and therefore endeavour by all meanes to bring the Land into a confusion and so to make our latter end worse then our beginning This Stapletoas Speech veresies who lately said Iâ—â—s now come to this that either we must sinke them meaning the Army and their friends or they sink us unto this end it seems they have so highly provoked the Army For prevention of which calamity and to procure our selves â—ase and remedy we must take them away charge them home and demand their persons to be delivered up to justice why feare we what power hath any Parliament man that he hath not received from them that chose him And it a King so soon as he ceaseth to rule by the known Law doth degenerate into a Tyrant and is worthy to be ejected what are those Parliament men Manchester Hollis Stapleton and others of this Faction who have so probably contrary to their Oaths Trusts and Duties left all rule of Law and Justice and by their power and prevalency have dealt with us and disposed of our estates and liberties after their owne wicked crooked wils and what are these men worthy of according to law and reason expulsion is too little and beheading is too honourable But happily some of them may say by mee because I declare that which they no wayes colour that I am mad I am sure they are their madnesse doth appear to all men otherwise some of them would not have so basely reproached his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax who came to London only because of his disease staid there a while for his infirmity and weaknes in saying it was fitter for him to be with his Army which is in a distemper then to be in Hide Park courting of Ladies If the Army be distempered hath not Manchester Stapleton Hollis and that turbulent faction distempered them by their im-parliamentary Declaration against them and ingratefull abuse of them Nay do they not distemper and trouble the Parliament and whole Kingdom are not they the only obstructers of our settlement in England and of the reliefe of distressed Ireland are not these I say the cause of all our distraction and disturbance I wish they were not and as for Sir Thomas his courting of Ladies I would Sir Peter Temple Sir John Mâ—râ—â—ck Sir John Hipsly M. Mâ—yâ—e Moore Bell Brwyer and too many more among them did not more court Harlots visit Whores and exercise drunkennesse * Foth what a stinke is here Oh sweet Reformers and other baseness then honourable Sir Thomas worthy man doth delight in courting 〈◊〉 Ladies I do remember when the Earle of Essex and his chieâ—e Commanders Mâ—rrick one of the trayterous crew and the rest came to London to laze smoake Tobacco and drinke saâ—k court complement vaunt and vapour of that they never did and a potent enemy at hand in the field who came up to Brainford to the hazzard of the whole Army and City before they were discovered and no Chief Officer there either to command or deliver forth * Thanks false Merrick thou didst the like and worse at Edge-hill Ammunition and when not only the Generall but all the chief Officers while there was a destroying enemy in power abroad came and staid their own time in London to revell ramble and rore drink domineer and whore while the souldier was left without restriction or order to range raven and plunder spoile and make waste at St. Albans and in the Country thereabouts and no complaint made of distemper or disorder either by the House or any of their Members but the Proverb is that some may better steale a Horse then others look over the hedge If Sir Thomas his Officers or souldiers were like wicked Col. Graves then this evill Faction might say they were distempered indeed yet this lewd shamelesse man is Stapletons onely Minion and the principall Instrument as truely most fit for their wicked purpose in the Army for this malicious malevolent party but these men like Toads are so big swoln with pride and despite that they are ready to burst and their poyson will never be purged out nor we freed from the diffused venome of it till some of them be highly exalted and made an example Take away the wicked from the King saith Solomon and his Throne shall be established in righteousnesse take away the wicked and trayterous out of both Houses of Parliament and the Parliament shall be upright and prosper and we poore Commons be soon established in peace and happinesse In the Book of Declarations pag. 207. they seem to cleare themselves of a charge laid upon them by the King saying That there was no colour that they went about to introduce a new Law much lesse to exercise * Marke an arbitrary power but to prevent it How true this taxe or charge hath since proved let the whole Land judge and their own actions witnesse for if they have not brought in a new Law I am sure they have made no use of the old unlesse it hath been for evill And whether they have exercised an Arbitrary power I need not aske the question for it is past doubt or scruple But they say in the same Declaration That this Law is as old as the Kingdome to wit That the Kingdome must not be without