Numb. 5.  
Westminster Projects: OR, The Mystery of Iniquity OF Darby-House Discovered.  

A Plot, a Plot, our Saviour's cry,  
But dare it not declare,  
Because alas! they know full well,  
Themselves the Traitors are.   

Yet though they think themselves secure,  
And juggle with the City,  
(Who are deluded once again,  
And cheated, more's the pity;)   

Yet yet them know, their knavery shall  
To all the world appear:  
For, I'll not keep their secrets, I,  
For flattery or fear.   
Printed, no body knows where; licenced, no body knows when; and sent into the world by the appointment of the said Committee, because they could not help it, in this year of their vexation, 1648.   

Westminster Projects.  
IT is strange, that in a time of Reformation there should be so much wickedness, and in high places too: that Westminster should after all its seeming sanctity, become such a Den of Devils, such a Cage of unclean Birds; but what remedy? what is past cure, must be past care also.  
But yet it is requisite that they should be known; for Knaves unknown pass for honest men, and there is not such a subtle deceiver in the world, as an Angel of light: a Devil in the shape of a Saint, (especially at Westminster) hath done more mischief, than all the honest men there can ever do good: I confess it a wonder there is no more hurt done, considering honest men are so scarce there, and knaves so plentiful; for you can scarce peep into a Committee, but you shall find ten, if there be eleven in the number, two in a Committee is a miracle; nay, if you find one in the Committee of Derby, I'll give you leave to hang him, though my Lord Say himself be there: But now I talk of that Committee, I will tell you strange news, they have done the Kingdom good service; and is not that a wonder in a Committee? And if you ask how, I must tell you they have discovered a Plot, and well they might, if you knew all, you would say so; for as sure as I live they made it, the Fox is the finder, and for fear others should discover it, they did it themselves, you know it is good to cry Whore first; but you may observe the knavery of the Baker: They tell us of a Plot against the Kingdom, Parliament and City, but by whom they know not, not one actor or contriver is discovered; and why think you? because the Earl of Northumberland, the Chaire-man of the Committee thinks it not convenient, for fear he should be troubled to purchase the life of another Waller to secure his head from the Block: But because you shall not be kept in ignorance, know their Proverb is verifified, there is seldom much smoke, but there is some fire; so you shall find, that there is not only a talk of a Plot, but such a plot indeed, as tends to the ruin and destruction of all honest men in the Kingdom: The particulars thus.  
1 For the several Counties of Essex, Surrey and Kent, the ground and growth of their late Petitions proceeded and had their births from a party in the Houses of Parliament, being Members of the Committee of Derby-house, with other of their creatures, the Earl of Warwick was the first promoter of Essex Petition, Sir Arthur Anstoe of Surrey, and Sir Simpleton Walsingham, with other of his Adherents were drawn into the present engagement of Kent.  
2. For London and the parts adjacent, there hath been a design of listing many thousands, and putting them into Arms, which design hath had its rise and birth from the treacherous brain of Algernon Percy, whose name and family never were found to be faithful, either to God or their Country; and it may be boldly averred, that he was never other than a Traitor to the Kingdom since the late War, witness the plot for which Tompkins and Challenor were murdered, wherein the Earl of Northumberland was a chief Actor with Waller, and therefore though Waller was the greatest offender, as having engaged others, yet he must be sold to the Earl of Northumberland for some thousands of pounds, and by him conveyed into France, not only to conceal his Knavery, but to be his Agent, to keep up his credit with the Queen, and give him intelligence what the Queen desires should be effected. This is the reason why you have no further discovery of this dangerous plot, whereas had the finders been free, you should have had them proclaimed the Author's names, imprisoned them, seized their estates, etc. and had a day of Thanksgiving, whereas now you see them rather desire a day of Humiliation for sorrow that they were so soon discovered.  
Neither is this honoured Gentleman without other accomplices, for there is a cabinet-councel of them, to wit, Sir William Lewis, Sir john Clotworthy, the Earl of Holland, the Countess of Carlisle, Doctor Fraper a Scot, Sir Peter Killigrew, cum multis alus, all which receive constant intelligence from the Queen, and act accordingly, and by their designment are all these commotions and troubles which threaten the Kingdom; to that end is the Earl of Northumbealand Chaire-man of the Committee of Safety at Derby-house, to the end he may be enabled to retard proceed, especially if they cross the ends they aim at: But because you shall see that I speak more than probabilities, (although my near relation to them would hinder) yet I will clearly discover unto you the very bottom of their design.  
