in one Brigade and their Armes taken by their Officers 60 60. Cheats put upon the State and shortly after they have been listed againe in another Brigade and their Armes sold againe to the State after a while to new Arme them And of this sort were those Armes which being found in a Magazine in Town by some zelots and rumoured to belong to the City for the Arming of Reformado's were upon examination found to belong to Oliver Cromwell so the businesse was buried in silence for though the Kings over-sights must be tragically published to the world yet the hainous crimes of the godly must lie hid under the maske of Religion 61 61. Arreares secured although the State owes them nothing And though they have usually taken free-quarter in one place and taken composition money for free-quarter in another place some of them in two or three places at once 3s. a day some of them 5s. for a Trooper and 1s. a day and 1s. 6d. for a foot Souldier whereby no Arreares are due to them but they owe money to the State yet they have compelled the Houses to settle upon them for pretended Arreares 1. The moity of the Excise that they may have the Souldiers help in leavying it Although to flatter the People the Army had formerly declared against the excise 2. The moity of Goldsmiths-Hall 3. Remainder of Bishops Lands 4. The customes of some Garrisons 5. Forrest Lands This Army brags they are the Saviours nay Conquerors of the Kingdome Let them say when they saved it whether at the fight at Nazeby or taking in of Oxford and we will pay them according to the then List And for all the Recruites taken in since the reducing of Oxford it is fit they be disbanded without pay having been taken in without nay against Authority to drive on wicked designes and enthrall King Parliament City and Kingdome 24. Decemb. 1647. 62 62. Four dethroning Bills presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle The two Houses by their Commissioners presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle four Bills to be passed as Acts of Parliament and divers Propositions to be assented to They are all printed so is His Majesties Answer to them wherefore I shall need to say the lesse of them only a word or two to two of the Bills 1. The Act for raising setling 63 63. Act for the Militia and maintaining Forces by Sea and Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Wales c. though it seems to be but for 20 years devests the King his Heirs and Successours of the power of the Militia for ever without hope of recovery but by repealing the said Act which will never be in his nor their power for first it saith That neither the King nor his Heires or Successours nor any other shall exercise any power over the Militia by Land or Sea but such as shall act by authority and approbation of the said Lords and Commons That is a Committee of State of twenty or thirty Grandees to whom the two Houses shall transfer this trust being over-awed by the Army for the ground-work of this Committee was layed by these words though the Committee be erected since And secondly it prohibiteth the King his Heires and Successours c. after the expiration of the said 20 years to exercise any of the said powers without the consent of the said Lords and CoÌ„mons and in all cases wherein the said Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdome to be concerned after the said 20 years expired and shall passe any Bills for raising arming c. forces by land or sea or concerning levying of mony c. if the Royall assent to such Bills shall not be given by such a time c. then such Bills so passed by the Lords and Commons shall haâ—e the force of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Lo â—â—re a foundation laid to make an Ordinance of both Houses equall to an Act of Parliament if this be granted in one case it will be taken in another and then these Subverters of our Religion Laws and Liberties will turne their usurpation into a legall Tyranny 2. It gives an unlimited power to the two Houses to raise what forces and what numbers for land and sea and of what persons without exceptions they please and to imploy them as they shall judge fit 3. To raise what mony they please for maintaining them and in what sort they think fit out of any mans estate 64 64. Bill for adjournment of the Parliament as well for place as time The Bill for adjournment of both Houses to any other place c. will enable the engaged Party of the two Houses and Army to adjourne the two Houses from time to time to or near the Head quarters of the Army where those Members that refuse to enter into the same Engagement shall neither sit with accommodation nor safety and so be shaken off at last this is a new way of purging the Houses Besides the Parliament following the motions of the Army the King shall follow the Parliament whereby the Army having both King and Parliament present with them whatsoever attempt shall be made against the Army shall be said to be against the safety and authority of the King and Parliament and a legall Treason triable by Indictment not a constructive Treason only Triable before