Members secluded the Majoritie of the House by their Vote of Ian. 11. 1648. upon the Armie-Officers false and scandalous printed Answer to them Ian. 3. touching the grounds of their securing and secluding them contrary to their Protestation Covenant the Privileges Rights of Parliament the Great Charter the Fundamental Laws and liberties of the Nation And not content therewith by their own Anti-Parliamentary anti-christian Usurpation to out act the old Gâ—npowder Traytors many degrees by the Armies assistance and opposing advancing themselves against all that is called God and worshiped they most traiterously set aside voted down suppressed the whole House of Lords as dangerous uselesse tyrannical unnecessary usurped engrossed the â—â—ile power oâ—the Parliament of England and Supreme Authority of the Nation to themselves alone without King Lords or Majoâ—ity of their fellow secluded Members created a new Monstrous High Court of Iustice destructive to all our fundamental Laws Liberties and Justice it self wherein beyond all presidents since the creation they most presumptuously condemned murdered beheaded their own lawfull Hereditarie Protestant King against all their former Oathes Protestations Vows Covenants Remonstrances Declarations Obligations Allegiance the Laws of the Land the principlâ—s of the Protestant Religion and dissenting votes protestations disswasions of the secluded Lords Commons Scots Commissioners London Ministers the intercessions of forein States and our 3. whole Kingdoms together with 3. Protestant Peers soon after After that close imprisoned my self Sir William Waller Sir William Lewes Major General Brown with sundry other Members divers years in remote Castles without any hearing examination cause expressed or the least reparation for this unjust oppression exercising far greater Tyranny over the Peers their old fellow Members and all English Freemen during the time of their Regality in every kind than the beheaded King or the worst of his predecessors Were not by a most just divine retaliation aâ—d providence when they deemed themselves most secure and established even for these their transcendent Treasons Perjuries Tyrannies violations of the Rights Privileget of Parliament their own sacred Oaths Protestation League Covenant suddenly dissolved dissipated thrust out of doors Apr. 20. 1653. by Cromwel and the Army Officers in a forcible shamefull manner with whom they confederated all along though they received new commissions from engaged to be true â—aithful to theÌ„ without â— King or House of Lords and branded by them to posterity in their printed Declaration b Apr. 20. 1653. as the curruptest and worst of men intollerably oppressing the people carrying on their own ambitious designes to perpetuâ—te themselves in the Parliamentarie and Supreme Authoritie the archest Trust breakers Apostates never answering the ends which God his people and the whole Nation expected from them c. Col. Harrison himself the Chairman at Windsor Committee to secure us being the very person imploied by Cromwell to pull their Speaker Lenthall out of the chair and turn him with his Companions out of doors Cromwell himself then stigmatizing Sir Henry Vanes Henry Martyn Tom Châ—lloner and others of them by name with the Titles of Knave Whoremaster Drunkard c. And not long after to requite his good Services he suddenly turned Col. Harriâ—on Rich and their party out of the Commons House by Force dissolved their Anti-Parliamentary Conventicle elected only by the Army Deâ— 11. 1653. whiles they were seeking God for direction and soon after cashiered both these * Collonels his former greatest Instruments out of the Army sent them close Prisoners to remote Castles garded with Army Troops And as they and their Troops when they seized Major General Brown with other Members besides and conducting them to Windsor Castle other Prisons refused to acquaint them whether they were to be sent So Mr. Iessâ—p the Clerk of their Council of State who brought these Colonels to the Coach at Whitehall garden door when they were conveyed to remote Castles and their Conductors denied to inform them to what places they wâ—re committed whereupon they cried out to the Troopers which garded them Gentlemen is this the Liberty you and we have fought for to be sent close