upon them unto the distressed and oppressed Commons or people of this Nation yea the setling of which principles is that that will thereby make it evident and apparent unto all rationall and understanding people in the world that the reall and hearty good and welfare of the people of this Nation hath cordially and in good earnest been that that their souls have hunted for and thirsted after in all the late bloody civill wars and contests All the Contests of the Kings party for his Will and Prerogative being meerly Selvish and so none of the peoples interest and the contest of the Presbyterians for their â—â—ke-bate dividing and hypocriticall Covenant no better in the least and the present contest of the present dissembling interest of Independents for the peoples Liberties in generall read the following Discourse pag. 27 28 29 meerly no more but Self in the highest and to set up the false saint and most desperate Apostate murderer and traytor Oliver Cromwel by a pretended election of his mercinary souldiers under the selfe name of the godly Interest to be King of England c. that being now too too apparently all the intended Liberties of the people that ever he fought for in his life that so he might rule and govern them by his Will and Pleasure and so destroy and envassalize their lives and properties to his lusts which is the highest treason that ever was committed or acted in this Nation in any sense or kinde either first in the eye of the Law or secondly in the eye of the ancient but yet too much arbitrary proceedings of Parliament or thirdly in the eye of their own late declared principles of reason by pretence of which and by no rules of Law in the least they took away the late Kings head and life which it there were any Law or Justice in England to be had or any Magistrates left to execute it as in the least there is not I durst undertake upon my life plainly evidently and undeniably to make good the foresaid unparalleld treasons against the foresaid Ol. Cromwel upon against all the three forementioned principles viz Law Parliament and Reason yea and to frame against him such an Impeachment or Indictment which way of Indictments is the true legall and only just way of England to be tried at the Common Law higher and greater then all the charges against the fourty four Judges hanged for false and illegal Judgments by King Alfred before the conquest which with their crimes are recorded in the Law Book called The mirror of Justice Printed in English for Matthew Walbank at Grayes Inn gate 1646. page 239. 240. 241. 242. 243. 244. 245. See also page 196. 197. 207. ibid. Or then the impeachment or accusation Of the Lord chief Justice Wayland and the rest of his brother Judges and Lawyers tormented in Edward the first his time and mentioned in Speeds Chronicle fol. 635. Or then the impeachment in Parliament against Judg Thorp who for taking small bribes against his oath was condemned to die in Edward the third his time of whom you may read in the 3. part Cooks Institut fol. 155 156. and in Mr. Pyms Speech against the Earl of Strafford in the Book called Speeches and Passages of Parliament pag. 9. Or then the impeachment 〈◊〉 a charge of the dethroned King Edward the second in full Parliament the maner of whose dethroning you may notably read in Speeds Chronicle fol. 665. Or then the many Articles of impeachment of the dethroned King Richard the second in full Parliament recorded at large in the Chronicles or History of Will. Martin fol 156. 157. 158. 159. the 8. 10. 12. 15. 21. Articles of which I conceive must remarkable as to the people which are extraordinary well worth the reading for in them the King himself in those dark days of Popery is charged To have perverted the due course of the Law or Justice and Right and that he destroyed men by information without legal examination or tryal and that he had declared the Laws of the Kingdom were in his own Erest just the same thing do Mr. Peters and other mercenary Agents of the Grandees of the Army now constantly declare of them and that by himself and his own authority just Cromwel and Ireton like onely much short of them he had displaced divers Burgesses of the Parliament and had placed such other in their rooms as would better fit and serve his own turn Or then the impeachment of the Lord chief Justice Trisâ—lian who had the worship or honor in Richard the second his time in full Parliament to be apprehended in the forenoon and hanged at Tiburn in the afternoon with his brother Judges viz. Fulthorp Belknay Care Hot Burge and Lockton or their associates Sir Nicholas Bramble Lord Mayor of London Sir Simon Burley Sir William Elinham Sir John Salisbury Sir Thomas Trevit Sir James Bernis and Sir Nicholas Dodgworth some of whom were destroyed and hanged for setting their hands to Judgments in subversion of the Law in advancing the Kings will above Law yea and one of them banished therefore although a dagger was held to his brest to compel him thereunto Or then the indictment of those two grand and notorious traitorly subvertors of the Laws and Liberties of England Empson and Dudley Privy Counsellors to Henry the seventh recorded in Cooks 4. part Institut fol. 198. 199 read also fol 41. ibid. and 2. part Instit fol. 51. Or then the impeachment of that notorious wicked and traiterous man Cardinal Woolsey by King Henry the eight his Privy Councel recorded in the 4. part Cooks Instit fol. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. Read especially Artic. 17. 20. 21. 23 25 26. 30. 31. 33. 35. 38. 42. in all which he is charged with Arbitrariness and subversion of the Law Or then the impeachment of the Shipmoney Judges who in one judgment did as much as in them lay destroy all the Properties of all the men in England read the notable Speeches against them in Speeches and Passages Or then the impeachment of the Bishop of Canterbury in the late Parliament Or then the impeachment of the Lord Keeper Finch Earl of Strafford Secretary Windebank Sir Richard Bolton Lord Chancellor of Ireland John Lord Bishop of Derry Sir Gerrard Lowther Knight Lord chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland and Sir George Ratcliff all whose impeachments are recorded in a Book intituled Speeches and Passages of Parliament from November 1640. to June 1641. Pag. 76. 77. to 83. and 117. 118. to 143. and 174. and 256. 257. 258. Or then the Articles or charge against the two Sir John Hothams the elder of which kept the King out of Hull the beginning of these Wars when the House of Commons durst not command him positively to do it although they were effectually put upon it by a motion from the younger then sitting in the House and yet they were both beheaded as Traytors for but endevoring to
King it was dangerous to the Kingdoms safety in this juncture of time to promote it lest it might occasion a clashing betwixt the two Houses which would now be very dangerous Unto which Mr Speaker my self c. answered to this effect That if the Lords had so concurred in these Votes that they had declared it had been their duty without dispute to have concurred to all such Votes as the House of Commons had passed there had been some ground to have pleaded for a respect unto them from us But seeing they so passed the Votes as in the passing of them they declare it to be their right to give their deniall to any Votes the House of Commons shall hereafter passe that doth not please them we are thereby engaged the rather to go on with our petition to pluck up this their destructive interest by the roots for future that had brought all our * See 1 part Book Decl. pag. 289 364 365 398 522 526 528 548 557. miseries and woes upon us For Mr Speaker if the Lords be considered in their Judicative power we shall find them as guilty of treason in subverting our fundamentall Laws and Liberties as ever the Lord of Strafford was who in his impeachment of high Treason by this House was accused in the 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. articles that he had traiterously subverted the fundamentall Laws of England and Ireland and introduced an arbitrary tyrannicall Government beyond and above Law in that he had upon papers †And if these very things should now be judged treason as they are and were in the Earl of Stafford I wonder what should becom of all our present Junto at Westminster and their new thing called A Councel of State