THe Lords and Commons in Parliament, in the moneths of March and April, and May last, taking into their serious Consideration, the See their Declaration for disbanding the Army. 28. May 1647. absolute necessity of dis­banding the greatest part of the Army, after the to­tal Reducement of the Kingdom, for the present ease of the peo­ple from Taxes and Free-quarter, and the speedier relief of Ire­land, then in danger to be irrecoverably lost; did thereupon pass some Votes and Declarations for disbanding the Foot, and some Regiments of Horse of the Army, and sending them into Ire­land, under the Commands of two Major Generals, Skippon and Massey, and imployed Commissioners from both Houses to the Army, for that purpose, where they The XI Ac­cused Mem­bers Answer to the particular Charge of the Army. p. 10. 11 12: 13. A Vindication of 167 Officers come off from the Army. The Agitators Letter to L. G. Cromwell, March 30. The Armies En­gagement. eng [...]ged many Officers and Souldiers for that expedition. But by the under-hand pra­ctises of Leiutenant General Cromwel, and his Confederate Of­ficers and Agitators, the relief of Ireland was not only obstru­cted, but wholly frustrated; and the Major part of the Army animated, to enter into a solemn Engagement, not to disband upon any terms, till they had obtained satisfaction from both Houses, to certain high Proposals and Demands; which the Houses for quietness sake, and Irelands better Accomodation (though with some disparagement to their Honor and Power) condescended unto. But the concession of all their first De­mands, was so far from satisfying those restlesse Spirits (who had other designs to carry on; since visible to all men) that they [Page 4] encouraged them to greater Insolencies, and higher Demands then ever, comprised in their Of Iune 8. 10. 14. 17. 20. 23. 27. Iuly 1. Letters, Proposals, Remonstran­ses and Manifestoes in Iune and Iuly following, of purpose to pick new quarrels with the Houses and City too, and to keep themselves in an intire body, to carry on their dangeraus Plots against all opposition. In pursuance, whereof they first with a party of Horse commanded by Cornet Ioyce, forcibly and trai­terously The Lord Mountagues Letter & Nar­rative Iune 8 Mr Rymes his Narration to the House of Peers. Iune, 17. 1647. seized on the Kings own royal person at Holdenby, upon false pretences, and removed him thence into the Armies quar­ters, contrary to his own, and the Commissioners of both Houses Protestations; refused to resign him up, or dispose of his Per­son according to the Houses Votes; removed the Guards, ap­pointed by both Houses from him, put new Guards of their own upon him; who excluded the Scots Commissioners from any access to his presence against the Law of Nations and Votes of both Houses; and yet then granted free access for all Ma­lignants to him, and admitted Malignant Chaplains to attend him with the Book of Common prayer, and all Episcopal Cere­monies, which they so much decried heretofore as Anti-christi­an. Neither rest they here, but refusing to disband even after all their Arrears were promised to be payd or secured by the Houses; they mutinously and rebelliously (against the express Votes and Commands of both Houses, and desires of the City) march up in a warlike manner towards London, threatning to force the Houses and plunder the City if they had adhered to them, in case they granted not their unreasonable desires by the short time prefixed to them, approaching within few miles of the City with their whole body, seizing the Block-houses on the River by violence, quartering their Forces round about it, and sending their Warrants for provisions to Constables, within the very lines of Communication. Whereupon the Houses to provide for their own safety and the Cities, if the Army should invade them by open force; both Houses on the 11. of Iune by Ordinance, appointed a Committee of Lords and Commons, to joyn with the Militia of London, to consult, ad­vise and put in execution all wayes and means, which in their judgments might be necessary for the safety and defence of the Kingdom, Parliament and City, and to rayse horse and foot for [Page 5] that purpose &c, Of which Committee some of the afterwa [...] impeached Commons, and now imprisoned and impeached Lords were Members; which Committee after some few mee­tings (in hope of a final pacification) was discontinued; and the Houses by the Armies dayly approaches, enforced to repeal sundry of their just Votes, Remanstrances and Ordinances to qui­et their distempers. After which condescention, the Army did not only publikely censure them for it in p [...]int, but likewise declare their dis-satisfaction by all the Houses had done or pro­mised, unless the Commons would presently purge their House from all Members disaffected to these their mutionous Practises, and suspend no less then eleven of their Emmentest Presbyterian Members at once from sitting in the House, before any particu­lar proofs or impeachments against them, upon a meer general and illegal Charge sent from St Albons (then the head quar­ters) Iune 14. Upon which, though the House after full debate resolved Iune 25. That by the Laws of the Land, no iudgment could be given for their suspention upon that general Charge, be­fore particulars produced and proofs made; yet the Army threat­ned to march up to Westminster, in case they were not removed from sitting or voting in the House; Whereupon the Members voluntarily withdrew themselves, and afterwards put in their Answers to the false and scandalous particular Articles the Ar­my afterwards sent up against them, of purpose to wound their Reputations, without any intention to bring them to their Le­gal Tryals, being never able to prove the least Title of those Articles, of which the whole House and Kingdom know them to be guiltless. Upon this their voluntary withdrawing, though the Army and their Instruments took occasion to traduce them as guilty, yet they began to draw their quarters, and disperse themselves further off from London; but with a Resolution to take the first occasion of returning thither before they were sent for, the gaining of the City and Tower of London into their Custody, and placing of their own Guards upon both Houses, and mould them to their own pleasures, being the main design of their first approaches towards it. And no occasion of retur­ning, being given by the Houses or City, who complyed with them in all their unreasonable desires, they thereupon projected [Page 6] to make one unreasonable demand more, which might in all probability occasion it, and they divide the City and both Houses one from another; and that was to desire the Houses to repeal the Ordinance for the New Militia of London, (which no ways concerned the Army in point of interest or right) and to restore the old without any exceptions to their persons, or any cause alleadged, or once acquanting the City therewith, to whom both Houses and the Army too were most deeply en­gaged. Hereupon Sir See the Let­ [...]r and Re­ [...]onstrance [...]om his Ex­ [...]llency and [...]e Army p. 9. Thomas Fairfax sends a Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, intimating the Officers and Armies desires, that the New Militia of London might be alter­ed, and the Old revived, without ever acquainting the City or their Commissioners in the Army therewith: Upon which Letter alone (the House being very thin, and most Members driven away by the menaces) on Iuly 22, in the afternoon the Ordinance for the New Militia, made by unanimous consent of both Houses, when full and free, May 4. to continue for a full year, was suddenly voted in the House of Commons, by some few casting voyces to be repealed, before 3 moneths expired; and a New Ordinance for reviving the Old Militia, drawn up, passed, transmitted to the Lords House about 7 a clock at night, when the House was empty, and then presently passed with­out out any debate, (though moved to be put off by