L'ESTRANGE HIS VINDICATION, From the Calumnies of a malicious Party IN KENT: (Relating to a Commotion there in May 1648.) which he addresses to the authors, and Promoters of them. Magna est Veritas, & praevalebit. Printed in the year 1649. THis Discourse is a Sacrifice to Truth, and Honour; not Vanity or Distemper. The Vindication of my Misfortunes from your Calumnies; and the Story of Both: Plainly, and Faithfully delivered; without Art, or Passion: not studious of Revenge, or Glory; but Conscient of mine own Integrity, I am resolved to justify it. I have been 6 months the Patient Subject of your Injurious Clamours; & 6 eternity's had been the same to me, would you but have Bounded your Intemperance within your Proper Circle: (for, in your Ale, you have a prerogative to be Angry, or politic, at Pleasure) but to find my Name brought upon a foreign Stage; my Infamy Transplanted; Paquetts stuffed with your Invective scandals, and Letters dispatched express to that Ignoble Purpose; unguarded, Vnsealed; with design to be yet more public: your Malice immortal too; never leave— To these Indignities, let me be pardoned; if I render a Severe account. Nor have I much to Thank you for at Home; where you have not left one atom of my Reputation without a Wound: nay, in that precise Instant, while I have been Paying my Vows to allegiance, and Friendship, you have murdered me at the very Altar, as an Apostate to Both: as a traitor to the most Sacred, the most Inviolable Bonds of human Nature. Oh the Inconsiderate, and Inverted Extremes of Popular Affections! your Love? There's Tyranny; there's Torture in it; Drowning and Strangling, in your very Enterteynments, and Embraces: but let me Prosper, as I find no hing more civil than your Displeasure. You would never else have pressed me to any thing so much to mine Advantage, and your Dishonour; to a Defence, so much your Condemnation. (for I know, you Hate me, as the Living Monument of your Ingratitude; as the Reproach of your Inconstancy.) Would I Boast any Act of Mine, it should be This, & Thus. No Spirit, but That which ruined Kent, could have doubled so supinely. Yet, (in earnest) it were a sad Chapter, did not the Inconsistence, and Contradictions in it, carry so rank a Tincture of Impossible, and Ridiculous. I shall now Approach to my Charge; and Proceed thence to my Answer: (Briefly as I can) but with Caution, and-Praemise; lest I seem to Act the Temerity I condemn; and in stead of a Vindication, to deliver a Slander. To Kent, first, and in general; with This Protest. I do believe, there never was so Numerous a Concurrence of such Honest, Resolute souls, to so Brave a Purpose, within that narrow compass of Ground, and Time, in the World; (All Circumstances considered) In a straggling, Disarmed County. within the Power, and Contribution of an Enemy. Not a single Wall, for a retreat: not Three Persons to Repair to for Protection: within Two days' March of an Experienced, successful Army. Under the very Nose of the Country-Militia: whose Immediate business and Commission, at that Instant, was with all their Force, and Cunning, to Crush, or Contermine them. I might add; that they had been formerly Baffled by unworthy Spirits in the Head of them. This notwithstanding, they made in 12 days 12000 Men Effective. Reduced the royal Navy. Gave an Amuse, & Diversion to their Adversaries: An Example, Encouragement, and Occasion to their Friends. They gave themselves the glory of Beginning an Action wherein the whole Nation (stood at Gaze, and) durst not second them. They made war alone upon the Masters (in effect) of three kingdoms. They Rose, Naked, and Solitary: they stood so; and so they Fell. Their Defeat was rather a surprise, than a Conquest. They came short not 12 hours of their own wishes; in which critical Opportunity, they were Engaged, and Lost; for want of Discipline, not Courage: in the very Twilight of Order, & Confusion. Nor could Obedience, or Execution be Reasonably expected from a Multitude, where no Authority, of above 6 hours standing, was acknowledged, that might Require it. In one word: They spoke fair for Monarchy, and Liberty; let their Ashes find Peace for it, and their Memories Honour; and let those that come after, mend it. Descending now to Particulars; I must avow, that our Age Produces not anywhere, Persons of more Gallantry, Loyalty, and Reason: of a more Primitive worthiness, then in Kent. But for a Corrective; there is a mixture too, of the Tamest Slaves, and the most Insolent Tyrants, that ever Sacrificed to Fear, or Cruelty. Wretches that wait upon dangers, and Hover over Armies like Vultures, to Prey upon the Unfortunate. Of which number, (Gentlemen) You are: (Your Names I know not, but I am told, there are such Things in Nature) You, I mean, that write yourselves spectators of, and actors in this business; and upon that score Insinuate for Truth your most unhandsome reports. To you it is my Vindication directs itself; Wherein I undertake to prove the Contrary: and whereby, I oblige myself to make it good. (take me in what Latitude you please) As for those Credulous, and Passionate Natures whom your Infusions have corrupted, I wish them a seasonable return to their Better counsels; and not to make Articles of Faith out of Canterbury Tales: and to infer Consequences of Infallibility from Traditions upon the road. Phy, Phy:— But no more. I have a Civility yet left for some of these, for whose mistaken sakes, I half repent my Innocence. I should add something now to those Spirits of Censure, and Contemplation, that endure no other Measure, or Test of Reason, than their Particular judgements. Those pragmatical pieces of ill-mannered Impertinence, that appear born to no other end, then unprofitably to Vex affairs with their Importune and serious Follies. Those that cry The Prince upon my Knowledge, &c. the counsel &c. the design &c. 40000 Scots: 20000 Irish. True by him that made me. I had it by express from the Commissioners &c. These; These are the Kill-cowes. These walking gazettes: these Fripperyes of Intelligence. What Person, or Action, (although never so Honourable, if unfortunate) stands secure from the Lash of their pedantic sauciness? and their prerogative is; they are Contemptible. But I hasten: And now let Heaven and Earth be judges. Here's my Charge: To a scruple. 