THE DEVIL'S cabinet-councel. DISCOVERED, OR THE MYSTERY and INIQUITY OF THE Good old Cause. Laying open all the Plots and Contrivances of O. CROMWELL, and the Long PARLIAMENT, In order to the taking away the Life of his late Sacred MAJESTY of Blessed Memory. LONDON, Printed by H. Brugis for Hen. Marsh at the Prince's Arms in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet. 1660. THE DEVIL'S Cabinet-Counsell. DISCOVERED. THe Lord Lisle a very godly Person, yet led away now and then by the Spirit to cool his Reins in Bloomsbury, where he was twice discovered to be very civilly used in regard of his Authority; he had given the Mastership's of St. Crosses, valued at 800 l. per annum. I Gourdon a Lunatic, and bitter-tongued Schismatic. Lord Grace of Grooby, a Saint, who had nothing but Holmby Manor-house and Parks for his share. Humphrey Edwards one that waited on the King when he demanded the five Members, and whose election was voted void by a Committee. Nich. Love one of the six Clerks in Mr. Penruddock's place. Ben. Valentine five thousand pound the better for the times. Gil. Millington the Church Snuffers, one that desires no better trade then scandalous Ministers. Sir Hardress Waller, once a Cavalier, than a Presbyterian, and afterwards any thing. Temperate Mr. Chaloner. Skippon once a poor Waggoner, now in a better condition. Saloway a smart prating Grocer's Apprentice, newly set up for himself. Okey a good sturdy Dray-man. Ludlow a Leveller. Smiling Sir James Harrington. Wait, one that thrived so well while he was Governor of Burleigh, that he bought 500 l. per annum, that was not able to buy 5 l. before. Sir Henry Mildmay, the Mirror of Gratitude, once the King's jeweller, afterwards his judge. Heveningham a slabbering Epicure. Scot a Brewer's Clerk, Master Pursuivant to the Commom-wealth. Martin, a beastly, profuse, and extravagant Whoremaster. Disborow a Clown without fear or wit. Coll. Downes, a mere cipher. Coll. Moor Coll. of the Parliaments Guards, he had the benefit of the passes out of London. Will Say, a famous Lawyer. Isaak Penington twice broke, and therefore the Parliament gave him 7000 l. to recruit him. Lord Mounson, a pitiful drivelling henpeckt Lord. Philip Lord Lisle, famous for his silence; men wonder what he did among them, unless it were because his Father kept him short. Blackston a poor Shopkeeper in Newcastle, made Executor to Sir John Fenner, trusted with 6000 l. for charitable uses, and was sued in Chancery to perform the Will, but got himself returned Burges for Newcastle; had 3000 l. given out of another Gentleman's estate, and as much as made it up 12000 l. out of the estate of another Gentleman. Dixwell, once better known in Kent then trusted. Greg. Clement's rich in Bishop's Lands, once poor enough. Sir Will. Brereton, a good Trencherman, and Bishop of Croyden. Coll. Berkstead, the merciful Lieutenant of the Tower. Coll. Hewson, the Committee of Safety's Apprentice killer. Cornel. Holland, once a Linkboy, preferred by the King to the Green-cloth, a great Knave. Tichborn, a man well known in the City. Coll. Will. Purefoy, he hide himself in a barley field when he should have been fight, for which a Waterman, that had been his Soldier, refused to carry him. Sir Will. Constable, he sold his Lands to Sir Marmaduke Langdale for 15000 l. but the Parliament gave them him again. Sir Miles Levesey, Plunder Master General of Kent. Henry Smith, made one of the six Clerks. Frantic Sir Harry Vane. Hare-brained Hesllerig. Dan. Blagrave, well known at Reading. Miles Corbet, once 3000 l. in debt more than he was worth; he got well by scandalous Ministers. Harvey Bishop of Fulham, though not so by inheritance. Illegally elected by colour of the New Seal. Coll. Norton. Rowl. Wilson. Coll. I. Hutchinson. Coll. Rigby Governor of Bolton. Anthony Stapely. Valentine Walton a Knave and a Cuckold, or a Cuckoldly Knave which you please. Coll. Boswell, Sir Arthur Hesllerig's Friend by his Daughter's means. Augustine Garland, Peters' Pot-companion. Bradshaw, the impudent brazenfaced Precedent. Cromwell, Bell-wether to the Flock. Ireton, his bosom fellow worker in iniquity. Maj. Gen. Harison, chief Holder forth to the fift Monarchy-men. Venus, the broken Silkman, that governed Windsor Castle. Coll. Hammond, he had a thousand pounds and five hundred pounds per annum given him for his good service. THE DEVIL'S Cabinet-Counsell. DISCOVERED. THe Independent Faction being become considerable, their first design was to monopolise all power into their hands. This was effected first by dashing the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller one against another; which was easily done by taking hold of their several misfortunes, the one at Lislethiel in Cornwall, the other at the Devises in Wiltshire. My Lord of Manchester also being a Lord, and therefore not to be confided in, was undermined and accused by Cromwell of high Crimes, and so discarded. Then was the Army new modelled, and under Sir Thomas Fairfax Cromwell got the sole command of the Army. He was no sooner in power, but by his own diligence & the help of his Faction, he endeavours to make himself famous and popular, by taking to himself the honour of other men's achievements. To this purpose the News books are taught to speak no language but Cromwell and his party, and to be silent in such actions wherein he could claim no share. That the Army might be suitable to him and his designs, carried on without interruption, all pretences of scandals and crimes are laid hold of at the Counsels of War to remove the Presbyterian party, that the Independents and Sectaries might be let into their rooms. The next study of Cromwell was how to make this Army become his creatures; which he thus contrived: The two Houses, in a full and free Parliament had ordained the disbanding of the Army, Cromwell knowing how much this would be against the Armies will, put the Houses again upon passing this Ordinance, Protesting in the presence of Almighty God, before whom he stood, that he knew the Army would disband, and lay down their Arms at their door whensoever they should command: when at the same time he had his Agitators animating the Army against the major part of the House, under the notion of men that sought their ruin, and making traitorous comments upon the Ordinance. He knew the Army hated nothing more than disbanding, and therefore would not be a little enraged against the promoters thereof: and thus by causing fears and jealousies in the Army, he easily provoked them to mutiny against the Parliament: By this mutiny having made them sure to his own interest, Cromwell leaves the Parliament, not daring to trust himself among them, where now both he and his Son Ireton publicly join with the Army at