AFter the most renowned fight & glorious victo­ry, which the great Lord of Hosts and God of Battels gave to our Army at Nafeby (wherein, although, next under God, we must give the Noble General, Sir THO. FAIRFAX, the prime part of the honor thereof, both for his magnanimity and prudence therein: Yet next unto him, I dare be bold, most justly, to give as great a share of the honor of that glorious Victory, to valiant and faithful Colonel Rossiter, a brave Presbyterian Commander, in the Northern parts of the Kingdom, as Any Commander, in the whole Army de­served: Who, in the very nick of a necessitous time of the battel, fell in, with his fresh and valiant Troops of Horse, upon the Kings forces, and by Gods great mercy, gave an admirable turn to the day, for us. And after the happy recovery of the West into the Parlia­ments hands (wherein, also, God honored another most renow­ned Presbyterian Commander, even noble and ever to be honored Major General MASSEY, with as full a portion of the honor of that Conquest, as any the loudest boasting Independent or Sectary in the whole Army (not one excepted) could justly challenge to himself, so whom, let me here all this one more brave badg of honor (the rather, because he now most unhappily lies under a cloud of Englands gross ingratitude to him) which, reverend Mr Vines, in his famous and most learned Funeral Sermon for the ever to be re­nowned [Page 4]Lord Gen. Essex, p. 33. most deservedly engraved upon him, in these words. That, renowned Governor of Glocester, whom I may (borrowing Cicero's word) most justly cal, under God, Hu­jus Regni Stator, The Stator of the Kingdom of England; Because he took the Enemies horse by the bridle, in his full carreer, and bravely stopt him; and being resolved to sell that City to them by the candle, he was (by the renowned Lord General ESSEX) rescued before the candle dropt out, and thus preserved the said City, and the whole Kingdom therewith. And (to proceed now) after the reducing of Exeter and Oxford to the Parliaments power (but upon such terms and conditions, as (had not Cromwel too boldly urged) the Parliament would never have condescended un­to or owned) O, had the Army, now, spontaneously tendered themselves in a Christian manner (as that most excellent Author of the Religious Retreat, most worthily noteth) to lay down their Arms, and be disposed of by the Parllament, they had crowned the Gospel and themselves with perpetual praise and honor. But, the Army (being upon those Conquests too much idolized, almost by every body, in City and Country) began, contrariwise (with the strong help of the Schismaticks in the Parliament, and by the crafty assistance of Mimical M. Hugh Peters (that blazon-sac'd and blattering Hocus Pocus, or blustring jugler of the drmy) who, together, with his other two Brethren in iniquity, Dell and Salt­marsh (a triple knot of Jesuitical Incendiaries and Firebrands of Sedition and Rebellion) preaching or rather prattling to the Army, among many other their poysonous positions, That the Earth is the Saints and the fulness thereof; and that they are (now) Lords and Masters of all; and thus encouraging the Army to put forth their horns of pride, oppression, hypocrisie and notorious dissimulation, for the better acting and conniving of their great Design of Ʋniversal Toleration of all Opinions, Parity and Com­munity of all mens estates over the whose Kingdom, and Liberty of Conscience in all Religions; notwithstanding that Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the rest of the Army had oftentimes, and especially in one of their late Declarations, promised and protested that they would not have to do with matters of Religion, either concerning Presbytery or Independency, but would refer themselves, therein, to the wisdom and piety of the Parliament. Yet notwithstanding, [Page 5]this grand Design hath been carryed on with so much craft and industry, by the Sectaries both in the Army, Parliament, City and Country, that it was high time for the honest and plain hear­ted Presbyterian-Party to look about them (and, O that they had done so, indeed, and been as zealous for their God, their Covenant and Country, in time, as they should, and (then) might have been) and that, especially, considering that the Army of our loyal Bre­thren of Scotland was most honestly and peaceably upon their departure out of the Kingdom, but, this our own Army remaining, stil, in a strong body among us, although no visible Enemy appea­red (save only Chymards and imaginary Enemies of our own contriving) to oppose them. The City of London, therefore (that main eye-sore to all the Designs, formerly, of Royal Malignants, and (now of late) of Seditious Sectaries) together with many other Counties of the Kingdom, earnestly and often petition the Parlia­ment, that our Army might be disbanded, that Presbyterian Church-Government might be (as the Parliament had often pro­mised) established, and that the heavy taxations of the Kingdom (by reason, especially of the Army, thus, stil embodyed) might be eased and ended. But the City of London, by reason of very ma­ny and very strange and unexpected (I am sure most undeserved) delays herein; especially, if we (as justly we may) cal to mind the Parliaments former promises to live and dye with the City of London; yet, I say the City was at length necessitated to exhibite to the Parliament, a most famons, just, deliberate and righteous Remonstrance of theirs and the Kingdoms many grievances and in­supportable disgusts, in high measure offered unto them by the In­dependent party in Parliament, and elswhere, and especially for the most necessary disbanding of the Army, and for the setling of their City Militia in the hands and power of such persons as they might safely conside in; (many Sectaries and neutrally disaffe­cted persons having then crept in among them, or at least, discove­red themselves, then, to be disaffected to the Covenant and Pres­byterian Government) the City promising and assuring their readi­ness and cheerfulness to raise monies for the payment of the Armies arrears, if these things might immediately be done for them and the Kingdom. For satisfaction to all which the Cities desires (though by the craft and power of the Independents in the Parli­ament, [Page 6]that famous Remonstrance, and their other most excellent, necessary and honest Petitions were most strangely discountenan­ced and seandalized, yea and voted to be scandalous papers, yet) many fair promises were made unto them, but, stil, from time to time, obstructed and retarded, and nothing to any purpose done for them, but the City, yea and the whole Kingdom was most grosly baffled and deluded by the Sectaries and Independent party and their noutrakadherents.

Thus we see;

But now in the first place, 1 to come to the main matter of this our Army of Saints (so, most falsly, called, by proud Sectaries themselves and their seduced Ones) And herein also not to rake in the dunghil of its most deboyst deportment (for the generality of them) in most places where they are quartered, continually com­plained of, almost, by all that see and truly know them and have had experience of them; both for their most beastly drunkenness, even to vomiting and death, in their drunken vomits; for their frequent andmost fearful cursing and swearing by no less oaths than dam me, wounds, blood and other Cavalierian oaths; their most profane sporting, playing, and fighting deperately one with ano­ther, even on our Fast-days, yea and Lords-days too; and for their most abusive, insolent and proud refusal of the moderate, and wholesom dyet in poor and mean mens houses, even beyond their abilities, oftentimes. But, I say, to omit all these to a fitter oppor­tunity, hereafter, and to take a brief view of the seeming fairest flowers in this Armies garden, even of their most speciously pre­tended honest Actings, all along, of late; And, first, I say, not­withstanding that Cromwel (that fly Ringleader to all the Armies disobedience and rebellion) had solemnly protested and promised, oftentimes, even upon his life and honor, in the face of the whole House of Commons in Parliament, that the Army should and would disband, and lay down all their arms at the doors of the Parliament, whensoever the House pleased to command them; yet, afterward, when as, upon the many Petitions of the Kingdom to the Parliament to have the Army disbanded, Both Houses of Lords and Commous sent to have them disband, they utterly [Page 7]refused so to do, except they might first have their Arrears payd, and all their own terms and conditions granted unto them; and amongst them one Condition most destructive to the Parliament, viz. an Act of Indempuity with the Royal Assent. As for that late and too stale yea false and frivolous plea of the Armies, that they saw an absolute necessity of their not disbanding; because they had discovered a most desperate and dangerous Plot against their Army (as they termed it) and so consequently against the Parlia­ment and Kingdom; this, I say, was most false, and frivolous, and they might as wel perswade us there were strong, castles built in the ayr against them, or any such strange Chymera's of non-Enti­ties, or things that never were in rerum natura. For, (at this time) there was not any such thing objected to the Parliament, or then once dream't of, to be the cause of their not disbanding, but only their want of Arrears, and an Act of Indempnity, as a­foresaid; neither, to this day, hath or can, any such Plot be pro­ved, or was once mentioned til they (upon this pretence) contri­ved to accuse the 11. worthy Parliament Members of a plot, who have (to some of their faithful friends) taken it on their Salvation, they never had the least thought of any such plot, and as it may easily be asserted, had no ground or cause to intend such a plot. And hath not Cromwel (who is, I say, believed to be not only the main Moderator, but Machinator also of this and all other the Armies principal transactions) hath he not here at the first, fairly playd the Saint, and performed his promise to the Parliament?