the Lords 65 65. The King's Answer debated Monday 3. Jan. the Kings Answer to the said Bills and Propositions was debated in the House of Commons And first Sir Thomas Wrothe Jacke Pudding to Prideaux the Post-master had his cue to go high and feel the pulse of the House who spake to this purpose That Bedlem was appointed for mad men and Tophet for Kings That our Kings of late had carried themselves as if they were fit for no place but Bedlem That his humble motion should consist of three parts 1. To secure the King and keep Him close in some inland Castle with sure Guards 2. To draw up Articles of Impeachment against Him 3. To lay Him by and settle the Kingdome without Him He cared not what form of Government they set up so it were not by Kings and Devils Fretons Speech Then Commissary Ireton seeming to speak the sense 〈◊〉 the Army under the notion of many thousand godly men who had ventured their lives to subdue their enemies said after this manner The King had denied safety and protection to his people by denying their four Bills That subjection to him was but in lieu of his protection to his people This being denied they might well deny any more subjection to him and settle the Kingdom without him That it was now expected after so long patience they should shew their resolution and not desert those valiant men who had engaged for them beyond all possibility of retreat and would never forsake the Parliament unlesse the Parliament forsooke them first After some more debate
THE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCY WITH The Rise Growth and Practices of that powerfull and restlesse FACTION D us AMBROSIUS Nec nobis ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus nec vobis gloriosum est facere quod fecit Judas TACIT Scelera sceleribus tuenda VIRGILIUS sua cuique Deus fit dira libido 1 St. JOHN C. 2. V. 16. Quicquid est in mundo est concupiscentia oculorum concupiscentia carnis aut superbia vitae Printed in the yeare 1648. Reader GEntle or ungentle I write to all knowing that all have now got almost an equall share and interest in this Gallymaufry or Hotchpot which our Grandee Pseudo-politicians with their negative and demolishing Councells have made both of Church and Common-wealth and therefore I write in a mixed stile in which I dare say there are some things fit to hold the judgments of the Gravest some things fit to catch the fancies of the lightest and some things of a middle nature applying my self to all capacities as far as truth will permit because I fore-see the Catastrophe of this Tragedy is more likely to be consummated by maltitude of hands then wisdome of heads I have been a curious observer and a diligent inquirer after not only the actions but the Councels of these times and I here present the result of my endevours to thee In a time of mis-apprehensions it is good to avoid mistakings and therefore I advise thee not to apply what I say to the Parliament or Army in generall if any phrase that hath dropped from my pen in haste for this is a work of haste seem to look asquint upon them no it is the Grandees the Junto-men the Hocas-pocasses the State-Mountebanks with their Zanyes and Jack-puddings Committee-men Sequestrators Treasurers and Agitators under them that are here historified were the Parliament the major part whereof is in bondage to the minor part and their Janisaries and the Army freed from these usurping and engaged Grandees who betrayed the honour and Priviledges of Parliament and Army to their own lusts both would stand right and be serviceable to the setling of a firme lasting peace under the King upon our first principles Religion Laws and Liberties which are now so far laid by that whosoever will not joyne with the Grandees in subvetting them is tearmed a Malignant as heretofore he that would not adhere to the Parliament in supporting them was accounted so that the definition of a Malignant is turned the wrong side outward The body of the Parliament and Army in the midst of these distempers is yet healthy sound serviceable my endeavour is therefore to play the part of a friendly Phisician and preserve the body by purging peccant humours were the Army under Commanders and Officers of better principles who had not defiled their fingers with publick monies their consciences by complying with and cheating all Interests King Parliament People City and Scots for their owne private ends I should think that they carried the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon but clean contrary to the Image presented to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream the head and upper parts of this aggregate body are part of clay part of iron the lower parts of better mettle I cannot reform I can but admonish God must be both the Aesculapius and Prometheus and amend all and though we receive never so many denialls never so many repulses from him let us take heed how we vote even in the private corners of our hearts no Addresses no Applications to him Let us take heed of multiplying sins against God lest he permit our schismaticall Grandees to multiply Armies