Mercurius Cambro-Britannicus. OR, NEWS from WALES, TOUCHING The Glorious and Miraculous Propagation of the Gospel in those parts.  
Being a clear DISCOVERY & MANIFESTATION Of the late invented Trade of TITH-GATHERING there, Intended by some Persons to be suddenly set on foot and established over all ENGLAND.  
Well worthy the serious and timely consideration of the Parliament, Army and Nation, and every individual Member thereof.  MAL. 3.7, 8, 9, 10. 
Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts: But ye said, Where shall we return? Will a man rob God? yet ye have rob me: But ye say, Wherein have we rob thee? In Tithes and Offerings: Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have rob me, even this whole nation; bring ye all the Tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the Windows of heaven, and power you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  
London, Printed in the Year, 1652.   

P. P. to the indifferent Reader.  
THis sober honest Mercury coming to my hands, I thought it no great Error if I gave it that entertainment which I sometimes give even the Frantic Bedlam Pamphlets: I must confess it was to me a kind of Eyesalve, for I looked formerly at the wrong end of the Perspective, and the transgressions of our Welsh Itinerants, palliated with the name of Saints, seemed but small Atoms in a large Sunshine. This Book is a new Telescope; it discovers what we could not see before; and the Spots in this Spiritual Moon, are Mountains.  
1. These Saints have a certain pious Wawle in the Pulpit, but out of it they are all Clutch and Claw; they are as Lucian discovered poverty, full of Hooks; and they fish for this world, not for that which is to come: I did sometimes wonder why they were so busy with South-Wales, and was about to consult with the Map, if Mount Zion were not there: But I understand now there is a more present blessing in those parts; there is 20000 l. per annum, for all the learned Ministers are ejected; the Church is a mere Carcase, which makes these Raven's flock towards it: and now they flutter and croak over the Inheritance of God. Certainly the Author of this discourse deserves the suffrages of all honest men, and even some Gratulatory returns and encouragements from the Patroness of the People; for in my opinion, the Parliament is beholding to him for discovering the Obliquities, and dark carriages of the propagators, who being so remote from the Cognizance of the House, have made use of their Authority for their own private contrivances, to the dishonour of their Masters, and the Scandal of true Religion and piety.  
2. The Army is beholding to him for discovering those that swallow up that Treasure which should either be employed for the end it was designed by Parliament, or else for the payment of their Arrears: Those men of War that now receive it, having scarce lost one drop of blood in the late quarrels, nor had any greater enemy to contest withal then Black-coats, and the bridge of Rosse.  
3. The Nation is indebted to him in making a timely discovery of the purpose of these Itenerants to procure the like Propagation in all England, hoping that the Parliament being made sensible of the sad Consequences of this Itinerary course in Wales, may not be so easily persuaded to pass the like Act for England, but rather to continue the public Worship of God in settled Congregations.  
4. All Wales are become Everlasting debtors to him; For a word spoken in season is like apples of Gold: and who knows not but the Lord may incline the hearts of the Parliament to provide for their future supply of Godly Ministers and Schoolmasters, by appointing some other Persons by whom the Lord will have his Work to be done. And perhaps some good men hearing of this Spiritual famine, may out of Charity come in, and offer themselves to labour in the Lord's Vine-yard, for the Harvest is great, and the Labourers very few.  
5. All the Ministers and Scholars in England are not a little beholding to him: For if this Itinerary way of Congregating persons, and Gathering of Churches should be once settled, or permitted here, there would be little use of Ministers or Scholars in that expedition.  
6. The Lawyers of England ought to pay him Tribute: For Law and humane learning are inconsistent with the Itineraries Principles; and they hate all strifes and contentions, other than what arise out of their own Doctrine. If then, Reader, thou art one of those that would be undeceived 
* Consider what thou readest: See how one Diurnal of Aug. 2. 52. (half whereof is filled up with some late news from Wales) is Stigmatised for an Imposture in the very front of another of the very same ●●ate.  give me leave to invite thee to this Book with that Call in the Revelation, Come and see. It is a sight deserves thy best considerations, and the time thou dost spend about it cannot be lost: Here thou shalt see the Wolf divested of the Fleece; thou shalt see him in his own Symmetry, in his own humours, without that Sheepish formality, that fraudulent pretended Personated piety, which he holds forth as a blind between him and the world: Here the Whore is stripped of her Fucus, not she that sits on seven hills, but an other more impudent Whore that sits on seven score hills in South-walls: Here thou shalt see that Propagation of the Gospel, is a Propagation of Land and Money; for the Saints have advanced from 7. l. per annum to 1500. l. and he who had scarce Freeze for his breech, struts it now in Holy lace and Scarlet. Had their valorous achievements in the field gained these goodly things, as other gallant Commanders and Officers had done, they had been well worthy of honour and wealth: But the mighty men of Wales found a more easy and safe way to attain both, viz. by pretence of holiness, and outward form of piety, which hath been no small advantage unto them: but I shall forbear any further mention, because I will not detain thee from the book itself. Read thou the Truth and assist it; for if thou hast any interest in the Church of Christ, it concerns thee; but defraud not the Discoverer of his just Commendations. I have no more to trouble thee withal at present, unless thou art a Britain, if so, make true Use and Application of the two lines under-written, 
Dam iw'r Kelwydd trâ i Koylîr 
Vid. 1 Esdr. 4.38, 39, 40, 41.   
