THE ENGLISH TYRANTS. OR, A brief History of the Lives and Actions of the high and mighty States, the Lords of Westminster, and now (by usurpation) Kings of ENGLAND. Containing all their Rebellious and Traitorous Proceed and Transactions in Parliament. With their levying of War, and bloody practices against their Sovereign, their sinister and Military designs to alter and subvert the Fundamental Government in Church and Commonwealth, by destroying Monarchy, and making themselves Free-States, by the power of the Sword. Continued from the first Convention of this Parliament, 1640. until the King's Death, Jan. 30. 1648. Usurper's are Murderers, 2 Reg. 11.1. and Math. 12. 38, 39 LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1649. THE ENGLISH TYRANTS. Policy of Princes. Policy in Princes, or States, is but circumstantial dissimulation, pretending one thing, intending another: Some will so far allow it, and say, That faith is but a Merchants, or Mechanic virtue; and so they may make it higher, by making it a Regal vice. There is an order that outgoeth Michiavel, where he confesses, Vsus fraudis in caeteris actionibus detestabilis, in bell● gerendo laudabilis: That fraud which in war is commendable, is in other actions detestable. Prerogative of Princes. 'Tis certain, there is a prerogative in Princes, which may legitimate something in their negotiations, which is not allowable in a private person or subject: But even the grant of this liberty hath encouraged them to too great an enlargement. State policy. State policy is now become an irreligious riddle; As Lewis the 11th of France, would wish his Son to learn no more Latin, then would teach him to be a dissembler: Godly pretences. But when godly pretences, backed with frequent promises, and sealed with Oaths, Covenants and Protestations, appear deformed under the veil of hypocrisy, Self-interest. self-interest and private ends, especially when the safety of a Nation and people solely depends thereupon: The hands of the Omnipotent shall uncover their nakedness, and their shame and actions shall be punished with speedy ruin. Plausible beginnings. Fair and plausible beginnings are not always the forerunners of good end; many honest meaning, and loyal Englishmen (who eight years since viewed the Parliaments Actions, and judged of their integrity by their Protestations and Declarations) entertained a very charitable and honourable opinion both of them and their Cause, and therein hazarded both their lives and estates with them, who are long since sat down in the Chair of repentance; having found by sad and woeful experience, their fair and large pretences to prove but shadows of weak performances, and their greatest labours to produce no other effects, then to burden this distracted Nation with unheard of tyranny, and miserable oppression. But they that beheld their proceed and actions, even in their primitive and best times, with a considerable and judicious eye, did easily perceive them to pursue their own ambitious and self-ends, more than the welfare of their native Kingdom: That they were men whose thoughts and intentions were filled with blood: Who could expect better things from the illegal and rebellious proceed of those men, who presumed from Servants to become Masters, and endeavour to bring in Democracy and destroy Monarchy? Whose horrid and bloody actions hath produced such monstrous and strange effects, that it hath set open the floodgates of ruin to overflow this miserable and bleeding Kingdom. Courteous Reader, Beginning of the Par. 1640. Take here then a Breviate or Narrative of all the proceed and traitorous actions of this Parliament and Army from their first convention by the K. Writ, 1640. where in the space of ten years you shall find the greatest mutation and change of Government in this (late flourishing) Kingdom of England, that hath befallen any Nation or State in Europe, since it was a Monarchy, acted (under the specious pretences of Religion, Monarchy turned to Anarchy. Laws and Liberties) by the most rebellious, perjured and bloody Tyrants, that ever carried the name of Subjects or badge of Christianity in the whole Universe. Take here also a view of the illegal Acts of these traitorous Tyrants at Westminster, Illegal Acts. for the accomplishment of their private and bloody designs, to subvert the ancient fundamental constitution and government of the Kingd: in destroying the King, his Posterity, together with Monarchy, and to invest themselves with power and greatness thereof, as States and Lords of the Land. 1 Act. The Earl of Strafford. First They strike at an eminent pillar that upheld the fabric of the Commonwealth; a wise Statesman and Counsellor unto His Majesty (as a great obstruction in their original designs) by taking away his life, Ap. 12. 