Secondly, notwithstanding Irelands extream necessity, 2 the Parliaments, stil, earnest importunity and the Armies, stil, pretended proclivity to disband, and to have a part of the Army speedily sent away for poor gasping Ireland relief, yet (as was remarka­bly evident in Collonel Hammonds andacious demands, and ar­ticling with the Parliament, upon most arrogant and high terms, ere he would stir a foot thither; Together with a most Seditious and Trayterous Petition (as the Par liament it self voted it, which was subscribed by a considerable Party of the Army) for a combi­nation of not disbanding, except they might have their own de­mands and conditions, first granted and confirmed unto them. Yea, notwithstanding that the Parliament condescended herein also to them, as much as possibly they could for the present, and had pre­pared [Page 8]money to pay them as much of their Arrears as possibly they could, and promised the publike faith of the Kingdom for the rest, in due time. And thus again, they utterly refused to obey the Parliament, herein also, and would neither disband, nor go to the help and assistance of that greatly distressed and almost utterly ruinated Kingdom, for want of our help, whatsoever fair Pretences and Protestations they made of Both. And was not here, think you, an humble and honest demeanour of a Saint-like Army? And, had not these Saints strangely forgotten, here, what they have often heard, and therefore should the better have remembred, that the Prophet Samuel (inspired by the holy-Spirit of God) said most truly; 1 Sam. 22.23. To obey is better then Sacrifice, and to hearken, then the fat of Rammes. For rebellion is as the sin of Witcheraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry. Or, can any wise or good man believe, that this was a Right and Reli­gious way to credit the Gospel, to Crown themselves with the Title of Saints, or to purchase present or future prayses? I surely think not.

Thirdly, 3 notwithstanding that the Parliament (in deep sense of the absolute necessity of the business of Ireland) had after that, again sent divers Lords and Commons in person to the Army (both for the disbanding of it, as was still promised, and mightily now pretended, and days prefixed for the disbanding of such and such Regiments of the Army; and for the (seeming) serious appropri­ating, and preparing of such and such forces of Horse and Foot, to be speedily dispatch't away for Ireland: Yea, and money pro­cured, (at least 200000. l. of the City of London, who still were ready to help the Parliament and Kingdom at a dead lift) and that together with those Lords and Commons, they had sent also Ma­jor General Skippon, and Major General Massey, whom the Par­liament had thereupon ordained Commanders in chief of all the Forces in the Kingdom of Ireland, both Horse and Foot; and notwithstanding, that divers Commanders and Souldiers were willing to accept that service, and to go under the Command of those brave Generals; yet the prime Commanders and Officers of the Army, laid unremoveable blocks and obstructions, again, in [Page 9]the way to hinder this work; and unless they might change and choose their own Generals, Commanders and Officers, themselves, they would not stir (by any means, or fair intreaties) nor did not go to this very day. See here then still, the charity of the Saints to their distressed brethren; and their humble obedience to their su­pream Masters, the Parliament, whom thus contemptuously and highly they affront, and what could they do more, then (as that excellent Author of the Religious R [...]treat saith) to contemn God himself by such most palpable obstinacy and unparalleld Rebelli­on!

Fourthly, the Army thus now lying lazily stil among us, 4 most heavily burthensome to the Kingdom, and not having (as was touch't before) any visible enemy to encounter with, and thus of­ten ordered by the Parliament to disband, but thus obstinately, and disobediently refusing so to do, how could they be otherwise looked upon, then (as the foresaid Author said) as Challengers of, or Champions against the Kingdom: And for no little confirma­tion of this just jelousy, let us take notice of that most notable and remarkable affront, yea, Traiterous attempt of this Saint-like and Submissive Army to the Parliament, acted at Holmby in Nor­thampton Shier (where the King, then, lay and abode by speciall order of Parliament) by one Joyce, a beggarly Botcher or Tayler by profession, and but a Reformade Trooper in the Army, &c. who (by a Commanded Troop of 2 or 300, Hourse, sent out by the Agitators, and (as tis believed by Cromwels direction too, not known to the General till afterwards) most desperately and traiterously undertook to come suddainly to Holmby, and there most audaciously, assaulted and set upon the King in his very bed-Chamber, scarcely suffering his Majesly to take his rest that night, and so besetting the House with a strong armed guard of his own, Col. Graves, who was placed there by authority of the Parlia­ments of both Kingdoms, being for his own peace and safety for­ced to fly away, his own Souldiers (having been before hand de­bauched by the Agitators) basely deserting him) the next mourning betimes he violently forced the King out of his bed, seized on his Royal person (and all this without, yea, contrary to the power and authority of the Parliament) and forcibly carryed him and the Commissioners of both Kingdoms, as prisoners along with him [Page 10]into the Army; where most Trayterously they carryed his Maje­sty Captive to and fro with them wheresoever they rambled, just almost as Tamberlain carryed Amurathes the great Turk up and down in triumph, in an Iron-Cage.

Fiftly, 5 the Armies General himself, (though when he heard of this most Trayterous prank, thus acted by such an obscure and in­feriour fellow; he seemed utterly to disclaim the knowledg of it, assent unto it, or assistance in it, yet) although, as General, he might or should have executed Martial-Law upon that Traytor Joyce, and some of his chief accomplices, and instantly to have hang'd them up (the best way to have clear'd his integrity there in) for so Traiterous a fact, and unsufferable an affront against the King and Parliament, and for so audatious an attempt and mo­tion in the Army, without his Generals order or allowance: yet was so far from it, as that insteed of being presently hanged (as he most justly deserved) he hath bin advanced (as is generally reported and affirmed) to a Captains place at least, and is made one of the Agitators of the Army. At this time also, Cromwel had got the Parliament (though with much a do upon his engagement for the Armys obedience) to vote that no forces should be raised a­gainst the Army, nor any thing done to distate them, just when the King was (thus) ceased on, and stolen away without leave. And he and Peters being come to the Army, at their Randez­vouze neer Newmarket, told his Regiment and others of the Ar­my, that this was the best days work that ever England saw, mea­ning thus, the Kings being thus got into their hands. And yet for all this, the General (in a Declaration publish't under his own hand in print) excused the whole Army from the knowledg of these things, although it was credibly assured by some of his own Regiment, that the party of Horse, aforesaid, that took the King, was of 8, out of every Troop in the Army. Only thus much, I must ingenuously acknowledg of the Generals ingenuity, that he was willing to dispose of the King back again, as the Parliament should order it, till Cromwel (as tis generally reported) alter'd it otherwise. And were not here now to most Sanctimonious Acts of humility and justice in this Army of Saints, so arrogantly [Page 11]and audaciously in a most high measure to affront the Parliament in thus, not only wresting the King most violently out of the Par­liaments power and custody; but so highly encouraging the fact, as to manifest to the whole world that high treason and boldest rebellion, are no criminal offences but famous Virtues in this Sir Thomas his Army of Saints.

Sixtly, after all this, the noble Lord Damforlin, 6 one of the Scot­tish Commissioners, appointed by both Parliament of England and Scotland, to be one of the Attendants, on the King [...] person, as a Commissioner, was most highly affronted, and much abused by a party of the Saints of this Army, who now under Whalty, boldly guarded the King, and would not suffer him to speak with his Majesty (as was fit he should) but when they pleased, and as they pleased, and they must hear whatsoever he had to say to the King, touching any private businesses, and thus at last drove him away from his attendance. Yea, and the Lord Louderdail also, coming as a special Messenger or Embassador to the King from the Parliament and Estates of Scotland was most insolently abu­sed, by this guard of the Army of Saints about the King: and e­ven in his bed-chamber, where he lay to take his rest after his journey to the King, and neither suffered to stay there, nor once to speak with the King to deliver his message, and despatch his bu­siness with the King, but was forced immediatly to depart away, without so much as, once seeing the King. And was not here, then, think you stil, a very humble and honest Saint-like Army, thus to dare to affront all Civil and Moral Constitutions of Nati­ons and Kingdoms, for just Political purposes and causes allowed by all Laws of Arms and Nations? and only thus boldly oppo­sed by this holy humble Independent Army of Saints.

