Garments and Orders Ceremonies Gestures be rooted out from amongstus Trouble they will bring upon us for the time to come if they be not now cut off Pag. 36. As to the KING and his PARTY what a sad thing is it my Brethren to see our King in the head of an Army of Babylonians refusing as it were to be called the King of England Scotland Ireland and chusing rather to be called the King of Babylon Those that made their Peace with the King at Oxford were Judases of England and it were just with God to give them their Portion with Judas Here follows next their Opinion of the COVENANT The walls of Jerico have fall'n flat before it the Dagon of the Bishops Service-Book brake its neck before this Ark of the Covenant Prelacy and Prerogative have bow'd down and given up the Ghost at its feet Take the Covenant and you take Babilon the Towers of Babilon and her Seaven Hills shall move It is the Shiboleth to distinguish Ephramites from Gileadites Pag. 27. Not only is that Covenant which God hath made wiâ—h Us founded upon the Blood of Christ but that also which we make with God Pag. 33. See now the TENDERNESS of these men of tender Consciences Whensoever you shall behold the hand of God in the fall of Babilon say True here is a Babilonish Priest crying 〈◊〉 alas alas my Living I have Wife and Children to maintain Ay but all this is to perform the Judgement of the Lord. Pag. 13. Though as Little ones they call for pity yet as Babilonish they call for Justice even to Blood pag. 11. We are now entring upon the State of the WAR wherein you will finde in the first place who sounded the Trumpet to it To you of the Honourable House Up for the Matter belongs to you We even all the GODLY MINISTERS of the Country will be with you The First Enginiers that batter'd this great Wall of Babilon who were they but the poorer and meaner sort of People that at the First joyn'd with the Ministers to raise the Building of Reformation Here is an Extraordinary appearance of so many Ministers to encourage you in this Cause that you may see how real the Godly Ministry in England is unto this Cause This was upon calling in the Scots And again If I had as many Lives as I have hairs on my head I would be willing to Sacrifice all those Lives for this Cause Ibid. You shall read Numb 10. that there were two Silver Trumpets and as there were Priests appointed for the Convocation of their Assemblies so there were Priests to sound the Silver Trumpets to proclaim the War And Deut. 20. When the Children of Israel would go out to War the Sons of Levi one of the Priests was to make a Speech to encourage them Nor were they less cruel and fierce in the Prosecution of the War then they were forward in Promoting it In vain shall you in your Fasts with Joshua lie on your faces unless you lay your Achans â—n their Backs In vain are the High Praises of God in your Moâ—hs without a Two edged Sword in your hand Pag. 31. The Bâ—od that Ahab spar'd in Benhadad stuck as deep and as heavily on him as that which he spilt in Naboth The Lord is pursuing you if you execute not Vengeance on them betimes Pag. 48. Why should life be farther granted to them whose very lifâ— brings death to all about them pag. 50. Cursed be he that with-h ldoth his Sword from blood that spares when God saith strike c. pag. And let it not be now pretended that this War was not Levy'd against the King for they both disclaim his Authority and even the opposing of him on expresse terms It is lawfull says Dr. Downing of Hackney in a Sermon to the Artillery Men for defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church to take up Arms against the King It is commendable says Calamy to sight for peace and Reformation against the Kings Command And Case again Why come not in the Scottish Army against the King If the Devil can but once get a Prophet to leave Gods service for the Kings he hath taken a Blew already and is ready for as deep a Black as Hell can give him pa. 28. But what do they say all this time to his AUTHORITY The Parliament whom the People chuse are the Great and only Conservators of the peoples Liberties pag. 2. They are the chief Magistrates pag. 38. All those that fought under the Kings Banner against this Parliament fought themselves into slavery and did endeavour by all bloudy and Treacherous ways to subvert Religion and Liberties pag. 9. The Lords and Commons are as Masters of the House pag. 22. The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England without the King 1651 were the Supreme Authority of this Nation The Houses are not only requisite to the Acting of this Power of making Laws but Coordinate with his Majesty in the very Power of Acting pag 42. The Reall Sovereignty here in England was says Baxter in King Lords and Commons pag. 72. And those that conclude that the Parliament being Subjects may not take up Arms against the King and that it is Rebellion to resist him their grounds are sandy and their Superstructure false pag. 459. 