the Lord Newburge was sent from the King to give the City notice of the late Tumults at Westminster and White-Hall and to recommend unto them the Care of preventing the like disorders for the time to come To this Common-Councell comes Fowks and with him all the Tribe of this new choice and mingle with the old which being an Intrusion without president was earnestly opposed by them that loved the ancient order and honour of the City and foresaw the Inundation breaking in upon them yet out of Respect to the Kings Message and that Lord that brought it the controversie for the present was hushed up and generally they applied themselves to give dispatch to the Answer which they were to returne to the King which was accordingly done and the Answer presently after published in Print So on the 5. of Ianuary being the day after the King went to the House of Commons to demand the Five Members a Common Councell being called by the Kings direction to the Lord Major to which himselfe in Person came to impart unto them the reasons that induced him to goe to the House the day before and to admonish them not to harbour or protect these men in the City Thither came Fowke and his new Elected but not admitted Brethren Fowke having prepared a Saucy Insolent Speech to make unto the King concerning Feares Iealousies touching the Members accused The Priviledges of Parliament and that they might not be tried but in a Parliamentary way The King heard him with admired patience and whereas so disloyall expressions justly deserved his Royal Indignation to have seâ—t him to Newgate or Bride-well especially interposing in that Representative body of which as yet he was no member The King onely returned this short gracious Answer bidding him and the rest to assure themselves That they should have a lust Tryall according to the Lawes of the Land adding that they were dangerous men and that neither he nor they could be in safety as long as these men were permitted to go on in their way It was observed by some very wise men there present that the King at His comming to the Common-Councell was received with Joy and acclamations not much Inferiour to those at His entrance into the City on His returne from Scotland But after the reason of His comming was knowne and the Puritan Party had inâ—tilld into the peoples heads that the great Patriots of the Kingdome were in danger to be called to a Legall Triall for Treason at His returne there was a new face on the Multitude and instead of God save the King there was nothing ecchoed in His eares but Priviledges of Parliament Priviledges of Parliament Great is Diana of the Ephesians was never roared louder The King dined that day at Sheriffe Garrets and the Faction of the Sectaries Brownists and Anabaptists having time to assemble after dinner the house was beset and the streets leading unto it thronged with people Thousands of them flocking from all parts of the City and the clamour still was Priviledges of Parliament which cry first taken up that day and that with so good successe never failed to be Objected to the King and inculcated to the People even unto this day in all their appeales unto them This Tumult sweld to that height that the King in His returne was in great danger the people in a most undutifull manner pressing upon looking into and laying hold on His Coach nay in defiance of His sacred Person and Authority that seditious Pamphlet of Walkers To your Tents O lsrael was throwne either into or very near His Coach Insomuch that those few friends which the King had in the City were heartily glad when they heard that the King was safely arrived at White-Hall for I assure you His fast friends here in the City as the never enough honoured Sir Richard Gurney and Sir Thomas Gardner the Recorder were in great danger being pursued with outcryes as Remember the Protestation others calling them halfe Protesters nay the Lord Major had his Chaine torne from his neck by a Zelous sister This very day the two Houses the leaders in both thinking themselves unsafe at Westminster affrighted with their own guilt resolve to take Sanctuary in London knowing that what ever they had done or ever should doe though never so derogatory to the King never so contrary to Law yet the Puritan Faction in the City would afford them not only protection but power and assistance Both Houses therefore adjourn untill the Tuesday following and cast themselves into a Committee to meet at Guild-Hall or Grocers-Hall To the Committee at Grocers hall come the Five Members in great Triumph guarded and attended by the Train-bands and a strong guard set to secure the place of their sitting Now if ever was the fatall conspiration of Time and Place for Coyning new unheard of Priviledges of Parliament not only to the securing the persons of Traitors but Iustifying Treason it selfe For here was before this day the unheard of Priviledge of Parliament declared That no Member of Parliament ought to be arrested by any warrant whatsoever without consent of that House whereof he is a Member and by the same Ordinance it was declared That they that shall arrest these Members are enimies to the State with free liberty granted for all persons to harbor or converse with them In all which it is evident that the power and strength of London were made the first obstruction of the free course of Iustice and the City made the Asylum and Sanctuary of those whom the King had justly declared Traytors And now having