others be not your selves cast away but in season and out of season labour labour to declare Christ not of contention and strife but sowe the word to effect that fruit may grow thereby And Lastly to the Commons who are tumidum instabile vulgus I shall only wish that they will labour for peace and according to their Royal Princes dictate in his late Declaration concerning Ecclesiasticall affairs acquiesce in his condescentions concerning the differences which have so much disquieted the Sate by which endeavour all good Subjects will by Gods blessing enjoy as great a measure of felicity as this Nation hath ever done which is the earnest prayer of Your c. T. M. No. 2. 1660. THE HISTORY OF Independency The Fourth and Last part THE former parts of this Book having traced the prevalent and strong Factions of Presbyterian and Independent The Proeme through the several devious pathes wherein they marched and with what devillish cunning they did each endeavour to be greatest by surprising or at least undermining the other until at last they unriveted the very foundations of Government by the execrable murther of their undoubtedly lawful Soveraign a crime so abhorred that it is even inexpiable not to be purged with sacrifice for ever I say these things having received so lively a delineation in the former parts shall need no new recitalls I shall then begin at the end thereof which was when the sacred Reliques of betrayed Majesty specie justitiae received a fatal stroke from blood-thirsty hands neither able to protect it self or be a shadow and Asylum for rejected Truth and unspotted Loyalty Thus in an unsetled and confused posture stood poor England when the Sceptre departed from Israel and the Royal Lyon was not only robbed of his prey but his Life which Barbarism once committed what did the Independent Faction now grown chief ever after stick at Having tasted Royal Blood the Blood of Nobles seemed but a small thing to which end and to heighten and perfect their begun villanies they erect another High Court of Justice for the Tryal of James Earl of Cambridge Henry Earl of Holland Lords H H. C. tryed George Lord Goring Arthur Lord Capell and Sir John Owen Knight whereof that Horslecch of Hell John Bradshaw was also President who with sixty two more as honest men as himself by a Warrant under the hands of Luke Robinson Nicholas Love and J. Sarland summoned for that purpose did accordingly appear upon Munday the fifth day of February 1648. for the putting in Execution an Act of Parliament as they called it for the erecting of an High Court of Justice for the trying and adjudging the Earls and Lords aforesaid with whom according to their fore-settled resolution making short work for they would admit of no plea of the five they presently condemned three to lose their heads on a scaffold in the Pallace-yard at Westminster Lords condemned on Friday the ninth day of March which day being come about ten of the clock that Morning Lieutenant Collonel Beecher came with his Order to the several Prisoners at S. James's requiring them to come away from whence they were immediately hurried in Sedans with a strong guard to Sir Thomas Cottons house at Westminster where they continued about two hours spending the whole time in holy devotion and religious exercises After which the Earl of Cambridge preparing first for the Scaffold after mutual embraces and some short parting expressions to and for his fellow-sufferers he took his leave and went along with the Officers attended on by Dr. Sibbalds whom he had chosen for his Comforter in his sad condition Being arrived at the Scaffold and seeing several Regiments both of horse and foot drawn up in the place after he had waited a little while with a fruitless hope and expectation of receiving some comfortable news from the Earl of Denbigh who was his Brother having sent for his Servant who being returned and having delivered his Message to the Earl of Cambridge privately he said So It is done now Hamiltons speech at his death and turning to the front of the Scaffold he spake to this effect That he desired not to speak much but being by providence brought to that place he declared to the Sheriff that the matter he suffered for as being a Traytor to the kingdom of England he was not guilty of having done what he did by the command of the Parliament of his own Countrey whom he durst not disobey they being satisfyed with the justnesse of their procedure and himself by the commands by them laid upon him and acknowledging that he had many wayes deserved a worldly punishment yet he hoped through Christ to obtain remission of his sins That he had from his Infancy professed the same Religion established by Law in the land That whereas he had been aspersed for evil intents towards the King all his actions being hypocritically disguised to advance his own self-interest hereto he protested his innocency professing he had reason to love the King as he was his King and had been his Master with other words to the same effect That as to the matter of invitation into the kingdom he referred himself to the Declaration then in Print and setting forth how ready and willing he was ever to serve the English wishing happinesse and peace to them and praying that his blood might be the last that should be drawn heartily forgiving all saying I carry no rancour along with me to the grave That his Religion was such as he spoke of before whose Tenets he needed not to expresse as being known to all and himself not of a rigid opinion being not troubled with other mens differing judgments with which words and forgiving all that he might have even the greatest