Prisoners to remâ—te Garrisons from our wives and families they will not tell us whether Will you suffer your own Collonels Officers who have fought for Laws Liberties have been Members of Parlâ— to be thus usedâ— To which they answered as themselves did in the like case to other secured Members conducted by them We are commanded and must obey not dispute our Orders and so were hurried away aâ— an eye and ear-witnesâ— of the old Parliament related to me within one hour afâ—er Yea young Sir Hen. Vaâ— himself the bold prejudger of our Debaâ—es and Vote in the House touching the Kings concessions if not a promoter of our unjust seclusion â—or it was unexpectedly suddenly not only thrust ouâ— from all his Imployments as well aâ— out of the Hâ—use buâ— sent close Prisoner by Cromwel to Cariâ—brook â—astle in the Islâ— of Wight the very place where he betrayed his trust to the King and Parliâ—ment at the Treaty to gratify Cromwel who by an extraordinary strange providence sent him cloâ—e Prisoner thither for sundry months to * mediâ—ate upon this divine retaliation Whether may not all this dissolved Iuncto and itâ— Members from these wonderâ—ul Judgementâ— providenceâ— now conclude and cry out with that hâ—athen cruel Tyrant Adonibezeck Judg. 1.7 Aâ— I have doneâ— so God hath requited me And acknowledge the truth of Gods Comminations against all treacherous betrayers potent oppressorâ— of their Brethren Obad. 15. As thou hast â—one it shall be donâ— unto thee thy râ—ward shall return upon thine own head Ps. 7.15 16. He made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the ditch which be made his mischief shall return upon his own â—ead and his violent dealing upon his owâ— paâ—e Rev. 13.9 10â—If any man haâ—e an ear to â—ear let him heaâ— He that leadeth into Capâ—ivity shall go into Captivity He that killeth with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword Here is the patience and faith of the Sâ—ints O that all real and pretended Saintâ— in the dissolved Juncto and Army would now consider and believe it as â— lâ—tely pressed them to do in the cloze of my Good Old Cause truly staâ—ed and the false Vncased yet they would not regard it Whether their illegal forcible wresting the Militia of the Kingdom totally out of the Kingâ— hands into their own as their only security to sit in safety and perjurious engaging all Officerâ— Soldiers of the Armie in England Scotland and Ireland to be true faithful and constant is them without a King or House of Lords by subscriptionâ— in parchmenâ— Rollâ— râ—turned to them under all their handâ— contrary to their former Votes Declaratiâ—nsâ— Remonstrances Protestations Oathâ— Vows Covenants Trustâ— yea the very writs returns which made them Members their own Souldierâ— Army-Officers first Commissionâ— Declarationâ— Râ—monstranceâ— Proposâ—lâ—
Sâ—ymoâ— Sir Thomaâ— Soâ—e Sir William Striâ—klâ—nd â—ir John Temple Sir Thomâ—â— Trever Sir Humph. Tuâ—ton Sir William Waller Thâ—mâ—â— Viscount Wenman Sir Henry Woâ—sly Sir Riâ—hard Wynne Sir John Young In all 64. Esquiers Gâ—ntlemen and Lawyers Johâ— Alford Arthur Ansley Mr. Andrews William Ardington John Arundle Mr. Aâ—cough Francis Bacon Nathaniel Bacon Edward Bainton â—ol John Barker Maurice Barro Mr. Bell James Bence Col. John Birch Edward Bisâ— John Bowyer John Boyes Major Brooks Major General Brown Samuel Brown Serjant at Law Francis Buller John Bunkly Hugh Buscoen Mr. Buâ—ton Mr. Camble William Carrenâ— Col. Ceely Jameâ— Chaloner Mr. Clive Commiss. Copley John Crew Thomas Crompton Mr. Crowder Thomaâ— Dacre John Dormer John Doyle Mr. Drake Robert Ellison Mr. Eriâ—â—y Mr. Evelin Edward Fowel William Foxwiâ—t John Francis James Fyennis Nathaniel Fyennis Samuel Gardiner Francis Gerard Thomas Gewen William Glanâ—il John Glynne Serjant at Law Samuel Gott Thomas Grove Elias Grymes Brampton Gurdon Edward Harby Col. Edward Harley Major Harley John Hatcher John Haâ—don James Herbert John Herbert Mr. Hobby Thomaâ— Hodges Denzel Hollis Franciâ— Hollis George Horner Edmund Hoâ—kinâ— John Hungerford Col Hunt Mr. Jennings William Jones George Keckwich Richard Knighly Col. Lasselâ— Hâ—nry Lâ—urence Col Lee Mr. Lewis Col. Walter Long Mr. Lowâ—y Col. John Loyde Mr. Lucas Mr. Luâ—kin John Mainard Christopher Martin Major Gen. Edward Massey Thomas Middleton