AN answer Of a LETTER, FROM AN AGITATOR In the City, to an Agitator IN THE ARMY.  
London, printed 1647.   

An answer of a LETTER, From an Agitator in the City, to an Agitator in the ARMY.  
IN answer to yours of the 24, instant. Our friends in the common-council are brave and especially our best Ingineers, the two Aldermen, the one for logic and solid Reason, the other for sweet rhetoric excels all the City, and gains many a phlegmatic common-council Man to his party.  
Upon Mr. Allines and colonel V●ns Message from the House of Commons (which they performed with great vigour and height of spirit) the Common council began to sink and were at a low ebb: and I could have wished our friends had forborn to send the second time those weak Aldermen, as Pennington who is rather peevish than sprightful, (besides the House remitting the 3000l. his kinsman the great Delinquents John Pennington lest in his hands which he concealed, and so became a Delinquent himself) he was by the Ordinance to pay it double: and the House gave him over and above 3000l. this was so partial and gross:, that our very friends cry shame of it: and it is a great scandal to our party: for Alderman Atkins, he is ridiculous and the scorn and by word, and cliped Alderman.  
We have discovered that the Apprentices have their several Agitators, so have the sailors, Watermen, Carmen, Porters, Butchers: and the Ringleaders of all these are the Reformadoes. I could here wish our friends in the Army had not so often insisted to the Parliament to have them put out of London by Ordinance: for some of them said openly, the Army are afraid of us, therefore we will continue in the City: Besides for our obedience to the Parliament, and relinquishing the Rebellious mutineers, we are called desertors of the Army, and are voted to be disbanded; and one day (say they) the House was ready to vote down Sir Thoma's Commission and Declaration, and the rest of those Officers Traitors which summoned the City: and afterwards the case was altered, and the same traitors accused the 11 Members.  
The Reformadoes laugh at our charge against the 11. Members, for (say they) it is against law for an Army to accuse any man, because they cannot make reparation in case their accusation prove false. But we have intelligence that the Reformadoes and some others will bring in a Charge against 6. Lords, and 30 Comminers: and that they will not proceed in generals, but in particulars, and the prosecutors intend to proceed legally and set their names to the charge; some they will accuse of high Treason, others of high crimes: and the least crimes are that they have given the public treasure to themselves being feoffees in trust for the public, contrary to the fundamental laws of the realm: whereby the soldiery is unpaid, and the public faith unsatisfied, contrary to their several Declarations and Ordinances; and no doubt but this will pay all the arrears of the Commanders and soldiers about the town. They resolve never to leave the Houses, till some be sequestered as soon as proof is made: and they are for purging the House as well as we, and will put out many (as they brag) by the same votes they will make it serve as a trap to catch our own party. I confess I like not their oath ex officio▪ for it is against our principles the liberty of the subject.  
They are resolved to enforce the House to revoke Sir Thoma's Commission, and to send immediately for the King (otherwise we suspect from some extraordinary intelligencer we have) that they will get some of our best friends of both Houses into the Tower of London, and to guard it with Reformadoes, Apprentices, Seamen, Watermen, Porters, &c. And for certain they are all linked together by a damnable covenant. They say we are all for ourselves, and to that end keep up an Army to enslave the kingdom, and have forced both Houses the 60000l. a month, which was intended for Ireland, and converted to their own use, and will make the King as Duke of Venice, and and make 31. of themselves grandees and Conservators of the Peace. I am sorry our friends have issued their designs so fast,  
And they scorn at our colonels, and say all the Army can make is not 2000l. Land per annum. And that each Regiment, will be worth 1000l. per annum. As Pride the Dray-man, Huson the poor shoemaker, Okey the brewer's clerk, Whaley not worth a groat before these times. Harrison, an attorney's boy the other day, Rich a Coward, Fleetwood a Coward, L. G. Hamond a notorious Coward. These are great scandals, and I pray get them amended.  
They say also that colonel Tho. Hammond, Rainsburough Lilburn, Sir Hardres Waller, were poor, and turned Jndependents and Anabaptists to please Crumwell; Ireton they say was a parson's son, that he is proud, wilful, and revengeful. For our Atlas, brave Crum. they say he was a brewer's son at Ely, and called the Town Bull, and he is much talked of for Colo. Lambert's wife: I would our friend Lilburn would leave his scurrility and personating, it becomes not our profession which is sanctity and gravity, and his freedom of writing, causes all these aspersions. And now the Presbyterians are vexed, they spit and skratch like somany gib Cats. We hear there are divers Lawyers of their counsel, and that the presbyterian Citizens makes a general purse to carry on the forenamed Charge with Gravity. They intend to fall foul one my LORD Say for the loss at Oxford, and leaving the plate there, and sending money to the King, and correspondency at Oxford with Cottington and some others. They will revive the business of the loss of Bristol and Banbury by Nathaniel and John Fines. In a word, either they will force the Parliament to rise confusedly, then where are we? or it they adjourn, they are but a Committee that can conclude nothing. We hear the Soliceter, our wise L. G. Crumwell, Jreton, and young Sr. Henry vain, Eveling of Wilts, and 4 Lords are for joining with the King. And some great ones of the King's party have undertaken it; but we fear the Queen, the French ambassador, and the Scots. And we have intelligence some Citizens meet often with them, and that they promise if they will make good London, they have an Army of 20000 foot. 6000 horses, and 2000 dragon's which are ready, and that Montrosse, Kilketto, the Stewards, the Gurdons, and all the King's party will rise as one man, and will be content (so they be pardoned for what is past, which is granted) that they will take and fight for the ends of the Covenant especially to establish the King on his Throne, according to the Apprentices Petition.  