'tis Vox Populi, (Says my author) that l' Estrange began the business of Kent, wherein he Engaged his Noble friend Mr. Hales: whom he urged, not to take up, when he might have come off with his Honour; nor to Persist, when he might have made it good with his Sword: but upon the loss of Maidstone, flew to his house, (whither he had persuaded him before) and there surprised him, and his, with such affrights, as made him quit his Estimation, and his Country at once. All which, l' Estrange did (some say) moved by his Interests, or (as Others) by his Fears: whereas, had but they rallied their own troops, (which (as themselves affirm) lay then not far off) and joined with the undisturbed Forces of East-Kent; They might have bidden Fairfax his Army in the Head. Thus, at random, when they had Vomited their Mutinous, and Infamous follies; the Close was ever to the Tune of— A Plague of God confound them, they have undone us all. And this, I cannot much deny. I think we put you into a Capacity of being All undone: of yourselves, possibly, some twenty, or thirty might have come to cast the dice for your lives, the rest look on, and there an end of the business. (Gentlemen: such things as these have been done in the Memory of Man.) There are, that say, the temper of my style was Bolder than became the Growth of our affairs; and Particularly, of those two letters: the First, to the Committee at Derby-house. The Other in Return to the Lord Fairfax; (of which, hereafter.) and that this liberty Exasperated the fury, and Revenge of the Army upon the County. (I crave your Pardons. I thought it had been as dangerous to Arm ten thousand men, as to give the Reason for it.) (was ever any man so besmeared with Ale, and Custard?) But this is all (I hear) you have against me. And to this I shall vouchsafe a Refutation. I may live to give you a personal account, if Heaven, and the Parliament Please: till then, accept of this, in black and white. Truth it is, and Reason; or I am deceived: (Plain how ever) and meant for a Conviction, not a charm: not coloured with either Phrase, or Argument, to Engage your fancy, or abuse your judgement; nor yet LAMENTABLY COMPLAINING, to provoke your charity: but founded upon the Infallible testimony of Demonstration itself: and upon that Bottom, your worst is below my scorns. In a word: if any soul remain yet unsatisfied, in point of opinion, as to this Matter; I desire him either to reserve it, or rejoin: and own it too, unless he wears a Name he is ashamed to Acknowledge. Nay; if Malice, or Detraction it self be not yet Pacified I offer further; and to all the world. Let them dissect, and Rifle the whole Series of my life, and when they have done, produce the worst; I shall no more Blush at that story, then at mine Humanity. At the present, I am Obliged to speak to this, wherein I shall not break the order of the affair in compliment to your preposterous passions. In substance, I shall deliver what I did; what I Advised and would have done: (whereof you are pleased to say nothing) and what I did not, (which you pretend I did) in Relation to this distemper of Kent. To begin with the Rise of the Whole: the foundation of this Babel was laid in Canterbury: (for it proved but a Glorious confusion) A Petition was there formed by the Grand-jury in behalf of the County, insisting upon the King's Rights, and the people's liberties according to the laws of the land, & the Declarations of the present Parliament, It was well taken, and better meant, but (as it happened) not so luckily contrived or worded. That which administered Spirit, and Occasion to this Resolve, was part Emulation, part Revenge, cööperative with those Native Principles of Fidelity they carried still about them. To be plainer yet. Essex gave the Example; and Fortune, this Opportunity. The two Houses had sen down Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer to take Cognizance of a riot in Canterbury the Christmas before. The jury gave in Ignoramus, and so converted that intended tragedy into a scene of Mirth. Hereupon, the people began to talk another language; to contemplate the mortality even of a perpetual Parliament: and fleshed thus upon a Committee, they determined next to Fly at all, and Step in boldly to the Rescous of their Invaded liberties: in which He at they drew up this Petition That done, the news is presently at London that Essex and Kent are associated. For my private Satisfaction I went down to see: where, I found little to that purpose. Much talk of a Petition, and the people prone to promote it, but as to the conduct of those Inclinations, (for aught I could discover) much to seek. No Person of Quality to avow it. No Correspondences to Strengthen it. Nor (as yet) any Commissioners agreed upon for the Menage of it: and this disorder the Deputy lieutenant's understood more then enough; who fell in immediately with their troops to suppress it: and That, with bold and public Me●aces of Violence, and Severity against the Petitioners: nor were they far from seizing the most Eminent among them. Opposition they met with none, but in discourse: an universal aversation to be for ever Slaves: and a Resolve to redeem their liberties, if they might be had for Asking. But another Medium was now to be thought on, and who should strike the first blow, was the great Question, and mutual expectation. This was the State of your affairs, when you invited me into an Engagement; and now follows the Story of my proceedings, so long, as I was any way interessed in the Action. (A Truth, so free from Ostentation, I would not have confessed it without a Torture.) First to give a Stand to the Activity of the Committee then raging in the County, I drew up and Printed this ensueing Letter, Thus Addressed. A Letter declaratory, To the Disturbers of the Peace of the County OF KENT: Occasioned by a Petition tending to an Accommodation. Subscribed by many thousands of the said County. OBserving with what Diligence and Expedition, Parties are Drawn Together, Armed, and by Whom: we cannot but Demand; to what End? The Country is Quiet, and desires so to continue: Our Interest is Peace, not Rapine and Bloodshed: yet are we also resolved, not to Fall Tame Sacrifices to the Spirit of Slumber and Delusion, and render up our Religions, laws, Lives and Fortunes, upon such Cold conditions. We must crave leave to tell you, that a Petition, Concluded on, and Avowed by the universality of this County, representing their Honest desires, in a Modest Way, to the two Houses of Parliament, according to the Practice, nay the Approbation of this present Parliament;— That this Petition is by the most Active in this new Commotion, Discountenanced and Menaced, which makes us Reasonably Suspect, whither those designs may Tend, whereof they have the sole conduct. Our Addresses are to the Parliament not You, and from them we shall await a seasonable Return; our Desires being of a moment above your Cognizance. That we labour for is Peace; and in a Peaceable Manner: Nor can we without horror think of a fresh Imbroylement. The Petition we do all own, Affirming the scope thereof so innocent, that we dare deliver it up to Heaven with our souls; and so Determine to do, if thereunto reduced by any Troublesome Interposition, till the Great council of the Kingdom (to whom only and properly it refers) shall Advise upon it. Wherefore, to avoid the effect of jealousies, (the Fountain of this Late war) we desire also the Causes may be Removed, lest Introductive to Another. When you have satisfied this Scruple you have Obliged your Friends. COpies hereof I delivered you; to Disperse, and Post up in all your Mercate-Townes. My next application was to the Gentlemen of EAST-KENT, and ROCHESTER; betwixt whom, I did (Personally) Accomplish, and interchange This paction, and assurance: that Both should be ready for the First Opportunity; and not fail to second, either the Other, whethersoever Acted, or suffered first. (whereof, I advertised MAIDSTONE, and other parts:) By this; the deputy-lieutenants had posted up an Antiprotest: but to matter of Violence they durst not proceed, (as appeared by those Letters we intercepted) without the Entire Conjunction of what power the Parliament was Master of in the County: which, hereupon, they Incontinently laboured