KING CHARLES VINDICATED, OR The grand Cheats OF THE NATION discovered. With an abstract of 1 The Rumps extraordinary exactions, 2 Their large distributions of other men's Estates. By W. L. a lover of his Country. Printed, for Theodorus Microcosmus, 1660. KING CHARLES vindicated, OR, The Grand Cheats OF THE NATION discovered. IT is not unknown (but too notoriously known) to the whole world the abuse of this our once happy Kingdom of England, by a mercenary Soldiery, and some few mercenary men's wills, whose wills are their Laws, and what they will (and nothing else) shall be adjudged Law or reason, when indeed all they do is beyond Law and Reason, the fundamentals of all Government, the breach of Liberty, and restraint of Conscience, forcing men to swear, to forswear themselves, or else unjustly to forfeit an Estate. And if the question be asked, in whom the legislative power of the Nation at this time resides, no other can properly be so called but the Soldiery, who assume to themselves the Government of all things, doing that they know not what it well means, or they pretend to mean that they intent not to do; they seem to act, and not only seemingly, but actually do act that which the most High is said to do, (that is) to set up Kings or Rulers, and pull them down at pleasure. First a King, than a thing called The Keepers of the Liberty of England (and indeed in one sense they are justly so called for they keep our Liberties from us.) After that a Protector, and after him another with loud acclamations of joy and congratulations of the people to Crown his inaugeration; yet the Soldiery at this is not well pleased, they quickly forget the gifts of mourning, their red coats given them at their Mr. oliver's Funeral, and like the Wether Cock turn with the next wind and depose him (who I verily believe since our unworthiness called the other, I mean the late King Charles of famous memory away to receive a reward beyond an earthly Crown, that would have settled (with that so free chosen Parliament) the Nation in Peace and Happiness. But this pleased not their humours neither, he must out or they must down, and he no sooner out but an assumption of Government is taken to themselves, but not finding an expedient convenient to their purpose, knowing better how to wield a Sword than a Sceptre; after a little playing with the Government, they resign it into the hands of those bloodhounds (the Rump) who have been the undoing of the Nation, who must not rule neither long, for they are called in May and dissolved again by the Soldiery in October following; after them comes a pitiful Committee of Safety, amongst whom, and of whom it may be said rake Hell and skim the Devil you could not find such a pack of R— two of the chiefest I will not forget to name, Ireton and Tichbourn, alias Tyburn, the last deserving for a hasty sentence by him and others (not many years passed) pronounced to be hanged at Tyburn, (and the first named to receive the same punishment at the same place) His name and the name of that fruitful Tree, differencing only in two letters, so that I humbly conceive it his destiny, which is not so much improbable but a little time may effect: two fellows perfidious, never true to any trust, two that any man may lead to perpetrate any villainies, two of the chiefest Actors in undoing the City, two constant revealors of the City Counsels, two who for a little gain are ready to sell their own souls to the Devil, (but I believe they are not now to sell, but rather sold long ago) two whose actions never agreed with their pretensions; and last of all, two, who accounted themselves Saints from whom (and all such other pretended Saints) good Lord deliver me and every honest man. Next after this Committee of Safety (who sat not long) in came the Rump once more, fellows whose actions are without parallel in any Nation. Now under and by what spetious pretence this Rump Acted as a Parliament, take in general Terms, which is, That the late King Charles together with the House of Peers, and themselves, did Enact that they should not be adjourned, Prorogued, or otherwise Dissolved, unless it were by an Act of their own making, well, grant this, they were called by the King's Writ, and certainly if all Writts in his name cease at his Decease, they must likewise needs cease to be a Parliament, or if they claim a Power to sit, by virtue of that Act, why the House of Peers secluded? or any of the Members of the House, of Commons, the Act extended as well to one, nay all, as to this Rump: besides, there is not one tittle mentioned in that Act, to the purpose they Act by; that is, that the King gave them power by virtue of that Act to take upon them the Government of the Kingdoms after his Decease, to take away his own life, seclude the House of Peers, or any of their fellow Members, for the King being Caput principium ad sinem, no man cannot but conclude, that upon his departing this life the Parliament determined. But they are pleased still to sit as a Parliament contrary to all Law, for let any man show me where ever a Parliament being Dissolved as this legally was by the death of the King, that ever had the impudence to sit and do what they listed, I must confess adjourned of themselves, or by the King that called them prorogued until a further time, at which time of meeting the King as he pleases dissolves them. But if they will not acknowledge this a Dissolution you may find one in 1653, for when they understood that Oliver the late Protector was resolved to turn them out of Doors (the which he did with a Title befitting them, Rogues and Whore masters) they put it to the Vote whether they should suffer themselves to be turned out, or Dissolve themselves, it past in the affirmative to Dissolve themselves, upon which a Dissolution was recorded not (interruption as they