undoubted experience of the affection of the City all eyes being turned from White Hall to Grocers Hall where the Darlings of the People were pompously feasted and fawningly courted on Saturday the eight of Ian. 1641. the Committee consult how the accused Members might come to Westminster the Tuesday following and without any long debate it was resolved upon the question That the Sheriffes of London should and might raise a guard of the Traine-bands for the defence of the King and Parliament and that they might warrantablely march out of their Liberties and that you may see that the Scene was right layd there were some ready at that instant to make a tender of the assistance of the Seamen and Mariners whose power should guard them by Water as the Train-bands by Land Next day being Sunday every Pulpit that was at their devotion sounded nothing but the praise of Kimbolton and the Five Members inciting the People to stand up in the defence of these wâ—rthies else if they permitted the King to take away these to day he might goe on to seize on as many more to Morrow untill he had left the Parliament naked of all good Patriots and Zealous assertors of Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom On Munday the tenth of Ian. 1641. the King hearing of these great Preparations an Army by Land and a Navy by Sea
the Liberties and safety of the People all possible art was used to possesse the Kingdome but especially the City with strange â—ealousies and Feares and therefore besides the often inculcating the fained intention of introducing Popery great preparations in France and Denmarke to invade the Kingdome to inable the King to governe Arbitrarily to the subversion of the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome together with the Liberty and Property of the Subject Theames that did continually possesse both the Pulpit and the Presse which how truâ— though most impudently affirmed the World now sees each day did produce a discovery of some new Treason and to indâ—â—â—e the City the more it must be so contrived That in these monstrous fictions you shall continually find the Parliament and City fained to be involved in the same danger To possesse the Kingdom how mortally the Parliament and City the two vitall parts of the Kingdome as Pym calls them were threatned in the time of the Recesse they take opportunity of the Petition delivered by the Troopâ—rs from the North and by an order from the Committee they appoynt strong watches to be kept in all high-wayes Villages and Townes within twenty miles of London that Travellers into all parts of the Kingdome passing through these Guards might report when they came home in how much danger the Parliament and City were for their sakes And that the Credulous People might not think but that this was done on good grounds a Letter is writteâ— from the Parliament Commissioners in Scotland M. Hampden M. Fiennes and the rest to M. Pym and the close Committee here to inform them of a strange conspiracy discovered in Edenburgh to seize on the persons of the Marquesse Hamilton and the Earles of Argile and Lanâ—ricke the Committee wisely considering that it was no stâ—ange thing for Treason to make a step out of Scotland into England instantly provided against it at least so they would be thought by publishing an Order commanding the Iustices of Peace of Middlesex Surrey and Southwarke to secure the City and the places adjoyning from all danger by strong guards well armed and give this reason for their Order Because the Mischievous designes and conspiracies lately discovered in Scotland against some Principall and Great men there by some of the Popish Faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maintain correspondency here and practise the like mischiefe Presently upon the neck of this M. Pim's life to the great detriment of the Kingdom and Nation is indangered by a contagious plaister of Plague sore wrapt up in a letter and directed to him but God be thanked the infection did not take though throwing away the plaister only he put the letter in his Pocket he being reserved for another manner of death we hope then to dye privately in his bed with a few spectators to bear witnesse of his end Then comes a Tailor out of a ditch in Finsbury fields having miraculously escaped being runne nine times besides the body for like a wise Tailor wheresâ—ever he made ilotholes he would be sure to make none in his own skinne though to gain credit to the relation and he tells a strange discovery of a Treason which he overheard two men talking of a Conspiracy against the life of the Lord Say and some of the chief Members of both Houses A thing so improbable indeed so Ridiculous that had they not thought that the world stood prepared to receive any thing for truth which came from them 't was a wonder how they durst own it And now I have named a Taylor it puts me in mind of Perâ—ins my Lord Say's Taylor who at a Common-Councell produced a copy of a Letter from an I know not what Irish Lord in Paris to such an other Irish Lord in London intimating some strange designe against the City which took as passionately with the People as if it had been certified from M. Strickeland his worship himselfe Embassador for the two Houses uâ—to the States-Generall of the united Provinces But the most monstrous of all the rest aâ—d that which if the people had not been accursed to believe Lies was the invisible Army quartered under ground at Ragland