Pen elir ym-hell gwell iw'r Gwîr.    

The Author's Apology.  Courteous Reader, 
HAving been an eye-witness and spectator of the sad deplorable condition of Southwales, in relation to the Work of the Ministry, since the Commissioners for Propagation were empowered in those parts, I have not been a little troubled with thoughts of heart what to do, and how to act and demean myself towards the persons empowered, who being many of them my friends and acquaintance, from whom I received civil respects, craved a silence from my pen. Other considerations I had, that some prejudice might befall them, by laying open these miscarriages, which might have some reflection on those that have been least culpable therein, if at all; And the regard I have of those amongst them (who in the simplicity and integrity of their hearts, acted clearly for those ends they were entrusted, receiving no worldly benefit thereby) hath much obstructed my purpose; Especially, lest this Treatise might any ways give offence to those who are no titular Saints, but really godly, who count godliness gain, and not gain godliness; But I do cordially profess, I have no design of prejudice, nor do I bear the least ill will to those who are truly such, but wish their number may be daily increased: That which most of all troubled me, was the consideration I had of the use and advantage that the Malignants and Ill affected persons to the present Government would make of this discovery, against those who attribute to themselves the names of Saints and people of God; 
* Primam & perpetuam esse constat historiae legem, nihil falsi audere dicere nihil veri-non audere. ; All which, together with self- interest and self- preservation were no small motives to blast the good intentions of the Author. Nevertheless finding no hopes of redress of the abuses herein complained of; but on the contrary, it being visible and apparent that their main design and purpose was to root out all the Ministers and Ministry, not only in Wales, but in England also; to leave the Churches empty, and with the fatness of the Tithes, and the fruits of other men's hard labours, to Propagate their Estates, not stumbling at Sacrilege and Spiritual robbery, mentioned in Malach. 3.7, 8, 9, & 10. verses: And hating all persons with a perfect hatred, who in the spirit of love and meekness, have friendly rebuked them, and minded them of these things; It was more than time for some good man to arise and stand up in the gap; who although Eliah may be mistaken in conceiving he only was left, when the Lord had seven thousand that had not bowed their knee to Baal, 1 King. 19.14, 18. He cannot (as he hopes) in these subsequent passages, which are too well known to the inhabitants, and all the Judges public Officers of State, and other  strangers, who have traveled those parts. And although this small Treatise may offend some, yet since it is the cause of God, who commands him to speak these things, lest his people die for want of spiritual bread, whilst others surfeit on the heavenly manna: he cannot, nor may not withstand the dictates of his conscience, nor resist the motions of his holy Spirit, choosing rather to obey God then man, 
Act. 5.29.  though to his own particular and private disadvantage, counting worldly gain but loss, in competition with the things of God, who doth with all humility acquiesce in his righteous judgement, hoping and waiting for a happy issue and success, according to his omnipotent 〈◊〉 pleasure, not doubting but the Lord will in his due time answer our expectations, in restoring the light of his Gospel to those that now sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; and will preserve and continue the candlestick, where it is, and refresh his distressed, oppressed people, with his spiritual joy and comfort; Which is the hearty wishes, prayers, and endeavours, and the main and only end of this Treatise, and the Author thereof  
M.C.B.   

Some Erratas have escaped the Printer in this hastened Impression, as Rogers for Roberts in many Copies at the end of the Marginal Notes, pag. 15. for wind r. come. pag. 16. l. 4. for expect r. exhibit. pag. 18. l. 24. etc. These and others may be easily corrected by the Pen of the candid Reader, at his largest leisure.   

Mercurius Cambro-Britannicus.  
MR. Cradock, Mr Valvasor Powel, and others of their Tribe, having seriously considered of what great advantage it would prove unto them, in case they could obtain a power in themselves and Colleagues, for disposing of all Tithes, Glea●s, Impropriations, and Ecclesiastical Revenues, in the thirteen Counties of Wales, conceived it the only way to accomplish their desires,  
1. To make the Parliament believe, that their Countrymen were Pagans and Infidels, and a People that understood nothing of God, or of the Power of Godliness, and so had need to be converted to the faith.  
2. That in order to this Conversion, they should persuade the Parliament to pass an Act, called, The Propagation of the Gospel in Wales: And that for the better effecting and carrying on of those ends proposed by these Priests themselves, and some others of their Nomination and Recommendation, subject to their commands, should be named with them in the said Act: And that to carry a greater countenance of Authority to the intended executioners thereof, several eminent and worthy Members of Parliament, Lawyers, and Commanders should be named in the Frontispiece thereof, well knowing, those Gentlemen could not disoblige their other great Trusts and public Employments to act with these Priests and their Confederates; so that the whole game should be played by one entire party, which being acted so far distant from the cognizance of the Parliament, where the poor Inhabitants want Representatives to stand for them, and represent their grievances to the Supreme Authority, they doubted not but to manage their affairs in such a way, as nothing should thereafter arise in judgement against them in this world. And after serious debate and consideration had, how inconvenient it was to continue the old Ministers in their respective benefices, which if admitted, would swallow up the Tithes, and hinder the pretended Saints from propagating their Estates: It was Resolved upon the question:  
1. That for the better Propagation of the Gospel in Wales, all the Ministers should be ejected and silenced, save only some of the most ignorant and illiterate of them, that would comply, and either farm their own Tithes, and accept of good bargains, or else accept of small inconsiderable stipends.  