Seventhly, 7 Notwithstanding that the Independents and Secta­ries both in City and Country had, formerly (but most falsly) ve­hemently taxed and reviled the Presbyterian Partie, from time to time (& that but only upon meer suppositions & ungrounded jealou­sies, for too much complying with the Royalists & Malignant party, both in subscriptions of Petitions, and other such like Combinati­ons, as things not to be admitted in point of Conscience, nor to [Page 12]be endured by them. Yet, now that they have gotten the King into their power and possession, they themselves, not only most notoriously complywith and give strange allowance to Royalists and Malignants of all sorts and degrees to come to the King, and to have ordinary and familiar recourse unto him (which, as you heard before, they utterly denyed to the whole Presbyte­rian State and Kingdom of Scotland, in their special Messenger, or Embassador) but, which is far more transcendently notori­ous in this Army of precious and reforming Saints, they also permit most desperately Malignant Prelatical Doctors of Di­vinity, the Kings former Chaplains to preach before him (which they judg, they say, most just and reasonable for the Kings out­ward and inward contentment, though against particular or­ders to the contrary) and to wait upon him; yea, and which is yet more notorious and remarkably audacious in them (it being most directly against the Ordinances, power and authority of the Parliament) they a [...]ow unto the King, the Common-Prayer Book, in most full and ample use of it, with all Prelatical Co­remenies in and about it, and the like also is allowed by this Army of Saints, and Godly party, both at Oxford, and divers other places, where the Army quarters; Absolutely contrary, I say, to our solemn and sacred Covenant and to the Ordinances of Parliament; and, that which, I am sure, the Presbyterian party neither did, nor in conscience durst allow unto the King when he was in their guard and custody. And is not this (as the ex­cellent Auther of the Religious Retreat truly sayes) to build with one hand and to pluck down with another, to seem at lest, to set up again, what God and the State (with much pains and many prayers) would have utterly raced and ruinated from a­mong us; Surely (as he goes on) when God gives the King­dom to his Saints, he wil not suffer them to give such large to­lerations to sinful humane inventions in his pure and holy wor­ship, nor, like dogs to return to their old vomit. This undoubtedly must needs blast the too high esteem of your Army in the hearts of good men, who verily beleeve these things cannot be of God. And this makes all most justly to cry aloud to our hono­rable Parliament, in these words, (which that reverend and religions Author gave his Reader in Latin but I have Englished, [Page 13]thus) Take heed, O take heed, most noble Senators, and Fathers of your Country, as ye tender the high honor of our eternal God, least whiles ye seem to settle a present Peace, yea utterly lose an everlasting Peace. And so say I;

Eighthly, This Army of Saints, thus domineering, 8 and doing what they please, the General, with his Councel of War, and brave (or rather beggarly) Agitators, which, now, make up a pretty Picture and representation of the three Estates of a Mar­tial petty Parliament (whereby, we are now in great fear to be mainly governed, if not timely prevented) begin to pre­scribe Rules (I had almost said, to make Laws) to the Parlia­ment, and they must, now, be presently voted and avouched to be the Parliaments Army and it Thomas Fairfax sole Com­mander and Disposer of all the Forts, Cinqueports and strong holds of the Kingdom, and a substantial course taken to pay them their Arrears with certainty and constancy, from time to time; But yet, this is not enough (considering all the distoyal service, thus, already done to and for the Parliament) to make the General, as it were, the Vice-Roy, or Soveraign and sole Commander of the whole Kingdom, and to make or repute the Army, the principal Propugnators and Defenders of the whole Realms safety and felicity; But Petitions must also be preten­ded and reported to be exhibited to the General, and his humble Sainted Army, from all Counties and Quarters (whereas, in very deed, as tis wel known, it was but at most, a Sectarian blustring plot of some few inponsiderable Anabaptists, Inde­pendents and such like Jugling chismaticks in some few Coun­ties the fixst of those Petitions to the Army was set on foot at Bechyn in Essex by seditious Mr Salt marsh) thus to make a huge noise to blinde the eyes and daunt the heart, if it might be, of too credulous people) [...] protection and preservation of their pretended Peace and Liberties or rather most licienti­ous Libertinism, in their said Petitions, prossering and pro­mising to the General All their homage and honor, as to their sole Salvator, in way of bounden gratitude? Yea, and now the General himself, in his own name (only with the testimony [Page 14]or subscription of his principal Secretary, Worth- [...]-rush) sending forth his Deelartaions (alias, Proclamations, like a King, indeed) both to the Parliament and People, to shew his powerful De­mands, or rather, Commands; to all form and degrees of men, whomsoever, as he sent a very plain and peremptory Summons to the City of London, that they should give way to or comply with his Armies Proceedings, or else the blood and misery, that would befal the City, must be upon their own heads, not upon the Armies. And as they did, especially in August last, 1647, in a most emment and transcendent manner of boldness, even to the Parliament it Self, in a book, intituled, A Declaration from Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Proposals agreed on by the Councel of the Army, to be presented to the Parliament, as the Armies desires (or, I say; Commands) to the Parliament for the setling of a just and lasting Peace; say they, but, so says not God, Esay 57.21. For, among many most unsufferable and insolent Proposals of turning the Triennial Parliament, setled by an act of Parliament, into a Biennial, and that, with such bold and licentious limitati­ons, as they themselves please to prescribe; regulating our Com­mon-Laws, and Courts of Justice; the Militia of the whole Kingdom; and generally all matters of highest concernment both by Land and Sea, in Church and State; yea, I say, these con­quering Keisars take upon them, as it were, to make and manage all Laws almost, and to regulate us all, according to their humor and pleasure. But, among all the rest, I cannot (nay, who can choose) but take special notice of their horrible and hellish impie­ty against God and true Religion, Proposal 12. pag. 9. (And so, also, in their last sort of Proposals, Propos. 9. pag. 13. against Conformity in Rellgion) Where they most wickedly desire a re­peal of all Acts of Parliament, or Clauses of any Acts, imposing any penalties upon men or women for not coming to Church; or for meetings, elswhere (that is, in private Comers, Houses Shops, Cellars or Barns) for prayer, or other religious duties, exercises, or ordinances (that is) of any kind whatsoever; whether, Here­tral, Seditious, Idolatrosu, Plasphemous, yea or Trayterous too, if upon pretence of Religion (for, there's no exception of any one of these, in that or any other the Proposals) whereby, men may (thus) run head long to hel, by authority, and no man dare to [Page 15]molest, or stay them. O most abominable and desperately accur­sed Proposal, hateful to God and men! I have read of Alphonsus, King of Aragon, a famous Prince, who hearing a Gentleman; in his Court, pleading against Learning, and especially that it was unfit for Courtly Lords and Gentlemen to be trained up in litera­ture, or to be learned Schollars; he, in high indignation thereat, cryed out, presently, That it was the Voyce of an Ox, not of a man. And, certainly, whosoever (that has the least spark of piety or grace, and) reads or hears of this most hellish Proposal, must needs most pathetically cry out, in extream abhorrency thereof; O the voyce of some accursed Turk or apostate Julian, not of a Saint or professed Christian! Yet, thus, you see how like most insolent and arrogant Rebels to God and all Goodness, to Religion and the whole Realm, this Army of Saints dares do or desire any thing to be done, be it ever so destructive to Christanity or Civil Policy, their desires they must have granted, per fas aut nofas, what care they, being Saints and Conquerors of All. Hence, then I conceive, any man may clearly conclude; that,

Ninthly, But, for the yet more subtile corroboration and strengthning of their wicked design of an Ʋniversal Toleration; the General, the Councel of War, and Agitators (having, thus, as is aforesaid, felt the pulses of the people, in many places, as they rambled up and down, to be all for Peace and Freedom from Tax­ations, and that, almost, upon any conditions) they do first, most illegally accuse 11. of the most loyal, active and faithful Presbyte­rian Members of the House of Commons (and nothing wil please them, but a present expulsion of them out of the Parliament, though the Parliament Voted they could not, either in Law or Conscience do it) as Complotters or Contrivers of a Second or New War (the grand Anvil whereon, now, they must hammer and hatch all their subsequent mischievous plots) thus, by the ve­ry name of a Second War (so opposite and odious to desired peace) to render those worthy Gentlemen, and all that in this sort, they must, now, hereafter have to do with all, the more odious and contemptible to all people both in City and Country: Whereas, 'tis most apparent to God and the rightly intelligent whole King­dom, [Page 16]that the Army it self was the only rise and original cause of all our fears and jealousies of a Second War, by their so bold and rebellious refusal to disband, at the Parliaments just Com­mand thereof, as also upon their most notorious denial to be lessened in their numbers, yea though it were for the most ne­cessitous helping of the poor gasping and dying Kingdom of Ireland, then, in most sad distresses, as aforesaid.