In order to which give me leave to inform you, that the quarrel betwixt the Factions in the Houses, is now not whether the King shall be brought in, but who shall bring him in, and who shall be the Princes of the People under him, when brought in. The Royal Presbyterian and Independent, (for there are such of both sorts, as Northumberland, Warwick, Say, Crumwell, Ireton, Vane, Senior, Vane junior, etc. they would bring in the King upon their account, and make such an agreement with him, as might not only secure them with safety, but advance them to honour also: The real Presbyterian and real Independent, they are willing to bring in the King, but they would first have the King secure unto them Religion, Law, and the Liberties of the Nation, but alack they are but a few, and their tale cannot be heard, for the cry of others is, Let us use the best means we can to satisfy the King, no matter what becomes of the Kingdom: And to this end have they underhand promoted and procured these tumults, so that thereby they might force the House to an adjournment, which is the chief thing they desire, and if procured, than all the power will reside in that Committee.  
And because they will be sure to do their work, they have endeavoured to bring in seven Lords more, into them, namely, their whole House, which if effected, we shall be troubled no more with a House of Peers, or Parliament, but must be governed by a Committee of Estates, and by the power of the Army, (which by the assistants of their Grandee Janissaries, to wit Sultan Cromwell, Bashaw Ireton, etc. they doubt not but to quell all their opposers, and make such a peace with the King, as shall secure their power or set up another, which shall be but a cipher, to bear the blame of their misgovernment, and please the people withal, who they say, would be quiet, if they had any thing like a King, though never so powerless or witless.  
And now give me leave to pity those Gentlemen and others who so freely enter into an Engagement upon such slender grounds, and never weigh the consequence of such endertaking. Did the Gentlemen of Essex, Surrey, and Kent, with other the Freeholders' but conceive how these men hug themselves with the sweet apprehensions of their accomplishing their designs by their actings, yea, I say, did they but as I do, hear and see with what contentment of spirit they receive the tidings of such their tumultuous approaches, and endeavours to terrify and dissolve the Parliament, and with what undervaluing words they speak of them, as knowing themselves able when they please to crush them and bring them under the lash; and did they (I say) but which me know, that all their delays therein, is but to give time to the Parliament to chew upon their fears, (which they by their creatures endeavour to heighten) that so they might be necessitated to adjourn, and look for their own security, they would more suddenly have manifested their spleen, & by the power of the sword destroyed those that have thus ignorantly prosecuted what they themselves so cunningly designed.  
Neither can I choose but pity the King's friends, when I consider into what a snare they have run themselves: I make no question but that they did cordially intent their assistance for the King's restauration, but by these actings (as these Politicians have ordered it) they have contributed assistance to the King's ruin: for they must know, that if the House adjourn, and these seeming storms be once blown over, if the King will not grant what they desire, these actings (though by themselves designed and promoted) shall be charged upon the King's account, and brought as arguments to justify their future deal with him.  
Thus you see the wits of the time out-witted, and the proverb verified, All is not gold that glisters. Here you see a whole Kingdom abused, and in danger to be enslaved to advance the interest of four and twenty K—. O that Englishmen would be wise, and at last, before it be too late, by an happy union seek the establishment of justice and freedom.  
Can you ever expect happiness from extremes? can you find certainty in uncertainties? or do you ever look to get peace by war, order by confusion? certainly no rational man can be so besotted as to imagine, that certain rules of government could be a burden to him, seeing only uncertainty hath occasioned all our trouble? Had the King's power and the Parliaments Privileges been limited and declared, the exercise of the Militia could never have caused such a bloody dispute: And I do conceive it is not our work now to contest for preserving the now-established Laws, since we have experimentally found many of them to be burdensome and destructive in themselves, none of them (by reason of abuse and corruption) a protection to us in our liberties or properties: but to labour for such an establishment for the future, as may be a certain and safe rule for Kings, Parliaments and People to walk by, since neither in reason ought to be absolved from obedience to all just Laws; or left to govern, or be governed, by the dictates of lust, will or pleasure.  