a meanes to preserve it selfe It is well yet truely granted By their own principle you see the naturall or reall body politique in case the Representative or virtuall faile and deceive their trust * Mark and make uâ—e of it hath power to preserve it selfe Marke yee free Commons of England here is a sure ground for yee to stand on yee are not yet past hope nor destitute of meanes of helpe therefore cheere up your spirits and quit your selves like men imploy and improve your just powers for the preservation of your selves against all those selfe-seeking ambitious trayterous tyrannicall spirits in both Houses who have forsworn themselves betrayd their trust and imployed all their power and interest wherewith yee intrusted them for your good and safety to your woe and misery And yee faithfull in the House of Commons whose hearts have ever been upright although yee have been awed and overpowered to God your King and Countrey beware of these seducers who would involve you in the same treasonable workes with them that so they like Pick-pockets may the better scape in a crowd unseen rather protest against them and their proceedings and declare them to the Kingdome serve them as they have served others thus yee will acquit your selves of jealousies and guilt discharge your trust and duties and endeare your selves to your Countries otherwise you must expect to suffer as partakers and to undergoe the consure of confederates and compactours Sure and stable is this principle Salus populi est suprema Lâ—x The welfare and safety of the People is the supream Law and therefore where this end is by Trustees perverted or neglected the People by the Law of
and money of the People without the Peoples consent make Judges create Lord Keepers or Chancellours and yet the King in presence for they cannot now pretend a necessity by his absence and making use of his name to violate all Law oppresse the People and to commit all injustices in a word to destroy our Liberties and to execute their own Arbitrary wills They speake of having the Kings power with them virtually but we can neither see nor find any of its proper vertue either among them or from them for his Majestres Regall power is just and mercifull regulated by Law preservative and corrective and not unjust cruell irregular and illegall desacing and destructive as the effects have been of the power which the Parliament hath exercised And concerning the Kings estate and revenues no question but it is accumulated and that they have it in bank for they have been very parcimonious Stewards they can hardly spare either the master money for his necessities or his servants any for wages He like a Ward or Pupill is at their set allowance and content with the pittance his late tutors and guardians will allow him I doubt not but it will prove that some of them have made better allowance to themselves both out of his estate and the Republiques also Second how by reason of the predominancy and power of this tyrannous Party in both Houses whose malignant pernitious influence hath been and still is diffusive throughout all the Parliaments actions all these which have taken this Vew and Protestation are and have been defended in pursuance of the same it is sufficiently manifest For who but they that endeavour to maintain the true reformed Protestant Religion according to the doctrine professed in the Church of England in the power and purity of it are hated illegally prosecuted and persecuted vilifyed and reviled and he is most favoured and soonest preferred that can shew himselfe most virulent and violent against them And if you do but sken or looke like a Hare on the one side at the Kings Crown and Dignity you presently incurre through the powerful Votes of this Party the Parliaments high dislike and displeasure and it is a sufficient badge that you are an enemy because you are so to Traitors to the State witnes the high dissâ—â—e of the Armies wise and just demand of his Majesties royall assent to an Act of indempnity truly if they take a bare Parliament ordinance without the Royall assent I will not give them one farthing for their security and it will be found that their Iudges Chancellours Excise men and Sequestrators are in the same case as the Souldiers And to endeavour or petition for liberty according to the Protestation is as much as to â—eg a Prison to sue for justice is to be accounted seditious in a word to be sincere and honest is to be adjudged worthy of no trust imployment or preferment But to make the truth and the wicked practices and purposes of this destroying Party in both Houses yet more plain and open these cunning contrivers of our intended Vassalage and thraldom frame a combination and confederacy by covenant with the Scots and by power and subtilty surprize and ensnare therein the whole Parliament and Kingdom the which I pray read and observe In their feigned profession of sorrow they acknowledge that their not prizing the Gospell nor labouring to receive Christ into their hearts and they say truly hath been