460. The next Point is their Animating the MURTHER of the KING Do Justice to the Greatest Sauls Sons are not spar'd no nor may Agag or Benhadad tho' themselves Kings Zimri and Cozbi tho Princes of the people must be pursu'd into their Tents This is the way to Consecrate your selves to God pag. 16. The Execution of Judgment is the Lords word and they shall be cursed that do it negligently And cursed shall they be that keep back their Sword in this Cause You know the story of Gods Message unto Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition pag. 26. But you shall now hear the MURTHER of his Sacred Majesty press'd more particularly in these Words Think not to save your selves by an unrighteous saving of them who are the Lords and the Peoples known Enemies you may not imagine to obtain the favour of those against whom you will not do Justice For certainly if you act not like Gods in this particular against men truly obnoxious to Justice they will be like Devils against you Observe that place 1 Kings 22. 31. compared with Cap. 20. It is said in Chap. 20. that the King of Syria came against Israel and by the mighty power of God he and his Army were overthrown and the King was taken Prisoner Now the mind of God was which he then discover'd only by that present Providence that Justice should have been executed upon him but it was not Whereupon the Prophet comes with ashes upon his face and waited for the King of Israel in the way where he should return and as the King passed
Insurrection who kept not any one Article that was there agreed upon the King called a Parliament that met Aug. 13. 1640 which at first was thought to be well enough disposed till Sir Hen. Vane then Secretary of State demanded Twelve Subsidies in stead of Six which put the Commons into such a flame that upon May 4. his Majesty by the Advice of his Council thought fit to Dissolve them In August following the Scotch Confederates holding very good Intelligence with the English entred England with an Army which the King oppos'd with what force he was at that time able to Raise upon his own Credit His Majesty upon this pinch summons his Great Council of Peers to assemble at York Sept. 24. where they met accordingly and advised the King to a Treaty which was held at Rippon and a Peace was there Concluded and Signed Oct. 26. His Majesty being ply'd in the Interim with Petitions to call a Parliament and his work cut out ready to his hand in the matter of Property and Religion Those Petitions might have been spar'd the King having before hand resolved to call a Parliament to meet on the 3d of November next They were no sooner met but they fell upon Grievances and Impeachments beginning with the Earl of Strafford and the Bishop of Canterbury and so proceeding till all his Majestys Friends were made Traytors and the Law it self was found to be the Greatest Grievance There is a Malignant and Pernicious Designe says the Remonstrance of Dec. 15. 41. of subverting the Fundamental Laws and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Justice of this Kingdom is firmly establish'd And there are certain Counsellors and Courtiers who for private Ends have engaged themselves to further the Interest of some Foreign Princes and States to the Prejudice of his Majesty and the State at Home Take notice now that the King had already by their own confession pass'd more Good Bills to the advantage of the Subjects then had been in many ages Coat and Conduct-money were all damn'd The Earl of Strafford beheaded The Archbishop of Canterbury Judge Bartlet and several other Bishops and Judges Impeach'd two Bills pass'd the One for a Triennial the Other for Continuance of the Present Parliament the Star-Chamber High-Commission Courts of the President and Council in the North taken away the Council-Table Regulated the Power of Bishops and their Courts abated Innovators and Scandalous Ministers terrifiâ—d by accusations the Forrests and Stannary-Courts brought within compass and yet after all this other things pa. 15. of main Importance for the Good of this Kingdom are in Proposition But their Intention pag. 19. is only to reduce within Bounds that exorbitant Power which the Prelates have assumed to unburthen mens Consciences of needless and superstitious Ceremonies Suppress Innovations and take away the Monuments of Idolatry To support his Majesties Royal Estate with Honour and Plenty at home with Power and Reputation abroad and by their Loyall Affections Obedience and Service to lay a sure and lasting Foundation of the Greatness and Prosperity of his Majesty and his Royall Posterity after him pag. 2. Declaring and Protesting further to this Kingdom and Nation and to the whole world pag. 663. in the presence of Almighty God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the discharge of that Great Trust which lies upon them that no Private Passion or Respect no evill Intention to his Majesties Person no designe to the prejudice of his JUST Honour and Authority engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of that War wherein the Kingdom was then Inflamâ—d Let us see now how well they acquitted themselves as to this Profession They put the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence by the Authority of Both Houses Pag. 96. They require anâ— Obedience to it Pag. 112. They Vote it a Breach of priviledge not to submit to any thing as Legal which they declare to be Law Pag. 114. And declare Pag. 150. that upon Certain Appearance or Grounded Suspition the Letter of the Law shall be emproved against the Equity of it and that the Commander going against its Equity discharges the Commanded from Obedience to the Letter to shorton the business they make it Treason upon any presence