resolves of Feb. 9. I must not Omit for they deserve to be Transmitted to Posterity Thursday 9 Feb. THe House received a Report from the Council of State of some Resolutions taken by the Council in relation to the City of London Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State hath done in ordering That the Commissioners for Government of the Army do appoint Forces to be and continue in the City of London for preserving the Peace thereof and of the Commonwealth and for Reducing of the City to the obedience of the Parliament Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State have done in ordering that the Commissioners for the Army do take order that the Posts and Chains in the City of London be taken away Resolved That the Gates of the City of London and the Portcullices there be forth with destroyed Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State and Commissioners of the Army have done in Seizing and Apprehending of Mr. Vincent Merchant in Bishopsgate-Street And Thomas Brown Grocer in Wood-Street Daniel Spencer in Friday Street Laurence Brompfield in Tower-Street Major Chamberlain Mr. Bludworth and Richard Ford in Seething-Lane Major Cox at the Swan in Dowgate Mr. Penning in Faâ—church Street and Lieutenant Colonel Iackson Resolved That the present Common-Council of the City of London Elected for this Year be discontinued and be and are hereby declared to be Null and Void and that the Lord Mayor of London have notice hereof Ordered That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Bill for the Choice of another Common-Counsel with such Qualifications as the Parliament shall think fit with ordet to meet at 8. of the Clock in the Speakers Chamber to morrow morning The House likewise read the Bill for setling the Militia of the City of London and the Liberties thereof the first time and referred it to the Council of State to present names of Commissioners for the Militia of the City of London to the House to moâ—row morning The Parliament taking Notice of the discreet carriage of the Lord Mayor of the City of Londoâ— in the Late transactions of the Common Council Ordâ—red That the Lord Mayor have the thanks of this House and that Alderman Atkins do give him the thanks of the Parliament accordingly THis day produced likewise a remarkable Petition Presented by Praise-God Barebones Pressing that no man might be Admitted into any plâ—ce of Trust except such as should ABjURE A SINGLE PERSON and further Praying that it might be Enacted HIGH TREASON for any man to MOVE OFFER or PROPOUND in PARLIAMENT COUNSEL COURT or PUBLIQUE MEETING any thing in order to CHARLES STEVVART c. and that afâ—er such a LAVV ENACTED it might be deemed HIGH TREASON for any man to move or Propose the REVOCATION of it A man would have thought these people should have had enough already of the Oath of ABjURATION for nothing did more expose them than the eagernesse they had formerly used in the promoting of it which served only to Eurage the Opposâ—rs and to set up for a Marque the Infamous Abetters of it But all this was not sâ—fficient to divert the Gratious Members from a most Particular Order of Thanks to the Petitioners Upon Sâ—turdâ—y â—hâ— memorable 11th of Fâ—b the G neral â—inding himself a little more at Liberty Removed his Quarters inâ—o the Ciâ—y and there Declared himselâ— to the Universal Satisfaction of the Nation Desiring Particularly by Letter the men â—f Westminster to bethink themselves of their Dissolution In the transaction of this Affair there were â—o many untoward Circumstances that to Prevent Mistakes I dispersed Sâ—veral Copies of this ensuing Narrative IN Octob. last when Lambert scattered the Committee of Westminster his Unluckie Excellency thought it then a fit time to set up for himself and in the Head of a Phanatique Party to bid Defiance to all the Sober Interests and Iudgements of the Nation His Principal assistant in the work was Sir Henry Vane the Prophet of that Inspired Rabble The Faction was grown Bold and Formidable when to divert the Course or meet the Fury of it the General was Invited to draw a Force from Scotland into the North and In he came but to a Nobler purpose than ever they Intended They Called him in to save Themselves he Came to save the Nation Upon the first notice of his Advance Lambert was sent with a considerable Army to meet him and London left almost without a Publique Guard such was the Confidence they had in the Anabaptistique Party which was privately Armed and Listed in and about the town In fine after diverse Affronts upon and Tumults in the City the Souldiery Revolted the Fugitive Members Returned Lambert's Army Mouldered away and his Excellency vanished Thus far without a Blow but the more difficult part was still behind for Treacherous friends are much more dangerous than professed Enemies The General resolves next for London and makes it his design both in his Passage and after his Arrive by all means possible to avoid blood-shed His March speaks him a Souldier and a Gentleman for it was Regular and Inoffensâ—ve The Country courted him upon the way
Proposition FREEDOME there can be none to the People where a Particular and Little party pretends to impose upon a number forty times greater and enslave them Nor SAFETY where in that Dispropoâ—tion the Nation is engaged against a Faction and every Sword that 's rais'd against it carries damnation upon the point on 't Neither do they act as Men. Man is a Reasonable and Sociable Creature Here 's a Design that breaks the Bond of Order and betrayes a manifest Folly by a contrivance so impracticable and mischievous at once Idly to labour the saving of a few guilty persons at the price of an universal Desolation For Christianity either my Bible's false or their Opinion that shall pretend to raise a Christian Government upon a Basis of Rebellion and Bloudshed From hence the terible Trifle proceeds to the distribution of his Design into three Heads First what the CAVALIER saies Secondly what the PRESBYTERIAN thinkes Thirdly what the Armies best Friends scornfully called COMMON-WEALTH-MEN and PHANATICKS do foresee concerning the present transactions in the three Nations And lastly his own Observations and seasonable Advice He tels us The CAVALIER's OPINION that the Generals intention is to bring in the King and grounded upon tâ—eâ—e â—easons Fiâ—st â—haâ— upon the 11 th of February last he sent an imposing Leâ—ter to the Parliament in scorn called the Râ—Mâ— and thereupon without any