Thomaâ— Moorâ— William Morrice George Mountague Mr. Nash James Nelthrop Alderâ—an Nixon Mr. North Col. Norton Mr. Onslow Arthur Owen Henry Oxinden Mr. Packer Mr. Peck Henry Pellam William Peirpoint Jervase Pigot Mr. Potter Mr. Poole Col. Alexander Popham Mr. Povy Mâ— Priâ—ty William Prynne Alexander Pym Charles Pym Mr. Rainscraft Mr. Ratcliffe Charleâ— Richâ— Col. Edward Rossiter Mr. Scowen Mr. Scut Col. Robert Shâ—peot Col. Shuttleworth Mr. Spelman Mr. Springatâ— Henry Stapleton Robert Stanton Edward Stephenâ— John Stephâ—ns Nathaniel Stephens Mr. Stockfield John Swinfen Mr. Temple Mr. Terwit Mr. Thistlethwait Mr. Thomas Isaac Thomas Mr. Thynne Mr. Tâ—lson Jâ—hn Tâ—ever Thomas Twisden Serjeant at Law Mr. Vassal Mr. Vaughaâ— Thomas Waller Mr. West Heâ—ry Weston William Wheeler Col. Whitehead Henry Wilkes Captâ—in Wingate Mr. Winwood Thomas Wogan Mr. Wray Richard Wynne The Total Number 203. besides the House of Lords An Alphâ—betical List of all Members of the late dissolved Iuncto JAmes Ash Alderman Atkins William Ayre Mr. Baker Col. Bennet Col. Bingham Daniel Blagrave Mr. Brâ—wster Williâ—m Cawly Thomas Chaloner Mr. Cecil the self-degraded Earl of Saliâ—bury Robert Cecil his son John Corbet Henry Darley Richard Darley Mr. Dixwell John Dove Mr. Downeâ— Serj. Earl Will Ellys Mr. Feilder Mr. Fell Col. Charls Fleetwood Augustin Garland Mr. Gold John Goodwin Robert Goodwin John Gâ—rdon Mr. Hâ—llowes Sir James Hâ—rrington Col. Harvy Sir Arthur Hasilrig Mr. Hayes Mr. Herbert the self-degraded Earl of Pembrook Roger Hill Cornelius Holland Col. Hutâ—hiâ—son Col. Ingolâ—by Philip Jones Mr. Leachmore William Lenthall Speaker John Lenthall his son John Lisle Philip Viscont Lisle Thomas Lister Nicholas Love Col. Ludlow Henry Martyn a prisoner in execution Mr. Mayne Sir Henry Mildmay Gilbert Millington Col. Herbert Morley Lord Viscont Munson a prisoner in execution Henry Nevil Robert Nicholas Michael Oldsworth Dr. Palmer Alderman Pennington Sir Gilbert Piâ—kering John Pine Edmond Prideaux William Puresoy Thomas Pury Robert Reynolds Col. Rich Luke Robinsoâ— Oliver Saint-John Major Saloway Mr. Say Thomas Scot Major General Skippon Augustin Skinner Mr. Smith Walter Strickland Col. Sydenham James Temple Col. Temple Col. Thompson Serjant Thorpe John Trencher Sir John Trevor Sir Henry Vane Col. Waite Mr. Wallop Sir Thomas Walsingâ—am Col. Walton Sir Peter Wentworth Edmond Weaver Mr. White Serjeant Wilde Sir Thomas Witherington Sir Thomas Wroth. The totall Sum 92. Note That of these Members whereof two are since dead there entred only 42. into the House at first that the rest came in to them by degrees either to keep their old preferments gain new or regain the places they had formerly lost â—specially the Lawyers who notwithstanding their former complyances are turned quite out of Office and dis-Judged that 10. or more of them came in by New Writs issued in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England after the Kings behâ—ading and were no Members of the long Parliament That there were never 60. of them together in the House at once whiles they sate and but 57. on the 11. and 12. of October last upon the great debate between them and the Army Officers And some that sate formerly with them as the Lord Fairfax John â—ary and others refused to sit with them now as having not the least colour of Law to sit or act as a Parliament Yea their Speaker Mr. Lenthal told the Officers of the Army and Members who came to invite him to sit again May 6. That he had a Soul to save and that he was not satisfied in point of Law conscience or prudence that they could sit again Bâ—t at last when he considered he had an estate to â—ave as he told another Friend that over-ballanced all his former Objections and made him and other Mâ—mbers act against their judgements consciences and to forgâ—t our Savioâ—rs sad Qâ—aeres Mat. 16.26 What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Oâ— what shall a man give in exchange for his soul With that of Jer. 5.29.31 Shall I not visit for these things Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this And what will ye do in the end thereof To fill up the Vacant Pages of this sheet I shall propose 7. Quaeres more to this late dissipated Rump to which I expect their satisfactory Answer ere they presume to sit again as many of them