whatsoever Pag. 576. to assist his Majesty in the War with Horse Arms Plate or Monies and his Majesty Sums up the Malice of that Declaration in these Sixth Petitions First That they have an Absolute Power of Declaring the Law and that whatsoever they declare to be so ought not to be questioned either by King or people So that all the Right and safety of the Prince and Subject depends upon their pleasure Secondly That no Presidents can be Limits to bound their Proceedings which is so the Government of the Turk himself is not so Arbitrary Thirdly That a Parliament may dispose of any thing wherein the King or Subject hath a Right for the Publick Good speaking all this while of the remnant of the two Houses That they without the King are this Parliament and Judge of this Publick Good and that the Kings Consent is not necessary So that the Life and Liberty of the Subject and all the Good Laws made for their security may be dispos'd of and Repâ—al'd by the Major Part of both Houses at any time present and by any ways and means procured so to be and his Majesty has no Power to Protect them Fourthly That a Member of either House ought not to be troubled or medled with for Treason â—lony or any other crime without the Cause first brought before them that they may Judge of the Fact and their leave obtained to proceed Fifthly That the Soveraign Power resides in Both Houses of Parliament the King has no negative Voice and becomes Subject to their Commands Lastly That the Levying of Forces against the Personal Commands of the King though accompany'd with his presence is not Levying War against the King But to Levy War against his Laws and Authority which they have power to declare and signify is Levying War against the King and that Treason cannot be committed against his Person otherwise then as he is intrusted with the Kingdom and discharging that Trust and that they have a power to judge whether he dischargeth it or no. And all this still for the maintainance of the true Protestant Religion the Kings JUST Prerogatives the Laws and Liberties of the Land and the Priviledges of Parliament Pag. 281. Nay they will not allow the King any great Officer or Publick Minister the Power of Treating upon War or Peace or any matter of State conferring Honours no not so much as the Power of appointing any Officer Civil or Military without leave of the two Houses The Scale of their wickedness in One Word wherein their hireling-Pulpitiers fail in as pat with them as two Tallies was this First they fell upon the Kings Reputation they Invaded his Authority in the
Holy League of France The people being now prepar'd for any mutinous Impressions poyson'd in their affections to the Government besotted into the apprehension of Remote and Invisible dangers and United in the Resolution of Defending their Rights against all Opposers the Designe would have been there at a stand for want of matter to work upon if the Caball had not fed and entertainâ—d their fears and Icalosies with stories of Plots and Discoveries nearer hand where still the Parliament and the City were in the greatest hazzard One while the Northern Army was coming up and strong Guards appointed upon all Passes within 20. miles of London and then comes a Letter to the Close Committee of a Conspiracy to seize the Earl of Argile and some other Lords in Edenburgh And upon This an Order is presently issu'd out to the Justices of Middlesex Surry and Southwark to secure the City by strong Watches because says the Order the mischievous Designs and Conspiracies lately discover'd in Scotland against some Principall and Great men there by some of the Popish Faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maidtain Correspondency Here and practice the like mischief They had a Touch now and then at the mighty preparations of France and Denmark for the invading of the Nation and assisting the King to govern by an Arbitrary Power And then the Army under ground at Ragland Castle was a terrible thing and miraculously discovered by an Inn-keepers Servant at Rosse to Alderman Actons Coachman These whimses were but so many approaches toward the Militia and they are so extravagant that the man that was upon the place and can witness the effect of them has hardly the face yet to make the Report Upon Twelth Night 1641. the City was allarm'd at Mid-night with a Report of 1500 Horse that design'd to surprize the City Whereupon a matter of 50000 men were presently in Arms and the Women at work in the streets with Joynt-stools Empty Cask and other Lumber to interrupt their passage Upon the Kings making Sir Tho. Lâ—ford Lieutenant of the Tower the good women of the City could not sleep for fear of the Guns But yet without any Objection his Majesty presently puts in Siâ— John Byron They could make no exception against him till at last as my Authour has it Lieutenant Hooer the Aqua-Vita-man and Nieholson the Chandler enform the Common-Council that since he came to 〈◊〉 Lieutenant there was nothing to do at the Mint though it was made appear that the Mint had more business since this Gentleman was Lieutenant then ever it had in so short a time before But their Trade being in the Retail of Brooms Candles and Mustard their Ignorance in the other point might be the better excus'd In Aug. 1643. upon a Vote for sending Propositions of Peace to the King the very next