Now, 10 therefore, in the tenth, and next place, They began to quarrel with the City of London, also, which had been (O im­pious ingratitude) even their principal Foster-Fathers, as I may wel say, both, in making them an Army, at the first, and also in maintaining them, in no smal measure, all along, ever since they were first New medelld to this very day; And the ground of this their quarrel must be, their secret complotting also with those 11. worthy Members of Parliament, for the advancing and setting forward of the foresaid Second War, and, to this end, their procuring of an unjust power (says the Army) from the Parliament, for the alteration and managing of their own City Militia, thereby to place and displace, to put in or put out whom they pleased; and that thereupon they had thrust out of their Militia, divers precious deserving men (says the Army) men without all exception, and most worthy to be confided in (whereas, indeed, they were known Schismaticks, some of them preachers, yea some of them countenancing Paul Bests abominable blasphemies, most of them, desperate Enemies to our Covenant, and Reformation of Religion, as to the point of the power of godliness, and of Presbyterian Church Govern­ment) and these men (say they) were thus put out, the better to carry on the wicked Design, (for so they now termed it) of a Second War, in the City against the Army, and so consequently against the whole Kingdom, and that the City also secretly listed Soldiers and conspired with the 11. accused Members and o­thers, to occasion a fresh effusion of blood in the Kingdom: And, thus, by this abominable lying Engine, I say, of a Second War, which now they cry out of, in all their Letters, Declarations and Remonstrances to the Parliament and people, hereby (as I [Page 17]said before) to cry down all just defence against the Armies in­tended All-overtopping-power, and thus to cry up more and more their own most crafty design of over-mastering all others that durst indevor to oppose or resist them, with their stil continued and strongly embodied Army; and yet (which, me thinks, is a most strange madness in men to beleeve) in all this they must be accounted the only men of peace in the Kingdom, and the chief protectors of a Free Parliament, in its power and priviledges, and of the peoples Hereditary Liberties: Whereas, indeed, the clean contrary is most evidently true in them, they themselves mainly and only intending nothing less than a Second or New War, in case they may not have their will of the Parliament, in all their Demands, especially in the point of a Ʋniversal Toleration and Liberty of Conscience for al men; in all religions, they being thus (I say) in a strong ready body of an Army; And having also (for a most strong confirmation of the truth of all these premises) brought all their Artillery from Oxford, dayly listing Soldiers of all sorts, Cavaliers and others, possessing themselves most strongly of all our most considerable Holds, Forts and Castles; And thus, I say, most evidently resolving to fight with all that oppose them, and to get into their power, by force, what they cannot by fraud and hypocrisie. And thus the poor City of London hath hatcht up a bird to pick out her eyes; or like the Country-man in the apo­logue, reviv'd a Snake to infest and infect his whole House; as afterward we shal yet more apparently perceive, and shew you, in a yet more fit place.

Eleventhly, For the more exquisitely ripening of their design, 11 they now most craftily began to think how they might get London into their clutches, which done, they (and that most wisely) made account all was theirs. Now, this design was carryed on with as much egregious craft and Iesuitical subtilty, as possibly could be. For, first, the pretence must be, that those 11. Members of Par­liament, accused by them, must be speedily suspended the House of Commons, and not suffered to sit there til they had cleared themselves of the accusations, commenced against them: But, the Parliament, voting the contrary, it presently threatned by this [Page 18]their obedient Army of Saints, that if it were not done (and pre­sently too) as they demanded, they should be forced to exercise and make use of that power which was in their hands, and in plain English, to compel the Parliament to it, whether they would or not; and for that purpose, to bring their whole Army, toward the City and Parliament; which, how boldly they brought to pass, and brought their stools with them to make them­selves unwillingly welcome to the City, you shal hear and see anon in its due place.

Then, 12 in the twelfth place, for the more colourable carrying on of the yet unseen depth of their design, viz. the forementioned, quarrel begun against the City of London, touching their Militia; This also must again be most stiffly insisted on and revived, and those precious men (as the Army called them) so trustily to be consided in, who had been put forth, as aforesaid, must, by all means, be again restored to their power and places in the City-Militia; or else the Army (of modest and patient, Saints, who loved not to medle with other mens matters) should be compelled by their power to force and constrain the City also thereunto. But, withal (good Readers) this must be considered, by the way; That all the Armies warlike preparations to come, now, to the City, their most busie listing of Soldiers from all parts, to make their Army the more numerous and form lable, their securing of Wind­sor Gastle, seizing upon and securing the Blook houses at Graves­end, their summoning of the Trained Bands of Essen and Hart­ford-shire to rise with them; their bringing on of all their Artil­lery, and all other war-like provisions and preparations to besiege, assault and storm the City (if they opposed the Army; and every preparation for self-defence, which, God and nature afford to e­very creature against wrong and injury offred or intended to them) all those preparations, I say, must be beleeved not to be for any hurt to the City, or plunder, or spoil thereof. Provided, stil, that the City stirred not to make any defensive preparations against them, for that must be clearly, judged by the Army to be the only cause of a Second War, intended by the City, either in listing Soldiers, Horse or Foot, especially not to medle with or entertain into their pay or service, any Reformadoes (which the Army it self did and dayly do) whom, the Army of Saints and Secta­ries [Page 19]in the City had most vilely abrised, and who therefore were the more likely to do the City the better and more faithful service against the Army; but, if the City did any of these things, this, on the Cities part would, I say, be the only means to make a Se­cond War, and to occasion the inevitable essusion of blood, which the Saint-like Army, notwithstanding their mighty preparations for War (on the one side) most earnestly and piously, like pune Saints, indeed, protested against.

Again, in the thirteenth place, 13 that this subtile Army of Saints may be yet more generally and authoritatively called [over the whole Kingdom] and accounted the only Peace-makers, and Conservators of the Parliaments riviledges, and Commons Li­berties [as was toucht before in the 8. Observation] and so grisp the whole power of the Kingdom into their fists, and that, both by Sea and by Land, if possibly it might be; the Army, most audaciously, sends to the Parliament, and most craftily desire [or rather command] that a Vote, and thereupon, an Ordinance of Parl. might be past that they may be intituled, and acknowledged the Parliaments Army, and so the Parliament to see that they may be payd, from time to time, all their past, present, and suture Arrears, notwithstanding their Free-quarter [which must be reckoned for in due time, even ad Graecas Galendas] wheresoever they lay, and the body of their Army hereupon removed; which was ac­cordingly, and immediately voted in Parliament. And now al­so Sir Thomas Fairfax was made Generalissimo of all the Forces, Forts, Castles, Cinque-ports, and total strength of all the King­dom, and under him, his Councel of War, and brave Statesmen of the Kingdom, the Mechanick Agitators of the Army, are thus become Lords and Princes over all. And, hereupon, in requital of these favors and kindnesses of the Parliament to the Army, which hath made them the Army of the Parliament, they turn'd it quite the clean contrary way, and made our Parliament the Parliament of the Army; That is, in plain English, The Master is become his Servants Servant. And thus now, that no less old than true Adagy is here in this our precious Army of Saints most exquisite­ly fulfilled; Asperins humili nihil est cum surgat in altum. [Page 20]Which may be thus Englisht.