some, till the City to whom they were so much obliged, and whose s [...]fety and priviledges it so highly concerned) were acquainted there­with, and heard what they could obj [...]ct against it, who never had the least intimation of it till it was past. The pretence for this hasty passing, was, to prevent the the Armies-speedy march to Westminster, if the Houses refused to pass it; and the Cities opposition against it, if not passed before their Notice of it; but the real design was to discontent the City, and enforce them to some act or other, as might give the Army occasion to march rather against them, then against the Houses, and engage them and their party in the Houses against the City and their Friends. This Ordinance of Repeal being made known to the City, the next day, being Saturday, Iune 24. they were much discon­tented at it; and meeting at a Common Councel, voted unani­monsly against it, as a great injury and astront unto them; both, [Page 7] because the Houses and Army never acquainted them therewith, but did it on a sudden in a thin House without their privity, or any reason alleaged, or just exceptions to the New Militia in the Ordinance for such an alteration, which so highly concer­ned their safety and priviledges; and because the Repeal of this Ordinance, upon no other grounds but the Armies desire, might justly shake all other Ordinances for securing the vast sums they had lent and advanced upon the Excise and Sale of Bishops Lands, and for their Indempnity, and make them re­pealable at the Armies pleasure, as wel as this, to their utter undoing. Whereupon they resolved to Petition the Houses on Monday morning for the Repeal of this hastty injurious Ordi­nance of Iuly 23. for selling the New Militia, and drew up a Petition then for that purpose; which the Sheri [...]s and Com­mon-Counsel presented to the Houses on Monday the 26. of Iuly: After which about a thousand Apprentices, and young men of the City, without any armes at all, came with another Petition of their own to both Houses, wherein they Remon­strated, that they were heirs apparant to the City, whose Rights and Priviledges they were sworn to defend, and the Houses had of times promised to maintain; That the ordering of the Ci­ties Militia was the Cities Birth-right, belonging to them by Charters confirmed in Parliaments, for defence where of they had adven [...]ured their lives and fortunes as far forth as the Ar­my; and therefore desired it might be returned into those hands, in which it was put by the whole Cities consent, by the Ordi­nance of the 4. of May; Upon reading these Petitions in the Lords House, they were pleased to revoke the Ordinance of Iuly 23. and resume that of May 4. by a new Ordinance of Iuly 26. which they sent down to the Commons, where some Apprentices were over-earnest and urgent to get the Ordinance passed, refusing to suffer some Members to go out of the House, till they had passed the new Ordinance sent from the Lords, or to come out of the House into the L [...]bby, when they were di­vided upon the Vote, about it, which at last they passed about 3 of the clock; Whereupon most of the Apprentices departed quietly into the City, without any further disturbance. After which some disorderly persons, most of them Malignants, & disbanded [Page 8] Souldiers, not Apprentices (by the instigation of some Masig­nant, Sectaries and Friends of the Army) gathered about the Commons door, and grew very outragious, enforcing the Speaker to take the Chair after the House had adjourned, not suffering him or the Members to depart the House, till they had voted: That the King should come to London to treat with the Houses about a peace. With which violence the Common-Councel of London being acquainted as they were sitting in the Guild Hall, they presently sent the Sheriffs with such assistance as was ready at hand (the Militia then being in an unsetled con­dition by the Houses own act, and contradicting Ordinances) to suppress the tumult, and rescue the Members; who there­upon hasting to Westminster, did their best endeavours to effect it; and at last pacified the unruly rout, and conducted the Speaker in safety to his Coach and lodging about nine of the clock at night, which was as much as could be expected from the City, in this interval of their Militia's unsettlement. The Lords adjourned their House till Fryday morning; the Com­mons only till the next morning being Tuesday; against which time the New established Militia provided a strong Guard for the House it self: Whether the Speaker and Members repaired a­bout 10 of the clock safely without any interruption, and there sate securely, till they agreed to adjourn the House till Friday morning following, upon this ground; that the Lords had ad­journed their House till that time, and had made a peremptory Order for all their Members then to attend the House, notwith­standing any former leave granted to be absent. The next day being the monthly fast the Speakers and Members met at Mar­garets Church in Westminster, and there kept the solemn Fast without disturbance: Where M ^r Speaker in the Church com­plained Publikely to S ^r Ralph Ashton, and other Members setting near him, to this effect; That there was a great scandal raised on him in the City, which did much trouble him, as that he had left the House, and was run away privatly to the Army, or inten­ded to do it: Tha [...] he had no such thought, and sco [...]ned to do such a base, unjust and dishonorable action; and would rather die in the House and Chair, then desert them for fear of any tumults. Which being spoken in the Church and presence of God on the [Page 9] solemne Fast day, when he would not dissemble, makes most men conclude, his secret departure to the Army the very next day, proceeded not from his own judgment or incli­nation, but from some strong invitations or menaces sent from the Army by those who contrived this desperate plot to divide the City & Houses, and bring up the Army to in­thrall them both. On Thursday Morning early the new re­newed Militia of London, to prevent all future disturban­ces to the Houses, made publike Proclamation throughout the City & Suburbs, & set up printed tickets at Westminster & other usuall places within the Line, that if any person or persons should offer to disturb either of the Houses or their Members, the Guards should apprehend them, and in case of resistance kil or shoot them. Yet not withstanding the Spea­ker in the evening stole away through Hide Parke in his Coach to the Army, and went to Windsore to the Head­quarters, accompanied with Sir Ar. Hasterig & other Mem­bers, who met him by the way. On Friday morning about 140. Members or more met at the Commons House, expect­ing the Speakers coming, whither the Serjeant coming without his Mace, being demanded where the Speaker was, answered, he knew not very well, and that he did not see him that morning, and was told he went a little way out of town last night, but he thought he would return, & expect­ed to meet him at the House. After which being somwhat strictly interrogated by some Members about the Speaker, he suddenly withdrew himself, and could not be found, till the House had chosen a new Speaker & Serjeant, and procu­red a Mace; and then he returned with the Mace carried af­ter him under his mans cloke, which he said he had been see­king out all the time of his absence. The House, after two houres attendance, sent 4 of their Members to the Speakers house, to inquire what was become of him; who returning reported from his servants, that he was gone forth of town the evening before, & was not likely to return that day, and that they conceived he was gone to the Army: whereupon they resolved to chuse a new Speaker after some debate, and called Mr. Henry Pelham to the Chaire; after which they chose a new Serjeant in the absence of the old. In the meane time the Lords assembling in their House upon spe­ciall [Page 10] Order and Summons, received a Letter of excuse