2. And for the more formal ejection of the Ministers, that certain blank Articles of course, should be drawn and applied as an Engine to remove them from their respective charges and benefices. And for encouragement of Informers and Deponents, that the Sequestrators should offer good bargains of the Tithes to any that would come in, and help them to do the work of the Lord, for so they call the ruin and desolation of the Ministers and Ministry, and the extirpation of the Gospel: And that certain Journeymen Pedlars, or Itinerant Tobaccomongers, and others of like quality, should perambulate several of the Counties at 18d per diem, to make feigned discoveries of the pretended obliquities of the Ministers, and return an account of their proceed to the new Inquisitors, otherwise called Sequestrators of the Tithes, etc.  
3. Resolved, That the same course should be used in the ejection of the Schoolmasters, and that some of the Commissioners Clerks and Servants, that were in a capacity to read English, and make a warrant, should be placed and stipended to spare charges, and the overplus of the moneys to go and relieve the poor distress Saints. or the more needy number of the gathered Proselytes.  
4. That in order to the letting and setting of the Tithes, etc. Resolved, That certain grand Farmers or Sequestrators, Receivers and Collectors should be appointed in every County, chosen out of their Tribe of Gad, and that they should have power to let, set and dispose of the same to the pretended godly party, or any of those that have congregated themselves for that purpose, at half the value or lesser, and that none of the old Ministers, or others of the Inhabitants, should farm their own Tithes etc. at any rate, though they offered double the value paid by the pretended godly party. It being also resolved, that none but those that call themselves Godly, should live by, and feed of the Altar, it being a grand Tenet held by them, That those only who are outwardly Righteous, aught to inherit the earth: And having taken into consideration the great charges they would put themselves unto, in case they should supply every County with a competent number of godly, able, orthodox preaching Ministers and Schoolmasters, whose parts deserving stipends accordingly, would leave too small a remnant to relieve the pretended Saints of Wales, they Resolved:  
5. That three or four Itinerary Teachers should be employed in most of the Counties, to supply the same, and because it shall not seem too hard a work for sso few to supply a whole County, which some of them consist 120 Parishes, and the least of 50 or 60. Resolved also, That in their expedition, they should be supplied with fresh 
* Had they provided horses for their Auditors to, it had not been s  horses at every stage, which commonly are 10 or 20 miles, and sometimes more, to ride post from place to place, to spread their Doctrine, which for the most part consists of these heads,  
1. Invectives against all the old Ministers and Schoolmasters, and to persuade the people, that their calling and mission was Antichristian; and that all the 
* Witness a bold universal challenge of Mr Valvasor Powel, june 11 1652. sent to Dr George Griffith, together with several letters thereupon, all published in print for public satisfaction of the people, and vindication of the truth, and true intent of these Itineraries.  Ministry of England were in the same condition; and that none should be saved but Itineraries, or such as should list themselves under them; and to gain credit and belief to what they taught, they declared, that this was the sense of the Parliament, and that the same course should be settled all England over, and all Parochial settled Congregations should be quite abrogated.  
2. To rail against the Lawyers and Professors of the Law, and that they were all damned and accursed, that would go to Law, either in the great Sessions, or at Westminster-Hall; and that the Propagators were the only fit persons to decide all suits and differences: And Mr Valvasor Powel by name, did, and usually doth in his invective Sermons, rail against and vilify the Lawyers in general, more particularly at Llandsanferad in Elvel Parish, in the County of Radnor, on the 25 of June last, when and where in his sermon amongst other railing expressions, he said, That all the Lawyers in England and Wales, were worse than Thiefs or Pick-pursos, and that there were but two or three honest Lawyers in all the Nation, where he was so beset by some of his own Proselytes, and so whipped with arguments by those spirits which he himself first raised, who for three hours objected against the doctrine then taught by him; in so much that Mr Valvasor 
* Methinks Mr Valvasor you should have bred up your scholars to better manners; But the old Proverb is herein verified, Trim Tram, Like Master, like man.  made a hard shift to get from them to his retirement, which made the Gentleman very sick next morning.  
3. That all those that were not listed of their particular Congregations, were little better than Pagans and Infidels, and persons that were out of the Pale of the Church.  
4. That all those Ministers that did formerly preach and officiate, were only formal Teachers and Learned men; and therefore declared humane Learning to be the greatest obstructor of the work of Propagation, and that acquired Learning is an 
* Mr W. Cradock at Presteigne.  essential part and limb of the kingdom of Antichrist.  
5. That all those Ministers that should either Preach, Pray or speak any thing against this work of Propagation, were enemies to the godly party, and uncapable of enjoying their fifths, though allowed their wives by the said Act of Propagation.  
6. That all those that were not listed of their particular Congregations (or rather Martial Troops and Companies to execute the commands of these stone-Priests, who ride them like Mules and Asses) were incapable of bearing any Office or place of Trust in Wales.  