and forces upon us to war against Heaven as well as against our Religion Laws Liberties Properties upon Earth and keep us our Estates under the perpetual bondage of the Sword which hath been severall waies attempted in the Houses these two last weeks both for the raising and keeping of a new Army of 30000. or 40000. men in the seven Northern Associate Counties upon established pay besides this Army in the South and also for the raising of men in each County of England and all to be engrossed into the hands of his Excellency and such Commanders and Officers as he shall set over them and this work may chance be carried on by the Grandees of Derby-house and the Army if not prevented for the Generall notwithstanding this power was denied him in the House of Commons hath sent Warrants into most Counties to raise Horse and Foot yea to that basenesse of slavery hath our Generall and Army with their under-Tyrants the Grandees brought us that although themselves did heretofore set the rascallity of the Kingdome on worke especially the schismaticall party to clamour upon the Parliament with scandalous Petitions and make peremptory demands to the Houses destructive to the Religion Laws Liberties and Properties of the Land and the very foundation of Parliaments to which they extorted what Answers they pleased and got a generall Vote That it was the undoubted right of the Subject to petition and afterwards to acquiesce in the wisdome and justice of the two Houses Yet when upon 16. of May 1648. the whole County of Surrey in effect came in so civill a posture to deliver a Petition to the Houses that they were armed for the most part but with sticks in which Petition there is nothing contained which the Parliament is not bound to make good by their many Declarations and Remonstrances to the people or by the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy or Nationall Covenant or by the known Lawes of this Land Yet were they 1. Abused by the Souldiers of White-Hall as they passed by where some of them were pulled in and beaten 2. When those Gentlemen of quality that carried the Petition came to Westminster-Hall they found a Guard of Souldiers at the dore uncivilly opposing their entrance to make their addresse to the House 3. When they pressed into the Hall and got up to the Commons dore they were there reviled by the Guard 4. The multitude which stood in the new Palace because some of them did but whoop as others did who were purposely set on work as is conceived to mix with them and disorder them were suddenly surrounded with a strong party of Horse from the Mewes It is reported by some that Sir H. Mildmay Col. Purefoy and the Speaker doubting the House would give too good an Answer to their Petition sent for these Horse Foot and some more Companies of Foot from White-Hall who by the appointment of the Committee of Schismaticks at Derby-house were ready prepared for this designe and catched them as it were in a Toyle and with barbarous and schismaticall rage fell upon these naked un-armed Petitioners flew and wounded many without distinction telling them They were appointed to give an Answer to their Petition and they should have no other as indeed they had not though the Lieutenant Colonel that did all the mischief was called
greater distance with the Presbyterian Party and bring them and the Independents Party neerer together he knew the Army abominated nothing more then Disbanding and returning to their old Trades and wduld hate the Authors thereof 8 8. Agitators raised by Cromwel 9 9. The beginning of the project to purge the Houses 10 10. The Army put into mutiny against the Parliament whereby Cromwell monopolizeth the Army And at the same time when he made these protests in the House he had his Agitators Spirits of his and his Son Ireton's conjuring up in the Army though since conjured downe by them without requitall to animate them against the major part of the House under the notion of Royallists a Malignant party and enemies to the Army to ingage them against Disbanding and going for Ireland and to make a Trayterous Comment upon the said Ordinance to demand an Act of indemnity and relie upon the advice of Judge Jenkins for the validity of it and to insist upon many other high demands some private as Souldiers some publick as States-men 11 11. Cromwell's Family in the Army Cromwell having thus by mutinying the Army against the Parliament made them his owne and monopolized them as he did formerly his Brew-house at Ely which he might easily do having before-hand filled most of the chief Offices in the Army with his owne kindred allyes and friends of whose numerous family Lieut. Col. Lilburne gives you a list in one of his Books he now flies to the Army doubting his practises discovered he might be imprisoned 12 12. Cromwell and Ireton usurp Offices in the Army where he and Ireton assuming Offices to themselves acted without Commission having not only been ousted by the self-denying Ordinance if it be of any power against the godly but also their severall Commissions being then expired and Sir Thomas Fairfax having