THE LAMB Contending with the LION. By Christopher Chisman, a Free Commoner of England▪ who was unjustly apprehended (contrary to the Law,) and detained prisoner in White Hall 18. days, without any crime laid to his charge, as in this ensuing discourse is further manifested. Whereunto is annexed a Letter sent by the foresaid Cornet Chisman, to the Lieut. Gen. Cromwell: with his Answer thereunto. Rom. 2.1. Therefore thou art in-excusable O man, whosoever thou art, that Judgest: for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest dost the same things. Vers. 3. And thinkest thou this O man, that judgest them which do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God. Printed by the same Authority which caused the Army to oppose the Parliament, in the year 1649. An Epistle to all Impartial and Unbiased people of England, who desire to live within the bounds of Law and Reason, and would not have their ears bored thorough, to become slaves for ever to the lusts of any man whatsoever. MY earnest desire is, that all such rational people of this my Native Country, would condole with me, the deplorable condition of this our bleeding Nation; as also, how sad it is with all the honest truehearted Englishmen, whose ends first in war, were not for the captivating any particular party, otherwise than in order to justice: for my part, I confess I have faithfully served my Country for seven years past, under the command of the Parliament, against the late King and his Evil Council (and truly it may well be said so, for I believe the man of himself would 〈◊〉 have ruined himself) neither did myself, with divers others, the fight any otherwise, than to accomplish impartial justice, which were the only engagements the Parliament laid upon us to carry us forth to fight against tyranny in the late King; and truly, had the King been contented to have lived within the bounds of Law; he might have lived till now: It followeth, if arbytrariness took off the King's head, the next man tracing his steps, should alight at the same Harbour. And I know there is no honest man that ever had any thoughts of fight against Persons, but Principles of injustice and unrighteous actings of men; which in the very height thereof, the Parliament and Army had no other Sanctuary to fly to, but their Vows and Protestations, what they would do if God would but deliver them from their enemies; imprecating the wrath and vengeance of heaven and earth to fall upon them, if they did not distribute impartial justice amongst the people. In which Declaration they positively declare, they are fully resolved to maintain, and shall and will preserve and keep the fundamental Laws of this Nation, for and concerning the preservation of the lives, proprieties and liberties of the people, with all things incident thereunto. Did not these declared Principles raise an Army of conscientious men, who according to sound judgement, in Conscience took up Arms for the well-being of the Nation? and did not many thousand upon that account bring in their plate, with their bodkins and spoons, who want bread now for want of a settlement in the Nation? And did not the mighty God prompt the spirits of people to these things, to the end we should not live like the Heathen, without Laws, and boundaries; but, that as we profess ourselves to be regulated by that word of truth, so we may really be what we seem to be? The Religion of the great Ones of our Age, is a mere shadow, and all their pulpit-pratling is nothing; They are only Wolves in Sheepsclothing; they are Devils transformed into Angels of light: but pure Religion and undefiled, is to visit the fatherless and widow, and to keep ourselves unspoted of the world; which the great Professors of our times will not do I am sure; for they add house to house, land to land, nay thousands to ten thousands; whiles the poor of the Kingdom are ready to starve: yea, those usurpers of the name of Christians, who have sat in Council, and cut off the heads of men for Tyranny, exercise more tyranny over the people than they: witness the chiefest of all formal Professors in England, viz. Lieut. Gen. Cromwell, who most impudently committed an higher act of Tyranny (all things considered) than our late King, in the very place where he sat in judgement ●gainst the late King, and the others, who died also for tyrannical ●ctions: So that it is apparent, that the Lieut. Gen. is condemned ●oth by M. Solicitor Saint-John, and M. Pym in their speeches ●n Parliament, against the Earl of Strafford, for saith the first, Arbytrariness doth make a man (or Nation) as miserable as man or ●aw could make him: How miserable it will make the Lieut. Gen. ● will leave for future times to determinate; and experience teach●th us the truth of M. Pyms words, that Arbytrariness is the seminary of all evil, which causes distempers, and the consumption of ●ivil wars; for saith he, when Envy, Lust, Covetousness, and Ambition becometh Laws, it is the cause of all Cruelties, Blood, and confusion, and is justly to be laid upon the unjust; and this is that ● will live and die in, for I am the same both for my Country and my ●lf which I first engaged for; and truly, I were not fit to live, if I ●ould prove myself such an hypocrite, as to pretend to fight for ju●●ce seven years, devouring my native Country, and eating up the ●ead of the hungry, for so we were forced to do, many of us having ●t above six week's pay in a year to maintain horse and man, and af●r seven year's war, and hard service in blood, suffering hunger and ●ld, which thousands of us have done, being very willing to possess the promised good things, both from the Parliament and the Army, especially the Army in their glorious Declaration of June 14. 