These and the like Transactions being the sad consequences of the work of Propagation in Wales, which now hath reigned nigh three years, I now behold Religion and Learning decayed, and the light of the Gospel almost quite extinguished there, the poor ejected Ministers with their wives and families ready to perish, particular persons enriched, and the pretended godly party in new Dresses and Attires, having changed their poor Frizado, for rich Scarlet and Plush, that would make Satan himself to blush to see this sudden alteration. New sumptous, costly houses are built and erected, great purchases made; some that were born but to 7● a year, become puchasers of Lordships and Manors of above 1000 per annum; and all striving who shall outvie and outbid the other in their purchases; witness those hot encounters at the Box, in Worcester house, Drury house, Gurney house, and other places; some purchasing in their own names; others more subtle, in their friends and servants names. The Gentry and all the considerable persons of Wales dejected and oppressed, ready to sell the remnant of their estates to come and inhabit in England, being not able to live in this sad, dark, oppressed condition their Country is brought unto: And if this Propagation be once settled in England, good Lord where shall we then fly for succour, but unto thee? Great thoughts of heart and heart-burnings amongst all sorts of people, who are sadly aggrieved to pay their Tithes more strictly than ever they did, and yet have neither Preaching, Praying, Christening, decent Burials, or other spiritual Rights or Comforts administered unto them; and finding no hopes of redress or relief herein (all addresses to the Propagators, as in other cases, so in these, proving fruitless.) The inhabitants of the six Counties of South- Wales, and County of Monmouth resolved to make their humble suit to the Supreme Power of the Nation, the Parliament, by Petition, setting forth the Heads and substance of these their grievances, praying that great Council to take some course for the future supply of their Country with such a competent number of Godly, Able, Orthodox Ministers and Schoolmasters, such as the Parliament should approve of: And for an Account of the Profits of the Tithes, etc. received for the two last years, in the said seven Counties, charged to be worth 40000 per annum and upwards. Whereupon the Parliament out of their pious inclination to advance Religion and Learning, and in order to a Redress of the said sad grievances complained of in the Petition, referred the same to the Honourable Committee of Plundered Ministers, with Power for them to send for Persons, Papers and Witnesses, and examine on Oath, and Issue forth Commissions to the Country (where the Witnesses and matters of fact do lie and arise) to examine Witnesses touching any of the matters contained in the Petition, and to return those Examinations to the said Committee, who were thereupon to state matter of fact, and Report the same to the Parliament. Which sad news coming to the knowledge of the pretended Godly party in Wales; It was resolved by the Itinerant Synod (nemine contradicente) as followeth,  
6. That the Petitioning the Parliament without their leaves and permission, was a high breach of the Privileges of the Godly party.  
7. That the Petitioning the Parliament for supply of Godly, Able, Orthodox Ministers and Schoolmasters, such as the Parliament should approve of, was a high contempt against the Act of Propagation, and that such the Petitioners desires and intentions should be declared, construed and expounded, and so rendered by them to the Parliament, to be a petitioning for the restauration of Malignant, Drunken, Unpreaching, ejected Curates 
* Witness those several speeches and expressions delivered at the Committee of Plundered Ministers; March 16, May 18. & 21. where and when the express words and true meaning of the Petition & Petitioners were most grossly misrepresented. Where Mr Peter, uncalled, unsent for, and unconcerned, did voluntarily declare all the Ministers of Wales to be drunken, debauched, ignorant and illiterate, not fit to be trusted to keep a kennel of Hounds, or a dozen of Sheep. Are these words becoming a holy man, Archbishop and Metropolitan of England? or do they become a sober man and one that owns the Name of a Christian, to traduce his brethren in general, many whereof of he never saw, having only traveled Pembrokeshire, and sojourned at Mr Lort's for a short time: and what good he did in those parts, with an answer to these his unchristian expressions, there will shortly come forth a Paper from one of those he traduced, to let Mr Peter know they are not so illiterate and ignorant as he would render them. .  
8. That to call the pretended Godly party to account for any thing by them received, for which they ought to be accountable to the State, to be a sowing of sedition betwixt the Parliament of England sitting at Westminster, and the moving Assembly of Wales. And that all the Contrivers, Subscribers and Promoters of the said Petition, and Agents therein employed, should be declared against as disturbers of the peace of the pretended Saints, and obstructing them in their receiving the public Revenue of the Church in peace, and that they should be proceeded against as Malignants and Delinquents, and disaffected persons to the proceed of the pretended Godly party in Wales.  
9 Resolved, That Mr Valvasor powel, Mr Cradock, Mr Jenkin Jones, and all the wand'ring Priests and Gospel Postmasters in South-Wales should ride Post from County to County, and Parish to Parish, to threaten all the Petitioners and their Agents with damnation, Sequestration and ruin. Nevertheless with this Salva Conscientia, that those that would repent by denying their hands, and disowning the Petition, should be taken into their consideration, and favourably entertained.  
10. Resolved, That all the residue of the ancient Divines and unejected Ministers in South-Wales should be forthwith silenced, and neither to have liberty to Preach, Pray, Administer the Sacraments, Bury the dead, Marry, or visit the sick, or Officiate or perform any other charitable and Christian work, lest they should promote or advance the Petition. And the better to provide for the ejected Ministers wives and families, that they should be turned all out from their houses and habitations, to travel into some other Foreign Plantation, to propagate there; and for their encouragement in their voyage, that the Fifths allowed their wives by the Act of Parliament, should thereafter be kept back from them, and that they should, as in the Primitive times, carry neither Scrip nor Wallett, but only live by the Alms and Charitable benevolence of the people.  
Information being given by one of the gadly Scouts, that North-Wales were resolved to take good courage and example by South-Wales, and were preparing the like humble address to the Parliament, setting forth the work of propagation there.  