no authority to make generall Officers as appears by his Commission if he make any account of it and therefore Sprigg alias Nathaniel Fines in his Legend or Romance of this Army called Anglia rediviva sets down two Letters sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Speaker William Lenthall one to desire Cromwell's continuance in the Army another of thanks for so long forbearing him from the House see Ang. Red. p. 10 11 29. which needed not had he been an Officer of the Army And now both of them bare-faced and openly joyne with the Army at Newmarket in trayterous Engagements Declarations Remonstrances and Manifesto's and Petitions penn'd by Cromwell himself were sent to some Counties to be subscribed against supposed Obstructers of Justice and Invaders of the Peoples Liberties in Parliament and the Army at Newmarket and Triplo heath prompted to cry Justice Justice against them and high and treasonable demands destructive to the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament were publickly insisted upon many of which for quietnesse sake and out of compassion to bleeding Ireland were granted yet these restlesse spirits hurried on to farther designes made one impudent demand beget another and when by Letters and otherwise they had promised that if their then present demands were granted they would there stop and acquiesce yet when they seemed to have done they had not done but deluded and evaded all hopes of peace by mis-apprehensions and mis-constructions of the Parliaments concessions making the mis-interpretation of one grant the generation of another demand so that almost ever since the Parliament hath nothing else to do but encounter this Hydra and roll this stone Having thus debauched the Army 13 13. Securing Oxford and plundring the King from Holdenby he plotted in his own Chamber the securing the Garrisons Magazine and Traine of Artillery at Oxford and surprizing the Kings Person at Holdenby which by his instrument Coronet Joyce with a commanded Party of Horse he effected though afterwards having recourse to his usuall familiarity with Almighty God he used his name to protest his ignorance and innocence in that businesse both to the King and Parliament adding an execration upon his Wife and Children to his Protestation yet Joyce is so free from punishment that he is since preferred and his Arrears paid by their meanes And though both Houses required the Army to send his Royall Person to Richmond to be there left in the hands of the Parliaments Commissioners whereby both Kingdoms might freely make Addresses to Him for they had formerly excluded and abused the Scots Commissioners contrary to the Law of Nations and Votes of both Houses and yet then granted free accesse to the most desperate persons of the Kings Party yet they could obtaine no better answer from these rebellious Saints Manifesto of the Army 27. June 1647. then That they desired no place might be proposed for His Majesties residence neerer London then where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be This was according to their old threats of marching up to London frequently used when any thing went contrary to their desires They knew what dangerous and troublesome guests we should find them here How much is this Army degenerated since Cromwell and his demure white-livered Son-in-law Ireton poysoned their manners with new Principles Anglia Rediviva p. 247. tells us that about Woodstock private overtures were made by some from Court for receiving His Majesty who was minded to cast himself upon the Army but such was their faithfulnesse in that poynt that conceiving it derogatory to the honour and power of Parliament for His Majesty to wave that highest Court and addresse Himself to any others and therefore inconsistent with their trust and duty being Servants of the State they certified the Parliament thereof and understanding it to be against their sense also they absolutely refused to be tampered with Oh how faithfull then how perfidious and Cromwellized are they now let their frequent tampering with the King and His Party to the amazement of the Kingdome and the abusing of the King testifie Read Putney Projects written by a considerable Officer of the Army and a friend to Cromwell though not to his false practises 14 14. Their project to keep the Parliament in wardship 15 15. Purging the Houses again 16 16. Accusing the 11 Members Having thus gotten the King the first and most visible legall authority of England into their possession their next designe is to get the Parliament the second legall authority of England into their power This could not be effected but by purging the two Houses of Presbyterian Members especially the most active and such as had laboured their Disbanding that an Independent Parliament and Army might govern the Kingdome In order to which designe they sent to the House of Commons in the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army a generall and confused Charge of High Treasons and other mis-demeanors against eleven Members for things done for the most part in the House and many of the principall such as the House had long before