undoubtedly the most if not all of them must go to Tyburn or Tower-hill there by an halter or axe to receive their just deserts Amen petitions and verball complaints without any due course processe or shadow of Law but meerly by the law of his own will outed divers of the Free-men thereof out of their liberties properties and free holds to the ruin and destruction of many of their families And truly Mr Speaker I must aver it and do aver it before this honourable House that the House of Lords are as guilty of this traiterous subverting of our fundamentall Laws and Liberties and introducing and exercising an arbitrary tyrannicall Government above and beyond all Law and Justice as he was and by the law of their own wils without any due course or processe of Law have outed divers Free-men of England out of their liberties properties and free-holds they themselves being complainents prosecutors parties witnesses Jury and Judges have passed most barbarous and tyrannical censures upon them to the apparent ruin of them and their families Yea and upon me have passed so barbarous and transcendent an illegal sentence that I am confident the like of it in all circumstances is not to be parallel'd in all the Earl of Straffords tyrannie And Mr Speaker let me freely tell you that unlesse this House do execute upon the present tyrannicall House of Lords or the mischievous law and libertie destroying Ring-leaders amongst them the Earl of Straffords punishment for what they have already done and for future take care to prevent their or any others exercise of the like arbitrary and tyrannicall power again I shall never justifie you for righteous and impartiall Judges or think that you have discharged your duty either to God or the Commonwealth who chose and trusted you to preserve their liberties and freedoms and punish those that destroy them The rest of my speech against the House of Lords Legislative power being already at large printed in the 14 15 16 17 pages of my answer of the 27 Feb. 1647. to Mr GUALTER FROSTS malicious and false declaration against me which I entituled A WHIP FOR THE PRESENT HOUSE OF LORDS OR THE LEVELLERS LEVELLED to which for brevities sake I refer the Reader and go on to the next thing in order being the main thing I intend as I upon the foresaid 19 day of January 1647. confidently and avowedly delivered it at the Bar of the House of Commons which is an impeachment of Treason against Cromwel c. profering againe and againe upon my life to prove it every tittle at their Bar which thus followeth And now Mr. Speaker I must acquaint you that there was occasion adminstred My charge against Cromwell and his Son Ireton to talke of Lieutenant General Cromwell and his late gross apostacy from patronising the peoples Liberties an Freedomes and here Sir it was declared with admiration and astonishment that Lieut Gen Cromwell who was once the glory of Englishmen in visibly appearing for Justice and Freedome both against the King the Earl of Manchester and the whole House of Peers c. and who had a principall hand in so many gallant Declarations of the Army in diverse of which freedome righteousnesse and Justice was published to the whole Kingdom most gloriously †As you may clearly read in the Armies Book of Declarations page 8. 17 23r 25 26. 32. 33. 35. 37. 39. 40. 41. 45 46. 52. 58. 61 62. 76 97. 101. 105. 110. 112. 118 119. 132. 137. 142. 144. 150. That this very Lieut. Gen. Cromwell whose name for honesty once rung and eccho'd throughout England should now apostate from his former declared gallantry and honesty and turne his back upon his owne solemne Declarations Remonstrances and Ingagements and persecute with bitternesse even to death and bonds righteousnesse truth and justice in all those in the Army he met with it in and now of late become a grand patron protector and earnest pleader for the preservation of all the grand corrupt and inslaving interests in England was a wonder and astonishment that he that had the gloriest praise and opportunity put into his hands that ever God put into the hands of an English man to do good unto his native Country and to settle the Laws Liberties and peace thereof in their lustre and glory should be courted out of all his principles protestations and engagements by a little selfish glitering worldly or corrupt honour and to convert his power and interest to the quite contrary to make us slaves and vassals was the admiration and wonder for all knowing observing and unbiased English men and the greatest mischief that ever befel the honest men of the Kingdome having divided them amongst themselves that formerly were one in their pursuing the firme establishment of the Common rights and freedomes of their native Country diverse honest men having his person in admiration either for advantage sake or former good services sake would not see their owne danger and misery nor willingly would suffer their friends and neighbours to see that fatal ruine and destruction that by his meanes and HIS ALONE was likely speedily to come upon them and the whole Nation by means of which we are so divided amongst
AN IMPEACHMENT OF HIGH TREASON AGAINST Oliver Cromwel and his Son in Law Henry Ireton Esquires late Members of the late forcibly dissolved House of Commons presented to publique view by Lieutenant Colonel Iohn Lilburn close Prisoner in the Tower of London for his real true and zealous affections to the Liberties of his native Country In which following Discourse or Impeachment he engageth upon his life either upon the principles of Law by way of indictment the only and alone legall way of all tryals in England or upon the principles of Parliaments ancient proceedings or upon the principles of reason by pretence of which alone they lately took away the Kings life before a legal Magistracy when there shal be one again in England which now in the least there is not to prove the said Oliver Cromwel guilty of the highest Treason that ever was acted in England and more deserving punishment and death Then the 44 Judges hanged for injustice by King Alfred before the Conquest or then the Lord chief Justice Wayland and his associates tormented by Edw. 1. Or then Judg Thorpe condemned to dye for Bribery in Edw. 3. time Or then the two dis-throned Kings Edw 2. and Rich. 2. Or then the Lord chief Justice Tresillian who had His throat cut at Tyburn as a Traitor in Rich. 2. time for subverting the Law and all his associates Or then those two grand Traytorly subverters of the Laws and Liberties of England Empson and Dudley who therefore as Traytors lost their heads upon Tower-hill in the beginning of Henr. 8. raign Or then trayterous Cardinal Wolsey who after he was arrested of Treason poysoned himself Or then the late trayterous Ship-Money Judges who with one Verdict or Judgment destroyed all our propertie Or then the late trayterous Bishop of Canterbury Earl of Strafford Lord-Keeper Finch Secretary VVindebanck or then Sir George Ratcliff or all his Associates Or then the two Hothams who lost their heads for corresponding with the Queen c. Or then the late King Charls whom themselves have beheaded for a Tyrant and traytor In which are also some Hints of Cautions to the Lord FAIRFAX for absolutely breaking his solemn Engagement with his souldiers c. to take head and to regain his lost Credit in acting honestly in time to come in helping to settle the Peace and Liberties of the Nation which truly really and lastingly can never be done but by establishing the principles of the Agreement of the Fâ—â—â— People that being really the peoples interest and all the rest that went before but particular and selvish In which is also the Authors late Proposition sent to Mr Holland June 26. 