the cause of all other sinnes amongst us And therefore with their hands listed up to the most high God they do solemnly swear sincerely to endeavour a reformation of religion in the three Kingdomes in doctrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches now what meanes this juggle and to the example of the best reformed Churches above they swearâ— and endeavour a reformation and what sincerity is here to make mens impure inventions equivalent to the infallible rule of Gods word to make dogma Presbyteri the opinion of the Priest adaequate to the unalterable last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ only here by this Fâ—yst these deceitfull Spirits endeavour to bring in something of their own that with their claw-back Priests they may seem to have something to do with Christ in his Church government and to sit checke by joule with him in his throne and thus they do still dis-esteem the inestimable benefit of the Gospell and oppose it in the power and purity of it even as their Fathers did so do they harden their hearts against the Lord. If the word of God be a sufficient rule to reform and govern the Church by what need then of any other pattern or platforme The best reformed Churches which are this day in Europe need reformation yea the pure Church of Scotland notwithstanding all their pretence For if you observe our Brethrens various double dealings turnings and windings self seeking and advantage-making in every businesse they transact or negotiate with us far unbeseeming men pretending so great conscientiousnes in all things so highly professing the power of Religion in purenes of life and conversation At first they were against the King then while he was with them they spek and write highly for him and now they have made the most they can of him The Scots have made more of the King then Judas did of the King of heaven they are again become adversaries to him one while they press one part of their deceitfull Covenant as at first they did that part for bringing evill instruments unto condign punishment whilst that Delinquents troubled them Afterward where by craft they had gotten the King among them hoping thereby to have had him established their Presbyterian Church-government within this Kingdom they were very zealous for that part of the Covenant which concerns the preservation and defence of his Majesties person and authority Now both the former are forgotten and they are at this instant extreme urgent and importune for that part of the Covenant which concernes the reformation of Religion in the three Kingdomes in dextrine worship discipline and government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches by which words the example of c. they would have it granted that their Kirke of Scotland is the best reformed in all the worldâ— and therefore we are bound by this clause of the Covenant they conceive to reforme by their pattern and to make their government our example as if they blind Beetles had obtained the very Sâ—â—mum gradâ—m of the government of the Church of Christ comprehended in the Gospel thus using the Covenant as a Waterman doth his Saile to turn every way and hereby they justify the Scripture which saith a double minded manty unstable in all his wayes Iam. 1. 8. but not one Word do they speak for justice or liberty of the Subject though they see all oppression and violence rage
Plaine Truth without FEARE OR FLATTERY OR A TRVE DISCOVERY OF THE Unlawfulnesse of the Presbyterian Government it being inconsistent with Monarchy and the Peoples Liberties and contrary both to the Protestation and Covenant The end of establishing the Militia of London in such hands as it is now put into by the new Ordidinance The betraying Votes and destructive practices of a Traiterous Party in the House of Commons concerning certain Petitions for Liberty and Justice ALSO A. Vindication of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax concerning certaine scurrulous words uttered by some of the said Faction WITH The meanes and wayes that must be used to obtaine reliefe against the said tyrannous Usurpers and for reducing the Parliament to its due Rights Power and Priviledges in the preservation of the Kingdomes Lawes and Liberties Written by I. L. Isaiah 3.12 13 14. Children are extortioners of my People and women have rule over them O my People they that lead thee cause thee to erre and destroy the way of thy paths The Lord shall enter into judgement with the Ancients of his People and the Princes thereof for ye have eaten up the Vineyard the spoile of the poore is in your Houses What have ye to doe that ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poore saith the Lord even the Lord of Hosts Woe be to the wicked it shall be evill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Printed and Published for the information advice and benefit of the poore oppressed betrayed and almost destroyed Commons of England 1647. PLAINE TRVTH Without Feare or Flattery IN the 28 Psalm Verse 6. The Spirit of God speaking