THE DECOY: OR, A Practice of the Parliaments, by the Perfidy of the Earl of Holland, To discover and destroy the Loyal Party; MANIFESTED By the whole conduct of the Design wherein the Lord Duke of BUCKINGHAM, the Earl of PETERBOROUGH, and the Lord FRANCIS lately engaged.  
And the manner and causes of the defeat given unto their Party at Kingston, described.  
Printed in the Year 1648.   

The Decoy.  
THe stupid neglect and oversight of practices destructive unto us, is wholly inconsistent with a Christian ingenuity, which requires due circumspection in the conduct of action, aswell as integrity in the intention: This consideration may now seasonably direct us unto a view of, and an enquiry into the late treachery of the Earl of Holland against the Lord Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Francis, the Earl of Peterborough, and those Knights, Commanders, Gentlemen and Soldiers, who for the service of his Majesty were drawn unto them. The wisest of men affirms it, that the heart of man is deceitful above all things; and he who was more than man, and best knew men, would not commit himself unto man, because he knew what was in man. Faithfulness gives us many sweet resemblances of the divine nature, but perfidy in men shows them of the complexion of their Father the Devil, who is falsehood itself.  
It was held most necessary by the Grandees of the private Junto, and now high time to discover and destroy at once the King's Party at home, before they should have an opportunity to join with Forces raised for his Majesty abroad. This plot would exceedingly contribute unto the continuance, and so much laboured for eternity of this Parliament: the affections of the people were suddenly and strangely altered from them, they much feared that upon the approach of his highness the Prince, or any other in a condition to declare for His Majesty against their proceed, many who now appeared not, would be very active against them; these if it were possible must be found removed out of the way, in that the suppression of them, as it would much strengthen themselves, so it would also exceedingly weaken the Royal party: Holland is designed to undertake this task, nor could they have pitched upon a person more fit to promote this purpose; this (Mushroom of honour grown up in a night or two one of the over-liberall and thick dew of his Prince's favour) was one who derived from his Parents more than original sin, yet inherited nothing but their vices, luxury and inconstancy, his whole Patrimony was his Prince's bounty; yet was he one of the first that began to smite his fellow servants, Laud and Strafford, and to conspire against his Master, whom he only followed for the laoves, and loved for his own livelihood; and therefore was it that in his greatest adversity he deserted his Sovereign, who from nothing had raised him unto the chiefest honours of the Kingdom, and adhered unto his enemies in the Parliament, yet had his Lunary affections many wanings and increases, and so various revolutions betwixt King and Parliament, that he shifted his parties as often as his mother did her husbands, and yet played lose with both: but his turn was now to own the King's quarrel and party, he must join with them to give them more blows and deeper wounds, than he could do at a distance from them: he was put upon the practice of a base kind of Chemistry, to extract the resolutions of heroic, yet youthful and credulous spirits, the Lord Duke, and his brother, unto whom it was even natural and hereditary to honour and serve their Prince; they add the Earl of Peterborough unto them, and upon these young and tender plants of honour, he operates his design (being principally assisted therein by that English Jezabel, the Countess of Carlisle, and persuades them, who had money and means to advance his Majesty's cause, to engage all they could to arm with them; he shows them the honour and easiness of the work, offers himself to act a chief part in it, and heightening their courages with large Carouses, persuades them over a cup of wine (for so it was carried) unto the undertaking: And thus was this deliberate consultation first drawn forth, how he further managed it to improve the Parliament-purposes, may be discerned from his march and the passages in it.  
Upon Tuesday July 4. the rendezvouz was appointed upon Hownslow heath between 12. and one of the Clock at night; where about 120. Horse appeared: The second rendezvouz was between the two walls near Kingston, where appeared the Lord Duke with his brother, and the Earl of Holland, who made a short and hollow speech unto the Cavalry, unto this purpose, and (if I remember) in these words: Gentlemen, we are met together about a good work; to re-establish his Majesty; for our Liberties and for a Parliament, you have persons of honour engaged with you in the Action, who will live and die with you in it, and you will find the Countries very firm unto you. Hereupon order was given to take up the serviceable Horse were in Hampton Court Park, and the places adjacent; and so having seized upon some committee-men's horses at Kingston, we marched that night to Rigate where we arrived very late, and somewhat increased our number there in the morning, when some few of the Enemy's horse discovered themselves unto us from the distant hills, and upon our approach retreated.  
Upon Thursday from Rigate we marched unto Darkin, whither we came also very late, there we found some Arms, yet little care was taken to arm the foot that came in unto us, or to mount some Gentlemen that waited for that purpose.  