11. Resolved, That Mr Valvasor powel do ride Post to North-Wales, to inform the inhabitants there, That the Parliament had declared the Petition of South-Wales, Scandalous and Seditious, and that all the subscribers and promoters thereof should be sequestered and proceeded against as enemies to the Parliament and present Government; and to threaten all those that should subscribe or promote the like Petition there, with Damnation, Sequestration and ruin, which false Alarm hath in some measure obstructed the inhabitants of North-Wales 
* Nevertheless all North-Wales are very active and zealous in preparing an humble address to the Parliament, setting forth the mystery of the Work of Propagation there, which will be suddenly presented by persons of eminency, and of known worth and integrity to the Parliament and present Government. , from representing the Parliament with the true state of their Country, in relation to the propagation of the Gospel there, and made Mr Valvasor powel Print his Letter in the Frontispiece of a Diurnal come out very lately, to undertake to give the Parliament an exact account of North-Wales, and the propagation there, wherein he goes about to confute the Petition of South-Wales, and all that is there declared, he undertakes to make good upon the word of a Christian, and a Gospel Minister. A bold and high presumption, and too hard a task for him to perform: And a sober man would count it little better than madness in a professed Christian Minister to undertake to make good and justify the actions of all those persons entrusted therein, which are many, amongst whom it is not very unlikely but some miscarriages 
I wish Mr powel may be able to justify himself, and I shall make bold to mind him of his proceed against old Hugh Lloid in Breckon in imprisoning & keeping him there without Bail or Mainprize, until he paid him 100, & this done on a bare Arrest, which proved to Mr powel an effectual execution, for none durst Bail him. And divers more of Mr powel's pranks that might be instanced.  may be; for there were but twelve Apostles, and yet amongst them one Judas. But this I observe by him, he hath dealt friendly with his Countrymen in North-Wales, who calls all their Ministers and Teachers, Such as have not the power of Godliness, and very few the form thereof, or that have been firm and faithful to the Parliament, but most of them unpreaching Curates, scandalous in their lives, etc. Wherein he learns of the scolds at Billingsgate, to cry whore first: but I leave that Letter, or rather Mr powel's Creed (for it runs all on beliefs and hearsays) to be answered and unfolded by some of his own Countrymen 
* Reade Mr Griffiths Letters, and a sober Reply to Mr powel's Paper against the Petition lately Printed. : But this i'll tell him by the way, that if he preacheth no more truth in his Pulpit, than he halth broached in Print, I should be sorry to ride Post with him up and down the Country to hear him Preach, for the best bargain that he hath procured to the holiest of his friends.  
But the Gent, would fain make you believe that this Propagation in Wales will last long, and therefore recites next his Creed, certain Proposals, tending to bring in the like Propagation all England over. Well done Mr Valvasor, will not the Tithes of Wales serve you and your friends, but you must creep into England to share of the fruits of their labour also? But certainly Mr Valvasor would be satisfied with the Tithes of Wales, if he were sure the Trade of Tithe-gathering would long continue there, but he thinks that the Act of Propagation in Wales hath but a short time to live, expiring the 25th of March next, unless it be supported and continued, by procuring the like Act over all England; for his Countrymen are very angry that this way of Propagation of the Gospel should be practised only amongst them, and that England should be supplied with a competent number of Godly, Able, Orthodox Schoolmasters and Teachers. Surely Wales do conceive that the Parliament are as highly bound and concerned to provide for the supply of their spiritual necessities, as for England; especially if it be true what the promoters of the Act, and the persons that reap the benefit thereof did inform the Parliament, That their Country doth abound with ignorance and profaneness. But hold Mr Valvasor, they are not so ignorant but they can see who those Rats are that eat up their substance, and those Caterpillars that devour the fruit of their labours.  
Information being given that that ever to be honoured Gent. Coll. Edward Freeman, Attorney General for the Commonwealth in South-Wales, and a Gentleman that hath hazarded his life and fortune to serve the Parliament and Commonwealth of England, was entrusted as Counsellor for the Petitioners; It was Resolved, That all the Itineraries should publicly Preach in all places against the Law, and all the professors thereof, especially against Colonel Freeman; and that their earnest prayers should be to the Lord, to punish him in his person, power, and in his place 
* Valvasor powel in his invective Sermon before the Judges at Presteign Sessions last. It is no great wonder that he would rail against Colonel Freeman, when he durst call the States of Holland Ambassadors, drunkards, and wish them to go home with this Answer, That Zion is built; besides other words by him used, tending to the scandal and dishonour of the Nation and civil Government. Well done Valvasor, to engage two States in a bloody, cruel War against one another, to the hazard of both Nations, which all the Holy-water wherein he dips his listed Congregators cannot appease, unless God in his mercy do it, maugre the endeavours of these Firebrands. Factet se miles gloriosus oratorem potentem, quoad hoc saltem vix se praebuit prudentem, V.P. . And shortly after Colonel Freeman falling sick of a Fever and Plurasie, after a dinner made at Cardiff,  
12. It was likewise Resolved, That public thanksgiving should be given to the Lord in all the particular separated Congregation in Wales, for hearing the prayers of the Saints.  
Information being also given, that Mr Gunter and Mr Roberts (persons of known integrity to the Parliament and present Government, and so had been from the very beginning of the late Wars to this day) were employed Agents by the Country, to agitate for them in their absence, in relation to the said Petition; and to use their utmost endeavours to give a right information to the Parliament and Committee of plundered Ministers, of the state of the Country, whereby to draw it to an issue and examination, that the truth might appear by testimonies of witnesses.  