endeavour 1. Whether they could with any colour of Law truth reason justice coâ—scienâ—e heretofore or can hereafter by virtue of their first Writs and Electioâ—s intitle themselves The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Scotland Ireland when by their Writs Elections and Indentures by which they pretended to sit they were only a small inconsiderable Fragment of the Parliament of the late King and Realm of England but never of the Realm of Scotland or Ireland which have their * distinct Parliaments from England and no legal Parliament of England Scotland or Ireland ever hitherto was or can be held without a King and House of Lords and a full House of Commons of which they are not the fift part 2. Whether those Interloping Members Elected since the Kings beheading and old Parliaments dissolution by his death by Writs only in the name of the Gaolers of the Liberties of England can fit act or joyne with the Tayl of the old Commons House elected only by the beheaded Kings Writs and so owning his Royal Authority in Deeds though abjuring it Kingship by their Declarations Votes Knacks Ingagements and new-coined Oathes Whether such a strange model as this be not a Violation of Deut. 22.9 10 11.
of all wickedness licentiousness villanies confusion and an immediat forerunner or concomitant of the Kingdoms and Nations desolation ruine by Gods own resolution Hos. 3.4 c. 10.3.7 Ezech 49.11 12.14 Isa. 33.11 12 13. Judges 17.6 c. c. 18.1 c. c. 21.25 Prov. 28.2 c. 30 21 12. Hab. 1.10.14 15. And is it not so now of ours 7. Whether the late Petition and Advice 1657. to reduce us again to a Kingdom and Kingship to which W. Lenthal Speaker Whitlock and many others of the dissolved Iuncto assented as it was first penned voted passed by them and many Army-Officers as the only means to settle us in peace honor safety prosperitie be not a convincing Argument that in their own Judgements Consciences Kings Kingly Government are Englands only true Interest to end our wars Oppressions distractions prevent our ruine and restore our pristine uniâ—ie peace honor safety prosperitie trade glorie And whether it be not a worse than Bedlam Madness yea grosse error both in policie and expeperience in our Republican Juncto and Army-Officers to endeavour to erect an Utopian Jesuitical Republike among us which hath produced so many sad publique changeâ— confusions and made us a meer floating Island tossed about with every winde of giddy-brain Innovators as the only means of our firm lasting happinesse and to prevent all future relapses to Monarchie after King Charls hiâ— beheading which this notable censure of the incomparable Philosopher * Seneca passed against that great Republicâ—n and Anti-royallist M. Brutus will abundantly refute Cum Vir magnus fuerit in aliis M. Brutus mihi videtur in hâc re vehementer errare qui aut Regis nomen extimuit cum optimus Civitatis Status sub Rege justo sit aut ibi speravit Libertatem futuram ubi tà m magnum praemium erat et imperandi et serviendi futuramque ibi aequalitatem civilis juris et Staturas suo loco Leges ubi viderat tot Millia hominum pugnantia non ne serviret fed 〈◊〉 our present condition between the ambitious usurping Antiparliamentary Juncto and divided Army-Commanderâ— all contending which * of them shall be the greatest and who shall most oppress enslave our Nâ—tions to their Tyrannie farr more exorbitant than the very worst of all our Kings Quantum verò illum aut rerum natura aut vrbis suae tenuit oblivio Qui uno interempto Rege defuturum credidit alium qui idem vellet Cum Tarquinius esseâ— inventus post tot Reges ferro et fulmine occisos even in Rome it self and we in England since the beheading of King CHARLES and voting down Kings Kingship with the old House of Lords and Ingagemenâ—s against them have soon after found a more than Royal Protector OLIVER usurping the Wardship of our poor Infanâ— Common-wealth aspiring afâ—er a Kingship and Crown whiles living and crowned in his Statue Herse Scuâ—â—heons as both KING and * CONQUEROR of our three Kingdomes after his death bearing Three Crowns upon his sword as an emblem of it a momentanie Protectâ—r Richard after him a new self-created other House assuming to themselves the Title of LORDS THE HOUSE OF LORDS after an old Lords House suppressed since that a CHARLES FLEETWOOD and IOHN LAMBERT aspiring after the Soveraign Power as their late and present actions Declarations more than intimate and dissolved Juncto affirm and an exiled Hereditarie KING CHARLES with a numerous ROYAL POSTERITIE after him claiming the Crown and Kingship by lawfull indubitable Right declared ratified by the Vnrepealed Statutes of 1 Iacobi c. 1. 