Order from them marched with their Army into LONDON then esteemed and made by Him in destroying their Gates c. their implacable enemies and at night suffered so many Bonfires and â—inging of Bels and publickly drinking healths to the KING and a FREE-PARLIAMENT Roasting and burning of Rumps hearing and seeing his MASTERS in open Street declared MURTHERERS and TRAYTORS c. Feasted and associated with the Kings Friends c. This is a grievous charge assuredly and by the license of our Observator This I Reply The General 's Commission expired upon the Tenth of February so he was free the Eleventh Again it was the design of the Rump to make the General odious and therefore they imposed on him such barbarous Orders as probably might leave him to retreat While he professed to Act by any Derivation from Them malice it self cannot but say His Excellency stood firm to every point of Military obedience at last when they proceeded so severely against the City he interposed but his Mediation was rejected and more imperious commands sent to him this is enough to prove 't was not the General that made London the Rumps implacable Enemies but 't was the sordid Insolences of the Members that made the Conventicle hateful to the whole Kingdome and this appeared by the Universal Joy that followed upon their disappointment If the Rump at Westminster did by a Sympathy fellow-feel the suffering Rumps in the City the Case indeed was hard but for the rest thâ— Murtherers and Rebels they were call'd methinks it should not trouble folks to be call'd by their Names that 's only Liberty of Conscience and I dare say the people spake as they thought Are these Gentlemens Ears so tender and their Hearts so hard Is the Sound of Treason and Murther so dreadful and the Exercise of it so Trivial I must confesse to stay away Ten dayes together from the 11th of Feb. til the 21th as that his Masters charge him with was something a long Errand But seriously Gentlemen considering 't was his first fault forgive him The second motive to the Cavaliers Discourse that his Excellency will restore the King is that notwithstanding his engagement by Letter and Verbal promise to His MASTERS that had ventured their All to secure him from being ruin'd by Lamberts Army he yet admiâ—s the Secluded Members to sit most of whom he absolutely knew to be for the Restauration of CHARLES STUART c. To this it is notorious that Designes were laid to murther the General That the Rump Received and Kept in Members impeached That they promoted and gave Thanks for BAREBONES Petition containing matters of direct contradiction to their Professions In the next place instead of the Rumpers saving the General from being ruin'd by Lambert the General saved them and touching their Opinions concerning CHARLES STVART as this Villain prates the King The Noble General regarded their Trust not their Opinions nor did he enquire what they were Thirdly say they â—he General will bring the King in for he hath suffered â—he secluded Members to release Sir GEORGE BOOTH and his Party c. Again they have de novo voted the COVENANT to be Printed Read and set up c. acknowledging the late King's Posterity as likewise suffering to be maintained in the House that none but Iesuites and Priests are for Free-Sate Government Observe yet further sayes the CAVALIER that he imprisons Common-wealth-men and releases Royalists c. These Rumpers have gotten such a trick of breaking Parliaments that 't is their publick Profession now become to enforce them to the bent of the ARMY SUFFER still is the word The General SUFFERED the secluded Members to Release Sir GEORGE BOOTH The next point is yet more remarkable These very COVENANTERS ABJURE the COVENANT As for the SUFFERING there 't is again to be maintained that only Iesuites c. the General is not properly to take cognisance of what passes in the House the King was chidden for 't see Exact Collections the Petition of both Houses Decemb. 14. 1641. now for imprisoning and releasing If it so happen that some Commonwealth-men deserve to be laid up and some Royalists to be enlarged not as such it is but â—uâ—tice to do the one and the other for at the rate of this subtile Argument Free-state-men shall be Protected against the Lâ—w and Royalists so Persecuted likewise Lastly the Cavaliers conclude as much from the Generals countenancing the Militia being raised and formed to murther and destroy the Army and that the same thing was done long since in Scotland besides the Irish Army have proceeded answerable to himself And divers Officers that served the late King have had fair promises from him and several of the Kings sriends are peaceably returned from exile c. and again there 's a Proviso in the ACT of DISSOLUTION concerning the LORDS being a part of the PARLIAMENT c. To be short the General encourages the Militia to Save the Countreys not to Ruine the Army next if long since done in Scotland the better done the sooner for England hath been only Rump-ridden for want of it To this the conform motion of Ireland proceeds from their Commune Concerne with England in delivering themselves from the Tyranny of the Rump for the Generals promises I am glad to hear it but truly I know nothing of it In truth 't is a sad business Alderman Bunce his return and the Proviso in the Act of dissolution for certainly by the known Law the Lords are no part of the Parliament To speak my thoughts freely I am very glad to hear that
almost 4. years a Prisoner and only an Order betwixt me and the Gallows I am the more Particular in This because I have so many Honorable Witnesses to prove the Truth of every Syllable I say and yet in this Extremity I had as much to do to Preserve my Credit among my Pretending Friends as to Defend my Life against the Mâ—lice of my Professed Enemies MY first Step out of Prison was into Kent and There God knows it had my Soul depended upon a strict Account for every Thought and Moment I could not have employ'd more Care and Zeal in the Performance of my Duty than I did Yet in the very height of our Successe being grown to a Considerable Body even out of Nothing It was Suggested that L'estrange was False But That Opinion was soon Quieted by a Discriminating Oath to the Commissioners at Rochester which made those very Persons that had privately aspers'd Me to withdraw and diverse of them afterward appear'd openly against us Upon the Dissolution of the Party I Cross'd the Sea and There I found the main Miscariage of the Businesse Cast upon Me but