day there were Papers scatter'd and posted up and down the City requiring all persons well-affected to rise as One man and come to the House of Commons next morning for that 20000 Irish Rebells were landed And this was the News of the Pulpits next day when though Sunday a Common-Council was call'd late at Night and a Petition there fram'd against Peace This Petition was next morning recommended to the Commons by Penington then Mayor with a Rabble at his heels declaring that the Lords Propositions for Peace would be destructive to Religion Laws and Liberties and that if they had not a good answer they would be there again the next day with double the Number We must not forget the design upon the Life of Mr. Pim by a Plague Plaister that was wrapt up in a Letter and sent him which Letter he put in his pocket for Evidence though he threw away the Plaister And there was another discovery that came as wonderfully to light a Taylor in a Ditch in Finsbury-Fields over-heard two men talking of a Plot upon the Life of my Lord Say and some other Eminent Members of both Houses and so the Design never took effect At this rate were the people guâ—'d from day to day with fresh and palpable Impostures never was any Nation certainly under such an Absession of Credulity and Blindness but as the Cause was founded in Hypocrisy so it was by Forgery to be supported And yet these Legendary Tales stood the Faction in very good stead by authorizing the People now and then to betake themselves to their Arms and to put themselves upon their Guard which did by degrees let them into the Command of the City Militia out of which Egg as one says came forth the Cockatrice of Rebellion Thus was poor England frighted out of a Dream of Dangers into cutting of Throats in Earnest Out of a fear of Popery into a prostitution even of Christianity and out of an apprehension of Tyranny into a most despicable state of Slavery The Change of Government now in agitation had been long in Project and no foresight wanting for the furtherance of the design None so diligent at the Military-Yard or Artillery-Garden as the zelots of the Faction and upon the Vacancy of any considerable Employment there who but they to put in for the Command Nor were they less industrious to screw themselves into the Bench of Aldermen and Common-Council insomuch that a Motion was made there with an Eye to two beggerly and Fanatical Captains that Honest men for that 's their Name when they are their own Godfathers might bear the Magistracy and the City the expence But what did all this amount to without a Fond of Mon Mony Arms and Amunition to carry on the Work So that their businesse was now to make sure of the CITY as the only means of their supply But that they found could never be brought about without a Lord Mayor for their Turns Or else reducing the Mayor and Aldermen to a Level with the Commons and establishing a firm correspondence betwixt Westminster and Guild-hall the One to Contrive and the Other to Execute So that this was the thing they pitch'd upon and the manner of their proceeding was as follows Having Pharisaically and Invidiously divided the people into Two Partys Themselves forsooth the Godly Party and the Friends of the Government the Papists a little before St. Thomas's day 1641. when the City chuses their Common-Council they calumniated the Old Common-Council men as men too much inclining to the Court sticklers for Episcopacy and the Common-prayer and not at all zealous for Religion just as we cry out against Papists and Pensioners now adays by this practice they worm'd out Honest men and chose Schismaticks into their places and instead of Sir George Benyon Mr. Drake Mr. Clark Mr. Gardiner Deputy Withers Mr. Cartwright and other Loyall and considerable Citizens they took in Foulk the Traytor Perkins my Lord Say's Taylor and Others of the same stamp and Value Now though the Election be on St. Thomas day they are never
Return'd yet before the Munday after Twelfth nor allow'd to Act as Common-Counsil men till the Indentures of their Election be Returned from the War 〈◊〉 Inquest to the Town-Clerk and a Warrant Issu'd from the Lord Mayâ—r to the Sâ—rjeant of the Chamber to Summon them But the Faction however made bold to dispence with these Puntillo's though the constant Rule and Custom of the City and a Common-Council being held December 31. 1641. by the Kings Express Order all that Gang of the New Choice thrust themselves in and took their places with the Old This Intrusion was opposed by several but out of respect to a Message from his Majesty which was then brought them by the Lord Newbourgh complaining of Tumults about White-hall and Westminster and recommending to the care of the City the preventing of any further disorders the question was let fall for the present and the Court apply'd themselves to dispatch an answer to his Majesty which was in effect an acknowledgment of his gracious Goodness exprest to the City the Courts disavowing of the Tumults their promise of doing their best for the future to prevent or suppress them and their humble desire that whosoever should be found guilty of them might be brought to condign punishment On the Last of December the House of Commons under pretence of finding themselves in danger sent to the King for a Guard but it must be a Guard out of the City of London and to be