1647. p. 40, 41. wherein they express their dislike of Arbytrariness in any person or persons whatsoever, declaring it to all the world, that to carry on a testimony against the injustice and unrighteousness of men, is one of the witnesses of God in the world. Now I say, that to fight in the field against Arbytrariness, and to suffer it reign in the very place of the Civil Magistracy, is but to cheat and cousin our Native Countrymen, who have laboured hard to maintain all that are in public employment, therefore I shall quit myself of all the misery that is like to come upon the land of our Nativity, unless justice take place; and I do humbly crave justice against M. Oliver Cromwell Lieut. Gen. to the English Forces, and if I cannot have justice, I shall conclude, that either the Parliament dare not, or will not do me justice; which if they dare not, I am hearty sorry for it, and would be willing to lose my life in gaining their freedom: if they will not, then from the knowledge I have of their Declarations, Protestations, and Imprecations, I shall be forced to believe that they are perjured men: and according to M. John Cook their Solicitor General in King Charles his case stated, and is most true, That in condemning the King for Tyranny, they have already past sentence against themselves for Tyranny, when ever they are found in the path thereof. Therefore oh house of Parliament, do justice, and save yourselves and the Nation: And, oh all you truehearted people of England, be wise, and do justice upon all the achan's, send them after the late King, and then stick close to the Agreement put forth by our friends ●n the Tower, That we may not see the land of our Nativity utterly wasted, and our wives and children destroyed before our faces, but that we may compose differences: and in so doing, we shall render ourselves unto the world, to be a wise people. Thine and the Nations to serve in love, Christopher Chisman. A Narrative of the illegal and unjust proceed of Lieut. Gen. Cromwell, and the Court Martial, to Cornet Chisman. DEar Countrymen, and Fellow Commonners: The Law of God, the Law of Nature, and the fundamental Laws of our Native Country, are the strongest engagements which binds together all truehearted English men, and is that threefold cord which is not easily broken, and is appointed by the wisdom of him who rules all the world, to be for the well-being thereof, as the pillar of fire before the Israelites with the path they walked in, and the cloud behind them; all which made a perfect Guard for their well-being whiles they were passing through the turbulent sea, So our gracious God hath provided for us in this our Native Country, from one age to another, such wholesome Laws by which we are to be governed, that so no man should walk by an unlimited Power. If we look back to no farther time than the third year of the reign of the late King, which was the worst of our age, till since, yet then were we refreshed with the grant of our Petition of Right; in which there is so much safety provided for the People. But since that, we have had an other opportunity put into our hands, and being very willing to get out of bonds; as also being instigated by those who call themselves the Ministers of Christ, to go forth, and fight for a more perfect freedom; telling us that the reward of our labours should be impartial Justice, and righteousness among men: and in order thereunto, there hath been much precious Blood and Treasure wasted, almost to the ruin and desolation of this the Land of our Nativity. But instead thereof we find nothing but cruelty and oppression: Men professing the highest principles of Justice, as in words, but their actions demonstrate the contrary, which I am able to clear to all unbiased people in the world, who will not willingly prostrate themselves slaves, to men whose Law is their Wills: And therefore my dear friends and Country men, there being an opportunity put into my hands, wherein I must either stoop to Tyranny, and so betray my own with the Nations Liberties, or else give testimony to the World of my faithfulness to principles of Justice and righteousness amongst men: which hath carried forth the un-interested people of all ages to contend with the Princes of this world, for their Native Liberties and Freedoms