Castle discovered by Iohn Davis servant to Mistris Lewis an Inne-keeper at Rosse to Alderman Actons Coachman except the blowing up the Thames with Gunpowder to drowne the City one of the most dangerous plots that ever affrighted London And as by their own fictions they endeavoured to possesse the People with Iealousies so whatsoever the King did never wanted a sinister interpretation glossed to the multitude to traduce His actions as if in them there were ever some evill intended to the City and Parliament When the King removed Belfore from the Lieutenancy of the Tower and placed Sir Thomas Lunsford in that charge the Citizens and their Wives could not sleep quietly in their bedds for feare of having their houses beaten down about their eares To satisfy their Clamours though nothing were objected against him the King reassumes the Trust and presently deposites it with Sir Iohn Byron the Faction were as ill satisfied in him yet it was not easy what to object against him nay it was a Query that did not a little trouble them in what to quarrell him at last Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavite man and Nicholson the Chandler complaine in the Common-Councell that since Sir Iohn Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower the Mint to the great prejudice and dishonour of the Kingdome stood still Those that knew what trade these men drove by the poor retaile of Broomes Candles and Mustard their chief merchandize to improve brasse farthings into Groats and Sixpences accounted the Objection as inconsiderable as the Authors that alleadged it yet as meane and false as it was it served some mens turnes to slander the King to His People and raise a Clamour The King out of the abundant goodnesse of His Nature hoping to winne them by some condescendments which now the world sees is impossible Puritans being of another manner of Temper then to be overcome with kindnesse removes Sir Iohn Byron and confers this great trust on Sir Iohn Coniers a man of whom the Faction it seems conceived better hopes and indeed hitherto if you consider his exaction upon the Kings friends in his custody or retaining the name of Lieutenant but resigning the power contrary to his expresse oath and that on his own Petition to the Train bands of the City he hath not given them any occasion to repent them of their acquiescence in him It were endlesse Brother Rusticus to relate all the meanes used to heighten the fears of this miserable City and by consequence of the Kingdome especially after the Faction in Parliament had shewen them the way by publishing that great Buggbeare to affright the People the Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdome At last to make experiment what good effect all these arts had produced the maine Engineers resolve on
of the City Thirdly never to beare any Office in the Kingdome Fourthly to be committed prisoner to Colchester Gaole for two yeares and lastly at the expitation of that tearm to give security for the good behaviour such as the Parliament if they then sare should then thinke fitting and in case the Pariament were dissolved such as the Lord Keeper for the time being should approve of how will this Sentence for ever justifie the severest that were ever given either in the Star-Chamber or High Commission That did doome a man to ruine for no other fault then what themselves had authorized and judged it against the Liberty of the Subject to oppose it even by their owne Order The Committee for the posture of Defence being by these dishonest practices made Lords of the Militia and being armed with as much power as will to serve the most desperate Treasonable designes which either Say or Pym should suggest they now goe on without checke or controuâ—e and beate downe all before them that stand in their way On Triviall pretences or for necessary obedience to the Kings Iust Commands they remove honest Sir Richard Gurney whose name in after Chronicles will outshine famous Walworths and upbraid this Rebellious City to all posterity from the Governement of the City and 〈◊〉 his place substitute Little Isaac rejecting the Olive and advancing that Bramble out of which I feare will come that Fire which will consume this seditious City Now the People are authorized by Ordâ—nance of both Houses and encouraged and pressed even in point of Conscience by their Boutefeau Lecturers to List horses in Moorefields send in money and plate to Guild-Hall for the service of the King and Parliament and because they would be sure to have an Orator in every Pulpit to quicken the people to poure out their wealth Liberally to further the Rebellion intended they cause the very dregs and sâ—um of every Parish to petition against the Orthodox Clergy who being imprisoned or fle they sequester their Livings for the use of their owne Levites so that at this day there is not a true Orthodox Minister left freely speaking his Conscience and exercising his Ministery in the whole City so that whatsoever they pretend that they take up Armes for the defence of the Protestant Religion if they meane the Protestant Religion as it is by Act of Parliament established in the Church of England I assure you Brother were you here you could no more see a face of the Church of England then you can at Amsterdam They have not onely banished all Decency and Order together with the established Liturgy out of our Churches but in stead of the Gospel our new Preachâ—rs entertaine their