In sum, 14 in the fourteenth place, observe with me, that now, much about this time, or not long after, the grand force to Both Houses (in grateful requital for this the Parliaments favor to this Army of Saints) was made upon them, by a bold Declaration sent by the Army unto them, in these words, or to this effect: That if they might not have the things they desired, granted unto them, by such a day, they must and would accomplish them, by such extraordinary ways as God and present providence should put them upon. Only here was all the difference twixt this grand force and the other of the Apprentices, that, the armies was at a distance, by a great Army with guns, pikes and swords, the other, by a company of young men, at the Parliament doors, but all naked and unarmed, only crying out with their tongues and intreaties not to be accounted traitors for defending themselves against a threat­ning Army. And about this time the Army was at Watford, with their great guns and formidable artillery, and many of them with­in 10. miles of London which did not a little affright many of the Members away shortly after, and so by these means and subtile devices, the Houses of Parliament became their own, and they craftily handled them even as they listed, almost in every thing they pleased. For, notwithstanding the Parliaments commands (now, their only titular or nominal Lords and Masters) sent un­to the Army of Saints (their supposed Servants) more than once or twice, to keep off from quartering neer the City of London, by at least 30 or 40 miles distance, which, for a little season they had done; And notwithstanding the City of Londons, now, choosing out and sending Commissioners to treat with the Army (for, to such a height it was now grown, as if the City and Ar­my had been two distinct advers Parties) to keep a supposed and pretended fair correspondency between them, for peaceable con­clusions; yet, the Army (grown, now to a high pitch of power, and now) therefore more apt, especially by their active Agita­tors, to pick quarrels, both with the Parliament, their Parents and Masters, and with the City, their Foster-Fathers, if their licentious humors of Pride and Schism, were crost ever so little) [Page 21]holding themselves much affronted and stil much discontented that the aforesaid 11. accused Members, were not yet put out of the House of Commons (though most unlawful to be done) that so the Schismatical Party in that House might carry on their grand Design of an accursed Toleration, with the fuller and freer concurrence of Votes and Suffrages, when once it was ripe enough to be discust and s [...]and in the House; And because, also, the City of London would not consent to alter the power of their Militia, nor lie altogether, idle, secure, and supine, from making some just preparations for the defence of their often and highly menaced and threatned City to be plundered, burned and made a prey to this Army of Saints (which defence, God knows, at best, was very little and inconsiderable) but especially by occasion of a Petition and Engagement, whereinto divers most honest and religious peaceable Citizens, Seamen and Apprentices of London and the parts about it (only by reason of the Armies often and insolent threats and formidable preparations for war, and frequent incroachments and approachings neer unto their City) had entred into, to stand to their Covenant (which above all, this Army of sweet Saints could not endure) made with God and the three Kingdoms, to endevor with their lives and fortunes, the defence of their true Religion, City and Liberties, to preserve the Kings person and dignity (now in great danger, in both, he being in the Armies wicked custody) and to bring his Majesty to the City and Parliament for the perfecting of a happy and wel-grounded Peace, and Truth [...]ogether, and all these, upon such terms and conditions as the Commissioners of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland should see most fit and salubrious for the best good of all the three Kingdoms; and this Petition and En­gagement they purposed (according to their honest and orderly custom of proceeding in these kinds) to present to their Common Councel, with their humble and peaceable desires that the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Common Councel, if they liked and al­lowed thereof would be pleased in all their names, and, then, joyntly of the whole City to present the same to the Par. for their ratification and establishment of their desires therein. But, the Army, instantly, having private intelligence thereof (by some false brethren, even whiles this business was but in the Embrio of it) [Page 22]with all possible speed posts away their most imperious Demands (rather indeed, Commands) to the Parliament, forthwith to suppress, this desperate and dangerous, yea, this bloody and trea­sonable design (as thus they most craftly and frightingly termed it) and upon this, to change the City Militia, which was done all in one day; and to cal the Contrivers and Actors therein, and main Abettors thereof, into severe question, as traiterous fomentors of a Second or New War (because, indeed, such a just defence as this was like to prove, and would, as they justly feared, mightily impede, yea, utterly break the neck of the Armies grand Design) or else they with all their Martial power, must of necessity come up presently, and compel and inforce it. Besides, to aggravate their accusations against the City, the Army had gotten perfect intel­ligence, that (about or somewhat before this time) the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Citizens of London, had sent Letters and sub­scribed them with their names, into Kent &c. to crave those their neighbors assistance to help to defend the City, if force were made against it by the Army; which, it seems became a foul of­fence in the City, and most worthy to be severely punisht, [...] Treasonable Design against the Army: just, as if a man, his house being in danger of fire to be burned down, or of theeves and rob­bers coming to assault him in his house, should send forth pre­sently to his neighbors, to ayd and assist him against those dangers and just fears of his, and for this cause the theeves and robbers should make a sore complaint of him, how they were wronged thereby, and procure the Master of the house and his Servants (or associates) to be punished for thus endevoring to save and preserve their house and goods from rapine and ruine.

Hereupon, 15 in the fifteenth place, the Parliament (being now apparently forced by the [...] of this overpowering Army, toge­ther with the help of the Independents and Secturies in the House of Commons) voted all those that were Author of and Actor in the said Petition and Engagement (though but intended) to be Traitors, and to be proceeded against with the lost of their lives undestates; And presently painted and published an Ordinance of Parliament to have them all [...] all over the [Page 23]City, by Drum and Trumpet; At which most strange proceed­ings of the Army and Parliament the City in general being mightily discontented, presently sent the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Common Councel of London, to petition the Parliament for a present removal of divers grievance [...], and chiefly for an instant revocation, or repealing of that (conceived, unjust) Ordinance aforesaid. But, especially, very many Apprentices of London, and young men (with divers others mixed mong them) went also the same day to Westminster in a tumult [...]ous manner (as the Army called it, though multitudes petitioning make not a tumult, but have been very, much countenanced and encouraged, yea and ap­proved of by a Declaration of the Parliaments formerly s [...]t forth.) But therein, also, the honest Citizen were most wickedly abused by many Cavaliers, Malignants, y [...] and Sectaries too, who mixed themselves among the honestly young men, the more to a­buse them and their work, but all of them unarmed, thus urging the Parliament for the instant nullifying of the said Ordinance, and so much the more vehemently they urged the immediate per­formance hereof, because they then [...] (nay heard for certain) a present adjournment of the Parliament was resolved on, and therefore they pressed the more mightily upon Both Houses of Parliament (whiles they were yet [...] sitting) with earnest cries and intreaties, to all that past in or out, for the nulling of that severe and (as they humbly conceived) most unjust Ordinance of Par­liament against them, only for action (as they conceived and in their consciences were assured, according to their Covenant; which their desires, being, at last, though indeed, with much ado, obtained in Both Houses, and the Apprentices, thereupon, being, now, contentedly departed all to their own homes; yet, upon this, the Parliament being by Both Houses adjourned, the 2 Speakers of Both Houses of Parliament, and other Members thereof, both L [...]s & [...]om [...]ns, presently deserted the Parl, and slew away, yet the disorder and tumult was raised (after all the Petitions were gran­ted) meerly o [...] [...]ainly, I say, by Sectaries of the City and Army, and by sundry eminent Cavaliers, as can be proved, (as in mighty pretended fear) [...] our Army of Saint, for Safeguard and Sanctu­ary, But, the rest of the Parliament at Westminster returning and sitting stil, on the day de [...]mined by the whole Parliament, [Page 24]where finding their two Speakers to have deserted the Parlia­ment, they instantly chose them two other Speakers, and fear­lesly (as they might indeed) according to their duty to the King­dom, proceeded in their work and way. Besides all this, to make the matter yet more unhappily offensive to them and us, and to make the City seem, at least, in pretence, more foul and faulty; It pleased the Lord, that it so fell out, that the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Common Councel of London, hearing for certain of the Armies extraordinary hastning toward London, with all the strength they were able to make ready, especially of their horse, their foot and artillery hastning also after with all expedition, and raising the Countries to follow them and joyn with them; and (therefore) I say, sitting in Councel at their Guild-Hall for pre­paration of defence against the anger of the Army; in the said Guild-Hall, a fudden quarrel was raised there, by a most rude rubble of Anabaptists, and such like seditious Sectaries and Schismaticks, under a colour and pretence of presenting a Peti­tion to the said Common Councel for a colourable-peace, of their own making; which rude multitude so unsufferably and basely abused valiant and wel-deserving Major General Poyntz, a brave and victorious Commander of the Parliaments in the North of England, who at that time came forth of the Militia (then also sitting in the said Guild-Hall) thinking to pass peaceably through the Hall, but, I say, was so intolerably abused by the Sectaries, who as soon as ever they saw him come forth, cryed out, No Poyntz, no Poyntz, pull'd him violently by his scarlet Cloak, asking him, if he had payd for it, yea some of them (as 'tis most credibly reported, by eye-witnesses) kicking him on his breech, yea and smiting him on his head, in high scorn and contempt, in somuch that the heroick-spirited Gentleman, as a Soldier, also, could no longer indure them, but that drawing his sword, other swords were also drawn, one was slain, and divers others woun­ded, and much hurt was done among them, (But, before this, a party of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army of peaceable Saints had fain upon certain of Sir Robert Pyes Soldiers, who were disposed of by our Parliament for Ireland, and lay quietly quartred at Detford, and slew divers of them, wounded others of them, and made the rest of them to fly for their lives; and so were the first themselves [Page 25]that shed blood in a hostile manner which I hope justice wil in time require an account of from some of them.) But I say all those foresaid accidents on our side, most unhappily falling out together, as ye have heard, made up the mouths of the Armies gaping hopes for the more full compleating of their main Design, viz. The City. For, the Army makes all this (now) an unquestionable cause of their speedy marching up to London to stil their tumults, as they gave out; As if the City of London (famous for their admirable and unparaleld Government over the whole world, for these ma­ny hundred years) had not been able to pacisle any tumultuous dis­orders, suddenly risen up among them & by their own power, and justice of the City to apprehend & bring to tryal the Authors of any such Commotions, either in the City, or at the Parliament, without the injurious help of an ambitious and aspiring Army, by whose examples (yea and provocations too) of rebellion, in a special manner, against the Parliament, at first, these sad disasters have thus fain out among us; As that excellent Author of the Religions Retreat, pag. 13. wel observeth, in these his own very words: We may all well observe, That all the late stirs, which the Army cals Mutinies and Treacheries, tending to New Wars (whereof they so loudly cry out against us contioually) and spilling of blood, have arose, in opposition to them; for if they would have layd down their arms, as they ought to have done at the Parliaments several Commands, no question, but every true subject would willingly have layd down his head upon his pillow, and gladly have taken his rest, especially after such late destructive bloody broyls, is he had so smarted by: But here now I wil conclude this Obser­vation, with this distick, in taking notice of the most remarkable bypocrisie of this our Army of Saints forsooth, who are so for­ward to fall upon others as Rebels and seditious Traitors for only endevoring justly to defend themselves from the violence of their Army, they forgetting themselves to be the first and worst Tray­tors and Rebels against the Parliament, and so consequently the whole Kingdom.