1641. A Bill against Bishops. And the Militia. Next, they persuade His Majesty (and bring in a Bill) to take away Bishops, root and branch: Another, for taking away the Militia from the K. and setting it in other hands (both which Bills were rejected in a full and free convention of Parliament) Also to pass by tumults raised in Dec. and Ja. 1641. Tumults in Dec. and Jan. 1641. For reviving and carrying on the Bills before rejected, by driving away the dissenting Memb. and new moulding the 2 Houses of Parl. Acts for a Triennial and perpetual Parliament. His Majesty after this (according to their desires in their petition) passed two several Acts, the first, for a Triennial Parliament; the second, for a continuance of this Parliament: In which Acts he gave his prerogative and power out of his own hands, which proved his and the Kingdom's ruin. Fears and Jealousies. They begin to invent Fears and Jealousies, and possess the people with pretences or designs for destroying the Parl. City and Kingd: But these Fears and Jealousies (of their own contriving) hath destroyed the K. and People, and preserved themselves. Petition for the Militia. This party of the House of Commons thus possessed with Fears and Jealousies, petition His Majesty to put the Tower of London, and all other Forts, and the whole Militia of the Kigndom into their hands, Jan. 28. Also they tender His Majesty an Ordinance for settling the power of the Militia in the Houses of Parl. Feb. 24. The King's Fears and Jealousies. Which Petition and Ordinance begot in His Majesty also Fears and Jealousies of a design against Himself, and against the Crown, to take away His Rights, and to alter the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom: as appears by His Answer, Jan. 28. The K. gives the Parl. the Tower, Forts and Custles. His Majesty (to comply with them) promised, That the Forts and Castles should be in such hands (〈◊〉 only such) as the Parliament may safely conside in, Jan. 28. Also His Majesty accepted of Sir John Conyers to 〈◊〉 Lieutenant of the Tower of London, in place of Sir John Byron, Feb. 11. The Militia of the Kingdom. Lastly, He accepted of the Lieutenants by them nominated to be entrusted with the Militia of the Counties, and offered to grant them Commissions and powers; promising also to continue the same so long as there should be cause, Feb. 28. Vote the settling of the Militia. But they are not herewith satisfied, they enforce their petition, March 1. They vote the settling of the Militia, and they set forth a Declaration of the grounds of their fears and jealousies, March 9 They resolve and vote, in case of extreme danger (as at this time) and upon His Majesty's refusal; the Parliament have power to order the Militia of the Kingdom; and the Ordinance agreed on by both Houses for the Militia, doth oblige the people, and aught to be obeyed by the Fundamental Laws of the Land, March 15. The K. grants the Militia to them. His Majesty condescended, That as the Militia was disposed according to their desires, so it should not be executed without their advice, April 28. 1642. And then also he granted the same for Corporations, which he had formerly done concerning the Counties. They seize the Navy Royal. But yet they are not satisfied; and secure they cannot be (in their own opinions) unless they have the sole power of disposing and executing the Militia without the King; nor unless they have the Navy Royal also, which they seized and disposed of, March 28. Now whether those Lords and Commons did put themselves into the strength of the Kingdom, to prepare against danger, or for a design, let the sad consequents manifest: preceding actions of this nature (set the deceitfulness of man's heart) being not rightly to be understood but by subsequent managements. Deportment to the King. And in their deportment afterwards you may find more of confidence then of fear, more of andaciousnesse and conspiracy against the King, then of solicitousness for the Kingdom; an endeavour rather to subvert and destroy, then to preserve and maintain the fundamental constitution and government of the Kingdom and Parliament. Sir John Hotham keeps the King out of Hull, April 23. and the Parliament justifies his traitorous act, Sir J. Hotham. April 28. When to hold a Fort or Castle against the King, is to levy War against the King; which is high treason by the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. Not long after, Mr Martin. Mr Henry Martin says openly in the House of Commons, and unreproved, That the King's office is forfeitable, and that the happiness of this Kingdom did not depend upon His Majesty, or any of the Royal branches of that root. And Sir Henry Ludlow, Sir H. Ludlow. That he was not worthy to be King of England; which doubtless was the sense of the Parliament; for May 26. 