Resolved, That Mr Watkins, Mr Lewis, Mr Creed, Shony Morgan, Hugh Rogers, and others of the best Beagles, should be employed to hunt dry-foot, to find some Articles against Col: Freeman, 
* Witness those frivolous false, scandals Articles exhibited before the Lords Commissioners, by that Spawn of Religion, otherwise called vix credo, by direction from the stony Gallery in Whitehall.  Mr Gunter, and Mr Roberts, if possible, to cloud and eclipse them, and render them odious to the Parliament, hoping by this means to deter them from acting for the Petitioners, according to their consciences, and the trust reposed in them, or else to blemish the good intentions of the Petitioners: But the Gentlemen for their integrity are so well known to Members of Parliament, and all their Country in general, that their endeavours hitherto have proved fruitless, and their progress therein cannot promise them success, if the Gentlemen have equal right and justice done them.  
And for the better carrying on of this their design, Resolved also, That means be used as well by the Pulpit knockers, as by the Dreadful Sequestrators, to force some of the Petitioners to deny their hands, and renounce the Petition: And that it should be spoken at the Committee, how easy it is for one Welshman to subscribe another Welshmans hand 
* Witness a paper, entitled, An humble acknowledgement of the Inhabitants of Southwales, and county of Monmouth, for the blessed work of Propagation there, presented the Parliament in June, 1651. by the chief persons that reap the benefit of this great work of Propagation, supposed to be subscribed by 19000. 18000. whereof never saw or heard of it. A pretty knack to blind the eyes of the Parliament, and abuse the poor Country. .  
Resolved, That all possible means be used to intercept all Letters betwixt the Petitioners in the Country, and their Agents in London, to prevent a true information and representation to the Parliament, of the sad grievances of the Country; and to that purpose, orders were given at 
* Witness the intercepting of the very orders and special directions of the Commissioners of Haberdasher's Hall sent down to Mr. Harard, and Mr. Thomas, their sub-Commissioners, and divers other papers of public and private concernment, all letters being opened, and such only intercepted, which made discoveries of the good proceed of the godly party in Wales: A pretty way to prevent a true information to be given to the Parliament of their blessed do in Wales.  Hereford, Monmouth, and all other places, insomuch that the Petitioners and their Agents could not with safety write any Letters to or fro, either by the Post or Carrier, or any private Messengers.  
And whereas it was also informed, That the Petitioners did make a voluntary contribution to defray the charges of Counsellors Fees, and other necessary charges incident to the prosecution of so weighty and necessary a business, as a Petition from seven Counties, which concerned the salvation of their souls.  
Resolved, That it should be construed and declared to be a raising of moneys to levy War against the Parliament and present Government; and that Hugh Rogers a quondam arrant Cavalier in Arms for the late King, but lately converted, and others of the parties concerned, should exhibit an information 
* Vide, The foolish, inconsiderate information exhibited before the Committee of plundered Ministers, wherein Mr. Gunter and his confederates (meaning the Petitioners, are charged with framing, contriving and subscribing the Petition, which he desires may be put in a way of examination: Good Mr. Rogers, you may spare this labour, for the Petitioners and Subscribers have, do and will own it, and Mr. Gunter, Mr. Rogers as their Solicitors or Agents, with others entrusted therein, act publicly, and will never deny the Petition, or renounce their honest, pious and Christian appearance, in their civil prosecution and mannagement thereof.  in the name of the pretended godly party, against Mr Hugh Gunter and his confederates (for so he is pleased to call the Petitioners) of a dangerous design in all England and Wales, to obstruct the Trade of Tyth-gathering, which Mr Roger's desires may be universal over all England, as well as Wales. Well done Hugo to complain first, lest your quondam Cavaliering Trade, and your late Actions in your under Sherifft altry be ripped up, to manifest your holiness, but all will not do, you must wind to it at last with the rest of your late converted Brethren, who find Tyth-gathering a more safe beneficial and sweeter trade, then plundering of the Parliamenteers, and the well-affected party, from whom your noodle received sore knocks for your sauciness; and have since your pretended Conversion, gained more by your seeming holiness, than ever you did by pillage under the power of the late King. And whereas one of the pretended godly party had abused one Captain Jones, who is a Gentleman, that was always faithful to the Parliament, and bore Arms for them in the first and second War, yet was by the procurement of one of the supposed Saints, and the assistance of some of the grand Cavaliers there (with other Gentlemen of quality well affected to the Parliament) cruelly imprisoned at Cardiff, without a Charge or Articles proved material to warrant the same, who desiring civil satisfaction for his wrongs suffered, and demanding a reason why he should be so dealt withal, and so ill rewarded for his former good services to the Parliament.  
17. Resolved, That the pretended godly party, were in danger of their lives; and that this was the beginning of levying War against the gadly. And because the Titular Saints could not sufficiently Tyrannize over the Inhabitants, nor carry on their gainful designs without Troops of Horse, and Companies of Foot in each County, which would also bring good gain to the Officers and Soldiers 
* Well done Jammy, this is a well contrived plot to enlarge your power and propagate your estates, by going about to abuse the Parliament, and oppress your poor Country, by drawing a needless charge and trouble upon them. .  