Newmarket in traitorous Engagements, Declarations, Remonstrances and Petitions, penned by Cromwell himself, tending altogether to nothing but sedition, whereby the Army and the Parliament were easily rendered odious to one another. Having thus debauched the Army, he plotted in his own Chamber how to secure the Garrison, Magazine, and train of Artillery at Oxford, and surprise the King's person at Holmby, which was done by his Instrument Cornet joice, with a commanded party of Horse: by which action Cromwell now thought himself so secure, that when joice, giving him an account of what he had done, told him, that he had now the King in his power; Cromwell replied, Then have I the Parliament in my pocket. It was not for him publicly to own so impudent an act, therefore he had recourse to his wont dissimulation, protesting in the sight of God his ignorance in that business both to the King and Parliament, adding to his Protestation an Execration upon his Wife and Children. Having so fare prospered in his design, as to get the King into his clutches, the next contrivance was to get the Parliament into his power. This was to be effected by purging both Houses, so that there might be no Members here, but what should be absolutely of Cromwel's Faction; to which purpose they send first a confused impeachment against eleven of the Members, who thereupon modestly withdrew, to free the Parliament from such danger as they should incur by protecting them. But while these things were acting, Cromwell finding he could not compass what he intended against the Parliament, but that he must make the City his enemies, casts about how to cheat the Country, it being dangerous to have both City and Country his enemies at that time. Agents are therefore employed to spread Books and Pamphlets about the Kingdom wherein particular notice is taken of the pressures and grievances of the Nation, courting them to neglect the King, and the Parliament, as unable to relieve them, and to make their addresses to the Army, who had it in their hands only to restore the King, uphold the Parliament, and give them their Freedoms and Liberties, and to take away from them all Taxes and Excises: by these and the like pretences they deceived the people so far, as to make them patiently bear the burden of free quarter, and to make Addresses to the Army for free quarter. Having Iulled the people into a sleep, they now seek how to quarrel with the City. They had withdrawn their quarters some thirty miles from London, in a pretended obedience to the Parliament (of which pretended example of their submission, they made singular use against all objections) but finding their designs retarded both in City and Parliament, by the remainder of that party which they had left; they must therefore find a quarrel to march against the City, to give the Houses a stronger purge than they had formerly done. Hereupon the Army demands the City Militia, and had it granted by a packed company of the lower House, when most of the Members were absent. The City petition for their former Militia; and to second their Masters, many of the Apprentices came down with another of theirs: it was not long ere Cromwell, who watched for this opportunity, had his Agents among them, to keep up the Riot, and increase it as much as in them lay, particularly one Highland was observed more active than all the rest. This was cunningly contrived to increase the sdandall upon the City. The Army was now upon their march to London, whereupon the speaker and about forty Members more, having left about one hundred and forty sitting in the House, fled to the Army. It is thought that what the Speaker did, proceeded from certain strong Threats and Menaces of Cromwell and Ireton, for that he had solemnly professed a day or two before to Sir Ralph Ashton and others, that he scorned to do such a base unjust and dishonourable act, and that he would rather die in his chair. Hereupon, the remaining Members choose a new speaker, and proceed to act one way, while the Army with both the fugitive Speakers, and the sugitive Members vote another, signing engagements to live and die with the Army. The Army were so overleavend with this engagement, that they send out Warrants to the Trained Bands to march with them against the City. The City hearing of their approach, sent Commissioners sundry times to mediate an accord; but the Army would give them no better terms then these, that they should yield to desert both Houses and the impeached Members, that they should call in their Declarations, relinquish the Militia, deliver up their forts to the Army, with the Tower of London, and the Magazines there; disband all their Forces, and turn the Reformadoes out of the line, receive such guards of horse and foot as the Army should appoint, demolish their works, and suffer the Army to march in triumph through the City. All which was suddenly and dishonourably yielded to, so great was the undermining strength of Cromwel's party to weaken the hands of all his opponents. This being effected, the fugitive Members were brought again into the House. And now we must look upon the Army and Parliament acting and consulting together. They put into employments none but men of their own faction, that they may have all in their own hands; they altar and divide the Militia of London, setting up particular Militia's at Westminster, Southwark, and the Hamlets, to make them weaker by such a division, and demolish the lines of Communication and fright many more members from the House partly by threats, and partly by false impeachments. Then they declare all void which the Parliament had done in their absence; and when many of the Commons were refractory, and denied to pass this ordinance, they were either urged to it with threats, or forced to departed the house, Sir Arthur Haslerig telling them some heads must fly off, and that he feared the Parliament of England could not save the Kingdom, but they must look another way for safety: That they could not satisfy the Army but by declaring all void from the beginning. In which words he was seconded by Vane, Prideaux, Gourdon, Mildmay, Scott and Holland, whom we must henceforward look upon as the Protectors greatest instruments. And because this did not wholly effect the design, they produce a scandalous letter from the Army, wherein the members that sat while the two Speakers were absent, were called pretended Members, and threatened that if they would not give their assents topass the ordinance, they should sit in the House at their peril, for the Army would take them as Prisoners of war, and try them at a Counsel. Thus the Members being frighted away, the next day in a very thin assembly of oliver's creatures the ordinance passed: and thus had Cromwell