1642. both Houses declare, That they should not want duty or modesty, if they followed the highest precedents of other Parliaments: That is, Of deposing & murdering the King. if they should depose and murder the King, as other unparallelled Parliaments had done Edward and Richard the Second. Declare against the King's Negative Vote. The Crown itself cannot escape them; for in the same Declaration they deny the King's Negative Vote in Parliament. And to deprive the King and Crown of their power, not only in Law making, but also in governing, Propositions destructive to Monarchy. June 2. they offer to His Majesty Propositions destructive to Regality and Monarchy, viz. for the Parliament, 1. To nominate all the great Officers and Ministers of State, and the chief Judges of the Land. 2. To the reform Church-government, and the Liturgy as they shall think fit. 3. To dispose and execute the Militia of the Kingdom according to their Ordinance. 4. To approve those to whom the command and custody of Forts and Castles shall be committed. 5. To admit such Peers as shall be made hereafter, to sit and Vote in Parliament. Parliament take up Arms. June 10. They sent forth Propositions for bringing 〈◊〉 Plate and money, and raising an Army, To make good what they had taken from, and declared against, and proposed to His Majesty, viz. to keep the Forts and Castles, and the Militia, and Navy from him; and to take from Him, and from the Crown, the power of making Laws, and governing the Church and state: and to depose and destroy him; and to root out his posterity, together with Monarchy. Is not this by force of arms to shake off subjection and to rebel? Declaration to raise an Army. Then put they forth their Declarations to the Kingdom, telling the People, that the King, seduced by evil council, intended to levy War against the Parliament, City, and Kingdom; And to destroy their Religion, Laws and Liberties: persuading them to rise (as one man) for defence thereof (with these delusive pretences) Protestation and Vows. That they did not sight against his Majesty's Person, but to deliver Him from His popish and wicked Counsel▪ and under this notion, they raised their Armies; and to that end they made Protestations, Vows, with Leagues and Covenants, and (upon invitation of the Scots (into this Kingdom) to their assistance, declared that they sought for the preservation and maintenance of the King's Person, Crown and Dignity; the true Protestant Religion, Laws and liberties, with the privileges of Parliament, against all Popish and Malignant Cavaliers, and all other disaffected persons. These were the golden baits, Delusions. the poor delude people of England, were ensnared with; and in prosecution of their demands, and Rebellious sinister ends, did they prosecute and continue the War, until they had subdued the King and all his party. 1646. The misled people of England. And how could the abused and misled people of England, but be enraged against you, who under the pretence of preventing present dangers, wound themselves into the chief power and government of the Kingdom? And under the specious pretences of fight for Religion and Liberty, engaged them in the maintenance of their usurpation, and made them instrumental to promote Rebellion, under this veil of Hypocrisy, and under the gloss and notion of Reformation, have they hatched all their bloody practices, whose ambitious ends, private interests and designs, was to destroy our Religion, Laws and Liberties, Murder our King, and triumph in our destruction. The King coming to the Scots Army. Bought and Sold. After His Majesty's coming to the Scots Army, The Parliament disburses 200000 l. for His Person (a Royal exchange) the Parliament got the King; the Scots their Arrears; bought by the Parliament, sold by the Scots; sold to be restored to His Crown; bought to be made a Glorious Prince, as they promised him; sold by His Native Subjects for gains, and bought by His Traitorous Subjects to be Murdered. His Majesty being now in the hands of the Parliament, they restrained him at Newcastle, and Holmeby: The King Restrained at Holmeby. where Cromwell gave command to the private Soldiery, to seize upon His Person: being now in the power of the Army; observe how Lieutenant General Cromwell corrts His Majesty (both by members of the Army, and Gentlemen formerly in the King's Service) into a good opinion and belief of the proceed of the Army, and into a disaffection and dislike of the proceed of the Parliament; pretending to show, that His Majesty's Interest would far better suit with the principles of Independency, then of Presbytery; when the King was at Newmarket, did not Lieutenant General Cromwell, and Commissary General Ireton promise His Majesty any thing he should desire, as Revenues, Chaplains, Wife and Children, servants of his own, Visitations of friends, access of Letters saying also, they were not a people hating His Majesty's Person, or Monarchical Government, but that they liked it as the best, and by him; saying further, That they did hold it a very unseasonable thing for the Parliament to abridge him of them: oft promising with vows, protestations and oaths, that if His Majesty would, and not act against them; they would restore him to all his desires, settle him in his just Rights and Liberties, and make him the most glorious Prince in Christendom, that they