still by Those that Ruin'd it Themselves After a Six Month's tryal by Word of mouth and Letter to Rectifie Mistakes I found my self at length obliged to a more â—ublique way of doing it and then I Printed a Formal Series and Relation of the Story under the Title of my Vindication Thiâ— Discourse prov'd as Effectuâ—l as I wish'd it For insisting only upon matter of Fact with every Circumstance of Peâ—sons Time and Place Material to my Purpose there remain'd no Pretense for Contradiction and yet I made it my great Care as well to Disperse Copies as to provoke a Reply if any Syllable of what I said would beaâ— it The Sum of all amounts to This. I gave a due Accompt of all Employments which the Country put upon me nor coâ—ld I reasonably be charged as Causal to any Miscaâ—iages when there hapened none while I had any Inteâ—est in the Businâ—sse At last upon the Conjunction of the County-Forces finding some Dangerous and Unseasonable disagreements even among themselves besides some Scruples started against Strangers I thought it the best Service I could do them to render that Command I had to the Commissioners and leave Them to Respond both for the Conduct and the Issue of the Rest. Nor having done This did I quitt my Duty but after the losse of Maidstone I mov'd the Committee at Canterbury although in vain to give another Pâ—sh for 't From Thence I went to Sandwich where finding the Town in a Tumult and Abandon'd The Sea Beâ—ore me and the Enemy Behind me I took a Bote and with much Difficulty Escaped So much for KENT I Continu'd beyond Sea from 1648. till the Army dissolv'd the Râ—mp in 1653. and then Returning after 2 or 3. Months daily Attendance I was Examin'd by a Committee of the Counsel and in the End discharg'd from that Attendance upon 2000l Bayl to Appear at any time within 12. Months upon Summons After that Bond given I challenge the World to say where ever I exchang'd Syllable either with the Protector or his Secretary or that ever I Communicated Directly or Indirectly with any man of the Party upon Publique Business Nay more Let any man prove that I did ever disown my First Judgement That ever I took any Engagement That I ever held any Particular Converse with any person of Differing Principles or in Fine Let it appear that ever I either declined any Rationall means of serving my Prince my self or Diverted others from it Nay if I am not able to Evidence the contrary and that I have steadily and Positively employed all the Faculties and Interests I had in the World in his behalf I am content to suffer as if I had been the Murtherer of his Father During the Rule of Cromwell there was small Encouragement to Form any Design unlesse upon his Person For Betwixt diverse Renegado Royallists and Mercenary Male-contents of his own Party it was scarce possible to Act without Discovery beside that he was Quick and Cruell Two great Advantages over a slavish People His Death in 1658. opened the way most certainly to a Change but That which entred upon it in 1659. was of all others I think the Least expected Severall of the Old Members finding the Councell of Officers at a Stand having Cast off their new Protector Sollicited the Army to Invite their Return to a Discharge of their Trust as before Apr. 20. 1653. This was done May 6 1659. and the next Day as if these Worthies had but held their Breath from 53 to 59 they Blurted out a Declaration against Kingship House of Peers This Insolence gave a fair Plea and Opportunity to the People and they disposed themselves to a generall Rising in August following but the Issue of all depending upon the City of London where the Militia was placed in Ill Hands much good was not to be expected Sir Henry Vane had Listed privately as many Separatists as he Pleased and the City stood in more danger of that â—ecret Faction than of any visible Power that appeared to over-awe it The Citizens were generally Hearty in the Businesse and with the Allowance of severall of them Lambert being upon his March toward Sir George Booth I caused to be â—rinted this ensuing Declaration under the Title of The DECLARATION of the CITY to the Men at Westminster GENTLEMEN WE have waited for the good you have promised us with a ridiculous Patience but we finde you Men of the Originall and to be read backward We are for the Religion of the Heart not That of the Nose and for the Law of the Land not that of the Sword we are likewise for the Charter of the City and for the Liberties of Free-born Englishmen with which we are resolved to Stand and Fall It is high time for us to look to our selves when we are comming under a Guard of your Chusing and when we have onely this Choice left us whether we will Adventure to destroy You to Day or be sure to be destroyed our Selves to Morrow That 's the short of the Case for a Massacre is not onely the Design but the Profession of the Party you have Armed against us 't is their very Exchange-talk at noon day But the work will be either too hot or too heavy for my Masters we are determined to suffer these affronts no longer we are now come to understand one another The Ruine of the Nation is Your Interest the Peace and Preservation of it Ours and the mischief of it is your destruction is as Easie as 't is Necessary for every Creature which either Loves God or his Countrey Hates You. You have not so few as 200000 Enemies in This Town to dispute the Quarrell with some halfe a dozen of you not to multiply words your Practices are such as a Generous Nature cannot Brook and your Power so despicable that a