and his few conspirators what so far they sought for, (that is to say) the whole power of the Parliament and Army. This being done several accusations of high Treasons were brought against the Earls of Suffolk, Lincoln, Middlesex, the Lords Berkley, Willoughby, Hunsdon and Maynard, they were committed to the Tower, that so those Lords that had engaged with the Army might have their house to themselves: Several Petitions were likewise exhibited to the Houses, bearing these titles, to the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, distinct from the Lords and Commons that sat in the absence of the two Speakers, and others which Petitioned against divers Members sitting pretended to be enemies to godliness, usurpers of Parliamentary authority, & such as endeavoured to bring in the King upon his own terms. These Petitions were all penned by the Cromwellian faction, to put the two parties that yet remained in the House into heights the one against the other, to make the lesser party in the House, viz. the engaged party of fifty nine, to expel the other consisting of 140. that the House might below, and base in the opinion of the people, and all things come into the power of the sword. Then were the Lord Mayor, and several Aldermen, and Citizens impeached also of high Treason, and sent likewise to the Tower, and their own creatures placed in their steads. And now Cromwell annimated by these successes, gins to think of contriving that horrid murder which he afterwards brought to pass. First, that he may not want strength, the Army is daily recruted without any authority; then is the Parliament put upon it to send the four dethroaning bills to the King, of which that of settling the Militia in the hands of the Army-party, and the bill for adjourning both Houses to any other place, were the chief. When the King's answer to the said bills came to be debated, Sir Thomas Wroth had his one to speak high, and feel the pulse of the House, who did it to this effect. That Bedlam was appointed for madmen, and Tophet for Kings, that our Kings of late had carried themselves as if they were fit for no place but Bedlam, and that therefore his humble motion should consist of three parts. To secure the King and keep him close within some inland Garrison with sure guards. To draw up Articles of impeachment against him. And lastly, to lay by and settle the Kingdom without him, for that he cared not what form of Government they set up, so it were not by Kings and Devils. Ireton seconds this speech, pretending to speak the sense of the Godly party, telling he House That the King had denied safety and protection to his people, by denying the four bills, that subjection to him, was in lieu of his protection, which being denied they might well deny any more subjection to him, and settle the Kingdom without him; that it was now expected after so long patience, that they should show their resolution, and not desert those valiant men that had engaged for them beyond all possibility of retreat, and would never forsake the Parliament, unless the Parliament forsook them first. After some debate, Cromwell seeing his time brings up the rear, and giving an ample character of the valour and godliness of the Army, argued. That 'twas expected that now the Parliament should govern and defend the Parliament by their own power and resolution, and not teach the people any longer, to expect safety and government from an obstinate man, whom God had hardened, and that those men that had defended them hitherto, would defend them in whatever they should do in relation to such a resolution. Teach them not by neglecting your own and the Kingdom's safety, in which their own is involved to think themselves betrayed and left hereafter to the rage and malice of an irreconciliable enemy, whom they have subdued for your sake; and are therefore likely to find his future government of them insupportable and fuller of revenge then Justice, lest despair teach them to seek their safety by some other means then by adhering to you who will not stick to yourselves, and how destructive such a resolution will be I tremble to think, and leave you to judge. These words seem to have something of meance in them, and therefore the Houses pass the Votes for Non-addresses and to show the people the reasons thereof; the Independent Grandees appoint a Committee to search into the King's conversation, and the errors of his Government, and to publish them in a Declaration to the world. Whereupon they form many high crimes against him, as the loss of Rochel his fathes' death, and the masacre and rebellion in Ireland. These desperate courses to dishonour the King and make him uncapable of Government, to ruin his person, Crown and dignity, and to exterpate Monarchy, root and branch, were taken up in order to the usurping the Kingly power into the hands of the Grandees of the Parliament and Army. The next thing they do is to compel the Countries to give thanks to the Houses for their Votes against the King; Pine and Prideaux get subscriptions in the West, Mildmay in Essex, Purefoy in Warwickshire, Haslerig in the parts about Newcastle, making the world believe that the subscriptions of a few inconsiderable persons, or of such as they had put a force upon, had spoke the language of the whole Nation. But the City being not so fully satisfied, a greater force is to be put upon them; and that the Grandees might have the better excuse to do it, they stir up the apprentices by their own agents to a tumult, which being easily quelled, they presently order for future security, that more Soldiers be put into the Mews and Whitehall, that Barges capable of fifty Musketeres, to convey the Soldiers to any place where any Insurrection might be, and that the chains and posts be taken out of the streets. While these things were a doing, Cromwell, finding the King to be a great stop to his affairs, resolves to take him privately away, and therefore writes to Hammond to remove him out of the way, either by poison or by any other means. Mr. Osborn informs the Houses of this by a Letter to the Speaker, wherein he tells them that Rolfe should say, That Hammond had received several Letters from the Army to remove the King, by poison, or by any other means, out of the way. He further wrote, That Rolfe should tell him, that Hammond had a good allowance for keeping the King, and therefore he would not do it, as being loath to lose the profit: but said Rolfe, If you will join with me, we will endeavour to convey the King to some private place, and we may then do what we will with him. And further; Mr. Osburn offered in his said Letter, to appear and make it good upon oath, if he might be permitted to come and go with freedom and safety. The Clerk had no sooner