Now in the foresaid interim, 16 the City of London seeming also to put themselves upon a preparation (at least, I say, as twas hoped, [Page 26]but falsly) though not to fight, yet to defend themselves and City from threatned plundering and invasion of the Army, if it, should attempt the same against it; In all they now did, they were but like Janus, with two faces under one hood, look two ways at one time; Or like a Waterman, who at the same instant row one way, and look another: For, they seem earnestly to procure power of the Parliament, and had enough given them (had they acted accordingly) by an excellent Ordinance of Parliament, to have bravely strengthned their City within, and to have curbed and kept under any false-hearted Brethren, either of the Malig­nant or Schismatical Parties, from hurting them within, or help­ing the Army without. Upon which Ordinance, they chose noble & ever to be honored Major Gen. Massey to be their General of all the City forces within, and the Parliament had appointed and order'd, by their Committee for the safety of the Kingdom, noble General Poyutz for his assistance to command the Horse and Reformadoes without; thus they seemed seriously and in good earnest to list Horse and Foot in S. Jameses and Tuttle-fields; made a huge pudder in the City by shutting up their shops, beating their drums up and down in the streets, and making a mighty pretence of a powerful opposition of the Army; but, all to no purpose; for, in all this mean season, underhand Petitions for peace were framed, and followed hard; Sectaries fled out of the City to their Army of Saints: crying out to the General and Commanders, that all the Saints and godly party in London were now quite undone, if the Army speeded not, with all possible hast to London for their preservation; yea, and the City it self persisted in their Treaty with the Army by their Commissioners, among whom, were e­specially two long-breath'd Orators, ( voces, praeterea nihil; as the Country-man said of his Nightingals) who as 'tis generally re­ported, like subtile Ambide xters, cast in so much coloquintida of their frothy Oratory, as spoil'd all the pottage of the Cities solid preservation, (not, but that we bless God most heartily for Peace, 10000 times rather than War, and like wel the work done, though not the manner of the work-mens doing of it) for, they, undoubtedly applied a playster far worse then the difease, made a peace or pacifi­cation with the Army, upon no conditions at all, on their own part, no, not so much as for saving the City from plundering [Page 27](save only by word of mouth from Sir Thomas his bare promise, and that in ambiguous and Delphick expressions) yet, by Gods providence, indeed, their gold chains and full chests were, for the present, preserved) But, upon many, yea any, and all conditi­ons advantageous to the Armies party; even such, as none (sure) but mad men or fools in the Army would have refused; And, thus, most ignommiously, leaving renowned General Massey, and noble General Poyntz, with all their abused Reformadoes, in great straits, who were all forced to fly, presently, for their own safety; and hereby also having brought the honest Presbyterian Party, both in the Parliament and in the City, into great inconvenien­ces, and no little danger; yea, and, that which hath in a most high measure stained the reputation of the City, and (besides and above all the rest) brought them under a most black cloud of in­fumy and disgrace, that they most unworthily condescended to the Army to null, disavow, and disclaim, their City Declaration, a rare peice, had it been religiously and courageously stood unto, even a second Covenant; O, in this, my Soul grieves for the shame, of this, late, so honorable a City, thus now made so dis­honorable: All which, the face of a Considerable Army or Horse and Foot (which, the City might easily have raised, had it acted­faithfully, and in good earnest) appearing in a body, with their brave and honest Commanders (as, such they were, indeed, not­withstanding all the lying Sectaries slanders most injuriously cast upon them) had most unquestionably, by the Lords mercy disap­pointed and avoyded; yea notwithstanding Southwarks treache­rous trick, and the Tower-Hamblets base defection and neutrali­ty: Whereas, now, by this means, the freest and most famous City in the world is totally (though, yet, insensibly) made a cap­tivated prey unto an incroaching and self-seeking Army of dissem­bling Saints.

Thus, now, then, 17 the General and his Army of sweet Saints having (by notorious subtilty) as it were vanquished and enslaved so rich, so rare, so populous and famous a City, and that, without striking one stroak for it; and thereby, also, having made it as in­famous, as ever it had formerly been renowned and glorious: He [Page 28]now brings back again with him, Both the Speakers of the Par­liament, who were, lately, fled from the two Houses of Parlia­ment (as was formerly toucht) together with the rest of the Members of Both Houses, both Lords and Commons (who had deserted the Parliament, as aforesaid, and in that absence of theirs with the Army, had sate, like the Oxonian Junto, at Sion-House, between Hounslow and Branford, and there entred into a solemn Engagement with the Army against the two Houses of Parliament, sitting in their absence, which they subscribed, and i [...] now extant in the Parliament; and contrived a Declaration against the fixed Parliament at Westminster, which sate still, there, as it was their duty, in full peace and freedom, all the time of the o­thers absence, which was from about July 26. to August the [...]. and went forward in their just and legal Parliamentary proceed­ings) But the General, I say, and his Army of innocent Saints (unwilling to do violence to any man, Luke 3.14.) with a for­cible and strong hand or power of Horse and Foot, brought back those other Members who had deserted the Parliament, as fore­mentioned, set them in their seats and places in Parliament; who being so set, immediately protest against the proceedings of the Members of Both Houses, that sate, in their absence, and would have declared all that the Parliament at Westminster had done, in the time of their absence, to be null and illegal. But (notwith­standing that, now, the Parliament at Westminster was every day strongly surrounded by a strong guard of the Armies Horse and Foot, as was conceived, to o [...]aw them: Yet, the Parliament putting the Question to the Vote, it was clearly carryed in the Negative, at least four or five times, and that, sometimes, by a­bove 40 voyces, That they ought not to be null, but were just and legal; till at last, the Army having certain knowledg thereof, and much vext thereat, presently some in the House of Commons (as 'tis credibly reported) threatned the fixed Members, That if their Votes could not, the long-sword should carry it for them: And, immediatly after, the Army (to second and confirm those words) set out a Declaration, upon the Thursday, in Sir Thomas Fair­fax's own name, protesting therein, that, if those most honest Presbyterian fixed Members continued to sit in the Parliament, and there to [...]a [...]e to Vote, as they did, the [...] would come, [Page 29]with all its power, and force them out, and dap them up in fast hold (let all the world judg now what a free Parliament this is) as the Armies Captives, or Prisoners of War, upon which furi­ous threats on the very next day, being Fryday, divers of the re­ligious fixed Members, most unworthily (as we conceive) for very fear left the House; yet, all things considered, it was wel for them that they went away; for, [...] it was then credibly said and assured, on that next Fryday morning Cromwel came to the Par­liament, and the Officers of the Army into the House of Com­mons, to see their Declaration made good, and though excepted against in the dispute, they would not withdraw, being backt with 1000 Horse in Hyde-Park, one Troop at the door, and Desborough who commanded the Horse being ready at the door to receive Command to seize upon the Members, if they were not able to carry it by Vote: But upon their absence, the fled-Mem­bers (the greatest number whereof, 'tis wel known were Secta­ries and such like neuters and siders with them) took advantage thereof, and that same following Fryday morning put the Que­stion again to the Vote, and now [...] last carryed it, this only one time, in the Affirmative; against the others four or five times in the Negative; and this single Vote of theirs must stand and null and illegal all that had been done in Parliament, in the time of their absence, to the unspeakable [...]e [...]ment of the Parliament, City and whole Kingdom, whereon [...] by and by; but now to look back to the Army of our humble-hearted Saints: The Army having (as was forementioned) all rubs now, removed, and their way fair before them to do what they pleas'd, and having quickly sear'd away the City-guard from the Parliament, and confined them, now, within their own City-walls, and intreated the City Trained-Bands (whether they would or not) to give them possession of all the City For [...]s and Lines of Communication, whereof now they were become Masters; Shortly after, the whole Army en [...]r [...] the City, and that in a most Martial and triumphant equipage; The General himself, like a second Casar, or some famous Roman Consul riding through the City in princely pomp and stately triumph, amended by his whole Army, who rode all of them with green Bays and Laurels in their hats, in token of Conquest, both before and behind him, and immediatly before [Page 30]him rode 8 or 10 of his brave conquering Officers, in arms, all bare-headed, even like as to a King or Keisar, indeed; the Lord Maior also, Aldermen and Common Councel of the City, having, before, met his Excellency at Hyde-Park, to kiss their golden-fetters, and to tender to his Excellency the promised gift of a golden Bason and Ewer of a 1000 l. price, together with the invitation of him and his brave Commanders, to a sumptuous feast within their City (yea and as tis credibly affirmed those two fore­said Ambi-dexters would have the City to have had invited the A­tators by name, unto this feast, a most base absurdity) in requi­tal of their kindness in thus easily reducing their City into sordid Captivity; yea, and the Common people, through the whole City, filling the streets, as the General and Army, thus, past along, ad­miring, and applanding, with the highest punegyricks that their greedily gazing eyes could manifest (like so many sottish and dull Issachars Asses) to their, late, most mean Martial Servants, now become their Martial Masters. Which, sitly brings this proper distick into my thoughts.