3 Iacobi c 1 2 4 7 Iacobi c. 6. the * Oathes of Supremacy Allegiance Fealâ—y of all Mayorâ— Recorders Freemen of every Corporation and Fraternity of all Iustices Iudges Sheriffs Officers of Iustice Graduates in Vniversities or Innes of Court Ministers Incumbents all Members of the Commons House of Parliament and all other Freemen sworn in our Leetâ— who by the powerfull assistance of their forein Friendâ— and Allies and domestick oppressed discontented divided ruined Subjectâ— will in all probabilitie be restored to the Crown sooner or later as Aurelius Ambrosâ—us after the murder of his Father and Brother by the Vsurper Vorâ—igerne was called in restored and crowned King by his own British Subjects to deliver them from Vortigerns and his invading Saxons Tyranny after 21 years usurpation and Edward the Confessor called in and crowned King by his Nobles and Subjects after 25 years dispossession of his right by the Daniâ—h Vsurpers and all the Danes expelled without any effusion of blood as I have * elsewhere evidenced at large out of our best Historians Whether Gods extraordinarie sudden trâ—ble miraculous overturning 1. of the Juncto when best established anâ— moâ—t secure after â—heir victorious Successes against the Irish Scots Hollanders Worcester-fight and League with Spain by their own Gen. Cromwel Apr. 20. 1653. 2. Of Prâ—t * Richard his Brother Hen. too Deputy of Irel. by his Brother Fleew Unkle Disbrow other Army-Officers after all their Oaths and Addresses to him from them and all the Officers Soldiers Navy most Counties Corporations in England Scotland Ireland to be true faithful loyal obâ—dient to and live and die with him in the midst of hiâ—Parliament declaring voting for and complying with him when most men thoughâ— it impossible to overâ—urn or depose him 3ly Of the revived Antiparliamentary Juncto after Sir George Booths and all their visible Opposites total rout and disappointment when * themselves and others esteemed them so well rooted guarded that there was no hopes nor possibility left of dissipatingâ— dissolving them or abolishing their usurped Regal and Parliamental power even by the very instruments that called them in and routed their Enemies all â—â— of them without any one drawn sword or drop of bloud that in a moment be not a real experimental verificâ—tion of Ezech. 21.26 27. by way of Allusion to our own Governours and Kingdom Thus saith the Lord God Remove the Diadem and take off the Crown this shall not be the sameâ— exalt him that is low and abase him thaâ— is high I will Overturn Overturn Overturn it till he shall come whose right it is and I will give it him 9. Whether the late Iunctoes and Aâ—my-Officerâ— doubling trebling quadrupling of our Nations Monthly Taxes Excises Militiaes Grievances Oppressions of all kinds by their usurped power their consumption devastation of all the Crown-lands Rents and standing Revenues of the Kingdom of Bishops Dean and Chapters lands and many thousands of Delinquents real and personal estates and greatest part of most â—ens privat estates only to make them greater Bondslaves to them than ever they were to any Kingâ— without benefiting or easing them in any kind and to murder one another by intestinâ— unchristian warrâ— Butcheries And their Monstrous Giddiness Intoxication in all their premised Councils New Models and Rotations of Government ever since they turned the Head of â—â—r Kingdoms which