done this, but with a slight neglect, and the laughter of some of the Members, the business was passed over without debate; and Mr. Scowen stood up to propound new business. When presently another Gentleman interrupting him urged, That such an Information coming to the House ought not to be neglected, whether true or false, but to be examined and sifted to the bottom, and therefore moved, that a Committee might be named to examine Rolfe, Osborn, and Hammond: This was seconded by Sir Simon D'ewes, Mr. H. Hungerford and Mr. Ed. Stevens; but they received a slight answer, That Osborn was not to be found, and that he was a Malignant, and had attempted to set the King at liberty. To which it was replied, That a Committee could be named to examine the business concerning the Footboy that struck Sir H. Mildmay, though no man knew where to find the Footboy; that it was strange there should be such a difference between beating a Subject and kill a King; that though Mr. Osborn were a Malignant, yet unless he were also a Nullifidian, convicted of perjury, his oath was valid and good. But Scot stood up and said, That this pressing to examine this business, was but to draw C. Hammond to Town, that the King might the easier make an escape: and Sir IOhn Evelin of Wilts alleged, That this was an invention of Mr. Osborn, to bring the King to Town with freedom, honour, and safety. And though other motions were made for the said Committee, yet either Mr. Scowen, or Skippon, stood up and offered to divert the business by new matter concerning the Army, which bears all business down before it; and so the business was buried in silence for that time. Afterwards the Lords propounded, that he might have forty days allowed him, which was with much ado granted: He comes and avouches it: and one Doucet further affirmed a design of Rolfe's to pistol the King. Rolfe presents himself at the Commons Bar, with a Letter from Hammond, who denies the design, and pleads Rolfe's cause for him. Rolfe denied it at the Bar with a very trembling voice; yet afterwards hid out of the way. Hammond was neither sent for nor questioned. Thus was this business quite hushed up, which only served to show what the Gentlemen at Westminster solely aimed at; and indeed their rancour was now at that height against the King, that Skippon thought it just cause of complaint, that some persons had printed a Book, called, A motive to loyal Subjects to endeavour the preservation of his Majesty's person. Many Petitions now also come for a Personal Treaty, and among the rest the Surrey men petition for a Personal Treaty: But Scot standing up in the House argued, That it was a design to ruin the Godly: That he was of opinion, that there could be no time seasonable for a Personal Treaty, or a Peace, with so perfidious a Pince, but that it would be always either too soon, or too late; that he that draws his sword against the King must throw away the scabbard, that all peace with him would prove the spoil of the Godly. Thus by him, and by the assistance of the Worthies, Venus, Miles, Corbet, Hill, and Harvey, Cromwell had his design in part, for that the Petition had no success. The King was now a prisoner in the Isle of Wight, when Cromwell had overthrown Duke Hamilton at Preston, and there by cut off the greatest hopes which the King had of being relieved: The Victory was great, and swollen the Grandees, that were then sitting at Westminster, to such a height of pride, of whom the chief were, Thom. Scot, Cornelius Holland, and Sir. Harry Mildmay, that though before there were fair hopes of a Personal Treaty, now began to show an utter disdain and malice against it, and to threaten and insult over all that had petitioned for it abroad, or spoken for it in the House. But the wise sort, or rather the more crafty to do mischief, knowing how weary the people were of their Texes and the Army, and how covetous to purchase peace, though at the price of a new war; and further considering that the Scots were not wholly reduced, that the people were not yet quieted in many parts of England; and finding the Prince with a considerable Fleet at Sea, ready to raise new tempests at Land, thought it better to dally on the Treaty, till Oliver had quite finished his Northern Expedition, and were marched nearer London, and that all things were quiet in England, and then to break off the Treaty, and purge the House of those that sought to agree with the King, under pretence of being the King's corrupt Party. Therefore to blind the people's eyes, it was debated in the House, whether a Treaty should be had with the King upon the Propositions of Hampton-Court; the question being put, the Yea and noah's were even fifty seven to fifty seven, insomuch that the Speakers voice was put to turn the scales; who, though at this time he foreman of Oliver's shop, gives his voice in the affirmative, following then his conscience against his interest; andmy Lord Say openly in the House of Lords said, God forbidden that any man should take advantage of this victory to break off the Treaty. However Cromwell having got a full conquest over his enemies, marches for London upon his design, though the Parliament forbidden his approach. And to show his contempt of them, he prints a Declaration, accusing them of lightness, breach of trust, inconstancy, and indiscretion, and threatening presently to advance towards Westminster, to do what God should enable them: The same night he came to Hyde-park corner: The next thing he did was to take possession of Whitehall for his Quarters: He brought to town with him four Regiments of Foot, and six of Horse, which he quartered in the Mews by his own order. The next news frequent in the Town was that of the Kings being seized in his bedchamber, and hurried away prisoner to Hurst Castle, a Block-house in the Isle of Wight, standing out a mile and a half in the Sea, so noisome, that the Guards could not endure to be there long without often shifting their quarters. This insolent action satisfied only the Independent and Monarchical party, but the others, who were yet more numerous, seeing so heinous a fact committed against the life of the King, and the faith and honour of the Parliament, resolve once more to try their power; whereupon it was moved that it might be declared, That his Majesty was removed by the General's Warrant, without the consent or privity of the House. The Army Members to slop this, argue that the word (Declare) would be construed a declaring against the General and Army, and that the word (Consent) argued a disagreement in opinion and practice between the Parliament and the House, as if the Houses dissented from it; hereupon it was barely voted without the privity of the House. Nevertheless the other Members