there of Iudges and Rulers saith they are Gods and all of them children of the most high but he telleth them they shall die like men and fall as one of the Princes We unhappy men of England have at this time a generation of ambitious imperious men some of both Houses of Parliament whose Names ye may elsewhere find who by their power and subtill practises doe frame and assume to themselves a supreame power over us and would faine be taken for Gods and Sons of the most High by us yet they neither rule us like Gods nor demean themselves amongst us as children of the most High but rule us like Tyrants a degenerate kind which God never made nor owned and demean themselves more like children of disobedience serving their own base lusts and pleasures then children of the most high for were they such they would seeke the will of their Father in heaven and good of his People But the Spirit saith they shall die like men the which it may be doubted these men beleeve not but rather with the Atheisticall Epicure thinke they shall dye like Beasts and that the soule as well as the body returnes to the primam materiam and so if they can but escape the hand of justice here they dreame not of hearing of their wicked deeds hereafter and therefore they have resolved it appeares for the accomplishment of their own unrighteous ends after the manner of all Atheisticall Statesmen who cast the feare of God and consideration of death and judgement behind them to assay all waies and meanes of wickednesse as to vow and not pay to promise and not performe swear and forsweare covenant and breake to feign flatter and play the hypocrite I had almost said the devill to betray destroy rob spoyle oppresse and violate all law and rule of government infringe all rights and liberties imprison persecute deceive their trust requite evill for good and doe all manner of mischiefe and injustice even whatsoever Sathan and their wicked hearts shall prompt them unto insomuch that whatsoever they say or make shew of their evill doings declare that they beleeve not an immortallity and judgement they professe themselves Christians but if ye observe and consider their actions you must say and if you were a stranger you would sweare they were heathens yea they doe worse then heathens for did ever heathens take the name of their insensible Gods of wood and stone so frequently and solemnly into their mouthes by way of oath and covenant as these men have done and had it so little in reverence and so little respect to what they have sworne as these men have had the name of the great and terrible God of heaven and of their oathes made unto him read all Stories and search all Centuries of Ages and if there be any such example of perjury and swearing falsely by their God equivalent to the example of these men of this generation I will freely offer my selfe for a sacrifice to explate my offence against their holines and yet they are ready with Agurs Harlot Pro. 30.20 to wipe their mouthes and say we have done no wickednes But that the truth may be made apparent and expiated let us heare their promises vowes and speeches and compare their deeds and promises First they doe in the Protestation promise vow and protest in the presence of Almighty God whom sure they think is like the God of Baals Priests that could neither hear nor see to maintaine and defend with their lives powers and estates the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrary to the same doctrine c. Yet they are now setting up and have set up so farre as in them lyeth a Religion never before heard of within this Realme and quite contrary to the professed doctrine of the Church of England it being wholly opposite unto Christ and a meer Popish innovation brought out of Scotland and violently imposed upon us And thus it comes to passe by the confederacy of a haughty trayterous Party in the house of Parliament of which are the Earles of Manchester and Stamford Sir Phillip Stapleton Mr. Hollis and others with the proud covetous Priests for the advancement of their designe of usurpation and Lordlines both over his Majesty and us vow and protest in like manner to maintaine and defend the Kings Royall Person honour and estate and the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subject and every one that should make the said Protestation in pursuance of the same and that they will not for hope feare or other respect relinquish this promise vow and protestation And do they not accordingly maintain and defend the Kings Royall Person Honour and Estate His Person with a company of Commissioners of their own stamp and temper and with a Guard of able Horsemen and Souldiers debauched Grâ—â—â—â— his Regiment as if they were afraid to intrust any of the honest Commanders about him as if he were rather a Prince of Theeves then a Prince of three Kingdomes or of a free people and his honour and estate they defend with all the power and might they can taking the Supreame power upon themselves to grant Pardons sell the Lands purchased with the lives