which the most sacred Majesty of heaven and earth hath bestowed on them as their inheritance and birthright, for their comfortable and well being whilst they are upon the face of the Earth. I shall give you a true Narrative of the most cruel actings of men in Authority, both towards poor Capt. Bray, and myself; after our faithful service to this poor bleeding Nation. He was first taken from his Troop about the 20 of March, 1648. there being no cause showed for it, only the pleasure of the General: he desiring very earnestly of the General that he would do him Justice, and that he would not take away his Troop before the business was decided before a Council: but the General not admitting of it, Capt. Bray told him that then he must appeal to the Parliament: which accordingly he did, and presented an humble claim of Justice, to the supreme Authority of the Nation, the Commons assembled in Parliament, against Thomas Lord Fairfax, the which being debated in the House of Parliament, they presently committed Capt. Bray to the Castle of Windsor, there to continue during pleasure: which was about the beginning of March, 1649. and there he hath continued till this very day, without a penny of allowance: though it be well known that Capt. Bray hath been very free in his expenses for the public good, in this time of war, even to his utter impoverishment: besides the keeping of his Troop together for the service of the State, all the last winter, which was at least an hundred pounds' damage, with the loss of at least forty pounds in Horses, by reason of his being so unjustly taken from his Troop, without any satisfaction, which after the spending of his Estate in the Parliaments service, to be cast into prison for only desiring Justice, and there to lie without any thing allowed him for his subsistence, which is nothing else but to starve him in a prison, did not some merciful people contribute towards his subsistence. Myself coming accidentally by Windsor, the 22. of May last, with a great deal of difficulty at last came to the sight of him, who desired me very earnestly to carry his third Appeal for Justice, to the Parliament House, wherein was expressed four things; viz. 1. That he might either have a fair and Legal trial. Or else, 2. To be discharged from his most cruel and close imprisonment, where he is kept from the society of Friends. Or, 3. That he might have an allowance for his subsistence, suitable to what his employment and faithfulness hath been in the service of the Common W●al. Or, 4. That if neither of these might be allowed him, than his desire was, that they would allow him a considerable sum of his own Arrears, due to him for his almost seven years' service in the Common-Weal, whilst he is their causeless Captive and Prisoner. And accordingly, to his desire, I took my journey from Windsor, to London; and Saturday the 26 of May last, I addressed myself to the Speaker of the Parliament: and coming to the Parliament door, I met with the Sergeant at Arms, to whom I imparted the substance of my business, which I had to the Speaker: So the Gentleman told me that he would give me direction to go to the Speaker, and accordingly went along with me, through the House of Commons, up into the Committee-Chamber, where the Speaker was (it being about eight or nine of the clock, and before the House sat) I presented Capt. Brays Letter, with his Appeal enclosed, which the Speaker received; and read the Letter, with part of the Appeal; and said he was sorry for Capt. Bray. I answered him, that I knew Capt. Bray had been a faithful man to the Nation, and that he had never falsified his trust to that Honourable House: but that he was under very great oppressions, and did desire Justice. And I told him that it was my desire that impartial Justice should take place; and if Capt. Bray did deserve to be hanged, let him be hanged. The Speaker answered me, That Capt. Bray talked altogether of Justice and Righteousness to be within his own breast. Sir, (said I,) his Appeal to this House demonstrates the contrary. But he said so to me said the Speaker. It's true Sir, (said I,) if Righteousness and Justice were not in your own breast, how could you determine any cause that comes before you? It is truth, said the Speaker. Then Sir (said I) it is to be expected in this House as in the gross. So he asked me what my name was? I told him Chisman; and that I had been Capt. Brays Cornet. He answered very lovingly, and told me that he would do what he could in the business; and that he would propose it to the House. So I gave him hearty thanks, and took my leave of him. I came forth, and waited (at the door, and in Westminster Hall,) till the House did rise, at which time I being walking in the Hall, the Speaker coming by with his Guard, I went to him, and asked him whether he had done any thing for Capt. Bray? He answered me No. I presently looked about toward my left hand, and espied the Lieut. General, who said to me is your name Chisman? Yes Sir: (said I.) Take him