proceed to the King's Answers to the Propositions of both Houses, whether they were satisfactions or no; which after a long and tedious debate was carried in the affirmative; and to keep a good correspondence with the Army, a Committee of six Members was appointed to confer with the General and his Officers, but could receive no other answer from them then this, that the way to correspond was to comply with the Army's Remonstrance. And now the Saints militant being enraged that the House had recovered so much courage and honesty to vote according to their consciences, after some proud conference between Pride, Hewson, and other Officers, and the Speaker, in Westminster-Hall, with the doors shut, Cromwell sends a paper to the House of Commons, requiring that the impeached Members and M. G. Brown might be secured and brought to justice, and that the 90. & odd Members that refused to vote against the Scotch Engagement, and voted to recall the Votes for non-addresses, and for a treaty, might be suspended the House; and that all faithful Members who were innocent of those Votes would acquit themselves by protestation from any such concurrence, that there might be a distinction made between 'em. The Paper was delivered in, but they scorning to sta for an answer, sent several guards to the House under the command of Pride, Hewson and Hardres Waller, and violently seized all those Members that they found two honest for their purposes. The House being thus purged, and brought to so small a number in so much that an Officer of the Army having secured some of the Members in the Lobby as they were going into the House, the Speaker having not enough within to make up a House, was forced to send to the said Officer to lend him his prisoners to make up a free Parliament, in comes Cromwell out of the Country, and brings Harry Martin that sanctified Members along with him to make up his numbers, and to awe the City Garrisons, Blackfriers and Paul's. The secluded Members protest against their seclusion, but the Cromwellian faction Vote their Protestation seditious, scandalous, and tending to destroy the visible and fundamental Government of the Kingdom. Then like Cromwel's good boys, they vote all the votes of the secluded Members for a personal treaty null and void; and to try whether all were their trusty friends that voted for them: Gourdon moved that a protestation be forthwith drawn up, and that every Member set his hand to it in detestation of those repealed Votes which was drawn up afterwards, and within a few days after subscribed by The Lord Lisle, Colonel Boswel, Lord Grey, Per. Pelham, Colo. jones, Colonel Temple, Colo. Ven. Sir Thomas Maleverer, Sir Tho. Wroth, Sir Io. Bourchier, Col. Pet. Temple, Tho. Chaloner, Sir, Gregory Norton, Oldsworth, Garland, Sir Io. Danvers, Dove, Smith, Fry, Searle, Nic. Love, Io. Lisle, Col. Rigby, Holland, Ludlow, Greg. Clement, Col. Purefoy, Col. Stapely, Dunch, Cawley, Downs, Io. Carey, Blackstone, Scot Hutchinson, Mildmay, Sir james Harrington, Col. Harvey, Penington, Atkins, Dan. Blackgrave, Moor, Millington, Prideaux, Roger Hill, Denis Bond, Col. Harrington, Hodges, Valentine. The design being thus pretty well ripened, the Counsel of War who managed the business in relation to the King, ordered that all state and ceremony should be forborn, the King and his attendants lessened, which was done to mortify him by degrees. Now was it thought fit to have it moved in the House, to proceed capitally against the King. Cromwell after it was once proposed finding it then his cue to speak, stoop up and told them, That if any moved this out of design he should think him the greatest Traitor in the World, but since providence and necessity had cast them upon it, he should pray to God to bless their Counsels, though he were not provided on the sudden to give them Counsel. The White Boys thus animated went on furiously, and Scot with an unheard of impudence now dares to bring in the ordinance for trial of the King; it was read & recommitted three several times, and Commissioners names inserted, consisting of divers Lords, Commons, aldermans, Citizens, Country Gentlemen and Soldiers; that the more persons of all sorts might be engaged in so damnable and treasonable a design, and because this Ordinance and the proceed thereupon had no foundation in Divinity, Law nor Reason. The Cromwellian Faction to give it a foundation and ground from the authority of their Votes, declare that by the Laws of the Land it is treason in the King to levy war against the Parliament and Kingdom of England. This Vote together with the ordinance was carried up to the Lords by the Lords Grey of Groby. The first debate was upon the Vote. The Earl of Manchester told them, That the Parliament of England by the fundamenttal laws of England consisted of three Estates, King, Lords and Commons. The King is the first and chiefest estate, He calls and dissolves the House, and confirms all their Acts, and without him there can be no Parliament, and therefore 'tis absurd to say, The King can be a Traitor against the Parliament. The Earl of Northumberland said, That the greatest part of the people of England were not yet satisfied whether the King levied War first against the Houses, or the Houses against him; and therefore it was very unreasonable to declare Treason by an Ordinance, when the matter of fact is not yet proved, nor any Law extant to judge it by. Whereupon the Lords cast off the debate, and cast our the Ordinance. Hereupon the Zealots of the House, that is to say, that Protesters, were very angry at the Lords, and therefore intent to rid their hands of them, and the King, both together, and thereupon they presently passed a Vote, should be empowered to act, notwithstanding the Lords did not concur with them; and many of the most famous hotspurs were so high, as to insist, that the Lords, who would not give their concurrence to the Votes and Ordinance, should be impeached for favouring the grand Delinquent. Having thrown by the Lords, they proceed to make themselves to have the show of a legal power by passing these three Votes. 1. That the people, that is to say, their own Faction, are the original of all just power under God. 2. That the Commons of England, being chosen by, and representing the people, are the supreme Power of this Nation. 