Coward needs not Fear it You have made the City but a Cage of Broken Merchants Tradesmen are ready to Perish for want of Businesse and their Families for want of Bread nor have the Poor any other Employment than to Curse you Those few amongst you that have any thing are but Covered with the Spoiles of the Nation and out of the Scum of the People you have composed your inconsiderable Rest. Well Gentlemen play your own Cards your selves Wee 'll play Ours you 'll have no Singlâ— Person in the State wee 'll have none neither in the City at least we 'll have no White-Hall-Major we will neither extend our Priviledges an Inch nor abate an Hair of them And in the matter of Blood-shed so let Heaven prosper Us as we shall proceed tenderly But if there be no other way left us than violence whereby to preserve our selves in our Just Rights what Power soever shall presume to Invade the Priviledge of a Citizen shall finde 20000 Brave Fellows in the Head on 't This we doe Unanimously Remonstrate to You and to the World to be our Firm and Finall Resolution THis Dispute Lasted not Long and Lambert's return put an End to any further thoughts of stirring in the City for that Bouâ— The next Opportunity of Moving was upon the Dispatch of the Army into the North to oppose General Monck The Government being then Lodg'd in a Committee of 23 Officers of the Army which gross Usurpation together with the New Militia which they had Imposed upon the City Nov. 11. put the Citizens upon an Absolute Necessity of Endeavour to Free themselves To which end they resolv'd to Petition the Common Counsell for their Assistance towards the obteining of a Free-Parliament according to the Antient Constitution of the Nâ—tion A Petition was accordingly Drawn Subscribed and Presented but by reason of some pretended Informality in the Address it was laid aside This Repulse made the Petitioners more Eagâ—r than they would have been especially finding themselves Betray'd by diverse of those Persons to whom they had committed the Care of their Protection Upon Monday Dec. 5. Horse and Foot were dispatch'd into the â—ity by Violence to hinder the Re-enforcement of the Petition where they behaved themselves with an Insolence and Barbarism not to be express'd In thiâ— Action had the Magistracy been but half so carefull to Vindicate the Honour of the City as they were to save the Enemies of it not a soul of them had scaped After some 5 or 6 Dayes expectation what this Affront would produce I thought it not amisse if I could use some meanes to Qâ—icken them and thereupon I Printed a Paper Entitled The Engagement and Remonstrance of the City of London DECEMBER 12. 1659. ALâ—hough as Citizens wee are reduced to a Necessity of Violence and as Christians obliged to the Exercise of it Unless we will rather prostitute our Lives and Liberties Fortunes and Reputations Nay our very Souls and Altars to the Lusts of a Barbarous and sacrilegious Enemy We have yet so great a tenderness for Christian bloud as to leave unattempted no means of probability to save it This is it which hath prevayl'd with us to Declare First to the World what we Propose and Resolve â—re wee proceed to further Extremities and to satisfie the Publique as well in the Reasons of our Undertakings as to Iustâ—fie our selves in the Menage and Event of them We find in the Midst of us the House of Prayer converted into a Den of Theeves Our Counsels Affronted by Armed Troups our Fellow-Citâ—zens knock'd on the head lâ—ke Doggs at their own doors for not so much as Barking Nay 't is become Death now to desire to Live and Adjudg'd Treason but to Claim the benefit of the Law against it Witnesse those Infamous Murders committed but Monday last upon our unarmed friends and the glorious Iâ—solenâ—ies of that Rabble towards such of the rest as they seized and carried away But this is nothing to make us a Compleat Sacrifice we are to bee Burnt too a thing not only threatned in the Passion of the Tumult but Soberly intended for they have layd in their Materials for the work already a prodigious Quantity of Fire-Balls in Pauls and Gresham College Briefly We are design'd for Fire and Sword and Pillage and it concerns us now to look a little better to our gratious Guards Not to insist upon the losse of Trade how many thousand Families have nothing now to do but Begg and Curse these wretches The Honour and Safety of the City lies at stake and God so blesse us as wee 'll fall together Wee will not live to see our Wives and Daughters ravish'd our Houses Rifled and our Children Beggars that shall only live to Reproach their cowardly Fathers and all this done too by a People which we can as easily destroy as mention by a Party so barbarous and so Inconsiderable together that certainly no creature can be mean enough either to suffer the one or fear the other In this Exigency of Affairs we have found it both our Duty and our Interests to Associate and wee desire a Blessing from Heaven up on us no otherwise than as we do vigorously and faithfully persue what we here Remonstrate First We do engage our selves in the presence of Almighty God with our lives and fortunes to defend the Rights and Liberties of the City of LONDON and if any person that subscribes to this Engagement shall be molested for so doing We will unanimously and without delay appear as one Man to his Rescue Next we demand that all such Troups and Companies as doe not properly belong to the Guard of the City nor receive Orders from the lawfull Magistrates thereof thaâ— such Forces withdraw themselves from the Liberties within 12. hours after the Publication of This upon pain of being deemed Conspiratours and of being Proceeded against accordingly for to this extent both of Judgement and Execution is every Individual qualified in his own defence We are next to demand the Enlargement of our Fellow-Citizens which were taken away by Force and in a tumultuous manner contrary to the known Laws of the Place and Nation This being performed we shall acquiesce in the Enjoyment of those Liberties which we will not lose but with our Lives In Fine to remove all Impediments of the peace we desire Wee do undertake both as Men of Credit and Justice that such of the Souldiers as will betake themselves to honester Employments shall receive their Arrieres from the City and such a further care of their future well-being as is suitable to the Necessities of the One part and the Charity of the Other THis Paper was so well received that it encouraged me to follow it with Another Entitled The Final Protest and Sense of the City HAving diligentâ—y perused two Printed Papers bearing date â—he 14th of this insâ—ant December The One in form of a Proclamation concerning the summoning of a Parliament The Other as an
