A New Found STRATAGEM FRAMED IN THE OLD FORGE of Machivilisme, and put upon the Inhabitants of the County of Essex.  
To destroy the Army under his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and to enslave all the Freeborn of England on a sudden: Manifested and laid down, in certain animadversions, upon a Clandestine, illegal Petition, contrived, made, and privately printed, by a destructive party in London: and then by them sent down to the Ministers of the County of Essex, to publish as on the last Lord's day, 4. April, to the people, with directions to take their subscriptions in two sheets of paper: which being done:  
So many of the Subscribers as can, are to be desired to meet at Stratford Langton, the 18. instant April, and so to come and present the same to both Houses, as the Petition and sense of the whole County: whereas it was never propounded to the County, nor ever heard of among them, before it came down ready in print, from London, to be published by their Ministers, in there several Parishes.  
With certain Observations and Cautions on the same, conducing to the information, and public good of the whole Kingdom.  Psalm 37.12, 13. 
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth▪ The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seethe that his day is coming.  
Published principally for the Meridian of the County of Essex, but may serve for all the Counties of England 1647.   

A new found STRATAGEM: Framed in the old Forge of Machiavilisme, and put upon the Inhabitants of the County of Essex: The which intended, Clandistine, dissembled, deceitful Petition, (not more spetious than treacherous) is as followeth, viz.  

To the right honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, Assembled in Parliament  
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Essex.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat in alexigencies having freely, & with the first engaged themselves to the uttermost hazard of their lives, and exhausted their estates, for the support of the Kingdom, in its native rights, and liberties, & by the blessing of God, the successes have been answerable in some degree to their desires, by which we sit in peace and yourselves in security, with a full possession of the hearts of the people, and now fearing least by the miscarrying on, of the military charges beyond the necessity of the work, and the ability of the people, now much weakened by a dearth, sharper than the late devouring sword; you should hazard the loss of yourselves, and friends, not so much the alienation of their affections (which yet. Is not to be neglected) as their disablity to serve you which may arise from the Army now on foot, after six month's cessation of all hostility here, and so bleedingly called, for to the saving of another Kingdom:  
And also from so numerous a party in this County, shortly by their quarters like to equal all precedent charges, and to surmount the worst, and heaviest of our former taxes, especially by the manner of being imposed on us  
Your Petitioners do humbly offer to your prudence, the speedy disbanding of the Army, as a plenary expedient against the worst, that in general may be feared by you and us, and the removal of it from the County, by which you shall continue absolute Masters, and disposers of them, and theirs in all your pious and faithful undertake for the future; and that God will assist you for all your safeties, it shall be the daily prayers of your Petitioners.   

Certain Animadversions and Observations upon the said Petition.  
O Foolish men of Essex! who hath be witched you? ye did run well, who hath hindered you? for indeed ye were with the first, and most forward, in assisting the Parliament, for the recovering and regaining our then lost Laws and liberties and (to your everlasting fame be it spoken) ye have (according to the narrative part of the Petition) both hazarded your lives, and exhausted your estates, in the common cause of the Kingdom; but ye are not alone. And will ye do and suffer all these things in vain, if it be yet in vain? Will ye now foolishly (through the delusion of a treacherous party of corrupt members in both Houses, and covetous ambitious Clergy, who seek by feigned words, and false pretences to ensnare, and enslave you, and to make themselves Lords over you) deprive yourselves of all the blessed fruits which ye are likely, and may (by God's blessing) suddenly reap and enjoy? if ye yourselves do not let, by being induced causelessly to Petition; or act, for the disbanding of that Army, by whom God hath given you such answerable successes as yourselves mention; and caused you as ye confess) to sit in peace, and the House in security, in which your free acknowledgement, I acknowledge you, fare more noble than the House themselves; for instead of giving God so much glory, or showing themselves so much as verbally thankful, by any such acknowledgement, they committed Major Tewledy the other day, only because he told Hollis, Earl, and others in effect, the same thing.  