3. That whatsoever is enacted by Law by the House of Commons assembled in Parliament, hath the force of a Law. This was Cromwel's Chainshot, whereby he swept a King and Lords, putting all the Liberties of this Nation under his own and the power of fifty or sixty of his own covetous Saints. By their former contrivances having now brought themselves to such a height of power, and that power to a boldness that durst go so fare, there was a necessity for them now to proceed, and therefore the next thing they did was, to pass the Ordinance for trial of the King, which was carried on without one negative voice. There was one rub in the way, that they could not use his own Great Seal against him, and a new one was long a making: But after consultation, they agreed upon a new way; for what need ceremonies when men are resolved upon the substance? They therefore proceed without any Commission under Seal, upon the Ordinance, and every Commissioners set his own hand and seal to the public instrument of their transactions. At the same time great endeavours are made to stop the mouths of the Ministers, giving them threatening admonitions not to preach against the actings of the Parliament and the Army; and the Council of Warr finding it difficult to stop the Ministers mouths, did sundry times debate to shut up the Church doors, to which purpose they imprisoned Mr. Canton for praying for the King, and threatened to try him at the Upper Bench for his life. And to set a greater gloss upon their actions, Tichbourn their own creature, by their command, presents a schismatical Petition, directed to the Supreme Authority the Commons in Parliament, demanding justice upon the capital offenders from the highest to the lowest. The like Petitions were invited by them from the Countries, where a dozen schismatics and two or three cloaks represented a whole family. After this Hammond presents them with a scandalous Libel, called, The Agreement of the People, demanding nothing else but the total subversions of the Fundamental Laws and Government of the Nation, which they ordered to be forthwith printed, as if it had been the general sense of the whole Nation. When the Commissioners come to sit in the Painted Chamber, the Witnesses were not fare off, a company of the most contemptible persons in the world, suborned for the purpose, men rather told what they should say, then examined what they knew, for that the Grandees might do things legally, they made the examinations and caused the others to put their names to them. The names of the Witnesses were as followeth, person's next to professed beggary, the meanest that could be. Henry Hartford of Stratford upon Avon. Edward Roberts of Bishop Castle, Ironmonger. Will. Brains of Wrynxhall, Gent. Robert Lacie of Nottingham, Painter. Rob. Load of Cottam in Com. Nottingh. Tyler. Samuel Morgan of Wellington in Com. Salop Feltmaker. james Williams of Ross in Com. Hartford, Shoemaker. Richard Potts of Shaepreton in Com. Northumb. Vintner. Giles Price of Wellington, Gent. Will Arnop of john Hudson of john Winston of Dornorham in Com. Wilts. George Seely of London, Cordwainer. john Moor of Cork in Ireland, Gent. Thom. Ives of Bosset in Com. Northampton, Husbandman. james Iresby of Dublin, Barber. Thom. Rawlins of Hanslop in Com. Buck. Gent. Richard Blomfeild of London, Weaver. john Thomas of Kangallan in Com. Denby. Will. Lawson of Nottingham, Malster. john Pinegar of Damer in Com. Derby, Shoemaker. Humphrey Brown of Whitsundine in Com. Rutl. Yeoman. David Evans of Neathe in Com. Clamorg. Gent. Robert Holmes of Robert Williams of Hillary in Com. Glamorgan, Attorney. Samuel Worden of Limeham in Com. Wilts, Gent. Thomas Read of Maidstone in Com. Kent, Gent. George Cornwall of Aston in Com. Hereford, Forgeman. Will. jones of Usk in Com. Monmouth, Husbandman. Arthur Young Citizen and Barber Chirurgeon of London. Diogenes Edward's of Caston in Com. Salop. Butcher. john Bennet of Huewood in Com. Ebor, Glover. Will. Sutbert of Patrington in Holderness in Com. Ebor, Gent. Richard Price of London, Scrivener. Henry Gracye, styled of Greys' Inn, Gent. But the Book being examined, the name of no such person was there to be found, nor was he ever known there: He soon spent the reward he had, and lived miserably afterwards, and was taken in a very low and despicable condition; by which it is easy to guess at the gentility of the rest, who stile themselves Gentlemen, yet were hired to mix with the basest of Mechanics to perpetrate so great a villainy. Thus instead of bringing the King to his Parliament, instead of bringing an end to the Treaty, they bring him to a public Trial in Westminster-Hall. The first day they urged him to acknowledge the Jurisdiction of the Court: a most unheard of piece of tyranny, which had neither law, precedent, rational debate or argument to prove it. But the King with a magnanimous resolution denies it: so they adjourn for that day. As the King was conducted back, they had so contrived it, that divers schismatical soldiers and fellows were placed round about the Court to cry justice, justice, thinking all the rest would have bleated to the same tune; but they almost all cried, God bless Him, and were some of them well cudgeled by the Army, for not saying their prayers handsomely after the Army mode, and one of the barbarous Soldiers spit in the King's face; the King only saying, Christ suffered more for my sake, and wiped it off with his handkerchief: Yet the Court took no notice of this affront, so far already had they condemned him to sufferings. The second day they urge the same thing again. The King demands that he may put in his Demurrer. But they overrule his Demurrer without an Argument; a thing never heard of before, and against all reason: But they did as good as tell him, that reason was not to be heard against the remaining Faction of the Commons of England. Being brought the thirdday, Cook presses for judgement, telling the Court, among other things, that the House of Commons, the Supreme Authority and Jurisdiction of the Nation, as he named them, had declared, that it was notorious, that the matter of the Charge was true; whereby it appears, that Cromwell and his Faction had forejudged the King before they erected their new Court to sentence him, claiming a Jurisdiction as well as a supreme Authority. The fourth and last day, Sentence was pronounced against him. The King however before Sentence urged to have them hear the reasons why he could not submit to their tyranny, but could not be heard: Which reasons, because they are not common, we have thought fit to set down as they were taken from his own original writing, as followeth. Having already made my protestations not only against the illegallity of this pretended Court, but also that no earthly power can justly call me (who am your King) in question as a Delinquent; I would not more open my mouth upon this occasion, more than to refer myself to what I have spoken, were I alone in this case concerned. But the duty I own to God, in the preservation of the true Liberty of my people, will not suffer me at this time to be silent. For how can any freeborn Subject of England, call life or any thing that