The Sense of JOHN WARNERS SPEECH In his Personal Capacity, spoken by the Lord Mayor OF LONDON  
In his Politic Capacity: OR A Declaration delivered from john, and my Lord, uttered from them both, with one Mouth, Apr. 25. 1648.  
Dedicated to the Right Honourable OLIVER CRUMWELL And the rest of the Saints MILITANT.  
Signed Michael.  
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1648.   

The sense of JOHN WARNERS Speech.  
FOrasmuch as it is Conceived, and Apprehended, by the Common Counsel, that this City (at present) it in great danger.  
Conceived &c: A mere conceit indeed; for where (I pray) lay the danger, under Ground, or above Ground, in the Air, or above, or under water; was the Thames to be blown up the second time, or was there any fear of Castles in the Air, or another dangerous powder Plot, with an etc. Therefore give me leave to expostulate in the language of Thomas Sternhold, Psal. 2.  
Why did the City, Tumults raise,  
What Rage was in their Brain?  
For mine own part, I know myself to be as very a knave and Coward, as any man living (except the Lord of Oldsworth) yet I was no more afraid with any danger or damage now from the Army, then of a Capon and white broth at a Thanksgiving dinner, Then why shall such a one as I fear? And therefore I declare now, they were the Fears, and jealousies of the Common Cuckolds [counsel I would say) and not mine own, the text is clear in the point.  
Conceived and Apprehended by the Common-council.  
Apprehended; in Good time Verily; Are the Common-Councel men all turn Constables; or what do they Apprehend or catch at their own shadows (that is themselves) to my knowledge (which I know and all men know is very slender) there was no more ground of fear now then was in 88 or November 5th. 1605. Out upon't; In my conscience (which is as little as my Science) Sir Walter Earl, or Harry Pelham the Negro Mock speaker) has bit these Common Coxcombs, and they are (now almost two Months before Midsummer) Ready to run mad with Fears, and Jealousies.  
These are therefore according to the desire and direction 〈◊〉 the said Court, to Will and require you in his Majesty Name.  
Mark (Beloved) that therefore the meaning of it is this, Because these Wiseacres of the Council fear, where no fear is, or was, therefore [forsooth] I must be such an ass as to declare I know not what Jmaginary danger. You se [dear S ●s] it is not my desire or direction, but the desire & direction of the Court, for my part I love not this directory, though I was compelled to obey it. But if ever they catch me doing any good to this City (especially this Blew-bonnet-Scotified Council) I'll give 'em leave to Prinne mine ears or hang me as they did one of my Predecessors, Nick. Brember was in 11th. year of King Richard the seconds Reign, Anno, (or Anna) 1388. He was a stirring stickling fellow, and had he not been hanged he had been created Duke of Troy, or of London by the name of Troy: He had been divers times made Lord Major, Which I purpose not to be, He loved his King dear and Loyally (which I yet never did) for his royalty he was hanged, and his throat cut after wards, but follow his example he that list, if you will know more of him, Read Stows Chronicle, page 303. I confess he was an honester man than myself.  
Thus you see that I who have been all my life, a Uoluntarie Hypocrite, am now compelled to be one; And you know that Necessity hath no more Law than I have Loyalty; And therefore had not the Counsel desired and directed too, I (of myself) would never have used his Majesty's name in the business, I would sooner have declared in the Devil's name, as in whom I have more interest, and you too.  
In his Majesty's Name, etc. And here my Brethren (the Saints I mean and not the Aldermen) I must distinguish myself (as the Parliament did the King) into two capacities, (viz.) into my Political and Personal. That is the Lord Major, by which Office of Majestracie, I am of a capable capacity and understanding to be a politician; But in my personal Capacity, I am plain JOHN WARNER, and (in that sense) so I am out of my political capacity, and consequently no politician.  
I could instance this Argument further, by demonstrations out of the Records and Annals of Quinbourough, where the Major spoke wisely as followeth.  
Beloved, I am by my place the Kings Iamag●, Therefore for a man to say more than a Man can say, I hold it not fit to be spoken: But for a Man to say what a Man ought to say, there I leave you my Brethren. Or as the Learnned Poetical Water-poet said in his Laborious History of Nonsense.  
More might be said, but then more must be spoke.  
The Weights fell down, because the jackline broke.  
But, to proceed Brothers, Ass I am john Warner I love myself and you, But Ass a Magistrate I even ha●e myself perfectly; Except in order to your ends, or designs (the plunder and Ruin of the City) And those I am sure I have promoted with as much Art and Industry as my zeal and Brains could attain to; And my two 〈◊〉 (Atkins and Pennington) and myself, who have made as perfect a Triumvirate, or junto (hard words these are) of Catiline's and Traitor to this City of London as over were in Rome, or Hell, I tell you, you do hate magistrates, and as I being ●o, I hate myself, if it be truly and highly principled; for (Dear Brothers' Saints) Is not S●ilo come, Then must Sceptres come & Crowns depart, the Inference is as clear as my Conscience. Hath not CHRIST made us free, why then should we be slaves, or Subjects to any King or Parliament (for they would all be Kings too) in Kent or Christendom.  