And whereas it is said in the pretended Petition that the Parliament is in full possession of the hearts of all the people, how true this claw-back insinuation is, I appeal to your own hearts and ask, whether ye do not hear more clamours and complaints then ever heretofore, and do not see more injustice, cruelty, and oppressions exercised and executed by the Parliament, than ever was by the King, and feel more abundant, and heavy pressures and impositions laid upon you, (even to your necessery food and raiment, and the fruit of your own labours) then ever were in the worst of former times? so that the people, abhor them and all their actions, they are weary of their burdens; and how then can ye affirm that the Parliament, is fully possessed of the people's hearts, when as they are rather possessed of their hates?  
As for that subtle suggestion of fear, in which is implied a specious pretence of a care to avoid a future inconvenience, viz. least by carrying on the Military charges beyond the necessity of the work (as if there were now no need of the Army, and that if it was disbanded, ye should be troubled no more with such military taxes and charges) and the ability of the people, (as if Essex was so poor and eaten up, which hath been least troubled with quartering) now much weakened with a dearth (not more I hope then other Countries (sharper than the late devouring sword (God for bid, do not belly God) you should hazard the loss of yourselves and friends, and not so much the alination of their affections, as their disability to serve you etc. It is both groundless and senseless for if this Army were now disbanded, the Parliament would still carry on the military charge, by raising them another in this Army's stead, and to that end they have both nominated certain officers which they intent to imply therein, and voted the raising of 60000 l a month to maintain it and the forces in Ireland: So that the taking away this Army, will not take away the military charge from you, and the Parliament it seems would never the less hazard the loss of your good affections, and ability to serve them, and therefore ye may even spare that your great care for them, and it is very probable you may suddenly (if you do not already) find that they have no such great care of you.  
And where it is said that by quartering so many of them, their quarters are like shortly to equal all precedent charges, & to surmount the worst and heaviest of your taxes especially by the manner of their being imposed on you: Your Taxes sure have either been few, and very small in respect of others, or else the quartering of this Army which is (as I have heard) content with ordinary provisions, and will not abide I am confident longer than is convenient with you, and payeth quarters so often as it receiveth pay, cannot amount to such your incomparable prejudice, as those high and hyperbolricall expressions (of amounting and surmounting) do sound forth, and import: and as for the manner of their being imposed on you, I do believe it is neither forceably, nor disproportionably: but this particular his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, their General (who was never yet taxed for any irregular quattering) can more distinctly answer; and so I have done with the narative part of your pretended, or intended Petition.  
Now whereas in the conclusion, or Petitionary part, ye● are humbly to offer the speedy disbanding of the Army, as a plenary expedient, against the worst that may in general be feared by you and them, and to have it removed out of your County, that so the Parliament (as ye must say, but I hope do not wish) may be absolute Masters and disposers of you and yours for the future etc. I would have you observe that here is a dainty gull, a notable piece of machiavilisme put upon you, not only to make you the instruments of removing those, who as they have redeemed your rights and liberties, are also ready and willing, and the principal means, as the things now stand, to defend and maintain your liberties, and to keep you and yours from sudden vasalage and slavery; but also in plain terms voluntarily to offer yourselves slaves; as, that the Parliament shall be the absolute Masters and disposers of you and yours: I hope ye know better what belongs to your own inherent power and native rights, then to make your servants your Masters, or so to own them: as to let your Stewards, have absolute command over you, and all you have; who by the duty of their places are to give you an account of what they have done for you, and how they have disposed that they have already had of you: Thus much for the opening of the Petition: And now I will show you the illegality, inequality, and ill consequences thereof, if ye be so fond, as to subscribe the same, and proceed therein.  