1649. to justifie and make good at his utmost hazard upon the principles of Scripture Law Reason and the Parliaments and Armies ancient Declarations his late actions or writings in any or all his Books Ier. 5.26 27 â—8 29. For among my peoyle are found wicked â—en they lye in wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap they catch men As a cage is full of Birds so are their houses full of deceit therefore they are become great and waxen rich They are waxen fat they shine yea they overpass the deeds of the wicked they judg not the cause the cause of the Fatherless yet they prosper and the right of the needy doe they not judg Shall I not visit for those things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged of such a Nation as this Imprinted at LONDON Anno Dom. 1649. The Author to the Courteous Reader COurteous Reader There wanting room at the conclusion of this Discourse to make a Postscript I am necessitated to make it upon the back of the Title page that being the last printed and to acquaint thee that divers weeks agoe this discouse was all in a manner printed which I have been necessitated to keep in ever since by reason of a little liberty I obtained of the day time to visit my sick and distressed family which by sicknes have been sorely afflicted by the wise hand of him that dispenseth all his dealings to those that truly know him in mercy and loving kindnesse with the bowels of a loving father yea in afflictions his seeming frowns hath that end in them to draw the souls of his nigher and closer to himself and that thereby they may truly and substantially see that in the naked injoyment of himself that is not to be found in all earthly or creature objects or delights and his wise hand having thought it fit to exercise my faith and patience by taking away both my Sons from me who were the greatest part of my earthly delight in this world and brought my wife and daughter even to deaths door which affliction I must truly acknowledge made me unfit to think almost of any earthly thing and became unto me a greater tryall of my dependence upon God then ever I had in my life especially being not alone by my self but a company like Jobs with many other bitter ones but my sweet father letting me see his hand in it and being merciful to me in sparing and recovering my wife and daughter and hath as it were brought my spirit to its selfe which hath made me wait for a righteous and hoped for composure betwixt my unrighteous adversaries and my self and which if it had come I had burnt this discourse in whose promises I constantly find nothing but meer delusions and therefore am compelled in my own spirit to let this fly and the rather because Sir Arthur Haâ—â—erig and Colonel Fenwick treacherously and theevishly have not only without any pretence of Law and Justice but their meer wills seized upon above 1000l of my estate in the North but also most maliciously detaine it in their hands and are so resolved to do which action tends to the apparent ruine and destruction of me and the rest of my Family remaining alive whose wickednesse in this particular c. I have hinted at in the following discourse pag 6. 8. as also in the 12 page of the late second edition of my Book Entituled The legall Fundamentall Liberty of the People of England revived the 2 last pages of which I also intreat the Reader carefully to peruse which with other grand oppressions both general and particular remaining upon me in severall particulars and also seing no rationall hopes of any just composure I am resolved being I am in manner a weary of any thing I can see abroad through the assistance of God to be as prodigall of my pen and life for the future as my bloody and tyrannicall adversaries are of their oppression cruelty tyranny and blood-thirstines and so I rest this present August 1649. as much as ever IOHN LILBURN To all the Affectors and Approvers in England of the London Petition of the eleventh of September 1648. but especially to the owners of it by their subscriptions either to it or any other Petition in the behalf of it and particularly to the
were not visibly faln out I told Cromwel very freely and plainly of as appears by my Letters to him of the 22 of June 1647 and the 1 of July 1647. and in my Advise to the Adiutators of the 16 of July 1647. All which I caused immediatly after to be Printed in my Book called Jonahs cries out of the Whales belly and the like in my little Book called the Juglers Discovered and I am sure it was August following when the Armies Head quarters were at Kingston where Cromwel begun to be afraid of the Adiutators apprehending his underhand and night Juglings with the King to maâ—â— himself able like Cardinal Woolsey to say I and my King which he was afraid the Adiutators should take too much notice of although long before their power and authority was destroyed and therefore was not willing they should at all remain or lodge at the Head quarters although Crumwel had weeks and some moneths before designedly and of set purpose with all his power and interest walked in a continual breaking and trampling the engagement under his feet and therefore about that time he and his agents set that Petition a foot to rid the Head quarters of the Adiutators that they might not so much as see his baseness but alas that Petition could not null and destroy that that was broken nuld in efficacy and power annihilated long before but yet I could not for all this ever hear that Petition was one tenth part so formall as they report it to be But from what hath been already said and in time will speedily be declared it is evident that the General and the Officers at St. Albans broke their solemn engagement with their Souldiers and the Kingdom immediatly after it was made and tyrannically and treacherously invaded their Rights and Freedoms which bred heart-burnings and those divisions which the publique enemy so called took the advantage of and so came on the wars God ever after their abominable and villanous appostacy filling their hands with troubles and confusions besides loss of reputation and good name upon whose score alone lies the true guilt of all the blood-shed in the last years war and of all the miseries that since have befaln Ireland * Which they might easily have relieved if they had pleased with those forces they disbanded in several places of the Nation immediately after the making the foresaid Engagement or with those twenty they the last Spring disbanded out of every Troop and Company Part of which in discontent at their base using of them run to Laughorn and Poyer and others to Goring Capel and others to Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the Scots but Cromwel it seems was resolved then That no forces should go to relieve Ireland till he went with them with an absolute Commission to be King of Ireland Which Commission though he hath got yet he may fail of his expected Town both there and elsewhere and this year again is likely by forraign invasions of strange Nations and by intestine broyles to befall England and therefore if you love the Lord Fairfax tell him that though people at the present deal by him and Cromwel c as the Parliament used to do with the King laying all the evill of his actions upon his evill Councellors yet he and his Officers in their Remonstrance from St Albons 16. of November 1648. say That the King himself is the reall Fountain and true originall from whom principally all that mischief hath issued that of late in his Raign hath befaln the Kingdom being himself the principall Author and causer of the first and second War and thereby guilty of all the innocent blood spill therein and of all the evils hapning thereby pag. 17. 19. 23. 24. 61. 62 64. whos 's one example in doing Justice upon to future Generations would be of more terror and avail then the execution of his whole party pag. 47. 48. It being as they say a most unjust and unconscionable thing to punish inferior Ministers the accessories and let the King the principall go free pag. 50. Even so though most men now lay the blame of all the Armies apostacy baseness perfidiousness and treachery upon Cromwel and Ireton as the Generals evil Councellors yet they his Screen betwixt him and the peoples wrath being gone from him toward Ireland he will now appear nakedly and singly to be as he is in himself and let him take heed lest from his by-past constant signing assenting to approving of and acting in all their perfidiousness treachery and baseness with his present carriage now he stands as it were a Noun Substantive upon his own legs and may now most gloriously act honestly and justly if he please without their controul or any others and so regain his lost credit and reputation if wickedness and baseness be not as largely inherent in his heart as it is in either Cromwels or Iretons I say let him take heed from all his actings the knowing and seeing people do not justly conclude him to be the principal Author and causer of all their miseries distresses and woes and so in time serve him as he hath served the King and only put Cromwel Ireton Haslerig Bradshaw Harrison c. in Hambletons Hollands Capels Gorings and Owens places as but accessories or dependants upon Fairfax the principall But my true friends I shall hear take upon me the boldness in regard of the great distractions of the present times to give a little further advice to you from whole company or society or from some of them hath begun and issued out the most transcendent clear rational and just things for the peoples Liberties and Freedoms that I have seen or read in this Nation as your notable and excellent Petition of May 20. 