This rule must make us happy, this must be  
The happy means to make this People free:  
Laws just and equal, now, can only bring  
Peace to the Nation, honour to the King.  
Unite then quickly; 'tis your union must  
Force your oppressors to be truly just:  
And without you unite, you strive in vain,  
Justice or Freedom ever to obtain.  
Strike hands then boldly, yield not to be slaves  
To cruel Tyrants, nor to subtle Knaves.   
FINIS.   

Numb. 6.  
Westminster Projects OR THE Mystery of Iniquity OF THE Committee of Derby House DISCOVERED.  

Plot on great Wharton and contrive  
to save the House of Peers;  
For if the King do but survive  
He'll pull them by the ears.  
Pray send for Say, and St. John's too,  
and study some device,  
To cheat the Kingdom once again:  
 done it neatly twice.  
The Proverb is, beware the third;  
For if you make a blort  
'Tis ten to one, you lose your heads;  
and than you'll spoil the sport:  
For I should very sorry be,  
you should such honour have,  
A Halter I could well afford,  
the portion of a knave.   
Printed no body knows where, licenced no body knows when, and sent into the world by the appointment of the said Committee, because they could not help it, in the year of their vexation. 1648.   

Westminster Projects.  
WHat a strange age are we fallen into? where nothing but knavery is practised, and nothing but Religion professed; seeming holiness hath caused our unhappiness, and we are cheated into slavery, by fair promises of Freedom and Liberty: O tempora! O mores! O times! O manners! whom shall we believe or trust, if not those that are seemingly clothed with righteousness; who with such zeal dare call the God of Heaven to evidence the sincerity of their hearts, in that they had no other end or intention then the advancement of His Majesty, and the Peace of the Kingdom?  
But alas, alas, Great men are subject to forgetfulness, especially when their honour and promotion stand in competition with their Religion; witness our ambitious Lords, and oppressing Grandees, who seven years ago preached a doctrine, that the King might not oppress, but now they tell us they may: A King might not impeach, imprison, fine, etc. but now they may, and have; witness their unjust deal with the seven impeached Lords, eleven impeached Commons, and the four Aldermen: (for the fift he proved a Cullion, and acknowledged himself a Traitor, and so became capable of mercy, and the enjoyment of fourteen hundred a year, by the excise, which if he had not submitted, and kissed sultan Cromwel's great Toe, he had surely lost: and therefore all things considered, Alderman Cullum was the wisest man, for what are all the Liberties of England worth in comparison of his office? Alas money will buy him a good name, and so long as he is free, no matter who are slaves:) But on the contrary I must commend the valour, honesty, and innocency of those worthy Patriots of their Country, Sir John Maynard, Sir John Gear, Alderman adam's, Alderman Langham, and Alderman Bunce, who for their own Vindication, and the securing the Liberties of England out of the jaws of those devouring Harpies the Lords, (who study nothing more than to make the people slaves,) have so nobly entered the Lists, and notwithstanding so many disadvantages (in respect of custom, precedents, power and persuasions to the contrary) have continued the combat, and come off, not only unfoild, but with honour, having thrown the Lord's Jurisdiction (by them usurped over Commons) on its back; so that unless Englishmen prove the worst of cowards it will not be possible for the Lords ever to dare to take the impudence to adjudge, fine, or imprison a Commoner more, for which noble act of theirs they deserve to have their names engraven in Marble with this memorial.  