1. For the illegallity: That which is to go under the name of a County or Corporation ought to be first publicly propounded to all the Inhabitants of that County or Corporation, that there may be a general meeting, debate, & consultation about the matter intended, and to be concluded, by & among themselves: Otherwise it is clandestine, and surruptitious comprehending rather faction, then public concurrence & therefore may justly be rejected: And such is this Petition; For it was never publicly propounded, nor debated, or consulted by the Inhabitants of the County of Essex, but was (as manifestly appears) secretly devised, and framed by a private party, of Lords and Commons, yea, and ready printed, before the matter was either made known or published among you; and than it was sent down to the Ministers to publish on the fourth of this instant month, with order to take your subscriptions in two sheets of paper, now is not here an obtrusion on your privileges and immunities, and an illegal, unjust and indirect course used, both in the framing of this petition, and getting your subscriptions? (even just such means as Parliament men, use in the elections of new members) and therefore it is not to be accepted, but the contrivers ought rather to be found out and punished; and again it wants one qualification, which is especially requisite, in all Petitions, and much more in such as concern the public, and are presented to the Parliament, that is; necessity of the thing desired, but this is not petit●●● necess●ria, a necessary petition for, if the Parliament intent his Army (as they say) for Ireland, it is much more necessary to keep them in a body entire, then to disband them; for than they will disperse, and most will departed to their own homes, and never go upon the service: and in case they do not intent or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall go for Ireland, than it is as needful to keep them together, for seeing that the Parliament do conclude that there is yet a necessity of keeping up an Army still with●n this Kingdom, is it not better (I pray you) to have this Army which we know, and of whose fidelity and Christian behaviour we have had such sufficient experiment continued then a new Army raised, of I know not whom and what? It may be of such as the general part of the Earl of Essexes, or Massies Brigade, and others were; whose ill manners, besides other unseen all consequences ye will unhappily find to be a mountain to your backs, in comparison of the present Mole hill quartrerings.  
And now for the inequality of this Petition it contains mighty earnest desires to have this Army speedily disbanded, seems to complain greatly of their quarterings; but never moves or mentions one word that their arrears may be paid them, or that from henceforth more constant pay may be made them, that so they may for the future pay their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 better. Have they deserved for all they have done (Countrymen) for you, and the whole Kingdom, no better reward, then to be disbanded and turned off with nothing? What not so much as their due, (the price of their lives) for preserving of yours? Is this equal? Are ye also unjust and ingrateful? Ask your daily Thresher, your ploughman, and day's labourer if they will be contented with the like dealing? A bad iccompence; yet let them be comforted; God is their po●●on and their great reward.  
As for the evil consequences of this Petition (or of the like) incase ye should persist and proceed therein and that it should (as it ought not to) be granted, they are many & more than I, or you, or the most part of this blind Kingdom, doth or 〈◊〉 foresee or apprehend but I will only him at one head or two, and so commend all to the judgements of the world and your consideration.  