Guard, (said he) speaking with a very violent Voice: and accordingly the Guard of Halberdiers came running very greedily like so many Lions to their prey, pulling and punching of me: I gave them very fair words, beseeching them as Gentlemen not to punch me, for I would go willingly with them: but the Lieut. General being close by, cried out very vehemently, Do punch him, punch him on. The Speaker being very near so that neither myself nor the Guard, could go any further, so that it was very clear to me that what Cromwell did, was merely in malice, that he should command his Soldiers to punch me forward, when neither they nor I could go any further. The Speaker being got into his Coach, they returned back through the Hall into the Old Palace yard, where we met with the other part of the Company, and then marched away to white Hall: and then I was committed to the Lieut. General's Marshal to his own Regiment, where I was continued from Saturday the 26 of May, till Tuesday the 5 of June, on which day the Lieut. General's Marshal delivered me up to the Marshal General, and there I remained till Monday the 11. of this instant June, 1649. in all 17. days in the common Goal, without a bed; and nothing laid to my charge. But I should have told you that the Lieut. General (about two hours after I was committed) sent a Captain of the Army to me, who took me out as if he would carry me to the Lord Precedent, enquiring of me what I was committed for? I told him I did not know, only I did conjecture, (meaning the delivering of Capt. Brays Appeal,) and I thought that it was a truth, for as much as that I did not know so much as any colour for any thing else. And when he heard me say so, he answered me No, that was not the cause: but it was for breaking of Col. Reynolds Regiment of Horse. I told him No, that could not be the cause. So when he had been at the Lord Presidents, and spoke two or three words to him, for he had left me at the door with a foot Soldier, and the Marshals man. So when he came forth, we returned back to Whitehall, and then he told me, that I must continue there till monday two of the clock, at which time the Council of State would sit; when monday came, there was no order for the Marshal to bring me before the Council of State; but when the Marshal saw the Lieut. Gen. leave the Council, and was going away, he ran after him, and told him, that he had one Cornet Chisman under his charge, committed by his Honour, he made him answer, that he should wait upon the Council of State, to to see what their pleasures would be; my keeper returning me this answer, I took my pen, and writ a note to the Council, and it was delivered to the Lord Precedent, he returned me this answer, that the next day I should be called, and accordingly so I was, four or five times before I was carried over by my keeper: the Sergeant at Arms came to inquire whether I was come or no, and when he understood I was at the door, he came forth and asked the Marshal whether he had any accusation against me? the Marshal made answer, no, he had nothing against me; so the Sergeant returned in again, and a while after he came forth, and enquired of the Marshal whether he knew one Capt. Chaplain or no? for he thought he should be a witness; the Marshal told him no, so he went in again, and soon after came forth, and bid the Marshal return with me till the next day, than I returned back to my prison, and there continued, still adhering to my first thoughts wherefore I was imprisoned; and my Marshal hearing me tell my friend the same, he said no that is not the cause of your imprisonment, but it is for breaking Col. Reynolds Regiment of Horse; by which I did understand that the Lieut. Gen. had fixed it wholly upon that, which did much amaze me, that such a thing which never was, should cause so strange an operation upon the Lieut. Gen, as in such a fury to apprehend me, giving his soldier's order to abuse me. But this aspersion held about four or five days, and vanished, so I heard no more of it. The next supposed crime was, that I had said something against the Parliament and Council of State, which was told me by some who waited at the Council door, and this continued four or five days longer. The next was, that I was apprehended for one of the chief in the late mutiny of the Army, and this was affirmed to me by the Marshal General, he told me he heard so, and that I was active in Col. Harrisons and Commissary General Iretons Regiments; moreover, he heard that I was so dangerous a fellow, that he thought I should be sent away to Peter-house. This crime, or rather slander, continued till monday the 11. of this instant June, at which time I was guarded forth of my prison before the Court Marshal, They had nothing to say to me, only they asked me what I did at Windsor the last time I was there: I told them, that as I had known them formerly, and did judge many of them to be honest Gentlemen, and therefore I would speak something for the satisfaction of them and myself, but Gentlemen, to