animosity against he kneeled down with Dr. Sibbald and prayed with much earnestnesse and devotion which pious exercise performed and some short ejaculations passing between himself and the Doctor the Earl turning to the Executioner said Shall I put on another cap and turn up my hair Which way is it that you would have me lye Sir The Executioner pointing to the front of the Scaffold the Earl replyed What my head this way Then the Undersheriffs son said My Lord the Order is that you lay your head toward the High Court of Justice Then the Earl after some private discourse with his servants kneeled down on the side of the Scaffold and prayed a while to himself afterwards with a smiling and cheerful countenance he embraced the Doctor in his Arms and then his servants saying to them Ye have been very faithful to me and the Lord blesse you then turning to the Executioner said I shall say a very short prayer while I lie down there and when I stretch out my hand my right hand then Sir do your duty and I do freely forgive you and so I do all the World So lying down and having fitted himself Hamilton executed devoutly
Fleetwood James Temple Thomas VVayte Peter Temple Robert Lilburn Gilbert Millingon Vincent Potter Thomas VVogan and Iohn Downes And therefore though they be all attainted convicted of High Treason by the Law of the Land at a fair and legal Trial by a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer directed to several of the Judges learned in the Law and to divers other worthy and honourable persons yet they are not to suffer the pains of death but their executions are to be suspended until his Majesty by the advice and assent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall order the execution by Act of Parliament to be passed to that purpose The persons that have been taken were Thomas Harrison Adrian Scroop Iohn Carew Iohn Iones Francis Hacker Gregory Clement Thomas Scot Iohn Cooke Hugh Peters Daniel Axtel and VVilliam Heulet Thomas Harrison having received his Tryal and being condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered accordingly on Saturday betwixt nine and ten of the clock in the morning the thirteenth of October 1660 he was drawn upon a hurdle from Newgate to the place that is rayled in by Charing-cross where a Gibbet was erected and he hanged with his face looking towards the Banqueting-house at White-hall the fatal place pitched upon by those infernal Regicides for the solemn murther of our late Soveraign Charles the first of glorious memory when he was half dead the common Hangman cut him down cut off his privy members before his eyes then burned his bowels severed his head from his body and divided his body into four quarters which were sent back upon the same sledge that carried it to the prison of Newgate from thence his head was brought and set on a pole at the South end of Westminster-hall looking toward the City of London but his Quarters are exposed to view as a publick example upon some of the Gates of the same City His pleading at his arraignment were nothing but treasonable and seditious speeches rather justifying the crime he had committed then any whit relenting and so he continued a desperate Schismatick to the Church of England to the last moment of his breath 2. John Carew was the next that followed who at the time of his tryal endeavoured onely to justify the late Rump and their actings but that would not serve his turn for it was proved that he did consult and meet together with others how to put the King to death that he sate at the time of the sentence and signed the Warrant for execution so that the Jury found him guilty of compassing and imagining the Kings death for which he was also condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered c. which sentence on Monday the fifteenth of October in the morning was put in execution on the body of the said Carew his Quarters being likewise carried back on the Hurdle to Newgate but such was the goodness of his Majesty that upon the humble intercession of his friends he was graciously pleased to give them his body to be buried though his execrable treasons had merited the contrary 3 4. The next in order were Mr. John Coke the Solicitor and Mr. Hugh Peters that Carnal Prophet and Jesuitical Chaplain to the trayterous High Court upon Cooke's Trial it was proved against him that he examined witnesses against the King that he was at the drawing of the Charge that he exhibited it in the name of the Commons assembled in Parliament and the good people of England that this Charge was of High Treason that he complained of delayes prayed that the Charge might be taken pro Confesso and at last that it was not so much he as innocent blood that demanded Justice and that notwithstanding all this he acknowledged the King to be a gracious and wise King upon which the Jury found him guilty 2. Then Peters was set to the Bar against whom was proved that he did at five several places consult about the Kings death at Windsor at Ware in Coleman-street in the Painted Chamber and in Bradshaw's house that he compared the King to Barrabas and preached to binde their Kings in chaines c. That he had been in New England that he came thence to destroy the King and foment war that he had been in arms and called the day of his Majesties Tryal a glorious day resembling the judging of the world by the Saints that he prayed for it in the Painted Chamber preached for it at White-hall St. James's Chappel St. Sepulchres and other places upon which proofes the Jury finding him guilty also of compassing and imagining the Kings death the Court sentenced them viz. Cooke and