Maynard, Gayer, adam's, Langham, Bunce, did save  
Our English Freedoms from the very grave  
Of dire destruction; cause they phainly saw,  
The Lords usurp a Power above the Law,  
They took the Laws part; and the Lords resist,  
And having choked them with a Scottish Mist  
Bravely retreated, for which Fame intends  
To crown them with the name o'th' People's Friends.  
Which to their Generations shall remain  
A badge of honour, Time shall ne'er obtain  
To have forgotten, but shall make them be   
But for Cullum this shall be his memorial.  

Here lies a man did Law and fame despise,  
Betrayed his cause, for an office in th' Excise:  
Confessed himself a Traitor, which is moe,  
For profits sake did kiss great Cromwel's Toe:  
Twelve hundred pounds per annum, for to save,  
He sold his Faith, and proved a fawning knave.   
But now I talk of twelve hundred pounds, give me leave to tell you that it is no wonder that we are slaves to the Grandees, nay, that we are no more slaves than we are, for you must know, that there are in the City but 24. Aldermen, and at least fourteen of them have fourteen hundred a year by their places, which they enjoy by the favour of the ruling party of Lords and Commons: and wherefore think you is it that they confer such places on them? is it not to the end that they may give them assistance to enslave and ride you when they please. Have they not all along made use of their power and interest in the City, to raise what sums of money they pleased? and if a demand was made for the loan of ten or twenty thousand pounds, would not these men always appear the promoters thereof, and to draw others on, make proffers to lend a thousand pounds a man, which they knew well enough how to pay themselves again, out of the Treasury; but for you, you must be content with the public Faith; nay, Hay, have they not by this means had such an influence upon the Counsels and Government of this City, that we have not had liberty to choose our own Governors or Officers, nor dispose of our own Militia, or indeed do any thing, but what corresponded with the sense of the Grandee Faction, but it should meet great opposition in debate at our Common Counsels; and if they could not carry things there as they desired, then presently the power of the Parliament must be made use of to forbid the prosecution of that, which they by their interest could not hinder: Thus are you notwithstanding all your struggle for Freedom, involved in slavery, and yet know it not, for it cannot be imaginable that these men which get so much by the Grandee Faction, as Gibs, Woolaston, Foulk, etc. should ever carry on any other interest than their Masters; and unless you be wise, and force all such Pentionary Aldermen to disgorge, give up their places, or throw off their Gowns, which would be best of all, and choose honester in their rooms, and also make provision for the future, that no Alderman or other Magistrate shall take upon him any such employment, as the receiving and disposing of the public Treasure: It is impossible for you to be other slaves, and so to be liable to be oppressed, taxed and cheated: for if he that hath a sword in his hand shall have power to dispose of the public treasure, he will not fear to be his own carver, and who shall dare to call him to an account?  
But I have found so much knavery in the City, that I had almost lost my way to Westminster, which is the very fountain of fallacy; where in the first place I met with a Committee of Condemnation, alias, a Committee of Indemnity, where I found them robbing Peter to pay Paul: There was a great controversy, and the debate was desperate and dubitable, whether the Keeper of Newgate Mr Woolaston should be protected for his knavery, or Colonel Lilburne punished for his honesty: I was loath to stay to see the issue, for fear it should have stunk, for it is ten to one but the knave Jailor had the most of the Committee on his side, because there was a knave Lord or two to overlook them, for fear they should do justice and suffer the Rogue to be hanged for his knavery, and then they be put to the trouble to send a reprieve to hell for him, knowing it is impossible on earth to find so fit an instrument to execute their infernal commands.  
From thence I went to the Committee of safety at Derby House where I found them as safe as a Cat in a Cupboard, hugging themselves for joy at the success of their Plot, which was as followeth:  
I told you the last time how and by what means the tumults in the several Counties were occasioned, namely by the underhand designments of this Grandee Faction, sitting at Derby House: Give me leave now to tell you further, that all these appearances by Goring etc. for the King, are but delusions, and by design, thereby to perfect their work of perpetuation of their power.  