from the Earle of Manchester for his absence, by reason of some indisposition befallen; whereupon they chose the Lord Willoughby of Parham their Speaker in his roome, having frequently changed their Speaker this Parliament, as they saw occasion: And about three of the clock that day, the Commons presented their new Speaker to the Lords sit­ting in their Robes after the accustomed manner, who ap­proved to their choice, to prevent a discontinuance and faler of the Parliament for want of Speakers to adjourne and continue it, and prevent all scruples which might arise thereupon. This done they proceeded to vote and act as a Parliament, which they might lawfully doe. First they voted in the eleven wrongfully impeached Members, and others unjustly questioned by Cromwells and his confederates practise in the Armies name, to take away their Votes, to attend the seruice of the House, which they accordingly did: Next they revive and set up the Committee for the Safety by an Ordinance of both Houses; authorizing them to joyne with the Committee of the restored City Militia; and by se­verall Votes & Ordinances gave power to these Commit­tees for the listing and raising of Forces, appointing chiefe Commanders and Officers issuing out arms and ammunition for the safety and defence of both Houses and the City, against all such who should forcibly invade them: which Votes & Or­dinances for their self-defence (warranted by the very Law of nature, as the Armies Declarations assent) were not passed nor put in execution, till the Army under Sir Tho. Fairfax (recruited extraordinarily every day without & against the Houses Orders) were on their march towards London, & most contemptuously disobeyed the Votes and Letter of both Houses, inhibiting them to come within 30. miles of the City: which Letter Sir Thomas out of his great humility refused to much as to answer, or take notice of: whereupon the Army drawing near the Houses and City in a warlike manner, with a reso­lution to force & assault them by violence; thereupon the Committee of Safety and the Militia of London by Ordi­nance and speciall command of both Houses, raised new Forces of Horse & Foot, mounted some of their Cannons, [Page 11] manned some of their Works, and made preparations only for their own defence, as they might lawfully do, and had done formerly, by vertue of that supreme power of both Houses, which first raised, and after voted down this perfidi­ous Army, who now refused to obey their Masters com­mands, and marched up against them with much rage and fury as enemies. To countenance this their trechery and re­bellion the more, they draw the Speakers & fugitive Mem­bers of both Houses to sit in Counsell with them in the Ar­my in nature of a Parliament, and to signe an Ingagement, to live and die with Sir T. Fairfax and the Army in this quar­rell. Whereby they were so animated, that Sir Th. Fairfax raised the Traine-Bands of Hertfordshire and other Counties, to joyn with the Army, and march up against the Houses and City; who were so desirous of peace, that they sent Com­missioners & Agents sundry times one after another to me­diate an accord, and keep off the Army from approaching neare the City; who were exceedingly sleighted, & could obtain no termes of peace or agreement from them, unlesse they would unworthily yeeld to desert both Houses & the impeached Members, contrary to their Ingagement, Cove­nant and duty, renounce and call in their own Declaration then newly published; relinquish their Militia, and deliver up all the Forts and Line on the Westside of the City next to Westminster into the Armies hands, together with the Tower of London and Magazines in it, disband all their For­ces, put all the Reformados out of the Line, withdraw all their Guards from the Houses, and receive a Guard of such Horse & Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint toward the Houses, demolish their Works, and suffer the whole Army to march in triumph through the City, as ab­solute Conquerours of it and both Houses too. To all which dishonourable and base conditions (worse then any the King or Cavaliers would or could have put upon them, in the condition and posture of defence they then were) the Aldermen and Common Councell, to their eternall disho­nour and infamy, suddenly and unexpectedly condescend­ed. Whereupon a Party of the Army entred the Line, sei­zed the Forts agreed upon, and on the 6. of August the Ge­nerall [Page 12] brought the fugitive Speakers & Members to the House with a strong party, (who might have returned at their plea­sure before without any Guard, had they pleased) placed the Speakers in their Chaires out of which they were justly voted, without any Order of the Houses, the Lords House being then adjourned during pleasure; where the Gene­rall was set in a Chaire of State, and received speciall thanks for this service from the Speakers in both Houses names, who made him Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts of the Kingdome to dispose of them at his pleasure, made him Constable of the Tower, Voted the common Souldiers one moneths gratuity for this service, besides their pay; left all their Guards to his disposing, and to mock God, as well as men; Voted a publike day of Thankesgiving to be kept both in the City and throughout the Kingdome, for their re­storing the Parliament to its Honour and Freedome, in this forcible and dishonourable manner, not to be patterned in any age. After which the Generall and his whole Army marched through the City in greater triumph and State, then ever William the Conquerour, or any of his successors did; takes possession of the Tower, turnes out the honest Lievtenant there, who royally entertained him, without any cause assigned; displaceth most Governours in other Forts and Garrisons, though setled by Ordinance and spe­ciall Votes of both Houses; alters the Militia of the City, sets up a new Militia in Westminster and Southwark divided from that of London, contrary to severall Ordinances, and the Articles of the Treaty; causeth the Line and Works a­bout the City to be demolished, drives away most of the Members by menacing Declarations, procures an Ordinance by meere force and violence to passe the Houses, declaring all the Votes, Orders, and Ordinances of one or both Hou­ses from the 26. of Iuly to the 6. of August, to be null and void, which the Commons had foure or five times laid aside and refused to passe upon the question; and then by confe­deracy with the fugitive Members, procured the Lord May­or and divers Aldermen and Citizens of London, who had shewed themselves most faithfull and active for the Par­liament all these Wars, and done more service for them [Page 13] then any in the Army, to be impeached of High Treason, and shut up Prisoners in the Tower; procures the Recorder, Sir Iohn Maynard, and Commissary Copley, without any le­gall hearing or examination to be suddenly thrust out of the House, and some other Members to be suspended, and all those questioned who fate or Voted in the Speakers absence, and no lesse then seven Lords (viz. Theo­ [...]hylus Earle of Lincolne, Iames Earle of Suffolke, Iames Earle of Middlesex, George Lord Berkly, Francis Lord Willoughby, Iohn Lord Hunsdon, and William Lord May­nard, who had ever adhered to the Parliament) to be impeached of High Treason, sequestred the House, and committed to the black Rod, who sate and Voted in the House in the Speakers absence (by colour of a speciall Order made before their departure, that every Mem­ber of the Lords House should there attend) upon pre­text, that they had levyed Warre against the King, Parlia­ment and Kingdome. When as they acted nothing but in the House, or at the Committee of Safety and the Militia by expresse Order and Authority of both Hou­ses, for the Parliaments and Cities just defence against a mutinous and rebellious Army then marching up hostilely against them, contrary to both Houses Votes and Orders without any authority but their owne.