when the House was ready for the question Cromwell brought up the Reare Cromwell's Speech And giving an ample character of the valour good affections and godlinesse of the Army argued That it was now expected the Parliament should govern and defend the Kingdome by their own power and resolutions and not teach the people any longer to expect safety and government from an obstinate man whose heart God had hardned That those men who had defended the Parliament from so many dangers with the expence of their bloud would defend them herein with fidelity and courage against all opposition Teach them not by neglecting your owne and the Kingdoms safety in which their owne is involved to think themselves betrayed and left hereafter to the rage and malice of an irreconcilable enemy whom they have subdued for your sake and therefore are likely to find his future government of them insupportable and fuller of revenge then justice lest despair teach them to seek their safety by some other means then adhering to you who will not stick to your selves And how destructive such a resolution in them will be to you all I tremble to think and leave you to judge Observe he laid his hand upon his Sword at the latter end of his Speech that Sword which being by his side could not keep him from trembling when Sir Philip Stapleton baffled him in the House of Commons This concluding Speech having something of menace in it was thought very prevalent with the House 66 66. The four Bills for no addresses nor applications passed The first of the foure Questions being put That the two Houses should make no more addresses nor applications to the King The House of Commons was divided 141. yeas 91. noes so it was carried in the affirmative The other three Votes followed these votes with facility see them in print 67 67. The Committee of Sâ—fety revived and enlarged The Members had been locked into the House of Commons from before nine of the clock in the morning to seven at night and then the dores were unlocked and what Members would suffered to go forth whereby many Presbyterians thinking the House had been upon rising departed when presently the House being grown thin the Vote to revive the Committee of both Kingdoms called the Committee of Safety at Darby House passed by Ordinance dated 3. Janu. 1647. in these words Resolved c. That the powers formerly granted by both Houses to the Committee of both Kingdomes viz. England and Scotland in relation to the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland be now granted and vested in the Members of both Houses only that are of that Committee with power to them alone to put the same in execution The originall Ordinance that first erected this Committee and to which this said Ordinance relates beareth date 7. Feb. 1643. in which the English Committees were appointed from time to time to propound to the Scottish Commissioners whatsoever they should receive in charge from both Houses and to make report to both Houses to direct the managing of the War and to keep good correspondency with forain States and to receive directions from time to time from both Houses and to continue for three moneths and no longer The Members of this Committee are now The Earl of Northumberland Ro. Earl of Warwick The E. of Kent Edw Earl of Manchester Will. Lord Say Seâ—â— Phil. L. Wharton John Lord Roberts Will. Pierre poynt Sir Henry Vane sen Sir Gilbert Gerrarde Sir Will. Armine Sir Arthur Hasterig Sir Hen. Vanc Iun. John Crew Rob. Wallope Oliver St. Johns Sol. Oliver Cromwell Samu. Browne Nath. Fiennes Sir John Eveline Iunior But this Ordinance 3 Janu. 1647. vests the said powers in the Members thereof only and alone words excluding the two Houses and for a time indefinite There were then added to this Committee Nathaniel Fiennes in place of Sir Phil. Stapleton Sir John Evelin Junior in place of Mr. Recorder and the Earl of Kent in stead of the Earl of Essex 22. Janu. following the Lords sent down a Message for a farther power to this Committee which was granted in these words Power to suppresse Tumults and Insurrections in England c. and at Barwick and for that purpose the Committee to have power to give orders and directions to all the Militia and forces of the Kingdome The addition of four Lords and eight Commoners likewise to this Committee was desired but denyed 68 68. White-Hall and the Mewes Garrisoned Friday 14 Janu. after a long debate it was ordered that Sir Lewis Dives Sir John Stowell and David Jenkins be tryed as Traitors at the Kings Bench the Grand Jury had found the Bill against Jenkins Master Solicitor c. appointed to manage the businesse * but Jenkins is so great a Lawyer See Iudge Jenkins Remonstrance to the Lords and Commons of Par. 21. Feb. 1647. that the Solicitor durst not venture upon him the long sword being more powerfull in his mouth then the Law wherefore the Solicitor found an Errour in the Indictment turned him back againe upon the House to be impeached before the Lords to whose Jurisdiction he pleaded so the Solicitor put the affront