fruits and effects are nothing but impiety and hypocrisie a Reli on which consists more in outward formes and rites after the manner of Moses then in power and piety according to the Gospel which conduceth as appears more to tyranny then Christianity And so I will pretermit their Vowes and Oaths and come to some of their speeches and sayings and here I will shew you another truth by the discovery of another falshood and treacherous vanting act of the same traiterous party or faction which serves as a patterne representation or image of the forme of the yoake of bondage which it may be suspected they study and intond to put upon all the Counties and Corporations in the Kingdome and by which with the helpe of their determined new Army of Horse it is probable they purpose if they can to subjugate the whole Land and to consorme the People to their arbitrary wills even to pay and bease doe and suffer whatsoever they shall thinke sit to enjoyne them or exact upon them as well in respect of things spirituall as civill In the Parliaments Remonstrance of the 2 of November 1642. Book Decl. pag. 700. they tell us That all Rights or Interest of publicke trust are only for the publicke good and not for private advantages nor to the prejudice of any mans particular interest much lefle of the publique And in May 1642. Book Decla 172. They call God to witnesse that the safetie of the Kingdome and peace of the people is their onely aime and because the King would not believe them therein and well had it been for us if we bad never so done nor trust them wholly therewith great grew the contestation as yee may well remember betweene the King and the Parliament about the setling of the Militia of the Kingdome and indeed it was one unhappy cause of the quarrell between them The Parliament then pretending that the King ought not to lettle it without them that it behoved them to have the nomination of such persons as were to be intrusted therewith in whom they might conside the King affirmes and they afterwards grant That the whole power thereof was intrusted by Law in him for the preservation and defence of the Kingdom yet because the King would not passe the Ordinance in Febu 1641. for the setling it in such forme as they desired though the persons they nominated were not refused they presently protest I with they were as quick to doe justice as they are to take exceptions to dispose of it without him and accordingly resolve Rebus sit stantibus nolenti Regi that is they expresse in extream distraction when sorreigne forces are probably invited and a malignant Pepish paritie offended c. the ordering it to be in them for the observe preservation of the Republicke and to prevent the turning the Armes of the Kingdome upon it selfe see the Parliaments answer to their owne question pag. 150. of the Booke of Decla But I hope the case is now altered for although our distractions be still continued by the destructive Councell of a pernicious sactions partie in both Houses the heads of which were and are the cause both of those distractions and these who like katchers of Eeles love to fish in the troubled waters here is now no seare of invited forreign forces and as for that malignant Popish partie then so much condemned it is utterly subdued and suppressed and therefore in all reason Rebus nunc sic stantibus that is the so much feared publicke adversary being long since conquered all visible danger removed and the King recovered out of the hands of evill Counsellors and at present with themselves and not legally divested of his Regall power and right of trust in a word all just pretext and colour of extremity being taken away they take too much upon them and abuse both King and People who in this opportunitie 〈…〉 Royall Assent may be had doe dispose of the Militia without him neither requiting his consent therein nor admitting the People according to the Law to the Election of a thing the King allowed them the persons who are to be intrusted with the dispose and command of their strength and armes and so by consequence of 〈◊〉 estates liberties and lives I am certaine in case as God â—oâ—bid the Royall Throne should by â—xigeâ—t beâ—ome vold the Parliaments are not their owne Mesters nor can by the fundamentall Law and constitution of this Kingdome dispose of us the Commons of England and out power armes or interest without our consents how much lesse at this instans All the Commons of England have more just ground of jealousâ—e from them in now so doing and of complaint and accusation against that malevolent ill-affected party among them by whose power and influence it hath beene effected considering the persons unto whom the Militia and strength of the Kingdome is in divers places of late 〈…〉 then the Parliament ever had from and against the King for refusing onely to 〈◊〉 in their way and manner for they chose the persons and he approved them but the Parliament are herein both choosers and approvers as in many things many of them are both Judge and Witnesse though we neither approve