Peters both to be led back to the place from whence they came and from thence to be drawn upon a Hurdle to the place of execution c. On Tuesday following being the sixteenth of October they were drawn upon two Hurles to the rayled place near Charing-cross and executed in the same manner as the former and their Quarters returned to the place whence they came since which the head of Iohn Cooke is set on a Pole on the Northeast end of Westminster-hall on the left of Mr. Harrisons looking towards London And the head of Mr. Peters is placed on London Bridge their Quarters also being exposed upon the tops of some of the Gates of the City 5. The next brought to Tryal were Scot and Clement Scroope and Iones against Thomas Scot was proved that he did sit and consult about the Kings death that he agreed to the sentence and signed the Warrant whereby the King was murthered that since he hath owned the business of the Kings death by glorying in it defending it and saying he would have it engraven on his Tomb-stone that all the world might know it which being high aggravations of his crime he was soon found Guilty by the Jury 6. Then Gregory Clement was set to the Bar who immediately confessed himself Guilty modo forma and so without troubling the Jury was set aside till Judgement 7. Next was brought Mr. Iohn Iones against whom the proofs were short that he did sit upon the King in that monstrous Court and that he signed the Sentence and horrid Instrument whereby the King was ordered to be put to death upon which the Jury found him guilty 8. Then Scroop was tried upon the like Indictment for compassing the Kings death and against him was proved that he sate in the Court and did Sentence the King and sign the bloody Warrant and after the coming in of his Majesty that now is justified the committing of that detestable murther for which the Jury finding him guilty the Court gave sentence of death against them as the former to suffer as Traytors and accordingly on Wednesday the 17. of October about 9. of the clock in the morning Mr. Thomas Scot and Mr. Gregory Clement were brought on several hurdles to the Gibbet erected near Charing-cross and were there hanged bowelled and quartered and about an houre after Mr.
Adrian Scroop and Mr. Iohn Jones together in one hurdle were carried to the same place and suffered the same pains of death being afterwards returned to Newgate and thence their quarters placed on several of the City Gates and their heads deservedly disposed on the top of London Bridge and other places These being thus dispatched having received the reward of their Treason Mr. Daniel Axtel and Master Francis Hacker were brought before the Court to be tried Against the first of whom viz. Axtell was in proof that is the imagining and compassing the death of the King that he bid his Souldiers cry out Justice Justice and Execution Execution and beat them till they did it That he bid shoot the Lady that spoke and call'd Cromwel Traytor saying not a quarter of the people of England consented to their wicked Charge that he said to Col. Huncks upon his refusal to sign the warrant for executing the King I am ashamed of you the Ship is now coming into Harbour and will you strike sayle before we come to Anchor that he laughed at the Transactions as applauding them while others sighed that after the King was murthered he kept Guards upon the dead body and knew who cut off the Kings head having sent one Elisha Axtell for the Executioner upon which proof the Jury found him guilty of the said Treason whereof he stood indicted 10. Francis Hacker was arraigned and by diverse witnesses it was sworn against him that he was Commander of the Halbeteers who kept the King prisoner and would not suffer any accesse to be unto him that he guarded him to their mock-Court and after kept him sure till he was murthered that he was one of the persons to whom the Warrant for execution was directed and that he signed it that he brought the King to the fatal block and was upon the scaffold being a principal agent about the Kings death for which horrid Treason the Jury found him guilty after which the Court sentenced both him and Axtell to suffer death as Traytors according to which judgement they were on Friday the 19. of October about 9. of the clock in the morning drawn upon one hurdle from Newgate to the common place of execution generally called Tyburn and there were hanged Mr. Axtel was bowelled and quartered and so returned back and disposed as the former but the body of Mr. Hacker by his Majesties great grace and favour and at the humble suit and intercession of his friends was given to them entire and by them afterwards buried The last of this crew that was for present execution was Will. Hulet against whom was proved that he was one of those which came with a Frock on his body and a Vizor on his face to perpetrate the horrid murther on the Person of the King and that being so disguised upon the Scaffold he fell down before the King and asked him forgivenesse being known by his voice that himself said He was the man that beheaded K. Charles for that he had one 100 l. and preferment That Hewson said of him that he did the Kings business upon the Scaffold That he either did cut it off or took it up and said Behold the head of a Traytor That being questioned about the said words he said whosoever said it matters not I say now it was the head of a Traytor with many other things to the like purpose for which most abhorred Treason the Jury found him guilty and he was condemned to be hang'd drawn and quarter'd at Tyburn This was the deserved Catastrophe that was set to these men who