Auditories with newes which upon examination prove but fictions and Lyes to blind the people or else with bitter invectives against the King and his Government and as for Faith Charity and Repentance they are laid aside as impertinent arguments all their exhortations now are to Treason and Rebellion So that as in the Holy League of France as my Author speakes our pulpits are made the Chaires of Iuglers Nay the very Sacraments escape not their Blasphemy and Prophanation â—o these vile purposes I doubt not but you have heard of M. Case his Invitation of the Congregation to the Lords Table who in stead of you that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sinnes and be in Love and Charity with your Neighbours and intend to lead a new Life c. bespake them thus You that have freely and liberally Contributed to the Parliament for the defence of Gods cause and the Gospels draw neere To the rest he threatned Damnation as comâ—â—ing unworthily to the holy Sacrament it were endlesse to 〈◊〉 unto you it deserves somâ— mans labour in particular to acquaint you and the Kingdome with the Blasphemies Prophanations and Absurdities which he and his Brethren in Evill vent every day in their Extemporary Prayers and Sermons Yet were aâ—l this Treason set out mix'd with wit or did they preach Rebellion aduantag'd by the alluring helpes of art and Elâ—quence it might perswade some amongst us not to turne Recusaâ—ts from their Assemblies but they are the dâ—yest and the dullest beasts that ever peepd over a pulpit while these remaine in the City Rotheram the Lecturer never needs feare to be heard in his deprecation that we might never see such a famine here in London as was once in Samaria where an Asses head was sold for fourescore pieces of Silver Thankes to him and the rest wee have great plenty here and while we have so many there is no feare that they will ever rise to so high a price But when people are disposed uâ—to a Reâ—ellion small helpes will serve their Turne a Rams-Horne is as good as Shebahs Trumpet yet they have one art and I may not forgâ—t it because it takes much with the People and it is this you shall have one and the same argument possesse most of our Pulpit on the same day the same matter is the Subject â—iâ—her of their rayling invectives or Rebellious Exhortations The undiscerning multitude not piercing into this Imposture fâ—ndly are perswaded that this is no lesse then the inspiration of the Holy Ghost when God knowes this is no more then an Iâ—timation given from the Heads of the Faction to Calamy and the Iunto that meet at his house from whom their Emissaries receive directâ—ons what concernes the present opportunity and is necessâ—ry to be preâ—ched unto the people By these and the like Arts 't is a wâ—nder to see what â—orces have been raised what summes have beene advanced and pourâ—d out to further this Rebellion It is the Opinion of very wise men amongst us here that have observed the severall hâ—lpes which the City of London haâ—h contributed to this present unnaturall Warre that they have supplyed the Treasury of the Rebells with no lesse then Three Millions of money and their Aâ—my with threescore Thousand men first 〈◊〉 then recreâ—â—ing their mangled bâ—aten Regiments at so great Expence both of Treasure and Blood hath this proud unthankfull City been to disthrone the King and râ—ine the Kingdom And that they might not want supplies of men to keepe this Rebellion on Foot they have cancelled or dispensed with all the Obligations and Tyes of Religion Nature and Lawes They have given the Sonne power not only without but contrary to the parents commands to List himselfe and take entertainment in their Army the same liberty they have given to Apprentises and Servants to take Armes not only without but contrary to the command of their Masters and Mistresses How many poore Pâ—rents how many poore Trades-men nay how many poor Widdowes and their distressed Orphans be here in this City that had no other Subsistence but what was hardly earned by their Children or Apprentises industry and labour are now all like to starve or are necessitated to fly to the Almes of the Parish though the
Twelfe night to see what partee they had in the City and what assistance they might expect if occasion served by giving a false Allarme To this purpose in the night a Rumour is divulged and suddenly dispersed through the City That the King and Cavaleers with fifteene hundred horse were coming to surprize the City you would wonder to consider how this report prevailed insomuch that in an instant London was in Armes no lesse then 50000 or 60000 men ready provided to incounter they knew not what the Women who as M. Peters did instruct 〈◊〉 in the Pulpit have huggd their Husbands into this Rebellion provide hot water besides what they sprinkled for feare to throw on the Cavaleeres joynt-stooles foormes and empâ—y tubbes are throwne into the Streets to intercept the Horse Had you been at Lord Majors that night as I was you might upon the Aldermens coming to him to consult against the common danger easily perceive which of the Aldermen were privy to this designe and who were not thought fit to be intrusted with so great a Mysterie some of them and when time serves I can tell you their names came so neat as if they had spent the whole day to be trimme at midnight their beards put into a feasting posture not a haire awry a cleare demonstration that they had not consulted their pillows