from himself upon the Houses It was now 12. of the clock and many of the Independent party began to cry Rise rise The Presbyterians thinking all had been done many went to dinner yet the Independents sate still and finding the House for their turne moved That a Letter might be forthwith sent to Sir Tho Fairfax to send a convenient number to Garrison White-Hall and a party of Horse to quarter in the Mewes The Lords concurrence was not desired to this Vote but the Letters immediately drawn and sent Observe that before this Vote passed diverse forces were upon their March towards the Towne and came to White-Hall Saterday following by eight of the Clock in the morning Saterday 15. Janu. 69 69. The Armies Declaration thanking the Commons for their 4 Votes The Army sent a Declaration to the House of Commons Thanking them for their 4 Votes against the King and promising to live and die with the Commons in defence of them against all opponents Many of the Lords had argued very hotly against the said 4 Votes insomuch that it was ten Lords to ten but this engagement of the Army 70 70. The Lords passe the 4 Votes and the unexpected garrisoning of White-Hall and the Mewes turned the scales so that they passed the said 4 Votes only adding a short preamble little to the purpose holding forth some reasons for passing them to which the Commons when they came down assented When presently about 12. of the clock the House being thin Dennis Bond moved That whosoever should act against those 4 Votes or incite others to act against them should be imprisoned and sequestred Three or four dayes after the Lords had passed the said 4 Votes 71 71. The Army thanks the Lords the Army vouchsafed
Tyrant was ever so barbarous so indiscreet as to do the like It was moved that Offendors of this kind might be bound to the good Behaviour and the offence proved openly at the Assizes or Sessions before so destructive a punishment be inflicted There are three principles in law of which the Laws are very tender and will not suffer them to be touched but upon great offences cleer proofs and exact formalities observed life liberty and estate by Magna Charta the Petition of Right and many other Statutes these principles are so sacred that nothing but the Law can meddle with them Nemo imprisonetur aut disseisietur nisi per legale judicium parium suorum you have made the people shed their money and bloud abundantly pretending defence of Religion Laws and Liberties let them now at last being a time of peace enjoy what they have so dearly paid for and delay them not with a pretended necessity of your owne making you now make all that is or can be neer and deer to them lyable to the passions of three Committee men to judge and execute according to their discretion without Law or so much as a formality thereof And yet both Houses of Parliament have often heretofore offered to abolish those Committees as men whose wickednesse and folly they and the whole Kingdome were ashamed of The Grandees of the Parliament and Army when the Houses are called and full have resolved to draw their Forces nearer about the Towne and by that terrour to try the temper of the Houses such Members as will not comply with them they will with fresh Charges purge out of the Houses and publish base and infamous scandalls against them to which if they submit with silence they betray their reputations for ever and spare the credits of their jugling enemies If they make any defence for their honours by way of apology they shall be brought within the compasse of this devouring enslaving Ordinance as men that reproach the Parliament and their proceedings Thus the same whip shall hang over the shoulders of the Presbyterian party who wil not agree to King-deposing Anarchy Schism as it did formerly over the Kings party And the Presbyterians shall be squeezed into the Independents coffers as formerly the King's party were so long as they had any thing to lose for the whole earth is little enough for these Saints who are never satisfied with money and bloud although they never looke towards Heaven but through the spectacles of this world The old elogium and character of the English Nation was that they were Hilaris gens cui libera mens libera lingua But now Country-men your tongues are in the stocks your bodies in every gaole your souls in the darke and estates in the mercy of those that have no mercy and at the discretion of those that have no discretion Farewell English Liberty 90 90. Generall Conclusions Out of these Premises I shall draw these Conclusions following 1 1. The Grandees have subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome and why 1. THe engaged Party have laid the Axe to the very root of Monarchy and Parliaments they have cast all the mysteries and secrets of Government both by Kings and Parliaments before the vulgar like pearle before swine and have taught both the Souldiery and people to looke so far into them as to ravell back all Governments to the first principles of nature he that shakes fundamentalls means to take down the fabrick Nor have they been carefull to save