It is certain that Goring is employed by these juggling knaves, only to engage as many as he can in the name of the King, thereby to give them an opportunity to crush and bring the King's party so low, that it shall not be possible for them to rise again, which, if effected, say they, it will bring such a terror upon all other parties in the Kingdom, that do what we will, we shall not need to fear any: And then shall the King be necessitated either to accept of such conditions as we shall afford him, or else we shall be in power to depose him, and either keep the power in our own hands, or set up the Duke of Gloucester, which will serve but as a cipher to please the people withal.  
Suitable to this design was the late answer to the Counties Petitions, That they would maintain a Government by King, Lords and Commons etc. And that in due time they would take into consideration how to settle the Kingdom. Which I am confident they are resolved of, if this work they have now in hand be but effected, which is as followeth; They will offer to the King such terms of Agreement as shall serve to secure the power and places of honour and preferment of the ruling party of the Parliament and Army; And if the King will join with them upon such an account, they will bring him in; but if he will not, then, they say, they have ground enough to lay him aside, and to set up the Duke of Gloucester, who shall only have the title, but th●y will exercise the power as a Committee of Estates: such a Committee as now sits at Derby House; and if this should be effected, (which will without all question, if the people speedily interpose not,) all our seven years' sufferings have served but as an Induction to a greater bondage and slavery, than what we either found or fear in the King, though without all question if in this way he should prevail, it would be to the people's extreme prejudice.  
Therefore my friends seeing we are betwixt two extremes, and that whoever rules we are designed to slavery, let us at last act rationally and show charity to ourselves, as well as loyalty to the King or affection to the Parliament and Army, for certainly it is possible for a King to be happy, and yet a people to be both safe and free; for a Parliament to be free and powerful, but not unlimited, or unbounded, either in its actions or privileges, and for an Army to be an useful servant, and not an insulting tyrannical master.  
But without the people's union upon common and just principles for the preservation of all just interests, it is impossible to keep a King from being a Tyrant, a Parliament from being oppressive, or an Army from being abusive.  
Therefore seeing the quarrel on all hands is, whose interest shall be secured; The King for his, The Parliament for theirs, The Army for theirs; And in all these contests you are only destroyed, and yet no security sought or endeavoured for you; As if your lives estates and children were given you only to be made use of to support the Ambition of a few men, who by flattery and dissimulation have gotten titles of honour and places of profit, which they are loath to part with, or give an account for; And therefore you must be made their Properties, and by them be enforced to spend the fruits of your labour, hazard the lives of yourselves, children and servants, only to keep yourselves from being slaves to one, that you may be slaves to another.  
O therefore dear Countrymen, if you have the hearts of Englishmen, before you again endeavour to drown the Kingdom in a deluge of Blood, consider wherefore you fight, and what will be the fruit of it; and at last consult your own safety, which ought to be the supreme Law both to King and Parliament. The people safety is the supreme Law: then without controversy the King's power, and the Parliaments too, was conferred upon them for that end, namely to preserve the People, and not as they have done to destroy them.  
It is your interest now to consider, what power the King may have that is consistant with your freedom, and what power Parliaments may have also, that may enable them to do the work for which you chose them, and that they be bounded, as to what you empower them, and what not, let them have a rule of certainty, for we see apparently uncertainty hath occasioned all our trouble.  

'Tis this must make us happy, this will bring  
Peace to the Nation, Freedom to the King.  
The People's Interest being thus secured,  
Oppressive taxes will not be endured.  
Just Peace shall be your portion: but till than  
You must be vassals to the lusts of men.  
Take then your choice, be freemen, or be slaves?  
If you'll support the interest of knaves,  
They'll knavishly reward you, you shall see  
Oppression linked to your posterity.  
Tyrants, and fawning sycophants shall reign,  
Justice or Right you never shall obtain.  
But if you will be wise, and strait combine  
To stan● for Freedom, peace and truth shall shine  
Throughout your Borders, you shall surely see  
All power employed for your security:  
King, Parliament and Army shall declare,  
You are supreme, and they your servants are;  
When you give limits to their lawless wills,  
Then, not till then, shall you be free from ills.   
FINIS.