to draw together. Upon the Neck of this; I moved you to tender an ENGAGEMENT, to all the Petitioners; which (accordingly) you did; and in these words. We do Solemnly and Religiously Oblige ourselves ngage- with Our Lives, and Fortunes, to oppose Effectually what Person, or Persons- soever shall presume to Interrupt, and Molest us in the just and legal Presentment, of our humble Desires, to the two Houses of Parliament, and to the Utmost of our Endeavours to save harmless and Protect Each the Other in a privilege so undoubtedly our own. And so not only Adjudged, but Practised and Encouraged, by This Present Parliament. And Further; in case any Single Person, shall be for this Engagement Prosecuted; All of us to Rise as One Man, to the Rescue. This, so help us God, as we shall Respectively Perform, and Resolutely. In this very Article of Time, comes the Kentish Committee with a Troup of Horse to SITTINGBORNE. I was then at TUNSTALL, two miles off: where, upon Consultation; 4 or 5 of us concluded to make a Party, and fall into their Quarters next night. In which Resolve; I was so far from Involving Master Hales, (as these sons of Fortune pretend) that when his House was Propounded for our first Rendez-vous, and his Person for the first Attempt, I was the only soul Dissenting. And for the County: They drew me in, not I, Them. Next morning, we heard that ROCHESTER bridge was drawn. afternoon, the Enemy quitted the town, and so put an end to that night's design. Master BIXE only (one of the Committee) they left; and Him the people seized upon; with about sixscore arms, in the Church. Upon This; with a matter of 18 Horse, we marched to SITTINGBORNE: where, having armed as many as we could, we fixed our Quarters. In which condition, by a prone, and universal vote, you committed yourselves to my Conduct. Thus invested by your Election, (as Virtuated also by Commission) soon as the Watch was set, I treated with BIXE; and upon his Parole, gave Him a Condition all Liberty; as you the Reasons for it: which, although Indisputable, occasioned 6 or 7 of the Company to withdraw, swearing that L'ESTRANGE was a traitor. The morning following, I dispatched Invitations to FEVERSHAM, and CANTERBURY to join with us. Their Answer was; They would look to Themselves. It should seem there were others of that Opinion too: for by the next day, we wanted a third part of our Men. In this Exigence, I proposed to draw up a REMONSTRANGE, to which, you all consented, and this was it. A Remonstrance, showing the Occasion of the present Arming the County of Kent. Being reduced to this choice, whither to deliver up our Lives, and Liberties Remonce. Together, or to die FREE: we are Resolved to Act the last scene of this Tragedy with our swords in our hands. (which we shall sooner turn upon our own Hearts, then upon the public Peace) By what necessities we are Exasperated to this Resolve, let the World determine;— and understand: That a Petition, Consonant to Religion, and Honour, (if the Parliament may be judges) is by some Persons, (neither warranted by any Authority from the Houses, nor praetending to it) upon their own Score, Audaciously Affronted: the petitioners Menaced, and prosecuted into this Extremity, by spirits so Implacably distempered; that Sir ANTHONY WELDEN vowed he would not cross the street of Rochester to save one soul that Subscribed the Petition. And it was a Proposition of BEALES; to Hang up two of the Petitioners in every Parish. If this be not sufficient to Admonish Others, let it suffice, that it Awakens us into a just sense, and scorn of these Indignities. We have Lost all, with Patience: and if it be accounted a Crime to beg, we shall prefer to Perish. Henceforward, every hour brought us (thither) some fresh signification of Good. To be Short: in 4 days, we Mustered 400 Horse and Foot, and found the whole County Ripe to be formed into a Posture: CANTERBURY, and ROCHESTER, more Particularly prepared, by the Prudence, and Example of the Gentry there Engaged. Matters thus advanced; I understood that Master Hales was willing to wed the quarrel: upon which Notice, I presented him a Troup of Horse for his Guard to our Quarters; and there delivered up the whole Affair Entirely to his Menage: under whose Command we made this further progress. From SITTINGBORNE, to MAIDSTONE; where we found a Prone, and most effectual Reception: both from the town, and Country. A party was thence ordered to AYLESFORD, (a garrison of the Enemies, some 3 miles off) which, soon after, we took in. It afforded us, 7 brass guns; 4000 arms: Powder, Ball, and Match proportionate. (The critical Particularities of Persons, Times, and Places, I have lost with my Papers) During this Action; we received intelligence, that the Enemy was drawing into a Body, and designed for MAIDSTONE. Their strength between 500, and 3000 (wide, at the Rate of Common estimation) upon the matter: about a thousand we supputed them, and upon that presumption, proceeded. Hinder their Conjunction we could not: and to Engage them United, had been madness: upon their own ground too; and that with a Party inferior, both in Number, and Order. Further: We expected Relief, they Despaired on't. Every Hour made us Stronger, and Weakened them. That Body of theirs was the Extent (to a Man) of what their interests personal, or public could Raise in the Country: Ours but the Infancy of a Brigade, made up of the contributory allegiance of a Few Villages, without any Reference of Mixture to CANTERBURY, ROCHESTER; or those more populous places. From these Deliberations we Concluded to make good our Quarters, but not by a precipitate forwardness to hazard the Blasting so fair an Expectation in the Budd. In this interim, Two Gentlemen of the Lower House (by Name, OXINDEN, and WESTROE) Signified that they had in Charge from the House, to the Gentry there convened; which, upon a Conference, they delivered, and to this Effect. That the Parliament had taken Notice of a Disorder in Kent, but not the Reasons: which they desired likewise to understand. In generals; they had heard of an Odd kind of Petition; and some Peevish Differences betwixt the County, and the Committee: against whom, if there lay any Exception, they should have Audience, and Reparation: An Ordinance of Indemnity for what was Passed; if they would Desist here: and a Seasonable Consideration of all their Regular Requests for the Future. (Many superadditionall Flashes of compliment, and State they had, for the better grace of the business: But this was the sum of their Embassage, to which, they pressed a Positive, and Immediate Answer.) The Return we gave them, was to This sense: We could not Fight, and Treat at Once. Let the Enemy Retire into a Distance, whence not to Incommode our Quarters. We should have Liberty, to Discourse: Otherwise, we had another Game to play. From any Violence during such a Treaty, they Offered to secure us, but further, they would not Undertake: nor could we Rest Satisfied with that. The next news, is a hot, and Insignificant alarm. Whence, Where, How, by Whom, no man knows: but there wanted not, that swore the town was entered. Upon the Whole: some Flying Parties they had Abroad, for Diversion, and Discovery: but their Body lay Entire, about two miles off. Thus informed, we drew out, With pretence to Fight