without any reason nay contrary to reason Lawes both Divine and Humane yea even in defiance of Heaven dipped their hands in the sacred blood of their lawful Soveraign according to that of the Wiseman The eye that mocketh his Father Rex Pater Patriae and despiseth his Mother Ecclesia est Mater the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out which which we see befallen them their heads in several places being become a spectacle both to Angels and Men and a prey to the Birds of the Aire In the last place it is provided by the said Act of Oblivion that if VVilliam Lenthal VVill. Burton Oliver St. Iohn Iohn Ireton Alderman Col. Iohn Disborrow Col. VVill. Sydenham Iohn Blackwel of Moreclack Christ Pack Alderman Richard Keeble Charles Fleetwood John Pyne Rich. Dean Major Richard Creed Philip Nye Clerk Iohn Goodwin Clerk Sir Gilbert Pickering Col. Thom. Lister and Col. Raph Cobbet shall after the 1. of September 1660. accept or exercise any Office Ecclesiastical Civil or Military or any other publick imployment within the Kingdome of England Dominion of VVales or Town of Barwick upon Tweed that then such person or persons as do so accept or execute as aforesaid shall to all intents and purposes in Law stand as if he or they had been totally excepted by name in the Act. The like penalty is imposed on all such who did give sentence of Death upon any person or persons in any of the late illegal or Tyrannical high Courts of Justice or signed the Warrant for execution of any person there condemned Thus by the blessing of God I have waded through the many intricate Meanders and Revolutions untill at last I have as it were brought you by the hand to see that desperate Faction of Indepencency as one may say laid into its Grave all the heads thereof being so annihilated by the Iustice of the known Law of the Land that I hope its memory shall be raked up in such an Eternal forgetfulnesse that posterity seeing no foot-steps thereof shall conceive it to be a bare name a mere notion or aliquid non ens of which in nature there can be no subsistance An Appendix HOw far the Treasons of faction have reached and how high they durst soare is to be seen before I shall onely now in short give a hint how highly the Law of England resents such impious acts I say then the wisdome and foresight of the Laws of this Land in all cases of Treason maketh this judgement that the Subject that riseth or rebelleth in forcible to over-rule the royal will and power of the King intendeth to deprive the King both of Crown and Life and this is no mystery or quidity of the Common Law but an infallible conclusion drawn out of reason and experience for the Crown is not a ceremony or Garland but as Imperial consisteth of preheminence and power This made former Traytors in all their quarrels against their Princes not to strike down-right because God unto Lawful Kings did ever impart such beams of his own glory as Rebels never durst look straight upon them but ever turned their pretences against some about them this caused the Judges sometime to deliver their opinions for matter in Law upon two points The first that in case where a subject attempteth to put himself into such strength as the King shall not be able to resist him
and plunderings fines and taxes but at last we must all be decimated We were tanquam Oves destined for slaughter and such was our misery there was none to redeem sad testimonies whereof were Geraâ—d Grove and others about this time whose blood only could expiate a crime they never thought or were guilty off In this unlimited posture of arbitrary power did the the Kingdom stand when that Arch-Machiavilian Cromwell adding strength to the wings of his ambitious mind soared an Eagle-height and made all the circumference of his actions to center at the royall State thinking with a grasp of the Scepter to ennoble his name and family not minding either the danger of the passage or the slipperriness of the station when arrived at the top And indeed such was his fortune that he did ascend the throne in which it was for the future his restless endeavour to settle himself and his posterity and the better to cast a seeming gloss of legality upon his usurpation Cromwels second Parliament confirm him as Protector he summons another Parliament in the Year 1656. hoping thereby to work his ends unseen and so he did as to the vulgar eye for soon after their meeting and first triall of their temper he so moulds them to his own humour by a recognition that they are over-hastily delivered of a strange abortion by them called the petition and advice c. in which with much solemnity though damnable hypocrifie they desire him to be King but in more general terms to take upon him the government and be chief Magistate which he very gravely considering of diverse dayes returnes his denyall in part but withall insinuates in part his willingness to be setled Lord Protector at which newes his faction rejoycing with many Eulogies for his humility in refusing the Kingship he is by the said Parliament who adjourned for the same end solemnly installed Protector at Westminster by Widdrington who was the Speaker to that convention by Whitlock Lisle Warwick c. And upon their resisting he is petitioned to accept of almost two millions by the year for his support to maintain a crew of idle wenches his daughters whose pampered lusts were grown almost insatiable 2. To erect a new house of Lords of his own Creatures who being indebted to him for their raising durst do no other than by a slavish submission perform his tyrannous will 3. To name his successor that so he might entail his yoke of tyrannical Usurpation