answer to your questions, I will not, knowing it to be the greatest breach of my liberty that possibly can be, therefore I shall not answer to any such thing; but I must needs tell you, that I was forced out of Arms by Col. Raynolds about two months since, with the rest of the Troop I did belong to, my Capt. being aforehand cast into prison; so I took my leave of the Regiment at Banbury, and went directly into Hampshire, where I continued two or three days with my wife, and then came for London, where I continued almost a month, and so returned into Hampshire again, and stayed there three days longer, and then came for London. But Col. Backster told me, that I had not answered to the question, and that it was but a little one, and I might easily answer it, I desired him to forbear to ask me such questions, for I would answer none; Then Col. Hewson asked me, whether I had not been at Windsor with one Capt. Brayfield, a Capt. of his Regiment, and whether I had not feasted him and some of his Regiment, for he was sure the Capt. had told him so much, and he would know of me whether I had or no; I answered, if I had, I would not tell him of it, than Col, Backster asked me, whether I did not know of a lying pamphlet that was forth, in which there were many lies as to the matter of my imprisonment; I answered that as to answer any thing as in order from the Court, I would not, neither did I know what were in that book, nevertheless to impart to them the truth and manner of my being apprehended, I was very free they should understand the truth of it, and I must needs tell y●u that I was most unjustly and tyranically apprehended, and have been kept in prison 17. days, and never came within a bed, and that the greatest part of the time I had no better lodging than a board and a narrow b●nch to lie upon, which hath much endangered my health; So looking about me, told them, that it was very strange to me, that they had not witnesses all that time, but must examine me upon interrogatories: Then there was one of the Court answered, that the Army had been out of Town, and they had been very busy, and had not so much liberty: then there stood up one of their society, whom I perceived to stand more for persons than for Justice, of which sort there are too many both in Army and elsewhere (the which this poor bleeding Nation hath had woeful experience of) So this creature made a speech, and told the Court, that he desired them to take notice of my words, for saith he, though it cannot be proved that he was in this last mutiny, yet said he, you may know by his speech that he is one of them, and deserveth the sentence of the Court for what he hath spoken here, for he hath taxed a man whom we love entirely, a man who is honourable in our sight, I know who he meaneth (saith he) its the second man in our Army; nay (said he) he is so impudent and bold, that he is not ashamed to tell this Court even to our faces, that he is a Tyrant; So when he held his peace, I answered, Gentlemen, I confess had I taxed the meanest man in the Nation falsely, I had deserved to be sentenced to purpose, but I must needs tell you, if so be the greatest man in the Nation walk so towards me, he must bear his burden; and truly Gentlemen, you may remember it was a grand blemish formerly in our Kings, and the great burden that was laid upon them, that in their wrath they would take a man by the shoulder, and say, Take him away, hang him, without any visible Authority of the Nation; but the Lieut. Gen. did command his Soldiers to abuse me, and in effect, to murder me, for he bade them punch me, and punching a man with halberds will easily murder any man, for the soldiers had halberds, if they had punctually observed the Lieut. Gen. command; so they bade me hold my peace, and no more of that, meaning the comparing the Lieut. Gen. actions to our former Kings: Then there stepped up another of the Court, and said, gentlemans, I have known this man formerly, and I believe he is one of that party (though I would not make parties, yet) I know he is of that party, for he hath been with Capt. Bray, and is one of his party: yes Sir (said I was his Cornet till I was forced out of Arms, and that Capt. Bray was taken from his Troop, and cast into prison. So the Court desired that man to hold his peace. Then Col. Backster asked me whether I did not bring some papers from Windsor to London? I told him, that though as in Order from the Court I would not Answer one word to any such thing, yet I would rehearse to them what I had already published to all I knew, and was willing they should know also: and truly Gentlemen (said I) with a great deal of difficulty I obtained the sight of Capt. Bray, and finding him in a very sad condition (which was a great shame that such a man as he who had been so faithful to this Nation, should now lie in a prison and perish) he desired me to carry his third Appeal for Justice, and deliver it to the Speaker of the Parliament; and accordingly I did, and had som● words with the