them: and (once upon Motion) the People were half mad to make it earnest. Yet, upon further Collection, (which I willingly omit) they were persuaded to keep the Peace. The Enemy had drawn up two troops of Horse, in View, under the Protection of 800 Foot; which they had so disposed of, it was no easy matter to retrieve them, but to Distodge them, Impossible. Our retreat was, in itself, fair, and undisturbed, but attended with Circumstances Mischievous, and Unhandsome: for which, we found no Remedy, but by Engageing, to fix, and charm that Spirit of Inconstancy, and Confusion. With this Resolve, upon our March, we were encountered by a Trumpet from the Enemy with this Errand. That the Deputy lieutenant's, (upon the Mediation of Two Members of the House, Commissioners of Interposition to that Praeventionall purpose) desired a parley. The Motion was Entertained; and they appointed Me their Agent. (An Office, of how Coy a Nature with a Slippery Multitude, I was not now to Learn.) To Contract the story: we Treated. Their first demands were high. I signified, that my Delegation was to make a Peace, not a bargain: and to that end, (if they so Pleased) I would propound; at a word. I did so: and left them to Advise, while I stepped over to mine own party. (For I was studious to decline all Possibility of Exception.) To them, I made Suppositions, Thus, or so: much below what we Agreed upon) with which, they were so far satisfied, they would have been Glad of less: Nay, they wished but to Hold their own, That night, and they Declared as much. Upon this account, I hastened back, and gave this Issue to the dispute. (In which interval, the Enemy had taken Prisoners, near 200, that were coming up to us: and we, Aylesford.) Articles agreed upon between the Gentlemen at Penenden Heath, and some of the Committee of Kent. May the twenty fourth. 1648. First, a Restauration of the Prisoners, and whatsoever was taken from them, as arms, Clothes, Horses, &c. (as much as possible) and that they be permitted immediately to march to our Quarters at MAIDSTONE. Secondly, that the Party of the Committee may repair to any garrison, where we are not now Enquartered, except Alesford; and from thence not to exercise any Act of Hostility, during the Cessation. Thirdly, that SITTINGBORN remain our garrison; provided, it appear, that any Party of ours, to the number of twenty, was there quartered at the hour of Concluding these Articles; otherwise not to be garrisoned at all. Fourthly, that Musters be made of Both Parties, by two Gentlemen, of each party, One; Obliged, not to discover the strength of either: and that the Cessation Expired, they may review, that there pass no Intervening Recruits. Fifthly, that no forces be either Imported, dispatched, levied, or Ordered, from London, or elsewhere, into this County: or if granted already, that they be Remanded to the Place where they were at the Commencement of this Treaty, there to Continue to the end thereof. Sixtly, that the Cessation beginning at 5 of the Clock this present Wednesday, determine upon Saturday at 5 Afternoon, being the twentieth seventh of May. 1648. Signed in the Name, and by the warrant of the deputy-lieutenants now Present at Penenden heath. Signed by the Deputation of the Kentish Gentlemen; and in their Name. Michael LIVESYE. ROGER L'ESTRANGE. Immediately upon the Signing of these Articles, we discovered Horse and Foot upon their march toward MAIDSTONE. They came from ROCHESTER; to our Relief: and by us Importuned: but, as Then, unexpected. At their Approach, Our Men gave a Shout, and Advanced. Whereupon; I Rode up: told them, We had Agreed: upon what Terms: and that they were bound in Honour to make every syllable Good. They cried; No: No Agreement: Plague o you, and your Agreements. March boys. We will not be betrayed; by God &c.— Briefly: when I had Long, and in vain, besought them; Not to play a fainr Game fowl: Not to Blemish a Good Cause, and justify a Bad One, by perfidiousness: Not to take a Rise to their Hopes, from their Crimes. &c.— I found another Course more effectual to the Composure of this Tumult: which, in some measure Appeased; I gave them the sum of our Transaction, and the Reasons: but all too Little: Right, or Wrong; L'ESTRANGE must be a traitor. Yet at Last; upon the Muster, (which Article I inserted to prevent all conjectural, and Emergent disputes) when it appeared that the Enemy was yet an Hundred more, notwithstanding that Additionall Party: (before whose coming up, the quarrel had been (Questionless) decided; without this Intermise) They began to Hear, and Speak Reason; and acknowledged the Accord. Whereof, this was the sequel: Of the enemy's Infantry, within two days, there were not 6 Persons left together. The County, thus cleared; Rose, and succeeded Incredibly▪ 1500 at a Clap, about DEBTFORD: more at ROCHESTER: but in EAST-KENT most of all. The Rendry of the ships in the Downs, and 3 Castles; over, and above. It rested now, only to amass and Form these divided Forces; which we had seasonably done, had not that Superstitious Nicety of Keeping the Day, and Place, Retarded us. Nor was it more our concern, than Care: however frustrated by Impertinence, and Confusion. Of this Truth, I could Produce many Honourable, and Feeling witnesses: as Sr. John maine: colonel Thornhill, colonel Colepepper, colonel Hanin●on &c.— How often did we press you to Line your Country-Gentlemen with soldiers: and to Entreat Those Nobly that Offered themselves? To chase an Head, without which, you Were a Tumult, not An Army: To Reduce your counsels to a number Capable of Secrecy, and Dispatch: Not by 40 or 50 at a Time, and as many Opinions, as Faces, to Expose and embroil your Debates, Consuming Entire days sometime, Without any Result? But Perdere quos vult Jupiter, hos dementat. All we could do, amounted to nothing, beyond the Conscience of having discharged our duties. The Plain truth is; you cherished traitors in your very bosoms: Not upon design, but facility: and whose Infusions were eminently significant, in all your Consults: still some trick or other, to spill more time, even then, when every remaining Moment was worth a Kingdom. Their names I will not stoop to Remember; I need not: they wear their Crimes now on their foreheads: Suffice it; that you once had notice of them. Again: Your soldiery was so Zealous, & your Gentry (many of them) so Cautious, it was no hard matter for a cunning instrument to corrupt such Dispositions into either Extreme of rashness, or Reservation: and from Hence proceeded those frequent, and Praetenslesse Heats, and Colds, of Mutiny, and Desertion. But I Resume my propose: and come now to the Manifestation of what I said, as well as what I did. (For there is scarce a Syllable, or Action of Mine, which hath not stood the Torture: which hath not been either Violenced, to confess what it never Meant, or Praesumed to have Intended more than it Confessed.) To this; let me mind you; that of above 200 Missives, upon your Errand, I never sealed up any One but with the View, and Approbation of the Company: And touching dispatches of a more public Nature; (an Employment which I neither Courted, nor Refused) not a Title passed, without a severe Examen: and Once Voted; it became the counsels Act; ceased to be Mine. Yet suppose it Mine, Still: and make your best on't. Two Letters only are wanting, which I cannot Recovenr; (viz: One, to the City: the Other, in Answer to the Lord Fairfax his Demands) of the rest, I shall present you the true Copies, and Occasions. The Earl of Thanet, (that Ambidextrous Lord) Qualified to all Honourable, and fair Intents; (no doubt) with a Declaration in one hand, and Conditions in the Other, (from Derby House) gave us (at Length) to understand his Embassy, and Commission: in terms, much to this sense. Stultorum Bethlem; Nebulonum, Regia bridewell: utrum harum mavis, Ingrediare, licet. That is; in English, the Parliament had left it to our choice whither we would be fools, or Knaves. We thanked his Lordship; and upon second thoughts gave this account to the Committee. To the Right Honourable, the Commissioners at DERBY-HOUSE. MY LORDS, A Declaration for the Suppressing of Tumults we have all taken Notice of; But your Instructions to the Earl of Thanet, and proposals to the Gentlemen here embodied, Representing us under a Notion so Ignoble, we stand all Amazed at: Nor can we possibly own any thing so Much below that Honour which we must rather die then Relinquish. Tumults indeed there have been: But not on our part. Horrid, unheard of violences Complotted, Menaced, Nay, in some measure, Executed by troops of furious Precipitate persons upon us, and anll this; For but intending to desire not to be for ever Miserable. At last; the Country makes Head, and as informed with one soul; Rises unanimously to the Redemption of their Expiring Liberties; which (with much ado) they have imperfectly Recovered: for our Adversaries (at present) disappear; Being weakened into an Incapacity of further pursuing (Publicly) the ruin of the Common wealth, But what they could not then act effectually upon our persons, they Attempt now upon our Estimations, Transferring the Crime from themselves to us, and the quarrel to you: Labouring to Engage the Authority of the two Houses, to Countenance their wild Exorbitances; By terming the just vindication of our eternal Liberties, from the Insolence of a private faction, 〈◊〉 confederacy against the Parliament. The vanity whereof Needs no other Confutation, then to produce our Practices in order there unto. We having made it capital throughout our Quarters to disturb the Interest of any man for his affection to the Parliament. MY LORDS; let this suffice, to the Rise, and progress of this Action. Something we shall modestly return to your lordship's Propositions, and we have done our duties. As to the Petition, It shall not be presented by above 20 persons; but to deliver up our Strengths, and Disband our Forces, In this juncture of affairs, we humbly Conceive neither secure nor Honourable; and to Conditions either unsafe, or unhandsome, we stand utterly disinclined. Unsafe questionless, to Expose ourselves to their Mercy, who publish their designs to be our destructions, and whose Interest it is to suppress Petitions, as the story of those miscarriages whereof they know themselves the Authors viz: the violent part of the Committee and their Adherents: Persons which we can prove as opposite to the proceedings of the Houses as they Pretend us, and against whom only we avow this Engagement, and then Dishonourable Certainly; Standing Necessitated thereupon to confess ourselves either Temerarious, or faithless. Indeliberate in the Resolve; or Treacherous, and Cowardly in the Execution. And to Accomplish that which renders them justly Odious; they Endeavour to make you (My Lords) our Enemies, to whom we would ever protest ourselves servants. In the next place, (to preserve a fair Intelligence with the City) we dispatched This praeparatory: Addressed. To the Right Honourable the Lord MAJOR, ALDERMEN, and COMMUNE counsel of the City of LONDON. My Lord and Gentlemen? IT is not to Brave the Authority of the Houses, (We bow to it) or the Magnificence of a Glorious City; that we appear in this Posture. Providence hath made us Neighbours, & Policy, Friends: nor is it more our Interest, than Inclination so to be. (yet our Interest so much, that we must Stand, or Fall Together.) With what unwillingness we arm, let our long Patience testify: with what Resolves, observe but our Unanimity: upon what Grounds, and with what designs, Consult but Commune Reason, and Necessity. After the Tedious, Sad, & fruitless Expectation of Better days, & this ●●●ely Comfort, that we feared not worse; having divided the best part of our hours, and Portunes, betwixt Obedience, and despairs: we Concluded, to Breathe out our Auxions Spirits in a Modest Petition to the two Houses of Parliament: Propounding to ourselves, therein, no other Scope, than what They have Declared Honourable, and Religious. Little thought we to have encountered any Contradiction to so fair a Purpose: yet some there were, (and Those, of the committee too) who opposed us; with such Fury, and Insolence, that we had no other Sanctuary left us for the Protection of our Invaded Liberties, but That of Violence. (we esteemed ourselves very unhappy, that they, who had reduced us to rags, should Deny us the Liberty to beg; yet so they did) Hereupon, we betook ourselves to our arms; not to make good the Petition, but the Right of Petitioning; in pursuance whereof, the whole Country stands entirely Engaged. In this state, we greet you Peaceably; and Assure you, that our approaches toward you, mean nothing of mischief to you: The Temper of our Expediences requires it. Of the Parliament's candid Construction, we are Confident: nor less Assured of yours. We subsist not by Abusing the City, or Cheating the Country. We have Meditations of Living, and Dying, with Honour, and freedom, & shall much rather Fall, a Noble Sacrifice to Peace, and Liberty, then stand the Despised Supporters of Oppression, and Tyranny. Maidstone 27 May, 1648. TO this flourish, we superadded other Advertisements: but all in Vain. There was too much of loyalty in the design. The Reprobated spirit of that Apostate City gusts nothing but murder, and Rebellion: had it been to Enslave their Prince, as't was to Redeem him: what herds we should have had! Oh, how often might they have been Secure, if they would have been Honest! In their Persons: but rather than preserve us, (too) they destroyed Themselves. In their Liberties: But they forfeited their Own, to ruin Ours. Nay their very Treasure was not so dear to them as their Damnation: their Avarice was subdued with such a Praedôminance of Malevolous Disobedience: they chose, rather to Lose their Estates, then save their souls. From persons thus Elemented, much of good was not to be looked for: nor did they deceive those that expected least. (Let me be understood; of the politic furs: the Formalities of the City; not at a Venture: for that Infamous Pile holds many thousands of souls, which never bowed to Baal. By this time; the Army had gained footing in the Country: upon whose Advance, I was moved to frame a Letter to the general; and Instructions praecisely given me. My Vote was Negative; but more being for it: In Conformity, not Consent, I drew up this. MY LORD, THE Affections we bear to Honour, and Peace, incline us rather to address to yourself; and Thus. We the Gentlemen &c.