the materialls for posterity What these negative Statists will set up in the room of these ruined buildings doth not appeare only I will say they have made the people thereby so curâ—â—us and so arrogant that they wil never find humility enough to submit to a Civill rule their ayme therefore from the beginning was to rule them by the power of the Sword a military Aristocracie or Olgarchy as now they do Amongst the aincient Romans Tentare Arcana Imperii to profane the mysteries of State was Treason because there can be no forme of Government without its proper mysteries which are no longer mysteries then while they are concealed Ignorance and admiration arising from Ignorance are the parents of civil devotion and obedience though not of Theologicall 2 2. They have subverted the Church 2. Nor have these Grandees and their party in the Synode dealt more kindly with the Church then with the Common-wealth whose reverend Mysteries their Pulpits and holy Sacraments and all the functions of the Ministery are by their connivence prophaned by the clouted shooe the basest and lowest of the people making themselves Priests and with a blind distempered zeal Preaching such Doctrine as their private Spirits spirits of illusion dictate to them But let them know that their burning zeal without knowledge is like hell-fire without light Yet the greatest wonder of all is The Sacrament of the Lords Supper discontinued and why That they suffer the Lords Supper that Sacrament of Corroboration to be so much neglected in almost all the Churches in the Kingdome Is it because men usually before they receive our Saviour that blessed guest sweep the house cleane casting out of their hearts those living Temples of the holy Ghost Pride Ambition Covetousnesse Envy Hatred Malice and all other unclean Spirits to make fit roome to entertaine Jesus that prince of peace whereby the people having their mindes prepared for Peace Charity and Reconciliation may happily spoile the trade of our Grandees who can no longer maintaine their usurped dominion over them then they can keep them disunited with quarrels and feudes and uphold those Badges of factions and tearmes of distinction and separation Cavaleers Round-heades Malignants Well-affected Presbyterians and Indedendents or is it because they fear if the Church were setled in peace unity it would be a means to unite the Common-wealth as a quiet cheerfull minde often cureth a distempered body I will not take upon me to judge another mans servant but many suspect this is done out of designe not out of peevishnesse 3. That these Grandees governe by power 3 3. The Grandees rule by the arbytrary power of the Sword not by the Lawes not by loâ—â— and the the Lawes of the Land which was my last assertion appears by 1. The many Garrisons they keep up and numerous Army they keep in pay to over-power the whole Kingdome more then at first the Parliament Voted 2. Their compelling the Parliament to put the whole Militia of England and Jreland by Land Sea into the power of Sir Tho Fairfax and their party 3. Nor do they think the Laws of the Land extensive enough for their purposes therefore they piece them out with Arbitrary Ordinances Impeachments before the Lords and Marshall Law which is now grown to that height that the Councell of War Generall and judge Advocate of the Army doe usually send forth instructions to stay suites and release
judgements at Law or else to attend the Councell of Warre wheresoever they sit to shew cause to the contrary And when Lieut. Colonell Lylborne was ordered to be brought to the Kings Bench-Barre upon his habeas Corpus Easter Terme 1648. Cromwell sent word to the Lieutenant of the Tower not to bring him and Cromwell was obeyed not the Judges Thus the Laws of the Land are daily baffled that men may be accustomed to Arbitrary Government and those actions which no Law of the Land calls a crime may be interpreted Treason when our Grandees please to have it so 4. Their allowing Mony to some Committees to reward Informers Spies Intelligencers to betray even their nearest friends relations 5. Their holding Honest Generous and Grave men in suspicion and making the Houses of Parliament and Army snares to them expelling them with false and extrajudiciall Accusations 6. Their owning dishonest base minded men that have cheated the State as instruments fit to be confided in and associate with them in time of danger 7. Their impoverishing the people with confused Taxes decay of Trade and obstructing of the mint and thereby breaking their spirits 8. Their changing and dividing the Militia of London purposely to weaken it 9. Their not restoring to the Countries their Militia and trusting them to defend their owne houses as formerly 10. Their nourishing factions in the Common-wealth Schismes in the Câ—â—â—ch 11. Expelling learned Divines to let in ignorant men All these are Tyrannicall policies grounded upon the old principle That a Tyrant should deprive His Subjects of all things that may nourish courage strength knowledge mutuall confidence and charity amongst them which Maxime the best Politicians