nor assent and thus wee as 〈…〉 the King are in this particular debarred from them of our right and priviledge but this is not the greatest detriment we sustaine and are likely without prevention to suffer and which this predominant malicious partie intends hereby for doe but cast your eye and see and consider what persons are put out of the Militia and what persons are continued admitted and intrusted and yee will presently judge by a little what the whole meanes For example first for for an introduction the pretended Lord Maior Aldermen and Comon-Councell must petition in the name of the Citie though the Citie never propounded it to them to have the Militia setled in their owne hands as they had formerly and why not then to have it by their Charter but by Ordinance for a certaine time and this by the power and prevalency of the malevolent partie is forthwith obtained because it tends to their predominant tyrannous ends approved Alderman Pennington who stood in the breach when they all were afraid whose sidelitie and abilitie was throughly experimented at such time when as the winds blew highest and the stormes grew strongest a man adjudged by the Citie worthy to be their Parliament-man and by the Parliament worthy to be Lieutenant of the Tower of London is now no longer worthy to be intrusted with the Militia but turned out as a man suspected so are the Aldermen K. Foulk Weaver and 〈◊〉 Col. Wilson though a Member of the House also Col. Player Tichburn and others And why they are not absolute for the Faction they were opposite to Bunce and Bellamy the Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell in the prosecution of the last indirect illegall and factious Remonstrance of Presbytery and therefore they are
day thy may and will doe to another part or place to morrow And they have injustly refused more then a few as that of the Counties of Buckingham and Hereford and divers others from all parts petitioners for redress of grievances and granting of libetties already and in this late particular president is the very effence and end of a Parliament perverted the rights of Parliament the ancient course of Parliamentary proceedings subverted and our native rights and priviledges so much as lies in this destructive party wholly vacated and destroyed And whether this strainge Vote and fact doe not justifie the fiâ—th article exhited by the King against Hollis and others 1641. Book Decl. page 35. by which he chargeth them To have traiterously endeavoured to subvert the very rights and beings of Parliamentsâ— I beseech you all yee lovers of Englands liberties consider and judge And also part of that first seventh Article exhibited by the House against the Earle of Strafford Yea consider I beseech you compare and see if the words waies councels and practices of the Earle of Manchester Hollis Stapleton and others their complices and confederates doe not fully answer the 1 2. 5. and part of the 6. Article exhibited in 1641. by the King and to the first and part of the 2 3 4 6 7. Articles and some others only â—utatiâ— mutan lis which were exhibited by the House of Commons against Strafford and also to some which were exhibited against Canterbury even as face answereth to face in water Truly wee are no longer free but absolute slave already if we may not petition for our libertyt what unlesse we will first aske them what we shall petition we must not it seems at all Petition Away with such Traitors from the Earth This Act and Vote answers those traiterous speeches of Harvy and Solloway two corrupt men of the House of Commons who impudently said note That the Parliament might doe what they would and were not to be questioned for it One of the Articles of high treason charged upon the Earle of Strafford was as appears in the fourth article of his second impeachment or accusation that he should declare and say That Ireland was a conquered Nation and that the King might doe with them what he pleased and is not here as much spoken and more by these two traiterous spirits Harvy and Solloway For Ireland was indeed a Nation by us conquered and his speech related to the King who was their head and had a power over them but these mens words are spoken of us a free People who though formerly conquered yet have not long since redeemed our liberties with our swords and relate to a company of men who are but subjects and the Kingdomes servants only called and chosen to coancell and advise not to reign and tyrannize But let u argue it all other Courts in the Land whatsoever have rules of jurisdiction and limmits and hath the supreme Court of Parliament none It is very unseasonable even against all rule of reason that that Court which preseribes rules to all other Courts should be without all rule it self The Lord chief Justice Cook in his treatise of the jurisdiction of the high Court of Parliament declares and proves otherwise and I am certain that it is against the very constitution and being of it for there is both * See Cooks Instituts Rotu Parli Lex consuetudo