We find the King's party generally falls from us, because (say they) you do nothing for the King but carry him up and down like a vagabond farther from us, and they suspect you will imprison him in Pomfret Castle: you must do some popular thing speedily, offer the King his own conditions, I mean such as are for safety. We hear the Agitators grow peremptory, and clash with the counsel of War. That they are all for parity and a republic, and that they give out the counsel of war is above them.  
Take heed you entertain not too many soldiers from London, nor of the King's party, for they will deceive you: and beware of that beggarly Scot, Master Walter Steward, and my Lord Oradiell Carnewayh, they will sell you at the last to those which will bid most, and if the Scots comes, they will be as so many spies upon you.  
The Scots are very jocuand, and 'tis thought (by some who have good Intelligence) that the King hath signed a Declaration under hand, wherein he declares himself a Prisoner, and that his Parliament is in the like condition: that the Army is the Gaoler, that he will declare the first opportunity that is offered, for a free Parliament. In a word we are in a straight: for at present I was certainly informed that the Presbyterian faction will secure the principal Members of both Houses and of our best friends in the Tower, and there they shall remain as Hostiges until the King be at safety at his house at White-Hall, and that Sir Thomas Fairfax Commission shall be voted down, and if he do not obey, that a Declaration be set forth to the kingdom, to proclaim him and his Officers which shall not obey traitors: and that the several Counties give no free Quarter, nor pay no Taxes. And that they resolve to pay the common soldiers all there arrears both Horse and foot, and ease the Kingdom of all burdens, especially Committees.  
That the five Members of the Army shall be proclaimed traitors, and have Articles drawn up by all against them.  
'tis whispered the Lawyers will make all those which connived at Joyoes' plundering the King Traitors.  
We hear that the City hath Agitators in all the Counties to associate with them, and that they send to all their friends, the leaders of the Declaration: Kent are much troubled their Committee is going down, it will be a great blow to out party. You must be courageous and storm London presently, otherwise we are all undone: And threaten to plunder the Rich, which will work more upon them then Reason.  
All my hope is they dare not defend their own, nor run such a hazard: and in your Declaration set forth, that all that are neutral shall not be plundered, hope and fear are the predominent Passions of the rich. What you do you must do speedily, and give out you are bringing the King to London: and counterfeit the King's hand to a Declaration.  
Dolus and vertus quis in hoste requiret,  
Young Sir Henry vain hath more tricks in his buget, I fear witty Henry Martin, and deep Will. Wallin foment this humour too much in the Agitators: and there are many of our friends in Parliament, some are more against▪ the Person of the King than Monarchy, as old Sir Henry vain, who hates the King, but loves tyranny with his soul: for he was ever of the Spanish faction, so doth Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Arthur Haselericke (but he is taken off, for he shall be governor to the Prince of Wales) Master Gurdon, Master Denis Bond, they have prayed publicly, that all the bloodshed in England and Ireland may light upon the King and his posterity.  
Master Wever, Master Scot, Mr. Challiner, Master Miles Corbet Master Renoldes, Mr. Cornelius Holland, Master John Blackestone Alderman Hoyle, and Sir William Allansan, are all Antimonanchicall, so is Master Westrow, Sir Gilbert Pickering. Sir Henry Hamon, and 40. more at the least, for this is our strongest party in number: though not for wisdom and power, for one of our richest and best friends, Master William Perpoint (who hath carried on the great design, with as much secrecy, industry and gravity as any of our Party is for closing with the King: My advice is to join with the King only to save stakes, for he grows daily in the Affection of the People, and there are Pestilent books daily writ, especially in Law Points, which are not for our turn: if we prosper, we must reform the Lawyers as well as the Parliament or divines, for they grow saucy, I fear you have too many of the King's party in the Army, trust not to them, for they look through our designs, and incourages their party in London to join in the last Petition: for your Army drawing up near London, I fear you have lost your time, for they are able to draw 40000. men on the works, and the Reformadoes are ground to an edge against you and will put you to intolerable duty, or else hazard the beating up of your Quarters. If you get a repulse at London, you will sink daily in your Reputations, and the Counties will rise upon you, if the City plies you with sallies; Besides look to your rear, for a friend tells me for certain that the Scottish Commissioners, some leading Citizens and the leaders of the Reformadoes are engaged in a secret Oath. I hear Sir William Belfore and Dolbeere are very active, and have shrewd Pates and knows the Constitution of our Army.  
They jeer and give out that all our Commanders will preserve their sacred Persons, especially Crumwell and Jreton, they are wise and fitter for direction, the brave Hardy general must fight himself as he did at Naseby, and Crumwell must direct, and look to the rear, and the last Reserve. We want brave Ressiter, I hear he is too much of the Presbyterian faction. Our Religion is the best, and that cannot but make our Cause good: but we are much scandolised with covetousness, ambition and lying, but these are but the infirmities of particular men, not of the godly party of the Army.  
We are much murmured at by the people, that we send not relief for Ireland, being in such extremity: I wish well to Ireland, but I love the wealth of England better, we have been very near to have all England in our possession. This base Irreligious City hath been a rub in our way: but I hope they shall pay for it with Interest: for I hope you will enrich the poor Saints (which is there proper inheritance) with the Treasure of Vserors and cheating Citizens. Let me hear at large and often from you, and twice a week you shall have an answer. Farewell dear Brother.  
You must prosper, for you have the Prayers of the Communion of Saints.  
FINIS.