and slavish oppression on the Kigdom and severall other things which with much adoe after many perswasive intreaties and much unwillingness God knowes he accepts of No sooner is this done The said Parliament dissolved but the fox laughs in his sleeve to see how he has cheated the Parliament And therefore to make them know their rider after a few words of exhortation to them of the want of them in the Country and the necessity of their retiring thither for the peace of the Nation with a friendly nod he dismisseth them and sends them home Thus with much cunning and dissimulation having attained the perfection of his desires Cromwell seeks to strongthen himself knowing that such greatness must be upheld with allies and every noble coat of armes must have his supporters he strengthens himself at home by intermixing with noble blood marrying own of his Daughters to the Lord Faulconbridge and an other to the heir apparent of the Earldom of Warwick the later of which though in the prime of his yourâ— finding the disagreement between Noble and Rebell blood was soon over-heated and by the suddenness of his death left his wife the widow of a loathed bed In the next place he seeks friendships and leagues abroad and intending to close with France He closeth with France he directly quarrels with the Spanyard and affronts him in severall places near about one time particularly he sends one part of the Fleet under the command of Pen to Hispaniola but with so little disadvantage that he was enforced to retreat thence with no small loss falling soon after on Jamaica with better success winning a part thereof though most inconsiderable the whole Island being not worth the tenth part of the blood and treasure it hath cost this Kingdom being no way at all serviceable either for the advance or security of trade in those parts Mazarine in France finding the benefit of these helps upon the very first motion strikes with him a league offensive and defensive Cromwell promising to assist the French with 7000. Men to maintain the war against the Flanders which at this time he sent they proving so helpfull by their valour that in a short time they gain Mardike Dunkirke gained Gravelin and Dunkirke the last of them according to articles being delivered up to the English in whose hand it yet remains In the interim while these things were transacting Cromwell suspicious of every blast of wind and fearfull of every motion contrives in himself to take off two or three of the most eminent of the Kings party in England to daunt the rest among whom he separates one layman Sir Henry Slingsby and one Churchman Dr. Dr. Hewits death Hewit for the slaughter and conscious to himself that they had done nothing contrary to the law of the land he durst not try them by a Jury but re-erects his monstrous high Court of Justice before which being brought they denyed the authority thereof as unwarrantable which so wrought upon the patience of Mr. Lisle their bloodily learned President and the rest of the gange that they according as they were fore-instructed by their Master Divell Oliver without any great matter of circumstance condemne them both to be beheaded which sentence was accordingly executed on them the 8th Day of June at Towerhill notwithstanding all the means their friends could use of engagements perswasions and money and the deep earnest and continued intreaties sollicitations and supplications of Mrs. Claypoole his best beloved daughter Mrs. Clapooles death for so inexorable he continued that like the deaf adder he stopped his ears to the charmer charme he never so wisely at which unheard of cruelty and for that Dr. Hewits Lady as is said was then with child Mrs. Claypoole took such excessive grief that she suddenly fell sick the increase of her sickness making her rave in a most lamentable manner calling out against her Father for Hewits blood and the like the violence of which extravagant passions working upon the great weakness of her body carried her into another World even at the heighest thereof No sooner did Cromwell receive the deplorable newes of this sad death of his Daughter but himself falls into a desperate melancholly Observe which never left him till his Death which was not long after Give me leave here to relate a passage which I received from a Person of Quality Viz. It was believed and that not without some good cause that Cromwell the same
and that neither but upon tryall Viz. during this present Parliament And the better and more legally to curbe them if they should begin to grow imperious they inserted the priviledge of the antient Peers as a good reserve concluding also to receive no message from them but by some of their own number During this time The intent of that Parâ—â—ment they had under consideration severall good Acts about the Militia against Excise concerning Customes c. and questioned diverse illegall imprisonments calling some Jaylors to the Bar and preparing a strict bill to prevent the unlawfull sending Freeborn Englishmen against their wills to be slaves in forreign Plantations They also examined severall grievances by the Farmers of the Excise Major Generalls and tyrannicall and exorbitant Courts of Justice The Committee of Inspections having by this time brought in their report by which it did appear that the yearly incomes of England Scotland and Ireland Committee of inspections report came to Eighteen hundred sixty eight thousand seven hundred and seventeen pounds and the yearly Issues to Two Millions two hundred and one thousand five hundred and forty pounds So that Three hundred thirty two thousand eight hundred twenty three pounds of