1647. burnt by the hands of the common Hangman Recorded in my Book called Rash Oaths unwarrantable pag. 29 30 31 32 33 34 35. with divers others Petitions of that nature and the Petition of the 19 of Jan. 1647. Recorded in the following discourse pag. 45 46 47 48 c. and the masculine Petition of the 11. of Sept 1648. so much owned by Petitions out of severall Counties yea and by the Officers of the Armies large Remonstrance from St. Albans of the 16. Novemb. 1648. pag 67 68 69. The substance of all which I conceive is contained in the Printed sheet of paper signed by my fellow prisoners Mr. Will. Walwin Mr. Tho Prince Mr. Rich. Overton and my self dated the 1. of May 1649. and intituled An Agreement of the free people of England c. The principles of which I hope and desire you will make the final Center unwavering Standard of all your desires hazards and indeavors as to the future settlement of the peace and government of this distracted wasted and divided Nation the firm establishing of the principles therein contained being that only which will really and in good earnest marry and knit that interest what ever it be that dwells
our selves that it was impossible for all the professed enemies we had in England to have put such a mischievous division amongst us the bitter fruites of which we had lamentable experience of every day in that it deprived us of the vigorous pursuing of al effectuall meanes to preserve and secure our selves from that eminent ruine and destruction that is even at our very thresholds And therefore it behoved us with all our might to presse hard forward according to the marginall note of our Petition to get our Lawes so strictly setled as though it were impossible that ever an honest man should be borne into the world to be an executor or administrator of them we having found it too true a maxime by experience in Lieut Gen CROMWELL alone that whosoever meanes to settle good Laws must proceed in them with a sinister or evil opinion of all man-kind and suppose ESPECIALLY AFTER HIS GROSSE APOSTACY that whosoever is not wicked it is for want of opportunity and that no State or People can be wisely or securely confident of any publick minister whatsoever continuing good longer then the rod is over his head And Mr Speaker it was further declared that though he might now seeme to face about and to intend just and righteous things to the Kingdome by reason of his late forwardnesse in the late Votes against the King for no more Addresses to Him Yet what rational man could groundlesly judge that he thereby intended a reall good to the Kingdome especially considering that in the very neck of those Votes he and his faction that he hath at command at the head-quarters published a Declaration to the whole Kingdome to maintaine the House of Lords in all their tyrannicall usurpations the continuance of whose Law-making interests is perfect vassalage and bondage to the whole Nation as I have before undeniably and fully proved or the rather may not any rationall knowing man conclude that Lieut Gen Cromwel's and his Son Ireton's late spight against the King did procceed only from animositie and revenge against the King because he had forsaken them and accepted of a better bargaine from the * For so saith Mr John Wildman in his Truths Triumph 7. 8. and he was conversant then at the Head-quarters and knew almost all secrets See also his Putney projects Scots who for their preservation it may be were not onely willing to give Him His Negative voice and an hereafter possession of the Militia but a present right in it and possession of it the which if he enjoyed the Army-Grandees and their accomplices could not reigne over the people as they intended to do for undoubtedly if the King would have taken and accepted of their conditions and stuck close to them and imbrace no other lovers they would never have been so angry with Him but withall their hearts have helped Him to His Crown Throne againe which is evident and clear from Iretons transcendent pleading for Him and new Addresses to Him in this House and the open Councels at Putney c. and Mr Speaker while they accused Mr Hollis and Sir Philip Stapleton c. for high Treason for under hand tamperings with the King they themselves out-stript them at that very time in that which they declared a crime in them for Mr Speaker their under hand tamperings with the King were but petty ones to those grand ones these apostates had for Mr Speaker as I said among my friends I do now aver at this Bar having my relation from so knowing good hands upon the place that I dare ingage at my utmost peril before this House at this Bar to prove by exceeding good testimony to this effect That when the proposals of the Army had past the great or Generall Councell of the Army for so themselves called it and therefore I wil give it the same name Commissary General Ireton declared to diverse of the chief Officers he would send a copy of them to the King which being opposed by them he replied that he was engaged by promise to send a copy to the King and therefore he would send one though the General hanged him for so doing And Mr Speaker he did send one to the King and that by the hands of Cromwels own Major viz. †Which Major Huntington confesseth and averreth in the 6th and 7th pages of his printed reasons for laying downe his Commission which by way of impeachment against Cromwell and Ireton he delivered into both Houses of Parliament August 2. 1648. which because of the pertinency of it to prove the most of my charge against him and because it comes from one that then lay at his very heart and was his choice agent and instrument in most of his underhand negotiations with the King then the joy of his heart and the delight of his eyes I shall incert it verbatim at the last end hereof and intreat the judicious Reader to peruse it seriously as as true a piece I believe as ever was Printed in England and so I often declared it to be in my thoughts to diverse of Cromwels owne friends when it was first delivered to both Houses though I could not joyne with Huntington at that time in the prosecution of it for Duke Hamiltons hostile invasions sake though I was often solicited to it by great ones and I believe then in my lownesse might have had money enough to have done it but I abhorred it as Mr Cornelius Holland with other present Parliament-men very well knowes and also my reasons therefore Major Huntington who then was the bosome and indeared darling of both Iereton and his Father Cromwell and it viz. the Copy of the proposals was delivered to the Kings owne hands who read it over and WITH HIS OWNE HANDS BLOTTED AND RASED OUT WHAT HE MOST DISLIKED and enterlined it with His own hand in some places which very Copy thus curtail'd and guelded the King sent back to Ireton and IRETON CAVSD THIS GVELDED COPY OF THE KINGS TO BE PRINTED TO THE VIEW OF THE KINGDOME AS THE ARMIES ‖ The Anatomy of which by Mr. John Wildman you may fully read in Putney's Projects pag. PROPOSALS when as indeed in truth Mr Speaker they were no other then the Proposals of the King and himself and therefore no wonder the King to the Parliament so pressed to Treat upon these Proposals as He did so that here was once declared affection enough to the King But Mr. Speaker I do further aver and upon my life profer at your command to produce at this Bar a Gentleman of good quality and of very much integrity and a man of much repute amongst all the honest men in the Army who comming from London to Westminster with me not long since voluntary and freely told me to this effect wâ—â—h avowed confidence to justifie it That Cromwels Son that commands the Generals Life-guard taking notice of his aversenesse to his fathers designâ—s in his continuall crossing him and his