of calling them out from thence into their own Protestant Dominions and Churches * Certainly if the righteous shall scarcely be saved where shall these most transcendent unpresidented unrighteons ungodly sinners who obey not but coutradict all these Gospel Texts appear and what shall their end be Verily the Gospel it self resolves and O that they would with fear amazement of spirit now seriously consider it when the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeâ—nce on them they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess. 1.7 8 9. * and shall receive judgement without mercy because they have shewed no mercy but the utmost extremity of malice and cruelty to the Souls and Bodies of their Protestant King and Brethren Whether the Junctoes and Armies late Proceedings against the King and Kingship were not the direct Plot of the Spaâ—iâ—lized Priests and Jesuitâ— as well in France as England Spain and elsewhere who contrived and promoted it to their power as I evidenced in my Speech Memento Epistle to my Historical Collection My true aâ—â— perfect Narrative and Vindication of the old and new secluded Members at large and shall fâ—rther clear by this ensuing Letter the original whereof I have twice read â—ound by Mr. Sherley a Book-seller in Little Britain in whose hands â—t is amongst the Books of Mr. Patricke â—arre Priest to Don Alonso de Gardenas the Spanish Ambassador which he bought of him at this Ambassadors house when he was departing hence upon the breach with Spain 1653. within a year after this Letters date which he soon after shewed to divers Gentlemen one of them who took a copy thereof promising to shew it to Cromwel himself The Superscription of it is in Spanish directed as is conceived and the Letter imports to this Patricke Carre an Irish Priest and Iesuit under the name of * Don Pedro Garsia the Letter it self is in English written it seems by some English or Irish Priest or Jesuit sent as an intelligencer by the Spanish Ambassador into Holland and France with whom the English were then in hostility but the direction for Letters to him is in French In the cloze whereof the Jesuitical and Spanish party in Paris expected our Anti-Parliamentary Iuncto whom they stile our brave Parliament as set up by and acting for them should espouse their quarrel and act their paâ—ts against the French and joyn with the Prince of Condee to câ—t off the King of France his head and all Kings else as they did the King of Englands by their instigation such Antimonarchists Traytors are these Jesuits Irish and Spanish Freers to all Kings and Monarchy Paris 10. of Ianuary 1652. SIR I Was no so ner in Holland then I writ to you but hearing nothing from you I concluded either you were very sick or that you received not my Letter I came hither in an ill time for the Kingdom is in great disorder upon the Kings recalling the Cardinal against all his Declarations This Town ready to declare in favor of the Prince and the Duke of Orleance who is now treating with the Duke of Lorrain for his Army If your dull * Archduke make no more advantage of this than of the disorders of the last Summer it 's pity but he were sent to keep Sheep WE EXPECT HERE OUR BRAVE PARLIAMENT WILL NOT LET THE GAME BE SOON PLAYED OUT I could wish Gallant Cromwell AND ALL HIS ARMY WERE WITH THE * PRINCE for I BEGIN TO WISH ALL KINGS HAD THE * SAME THE KING OF ENGLAND HAD I le say no more untill I hear from you but that I am Your unfeigned Friend T. Danielle I pray remember me to both my Cozens Direct your Letters A Monsieur Monsieur Canell demurant chez Mons-Marchant a la rue de pulle The Superscription is thus viz. A Don Pedro Garsia en Casa de Embaxador de Espanna que * Dios garde En Londres 9d There were many Papers and Notes written in Irish some concerning the affairs transactions of the late wars in Ireland found amongst these Books whence I conceive this Patrick Carre was an Irish Priest and Jesuite and that the * Spaniard had a great hand in that horrid Rebellion From the cloze of this Letter let all consider Whether it can be safe for any Popish as well as Protestant Kings to harbour such Jesuitical Antimonarchists and Regicides in their Kingdoms Courts who thus wish ALL KINGS beheaded and brought to Iustice as well as the late King of England by Cromwell and his Army or their own Subjects and how much all Kings ought to detest his president of the Jesuits contriving let them now cordially and timely advise for their own securitie Whether the Great swarms of Jesuites and Popish Freers in and about London by the Iunctoes and Army-Officers tolleration and connivence whose Jesuitical Antimonarchical Plots Counsels they have vigorously pursued be not the principal contrivers fomentors of all our changes of Government New Sects Opinions Mutinies in and Usurpations of the Army in whose