— of Kent, have (in consideration of that sad Election left us: either of a certain Slavery, or a doubtful Destruction) determined (at worst) not to survive our Liberties; and present ourselves the living Monuments of our own Dishonour. In pursuance whereof we stand upon our Guard: Conscious of no design beyond our proper Security: and (as to That Particular) soberly resolved to hazard the utmost Extremities of the worst of Fortunes. In this Posture; we are Importuned with perpetual Intelligences of an approaching Army: under what Conduct, we hear nothing. If (My Lord) any Misrepresentation hath rendered us to you suspected, give us Leave to Solve that Scruple, and we stand clear to God, and Men. My Lord, we have been Long, and much Oppressed by some Arbitrary Spirits in our Committee; which we have Endured with a Patience equal to their oppressions: but now of Late, they have even Exceeded Themselves; Acting such Violences (and that merely in Contradiction to the Right of Petitioning) by Menaces, Imprisonments, &c.— that Incapable of the burdens they laid both upon our Estates, and Consciences, we Concluded to Endeavour to redeem ourselves. This was the Ground of our taking arms: and (We do most Religiously assure you) without any Mixture Relative to your Authority. This Protest is Truth: and we MY LORD Your Excellencie's, &c. We received in Answer; that Fairfax was in a better condition to Fight, than Treat: (as (indeed) he is better at it) nevertheless, we should hear further speedily. We did so; and it was a Summons: Exclusive to strangers, and of Indemnification to Kent: upon conditions, which we thought not fit to Entertain, and so returned a Negative. To make which good; it was urged that an Immediate course might be taken, to Em-body, and model our distracted Forces. But, still, the Impression of black-heath, and the last of May, (the day, and place, Originally Agreed upon for their first Rendezvous) would not out of their Heads: It looked like Honour to stand to their Words: and that fancy gave a foul Interruption to our Greater concerns. To deal Liberally: The dispute fell little short of a downright Mutiny. In this disorder, comes an express from the Body, advising, that Lestrange was a traitor, and to be Excluded the counsel. (No Remedy but Patience.) Thus perplexed betwixt Impreparation, and Irresolution; It was Debated, and Resolved upon the Question; Forthwith to choose a general. Upon the Vote; The Earl of Norwich was he: (a Person of Honour, Fidelity, and Courage: and, by his highness the Prince of Wales, Commissioned to that End) The Charge was by Him Received, and his Authority, by us Acknowledged, with mutual, and equal satisfaction. The first Ceremony of Recognition over; His Excellency gave Orders for a Rendezvous at Burham heath: intending Thence to make his Entry upon that Great Work of Forming a Multitude. His reception was by the soldier also, Prone, and cheerful: and doubtless, he wanted not 48 hours of giving the King his Crown again. we Mustered near 10000 Horse, and Foot; within view of the enemy's Body; the River of Medway dividing us. Upon his distribution of Offices, (in Order to the Introduction of a discipline) it pleased his Excellency to Oblige me, by the Tender, (with much earnestness) of a very considerable Command. Next my acknowledgement, I desired Pardon, if I not only quitted what I already had, but Declined any Other: (For I perceived, the People had gotten a Tradition by the end; that I mixed, only to betray them: and my Resolve was, not to Hazard the main Issue, and my particular estimation, upon the Performances of men so Praejudicate, and disinclined) but if my Person might be thought of any use to the Action, I should be ready upon all Commands, and Occasions to serve my Prince. At the same time, Master Hales also delivered up his Command: and presented the general with his Own immediate Regiments. I demand now; where those troops of Ours were, which we are Condemned for not Rallying, after the loss of Maidstone? It was in the Field Hinted to me by diverse, to write something of Invitation, and Proposition to the enemy's Army, Which accordingly I did: and in these Words. GENTLEMEN, COuld Prosperity make us Insolent, this overture should have been the story of our present fortunes, how Numerous; how Unanimous; how Associated; how Befriended; (or in a word) how Heaven and Earth make haste to our Deliverance: and that no adversity can ever render us spiritless; will appear, if you Consider with what Assurance we. have managed our very despairs, and advanced ourselves to This, out of nothing; Consider withal, that we Mo●e still by those Resolves, as we are Favoured, and Encouraged, by the same Providence which Raised us. In this Posture (Gentlemen, and fellow Subjects) we salute you; in a temper of Love and Christianity: disengaged (We assure you) from any Interest, or Mixture of Revenge, or fear: Peace is the End we aim at, and by Peace (if it be possible) to accomplish that End: To which Purpose, upon a Sad and Compassionate thought, how many Innocent souls are seduced by the Imposture of a pretended Liberty, and how many more corrupted by their own importune Necessities, into an Erroneous and unfortunate Engagement; all which must inevitably Perish, unless by some seasonable application to their relief: we have found out this, and this only expedient. What Officer, or soldier soever, now in arms against us shall within— days make his repair to the headquarters of our Army, and there enter an Engagement not to act any thing for the future against us, shall have his Arriers Audited and paid. And we do further Oblige ourselves to interpose to his majesty for their Indemnity, as to whatsoever is Passed: the success whereof from our Lord the King, we doubt not; and to the Performance on our parts, we tie our Honours and the Faith of the County: Avowing withal, That we desire nothing either in Church, or State, but what the Present Parliament hath Declared to be the Duty of good Christians, and Subjects. IT was now about One o'th'clock: and by this time, Officers being Authorised, and Orders delivered; we drew off the heath. Above the rest; a most particular charge was given, by Breaking, and Guarding of Passes, to secure the River: and Parties Commanded to watch the Enemy (who, as yet, lay Hovering Indifferently betwixt ROCHESTER and MAIDSTONE) Towards evening, we received Intelligence at ROCHESTER; first, that MAIDSTONE was Alarmed: then, that the Enemy was drawn up before it: By and By, that they had Assaulted it. Thus advertised; his Excellency resolved for MAIDSTONE: upon him, waited Sir Bernard Gascoigne; another Gentleman, myself: &c.