18. Resolved, That a Letter be written by the gadly party, and the particular Congregations in Southwales, directed to the stony Gallery in Whitehall, to move the Council of State, that certain Gentlemen, 
* Have you not already oppressed them sufficiently with false imprisonments in Cardiff, and other places, grounded on your own feigned suggestions and false informations, first laying the plot, then discovering it, and making the innocent suffer? have you more of these Devices in store in your Black Budget?  who had subscribed the Petition, should be therefore brought up by special Messengers before them, to answer why they subscribed the Petition, and do go about to call the people of God to an account: And that for the future security of the gadly party in Wales, some Commissions should issue down to some of the gadly, to raise Horse and Foot to carry in the Tithes, etc. to their Barns and Storehouses, their own horses being unable to perform so great a service, and the Parishioners so malignant, that they refuse to lend their assistance therein, since they cannot Farm their own Tithes at any rate, although they offer twice as much for the same as it is now let at. But the Council of State had other affairs of greater concernment, and so adjourned the business till further time.  
Resolved, That the like Letter be written to put all these Gentlemen that had subscribed the Petition, out of the Commission of Peace, the Act of Assessments, and all other places of trust and employment; the Ambulatory Assembly at Swanzy having declared them uncapable to bear any office or trust in the Commonwealth: Which Resolve was in part executed, and Mr Gwin, Mr Walbeith, Mr Havard, and Mr Lloyd (though persons well-affected to the Parliament, and of considerable fortunes) immediately put out of the Commission of Peace in Breckon shire, and several other Gentlemen in other Counties, without Articles, Proofs or Examinations to show any cause for it, except only for subscribing the Petition; and that it was the desire of the pretended godly party it should be so, and divers other Gentlemen put out of Commissions in other Counties, and several inconsiderate inferior persons placed in their rooms, to the dishonour of Authority, and apparent wrong and oppression of the Country. The Committee of Plundered Ministers, having read the Petition and Resolves of Parliament, did order the Propagators of Southwales to Answer the Petition, and bring in their Account by the 18th of May last, which put the Welsh Saints to a pitiful cold sweat, in riding up and down, and setting up day and night to patch up their broken accounts: And though they had several private and public meetings for that purpose, all produced by the 18 of May but a sheet of paper, and a few general negatives 
* Memorandum, there was a Book fairly written, with a handsome title to it, produced before the Committee of plundered Ministers, purporting a particular account, but never read nor lodged there, whereby copies thereof might be had, and the Petitioners enabled to surcharge the same (as is usually in all other cases relating to accounts). But the curtain was no sooner drawn to show this fair picture but as soon withdrawn, it being unsafe to leave matters of that concernment to public view: So that the Petitioners cannot get a copy thereof to this day, it being resolved by the Saints to make their Accounts at the last day of judgement.  therein contained, with a confession of 40000 or thereabouts, received for the two last years, but never say out of what received in particular, whether they made or received, or might have made or received more of the Tithes etc. nor do they express what is become of the 40000 nor how they have disposed of the sum, etc. nor express any thing in paticular. It being Resolved at Swanzy, as the only way to save their credit, to put in a few generals, stuffed up with a parcel of godly words, to make some pretence and show to the world what good stewards they have been, it being dangerous and unsafe to expect a particular Account, lest there should come a particular surcharge, and after that, which is worse, a Commission to prove it: And though one of the Propagators confessed there was a particular answer and account in Town, and in their absence shown, yet the Petitioners could not obtain that favour as to have it brought in, nor so much as a Copy of that general account remaining with Mr Phelps, until the 16 of July after their particulars put in; but instead thereof, the Petitioners required to bring in within two days after, such particulars contained in their Petition, upon which they did desire to examine witnesses: The Petitioners not conceiving that they should be required to exhibit any new charge, not required, ordered or directed by Parliament, did accordingly insist on all the particular heads of the Petition, and offered to prove the same, and every particular and syllable thereof, so as they might have (according to the Resolves of Parliament) a Commission to the Country to examine where their witnesses, and matters of fact do lie, the nearest to Westminster being an 100 miles, and some 200 miles distant, which was all as they conceived was their duty to do, or could be required or expected according to those Resolves.  