Speaker, who did approve of it very well, and he told me, that he would do his endeavour, and that he would propose it to the House; and truly, if he had been minded to have committed me, he might have done it; But he had no power said Col. Backster. Sir (said I) he might if he would, for I was walking at the Parliament door, and in Westminster-hall, till the House did rise: But (said Col. Backster) you could not be found, for you w●re sought for. I answered, that could not be, for I spoke to the Speaker when he came out of the House, and asked him whether he had done any thing for Capt. Bray, he answered, No, and then his Guard of Halbardeer were with him, and if he would have committed me he might: So there was no answer made but commanded me forth of doors, where I continued almost half an hour, and then was called in again, and the Judge Advocate said unto me, M. Chisman, the Court hath ordered your enlargement upon Bail; I paused a little upon it, and taking notice of their overruling power by the Sword, it being in vain for me to contend, as also how exceedingly my health was endangered, by reason of the ill accommodation I had in the prison, caused me to accept of their proffer; then they told me, that they did assure me t●ey would draw up my Charge so soon as possibly they could, which should not be long; So I took my leave of them, and stayed two days and two nights, before I could get my Bond made by the Judge Advocate; In which time they had sought out far and near for some Accusation against me, and after all, they sent a letter to Colonel Harrison, to know how I behaved myself when I was in his Regiment; and when there was nothing to be found, they let me forth upon M. Stephen Sprats coming in bonds for me, to appear at the Court Martial of his Excellency the Lord General, to be held at the Headquarters, upon Monday morning next, and so from Court day to Court day, to hear the Judgement of the said Court, concerning a Charge exhibited against me. So upon Monday the eighteenth of this instant June, I appeared at the Court Martial, and desired the Clerk to acquaint the Court with it. So after I had waited there a little while, I met with the Marshal General, and told him, I was come according to my engagement; he said, he would acquaint the Court with it; then I went to a friends house, and so returned back; But the Court being risen, I went to the Clerk, and asked him whether the Court had done any thing as to my business, he told me yes, the Court had ordered my discharge, and that I should have my bond in, and accordingly I had. And so the Lord be merciful to us, and keep ut from such Courts of Justice, which will take no wrong, nor do no right. Christopher Chisman. The Copy of a Letter, sent to the Lieut. Gen. Cromwell: Sir, IF it may please your Honour to vouchsafe the reading of these few lines, (though I confess you as far exceed me in this Earthly Glory, as doth the Sun in his brightest hue exceed the most dim and weakest Star): your Honour will (I hope) be satisfied in what I express at this time: For which end I beseech you Sir consider seriously what was the cause we first engaged in this unhappy War; (and so we may call it, because it hath produced no better effect, as yet, but only disatisfaction to all parties) was it not impartial Justice, which we first undertook? and was it not for declaring for that, your Honour was first gained? How did all the People of God esteem of you whilst you kept close to principles of Justice and Righteousness? Your Name was as precious ointment poured forth where ever you were spoken of, so long as you did value the favour of God, and the countenance of his People to be more worth than all the Honour and riches of this World. I beseech you Sir consider of these things before it be too late, and you wrong yourself, with all that have owned you; for I see all people begin to leave you: and I fear you will (like the late King) leave an odium upon your posterity, unless you return to your former professed Principles of Impartial Justice and Righteousness; which are the witnesses of God upon earth. I pray you Sir, call to mind your cruel apprehending of me the 26. of May last, when as I was passing quietly about my employments, in Westminster Hall, taking me by the shoulder with a great deal of violence, commanding your Soldiers to take hold of me, as if I had been the veriest Rogue in the World: And when the violence of your Soldiers caused me to complain, I desired them to use me civilly, and that they would not punch me, assuring them I would go willingly with them: yourself being near called out to the Soldiers very earnestly, saying, Punch him on, Punch him; which was in effect no less than to command them to murder me: (for the punching with Halberds will easily murder a man, had they observed your commands according to the manner of your expression, which would have caused the most rational man in the world to judge of me to be no other than one who would have even destroyed the Nation