— in all; 7 or 8 Persons. By the way, we encountered more Fugitives, than Messengers; All upon the spur, and the Word was: For Relief. At last; (within some two miles of the town) we found, that the Enemy had passed the River, (which we little expected) and possessed all the Avenues. Hereupon, my Lord determined for ROCHESTER again, and to send immediate succour. There Arrived; it was consulted; what to do? colonel Colepepper Propounded, to draw out Horse and Foot, to a Man, Incontinently, and Fight them. Some cried; 'twas too Late: Others; that their men were weary, and could not march: Some had not their Regiments within Call: (Others, not their Resolutions) In a word: they rejected wholesome counsel. It was then Demanded, What they would do, if they would not do This? Some were of Opinion, 'twas best for them to do as well as they could. About midnight, we received that the Town was Forced; with this brief account: that the Foot stood very Gallantly; and Repelled them thrice: but the Horse played not their parts so well. (The Persons most Eminent in this action for Conduct: were Sir William Compton; Sir John maine, and Sir Gamaliell Dudlye: whom to Commend, were Detraction) Thus far assured, and missing Mr. Hales: upon enquiry, I heard that he was gone to his House for money. (Whither, I was so free from persuading him, I knew not of his Going.) For public money, Gentlemen, & let me tell you, his Bounty was the best string you had to your Bow) Hereupon, I Rode over to him: told him, MAIDSTONE was lost, almost 3 hours since, from whence, (upon the least notice) it was but an hours work to take him in his House. Upon due consideration, he concluded, for SANDWICH, with his Lady, and Family: and from thence, to play the After Game as he should see Occasion. Sir Anthony Aucher (then with him) persuaded him to go before. I waited only for a stirrup, and within 6 minutes followed: but could not overtake him. At length, I understood he was aboard the ANTILOPE, (as I Remember) and Bound for HOLLAND: Necessitated so to do, or Hazard the Revolt of the Fleet: (In whom, the fantastic Notion of some disaster, had already wrought a deep impression) This I have heard Averred, since: by persons of Quality, there present, and in Command. From Himself; then and more particularly: thus.'s. That he would be instantly with us Again: but in Case of any Intervening danger he desired his Lady to go for France, and send him Word. Thus perplexed; I provided an House in SANDWICH for his Family, (which was appointed thither to come:) Waited upon his Lady, and her company, to a Neighbouring friends; and thence, Returned myself toward the Army. At CANTERBURY, I desired a pass from the Commissioners. They told me, the Enemy was Interposed: and upon their march, in two divisions, for CANTERBURY, and DOVER. something there passed of Bandye, and Retort betwixt us: (how much I had abused them, and they, me) but in fine, they gave me: a discharge; for myself, servants, and horses, to pass free, either into Essex; over the seas, or whither I pleased. (By this time, a man might read the Fate of Kent without an Oracle) I repaired Hence, again to SANDWICH: Hired a Catch: laid in Provision embarked the Horses, and signified to M Hales, from Sr. Anthony Aucher, that his Lady, and some other Gentlewomen desired her company, much: and that they would be all ready by such an hour precise, and at such a place. We came sooner than the hour, but (it seems) the Town was too Hot for Them before: (for they were all gone, and no notice whither) we were now in a new straight: and there succeeded yet a worse. It was a low water: the vessel could not stir, that night. The Sea before us: the Enemy behind us: and the People in a Mutiny round about us: nay more; at that very instant conspiring to Apprehend us: and in such a fashion too; It was equally dangerous, to flatter, or Reprove their Disorders. Overhearing these discourses, I privily agreed with a Shallop: Appointed the Master of the Catch to weigh, next flood: and steer such a Course; where we would that night expect him. Soon as the boat was ready, we Aborded: One servant, with myself. Scarce had we quitted the Peer, But a matter of 20 Rogues with cocked matches, were upon the Back of us: damning themselves, if they did not fire, unless we came a Shore. The Master (an Independent) would have landed us: but I stood rather inclined to Venture a Bullet, then to be sure of a Halter, claped my sword to his breast, and advised him to keep the channel. Some shot they made: followed us about a mile: but (as it pleased God) without any Mischief. In this rotten bark, with one Man, and a Boy, we fetched Calais: But the Catch was Arrested. Hitherto, what I did or said: Now to my Intentions: what I would have done. (For my very Thoughts escape you not: I wonder how you missed Originallsinne) First, I desired you to Offer a Negative Engagement; and to disarm all that Refused to take it. Your Answer was: No: it would Disoblige the Country. (It was a huge compliment; rather than disgust your Enemies, to ruin your Friends: nay yourselves: for those very men I Hinted at, joined afterwards with Gibbons against you) Secondly, I Pressed you (Hourly almost) to Dispatch Commissioners to Negotiate an Association betwixt Surry, KENT, and ESSEX: and that Two, Respectively, of Each, might, in Each County, Sit, Consent, and Act. in Order to the Commune Interest of you all. You told me, That was done alreàdy, You were sure of ESSEX, and Surry. Thirdly, I wished you to Attempt Tilbury Fort; to open a fairer way of Correspond betwixt ESSEX, and KENT: and to Protect the County of ESSEX, till they should Embody. (There were too that proffered to undertake it) That (you said) was designed a surer way: and the Time resolved upon. Fourthly, I drew up an Order at MAIDSTONE, requireing every man upon a severe Penalty to deliver up all his arms within so many hours into the public Magazine. (This was Voted, but not Executed: and upon the Storm, you felt the mischief of that Neglect) Fifthly, To make sure of all the Passes, [Near MAIDSTONE, Principally; and to fortify Turnbridge also] I did urge to you, 500 times, Among other Objections, One was: It would charge the Country. [I am of Opinion, that their Compositions, who were of this mind, would have re-edified the Bridges.] Sixthly, I moved that it might be Published at the head of every Troup and Company, upon our Rendezvous at BURRHAM-HEATH. That we were no longer Petitioners, but soldiers. The quarrel, the Kings; which we determined [as Obliged] to prosecute through all Extremities: & if any Person apprehended greator business at his Home; he had fair Liberty [Leaving his arms] to repair to his Interests. [This perhaps might have been seasonable, for we hand many soldiers that wanted arms, and many Country People that were weary of them] Gentlemen, If this signifies Treason, I'll die a Round-head. A word now of Deduction from what I have said, and to my whole Charge at Once. It is OBJECTED: That I Engaged the County: Mr. Hales: Urged him not to come off; and hindered him from Persisting: persuaded him, first, from Rochester to his House; and thence, Out of the Kingdom: moved to this, by Interests; or fears: Whereas, had but we rallied our troops &c.