Councils most intelligent Protestants have just cause to fear they have been and still are predominant there being multitudes of them in and about London under several masks some of them saying Masse in their Pontificalibus in Popish Ladies Chambers one day and speaking to and praying with their Soldiers in the Army or in Anabaptistical or Quaking Conventicles the next day of which there are some late particular Instances I shall relate one only more general and worthy knowledge Two English Gentlemen of quality one of them of mine acquaintance travelling out of England into France in May 1658. and hiring a vessel for their passage three strangers who came from London desired leave to passe over with them which they condescending to suspected one of them at least to be a Jesâ—it by his discourse and during their stay at Paris saw all three of them there walking often in the Streets in their Iesuits habits In August following they being at Angiers in France there repaired to their lodging an Englishman in his Friers weeds who informed them That he was an Englishman by birth but a Dominican Fréer by profession newly come from Salamanca in Spain and bound for England that he had been at Rome where he had left some goods with an Irish Iesuit who promised to return monies on them in France but had failed to doe it whereupon he was in present distress for mony to transport him to England desiring their favour to furnish him with monies which he would faithfully repay in London and if they had any Letters to send to their friends in England he would see them safely delivered The Gentlemen finding him to be an excellent Scholar of very good parts and eduâ—â—tion entertained him 5. or 6. daies at their lodging till they could furnish him
with monies and upon his Account as a Freer had a very good intertainment in the Monastery at Angiers by the Freers thereof During his stay there they had much discourse with him He told them he had been formerly a Student in Kings College in Cambridge after that at Salamanoa in Spain for 8. years Being demanded by them Whether there were not many Iesuites and Freers then in England He assured them upon his own knowledge they had then above five hundred Iesuites in London and the Suburbs and that they had at least four or five Iesuites and Popish Priests in and about London to every Minister we had there Whereupon they demanding of him How so many Iesuites and Priests were there maintained He answered That the Iesuites and every Order of Fréers had their several Treasurers in London who by Orders from their Provincials furnished them with what ever Monies they wanted by Bills of Exchange returned to them That all the Iesuites and Priests in England were maintained according to their respective qualities A Lords Son like a Lord and a Knights Son like a Knight and if they chanced to meet him in London at their return though he were now in a poor weed they should find him in Scarlet or Plush a better equipage than what he was in He would not discover his true name to them but upon discourse on a sudden he mentioned His Cozen Howard in England which made them suspect he was of that family He told them further that though we were very cunning in England yet the Iesuites and Priests there were too crafty for us lurking under so many disguises that they could hardly be discovered That there was but one way to detect them which they being inquisitive to know He said it was for those who suspected them to be Priests to feign themselves Roman Catholicks and upon that account to desire the Sacrament from them which they could not deny to give them after Confession to them being bound thereto by Oath by which means some of them had been betrayed He further informed them That himself had been at all the several Gathered Churches Congregations Sects in London and that none of them came so near the * Papists in their Opinions and Tenents as the Quakers among whom himself had spoken This relation one of the Gentlemen a person of honor and reputation the other being dead hath lately made to me three several times with his own mouth and will attest it for truth having related it to sundry others since his return into England Which considered Whether it be not the very High-way to our Churches Religions Ministers Nations ruine and destruction