This is the true state of the case of the impeached Lords, Commons and Citizens, who have been eagerly pro­secuted by the Army and their Confederates in the House, when those Malignant Lords who levied actuall warre a­gainst King, Parliament and Kingdome, exempted from all pardon heretofore by votes and Ordinances of both Hou­ses, as Traitors and publike Enemies to the Kingdome, are suffered to go unprosecuted, yea pleaded for in the Houses, and permitted to walk freely about the City, and repaire to the King in the Armies Quarters, while these faithfull Lords, Members and Citizens are shut up prisoners, and prosecuted day by day, without any proof or guilt to make good the Charge.

The sole question then will be, who are the reall Tray­tors, and actuall endeavourers or raisers of a new Warre [Page 14] against the King, Parliament and Kingdome, in this case, whether the impeached Lords, Members, and Citizens, or the Army and their Confederates, and fugitive Members, who excited them to march up thus to London against both Houses and the City, without any Authority from the King, Parliament, Kingdome, and Contrary to both Houses expresse Orders, Letters and Commands?

Certainely, if indifferent disinterested Members and Persons may be Iudges, or Umpires in this case, or the consciences of the accusers themselves may be Judges, those Lords, Members, and Citizens listing and raising for­ces onely for their owne just and necessary defence by ex­presse Ordinances, Votes and Orders of both Houses of Parliament, was so farre from being high Treason, or levy­ing of a new Warre in them, that it was a just, necessary and lawfull in them, both by the Law of Nature, Scripture, the Statutes of the Realme, the practice and resolutions of both Houses, and of the Army it selfe in their defensive warres against the King and his assailing forces, and a du­ty to which their Covenant and publike Trust ingaged them unto, under the paine of Perjury and Treachery both to the King (taken violently by a commanded party out of both Houses custody, and detained prisoner from them in the Army against their Votes and Commands) and to the Kingdome, Parliament, and City, to whose preser­vation and defence they had so many Obligations against a mutinous and rebellious Army, marching up thus hostile­ly against them without any just ground or Authority at all, but the executing of their owne treasonable plots and designes both upon the King, Kingdome, Parliament and City, as their subsequent proceedings manifest. And every Thiefe may as justly accuse each honest man of Trea­and levying a new Warre, if he both but provide and weare a Sword or Pistoll to resist him when he comes to take his purse, or breake open his house, as the Army and their Confederates may those Lords, Members and Citi­zens of Treason and levying a new Warre, by this provisi­on of Forces and Armes to defend themselves in case the Army should violently affault the Houses or the City in a [Page 15] rebellious and hostile manner, without shedding one drop of blood, or marching out of their Lines to fight with them, though they gave them just occasion; and therefore Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army in their Remonstrance of August, 18. 1647. p. 19. 20. confesse ingenuously, That if those pretended Votes, Orders and Ordinances whereby War was levyed against those Members of both Houses who fled to the Army, were then good (when as they were made) and valid, though they should now be repealed, yet WE with the SPEAKERS and those Members aforesaid in opposing of them while they were of force, must needs remaine Transgressors still, and yet God and wee are thanked for it. To avoid which dangerous worke, they forced the Houses (by a more horried force then that of the Apprentices, and this menacing Treasonable Remonstrance, to passe an Ordinance, 20 August, 1647, for declaring all votes, Orders and Ordinances passed in one or both Houses, since the force on both Houses, July 26, untill the sixt of this present August to be null and void. Of purpose to excuse themselves from this very guilt of High Treason, in leying warre a­gainst the King, Kingdome and Parliament, which they would most injuriously fasten upon others who are inno­cent to evade their owne guiltinesse.