commanded by the Earl of Essex To which Message his Majesty offer'd them Jan 3. a Guard of his own appointment for their security But this Trick would not pass upon the King so that they were forc'd to do their business another way Upon the Fifth of Jan. another Common-Council was call'd by the Kings Order when his Majesty was pleased in person to acquaint the Court with the Reasons of his demanding the five Members the day before admonishing them not to harbour or protect those men in the City Fowke and his new Brethren contrary to all Right or President were got in again and there he most audaciously affronted his Majesty with a Discourse of fears and Jelousies Priviledges of Parliament c. the King only replying in effect that they were dangerous men and that they should have a Legal Tryal On the same day being Wednesday the House adjourned till the Tuesday following and Order'd a Committee to set next morning at Guildhall taking upon themselves little less then Soveraign Power The Committee met at Grocers Hall where the Five Members met under the Guard of the City-Train'd-stands where they past such Votes of Priviledge as never any Age heard of before extending it even to the Exempting and justifying 〈◊〉 Treason it self On Saturday Jan. 8. upon a Debate for the safe meeting of the Five Members at Westminster the Tuesday following the Result was That the Sheriffs of London should and might raise a Guard of the Train'd-Bands for the Defence of the King and Parliament and that they might warrantably march out of their Liberties A Rout of Sea-men offering their service by water as the Other by Land This Subject set all the Puritan Pulpits on work to inflame the People against their Soveraign in favour of the Five Members Upon the fatall 10th of January the King was forc'd to withdraw from London which was then left at the Mercy of the Faction and that very day the Indentures of the Election were Return'd Upon all Questions about These Elections the Decision was formerly in the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen but by the Violence and Importunity of these New Intruders it is left to a Committee of the Common-Council being the Committee a so for the safety of the City so call'd This Committee was their first approach toward the Militia and then follow'd another for putting the City into a Posture of Defence consisting of Six Aldermen and Twelve Commoners most of them of the New Cutt and 300l per annum allow'd to Skippon as an assistant to the Committee Having already modell'd the Common-Council to their liking they furnish themselves with all sorts of Military Provisions augment the Train'd-Bands from 6000. to 8000. the Six Aldermen are made Colonels and the Committee for the Posture of Defence are to choose their Officers the authority of Summoning Common Councils is taken away from the Lord Mayor and lodg'd in people of the Faction and whensoever they 'l have One call'd the Lord Major must obey without so much as asking a Reason for 't They took away his Power also of Dissolving them and kept him to his seat till they thought fit to discharge him And again whereas all Proposals were formerly offer'd to the Court and all Questions put by the Recorder from the Lord-Mayor when the Faction had any thing to propound wherein the Lord Mayor would neither Command the Recorder nor the Recorder act without the Lord Mayor Ven Pennington and Vassel help'd them out at a dead lift with an Order from the House of Commons And finally they brought the Orderly Constitution of the City-Government to a Levell confounding Mayor Aldermen and Commons in the Blending of their Votes The Schismatiques have now got the Riches and the Strength of the City in a manner at their own Disposal For if the major part of the Common-Council may Call Continue and Dissolve the Court at pleasure put what Questions they list and Determine all things by a Plurality of Votes there needed little more then a Pack't Common-Council to do their business Let us consider now the Harmony betwixt the Two Junto's of Westminster and the City The Commons Jan. 26. Petition'd his Majesty about the Tower Forts and the Militia to which his Majesty returns them a Refusal Jan. 28. in the most obliging Terms imaginable telling them that he did not doubt that his having granted more then ever King had granted would ever perswade his House of Commons to ask more then ever Subjects had ask'd About the beginning of Feb. there was held a Common-Counâ—ll which sat till One in the Morning When the Couâ—t was quite weary and tir'd out Ven took that Opportunity of presenting an Order of the Commons desiring a return of the Names of those Persons whom the City intrusted with the Militia of London The Court was a little surpriz'd at it but yet being desirous to be gone and considering whatsoever past at One Council was in course to be debated at another sent the Names of the Committee for the Posture of Defence in return to the Houses Order By this fetch the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Court of Aldermen were understood to have voluntarily relinquished their Own Interest and lodg'd the Power of the Militia in the Committee for the Posture of Defence whereof the Major Part was wholly at the Devotion of Ven and his complices At the next Common-Council upon reading the Orders of the last meeting