And, 18 now, in the eighteenth place, for a speedy and most con­spicuous Demonstration of the truth of these premises, and to shew thee the sad beginnings of this poor Cities growing, if not future groaning miseries and calamities; The Parliament having made the General (in part of present requital of his late good service to them) High-Constable of the Tower of London; with power also to put in, as his Substitute, whom he pleased, to be Lieutenant thereof; the General, to shew his zeal and fervour for the yet more effectual promoting of the grand Design, fore-spoken of; going, now, to the Tower to take possession thereof, and having been with all honor and humanity entertained, by the noble, and (both for his Piety and Martial Prowess in the face of his Ene­my) most highly deserving then present Lieutenant of the Tower, Colonel West, at a sumptuous feast, or dinner of purpose, there, provided for him; and after many seeming friendly salutations, and hoped cordial regreets, mutually past between them at the table; After dinner, this new High-Constable having the keys of the Toner delivered to him; and notwithstanding also that [Page 31]the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Councel had highly recommended to his Excellency, the said noble Lieutenant Col. West; yet he presently displaces this brave and every way wel­deserving Colonel, and gave the keys and Lieutenantship of the Tower to a pretty young Pageant-stripling, viz. one M. Titchburs, a hopeful young man, indeed; and one that (to be sure) is very likely to be herein very useful to the Tower precinct and inclosure, viz. to save the hyre of a Preacher there, in that himself has a dexterious faculty in preaching already. After this, also, the Ge­neral causes the City Militia to be new-moulded and modelld into a former condition, to wit, of having the Schismatical Militia­men reinvested into the power of the Militia, in satisfaction and pacification of the late quarrel and complaint, herein, against the honest Presbyterian Citizens who had by a full and a free Par­liament obtained the just expulsion of all such Independents and Schismaticks from bearing any Office of power or trust in our Common-wealth, as either refused to take the Covenant, or were Enemies to the Ends and Intentions thereof, in point of Refor­mation and godly Church Government, according to an Ordi­nance of the Lords and Commons formerly voted, printed and pub­lished by authority, I say, of a full and free Parliament; but, now, thus alter'd and nullified by the over-awing power of this Army of Saints upon this their Parliament.

And, now, 19 the Parliament and City being pretty wel brought under the terror and power of the Army, the Army begins stiffly to prosecure the consummating of the Sectaries great Design of Toleration and Liberty of Conference to All: And wel knowing they could not throughly effect this til the Parliament were throughly purged of all the opposite and active Presbyterian Members therein, therefore (as was briefly toucht before) they vehemently stil, inveigh against about, at least 70 others of the more honest and pious party of the House of Commons, who also sate and acted in the Parliament in the absence of the others, who, most unworthily, deserted the Parliament and fled to the Army; which, now, like an Army of Saints, indeed, ful I beleeve, of Serpentine Craft, but not of Dove-like Innocency) protested a­gainst [Page 32]their sitting in the House and voting, there, as Members of the House, and most earnestly and urgently threatned again and a­gain (even by their beggarly Agitators also of their Army) to thrust and force them out, as it were by head and shoulders, even by a day of their appointment, or else they could forbear no longer, but would immediatly force them out, if they durst, stil, abide and vote there: Insomuch that now, at last, not only the first 11. accused worthy Members were forced to sly away for fear of them, (whereof one most eminent Member, much honored Sir Philip Stapleton, is (since) dead, beyond the Seas, by this Armies of dissembling Saints most bold and bloody persecution of them, and whose most innocent blood, I hope, the Lord, the most righteous Judg, wil, when he makes inquisition for blood, remember, and require at their hands; but also the most, if not all the rest of the other 70 most worthy Members have been (thus) enforced to forsake the House, and to desert that trust which the Kingdom and Counties for which they were chosen, had imposed and in­vested on them. An affront, I beleeve, unparalell'd, and far transcending all presidents of all former ages and Parliaments that ever this Kingdom saw, since it was a People and Nation; And yet it is a high indignity offered to this Army of Saints, to say or think, that such a chast and modest Army as this is hath forced, if not ravished the Parliament of its Virgine Power and Priviledges, or that they have any sinful or sinister designs or evil intentions in all or any of these their most remarkable Rebessions against the State and Church of God: and who (notwithstan­ding all these their most insolent and arrogant actings, as aforesaid) would have us to be charily tender of judging of them, and cha­ritably to be both perswaded, yea and assured that they intend no evil, but all good unto us. Whereas, on the other side, the least and most lawful actings of any of the Presbyterian Parties, either in Parliament or City, even for most just self-defence and preser­vation, are cryed out upon with open mouthes and reiterated in­vectives to be most bloody, hides us, and heynous treasons, rebelli­ons, and fomentings of a second, new, and most bloody War against the Army and therefore against the whole Kingdom, which, me­thinks, brings, now, here, most fitly, into mind, that most perti­nently appliable Apologue, to this our present purpose of the mu­tual [Page 33]shrifting of the Lyon, Wolfe, and the Asse, which was thus. The Lyon, Wolfe, and the Asse, would needs go to shrifting or con­fessing of their faults one to another; yea, and be Judges of one anothers faults, and desert of punishments thereon. The Lyon began, and acknowledged, that indeed he had preyed upon many wild beasts in Woods and Forrests, as his naturall food, and with­out which he could not live, but had never medled with any men, to devour or hurt them; So sentence was given by the other [...]. Judges herein; that surely this indeed was the Lyons natural food, and being naturall unto him thus to do, it was sit it should be par­doned in him. Then the Wolfe came to shrift, before the Lyon and the Asse; and he confest indeed, that he had oftentimes devou­red both men and beasts that came in his way, and spared none whom he could master and overcome: but yet truly, that this was his naturall food, by which he also lived, and without which he could not subsist; whereupon, sentence must be given by the Lyon and the Asse, that truly this was a heynous evil in the Wolf; but yet in regard it was the Wolfes nature to devour and tear in pieces, all that came within his reach, he ought therefore to be likewise pardoned therein. Then the Asse coming to shrift himself before the Lyon and the Wolfe his Judges, acknowledged and freely con­fessed, that he had never hurt any, either men or beasts; only he remembred, that once his Mr. that owned him, riding upon him on Pilgrimage, and having straw in his shoos, and some of the ends of the straw hanging loose out of his shoos, and he being very hungry in the way, reached his mouth to some of the straws, and eate them as he went on: Whereupon, both this Lyon & the Wolfe instantly cryed out, that this was a most soul and unpardonable offence, and aggravated this fact to be exceeding heynous thus; What? say they, Eate the straw out of your Mrs. shoos, that should have kept his feet warm, and that whiles he was riding on Pilgrimage to perform his holy Devotions! O this was a most intolerable fact, and worthy of severest punishment: and therefore for it he must suffer death, and so was devoured by them both. The Application I leave to the judicious and religious Reader: only take this Distick, and I have done with this Observation.

