July, 25. 1643.  
A MEMENTO TO THE LONDONERS, To put them in mind how near their destruction is, and what means is left to prevent it.  
IT much concerns you (my Brethren) to sit still one quarter of an hour, and consider the perishing condition you are in, for than I persuade myself, you will see yourselves so surrounded with approaching miseries, that you will think it more than time that you were all in arms, and no longer endure to remain in so naked and despicable condition as you now are in. Will you not be awakened till you hear your Enemies are at your outworks? cannot the noise of dangers on all sides, and in the midst of you, rouse you out of that destructive Lethargy that hath possessed you; but you will continue dreaming about your Trades, till the outrageous hand of your implacable enemies seize upon you, your Wives and Children? I wrote to you before to this purpose, but it made no impression in you, and therefore I had thought never to have wrote unto you again, but that I have some hopes left, that now you are ready to perish, you will look about you, and hear good counsel: and assure yourselves that if this Letter be not an alarm to rouse you, it will prove a passing Bell, rung before your destruction. Never were a People in such necessities as you are in. The King's Forces are grown strong and powerful, and will in short time, if you prevent it not, be as able to execute their malice upon you as they are willing; from whom you of all the People in the kingdom, can expect no more favour than from the Turk or Spaniard, were he come amongst you. The Earl of Essex, you hear, is unprovided in many respects, and what opportunities that will administer to your Enemies, let your fears suggest. Hopton and Newcastle, the Queen and marquess Hartford, are all potent and resolved to destroy you. The hopes they have swallowed, and brags they have made of pillaging and ransacking this City, may sufficiently inform you what mercy you are like to find when they come amongst you. The Malignants in Kent are in arms already. A Proclamation is gone out already, forbidding all Trade and traffic with the Londoners. Have you dangers enough think you, or will you stay till you are more miserable? Perhaps you expect to be saved by a Miracle. Alas! inconsiderate men! 'Tis true indeed there is nothing too hard for the Omnipotent and Almighty God. But is it to be expected that his omnipotency should preserve us, when he hath given us understanding, strength and opportunity to preserve ourselves, and we out of base fear or other poor respects dare not set about it? Why, what would you have us to do, you will say? Ask your own hearts what you have to do; is there any thing else to be done, but for every man that is able of body to list himself immediately for the wars, and every man contribute to the utmost for the maintenance thereof; A Committee of Parliament are appointed you know for the service, and where they fit, such as have been trusted by thousands, and approved by those from among whom they were chosen, who will no doubt take care for the choice of such men only into Office as are of known faithfulness and integrity, not a suspected or unknown man to be admitted: Your moneys shall be employed to the proper end you intend them; make use of this opportunity to preserve yourselves, or expect suddenly to be destroyed. You do but ruin yourselves, your best Friends, and chief Commanders, by venturing in small bodies to subdue your Enemies: what can you hope thereby, but only a prolongation of the war, and deferring your destruction for a season, when in the mean time you waste and consume yourselves away to nothing? No, you must all rise, or nothing can be done to any purpose. The poor will shortly want bread, and what their wants will necessitate them to, let the rich consider. You have talked a great while that nothing can preserve you but a general rising, and in private discourses every man concludes that it is the only thing necessary; now show that you are not mere Talkers, the Countries will come in to you, who long to be up and doing, they await but your leading them the way, let no ceremonies nor excuses hinder you, let not your wife and children withhold you, this is the only way to preserve them: I know you may be furnished with excuses, and that they who are unwilling may have much to say for themselves; But think all of you what lies at the stake, your Religion, laws, Liberties, your Lives, Wives, Children, Estates, all is lost if you do not now bestir yourselves. Be courageous, and God will bless you; Lie still, and perish.  
Farewell. Your Friend, and plain-dealing Remembrancer▪  
This is licenced and entered into the Hall book according to Order.