By all appearances (and to me it is visible) that there is a strong endeavour and design by a company of false, traitorous, and deceitful men; in both Houses of Parliament, and of proud, covetous Priests, who have combined in one, for the accomplishment of their own domination & power over us, suddenly to enthral & enslave us; that so they may keep their abominable actions from being questioned, and themselves from deserved shame and justice, and there is no let for them in the way to it but this Army, the which they know right well will not be corrupted, but doth expect to have their Oaths and Declarations fulfilled, and therefore do these ill men work by all means possibly to disband and dissolve it, and in particular by the contriving and sending you this Petition to own and subscribe, that they may take thereby a seeming just cause, as desired of the Country, to proceed in their destructive purpose, the which if they can bring to pass, then will they raise up an Army of wicked men, ready, and reserved for that end, which shall be a standing Army for their defence, in the execution of all their injustice and oppressions, and by the help of the inland Garrisons (whereof I am sure there is now no need) will they tyrannize (not like Lords and Kings, but worse than either great Turk, or grim Tarter) over us: and and where then I pray, is our Laws and our liberties, for which this Army hath fought; and which they have redeemed for us with their sword, and for which we have paid so dear? And thus ye will have the last clause of the Petition fulfilled really, to your sorrow and woe; for ye shall not more be ruled by a known Law, as free men of England, but kerbed and governed by the sword, as the Peasants be of France, and the enslaved Boars of Flanders who indeed (as your Petition is) are wholly and all they have at their lawless Master's dispose, Nay they will not tyrannize over your bodies only, but your souls also; for than you must put on the Presbyterian yoke; it is already so agreed between them and our dear Brethren of Scotland, and because they cannot otherwise set up amongst us that antichristian enslaving government, they will do it by the sword, and so we shall have a Religion established, as Mahomet established his Koran, for if ye will not obey, ye must expect either smart, pecuniary punishment, or destroying, imprisonment: and ye may see the proud Priests footing even in this Petition: is it not commended unto them, and are not they to attempt you on a sudden, and to surprise your judgements by feigned words and speeches? and I believe you see not their end in it, it is because they know that this Army is generally an enemy to their pride, and pompous Lordly live, crying down their Diana, their Tyth-monging and unlawful calling, wheresoever they come, whereby their trade (for so they make their preaching only and alone to be) is in danger to be set at naught; and it is by their craft (as Demetrius said) that they get their wealth, and therefore would they stir up you, under the pretence that the quartering of the Army, is a burden to you, to Petition to have them disbanded, at least to have them removed.  
But I hope Countrymen ye are more wise, then to be acted by other men's counsels, to father a child that is none of your own, that was form, borne, and brought forth, before it came to your knowledge or sight: can any man tell better than yourselves, where your shoe pincheth you, and what is most expedient for you to do? Never render yourselves so ridiculous, as to be led like children and fools by the nose; to be made stalking horses for other men's designs, whose interests are dissonant, and inconsistent with yours.  
As for this poor Army, what evil hath it done, wherein hath it so highly offended? for which of all its good deeds is it so oppressed, despised, hated, and persecuted? Is it (when all others falsified) for proving faithful, or for accomplishing your deliverance, beyond your own faith or expectation) in so short a time? pardon them these offences, another Nation would do it, and hold them dear, their very enemies cannot but justify them, and yet so great is their malice towards them; that because they petitioned the House but for their Arrears, an act of indemnity to save them harmless, a more constant pay, that they might be able to pay their quarters, and some few other most just and reasonable things; they unjustly declared against them in print, as mutinous, and obstructers to the relief of Ireland, whereas (God knows) there are many thousands spare Soldiers besides in this Kingdom, whom they might if they would) send thither.  
And when their Officers, Lieutenent general Hamond, Commissary Ireton, and others appealed to the House: and desired that these malicious suggestions might be proved, or the Authors punished, and the Army vindicated; they could not obtain so much at civil right, as the authors of these false aspersions (which were Rossiter and Harley) to be called forth; an act both base and shameful but what is to be expected, where justice is fortified with impudence.  
One word more to you sweet men of Essex. Whose poultry hath this Army destroyed? whose goods have they spoilt, or whose sheep or calves have they stolen, or whose persons have they confronted, terrified or abused in their Houses, or what markets have they hindered by robbing of passengers, and infesting the roads and high ways, as too many others ye knew who have been less provoked, have done? If none of this be done, what just cause then have ye, I say ye, more than all other Counties, where they have been, to complain or petition against them? I could tell you: that ye have every man sat at home under his Vine, and under his fig tree with full tables in peace and safety, when these poor souls have been in the field in the face of death, in frost, snow, rain, cold, heat, wet, and dirt, by day, by night, in hunger and thirst, to keep back from you, and to suppress the fury of your blood-thirsly enemies: and can you, or any chirstian man think on this, and so ill reward this precious Army? In reason it is impossible, but experience proves the contrary, so full of bitterness, rage and malice, hath the Devil filled the hearts of some men against them; but of you I have better hopes, presuming that ye will not be so easily removed from your own steadfastness, nor be persuaded through the deluding subtlety of any, to act in the least against those, who have endured so many difficulties, passed so many perils, obtained so many victories, and never accounted their own lives dear unto them for your sakes. Whatsoever others may do, either, through ignorance or malice, yet let it not be said, that the County of Essex (a County that hath always been esteemed prudent and religious) did show itself ingrateful or despiteful to the preservers both of their religion and lives.  