But neither God nor man will be long thus mocked or deluded by them: and this present Age and all future Gene­rations, will conclude at last in despite of all opposite Powers and Evasions; That the Generalls and Armies re­fusing to disband upon the Votes and Ordinances of both Houses; seizing the King, and rescuing him from the Com­missioners of both Houses with an armed party, marching up forcibly to London against the Houses expresse com­mands, surprizing the Block-houses at Gravesend by force, with the slaughter of some of the Garison there settled by the Houses; falling violently upon Sir Robert Pyes men in their quarters, and wounding some of them neer Greenwich where they were billetted by the Houses Order, without any provocation, impeaching and seizing on some Members of the Houses, and carrying them Prisoners to the Head­quarters, against their wills; enforcing the Houses to null [Page 16] and repeal their owne just Votes and Ordinances, recrui­ting the Army with many thousands of new Souldiers, rai­sing the Train-bands of the Countries, marching up to Lon­don in a body, seizing the Forts in Southwarke and West­minster, coming in arms to the very Houses with the fugi­tive Speakers and Members, putting a Guard of Horse and Foot of the Army upon both Houses, threatning by force to keep divers Members out of the House, and pull them out by head and shoulders if they presumed to intrude into them, forcing away most of the Members from the Houses; marching through the City in triumph throwing, downe their lines and works, seizing upon the Tower of London, and the Isle of Wight, beleagring the City and both Houses of Parliament of purpose to enforce them at their pleasure sending strange and treasonable Remonstrances and Papers to the Houses to passe contrary to their Votes and judge­ments, and utterly ruining the Countrey with Taxes, Free-quartering upon them against the Peoples wills, and listing twice the number allowed by the Establishment, when there is no apparent Enemy in the Kingdome, nor Order of the House for such strange recruits, their violent impeaching of these innocent Lords, Members, and Citizens, and saying publikely in the Army and Hou­ses, That the longest sword must carry it, and the Army will have this or that, whether the Houses will or not; and that we are all but their conquered Slaves, and Vassalls, and all we have is theirs, having wonne it by the sword: and the Speakers and Engaged Members Confederacy, and Engagement to live and die with the Army in these their Treasonable proceedings, is no lesse then High Treason in good earnest in them all, and an actuall Levying of Warre against King, Kingdome, Parliament, and City; for which God and men will one day bring them to ex­emplary punishment, if they unfainedly repent not of it, and give some Honourable publike reparation to those Innocent Faithfull Lords, Members, and Citizens, they have most falsly and injuriously impeached, and im­prisoned for those very Treasons and practises of which themselves are only culpable.