Order of the Common Counsell commanding the City to acquiesce in expectation of â—hat Parlâ—ament We finde therein contained matters so contrary to the Honour of the Nation and to the Freedom of the City that we stand obliged both as Englishmen and as Citizens to Protest against the Impositions of the former as Illegal and the Concessions of the Latter as a direct Combination against us These Two Papers are Seconded by a Third for the Two are One both in effect and design and That is a Proclamation of Banishment directing to the late Kings party under the notion of the Common Enemy so that there 's no love lost betwixt the Committee of Safety and the Common Counsel when the General provides for the Peace of the City and the Mayor for the Safety of the Army not to argue Acts of Oblivion and the violâ—tion of Publique faith in the case that they Conditioned for their Lives and Liberties and Compounded for their Fortunes This is not our Concern what they do suffer but what wee may if we trust those that Keep no Faith with them And that wee 'll take a care of When They are Gone then Wee are the Common Enemy So are the Laws of God and of the Nation and such is every Man that loves them What this Malignant party is these People talk of we neither Know nor Meddle the Gentry 't is we Live by and by the Lawes of Gratitude and Hospitality we are bound to Protect them and resolved to doe it within our Walls against any other Power than that of the Known Law The short of the Designe is This a Danger is pretended to the City from the late Kings party and to prevent the mischief the Kind Committee Banishes the Gentlemen with Order to the Mayor to make strict searches for Delinquents Now in persuance of this pretâ—ous Order our Houses must be forced and we Disarmed and then our throats cut to preserve the City Let those that would be Chronicled for Slaves and Fools submit to suffer this and after that Infamous Hour may a Yellow Coat and a Wooden Dagger be the Badge and Distinction of a Citizen To conclude We our selves are That City so much the Care and Cry of the Proclamation and This is our Unanimous sense and Resolve The Army proposes to Pillage and Murther us the Mayor and his worthy Advisers Ireton c. are to hold our Hands while They give the Blow So that we are now to provide both against Force and Treason having One Enemy within our Walls and Another in our Counsels But withall we have our Swords in our Hands and our Brains in our Heads and only to Strike the One and to Disbelieve the Other is to Subdue and Disappoint them Both. We do therefore declare to the World that we will by Violence oppose all Violence whatsoever which is not warranted by the Letter of the Established Law that in persuance of this Duty both toward the Nation and City an Insolent Souldier and 〈◊〉 Apostate Magistrate shall be to us as the same thing Not to word it much further as we will not be Bafftâ—d by Affronts so neither will we be Fooled by Flatteries After the Loss of Trade and Liberty a vast expence of Blood and Treasure After many Injuries received more threatned and none returned We made a sober and Regular Application to the Authority of the City for Redress This they Promised and wee Expected till at last instead of a Reparation for past Wrongs or a Security against worse to come VVe are paid with an Expectation of a Parliament in Ianuary This is a Logique we understand not It is in English Lye still till we cut your throats It would be well to commit the disposition of our Fortunes to those people that are at this Instant designing an Execution upon our Persons and to requite those Worthies that have already Robb'd us of all we have Lost with the Offer of that little Rest they have Left But this will not doe our Businesse we will not have our Murtherers for our Iudges nor will we wait That â—â—â—liament they babble of so much will scarce Vote up the City again out of Ashes nor all the Saints in that holy Assembly bring the poor Cobler into the woâ—ld again that was Kill'd by order of his Brother Hewson No the Cheat is too stale and wee are Determined to Redeem our selves but with this Caution VVe do solemnly professe that we will exercise all the Tenderness which possibly the Case will bear The Common Sâ—uldier is engaged rather out of a Heedless than Malicious Interest VVe do therefore Protest that such of those as shall not evidence their Malice by their Obstinacy shall receive a Fair Consideration But for such as Lead them we do Resolve not to allow Quarter to any one of them that draws â—is Sword in the Quarrel And in Order to the Qâ—icker and Gentler Dispatch of the Business Wee conclude with a Tâ—xâ— Fâ—ght neiâ—herâ—with Small nor Great but with the King of Israel And so Goâ—d give a Blâ—ssing to the Endeavours of all Honest Men. THis Sheet gave great offence to the Saints and particularly to Titchborn who examined the Matter himself and ordered the punishment of the Women that sold it after many Personal Abuses beside the Loss of th eiâ— Copies Dec. 18 Divers persons of Quality wâ—re seised in the City by the Soldiers and in a Bâ—rbarous Uâ—seemly manner Stript and Driven Naked to the Mewes Soon after comes Intelligence that the Forces employ'd to Reduce Portsmouth were joyn'd with the Fugitive Members and upon their March for London whereupon I caused to be Printed as followes The Resolve of the City Decemb. 23. 1659. OUr Respects to Peace and Order are too notorious to be questioned since by the meer Impressions of Charity and Obedience wee have thus long suspended the Iustice wee owe to our Selves together with that Vengeance which the Bloud of our Murthered Companions requires at our hands Nor have these Principles of Publique tenderness been lesse Eminent upon our Iudgements than upon our Passions For we have as well Believ d in Contradiction to Evidence of Experiment as wee have Suffered in Opposition to the very Elements and Dictates of Humanity Witness that Execrable Monday sacred to the Eternal Infamy of this City even Then when we had that Enemy at our Mercy toward whom by the Rights of Nature and of Generosity wee were not bound to exercise any even Then I say in the very Heat and Course of an Honest and Powerfull Indignation we returned Quietly to our Houses upon the first Notice that the Authority of the City would have it so But it is likewise true that this Assurâ—nce was added to the Message viz. That the Common counsel was sensible of our Griâ—vances and would duly consider them Since this we find nothing done in persuance of that Promise but on the Contrary Injuries are Multiplyed upon us and those of thaâ—