Truly in my thoughts this Army can never be enough requited, for do we not at this day, (next under God) by them enjoy all we have? Have not they subdued our enemies, and removed our fears, and caused us to dwell in safety? And are not they a contented, patiented, well governed people, can you say that God is not amongst them? then certainly they that hate and despite them are of the Devil.  
For my part (Countrymen and all others whom it may concern) I hold nothing more expedient for you, and me, and all true English men (seeing the public adversary is subdued, and our Parliament so averse, and indisposed to do us justice and establish our liberties) then to petition forthwith effectually, to have justice speedily, and impartially executed, and our Laws and liberties established, and a just account rendered of all the moneys they have received: and without question when these just things are done, the Army will of its own accord cease and lay down. I account this that unum Necessarium, that one necessary thing, which is now principally to be minded in the Kingdom, & not to petition about quarterings, and remove, and preach, and places, and any thing indeed, rather than this very, only thing, without which all other our outward enjoyments are nothing, was but one thing done (Law, and liberty established) the wheels of our State would go easily, commands would be pleasant, discontents would be removed, injustice, oppression and Treason would be banished, and supplanting dividing spirits would be utterly disappointed. In the mean time till this be done, it is the best and only way for the Countries and free commoners of England, to preserve this Army in power and being, and to petition that it may still stand and be continued, and that others (rather than it) may be sent into Ireland, that so in case these just demands be denied, contrary to duty, Oath and Covenant, the poor Commons may have a shelter and defence to secure them from oppression and violence, and his Excellency and every Soldier under him by the duty of his place, and virtue of the Protestation, is bound thereunto. Who knoweth whether we may not yet have as great need of this Army, as we have ever had? For it is evident and all men may see, that our native rights and liberties are now in more hazard, than they were at the first, and that we are more in jeoperdy, of them by a close traitorous party (our pretended friends) than we were by our public professed foes. And our greatest, and most dangerous enemies, are now they of our own House.  
Sweet friends, I am a mere stranger to you, but one that am a true lover of my Country, and therefore thought good, as a Member of the same body politic with you, to give you a few animadversions, with some cautions, and observations; concerning the subtle and deceitful, dissembled practices, wherewith your homebred adversaries, go about to make you instruments of your own misery and mischief. And lastly, mark this I beseech you and consider it seriously.  
Why cannot the Parliament as well send over those Officers and Soldiers they have intended for a new Army here, to serve in Ireland, as these of this Army? Can they give the Kingdom a satisfying reason? It is more than I and many more can apprehend, if they can: But if here lie not a deep mystery, no better then close treachery, I am grossly mistaken. Let none therefore so fare delude you, as to draw you to petition for the disbanding of this Army, no, both for your honour and security, discountenance and disclaim it and all such practices and conspiracies against it, for such deeds will savour more of ignorance, malice and invie then of any prudence, justness, or necessity, and whereas in the close of the Petition, it is said that the disbanding of this Army is a plenary expedient against the worst in general that may be feared, let them by no means under pretence of benefit, ease, or advantage, deceive you, for it is apparent, and will yet be made more manifest that the disbanding, or otherwise dissolving of this Army, is the only plenary expedient to render us Vassals and slaves, to the will of our enemies, and to bring upon us the worst of miseries, and that suddenly and insensibly, for alas we are at the pit brink, and see not.  
FINIS.