21. But it seems the goodly party have prayed they might not account, and so resolved at their general Meeting, whose prayers prevailed, in so much that the Petitioners cannot proceed to issue or prove their Petition, unless they will follow the example of Coll: Lilburn, in naming persons and crimes, and particular misdemeanours, and make way for taking shipping to Amsterdam, or to a worse place, for of necessity the Petitioners must needs do so by offending such as do not love to be told of their faults, or else confine themselves to a few particulars, beyond which they may not examine, and so leave the whole truth of the Petition unexamined: And if it should be expected, that the Petitioners should name all those persons that have acted by virtue of the Act of Propagation, and received and disposed of the Tithes, etc. the qualities and parts of the present stipended Itineraries and Schoolmasters, with their number and stipends, and by whom paid, and where all the moneys and profits received are lodged, with all the particular misdemeanours, neglects and miscarriages in their not executing, and undue executing of the powers given by the said Acts (as it seems the meaning of the particulars mentioned in the order of the 18 of May last was rendered by some persons concerned.) It would be in the first place a work of impossibility, especially to be done in two days, as was ordered and required. 2. A work of apparent danger to the Petitioners. 3. A clear advantage to the Propagators, and a means to avoid a true examination of the matters contained in the Petition; wherefore the Petitioners are resolved to present the Parliament with another Petition, desiring to know their pleasures, Whether truth may be made evident as against the Propagators & Tythe-gatherers? 2. Whether those that call themselves The godly party, are liable to account? 3. Whether the Taxes and Impositions, etc. now imposed on the Nation, especially poor, distressed, oppressed Wales, be so light and easy to be born, and the Country so well able to undergo them, and the public Treasury so full, as that the Parliament will suffer a Revenue of 20000 l per annum and more received for two years and upward, to go to the hands of particular private persons, to build new sumptuous houses, and buy lands without any enquiry after the sum, or else will lose 20000 l per annum de futuro, for the Tithes etc. of the inhabitants, who are ready to give security for that purpose, if the Parliament will grant it within two years, comes to 20000 l more than the Propagators have accounted in their general answer for the two last years, which if once granted, will ease the Propagators and Tythe-gatherers of a great deal of pains; care and trouble; and leave them to their Divine Exercises, who have little leisure now to attend those Holy duties, performable by those that attribute to themselves the names of Saints, and People of God, and then it will appear to the whole world, whether they serve God for gain or godliness sake: and by this means the state cannot be defrauded, for it will be apparent what is paid out of the Tithes towards the Propagation of the Gospel, and maintenance of Schools, etc. according to the Act, when there are particular persons that are Farmers, and particular persons that are Propagators, whose several Accounts, payments and disbursments, being compared, will soon discover how the State hath been dealt withal the two last years, which can never be done when the same persons are Farmers, Collectors, Tithe gatherers and Propagators; so that it is easy, without examination of the truth where matter of fact doth arise, and where all particulars have been acted, to blind the eyes of the Parliament with a general, plausible answer, made up of Godly words; as one of the Itineraries answered an Innkeeper's wife in Monmouthshire near Uske, After he and his company had drunk all her drink, she called for money for the reckoning, she was answered by the holy man, That the Saints carry neither silver nor gold, nor scrip nor wallet: but the poor woman replied, that she could not satisfy her Landlord for his Malt with a Scripture phrase: no more can godly words satisfy the defect of the Preaching of the Gospel, and want of Ministers and Schoolmasters, nor maintain Armies, and Navies, or ease the poor Country of their Taxations and Impositions: It being a sad thing to see so great a Revenue really intended by the Parliament, to be converted according to the Act to be so ill employed, and no account rendered for it; when the Parishioners and Inhabitants cannot Farm their own Tithes at any reasonable rate, though they are ready to give double the rate, the same are let out to the chief Farmers. Their usual course being to grant one, two or more Churches to one of the gadly party, or other person that is listed of a particular Congregation at less than half the value. This Grandfarmer, or holy man, hath several Subfarmours and Subtenants under him, who let out the Tithes at the rack rent and utmost penny they can make of the same to the great oppression and discontent of the Inhabitants, and the apparent wrong and prejudice of the State. And because all these transactions herein before declared, may not seem to strangers for a Romanse or a false scandalous Libel, or Information (as undoubtedly the Goodly party will endeavour to render it) the Petitioners of the six Counties of South Wales and County of Monmouth, have prepared several particulars of the true State of the said Counties, in relation to the work of Propagation of the Gospel there, grounded on their Petition, which on the 16th of July instant, were offered and exhibited to the consideration of the Honourable Committee of Parliament for Plundered Ministers, which they are ready to prove and make good, and much more, if enabled by Commissioners to be issued to the Country, where matter of fact ariseth, and witnesses, reside, according to the former Resolves of Parliament in that behalf, which Committee ordered the same should be Reported to the Parliament, whereby Commissions may issue out for a clear discovery of the truth thereof, in order to a Religious Reformation of all these abuses, the sequel whereof I do promise to give you in my next. And for the further satisfaction of the Parliament and Nation, how well the Inhabitants of South-Wales are dealt withal by these goodly persons entrusted with the Military and Civil Government there; It is shortly intended to come forth an abstract of their late proceed in relation to the powers given them, as Committee of Indemnity. Arbitrary Commissioners. Commissioners of the monthly Assessment. Commissioners of Sequestration. Commissioners of Militia and Justices of Peace, etc. which will be, not only averred but proved by those that desire to give the Parliament and Nation a true account of the sad Consequents that befell those parts of this Nation, since some persons have been entrusted there, with the execution of the several powers aforesaid, to this end only, That some timely information may be given the Supreme Authority of the Nation, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, hereafter to be more wary and cautious who they trust, and with what Powers so fare distant from their Cognizance; The Inhabitants having so few Representatives in Parliament to speak for them; their main and only end therein being to prevent future mischiefs and inconveniences that may befall the present Government, and more particularly the Inhabitants of Wales, and universally the whole Nation, by the undue and indirect execution of these good and wholesome Powers and Authorities that are or shall be given by the Parliament, for the advancement of God's glory, and the well Government of the Nation, that every one may in peace enjoy his own, and receive encouragement to wish well and cordially affect the present Government, and faithfully engage for the defence thereof in the enjoyment of true Religion, wholesome Laws, and just Liberties and Freedoms, which are the Birthright and Inheritance of the people: The Enlargement, Establishment and long Continuance thereof being the occasion of this Discourse, and the hearty wishes and prayers of.  
England's, (but more particularly Wales) most faithful and cordial Wellwisher M. C. B.  
FINIS.