to list so many Quakers Anabaptists Sectaries in the Army and New Militiaes in most Counties where they bear the greatest sway and to disarm the Presbyterians and Orthodox Protestants as the only dangerous persons and put all their arms into Quakers Anabaptists and Sectaries hands headed steered by Iesuits Popish Priests and Freers as they have done in Glocester Colchester Cheshire Lancashire and endeavour to doe in other parts to cut all true Protestants throats and set up Popery by the Army which hath so much advanced it of late years before we are aware Let all true zealous Protestants in London and else where timely seriously consider and endeavour speedily to prevent and the Council of Army-Officers with their new Commitâ— of Safety too if they have any care of their Native Country or Protestant Religion before it be over-late Whether we may not justly fear that God himself in his retaliating Justice for the Iunctoes and Armies unparalleld Exile of their Protestant King and Royal posterity into Popish Territories and yet permitting such swarms of Jesuits Monks and Romish Vermin to creep in and reside amongst us may not give up the dissolved Juncto Army Council of Officers Soldiers and their posterities with our whole three Nations as a prey and spoil to these seducing dividing ravening all-devouring Wolves yea to the combined forces of our Spanish and French Popish adversaries to the utter desolation extirpation ruine of our Protestant Religion in the midst of our present divisions and distractions under a just pretext of restoring the exiled Royal issue to their hereditary rights and avenging the manifold indignities to them and their relations unless timely and wisely prevented by a prudent voluntary closing with loyal christian restoring them by common consent our selves in a full and free Parl. upon just safe honourable terms becoming us both as Men Christians Professors of the Reformed Religion And whether we be not ripe for such a universal desolating judgement as this if we consider Is. 24.16 17 18. c. 33.1 2. c. 59.1 to 19. 2 Chr. 3.6.15 to 21. Mich. 2.2 3 4 5. Ezech. 35.14 15. Joel 3.6 7 8. or the late and present sufferings of most other Protestant Churches abroad not half so Treacherous Perfidious Wicked Execrable as we who are now become the very Monsters of Men the scandal shame reproach of Christianity and humanity in the repute of all the world Whether the Iuncto and Army-Officers who have like the a Hypocritical Israelites very frequently ordered celebrated many Hypocritical irreligious Mock-facts from time to time to fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse never yet observing practising that fast which God himself requireth to loose the bands of wickednesse to undo the heavy burthens to let the oppressed go free to break every yoke to deal their bread to the hungry to bring the poor exiled Protestant Royal issue and their English followers that are cast out by them to their Houses to cover the naked and not hide their selves from their own flesh who have hitherto made their publike and private dayes of Humiliation a constant Prologue to their ambition pride b and rebellious self-exaltation their dayes of praying to God a preface to their preying upon their brethren their seeking of God for direction and assistance in their designs a means to colour and promote the very c works of their father the devil their pretended following the secret impulses of the spirit of God the solâ— justification of d walking according to the Prince of the air the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience their making taking of solemn Oathes Vowes Protestations Covenants Engagements to be true faithfull oonstant loyal obedient to their Lawfull Kings their heirs successors superiors the Privileges Rights of Parliament our Fundamental Laws Liberties Religion c. a meer engin and diabolical stratagem more cunningly boldly audaciously perfidiously to betray undermine supplant subveâ—t them have not now just cause upon consideration of Isaiah 1.2 to 17. and chap. 58. to keep many publike private Fasts and dayes of Humiliation to confesse bewaile repent renounce and reform these their transcendent-crying wrath-provoking sins and abominations together with their e building up of Zion their New Republike Free-state