Parliamenti both a Law and a custome or usage of Parliament Besides there is a fundamental Law of the Land against which the Parliament cannot that is lawfully a Parliament act for whatsoever act is made or done in Parliament that is contrary to Magna Charta is void no Law and not to bee * See 42. Ed. 3. chap. 1. obeyed and what force then if well examined are most of our present Parliament Votes Orders and Ordinances * But new Lords new laws by which it is evident that the Parliament is not without a law and rule nor may doe what they will nor any thing onely in case of extremity and then also for good of the publicke and not unto example contrary to the fundamentall Lawes and constitutions of the Kingdome And was not one Wentworth of the House of Commons questioned yea and committed in the daies of Queen Elizabeth for his words and deeds in the House And can they themselves deny but that for Treason sellony and breach of the Peace they are questionable By all which it is clear that the proudest of them may be questioned and is accountnable for any misdemeanour or illegall unjust act done by them within the House They say to question them for any thing out of the House is a breach of their priviledge and must we question them neither in the House What is a Parliament man lawlesse Neither without nor within there is a new priviledge as their Ordinances are a new manner of Lawes it was not so of old The King who is the Supreme head is not without the Law hee may not de what he list Sure then much lesse may they who are but subjects and only coucnellers not Commanders Servants not Masters But is not this strange doctrine my friends that a Parliament man must not be questioned for whatsoever he doth in the House Lo here is a new Hidra-headed prerogative for you to suppresse which ye nevner expected Lop it betimes for this position tends directly to the subversion of all our Laws and liberties and the exaction of an arbitrary rule over us And if this Vote be not treasonable what is For by this rule they may within the House consult contrive and act high Treason against King and Kingdome commit murder pick pockets and breake the peace devise and conspire to destroy and massacre us to rob and spoile us and not to be questioned because it was resolved and done within the House Brave Parliamentary principles Is it not more then high â—â—me fâ—llow Commoners to rouze up our Spirits and bestirre us to bring such as are the authors and promoters of these and such like destructive councels and actions to condigne punishment shall not the Judge of all the world saith Abraham do right and shall not the Court of Courts the supreme Court of all the Kingdom we may say do right Woe is to us for lamentable is our case our stream mâ—st needs be puddle and dirt when our very fountain is â—ilthy and corrupt Corruptio optima est passima that which is best being corrupted is the worst that which was formerly Englands Balsum and Antidote is now become Englands greatest Corasive and poyson yet not in it selfe but by accident through the boundles of ambition and insatiable avarice of a company of traiterous persons in both Houses of Parliament the chief of which are Manchester and Stamford Stapleton and Hollis Merrick and some others who have run themselves by their wicked deeds against the King and Common-Wealth into a desperate condition
where * S. Philip Stapleton was there also and beheld afar off 't was he that would not suffer the queens Regiment to be charged at Salisbury or Blandford noble Hambden it is conceived and who knoweth but it may in time be proved was delivered to death Lincolne Boston Crowland Cornwall Denington-Castle where Manchester acted Treason Newarke againe and Oxford Durham Cumberland Westmerland even in every place and all along untill the Lord raised up Sir Thomas Fairfax to be a Saviour to the People and that he is so these wicked men are offended But me thinkes I already see this serpentine brood like the old Serpent casting a stood out after me to destroy me and their defiled consciences being like the Sea troubled they send forth mire and dirt wrath and revenge reproaches curses beagles and blood hounds Votes Orders and Messengers like the Popes execrations with bell book and candle Alas bene latet qui bene vivit I wish these miscreants for their soules sakes had no more cause to be afraid then I. The righteous is as bold as a Lyon but the wicked slees when none pursues The theese thinks every bush and every bulk a Constable and a gaulled horse hath no patience when his sore is rubbed this Sir Philip Stapleton knowes for he hath good skill in horse-flesh But seeing these vile men will dare to sinne openly and to deale falsly before the World why should we be afraid to reprove them openly and to declare it to the World They declare their sins as Sodome they hide them not Isai 3.9 they have as the Scripture speaks a brazen face and a Whores fore-head and why should wee be silent and connive at that which all Christendome sees or turne our backes and