[Page 34]And now in the twentieth and last place, 20 to close up all, with an invincible Argument and Demonstration of a Desperate Design, most Subtilly and Clandestinely carryed on by this most deceitful Army of Saints, against the most honest and innocent Presbyteri­an Party (which hold closs to their sacred and solemn Cove­nant) and so by a most clear and undeniable Consequence, a­gainst the work of a pure and powerful Reformation, both in Do­ctrine and Discipline: Notwithstanding, all the loud and lying out-crys of the Sectaries of all kinds, formerly against Persecuti­on of any Saints or Christians for Conscience sake, even in mat­ters of fact: Yet, how hath this Army of Saints themselves (now that they have begun to get power into their hands at this time) bin and are the primary, if not only Cause of the Persecution, (even unto death already of divers) not only of the XI Renowned and most Faithful Patriots of their Country; both for Counsell and Warr: but also of 70. more of them at one blow: and now more lately of divers both Lords and Commons, impeached of high Treason, for sitting in the Parliament, for the good of the City and Kingdom (according to their Conscience and Covenant) whiles others fled from it: Together with divers other most un­questionably worthie and Eminent and Excellent Citizens of Lon­don, old and young, who both in their persons and purses, in Wars abroad, I say, and Counsels at home have layd out themselves in a high measure: and yet now at this time, divers of them are clapt up in prison, Impeacht of high Treason, and some forsooth, of high Misdemeanours, and thus their lives and estates brought in­to much danger, to the utter ruinating (as much as in the malice of their Sectarian Adversaries lies) of themselves, their wives, and dearest babes, and little Children, and divers others, yet more Eminent, Pious Presbyterian Citizens (fatter morsells for the mouths of envy and mischief to feed on) are stil threatned to be called in question for their lives and estates: Which threatning is now also more lately put into execution in no small measure, by the Impeachment and Imprisonment of the Lord Major of Lon­don, Ald. Adams, Ald. Bunce, Ald. Langham, and other E­minent and Excellent Spirited Citizens, upon pretence of high Treason (for, as for that petty Impeachment of high Misdemea­nours, there must not be so low a descention: For that will not [Page 35]raise summs of money big enough to pay the Armys Arrears) that thus those worthy Patriets of that (late) most knowned City, o­ver the whole world (though now under a Sable cloud of dis­grace) may like so many spunges, be squiez'd with deep and con­siderable sines and large summs, for being so Loyal and Faithful, as to adventure to defend themselves and their City (according to Conscience and Covenant) against the Martial orders, and thun­dring Premonitions of an Army of Saints who must have it so, and their pact Parliament (therefore) must act it so; and let God and the world judg, if this be not the very quintessence of black ingra­titude, and of breach of former (seeming) serious and often pro­mises, to live and dye with the City of London at that time, when they had extream need of their persons and purses, of [...]oth which, the most noble City of London was then most prodigall, even to admiration. Yet now, see how most ingratefully (to say no worse) they are repayd and rewarded, and all to please a Seditious and Re­ligious Army, Yea, and many mor [...] of our most famous and pain­full Presbyterian Ministers of the City of London, are (as we hear for certain) threatned, to be call'd in question also, (yea and some are already questioned, as Doctor Burgess, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Byfeild, and Mr. Ienkins Minister of Christs-Church) and to be punisht in their persons (an they are, and long have bin most vilely and abominably in their purses and livelihood, under pretence (by our wicked Sectaries) of unlawfulness of paying Tythes to the eternall shame, and indelible infamie of those that should, but will not help it) and all and every of them, thus suffering, only for acting according to their sacred and solemn Co­venant, and the most exact and upright rule of a good Consci­ence, backt by the authority of Parliament also (if at least (now a days) we know what and where a Parliament is, or ought to be) and that also justified, to be most legal and authentick by 5. severall votings of a free Parliament, against one single vote, of a most apparent Army-forced, and over-awed Parliament, which hath thus made all those actings of the Parliament and City Trea­sonable, by their Remonstrance upon the Thursday, and their force of 1000. Horse at Hade-Park, on the next day being Fryday; and this also made both our Covenant and our Parliament, a meer snare to honest-hearted and Religious people (as I think, [Page 36]hath bin abundantly fore-specified) by the intolerable and unex­pressible Hypocrisie and double-dealing of the Independents and Schismaticks of these our days, both in Parliament, Army, City and Country; Who (thus) think to mock God, as they hope to gull and abuse too credulous men. If this be not persecution (and that in a high nature) for honesty and Conscience sake, I know not what is. And if these be principles and practises of Indepen­dents, Sectarian Saints, and of the Anabaptistical-Godly-Par­ty (as they like proud Pharisaical-Justiciaries call themselves) I pray God deliver me and all my Friends from such White-De­vils, in Saints-shapes, from such bloody Wolves in sheeps-skins. To conclude al, hath not this precious Army of Saints, now of late also, most craftily and cunningly contrived more and more to con­found all, by their deep-digged, & even palpable Iesuiticall Machi­nations, as low as hel it self, in their last most strangely woven design (even to the deep astonishment of the wisest of men among us, and to the very posing of the quintessence of wit it self) in sudden­ly conveighing our most unhappy Soveraing King from Hampton-Courts endurance, to the impregnable prison of the Isle of Wight, thus hurrying this poor Prince from post to pillar, even as the Pro­verb is, Out of the Frying-pan into the fire; as we all have great cause to fear (as knowing the spirits of the Sectaries in generall, so wel as we do) by thus either traiterously enforcing, or craftily perswading his Majesty, for the avoiding of the devouring Gulf Charibdis, to dash against the Sharp Rock, of death-threatning Scylla, according to that old verse, and (if ever) now too truly verified Adagy.

Thus in English.

And certainly this is too evidently (at least in our present di­stracted apprehension and just fear) poor King Charles his sad condition, tost and tumbled up and down, by most Trayterous and Rebellions Sectaries and Schismaticks, and now under a co­lour of avoiding the deadly danger (which in truth, I am apt enough to believe, was too really intended) of the Lilb [...]ni [...] faction, the so most audatious Agitators (I had almost said Agitraitors) of [Page 37]the Army, that rude rabble of Levellers indeed, as they are fitly termed by his Majesty himself in his Declaration, said to be his, left on the table at Hampton-Court: Under this colour and pretext, I say, to hurry his Majesty into the grasping paws and Captivity of Cromwel and his Confederates, Hammond the present Governor of the Isle of Wight, being his hopefully intended Son in Law, thus to make up their own mouths, and work out their own weal [if possibly it may be] though with the inevitable ruin and destruction of a, thus, poor, tottering, torn, and most miserably di­stracted Church and State, if the Lord in his insinite meer mercy and grace, interpose not to our miraculous preservation: We be­ing thus now by these wofull factions and fractions both among our selves, and in this dissembling Saint-like Army, brought into the same, or into a worse condition then King Iehosaphat was by another Army, and with him enforced to cry out and say: Lord we know not what to say or do, neither is there any strength in us, but our eyes are only up unto thee. And thus far we all see they have most undenyably already proceeded: How much farther, yet, they will wade into this their unfathomed Ocean of deceit, cousnage and abuse of Gods people, the Lord only knows: To which most righteous Judg of the world, who sits in heaven, and sees, and smiles, and laughs them to scorn, and hath them in most high derision, and who in his own due time, will by his power, [through their own pride and Hipocrisie] break them in pieces like Potters-vessells, with his Iron-mace, of irresistible justice, I leave them. And since this is most certain, Pro. 21.30. That there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor Counsel, that can prevail against the Lord; Therefore I wil say only thus much in brief, to all my dear Presbyterian Brethren, in the words of Moses; Stand stid [with godly [...], holy Wisdom, pre­cious Faith, and Christian Resolutions,] and see the Salvation of our God, which he undoubtedly will in his own due time, and by his own best way, work for thee. Amen and Amen.