to his posterity for ever And as I told my friend Mr. Speaker the Report might arise from this which relation is true and hath not been delivered to me once nor twice but oftner But Mr. SPEAKER I shall acquaint you further that I in part acquainted my friend how ingenuously I had dealt not only with my Lord WHARTON but the whole House of Peeres in that I obeyed their first Warrant they sent to me to come to their Barr the 10th June 1646. and immediatly as soon as I was served with it being about six a clock on the next morning at my own house and I was to appear before them at Ten the same morning I went immediately to my Lord Whartons house and he being not stirring I desired his servant to tell his Lordship what had happened and that in regard I was obliged to their House for the late Justice they had done for me about my reparations against the Star-chamber Judges BEING OLD SIR HENRY VANE c. I was resolved for ingenuity and gratitudes sake to vaile my Bonnet to them as farre as with honesty and a good conscience I could And therefore it was that I had obeyed their Warrant and promised to appear at their Barre which as I sent him word was more then by Law I was bound unto but yet when I came there I was resolved at their Bar to protest against their jurisdiction over a Commoner but I could doe no lesse then acquaint his Lordship with it before-hand that so if he pleased to save and preserve the honour of their House he might if not I would doe it if I dyed for it And if his Lordship pleased I would meet him at the stroke of Nine a clock at COL FLEETWOODS in black Fryers to talk with him further about it where he appointed to meet me and away went I to a friend and drew up my Protestation leaving him one copy to print in case I were imprisoned and I took another with my hand and seal to it and accordingly Mr. Speaker I met my Lord at Col. Fleetwoods house who as I remember was gone abroad whereupon I walked with my Lord to the black-Fryers bridg where we had a large discourse about the Lords originall jurisdiction over Commoners and I shewed him my protestation the marrow of which he read and I earnestly intreated him that he would be pleased to speak to the EARL OF ESSEX AND WARWICK AND MY LORD ROBERTS who was the principall man that had done all my businesse for me and tell them from me I bore so much honourable respect unto them and their House that if they pleased to command me to wait upon them I would and upon all the rest of the Lords in the house and freely answer them to any questions that they in honour could demand of me and I in conscience return an answer to alwayes provided they talked not with me as a House nor a Committee from their House for having been fighting for my Liberties and Freedoms I protested unto his Lordship before the God of Heaven and Earth and so I wish'd him to tell them that if they forced me to their Bar I both must and would protest against their incroachment upon the Commoners Rights and appeal for justice against them to the House of Commons although I died for it immediatly And his Lordship told me he beleeved the House of Commons would not stand by me and I answered I was confident they would for it was their own Interest but if they would not I told his Lordship now I knew my Liberties I would never betray them while I breathed And this my Lord I tell you further and do professe it before Almighty God that if your House will not be ruled by reason but by their greatnesse think to crush me and by force engage me in a contest against you I so well understand the firmnesse of the grounds upon which I go that I will venture my heart bloud against you and never make peace with you till either you have destroyed me or I have pâ—ucked you or your Vsurpations up by the roots So away he went and kept it off till about one of the clock And Mr. Speaker when I was called in to their Bar in going in I put no affront upon them but went bare-head and gave them three or four conges with all respect before I came to their Bar where they fell a playing the High Commission Court with me in examining me upon Interrogatories against my self which forced me to deliver in my Protest against them so that Mr. Speaker I am sure I pick'd no quarrell nor sought any with them But now Mr. Speaker being so deeply engaged against them by their own folly as I am for the preservation of the Laws and Liberties of my native Country against their trampling them under their feet in the enjoyment or practise of their usurpations I will never make peace with them while I live but studie night and day how to pluck them up by the roots which I am confident Mr. Speaker is also the duty of this House if they will rightly and truly discharge their duty to the Kingdom according to that trust they have reposed in them The Reader may be pleased to take notice that at the Bar when I was speaking of writing of Letters I took notice of one of the priests positive Charges which was that I had writ a Letter to Sir Anthony Weldon of Kent which I told M. Speaker was the absolutest lye in the world for I never had a hand in the least in writing or indicting a Letter to Sir Ant. Weldon neither did I read or heard read any Letter unto him But M. Speaker said I there is well nigh forty lyes more as palpable ones as this in his Relation which I dare with confidence aver it at this bar if I had in writing verbatim the very relation that he hath now made before this House by word of mouth for all his confidence that I could by multitude of witnesses of upright life conversation in all their conversings with their neighbours and of untainted fidelity to the Parliament and the common interest of the Kingdom in the worst of times punctually prove the greatest port of forty absolute lyes and falshoeds in his present confident relation and for his averring that I said or it was said at the meeting that we would only make use of the Parliaments name and of our Petition to them for a cloak to colour our raising of the people til we were strong enough to destroy them M. Speaker I aver it with confidence upon my life there was no such thing spoken at all in the foresaid meeting or any thing so much as tending thereunto all the time I was there but the absolute quite contrary the truth of which I am confident will if need require be averred upon Oath by the generality of the whole Company then met together And therefore Master
Speaker I shall draw towards a conclusion but being that which followed is printed at large in the 17 18 19 20 22 c. pages of the forementioned Book Calleda Whip for the present House of Lords I for brevities sake shall here passe it over and refer the Reader if he pleases to the perusing of it there where also he will find I was like to be murthered at the House door by their Guard because I would not go to prison but by vertue of a Warrant made according to that forme the law requires all Mittimusses to be but being overpoured with drawn Swords and bent Muskets I was forced to the Tower as a pretended Traytor And therefore to record to posterity the despâ—rate and inveterate malice and hatred of Cromwel and his associats against the Liberties and freedoms of England who to the breadth of an haire are like those wicked men in Christs time unto whom in Mat. 23 13. he thus speaketh But wo unto Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither goe in you selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in Even so traiterous bloody and ambitious Cromwell and his wicked associats wil neither do good themselves in settling the Liberties of England nor suffer those that would to doe it therefore woe unto them hypocrites and painted Sepulchers who for all their fair pretences hate the Liberties of England more then they do the Devil and rather then the people shall enjoy any real good for all the cost and hazards in seaven yeares wars for their Liberties and Freedoms and so rid themselves of their Lordly and tyrannicall yoaks they wil shake Kingdoms and Nations and hazard all yea their own lives by dint of Sword in new and bloody Wars rather then the people shall enjoy their Liberties or those without an imprisonment for Traytors that fairely and justly prosecute them the last war in this Nation and all the innocent blood shed therein lying principally upon Cromwel and Iretons sâ—â—re for breaking all their faith promises and engagements made unto the Kingdom for their glorious sâ—tling of their Liberties which they not only failed in but begun to set up a selfish and Tyrannicall Interest of their own and persecuted unto death and bonds the zealous sticklers for the peoples welfare liberties and freedoms which begot heart burnings and divisions and thereby put the people into fury and madnesse which brought in an inundation of bloudshed For the demonstrating this in part take here A Copy of the Petition for promoting of which M. Iohn Wildman and I were imprisoned a matter of seven months as Traytors which thus followeth To the Supream Authority of England the Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT The earnest Petition of many Free-people of this Nation SHEWETH THat the devouring fire of the Lords wrath hath burnt in the Bowels of this miserable Nation untill it s almost consumed That upon a due search into the causes of Gods heavie judgements we find a) a) Ezek. 24.6.8.9.10 Amos 5 9 10 11 12. Mic. 2.2 3. 