Dâ—y serve but as Arguments of Eâ—couragement to Gâ—eater Some of us Killed Others Wounded and lead in Triumph Naked through the Streets Two or three Hundred Thousand Perâ—ons Looking on to celebrate the Conquest and the Shame A Citizens Skuâ—l is but a thing to try the Temper of a Souldiers Sword upon Give us â—very Mâ—n a Red-coat for a Cash-Keeper and the work 's done They 're come within a Trifle on 't already and all this while an Order to be Quiet is all our Patient Masters will afford us Give us an Order that may make us Safe although we need not Ask what we can Give our selves Perswade these pâ—ople to be Gone or Bid us Drive them out What Law made Pauls and Gresham Colledge Garrisons If nothing else will do we 'll do 't our selves We have Engaged and sworn the Vindication of the City and nothing can Absolve us from the Oath we have taken This must be done betimes too 't will come too late else to prevent either the Necessity of a Tumult or the greater Mischief of a Supine and Credulous Security A Parliament in Ianuary will do us no more good than a Cordial will do him that was Hanged last Sessions Our Sense at Large we delivered to the world in a Paper Entituled The Final Protest and Sense of the CITY VVhich is Publique enough notwithstanding the great Design used to suppress it and the Insolâ—nces of divers persons disaffected to the good of the Ciâ—y toward those that sold them To That we adhere That Protâ—st of Ours pâ—oduced Another from the Common counsel of the aoth Current to which something ought to bee said The sum of that Order is but in effect the Justification of the Lord Mayor in the matter of Prudence and Inâ—egrity we do not Deny but finding our selves abandoned to all sorts of Outrages by the Cold Proceeding of the Court in our behalf we were transported to some bitter Reflections Involving the present Mayor with his more Criminal Predecessor Ireton in the Imputation We shall not more Gladly find it a Mistake than Readily Confess it one when we reap the Effects of that Care for the Good of the City but so long as Wee are tyed up from all Lawfull Dâ—fence and the Publique Enemy at liberty to practise all Unlawfull Violences upon us we desire to be Pardoned if we suspend in the Case The Cloze indeed is very Noble and worthy of the Court where they Declare For the Fundamental Lawes and the Protestant Religion c. and in fine to endeavour the convening of a Free Parliament in order thereunto But in Contradiction to this Resolve the Committee of Officers have yesterday published a Paper Entituled The Agreement c. fairly telling us That we are to be Governed by People of their Chusing and by a Model of their framing without any regard had to the Practice and Reason of the Antient Laws or to the Interest and Liberty of every Freeborn English-man This Usurpation is to bee considered in its due place at present it concerns us to hinder them from making the Slavery of the City their first Step towards the Subjection of the Nation The seasonable Care of This we do Humbly and Earnestly recommend to the Court of Câ—mmon-counsel Our Hopes are that we are now fallen into Better hands and if our Magistrates will but Command us they have an Hundred Thousand Lives in readiness to Engage for them If we should be so unhappy as to be still delayed wee do however wash our hands of the Consequences And so God Direct and Deliver Us. OBserving how much more Unanimous the Army was to Destroy Us than We to Save our Selves and Finding nothing extant of Direction to the Necessary purpose of an Universal Union I presumed to Publish a Paper containing what I judg'd might Rationally Promote such an Agreement under the Notion of a thing already done It runs Thus. A FREE PARLIAMENT Proposed by the CITY to the NATION GENTLEMEN HAving certain Intelligence of great Preparations against us from Abroad together with the daily and wofull experience of a more Barbarous and Ignoble Enemy at Home we have bethought our selves of an Expedient which may at once both Secure and Deliver the Nation from the Danger of the One and from the Tyranny of the Other In order to this effect The City of London hath constituted 4 Commissioners to Treat Respectively with the rest of the People of England in the behalf of their invaded Rights and in such manner to Proceed as to the said Commissioners shall appear most convenient In persuance of this Appointment We Four whose Names and Authority you shall find in a Schedule to this annexed do in the Name and by the Commission of the City of London earnestly and unanimously desire a General Assistance toward a work of a Publique and Universal Benefit The transaction of this Affair we have committed to Persons eminent both for Honesty and Fortune and to gain Dâ—spatch as well as Privâ—cy wee have at the same Instant and by safe hands dispersed True and Exact Copies of These to you throughout England and Wales Our Application should have been more Regular but for three or four false Brethren in our Counsels whom wee dare not confide in We find few the Honesteâ— for the Quarrel thaâ— are the Richer for it and no other Enemies to the Peace of the Nation but the Gainers by the Ruine of it Uâ—oÌ„ a due scanning of the whole mâ—tter we hâ—ve concluded that nothing can restore us but a Free Parliament Nor can any thing compose that but a Frâ—e Voâ—e without either Force or Faction The most l kely means to procure this will be a general Engagement to endeavour it We ask no more than that you will follow our Example That Paper which we commend to you is already subscribed by many Thousands of this City If you Appâ—ove it doe as much and if you think Fit chuse out of every County Two Persons of a Known Integrity that may be still Among us and at hand to preserve a fair Intelligence betwixt us No longer since thaâ— Yesterday the Conseâ—vators of our â—iberties Hewâ—on and his Mirmidons put an affront upon us and with some mischief too upon this very Point The very mention of a Free-Parliament enrages them and there is Reason for it Their Heads are forfeited and if the Law Lives They must Perish But all this while we 're in a good condition when the Trangreâ—â—ors of the Laws must be the Iudges of it The very Boyes and Women had destroyed the Party to a man but that with much adoe we hindred them The Tâ—uth is in such a Confusion more honest blood might have been spilt than that Rabble was worth Upon this the City is grown so impatient of the Souldiers that 't is to be feared they will sodainly break out into an open violence upon them Thâ—y have already entred into a solemn Engagement to that purpose But we shall doe