he professeth his own, if power without right daily make new, and abrogate the old fundamental Law of the Land, which I now take to be the present case. There is no proceeding against any man, but what is warranted either by God's Laws, or by the Municipal Laws of the Country where he lives. Now I am most confident, that this days proceeding cannot be warranted by God's Law; for on the contrary, the Authority of obedience to Kings is clearly warranted by God's Law, and strictly commanded both in the old and new Testament; which if denied, I am ready instantly to prove; And for the question now in hand, there it is said, That where the word of a King is there is power, and who may say unto him, what dost thou? Then for the Laws of the Land, I am no less confident, that no learned Lawyer will affirm, that an Impeachment can lie against the King, they all going in his name, and one of their Maxims is That the King can do no wrong. Besides, the Law upon which you ground your proceed, must be either new or old; if old show it; if new, tell what Authority, warranted by the Fundamental Laws of the Land, hath made it, and when. But how the House of Commons can erect a Court of Judicature, which was never one itself, as is well known to all Lawyers. I leave God and the world to judge: And it were full as strange, that they should pretend to make Laws without King or Lords House, to any that have heard speak of the Laws of England. And admitting, but not granting, that the people of England's Commission could grant your pretended power, I see nothing you can show for that; for certainly you never asked the question of the tenth man of the Kingdom; and in this way you manifestly wrong, even the poorest Ploughman, if you demand not his free consent; nor can you pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission, without the consent, at least, of the major part of every man in England, of whatsoever quality or condition, which I am sure you never went about to seek, so fare are you from having it. Thus you see I speak not for my own right alone; as I am your King, but also for the true Liberty of all my Subjects, which consists not in sharing the power of Government, but in living under such laws such a Government, as may give them the best assurance of their lives, and the propriety of their goods. And for the House of Commons, that the major part of them are detained or deterred from sitting, so as if I had no other, this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulness of your pretended Court. Besides all this, the peace of the Kingdom is not the least in my thoughts, and what hopes of settlement are there, so long as power rules without Law, changing the whole frame of that Government, under which this Kingdom hath flourished for many hundred years; and believe it, the Commons of England will not thank you for this change, for they will remember how happy they have been of late years under the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the King my Father, and myself, until the beginning of these unhappy troubles, and will have cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy under any new. These were the Reasons which the King intended to have delivered before sentence, but they were utterly rejected, by those who knew it was not their business to hear reason in a Court that was erected contrary to reason; and therefore they hasten to give judgement, which was brief, That the King for sundry Crimes and Misdemeanours (which he was never guilty of) should be put to death. During the interval between his Sentence and Execution, the House ordered upon moton, that Doctor juxon, Bishop of London, should be permitted to be private with the King in his chamber, to preach and administer the Sacrament and other spiritual comforts to him. But nevertheless the Masters of the Council of War appointed john Goodwin of Coleman-street, the Balaam of the Army, to be Superintendent both over the Bishop and the King, so that they could hardly speak a word together without being overheard by the long schismatical ears of black-mouthed john: And besides all this, the Guard of Soldiers that was kept within his chamber, what with talking, what with clinking the pots, and opening and shutting the doors, and taking Tobacco, a thing very offensive to the King's nature, they kept him waking, thereby distempering and amazing him with want of sleep, that they might the more easily bring him to their terms. Upon the twenty eighth of january, being the last Sabbath the King kept in this life, some of the Grandees of the Parliament and Army tendered to the King a paper book, with promise of life, and some shadow of regality if he subscribed it. It contained many particulars destructive to the fundamental Government, Religion, Laws and property of the People; one among the rest was this, (That the King should pass an Act of Parliament for keeping on foot the Militia of this Army, during the pleasure of the Grandees, who should be trusted with that Militia, with power to recruit from time to time, and continue them to the number of forty thousand Horse and Foot, under the same General and Officers, with power notwithstanding in the Council of War to choose new Officers and Generals from time to time, as occasion shall happen, and they think fit; and to settle a very great Tax upon the people by a Land rate, for an established pay for the Army, to be levied and collected by the Army themselves; and a court-martial of an exorbitant extent and latitude. But his Majesty having read some of the Propositions threw them aside, telling them, He would rather become a Sacrifice for his People, then betray their Lives, Laws, Liberties, and Estates, together with the Church and Commonwealth, and the honour of his Crown to so intolerable a bondage of an armed faction. Saturday night and Sunday night the King lay in Whitehall, so near the place appointed for the separation of his soul and body, that he might hear every stroke the workmen gave upon the scaffold where they wrought all night; this was a new device to mortify him, but it would not do. Tuesday the thirtieth of january was the day appointed for the King's death. His Majesty coming upon the scaffold, shown all the while an extraordinary magnanimity and Christian patience. He had his head severed from his body at one stroke, the Schismatics shouting presently after. His Executioners, though then concealed, are now found to be joice, that bloody instrument of Cromwell's designs, and Peter's, who lay not with a Butcher's Wife so long, to be ignorant of her Trade. And therefore the Parliament have now sent for them to receive the condign punishment of their villainy. This is the relation of his Majesty's Trial by a mixed Court