at a blow, (as those in the Powder Plot) and so deserved to have my brains knocked out, wheresoever I were met in the Streets: and not only so in your exposing me to death, by your injunctions upon your Soldiers to do their pleasure upon me. But afterwards committing me to Prison, and there to let me lie eighteen days, without coming into a bed: my lodging being for the greatest part a narrow board to lie upon, in a common Prison, among all sorts of malefactors. And besides this, I was most unjustly forced out of Arms, by Col. Reynolds, without satisfaction, notwithstanding my having been seven months without pay, of which time I was Cornet to Capt. Bray, from the 12 of December, 1648. till the 10 of April 1649. having the late King under my charge two miles from Hurst Castle, and might have made a price of him, as the times were then, had I not been faithful to my Trust: and yet never received one penny of pay for the time I was Cornet. These, with other hard measure which I have received since this War, as being once in your Honours own Troop, about 14. or 15. weeks, and never received a penny of Pay, with the expense of 20. pounds; and then turned out as a Supernumerary, without a penny of Pay, and after all this to be so ill requited, as to be cast into a Prison, and there to lie eighteen days, without any thing laid to my charge; and at last to be brought before a Court, and there to be examined upon things I never knew of, without witnesses, or any thing they knew to lay to my charge. I beseech your Honour consider how unjust these things are, contrary to all Declarations of Parliament, and Engagements of the Army, the Laws of God, of Nature, and against the Laws of the Nation; in which I assure you (though I entreat you as a friend, yea as a Christian, in the bonds of Love, to do me Justice, yet) I know Justice Commands. Sir, I cannot pass by such palpable Violations of the Laws and Liberties of my Native Country: And I do protest in the presence of the Eternal God, the impartial and righteous judge, who hath laid as great engagements upon me to prosecute you for this unparaleld murdering of the Laws and Liberties of this my Native Country, as ever I could be engaged for the prosecuting of the Law upon any whomsoever he should be that should murder my Father or Mother: yea, I am more deeply engaged to prosecute the former than the latter. I beseech you Sir consider of these things, and lay them to heart, that so you may be instrumental for the good of this poor Nation. Sir, God having thus drawn forth my heart, to write the Truth plainly to you: and if it be not hid from your eyes, I shall receive a seasonable Answer; if not, I am engaged to prosecute: but I should rejoice to see the contrary: Till which time, and ever, I leave you to be disposed of by him in whom my soul delighteth. And am really Yours to serve in the bonds of Love, till death, if you are for impartial justice and Righteousness, in this the Nation. Christopher Chisman. I beseech you Sir, Let not the greatness of yourself, and the meanness of me, be any prejudice to justice. For my part, I think he is but the shadow of a Man, and no Man, whatsoever he be, that hath engaged in the late War, and now is afraid to demand justice against any whomsoever he be. Sir, I am really what I was, and what I first propounded in War, I own still: I fear the face of no man, in order to justiee; It was for injustice I fought so long against the late King: I will die rather than I will live a slave. Therefore I pray you (Sir) seriously consider what you have done: You its no dishonour for a great man to be taxed in order to justice. Sir I am yours to live and die with you for justice in this my Native Country. Christopher Chisman. POSTSCRIPT. DEar Friends, and Countrymen, I having been so violently apprehended, and cast into Prison, and kept there eighteen days, without any Authority from the Nation, or for any fault I had committed, (as in my Narrative, and Letter is manifested:) and finding the same evil disposition in those men who rule over us, to do the like to any of the Free Commoners of England, I was extremely bound in Conscience to my Native Countrymen, as in their behalf to demand satisfaction of the Lieut. General Cromwell, for the unparallelled force and violence which he had committed upon the Laws and Liberties of my Native Country: as also in so doing, for the particular wrong he had done to me: and accordingly I drew up the foregoing Letter, according to Truth, (though in a very plain form) hoping that the Lieut. Gen. had not been so bad as was reported: and on Friday the 22 of june last, I sent my Wife and a Friend (with her) with the Letter, who accordingly presented it into the Lieut. Generals own hands. On Monday the 25. of June, I went myself to the Lieut. Gen. and after waiting there part of the day, I met with him walking in the Garden, who (when I had done my duty to him) was pleased to give me the liberty of speech: after which, I told his Honour that I had