3.3.4 9 10 11 12. Nahum 3 1.2.19 Hab. 1.3.4 6. 2.8.11 12 17. Joe 3.6 7 8. that injustice and oppression have been the common Nationall sinnes for which the Lord hath threatned woes confusions and desolations unto any people or nation Wo saith God unto the oppressing City Zeph. 3.1 That when the King had opened the (b) (b) by Ship-mony Loane-mony Coat conduct mony Patents Monopolies c. Flood-gates of injustice and oppression (c) (c) See the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom Decem 1641. p. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 upon the people and yet peremptorily declared that the People who trusted him for their good could not in or by their Parliament require any account of the discharge of his trust and when by a pretended negative voice (d) (d) See the Kings Answer to the Petition of Right and also the Parlia Remon of May 19. 1642. 1 part Book Dec. pag. 254 284 285. See the Kings Answer to the Par. Dec. of May 26. 1642. p. 298. to Laws he would not suffer the strength of the Kingdom the Militia to be so disposed of that oppression might be safely remedied and oppressours brough to condigne punishment but raised (e) (e) See the Ord. for Militia 1641. 1 Book Dec. p. 89. 105. 106. 114 126. 175 176. 182. 243. 283 292. a War (f) (f) See the Par. Votes May 20. 1642. 1 part Book Dec. 259 See also p. 465. 509 576. 580. 584. 617 618. to protect the Subverters of our Laws and Liberties and maintain Himself to be subject to no accompt even to such oppâ—essions and pursuing after an oppressive power the Judge oâ— the earth with whom the Throne of iniquity can have no fellowship hath brough him low and executed fierce wrath upon many of his adherents That God expects justice from those before whose eyes he hath destroyed an unjust generation Zeph. 3 6 7. and without doing justly and relieving the oppressed God abhor fastings and prayers and accounts himselfe mocked Pro. 15.8 Isa 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. 29.13 14. 58.41 5 6 7. 66.2 3. Jer. 6.19 20. 7 9 10 11 14. Amos 5.6 7.15.21 22 23. Mich. 6.6 7 8. That our eyes fall with looking to see the foundations of our Freedome and peace secured by this Honorable Hâ—â—â—e and yet we are made to depend upon the Will of the King and the Lords which were never chosen or betrusted by the People to redresse their grievances And this Honorable House which formerly declared that they were the Representatives of all England and be trusted with our estates liberties and lives 1 part Book of Decla 264. 382. do now declare by their practice that they will not redresse our grievances and settle our freedoms unlesse the King and the Lords will That in case you should thus proceed Parliaments will be rendred wholy uselesse to the People and their happinesse left to depend solely upon the will of the King and such as he by his Paâ—ents creatâ— Lords and so the invaluable price of all the precious English bloud spilt in the defence of our freedoms against the King shall be imbezelled or lost and certainly God the avenger of bloud wil require it of the obstructors of justice and freedom Judges 9 23. That though our Petitions have been burned and our persons imprisoned reviled abused only for petitioning yet we cannot despair absolutely of all bowels of Compassion in this Honorable House to an enslaved perishing people We will nourish some hopes that you will at last consider our Estates are expended the whole trade of the Nation decayed thousands of families impoverished and mercilesse Famine is entring into our gates and therefore we cannot but once more essay to pierce your ears with our dolefull cries for Justice and Freedom before your delays wholy consume
ye worthie Trustees Let not your ears be any longer deaf to our importunate cries let not our destruction be worse then that of Sodom which was overthrown in a moment Let us not pine away with famine and be worse then those who die by the sword Oh dissolve not all Government into the prime Laws of Nature and compel us to take the naturall remedie to preserve our selves which you have declared no people can be deprived of (bb) (bb) See your Declaration of the 19 of May 1642. 1 book Declarat pag. 207. And your Declaration of Novemb. 1642. pag. 690. 726. 728. as also pag. 150. See the Armies book of Declarat p. 39. 40. O remember that the righteous God standeth in the Congregation of the mighty and judgeth among the gods and saith How (cc) (cc) Psal 82.1 2 3 4. long will ye judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked Defend the poor and fatherless do justice to the afflicted and needy deliver the poor and needy and rid them out of the hands of the wicked And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. Now judge O Heavens and give your verdict O ye sons of men where the Treason is in this Petition for which M. Wildman and I as the chief prosecuters thereof deserved seven months imprisonment as Traitors therefore or rather doth it not declare that Cromwel and the rest of his fellow-hinderers of the promotion and accomplishment of the just things therein contained the establishing of which would have in the eye of reason prevented all the late Wars and all the desperate hazards that were run thereby are as grand enemies to the Liberties and Freedoms of England as any of those ever were whom they have destroyed and as grand Traitors to their trust as ever piss'd against a wall meerly soly and only seeking themselves and their own tyrannicall domination by all their actions their pretences being but meer stalking-horses thereto as most cleerly appears by CROMVVEL'S own Majors Impeachment of him to the Parliament the copy of which thus follows Sundry REASONS inducing Major ROBERT HUNTINGTON to lay down his Commission Humbly presented to the Honourable Houses of PARLIAMENT 2 August 1648. HAving taken up Arms in defence of the Authority and Power of King and Parliament under the command of the Lord Grey of Warke and the Earl of Manchester during their severall imployments with the Forces of the Eastern Association and at the modelling of this Army under the present Lord General having been appointed by the honourable Houses of Parliament Major to the now Regiment of Lieutenant General Cromwel in each of which imployments I have served constantly and faithfully answerable to the trust reposed in me And having lately quit the said imployment and laid down my Commission I hold my self tied both in duty and conscience to render the true reason thereof which in the generall is briefly this Because the Principles Designes and Actions of those Officers which have a great influence upon the Army are as I conceive very repugnant and destructive to the honour and safety of Parliament and Kingdom from whom they derive their Authority The particulars whereof being a Breviate of my sad Observations will appear by the following Narrative First That upon the Orders of Parliament for disbanding this Army Li. Gen. Cromwel and Commissary General Ireton were sent Commissioners to Walden to reduce the Army to their obedience but more especially in Order to the present supply of forces for the service of Ireland But they contrary to the trust reposed in them very much hindred that service not only by discountenancing those that were obedient and willing but also by giving incouragement to the unwilling and disobedient declaring that there had been much cruelty and injustice in the Parliaments proceedings