Fellow then the Thrust (Victorious Souls) dispatch Charles Stewart, then down goes monarchy: and then straight way those ●igg-widgeon Traytorly Don-qu●●ksotts of Westminster, (most of them as mean and mechanic as ourselves) will tumble after, and vanish like their own Ordinances or a morning Cloud.  
Heye then up go we.  
In his Majesty's Name, &c just as our fellow Hippocrites in the Gospel made use of the Name of Christ the King of Kings; Math. 7.22. Have we not prophesied in thy Name, (yes we have prophesied to some purpose, for all the people of God are Prophets, and in thy name cast out Devils, No we have brought Devils in) and in thy name done many wonderful Works. Yes as the wonder working Parliament did in Richard the 2. time, Anno 1388. [that Parliament did Raise and ruin whom they listed, and beheaded, hanged, Imprisoned, fined, Banished and beggared whomsoever they pleased, So that as we have done the work we may expect their Reward in the text, we look to have the same Mittimus, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.  
But to work iniquity by pattern, is but to sin by Authority: for has not this blessed Parliament used the King's name more than 7. years to his and his friends Ruin, It is probable that they committed him to close prison in his own Name, (as these) Charles King of England, we charge thee in thy personal capacity that [in obedience to the authority of thy Politic Capacity] thou submit thyself to be deprived of all the comforts of this life, [viz:] as Wife, Children, friends servants, Estate, Dignity, Goods, possessions and Liberty. I tell you (my Brethren that this deep State-logick, newly practised, newly printed, and newly come forth, Are not all writs Issued as formerly, and all Briefs passed under the name of Charles by the Grace of God etc. down to this very year 1648. And subscribed Given from our Palace at Westminster, such and such a day, and in such a year of our Reign etc. when as poor King Charles (Good man) God knows hath not seen Westminster or White-Hall, since February 1641. except at a distance from Brainford or Hampton Court, etc.  
The old saying was that all mischief begun in ●ni or Anni Domino (for we that have the Gift of Tongues may speak the Language of the Beast) But all the Plagues of Agypt began Annu Domino Regis. No Subject now is solemnly undone, but in his Sovereign Lord and Master's name, the King, Nor was any honest Man, or truly Loyal Royalist hanged or beheaded since these merry mad times, but they have all suffered in the King's name, though for the king's Cause or sake.  
Thus Traitor B●rley late did seel  
The Razor edge of Wild and Steele.  
And so (Dear Brethren) I have done with the King; though you will do as you have done, and never have done with him till he be undone.  
These are therefore to will and require you etc. that presently upon fight hereof, you _____ do repair to every Housholder etc. and give them strict Charge and Command at their Pex●ll●, That they do so Order and dispose of their Servants, &c: That they be not only kept from Committing any entrage or Misdemeanour, But that they, and their Servants &c, be in Readiness [According to their several Capacities] with arms weapons, and Ammunition for the preservation of the Peace, Defence of themselves, the City and the Magisthates thereof, etc.  
O rare Magistrates, O brave Lord Mayor. I am sure neither God or the King made me a Lord, and none but fools and knaves made me mayor, and the troth is, that I myself do know myself to be to better than a paper, or (at the best) a Past●●ord Pageant: and my horse is but a Hobby-Horse. And yet I, even I, I pierce I, John, though not John a Leiden [or leaden john] but John of London, I myself [forsooth do Will and require etc. and what think you verily of my Command that all the Citizens [upon occasion] shall with their Servants, keep their houses till their throats be cut, in their own defence, that you King Oliver (the Chieftain of the Lord) might kill them in several▪ And glean them one by one at your pleasure, which (were they in full Bodies, and in a posture of defence) I without the hazard of those precious Saints of Whitehall▪ and the Mews, the one Ambulent, the other Equitant, (Both Militant) And yet I further declare, for fashion sake; that,  
The Trained Bands of this City, do from time to time, upon the Beat of 〈◊〉, Repair with all speed to their Colours▪ &c: and for the safety and welfare of this City.  
To their Colours, etc. Namely that the Citizens may be murdered in their Arms and ●artial Equipage, as once the old Roman Aldermen were (in Pontificalibus when the Gauls stormed the City.  
This be confident of Brethren [for you 〈◊〉 confide in me] That the lieutenant General [for the General himself is not wise enough to be trusted with a secret] Brother Atkins, Brother, Pennington, and myself [with Foulk●, our Auxilliarie, 〈◊〉 laid a most exact Model of the Cities plunder first, and then Destruction, or [which is worse] Captivity and perpetual slavery, And then would the Citizens have been forced to Hang out their new Lights. All had been Goshen then, which now (if either the Protestant or presbyterian party prevail, and we miscarry; (as 'tis to be feared we shall] will continue Egypt still, and for want of our Light [though we be hanged out] 〈◊〉 in darkness, and in the shadow of death.  
So much for the Text; Now two short words of Application, and I have 〈◊〉; The words are these 〈◊〉 which I leave to your considerations ●o Construe land Interpret.  
Fini●, ●●ni●.