as their Deliverer and he deserved it For he hath proved himself no lesse The strict reserve he used was but what best became his Dignity and Prudence he was too Generous to betray Another and too Wise to be betrayed Himself Under this Guard of Honour and of Caution he past his Journey not to trouble you with long stories how the waies were thronged with Cries and Addresses of the Nation for a Free-Parliament what Conference he had with the good Aldermen what Complements were made him by the Other men of Westminster c. To come to the Point upon Friday afternoon the third of this Instant February General Monck took up his Lodgings in Whitehall On the Monday following his Excellency was conducted by Scot and Robinson with the formality of a Mace carried before them in o a place commonly called the Parliament-House where he deliver'd himself according to good Discretion and soon after return'd to his Lodgings Laden with the Thanks of the House Tuesday and Wednesday were the General 's daies of rest but not so to the City for upon Tuesday the 10â—â—00 l. Tax came out which Netled the Citizens shrewdly and the day following they met in Common-Counsell to advise upon it Where they resolved to adhere to a former Vote of the Court in the Negative At the same sitting was communicated a Declaration from Warwiâ—k shire for a Free-Parliament it was of a fair signification and Authority the Gentlemen that brought it received the Thanks of the Court not to mention the peevishnesse of 2 or 3 Dissenters 't is hoped they may be wiser and honester hereafter This was a Day of Businesse in London and produced a Busier Night at Westminster for the Counsell of State after a tedious Puzzle and Debate Issued out Orders to Gâ—nerall Monck for the Reducing of the City directing him to proceed in such a Method as they had prescribâ—d him In persuance thereof his Excellency marched early upon Thursday the Ninth current Horse and Fâ—â—t into the City by thâ—â— means frustrating a Respect which the Court had designed him the Day before Having appointed four Aldermen and eight Commoners to attend him the next Morning His entrance into the Town brought all the Horror and Satisfaction with it Imaginable nor did the People understand for a long while wâ—ether they should Curse or Adore him at last in compliance with his Orders he seized divers eminent Citizens and sent them to the Tower and took up his Quarters that Night in the City By this time the People beyond all doubt pronounced him the most execrable Creature that ever came within their Walls not understanding that the Mischief he did them was but Iest and the Good he Intended them was Earnest That in consideration of a weeks Imprisonment he would reward them and their Posterity wâ—th Perpetuall Liberty This however carried an appearance of severity which was in effect but a point of Military Honor For his Inclination and Duty in this Action Led him several waies as a Souldier he obeyed a Barbarous Order as an Englishman he made it his care to take off the edge on 't and he was bound to doe That this day by Commission Which he resolved to undoe two dayes after upon a Nobler Principle upon Friday the 10th of the Moneth and the laâ—t of his Commission the General demanded the Cities last Resolve from thâ— Aldermen who sâ—ill adhered to their former Judgement His Excellency hereupon gave command to demolish the City Gates and so Returned to Whitehall Observe that his Displeasure and Commission died together For the next Morning Saturday he made the Town a large Amends Declaring Solemnly to joyn with them and their Associates for a Free Parliament but having fairly first discharged himself to those at Westminster by a Letter in commune with his Officers who have behaved themselves as men of Honor in the Businesse The Truth is had not the Generall been nimble with them they had undermined him for contrary to Faith and Honesty to their expresse Agreement they had not onely entred into a secret combination with the Sectaries but publickly encouraged their Assemblings and Petitions and more particularly contrived the direct Ruine of that Person who had so lately preserved them This is a Theame transports me The Bloody Votes were passed that Dismall Night Let Nedham tell you but never was a Joy so Universall wise men grew mad upon 't and mad men sober The Cryes the Bonfires and the fume of Rosted Rumps did quite take down the Legislative Stomack 'T is thought the Thing at Westminster is vanished In fine the Hand of God is in 't his Name be praysed Feb. 12. 1659. THis was not yet enough to put the Rump out of Countenance The blessed Members met again as Formally as ever Acted with a Confidence tha t might exuse the Common peoples Iealousie over the General He was too Wise to walk too Open and They not Wise enough to comprehend the Policie of his Reserve And yet they wanted not a Will to Understand him They study'd nothing else but his Intentions That which most puzzled them was a Confeâ—ence at Alderman Wale's betwixt Sâ—veral of the Sâ—cluded Mâ—mbers and of the Rump Joyning to That His Excellencies Answer to a Proposal of Raysing Forces to secure themselves which was That He himself would Interpose betwixt the City and all Danger Observing how prejudicial these Mistakes were to the Publique Interest of Seâ—tlement and with what Art and Industry they were Assisted by the Adverse Party I took it for a Seasonable and Good Offâ—ce to do somthing that might Create a better Understanding Or at the worst Excite the Citizens to Act by Tichborn's President and of Themselves in Case of any further Baffle or Delay in setling their Militia For these Reasons I Publish'd this Ensuing Paper A Word in Season to General MONK with his Officers c. To the CITY and To the NATION My Lord and Gentlemen YOu are at present in the Heart of the Nation and in the Arms of your Friends where you are Safe and Beloved You have the Strength and Affections of the City at your Dâ—votion and it is your Commune Interest to unite in a Concurence both of Power and Kindnesse You stand and fall together You are all of the same Stock Born to the same Freedom Subjected to the same Laws Nurs'd up in the same Religion And in fine Obliged by the same Rules of Duty and Wisdom to promote the same Ends. I might adde that you are likewise exposed to the same Danger and from the same Enemy by whose Hypocrisie and Skill should you be Dâ—luded into a Belief of such who never kept Fâ—ith forgive me your Reputation is lost with your Security and you Fall without either Redress or Pity In this very Instant while you Treat the Mine is working The Instruments and Means of your Destruction are already agreed upon Some arâ— employed to Infect your Councils and Alienate your