[Page 17] This being the true state of the impeached and imprisoned per­sons case, we may justly stand amazed at the strange insolency and impudency of the Councel of the Army, in their late Humble (alias most arrogant) Representation, presented by some of them to the Houses of Parliament, Decemb. 7. 1647. Who though in most of their former Remonstrances, they had pleaded this, to be the Here­ditary Freedome of all Subjects (since Voted by both Houses) freely to Petition the Parliament without restraint; as some of their fra­ternity have frequently done of late in a most seditious manner; yet they fall pel-mel upon the Common Councell of London only for Petitioning the Houses for relief of their imprisoned fellow Citi­zens; and on the Commons House and Members too, in this most saucy language: pag. 21. 23. And now also we must earnestly desire that the proceedings against those Citizens, and others lately impeacht, may be hastned, and out of their fines and confiscations, some part of reparation may be made to the Countries adjacent for the aforesaid damages, which the crimes of those persons and others in the City did Rather the Armies Reb [...]lion against the Houses. first bring upon them; And indeed, without something done against those persons for ex­ample to others, we do not see (when it shall withdraw) with what safety or freedome the Parliament can sit longer at Westminster, especially when we find the Com­mon Councell (through the Parliaments and It seems the Army n [...] rank themselves in equip [...] with the Parliament: and i [...] their lenity, not justice, t [...] we enjoy our lives and est [...]t [...] Armies lenity) to take the boldness already (in the face of both) to intercede for the relief and acquittall (or rather justi­fication) of those impeached persons, (who indeed are but fellow-delinquents (we doubt) to most of that Coun­cell) as if that so actuall, immediate, and Your force upon the H [...]ses and their Members, was more horrid then the Appr [...]tices; yet continued even and in this Treasonable I presentation. horrid a force upon both and the whole Houses of Parliament, and the levying of War in abetment and prosecution thereof, and of that concurrent Your Engagements no [...] disband, &c. were far m [...] Treasonable. Treasonable engage­ment, were already forgotten by them to have been any crime; the consideration whereof, and of the renewed confidence of Master Gewen, and some other Mem­bers of Parliament (known to have been partakers, if not principalls in the same things) who yet It is more presumptio [...] you and your Cromwell, Ire [...] thus to tax the House Members, then for these to [...] in the House, being not [...]peached: and no such T [...]tors, as these your Grandee [...] presume, and are suffered to appear again in the House (as in those [Page 18] things there had not been so much fault, as to render them lesse wor­thy of continuing in that highest trust) makes us begin to fear, that, while so much of the same leven (through lenity and mo­deration) is left behind, is may shortly spread, till even the The worst of them is bet­and honester then Crom­well, Ireton, or the best of you, Put [...]cy projects be true. worst of the eleven Members (notwithstanding their double crimes) be again called for in, unlesse the House (by some exclusive resolutions and proceedings) do timely prevent the same; we hope therefore the Par­liament will weigh these things, and speedily (ere it be too late) consult (at least) their own safety and the King­domes: if not ours and the Armies, their poor servants, and something concerned with Onely the Speakers and [...]embers who signed the En­ [...]gement are concerned in [...]s aff [...]ire, as well as you, not [...] Houses. them (especially) in that affaire.