say containes the whole Systeme or method of Tyrannicall Government 4 4. The Independents divide the Taxes Spo les Preferments of the Land between them 4. As this encroaching faction have usurped all the Military and Civill power of both Kingdomes so they have Monopolized all the great Offices Rich imployments and Treasure of the Land They are cleerly the predominant party in all money Committees They give daily to one another for pretended Services Aâ—â—ars and loosses great summes of money many of their largisses I have already set down They gave lately to Colonel Hammond Governour of the Isle of Wight for his Table 20l. a week 1000l in money and 500l a year land to Major Gen. Skippon 1000l per annuÌ„ land of Inheritance to Col. Mitton 5000l mony All the cheating covetous ambitious persons of the land are united together under the name and title of The Godly the Saints c. and share the fat of the land between them few of them pay any Taxes but all the Land paies Tribute to them It is thought this Faction their under-Agents and Factors have cost this Common-wealth above 20 millions never laid forth in any publike service Nay the Treasurers and Publicans of this Faction have clipped and washed most of the mony that comes into their fingers before they pay it forth knowing that any mony that comes out of their fingers will be accepted two Gold-smiths are thought to be dealers this way yet they lay the blame on the Scottish Army as the Cuckow laies her brood in other nests 5. Having thus imped their wings for flight 5 5. The Independents provided of Places of retreat to flie to they have provided themselves of places of retreat in case they cannot make good their standing in England Ireland is kept unprovided for that they may find roome in it when necessity drives them thither If their hopes faile in Ireland they have New-England Bermudas Barbadas the Carybi Isles the Isle of Providence Eleutheria Lygonia and other places to retreat to and lay up the spoiles of England in nay they usually send chests and vessels with mony plate and goods beyond Sea with Passes from the two Speakers To let them passe without searching the Navy is in their power to accommodate their flight and by their Instruments called Spirits they have taken up many Children and sent them before to be Slaves and drudges to the Godly in their schismaticall Plantations as the Turke takes up Tribute-children from the Christians to furnish his nursery of Janisaries and so they have their Agents that buy up all the Gold they can get Cromwell not long since offered 11000l in silver for 10000l in gold besides he is well furnished with the Kings Jewels taken in his Cabinet at Nazeby many of them known jewels as the Harry and the Elisabeth 6. Nor shall the vulgar sort of Independents either in Parlialiament Army or City fare better then the rest of the Kingdome 6 6. The vulgar Independents but props and properties to the Grandees The Grandees both of Parliament and Army endevouring to adjourn the Parliament and draw all the power of both Houses into the Committee of Derby-house consisting but of 20. or 30. the rest of the Independent Members will find their power dissolved in the adjournment and swallowed up by that Committee and rheir services forgotten nor shal they have any power in the Militia which is the only quarrell between them and the King the Grandees disdaining to have so many Partners in that which they have got by their own wits for know that the Grandees have alwaies been winnowing the Parliament First they winnowed out the moderate men under the notion of the Kings party then the Presbyterians and now they will winnow forth the lighter and more chaffy sort of Independents who stand for the Liberty of the people a thing which Cromwell now calleth a fancy not to be engaged for and so they will bring all power into their own hands Thus having contracted the Parliament into a Committee of Safety they will adjourne themselves though the Parliament cannot to Oxford or some other place which they more confide in then London and this is the setling the Kingdom without the King they so much ayme at and which they had rather the people should be brought to practically and by insensible degrees then by Declarations held forth to them before hand or by politick Lectures in the Pulpit Thus is it decreed that this Caball of Godly men at Derby-house shall with a Military Aristocracy or rather Oligarchy rule this Nation with a rod of Iron and break them in pieces like a Potters vessell Observe that the Ordinance by which the Committee of Derby-house is revived and the additions of power to it are purposely penned in such ambiguous tearms that he that hath the Sword in his hand may make what construction of them he pleaseth neither were they clearly penned is it in the power of the Houses being but the Trustees of the people to transfer or delegate their trust to a lesser number of men a trust not being transferable by law and the people having chosen a Parliament not a Committee to look to their safety and peace 7 7. The Army hindeâ—â— Peace and Setlement