of Justice, erected by fifty or sixty confederate Members, after all the rest of the Members, above two hundred and fifty, had been violently secluded, secured, and frighted. And thus this noble Prince, a Person sanctified by many afflictions, after he had escaped Pistol, Poison, and pestilent Air, could not escape the malice of Cromwell, nor the impudence of Cook, Bradshaw, Steele, Ask, Doristaus. Thus was the Shepherd smitten, and the Sheep were scattered. But Heaven not willing longer to endure the wickedness of such insolent Tyrants, nor to see the innocent longer in affliction, hath been pleased at length to restore the King to his Throne, putting his Enemies to shame and confusion; and herein we must admire the justice of the Parliament, to whom the King, unwilling to be Judge in his own cause, hath referred himself. What they have done their Acts declare. The last week they excepted eleven of the grand Delinquents from mercy. M. G. Harrison. Mr. Say. Mr. Scot Coll. Berkstead. M. Lisle. Cornel. Holland. jones. Cook. Broughton. Sar. Dandy. M. Hulit. After this in further prosecution of their intentions, to bring these horrid murderers to condign punishment, they made a Proclamation in the King's Name, that all the King's Judges should render themselves within forty days, or else they should be excepted for life and estate, whether they were of the twenty named or no. Hereupon Alderman Tichborn, Charles Fleetwood, Coll. Temple, Coll. Wait, Peter Temple, Simon Maine, Bourchier, Owen Roe, Coll. Rob. Lilburn, Coll. Downes, Isaak Penington, Sir Henry Mildmay, Coll. Dixwell, Adrian Scroop, Augustine Garland, Coll. Harvey, Mr. Smith, Sir Hardress Waller, Henry Martin, Heveningham, john Carew, M. G. Ludlow, M. Corbet, did surrender themselves, and are now in custody under the Sergeant at Arms attending the House. From Ireland were sent Coll. Hunck, Coll. Pheire, to whom the Warrant for execution was directed, and one Hulet, suspected to be the Executioner, and upon examination excepted out of the Act of Pardon, and Cook Solicitor to the High Court of Justice. They have also ordered, that twenty of the most engaged persons be excepted out of the general Act of Pardon and Oblivion, not extending to life, to suffer such penalties, and forfeitures as shall be specified in an Act to that purpose. Whose names are; Will. Lenthall Speaker. Sir Harry Vane. Will. Burton Bailiff of Yarmouth. Sir Arthur Heslerig. Coll. Sydenham. Coll. Desborow. Alderm. Ireton. Coll. Axtell. Mr. Keeble. Capt. Blackwell. Maj. Creed. Charles Fleetwood Lieut. General. Coll. john Lambert. Alderm. Pack. Coll. Pine. Coll. Cobbet. Capt. Deane. Oliver St. john late one of the Justices of the Common Pleas. Mr. Philip Nye. and Mr. john Goodwin. Ministers. Thus we see Divine Vengeance prosecuting these Sons of Massacre, who having by treachery, dissimulation, and breach of oaths, as we have shown you, gotten into power, by their extravagant tyranny had almost ruined the Nation. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered. FINIS. A Catalogue of some Books lately printed, and in the Press a printing for Henry Marsh at the Prince's Arms in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet. 1. THe Sovereign's Prerogative, and Subjects Privilege, comprised in several Speeches, Cases, and Arguments, Historical and Political, discussed between the King's sacred Majesty, and the most eminent Persons of both Houses of Parliament, together with the grand Mysteries of State then in agitation, faithfully collected by Thomas Fuller, B. D. in folio, second edition, 1660. 2 A complete History of the Wars of the Greeks, written by the learned Polibüis, and translated by Edward Grimston Esquire, Sergeant at Arms to his late Majesty, in folio. 3 The faithful Lapidary, or the nature and qualities of all precious Stones, very useful for Merchants and others to avoid deceit, by Thomas Nichols, in quarto. 4 A Treple Reconciler stating the Controversies, 1 whether Ministers have an Exclusive power of Communicants from the Sacrament, 2 if any person unordained may lawfully preach, 3 if the Lords Prayer ought not to be used by all Christians; to which is added, a Sermon preached at his late Majesty's Inauguration, by Thomas Fuller B. D. in octavo. at 1 s. 6 d. 5 A description of the several Counties and Shires of England, by Ed. Leigh Esq; Mr. of Arts of both Universities, very useful for Travellers. 6 The Complete Attorney, fifth and last Edition, in octavo. 7 The baptised Turk, showing his happy conversion from the delusion of that great Imposter Mahomet unto the Christian Religion, by Mr. Gunning at Exeter House Chapel the fifth of November, published by Tho. Warmstrey D. D. in octavo. 8 John quarls' last Poems, in octavo. 9 The Crafty Whore, or the mystery and iniquity of Bawdy houses laid open, with dehorrations from Lust, drawn from the sad and lamentable consequences it produceth, published for the good of young Men, by R. H. Esq; in Octavo. 10 That excellent piece, Scutum Regale, the Royal Buckler, or Vox Legis, A Lecture to Traitors, who most wickedly murdered Charles the I. and contrary to all Law and Religion, banished Charles the II. third Monarch of Great Britain, by Giles Duncomb of the Middle Temple, Gent. 11 The complete History of the Wars in Scotland, under the conduct of the illustrious and truly valiant James Marquis of Montross, General for his Majesty Charles the I. in that Kingdom: as also a true relation of his foreign Negotiations, Landing, Defeat, Apprehension, Trial, and deplorable Death, for being faithful to his Sacred Majesty Charles the II. 1660. 12 Shimei's Curses on King David lighting on himself; or Experimental Observations of Gods severe and just Judgements upon Murderers and Traitors, being comparative meditations of the sufferings of King David, and his late Sacred Majesty, by R. H. Esq; in octavo. 13 The Father's Blessing and last Legacy to his Son, containing many excellent Instructions for Age and Youth, first written for the instruction of his Son, and now made public for the benefit of others, by Edward Burton Esq; in twelves. 14 The High Court of Justice erected and detected by Tho. Baker Parson sequestered, in twelves. 15 The RUMP, or a Collection of such Songs and Ballads as were made upon those who would be a Parliament, and were but the Rump of a House of Commons, five times dissolved, and now published, bp J. B. 1660. in octavo. 16 A short View of the Life and Actions of the most Illustrious James Duke of York; together with his Character. 17 History completed or the Life of his Sacred Majesty Charles the II. in three Books; wherein is interwoven a short view of the Life and Actions of the Illustrious Dukes of York and Gloucester, in large octavo, price 1 s. 6 d.