Upon Friday on our march from Darkin we were told that 400. of the Parliament Horse, and 200. foot were come to Rigate; near unto which we marched, and with so great security and disorder, (no care being taken for setting forth of Scouts, forlorn hopes, or Rereguards, as might have given assurance unto any acquainted with military affairs, that no Enemy was in that Country; yea we used the same signal, and marched with it and one and the same word for two days march in case we were to fight: Yea the confusion amongst us was so great, that we gave accidentally Alarm unto, and routed ourselves; for that afternoon a Parliament-man, Sir John Eveling, expecting to parley with the Earl of Holland, some in the Head of Colonel Legs Troop, seeing a party whom before they had not noted, gave the word face about, whereupon ensued such a rout, that divers quitted their horses, the foot their arms, our wagons were overthrown, divers betook themselves unto the adjoining woods; and a Committee-man had the leisure to mount himself upon a good horse that was cast of: Being redeemed from the inconveniencies this mistake put us into, and rallied again, we marched as carelessly as before, unto, and almost through, Nonesuch Park, there another Alarm, but a truer came unto us, that some Skirters of the Enemy fell upon our Rear, and were beaten back with the loss of three of theirs, and one of ours taken prisoner; whereupon an halt was made, our foot, and Carriages drawn off, and sent into Kingston before us: Some few of the Enemy's horse were scouting abroad in the Park, we sent some to piqueire with them, & discovering more of the Enemy, sent more of ours against them, it grew in this time to be somewhat dark, so that discovering still more of the Enemy, than we had before, we were drawn up in 3. divisions against them; the Enemy had in the mean time lodged some Dragoones and Musqueteers in the brakes, and bushes, who upon our advance unto that party we saw of Horse, fired their long shot upon our front so thick, that there fell down some 12. men in the front and Rear, upon the pouring out of which double volley of shot upon us, their whole Horse suddenly showed themselves for their best advantage, advancing towards us, upon which some amongst us cried out, the Army, the Army, we are all betrayed, no stop could be made of our running, until we came unto Kingston (although it was endeavoured) where we met with out foot who cried shame at us, and threatened to fire upon us, in Kingston it was often propounded that we should rally, but never effected, yea after the Bridge was stopped by our own Wagon, the horse drew over in a file; and then for the greater part every man shifted for himself.  
In the whole carriage hitherto, the Treachery of the Earl of Holland (who gave forth all Orders) appears in these particulars.  
His transaction with so young and heedless judgements, whose years and experience rendered them unfit to manage a design of that importance.  
The open carriage of the design in London before the taking of the field.  
The neglect of a place of retreat, the main thing in such a business as whereunto all Loyally affected Horse and Foot might repair unto us.  
The want of a Magazine for victual, Arms, and Ammunition.  
The present defect of Arms and Ammunition, the 500 Horse drawn together (the Duke's party not exceeding that number) having not above 120. Case of Pistols amongst them all.  
The want of Dragoones who were most useful in such a march.  
The want of due notice given unto the Countries to join with us; divers Gentlemen telling the Commanders they never heard of such an undertaking for his Majesty.  
The great neglect of all intelligence, and in observance of all motions of the Enemy.  
The carelessness used in the whole March, in four days not marching above 10. Miles from our first rendezvouz, and so near London.  
In abandoning the Party engaged unto want, the greater parts being poor Gentlemen that had served the King, wanting money to buy them victuals or to show their Horses; not one penny being disbursed amongst the Soldiers.  
No Commission or Authority from his Majesty or the Prince shown for such an undertaking, to satisfy the Gentlemen engaged; or the nature of carrying on the design, shown, or intimated.  
The offering to fight the Enemy in the infancy of such a design, and at such a time (the Night) as the Enemy's force could not be discovered, or an orderly Retreat made.  
The Lord of Holland's Parleying with Eveling, a sublimated Parliamentarian, a little before the defeat.  
If any allege that all these are but presumptions; (besides the jealousy, and distrust of the whole party in him, which could not in such an undertaking, be but of dangerous consequence) they are such as the Law calls violent ones, and summed up together make strong evidence; But that which will leave no place to doubt of this man's treachery; is the testimony of divers persons of Quality, who relate that at a Conference wherein this brave Earl made one, the matter on foot being the reestablishment of his Majesty, and the ways propounded Accommodation or force, he could not hid himself, but with an impetuous earnestness said; If the King be restored by force all England will be to little for the Cavaliers: A fit man to be trusted with Cavaliers lives. Add unto this, that some Parliament-men said, (speaking of this matter) that Holland had carried himself well and wisely; But I leave both the Parliament and him unto the reward of Treachery; the hatred of God, and man, and advise all loyalists to beware of such Carpet Knights as Holland, and how they be decoyed into their destruction. for if you compare this with his practices to entangle the Kentish men, and the Gentry of Essex, it will sum up all evidence to sentence him a most perfidious person, and one employed by the gracious State: for his own sweet brother Warwick (if he be so, his mother were she alive, and God only are able to solve the Question) hath under pretext of debt and the special Order of the House, seized upon Kensington; All men know how little Warwick was able to lend money; and that his brother Holland's debts were scores for the greater part; for his carriage at S. Needs, it was such as his honour lies at stake for (if he forfeited it not before.) And if Holland were such a strong Cavalier and King's man, why was he not brought to London to be examined of the fatal plot against the State? No they design him an instrument of further mischief; He is hereby, if he be innocent, challenged unto a public clearing of this charge; otherwise, beside future vengeance, let him expect Dolbeirs' fate, and by the same hand. Adieu Holland.  
FINIS.