would carry such an equal hand, between him and the Parliament, in order to the settlement of the Kingdom by him, which besides their own judgement and conscience, they did see a necessity of it as to the people: Commissary General Ireton, saying, that what was offered in the proposals to him, should be so just and reasonable, that if there were but six men in the Kingdom that would fight to make them good, he would be seventh, against any power that should oppose them: See how they kept a fair correspondency with His Majesty, until they had obtained their own ends; The King at Hampton-Court, Cromwell & Ireton plot to convey him to the Isle of Wight. Then Lieut: Gen: Cromwell sending a Letter to Colonel Whaley at Hampton-Court (where the King then was) intimating that His Royal Person was in some danger, by the commotions of Colonel Martin, and Colonel Rainsbrough, and their adherents, which Letter was showed to the King by Colonel Whaley; which Traitorous design of Cromwell and Ireton, and the rest, was to convey away his Majesty privately into the I'll of Wight, The King prisoner in C●●risbrook Castle where they did strictly imprison him in Carisbrook Castle: Never was any King of England imprisoned by his Subjects, but he was deposed and murdered. Thus they who at first took the King from Holmeby into the power of the Army; cried down the Presbyterian Government, Policy and power. and proceed of the present Parliament, and their perpetuity: And in stead thereof held and earnest inclination to a moderate Episcopacy, 11 Members impeached. with a new Election of Members to sit in Parliament, for the speedy settlement of the Kingdom; 7 Lords impeached. and afterwards when the eleven Members had left the House, and the marching through London with the Army, the seven Lords impeached, 4 Aldermen committed. four Aldermen of London committed to the Tower; then again, they coyed up the Presbyterian Government, and the perpetuity of the Parliament: Cromwell further pleasing himself with the great sums of money, which was his Arrears, due to the Army, and the Tax of 60000 l. a month; Tax of 60000 l. per month. Now saith he, we may be an Army (for aught I know) as long as we live. After this, Orders of Parliament were sent forth for calling their Members together: Cromwell perceiving the Houses will not answer his expectation, Self end. he utters forth words to a prejudice against the proceed of Parliament, Cromwel's interest. again crying down Presbyterian Governmet, setting up a single interest, which he calls an honest interest. The Army seized of sixty Members some Citizens and imprisons them. To this purpose he puts the Army upon choosing new Adjutators, and to draw forth of the Parliament sixty or seventy of the Members thereof. And a considerable party of the chief Citizens, and some of every County, to be clapped up in the Castles; saying what a sway these men keep, and that he was as well able to govern the Kingdom as any of them; so that nothing more appeareth then his seeking after the Government of King, Parliament, City and Kingdom. Concluding further, Hypocrisy. that it is lawful to pass through any forms of Government for accomplishing his ends; and therefore either to purge the Houses, and support the remaining party by force everlastingly, or to put a period to them by force, is very lawful and suitable to the interest of honest men. No addresses to the King, January 1. After this, they passed those Votes; Of making no more Addresses to the King, nor receiving any Message from him, Jan. 1. And they set forth a Declaration expressing the reasons of those Votes, Feb. 11. And the Army resolved to live and die with them in maintenance of those Votes, and in settling their designed Government without the King, and against him, Jan. 9 Their resolution to govern without a King. And though they seem to prosecute the King upon emergent provocations (that He made War against them, etc.) yet from Harry martin's and Sir Henry ludlow's speeches, and from the Declarations of the two Houses of Parliament (before Arms were taken up, and before any Propositions sent to the King) it appears, that from the beginning they had a design against His Majesty to murder him, Their design to murder the King and destroy his posteriy. His death. and to destroy Monarchy: And what was spoken and declared then, was agitated and pursued at last. In order whereunto, they declare against His Family and Posterity. Thus you see, Usurpers are ever Murderers, 2 Reg. 11.1. and Math. 12.38, 39 I am come now to speak of His Death, who was butchered and murdered by the most barbarous, perfidious and perjured Villains under the Sun, whether Christian or Infidel. Which whosoever takes into their sad and serious consideration, the proceed and actions of this confederate party of Rebellious and bloodthirsty Cannibals, sitting and acting in the Parliament and Army, who (contrary to their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, their Protestation, the