By this printed Passage, the whole world may plainly discover the unparalled insolency, malice, injustice of the Saints and Councel of the Army, (who [...]er. 5. 28. exceed the very deeds of the wicked) against the wrongfully impeached Citizens and Members, whose principall Prosecutors and Accusers they are; this Representation being sent of purpose to promote the Lords impeachment in the Commons House just when it was there debating, though since laid aside for want of proofs, and matter, to make up a charge against them; and yet they, with the impeached Aldermen and Citizens must be still prosecuted, imprisoned, and not released, nor the falsly impeached and suspended Lords and Commons re-admitted into the Houses for fear of displeasing the Generall and Grand Councel of the Army, who are really guilty of all the [...]ee the Pu [...] ­ [...] projects: [...] a word to [...] G. Cromwell; [...]ich fully de­ [...]nstrate it. Crimes and Treasons which they would falsly charge on these to excuse them­selves, and of Cornet Ioyce his matchlesse Treason in plundering the King out of the Parliaments possession, whom yet they never questioned, nor impeached for it.

If this be the justice and charity of those Saints, the Generall and Councel of War (who have not yet learned that lesson and com­mon rule of justice from our Saviour, Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them, for this is the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 7. 12. Nor that lesson of Iohn Baptist (a burning and shining light, but yet no new one) even to Soldiers themselves; Do violence to no man, neither accuse any man falsly, Luke 3. 14.) [Page 19] God deliver all honest and innocent Persons from such malicious prosecutors, such unrighteous Judges, and Psal. 140. 1. men of violence: But let this be these restrained Innocents cordiall, and their Persecu­tors terror: Psal. 140. 11. Psal. 7. 16. Evill shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him: His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. God hath spoken it in his word, and it shall most certainly come to passe in his due time, if they can but with faith, and patience, wait upon him till its accom­plishment, without fainting or despair.

Now because the Generall, Councell and Army are so eager in pressing for justice upon some Members, and the imprisoned Al­dermen and Citizens, pretending them guilty of the Apprentices force upon the Houses (of which there is no evident proof) to re­quite their kindnesses we shall evidently demonstrate there is greater cause for the Houses and City to crave justice against them, as being far more guilty of forcing the Houses in a horrid and desperate manner, then the Apprentices, who so far they ex­ceeded in these respects.

First, they and the Army marched up in an intire body from 1 their quarters towards London to force the Houses, against their expresse Votes, Orders, and the Cities desires; The Apprentices did not so, having no command from either House, not to repair to Westminster, nor no Members sent to them as Commissioners to stay their march, as the Army had; whom no doubt they would have better obeyed then the Army did the Houses Com­missioners.

Secondly, the Apprentices were all unarmed, without Swords 2 or sticks in their hands, and not above one thousand or two at most: whereas the Army were all furnished with Swords, Mus­kets, Pikes, pistols, Armes, Staves, and a train of Artillery, and marched up with Banners displaied in a body of fifteen thousand fighting men or more.