call it) the which if Mr. Scobell their then Clerk durst, he can (if he please) justify, or the Records themselves if searched would make it evident if these fellows (I mean the Rump) have not altered: the roll, the which no doubt they would not stick to do or make a scruple of, more than their often forswearing themselves. Next to bring Oliver and their Power into Competition, they stick and call it (as I said before) an interruption, to which I put this Query, whether Oliver that dissolved them, or they that Acted as a Parliament (when none) had the most & best power, to which I answer, their power was equal alike, though the Rump may urge Oliver receiving his Commission from them aught to have been obedient to their Commands, to which then I answer they being called by the King's Writ (and chosen by the people for their Representatives in Parliament) was the King's Servants, & by the Oath of Allegiance bound to be faithful to the King, more than Oliver to them, for they (according to the Law were Traitors, and thereby incurred the penalty of the Law against such offenders in taking away their lawful Sovereign which Oliver knew very well, and that it was more lawful for him to dissolve them, than they to cut off the King's Head, knowing also they were Rebels and Traitors in Acting what they did against the King, therefore no Legal Power but what ever he Acted against them could be no Treason, upon which a Question here arises, which is, who was Supreme after the death of the King? to which I answer, not the Rump, nor Oliver, according to our Laws, the Crown being settled Hereditary many Centaries of years before▪ which without doubt ought so still to continue. But to go further this Rump (as they say) being but interrupted and not Dissolved why did not they as well in oliver's time as the King's time keep up their power; the King demanded but five of their Members, Oliver and the Army under his Command, first gave them a large purge of above two hundred & odd, & afterwards dissolved all, yet the King's Legal demand of five Members must be voted and adjudged a high breach of the privilege of Parliament, nay greater than oliver's dissolving all; And if oliver's interruption (as they call it) of them were no dissolution, but only an interruption, why then did they allow of, or contribute too, the payment of any duties whatsoever, and declare to the world that they were under a force, and that the power which dissolved or interrupted them were Illegal, and that if any man paid any duties whatsoever, it was in their own wrong; but they were afraid to lose that which I hope will not be long ere they do lose their Heads, as but just; And if they urge it, was under a force, then likewise from thence do I conclude, That the death of the King, the Dissolution of themselves, the Power we have been and still are governed by, is a force, a mere force, no less, just so, and therefore an Illegal Power. And to add this one thing more, there were Parliaments in oliver's time, and a Parliament in the late Protector Richard's time, and if this Rump that now sits as a Parliament were then as they still would be a Parliament, 'tis the weakest reason in the world for any man to say (that because they sat as a Parliament) they only were the supreme power, which if it were true that this Rump or pretended Parliament were only (according to Law) ever since the death of the late King the supreme power, than they cannot but conclude but that all the actions of Oliver were Treason, all the Army Traitors, all proceed in every or any Court ever since Illegal, and most part of the Nation involved in Treason, amongst which number of Traitors (according to their own made Supremacy and power) a great many of their own gang may be reckoned in the late Committee of Safety, which being true, why ought not those persons to receive the reward of their Treason openly? as their private crimes made them privately guilty of receiving condign punishment. Now to begin with the grand Quarrel the Parliament had against the King which was of Shipmoney, a thing but just, and which they themselves knows it to be just, and that a King being in necessity may Legally exact money from his Subjects for his and their just defence, a thing the Parliament could themselves make use off, although they denied it to the King, as the following Sums unjustly exacted by the Rump will appear. IN Anno 1643 they borrowed a great sum of money upon the public faith (which is now a Bankrupt) as you may find in the eighteenth Chapter of their book of Acts. In Anno 1645 they borrowed another great sum of money, chap. 56. In Anno 1646, two hundred thousand pounds more was borrowed upon the Excise, chap. 65. In Anno 1647 two hundred thousand pounds more was advanced for the service of England and Ireland, chap. 75 and 79. In the same year 1647, forty-two thousand pound more was borrowed and secured upon Bishop's Lands, chap. 79. In the same year 1647, Fifty thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon Delinquents Estates, chap. 102. In the year 1648, Two hundred thousand pounds more was secured upon Delinquents Estates, chap. 115. In the year 1650, Security for another great sum of money was advanced for the use of the Army and Navy, chap. 11. In the same year 1650, One hundred and twenty thou sand pounds more was borrowed and secured by sale of Manors, of Rectories and Glebe Lands, Chapters 29, & 30. In the same year 1650, Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon Fee Farm Rents, chap. 47. In the year 1651, Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon other Delinquents Estates, chap. 10. In the year 1652, Twenty five thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon the remainder of Fee Farm Rents, chap. 6. In the same year 1652, Two hundred thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon other Delinquents Estates, Chap. 11. In the same year 1652, Six hundred thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon other Delinquents Estates, Chap. 23. In the same year 1652, One hundred thousand pounds more was borrowed and secured upon other Delinquents Estates, not contracted for before the first of November, 1652, chap. 29. These particulars I can only name, ' this not being the fifth part of their unjust exactions, but if they had had no more, this same might very well have been sufficient, it amounting to two Millions one hundred and seven thousand pounds, besides Taxes at one hundred and twenty thousand pounds per mensem, which annually amounts to one Million four hundred and forty thousand pounds out right, besides the Sale of Crown Lands, which in seven years' amounts to ten Millions and fourscore thousand pounds, the Plate, Jewels of the King Queen and Prince Delinquents Estates, Delinquents Compositions, Church Revenues, Led, and Timber Forests, Fee Farm Rents, Dea●e and Chapters Lands, the Citizens with their Wife's Children and Servants free gifts of their Rings, Plate, and Jewels, Thimbles and Botkins, besides Excise and Custom, Tonnage and poundage, which cannot amount to less annually than two Million of money more, besides all the moneys first lent, and then doubled upon the public Faith and their other private exactions, which in all amounts to so much or more as would puzzle the best Arethmetitian in Europe to bring into one gross sum, and a thing that if they themselves were called to give an account of they could not do it, or if they could, I do verily believe they would not, and now that I have showed you a thing to be advised how all this money was so unjustly exacted and paid, I shall here present to your view how some part of it was disposed, and if truth were known, the most of it went the same way; all the deeds these fellows ever aimed at, tending to the enriching themselves, and impoverishing the Nation, as by the following Catalogue may appear, of whom William Lenthall shall lead the Van. William Lenthall Speaker to this Parliament, had two thousand pounds given him at one time, six thousand pounds at another time, besides places of trust he held and enjoyed, worth to him above twenty thousand pounds per annum; And he likewise had of every Gentleman that made his Composition at Gold-Smiths-Hall five pounds (at which some persons make a but) but if he had no more it was very fair, for the books will show you that there was above four score thousand persons, who compounded, which at five pound a man Lenthall received, it came to above four hundred thousand pounds clear into his Pocket. Edmond Prideaux had places given him worth seven thousand and two hundred pounds per annum. The Earl of Warwick a place worth five thousand pounds per annum. Sr. Gilbert Gerrard had gratuities and places worth threescore thousand pounds. Bulstrode Whitlock had given him the place of one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal, worth 1500 pound per annum. Alderman Pennington had given him seven thousand pound, and store of Bishop's Lands. One Thomas Pury three thousand pounds. john Selden five thousand pounds, of which he received two thousand five hundred. Sir Benjamin Rudyard five thousand pounds. Sir john Hipsley two thousand pounds. Benjamin Valentine five thousand pounds. Sir Henry Heyman five thousand pounds. Denzill Hollis five thousand pounds. Nathaniel Bacon three thousand pounds. john Stevens one thousand pound. Robert Reynolds two thousand pound, &c: But because I would not make my Narration too tedious, I thought good to abreviate in naming every Particular man's name, to whom their liberality of other men's moneys and Estates was given, & tell you the sum of their gifts is as uneasy to be numbered, as all the particular persons on whom their guifs were bestowed, but I leave you to judge how handsomely your moneys was bestowed and that if Lenthall the Speaker got four hundred thousand pounds at five pound every man that Compounded, the gentlemen's moneys the Parliament received could not but amount to Millions. But if his late Majesty had used that severity he did lenity, he had done well to have lopped the heads of the Monsters off, and adventured to have seen them prove a Hydra's, I shall conclude upon this, that if Lenthall the Speaker were asked this Question, whether they that sat as a Parliament (without their fellow Members) by Law were a Parliament, I question whether he would make any answer, or I challenge him to vindicate it if he can, and free him and themselves from the Calumny, and obliqne that was cast upon them. But where there is guilt in the Conscience, there silence confesses the fact; and they knowing their own guilt made them so silent; Let them hug to themselves what fancies they please, they may be mistaken, God is just, and knew all their secret Actings and Counsels, and no doubt but the Innocent blood that they have shed, and caused to be shed, will light upon them and their posterities heads, as it did upon the blind Jews for Crucifying our Innocent Saviour, to tell of all their Villainies would swell into a larger Volume, then would in a good space of time be well read, as also of their several breaches of Faith and Oaths both to God & man, their dissembling Hypocrisy, blinding the people with the spetious pretences of Liberty and Religion, when indeed the whole they aimed at, was other men's Estates to maintain their Pride, Luxury, and Ambition. This have I writ for a precaution to all truehearted English men to have a care of their next Election of Members, and that these fellows be set apart as the Wolves from the sheep, that thereby once more we may have cause to call ourselves the happy Kingdom of England, For which the Author shall daily Pray. FINIS.