be pymps and panders to our owne ruines Why should wee be more afraid whom it concernes to publish their robbery oppression injustice and Treason then they are to act and execute it contrary to their Oathes and duties Our Law condemnes no man for saying the Cole is blacke or calling a Spade a Spade although of late many have been * Marke imprisoned and punished for no more nor other thing in effect yet the looser will speake and the oppressed will cry out nor by the power of heaven shall my tongue be silent or my Penne be slack for the cause of God and this miserable Land untill they doe set themselves in a way that is right and execute justice and judgement Is it not more then high time to speak and stirre when our just and lawfull Petitions are not onely rejected but infamously burned as seditious our inveterate Enemies armed our persons for presenting our grievances illegally imprisoned when we are voted out of our Rights and Priviledges contrary to all Law and custome of Parliament All men may now see and plainly understand that it is altogether vaine any longer to use Petitioning for that due right and liberty is denied and debarred Wee must I say wee must if wee will recover our selves and our Priviledges use action Necessity hath no law and extream danger driveth to extream meanes And now know for certaine yee Trayterous party yee false deceiptfull men whose hearts are set upon wickednesse and whose heads devise mischiefe and violence that it is not you * Such works such waies and meanes breaking open of houses taking away mens goods by force spoyling of Printing Presses and imprisoning of the Printers without proofe or cause and punishing poore soules who carry Bookes to sell will or can hide your shame the day of your judgement is coming your wickednesse is manifest as the Sunne and your actions both publique and private are so abominable that they stink in every reasonable mans nostrills yee are become odious and have made your selves a reproach and a hissing and the very abjects of disdain and scorne yea insomuch that the name of a Parliament man is as contemptible in the thoughts of most as the name is generally of a Committee-man And thus doe the good and virtuous of the House suffer in their repute and esteeme by your vitiousnesse yea your beloved friends and favourites cannot justifie you nor open their mouthes clearly for yee and what will yee doe what can yee do when God shall stirre up the People to revenge Remember Strafford and Canterbury Finch and Windebanke Yee have deceived the People and falsified your trust to them yee have broken oathes promises and all manner of assurances with them under a pretence of redeeming their liberties and making them free yee involved them in an unnaturall and blood Warre against each other and now yee your selves exercise more abundant tyrannie and keep them in most strict and intolerable slavery under the pretence of paying the Souldiers yee have by your Committees and instruments oppressed and robbed the Countries and notwithstanding there is no Army paid no reparations made no debts satisfied and thousands of Widowes and fatherlesse and maimed souldiers unprovided for under pretence of preserving the people yee have destroyed them and under the colour of establishing Law and justice yee have taken away both and although yee raised Armes to redeem the King from his wicked Councell and have solemnly sworn to maintaine his Crowne and dignity and declared Book Dec. pag. 94. that what you did was for his honour and greatnesse and the weale of his Kingdomes Yet though hee be redeemed hee is not restored not is his Crowne and dignity maintained Nay yee your selves exercise the Kingly office yee I say it againe yee your selves exercise the Kingly office For ye make Lord Keepers * Without the King meer treason and without his assent worse then nothing Judges and Barons grant Pardons and give Commissions of Oyer and Terminer I have known a mean man dye as a traytor for doing lesse nor are the Acts or Process passed under the broad Seale of any value In all which yee are but usurpers I should not mistake if I said Traytors I say usurpers and take too much upon you for by Law there is no such power or right belonging to you or invested in yee You keep the King under restraint and with-hold him from the execution of it and doe not satisfie the World wherefore ye doe it you are like the Dog in the manger which will neither let the horse eat the hay nor eat it himself yee will neither admit the King to do justice and redresse our grievances nor will yee your selves yee have made no other use of the Kings power and name then to deceive oppresse and abuse the People Is this to doe for his honour and greatnesse and the good of his Kingdomes contrarium verò est verum the contrary is true by true I speak not in favour of his Majestie further then conscience and * Doe unto all men as yee would be done unto equity the Lord my Maker knows I am sincerely for truth and justice without partiality and against the contrary