against them meaning the Army and Commissary Generall Ireton in further pursuance thereof FRAMED THOSE PAPERS AND WRITINGS THEN SENT FROM THE ARMY TO THE PARLIAMENT AND KINGDOM saying also to the Agitators that it was lawfull and fit for us to deny disbanding till we had received equall and just satisfaction for our past service Lieutenant-Generall Cromwell further adding That we were in a double capacity as Souldiers and as Commoners and having our pay as Souldiers we have something else to stand upon as Commoners And when upon the Rendezvouz at TRIPPLE-HEATH the Commissioners of Parliament according to their Orders acquainted every Regiment with what the Parliament had already done and would further do in Order to the desires of the Army the Souldiery being before prepared and notwithstanding any thing could be said or offered to them by the Commissioners they still cryed out for Justice Justice And for the effecting of their further purposes advice was given by Lieutenant Generall Cromwel and Commissary Generall Ireton to remove the Kings Person from Holdenby or to secure him there by other Guards then those appointed by the Commissioners of Parliament which was thought most fit to be carryed on by the private souldiery of the Army and promoted by the Agitators of each Regiment whose first businesse was to secure the Garrison of Oxon with the Guns and Ammunition there from thence to march to Holdenby in prosecution of the former advice which was accordingly acted by Cornet Joyce who when he had done the businesse sent a Letter to the Generall then at Kyton acquainting his Excellency that the King was on his march towards Newmarket The Generall being troubled thereat told Commissary Generall Ireton that he did not like it demanding withall who gave those Orders He replyed that he gave Orders only for securing the King there and not for taking him away from thence Lieutenant-Generall Cromwel coming then from London said that if this had not been done the King would have been 〈◊〉 away by the Order of the Parliament or els Colonel Graves by the advice of the Commissioners would have caryed him to London throwing themselves upon the favour of Parliament for that Service The same day Cornet Joyce being told that the General was displeased with him for bringing the King from Holdenby he answered that Lieut. Gen. Cromwel had given him Orders at London [a] [a] And I John Lilburn have heard from very good hands I will not now say from the Cornets own month that it was delivered to to him in Cromwels own Garden in Drury-lane Colonel Charles Fleetwood being by to do what he had done both there and at Oxford The person of the King b] b] And yet see the Generals Letter from Cambridge of 6 June 1647 of the Kings providential or accidentall coming to them without the privity of him or any of his Officers Armies book of Declarat p. 22. being now in the power of the Army the businesse of Lieutenan-Generall Cromwel was to court his Majesty both by Members of the Army and several Gentlemen formerly in the Kings Service into a good opinion and belief of the proceedings of the Army as
Command wherein I have served the Parliament for these five yeers last past and put my self upon the greatest hazards by discovering these Truths rather then by hopes of gain with troubled minde continue an assistant or abbettors of such as give affronts to the Parliament and Kingdom by abusing of their Power and Authority to carry on their particular Designs Against whom in the midst of danger I shall ever avow the truth of this Narrative and my self to be a constant faithfull and obedient Servant to the Parliament of England Robert Huntington August 2. 1648. Courteous Reader Before these REASONS of Major Huntington's just after the end of the foregoing Petition in pag. 53. should have followed the Copy of another very pertinent to the illustration of Cromwel's and his creatures malice at the Liberties of England But in regard it was forgot take it here and it thus followeth To the Honorable the chosen and betrusted Knights Citizens and Burgesses assembled in PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of divers wel-affected Free-born people of England inhabiting in and about East-Smithfield and Wapping and other parts adjacent SHEWETH THat as this honourable House was chosen by the people to rednesse their grievances so we conceive it our native right to meet together to frame and promote Petitions for your better information of all such things as are by experience found burthensome and grievous to the Common-wealth That accordingly this honorable House hath declared that it ought to receive Petitions though against things established by Law That in the use of this our native acknowledged right we together with Lieutenant Col. John Lilburn and Mr John Wildman were met together in East-Smithfield upon the 17 of January last and discoursed upon these ensuing particulars viz. Some scrupled the very petitioning this House any more as a thing from whence notwithstanding their having hazarded their lives for their Freedoms they had hither to received nothing but reproaches and injuries and were answered by one of the persons before-named to this effect That it was their duty alwayes and their wisdome in this juncture of time to use their utmost diligence to procure the settlement of the Common-wealth and that warr famine and confusion could no other way in probability be prevented And it was generally concluded that the most visible interest of the people was to uphold the Honor of this House and to preserve it from contempt 2. There was likewise an occasionall Discourse about the Right of the Lords to the Law-giving power And herein was debated the danger of such an Arbitrary authority as that is in its own nature residing in any persons during life and much more of its descending as an inheritance from Generation to Generation and somthing was added from our sad experience of the mischiefs which have ensued hereupon In particular it was declared how their exercise of that claim might be charged in reason with all the precious blood that hath been spilt in the late War because the King had never had opportunity to Levie an Army against the people and Parliament if the Lords had not deferred so long after many sollicitations by the Commons to passe the Ordinance for setling the Militia 3. It was also accidentally wondred at why LIEUTENANT GENERALL CROMWELL and COMMISSARY GENERALL IRETON should now of late urge That no more addresses should be made to the King whereas they have formerly pleaded that he might be brought in even with his negative voice Whereupon Lieutenant Colonell Lilburn related a story That a member of the House of Commons having information from a credible person That the King had promised Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell a blue Ribbond with a George and the Earldome of Essex besides other places of honour and profit to his Son Commissary Gen. Ireton resolved to become another Felton rather then to suffer his Countrey to be so betrayed But the Gentleman being disswaded by Friends and intelligence hereof being sent to the Lieutenant Generall a Fast ensued at the Head quarters ' and so he concurred with the House in the late Vote against the King Neverthelesse in Mr. Wildmans opinion he was necessitated into such a Turn because THE SCOTS having bid HIGHER for the King then he had done his offer was rejected and they relyed on 4. Some consideration was had about proportionable assistances towards the charge of printing our Petitions 5. It being among other things enquired whether there were any truth in this rumour That the Lords had sent to Lieutenant Colonell Lilburne and offered him 3000 l. to desist in the large Petition now abroad The Lieutenant Col. answered That it was a false groundlesse report and that he knew no occasion for it unlesse it were because a Lord had sent to him to tell him he would send him a token of his love if he thought it would be accepted To which he answered That he would not be engaged to any Patentee Lord and some other words to that effect 6. There was a relation made by a person that some poor people in THE COVNTRY did meet together in Companies and did violently take away the Corn as it was going to Market saying that it was their great necessity caused them so to do whereupon we fearing lest the calamity might be