Solemn League and Covenant, and sundry Declarations and Remonstrances of both Houses, to His late murdered Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, to the whole Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all foreign States and Nations; and have most presumptuously arrogated and usurped to themselves the title of, The Supreme Authority of this Kingdom; and by colour and pretence thereof, have wickedly and audaciously presumed, without and against the privities or consents of the people and His Subjects of England, The unjust Court of Justice. and against the Vote of the House of Peers, to erect a High Court of Justice, (as they term it) though never any Court themselves, to arraign and condemn His Majesty, against the Laws of God, and the Municipal Laws of the Realm: Which Court (consisting for the most part of such partial and engaged persons, who had formerly vowed His Majesty's destruction, and sought His Blood) most illegally and unjustly refused to admit of His Majesty's just Reasons and exceptions against their usurped Jurisdiction; and without any lawful Authority, or proof against Him, or legal Trial, presumed most traitorously and impiously to condemn and murder Him. And since that, have arraigned and put to death some Peers, and other free Subjects of this Realm, contrary to Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, Duke Hamilton, Holland, and Capell. the Laws of the Land, and the Liberties of the Subjects, to the great enslaving and endangering of the lives and liberties of all the free-people of England. And whereas the said confederated Commons have likewise tyrannically, Acts of Parliament made by the Committee. and contrary to their Oaths and Engagements aforesaid, to take upon them to make Acts of Parliament (as they term them) without the joint consent of the King and House of Lords, contrary to the use and privileges of Parliament; and known Laws of the Land: And by pretext thereof, have traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to disinherit the Illustrious CHARLES, Prince of Wales, next Heir to the Crown, Treason to proclaim Charles II. King. and Actual King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, immediately after His said Royal Father, barbarous murder, by right of Descent; and proclaimed it Treason for any person to proclaim Him King (whereas it is high Treason in them thus to prohibit His proclaiming) and have likewise traitorously and impudently encroached a Tyrannical and lawless power to themselves to vote down our Ancient, Kingly and Monarchical Government, and the House of Peers; Change of Government and to make a New Great Seal of England, without the King's Pourtraicture or Style; and to alter the Ancient, Regal and Legal Style of Writs, and proceed in the Courts of Justice; and to create New Judges and Commissioners of the Great Seal; and to dispense with the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and to prescribe new Oaths unto them, contrary to Law, Statute or Custom to administer. And have traitorously attempted to change and alter the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom, and to subvert the being, freedom and privileges of Parliaments: For which Treasons, Strafford and Canterbury (though less criminal) lost their heads this Parliament. States and Lords of the Land. To conclude, you are become (by Rebellion, Treason, Tyranny, Blood and Murder) Lords of the Land, Kings of a poor distressed and miserable Kingdom; And you are pleased in your greatness to style yourselves (The Free Estates of the Kingdom) you have violently, forcibly and unjustly got the riches, treasure and wealth of the Land into your hands by the power of the Sword, under which the poor people of England are ruinated and destroyed. Yet consider this (you that forget God) the vengeance of Heaven hangs over your heads for oppression and blood; your reprieve is not your salvation; you are grown to a height of confidence and presumption upon your successes; your necks are as iron, and your brows brass, and you walk in your way, triumphing as the only Princes of the Earth; as fit to sway the Sceptre of England, and all Nations; as the only righteous and honourable people in the world, the great Lords of the Land: Yet, Remember for all these things you shall come to Judgement; you shall give an account for all the treasonable and bloody actions you have perpetrated against the King and Kingdom. Thus far have I traced your footsteps the space of eight years, not without admiration, from the time His Majesty sat on His Throne, to His unfortunate Death by His Subjects, before His own Palace; where you may observe the most Virtuous and Wisest Prince in the Christian world murdered and put to death by the most villainous, barbarous and bloody people upon the Face of the Earth. FINIS. I shall shortly recommend to you the second part of this History, which (as yet) is not finished, containing all their Actions from His Majesty's Death to this present.