debt incurred yearly by the ill management of double the revenew that ever any King of England enjoyed And to maintain the unjust conquest of Scotland cost us yearly One hundred sixty three thousand six hundred and nineteen pounds more than the revenew of it yields At these proceedings the Protector and the Army who were already jealous of one another Divisions between the Protector Praliament and Army grew both suspicious of the Parliament because the people begin to speake as if they expected great good from the issue of their Counsells therefore the Army least they should come too late put in for to get the power into their hands and according to the method used by them in like cases erect a Generall Councill of Officers who daily meet at Wallinford-house which the Protector hearing endeavours to countermine at Whitehall but they better skilled in their work than he was conclude a representation which is with speed both drawn and presented to him about the seventh of Aprill a copy whereof the next day after is sent enclosed by him in a Letter to the Speaker of the House who hereupon takes the Alarum and while the Protector thinks to secure himself by standing on his guard they not fearing the menaces of the Souldiers but resolving to behave themselves like true Englishmen on Munday the 18th of Aprill passed these votes following Resolved That during the sitting of the Parliament there should be no generall Concill or meeting of the Officers of the Army without direction leave and Authority of his Higness the Lord Protector and both houses of Parliament Resolved That no person shall have and continue any command or trust in any of the Armies or Navies of England Scotland or Ireland or any the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging who shall refuse to subscribe That he will not disturbe or interrupt the free meeting in Parliament of any the members of either house of Parliament or their freedom in their debates and Counsells Now that this bitter pill might be the easier swallowed knowing or at least believing that want of money was the thing that pinched in chief as to the private Souldier without whom the Officer was worthless they passed a vote to take into consideration how to satisfie the Arrears of the Army and provide present pay for them and also to prepare an Act of Indempnity for them But all this tended nothing to satisfaction for the Souldier being through Levened with the wicked designes of their Officers did nothing but murmur especially since the Protector in pursuance of the votes of the house had forbidden the meetings of the Officers so that now the animosities grew so high that guards were kept night and day by one against the other in which divided posture the management of affairs continued till Friday the 22. of April on which day early in the Morning Fleetwood Desborough and the rest of the Mutinous Officers Dicks Parliament dissolved with the greatest part of the Army at their beck the Cromwelian party not daring to stir got the supereminency and forced young Richard to consent to a commission and Proclamation ready pre-prepared thereby giving power to certain therein named to dissolve the Parliament although he had with much serious earnestness protested and promised rather to dye than be guilty of so pusillaminous an act which he was well assured would work for his confusion But actum est for the same day the black rod was sent twice to the house of Commons to go to the other house which they refused and scorned but understanding there were guards of horse and foot in the Pallace yard after some ebullient motions without resolving any question they adjourned till Munday morning the five and twenty of April and with much courage and resolution attended the Speaker in order through Westminster-Hall to his Coach even in the face of the Souldiery The Army having thus for the present missed their design resolve no longer to dally whereupon they lay aside their new Mr. Richard and all the Officers great and small with one consent take the Government into their own hands having shut up the house of Commons door whither when the Members came on Munday entrance was denyed them by the Souldiers who had possessed themselves of the Court of requests and all avenues in all places giving no other account to the Members than this Viz. They must sit no more The Army rew modelled The next meeting of Officers new modelleth themselves some they casheire as Whaly Ingoldsby Gosse c. others they re-admit as Lambert Haselrig Okey and others in which time not knowing how to behave themselves in such a condition and weary of the perpetuall toyle they foresaw they must still with ceasing undergo they mean to cast the burthen off from their own shoulders and to that purpose they send to some of their old hackney drudges of the long Parliament The Rump comes in as they then did call it at that time about London whose consciences they knew would digest any thing and did not care how per fas aut nefas so they might again be suffered to sit with severall of these I say upon the fifth and sixth dayes of May they had conference the last of which was at their never failing Speakers the Master of the Rowles house in Chancery-Lane where both Officers of the Army and pretended Members to the number of twenty sollicited William Lenthall Esquire to sit Speaker again but he objected diverse scruples in judgment and conscience But O how soon had the sweet ambition of domineering obliterated all such idle fancies yet nevertheless instantly fifteen Articles being agreed upon among themselves they conclude to meet in the house on Saturday the 7th