— And again: My Letters were too Sharp. I ANSWER, The Grand jury Engaged the County: Master Hales Acted upon his Own Sense. (Not a pin matter, whether Thus, or so) As for coming off: It never came to the Question. Nor did I Hinder him from persisting; (Nor could I, if I would have done it) I told him that Maidstone was gone; and withal, that I was yet confident of the business) I knew nothing of his going from Rochester, Home: (the Commissioners did: and his Errand was, money for the soldiers) Neither did I advise, or know of his Quitting the Kingdom. (Sir Anthony Aucher can testify the Resolve was for SANDWICH, and that I neither did nor could counsel any other, After: for I saw him not) Moved by my Interests, I confess I was. (That is: by Considerations of Honour, and Friendship (those are a gentleman's Interests) not by your Dirty, and mechanic Principles of profit, and unthankfulness.) As for my fears: I would have That Thing (whose Robe neither Hides his ears, nor Protects his Shoulders) Know; that I Came not off upon Canterbury Articles. To the matter of Rallying Our troops: We commanded none, And For my Letters: questionless the Wretch was huge good natured that thought them so Severe. In sum the whole Story is Canterbury news; not One Syllable, True. But Right, or Wrong; so the Truth be lost, No matter How. In such Cases, Every man spends his judgement; and he that hath Least; spends most. To Recollect a Little. And now (in the Name of Wonder) why Mr. HALES, of all the rest? what was he Guilty of? (beyond the Crime of Labouring to preserve such thankless Peasants) His Example, Honesty, and Fortune contributed more of Advantage to this Action, then All you Together, that ever Clamoured against him. For my part: I was praepar'd for't. I foresaw it; and said as much▪ in case the business succeeded not. (Thanks to my dear Experience) How often have I been licked whole by the same Tongue that Wounded me! I shall again. If not: there's neither pain nor Danger in it. Nay; it were a Pleasure to me, did not the Charity, and pity I bear to Knaves, and Fools, Correct it. (That is: to the malicious Authors, and Credulous Promoters of such groundless Calumnies) Nothing in Nature tickles me, like the fancy of Machiavelli in a blue Apron: maxims of State, and the Interests of Princes: betwixt IMPRIMIS and the TOTALL sum. Or what think you of POLYPHEMUS the grazier; with a Basket-Hilt, and a Cup of NORTHDOWNE Ale, Cursing Ulysses? These are not Themes (My Masters) for Melancholy, or Indignation. Vanity itself is not so comical. But lest I take too much on't, I divert; and into a Relation (Perhaps) not Impertinent. In pursuance of a Commission from his Majesty, to Attempt the Reduceing of LINN, I was Betrayed, and delivered up, by One of mine own Party. (Never were Fame, and Malice more Active to Publish, and Asperse any man's Misfortune, than Mine: No Imaginable Ill was left unsayd: and with such Confidence, it gave a Suspension to the best Resolved Friendships I Enjoyed. The Commission was Decried for Counterfeit, the design, Rash, and Foolish: the Instrument, as much: the Manage, worse. There Were too, that Affirmed, I betrayed all; with the Formalities: How, and upon what Conditions. Thus Engaged, both in Reputation, and Liberty, I was Guarded to London. First, to the Earl of MANCHESTER. Next, to DERBY-HOUSE. Then, to the Lower-House: and Thence, (by Order) Transmitted to the city-court-martial for my trial. (Of the counsel, Two Leading Charts, were a Saleman, and an Ostler) Brought to the bar; my Charge was Read, and my Answer Demanded; not permitting me one moment for Collection. First, as a spy: To this, I returned, their power Extended not; for they Acted by a Commission Limited to Articles, whereof that was not One. Next, as a traitor. To That, with much Circumstance; as that I had ever served the King; and that an Enemy and a traitor were Inconsistent. &c.— In conclusion; the Major Part acquitted me, which notwithstanding: my Definitive sentence was protracted 2 days longer: under pretence of giving me Leisure for Consideration. In this Interim, they had packed a Committee; which Condemned me as a traitor, to be Hanged, without hearing a Syllable. I urged the barbarism of such a Treatment &c. but in vain. My sentence Passed: I Threw a Breviate of my defence among them: adding, that since they would not hear it, they might read it, That was it. Wiltshire BAYNTON (a young redheaded fellow) burned it. I was next hurried to Newgate, Thrown into a chamber with 2 Beds in it: among persons Notoriously criminal, and here was my Praeparatory for Eternity. I dispatched then, an express to the King: An appeal to the Lords: and Letters to the principal of both Houses, Significant upon what score I stood condemned, and Monitory, lest such a president might afterward concern themselves. In sum, The Lords Ordered my Reprieve, and commanded MILLS (the judge Advocate) to bring in my Charge. He appeared, but without it: with an Excuse, that he had not time to prepare it. Upon Friday, he proffered to have it ready. (This being Wednesday, and the next day I was to Suffer) It was then Suggested, and Praesumed, that they meant not to Execute me in the Interim. He said, Yes. The Commons had passed an Order, that no reprieve should stand Good, without the Consent of both Houses. Hereupon, they desired a Conference, but the Commons had Voted also, that no Private business should be moved within 10 days. To wind up this Discourse, betwixt Shame, and Fear, I was Reprieved, and Lay almost 4 years a Member of that Honourable Society. Upon which Test, and Expiation, they forgave me for being unhappy, and Innocent. (and upon second Thoughts, I doubt not, (Gentlemen) so will you) Thus far; Mine own Vindication to Kent. In a word now; The Vindication of Kent to the World: and from These Objections. First, They Rose too soon. 7, 9 Other Counties would have joined, if they had stayed but a Fortnight Longer. I Answer. There was no Complication to that End. Nay; ESSEX, and SURRY had already reproached KENT for sitting still so long. Again. KENT had been up a Fortnight, when Yet they Appeared not. Further, what Impediment was this forwardness to their designs. 16000 Men in arms for their Rise; (in the County, there were not Fewer) and no Enemy left free, to Interrupt them. They that durst not Then Rise, will (I Fear) lie still For ever. But, to be Short. They could not wait Longer: The last of May was the day Resolved upon at Canterbury for their Rendezvous For Praevention whereof, there were troops Ready to Seize upon the Leading men of the County: & had done it, had they not, in that Instant Risen. Secondly, They Rose upon their own Score (say some.) To This. 'Tis true, but They Fought upon the Kings. The Petition was not the Cause, but the Occasion: and had they Quarrelled upon any other account, They had been crushed in three days. Had they first, cried up the King and, under that notion grown powerful, deserted him; this had (indeed) been Parliamentary and Jewish. But to arm for Liberty, and Fight for Monarchy, (as they did) was an Action Noble, and Worthy of themselves. In the Pride of their Fortunes, they Chose the Prince his general, and avowed his father's quarrel. To this Objection; I shall Conclude with a maxim: The First Thing in Intention, is ever the Last in Execution. Thirdly, They would not entertain Officers. I Answer. There was a Delay, but no refusal. But to speak to every capricious Humour, were endless. For a Close; Discipline they wanted; because Time▪ Nothing else: to understand them Better, Look upon COLCHESTER: (which was (in Effect,) but KENT Transported.) An Action never to be aequalled, or Forgotten: The Bed, Fate, and Monument of Honour, and allegiance. (Let me add this) and the VINDIGATION of KENT. FINIS. POSTSCRIPT. Obliged to a Defen●e, and Perplexed with a Coincidence of Story: I Resolved Both: but not receiving all my Expected Papers, This Discourse proves Imperfectly Either; which Disorder, I wish may be Imputed to my Fortune, not design.