more generall did ask how we should best preserve our selves in case of such Tumults because we bore the names of Round heads INDEPENDENTS c. for adhering to the Parliament and we satisfyed by Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburn to this purpose Friends The only way for you to be secured is to pâ—omote this Petition to the House that so when the people come to be enformed by the Petition of your reall intentions to the common good of the whole Nation as well as to your own you will be thereby safer then those which have blew Ribons in their hats that being the Generalls Colours and the moderne badge of Protection 7. It was lastly delivered as from a good hand That some LORDS were willing their Law giving power should not descend as an Inheritance to their Posterity and that they were willing to part with their Priviledge of freedom from arrests This being the summe and principall matter of what passed at the aforesaid meeting as we are ready to attest upon our oaths if we shall be thereunto called And understanding that our said dear Friends Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburn and Master Iohn Wildman who are therefore deare to us because they have manifested themselves faithfull to the Publique stand committed by this House in relation to the said Meeting as Treasonable and seditious practisers against the State We cannot but be extreamly troubled not only in regard of their particular sufferings and our own equall concernment especially upon the conseqâ—ence thereof as tending in a great measure to the disinfranchisement of the Nation from whom the Liberty of complaining must then be taken away when most cause is given them to complain Wherefore your Petitioners do most humbly
with them for though Mr Speaker this House voted to this effect That the King seduced by evil councel had made War against the Parliament and people and that they are traitors that assisted * 1 part Book Decl. pag. 259 260 508 509 576 722 914. him And further declared That he had set up his Standard against the Parliament and people and hereby put the whole Kingdom out of his protection contrary to the trust reposed in him contrary to his oath dissolving Government thereby and that he in his own person marched up in the head of an Army by force of Arms to destroy the Parliament and in them the whole Kingdom their Laws and ‖ 1 part Book Decl. pag. 580 584 587 617 639 690. Liberties And yet Mr Speaker with the same breath declared The King is the fountain of justice and that he can do no †1 part pag. 199 304. wrong and forc'd the people to take Oaths and Covenants to preserve his person and yet at the same time gave the Earl of Essex and all those under him Commission To fight with kill and slay all that opposed them and declared the King in his own period marched in the head of an Army to oppose and destroy them and yet gave them a Commission to fight for King and Parliament So that Mr Speaker here is riddle upon riddle and mysterie upon mysterie which doth even confound and amaze the people and put them into Woods and Wildernesses that they could not see or know where they are or what to think of themselves or of the Parliament or of the King only this they very well know that their burthens are greater now then ever they were before and that they have been made fools in pretendingly fighting for liberty which hath brought them into bondage And that though it was formerly declared the King had no Negative voyce or Legislative power but is bound by his Oath to passe all such Laws as the people folk or Commons shall * 1 part Book Decl. pag. 205 â—06 208 268 269 270 705 706 707 708 710 713 714. chuse Yet now the Parliament send unto him again and again for his concurrence to their acts as though the giving of life soul and power to their actings were indiâ—putably and inseparably inherent in him and as though now their consciences told them they must crave pardon of him for all the actions they have done without him and against him O riddles and unfathomable mysteries sufficiently able to make the people desirous to be ignorant of their liberties and freedoms and never to hear of them more especially considering they have paid so dear pretendedly for the injoyment of them and yet after five years fighting for them know not where to find one of them But Mr Speaker they were told that in this petition the people had clearly held out unto them and that upon the undeniable principles of reason and justice the Kings Rights the Parliaments and their own and that the two former were and of right alwaies ought to be subservient to the good of the latter and they were told it was not so much persons as things that they doted upon and therfore undoubtedly those that should really hold out justice and righteousnesse unto the people was those that they would be in love with and therfore in mercy to our selves and in love and compassion to our native Country it was pressed that every man that desired to fulfill his end in coming into the World and to be like unto his Master in doing good should vigorously promote and further this just and gallant Petition as the principall means to procure safety peace justice and prosperity to the Land of our Nativity and knit the hearts and spirits of our divided Country-men in love again each unto other and in love unto us which they could not chuse but afford when they should visibly see we endeavoured their good as well and as much as our own there being all the principall foundations of freedom and justice that our hearts could desire or long after in this very petition And if our greatest end were not accomplished in our prosecuting of this petition viz. the Parliaments establishing the things therein desired yet the promoting of it would beget understanding and knowledge in the people when they should hear it and read it and discourse upon it and if nothing but that were effected our labour would not be totally lost for nothing did more instate Tyrants in the secure promotion of tyrannie then ignorance and blindnesse in the people And therfore for the begetting of knowledge it was requisite it should be promoted as also for healing of the divisions amongst the people and knitting them together in love that so their minds might be diverted from studying the destruction each of other to study the destruction of Tyrants that would in time destroy them all And Mr Speaker there was one in the company that made a motion to this effect That he did conceive it was more requisite at present speedily to second the Armies Declaration with a petition to encourage this House vigorously to go on to prosecute their late gallant Votes of Non-Addresses for so they were called to which was answered That in this petition was contained more then was in all all their Votes for it struck at the very root of all that Tyrannie that had enslaved and would enslave us viz. the Negative voyce in King and Lords both which the Votes did not and it was impossible that there could be an active Member in the House of Commons but knew that this petition was promoting all over the Kingdom which did abundantly declare greater encouragement to all those Members of the House that really intended good unto the Commonwealth then possible could be in a single complementall petition signed with 4 or 5000 hands such a petition being rather fit to puff them up then upon reall grounds to strengthen and encourage them fully to mind the peoples good and there was never a Member of the House whose design in the largest extent was no more then the pulling down of the King that so he might be a King himself but of necessitie he must receive more satisfaction and encouragement from the knowledge of the promoting this gallant unparallel'd petition which is a clear demonstration to the Parliament that those that promote it clearly understand that the King and the Lords Tyrannie and their liberties are inconsistent then he could do from a bare complementary petition which would also be dangerous to our selves in quashing the vigorous prosecuting of this that contained the ultimate of our desires and the sum of all those things that in this World we desired to make us happy But Mr Speaker it was again objected That seeing this petition struck so much at the House of Lords as it did who lately it was said had concurred with this House in their gallant Votes against the