manifested my grievances in a Letter by my Wife, who had delivered it into his Honour's hands two days before. He answered me that he had not read it. Then I desired his Honour to give me satisfaction for the wrong he had done me, in the violent apprehending of me, on the 26. of May last, as I was quietly passing about my employments, in Westminster Hall, whereby I am rendered to the People as a most notorious Rogue. He answered, that for what he had done he was glad. Which answer did take off my hopes of ever seeing him do any good for the Nation, unless God do convince him of his error, when as he should sin against such apparent light, both of the Laws of God, and of Nature, against the known Laws of the Nation, and against the many Declarations, Vows, and Improcations which he hath made in Parliament, that the wrath and vengeance of Heaven and Earth, may fall upon his and their heads, if they did not maintain the fundamental Laws of the Nation. Yea, and his, with the Armies Declariton, the 14. of June, from the Army to the Parliament, pag. 45. in these words, And more particularly, we cannot but desire that all such as are imprisoned for any pretended misdemeanour, may be put into a speedy way for a just Hearing and Trial: and such as shall appear to have been unjustly and unduly imprisoned may (with their Liberties) have some reasonable satisfaction according to their sufferings, and the demerits of their opposers. And in their Declaration from Reading, the 18 of July, they call the Parliaments committing of men not to be according to the regular course of Law; and that if upon a Legal Trial it shall appear they are wrongfully or unduly imprisoned, they may have reparations according to their sufferings. But all the●e Engagements are nothing to the Lieut. Gen. and truly if the Parliament do not question these m●n, I believe they will fall with infamy, both they and their Posterity. The Lieut. Gen. would not give me satisfaction: but after a great deal ●f discourse to no purpose, he would have me Petition the L. Fairfax, telling me that he was to go for Ireland, and that if I would engage myself to be an honest man, and se●k the Peace of the Army, I should see what he would do for me. I answered him, that I knew not the man that c●uld tax me with any misdemeanour; or that I had ever been a disturber of the Nation. Nay, (said he) if it be so, do what you will. So we parted. Now I do once more earnestly crave justice against Mr Oliver Cromwell, Lievt. Gen. of the English Forces: he is one of the Achans that trouble the Peace of Israel; and if the Parliament send him to Ireland, they will be guilty in the letting escape a man of blood; Therefore be wise, and send for him back (if he be gone; and execute justice on him, for murdering of the Laws and Liberties of our Native Country. As for the Council of War, I shall leave them: for by their carriage to me they do divulge to the World, that they intent to do justice upon all, but for none: for though I tax Cromwell with tyranny, and that I had b●en 18. days in Prison, and did wonder they should call me before them, having neither Witness, nor any thing to lay to my charge: yet these unjust men (the Council of War) would thrust me out, without any satisfaction, or making good their Religious Resolutions, june 14. in these words, That we may be no longer the dissatisfaction of our Friends, as to the compleatment of the Liberties and Peace of the Nation; which is that blessing of God, than which (of all Worldly things) nothing is more dear unto us, or more precious in our thoughts: we having hitherto thought all our present enjoyments whether Life or Livelihood, or nearest relations, a price but sufficient to the purchase of so rich a blessing: that we and all the Freeborn People of this Nation, may sit down in quiet under our Vines, and under the glorious administration of justice and Righteousness, and in full possession of those fundamental Rights and Liberties, without which we can have little hopes (as to humane consideration) to enjoy either any comforts of Life, or so much as Life itself, but at the pleasures of some men, ruling merely according to their wills and power. I beseech you take notice of these men, what Conscience they make of their ways, that dare take the Name of the impartial and just God, in their mouths, and walk so contrary; when as they pretend sitting in Council to do Justice: and I know that they profess themselves Christians, and ought not to have respect of persons, (in Judgement.) But it appears to me, that they sit there to purge the Earth, that there may be no wicked upon the face thereof, but themselves. Therefore I would advise these man (with all speed) to cause the Declaration of the 14 of June, 1648. with all other their honest Declarations, to be burnt by the hand of the common Hangman, b●ing the great obstructions to the ways of wickedness; so that for the time to come, neither myself nor any other may cudgel them with their own weapons. By me Christopher Chisman.