Thirdly, the Armies force and violence proceeded from their 3 own mutinous disposition, and the personall malice of some of their chief Officers against the xj. eminent Members, and others who crossed their private designes, without any just provocation, or preceding president of such a force and rebellion in any other [Page 20] of the Parliaments Armies. But the Apprentices force as it was successive too, so it was encouraged and occasioned by the Ar­mies to revive the Ordinance for the Cities New Militia, passed by unanimous consent of both Houses when full and free; which the Generall and Army had forced the Houses to repeal when thin, and under their power and terror, against the rules of Honour and Iustice before one quarter of the time for which they setled it was expired, without any notice given to the City or new Militia, or charge or exceptions against them, to which they might make answer.

4 Fourthly, the Generall, Councel and Army in a forcible man­ner impeached divers eminent Members, forced their withdraw­ing suspention, and expulsion from the House, and never desired till they had driven them out of the House and Kingdome: which done, they pressed a new purging of the Houses from many other Members, under pretence of Malignancy, and their compliance with the King and His Malignant party, even when and whiles themselves were complying and holding Treaties with the Ap­prentices, never impeached, nor pressed the suspention or exclu­sion of any Members, nor kept any one Member forcibly out of the Houses, but onely kept most of them in till they had granted their Petition, and repealed the Ordinances and Votes which the Army had forced from them some three daies before.

5 Fiftly, the Army menaced and forced the Houses in and by sundry printed Treasonable Declarations, Remonstrances, Mani­festoes, Letters, and Representations; published to withdraw the City and Country from, and animate them against the Houses and Members, for divers weeks and monthes together; and when their first Demands, as Soldiers, were all granted; yet still they insist on new and Higher Demands as Subjects and Statesmen. Whereas the Apprentices force was soon ended, and they did no such thing, and desired nothing but what immediately concerned the City and themselves.

6 Sixtly, the Army and their Grandees by Letters and menaces induced and forced the Speakers and some Members (contrary to their trust and duty) to desert the Houses and repaire to the Head quarters, and there to enter into a strange Engagement, to [Page 21] live and die with them in their quarrel against the impeached Members, and others who deserted not, but continued in the Houses, and the Citizens who adhered to them. And by a Trea­sonable Declaration August 18. they declared all the Votes, Or­ders and Ordinances made in both Houses without any force from Iuly 26. to August 6. to be null and void; and by putting their own two armed Guards upon the Houses, by a party of 1000 Horse drawn up to Hide Parke, and with Cromwells, Ire­tons, and other Officers, menacing high Speeches in the House, they enforced the Houses against their former resolutions to passe an Ordinance to declare them null and voide; threatning to take all the Members of both Houses that sate and voted in the Speak­ers absence as Prisoners of War, to try them by Martiall Law, and pull them out of the Houses by head and shoulders if they Presu­med to intrude into the Houses, &c. By which occasion they for­ced away many of the remaining Members, and by force obtai­ned their desires. The Apprentices never did any thing half so forcible and Treasonable, as these matchlesse affronts and inso­lencies of the Army.

Seventhly, the chief Contrivers and Abetters of the Armies 7 violence and force against the Houses and Members, were perfidi­ous degenerated Members both of the Army and Commons House, who acted and plaid their parts in both for their best ad­vantage, as Cromwell, Ireton, Rainsborough, Harrison, Fleetwood, with other officers who received their Commissions and wages too from the Parliament, and therefore were obliged more then others to obey, and not thus openly to force, affront, and rebell against them. Whereas none of the Apprentices were Members, nor any of them in Commission or pay as Mercenaries or Ser­vants to both Houses.

Their force therefore upon the Houses in these, and many o­ther respects being far more horrid and treasonable then the Ap­prentices, and the occasion of theirs; they ought in Law and Iu­stice to be first, and most exemplarily punished; the rather, be­cause they still persist therein even in this their last Representation of December 7. (as high and treasonable as any of their former Papers) whereas the Apprentices ended in few howers, and was never since revived.

[Page 22] In brief, their own dear friend, Mr. Oliver St. John, His Majesties Sollicitor Generall, in his Argument of Law, concerning the Act of Attainder of High Treason of Thomas Earle of Strafford, at a Conference in a Com­mittee of both Houses of Parliament, published by Order of the Commons, An. 1641. directly proves the General, Lieutenant Generall, Councel and Army, more guilty of High Treason in levying war against the King, King­dome, Parliament, and now listing and quartering, and sessing Soldiers upon the people in their own Houses a­gainst their wills since the Votes for their disbanding, then ever Strafford was; his Argument being an expresse Arraignment and Attainder of them, and these their late proceedings, ex post facto, as those who shall review it will at first discern. And if his Argument passe such a sentence against them, the whole Kingdome cannot but judge them guilty.