that night Their Ruffes set as compleatly as if they had beene to dine with the Masters of their Companies or were prepared to beare a part in my Lord Majors shew but the rest that slept in the simplicity of their hearts and went to bed so farre from misconceiving their gracious Soveraigne to have any evill intention against the City that they thougâ—t themselves safe under his Protection these came in a farre different garbe one came in his nightcap forgot his Hat another had his Hat but did not remember to take his Ruffe one trots along in his slippers another for haste not staying to garter his stockings had lost them had not his shooâ—s 〈◊〉 on so that it was easy to distinguish who were Consâ—iding Aldâ—rmon as they call them and who Malignants And as by degrâ—es they wrought the people to this height of Iealousie so by degrees too proportionable to their 〈…〉 they disarme the King and Arme themselves At first they did only wrest the Sword out of the Kings Hau◠〈◊〉 as their party grew stronger they turned the point upon him When their Feares were but young the Faction of the City desired 〈◊〉 more but a strong guard of the Train-Bands and this 〈◊〉 called The Safety of the City when their Feares grew Stronger then in a Common-Councell they move for The Posture of defence which was the Egge of which afterwards was natched â—hat Cockatrice of the Militia But because it was impossible to disarme the King as long as the Lord Major stood firme in his Loyalty and invested in his power their maine work therefore was first to pack a Common-Councell of men of their own Faction and then by advancing the power of their Common-Councell by the assistance of the House of Commons above the Lord Majors to draw the Voting of all Queryes and the Resolution of all doubts or matters under debate unto the decision of a Major part and if any Obstacle lay in their way to these ends which was not in their power to remove presently at a dead lift Penington or Ven or Vassels bring an order from the House of Commons which never failed to determine all things for their own Creatures And because the Practices of these men deserve not to be buried in Silence I shall give you a short account how the power of the Militia of the City came to be taken out of the Lord Major and Court of Aldermens hands and â—eated in a Major part of the Commons In which you shall see how a Faction in the City conspired with a Faction in the Parliament and this Faction in the Parliament with that in the City untill between both the King was inforced for fear of their tumults and Insolencies to withdraw himself into the Country The time of Election of Common-Councell men comming on at St Thomas day 1641. When these feares and Jealousies had distracted the City it was no difficult matter for this active faction to instill into their fellow Citizens how much it Concerned them to make choyce of Godly men so they miscall themselves and such as would oppose the Popish Party under which notion they comprehend all such as stand well affected to the Government established whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill They accuse the Old Common-Councell-men as men not Zelous for Religion Ready to comply with the Court for loanes of Monies and which was worse many had not only set their hands to but were active in promoting the intended Petition for Episcopacy and the Booke of Common Prayer These Objections which duly considered had been so many convincing arguments for them so prevailed with these silly men who thought all to be in danger vnlesse the government were put into new hands that in most Wards the old Common-Councell men were turned out and new chosen in wholy devoted to the Puritan faction especially in those Wards where their Aldermen inclined that way amongst these the most remarkable were Atkins Wâ—llastone George Garrat the Draper Wardner and Towse Now outgoe all the grave discreet well-affected Citizens as Sr George Benyon M. Drake M. Roger Clarke M. Roger Gardner Deputy Withers M. Cartwright and others and in their stead are chosen Fowke the Traytor Ryley the squeeking Bodyes-maker Perkins the Taylor Norminton the Cutler young beardlesse Coâ—lson the Dyer Gill the Wine-Cooper and Iupe the Laten-man in Crooked-Lane Beadle of the Ward in the place of Deputy Withers So that a man would swear they meant to fulfill what a wise Lord Keeper once spake to a Recorder of London dyning with him upon occasion of a Wood Cock-Pyâ— brought to the Table with the heads looking out of the Lid Mr Recorder you are welcome to a Common-Councell These new men though chosen on S. Thomas day are never returned by the constant custome of the City before the Munday after Twelfe-day nor have power to 〈◊〉 in the Common-Councell or concurre in doing any act before the Indentures of their Election be returned from the Wardmoâ—e Inquest to the Town-Clark and a Warrant is sued fortâ— from the Lord Major to the Serjeant of the Chamber to Summon them Yet in the Yeare 1641. the small space of time betweene S. Thomas day and the day of this Returne was a very active time and that which laid the Ground-work of that Revolt of this City from their Loyalty to Rebellion which presently followed Therefore Impatient to stay the time of their ordinary calling and knowing the Necessity of their presence for the advancement of the work in hand when the King gave order to the Lord Major for calling that Common-Councell held December 31. 1641. when