that way tending yet was it eagerly debated in Terminis that the Prince should be declared a Rebell and a Traytor Among Other Reasons why it was laid by One was the Covenant a Second was This It would not do well to vote the Prince a Traytour the same day that Messengers were sent to invite The King his Father to a Treaty The clamorous puppy might bethink himself of better Language especially Addressing to an Eminent Person The madness of those men he calls it that cancell'd the votes of non-Addresses and would have sav'd the King c. If all were mad that would have sav'd That King or that love This we should not find many sober Persons in the Kingdom This Fellow keeps so much stir to cleer his Party of any jealousie upon his Excellency that he most evidently creates and discovers one How comes Religon now To trouble our Atheistique Saints These Reprobates have violently taken the Father's Life and thrown the Son out of his Right and Dominions exposing him to the charity of Forreign Princes for a subsistence and after this his Education abroad is made an Argument by this Brute against his Return where will he be next now AS to your own interest in the station where God hath placed you 't is well known what the private sence and opinion of that Party is concerning your Excellency because you have been an Instrument in keeping Scotland many years with so great a vigilance and prudence free from the attempts of that irreconcileable Enemy Admit such a thing were possible which some fancy that you should be the man that would put the Crownagain upon the head of that Family is it not plain what fate setting aside all other Considerations you might expect from a seeming reconciled Enemy and a King too It being the guise of Kings as the Historians from enumerable Examples do Observe ever to recompence with hate their most meritorious Servants making no difference to returne betwixt the highest Obligation and the greaâ—est Injury The examples are so frequent in our own Chronicles as well as forreign that he who runs may read it and 't is not proper here to recite them INdâ—ed he 's hard put to 't to make the danger out from the King to the Generall in case he should restore him If there were nothing else in 't 't were enough to make him Dear to the King and to his party that he Hates you Do not deceive your selves He 'll be a scourge to the Phanatiques and every soul that loves either Piety or Peace will assist him Do not mistake me neither God forbid that all such as have either been misled by cunning practises or else transported by necessities to seek a livelyhood by unlawsull means God forbid I say that all without distinction should be marked with that Infamous Brand No I intend it only of that Frantique crew that preclude mercy by despising it and persecute the Truth with a Determinate Malevolence and spite But Note the man begins to soften ALas Sirs 't is not an Army that shall secure you nor the power of the Militia that can secure our Antient Senators if any who have been engaged can be so fond as to think of security for let the Young man come in with freedom to encounter both Army and Militia with the bare title of King and aâ—tuall possession of the Throne the eyes of Army and Militia will soon be dazeled with the splendour of that Gay Thing and fall down and worship at the sight and hope of the Kingdomes of this world and the glory of them and then all Bonds of agreement if any be will prove but Rushes Oh for God and his peoples sake yea and for the City of Londons sake whom Charles the Father branded in his papers with the Charaâ—ter of Disloyal and Rebellious City though at that time most renowned in her aâ—â—ings set an end to the expectations of malicious enemies and sâ—aggering Friends by clearing up your selves that we may see you in the light vigorously asserting the good Cause of these Nations yea for tâ—e sake of Parliaments we ask it and we doubt it not at your hand seeing the people are not like to be brought to contend any more for Parliaments iâ— after so long a contest he should gain an Opportunity of improving a possessiâ—n of the Crown to an usurpation over the Priviledges of Parliaments THis Thing I 'll lay my life belongs to the Rump it is so much concerned in the behalf of our Antient Senators Truly I 'm half oâ— his minde in what he sayes last That is I do believe his Majâ—sty wâ—uld be made welcome But for Faithlesse nothing but an Abjuring Perjur'd Villain would suspect him See how the Supple slave is come about now how Arrantly the Rogue Beggs Oh! â—or God and his Peoples sake and for the City of 〈◊〉 sâ—ke I am in â—arnest I must laugh before I can wrâ—te on Might not this fellow be laid hold of upon the statute against sturdy Beggars and Lash'd He has absolutely turn'd a piece of one of the Rump-Ballads into Prose Nay my Lord cries the Brewers Clerk good my Lord for the love of God Consider your self Vs this poor Nation and that Tyrant Abroad Don't leave us but George gives him a Shurg instead of a Nod. Come hang your self Beg right here 's your true methâ—d of begging Oh for Tom Scot's sake for Haslerig's for Robinson Holland Mildmay Mounson Corbet Aâ—kins Vane Livesey Skippon Milton Tichbourn Ireton Gourden Lechmore Blagrave Barebones Nedham's sake and to conclude for all the rest of our Impenitent Brethrens sakes Help a company of poor Rebellious Devils that only for murthering their Prince destroying three glorious Nations breaking the bonds of Faith both with God and Men trampling upon Religion and Laws exercising an absolute Tyranny over thâ—ir fellow-Subjects Endeavouring yet once more to engage their native Countrey in Bloud to alienate the honest Soldiery from their Obedience and in fine for playing the Devil in Gods Name are now in danger to Lose the Reward of all their Vertues The Possessions which they have acquired by violence by a Malignant and desperate design of Peace and Settlement This is the State of your Condition and this should be the form of your Application Once more and he bids you farewel BVt my Lord and Gentlemen leaving these things which touch only upon your worldly Interests and Concernments we are bold to say though the jealousies of weaker Brethren be great and many we believe our selves to be sure of you because we have your Souls as well as your personal Interests at pawn for your fidelity to the Publick We remember your Declaration sent from Scotland to the Churches and other Declarations at the same time We might minde you if it were needfull how you have called God to witness That the ground of your lâ—te undertaking in Scotland was The Vindication os the Liberties of the People with the protection