THE PARLIAMENTS VINDICATION IN ANSWER TO Prince rupert's DECLARATION.  
By S. W. Esquire.  
London, Printed in the Year 1642.   


Prince RUPERT his Declaration.  
IT will seem strange (not doubt) to see me in Print, my known disposition being so contrary to this scribbling Age; and sure I had not put myself upon a Declaration, if in common prudence I could have done otherwise.  
I need not tell the world (for it is too well known) what malicious lying Pamphlets are printed against me almost every morning, whereby those busy men strive to render me as odious as they would have me, against whom doubtless I had sooner declared, but that I well knew this mutinous lying spirit would be easily convinced, but never silenced, which, as it ceaseth at no time, so it spares no person. And this was too manifest to me, by those bold, odious and impossible untruths forged against His sacred Majesty, their own King and Sovereign (and my Gracious and Royal Uncle) who is only guilty of this, that he is too good to be their King; and to deal clearly, this was it furnished me with sufficient patience, thinking it but reasonable, that I should be slandered as well as His Majesty.  
But since it hath pleased my Lord Wharton to tell the whole City of London openly at Guildhall, and since to tell it all the world in print, that one great cause of their preservation at Edge-hill, was the barbarousness and inhumanity of Prince Rupert and his Troopers, that we spared neither man, woman, nor child, and the thing which we aim at is Pillage and Plundering, and the way which we would come by it is murdering and destroying; since such a charge as this comes from such a mouth, I hold myself bound in honour to speak and tell that Lord, that as much of his Speech as concerns me, is no truer than the rest of it, which for the most part is as false as any thing that hath been spoken or printed in London these two years: and had I known his Lordship's intention, I would have asked his reason either before or now at Keinton, if his Lordship had but stayed so long as to be asked the question.  
But me thinks I hear the credulous people say, What? was not the King's Standard rescued from them by force? were there so many as 20. of our men killed by all the King's Canons? was not our right Wing long under the power of their Canons, so as some 17. shot of Canon shot against them, and yet not a man of ours so much as hurt? Nay, were there not 3000. slain of the King's Army, and but 300. of ours? If these abominable untruths (with many more like them in his Lordship's Speech) be all true, then shall he freely charge me with barbarousness and inhumanity; but if these be most gross falsities (as many thousand worthy Gentlemen will take their oaths they are) than I must profess I am sorry that any Baron of the English Nation should utter such foul untruths, to deceive the poor abused Citizens of London with false report, and so slander us. 'twas ever my opinion, that no valiant man would speak a known untruth; nor can I blame his Lordship, or any others faintheartedness in so bad a cause as theirs is, which doubtless is the reason why such Noblemen and Gentry in His Majesty's Army, who hitherto had spent all their days in peace, could then fight so valiantly [ex tempore] not valuing their lives, and forgetting their dearest relations; so as our enemies in their hackney-railing Pamphlets were forced to say, The Cavaliers (to give the Devil his due) fought very valiantly: And indeed, had they not showed rather too much valour, our enemies had had less bottom whereon to sound any untruths, whereof I take this relation to be one of their Masterpieces of Forgeries, for that they slew as many of ours, as we did of theirs, is as true, as that they beat us at Sherbourn castle, and at Worcester.  
Now for barbarousness and inhumanity to women and children, wherewith his Lordship and those unpunished papers cried daily in the streets do continually slander us, I must here profess, that I take that man to be no Soldier or Gentleman, that will strike (much less kill) a woman or child, if it be in his power to do the contrary: And I openly dare the most valiant and quicksighted of that lying Faction, to name the time, the person, or the house, where any child or woman lost so much as a hair from their head by me, or any of our Soldiers. In a battle, where two Armies fight, many one hath unfortunately killed his dearest friend, very often those whom willingly he would otherwise have spared; and whether any woman or child were killed in this fight, is more than I can justly say: I am sorry if there were. I speak not how wilfully barbarous their Soldiers were to the Countess Rivers, to the Lady Lucas in Essex, and likewise to like persons of quality in Kent, and other places: Whom have we ever punished for speaking against us, as they most jewishly whipped to death a Citizen of London, for saying no more than what was included in His Majesty's Proclamation. But since they name plundering, whose moneys? nay, whose Arms have we taken away, unless theirs, who actually had, or at least declared they would use them against His Majesty's Army? And for that little cloth borrowed for our Soldiers, (wherewith their Pamphlets make such a noise) His Majesty by God's help will see it better paid for, than any thing they have taken upon public Faith. Wh●● house have we ransacked, as they did the Earl of Northamptons'? mangling and cutting in pieces rich chairs, beds, stools and hang; drinking as much, and as long as they were able, their letting the rest run out upon the floor, when as the very Earl of Essex his house at Chartley suffered not the least damage by us. What Churches have we defaced, as they did at Canterbury, Oxford, Worcester, and many other places? whose pockets have we picked ever to the value of three pence, under pretence of searching for Letters, as they did in Glocestershire, and particularly this last week at Windsor and Uxbridge? Is it not their usual practice first to plunder a man's house of all plate and moneys, and then imprison him as a Delinquent, for no other fault, but because he stood loyal to his Prince; as if it were too little to take a man's estate, unless also they rob him of his innocence? Have they not now stuffed all the prisons in London with Earls, Lords, Bishops, judges and Knights, Masters of Colleges, Lawyers, and Gentlemen of all conditions and Counties? for what (God knows) themselves knew not: insomuch as now they are enforced to find out new prisons for the Knights, aldermans, and substantial Citizens of London, who are now thrust in thither only because they are suspected to love their King? Have they not by imprisonment or threats muzzeled the mouths of the most grave and learnedst Preachers of London? witness Doctor Featley, Doctor Hayward, Doctor Holdsworth, Mr. Shute, Mr. Squire, Mr. Griffith, and many others (for so I am informed these men are) because they preach that which their conscience tells them is the known truth. And who are countenanced but ignorant and seditious Teachers, who (like the Masspriests of old) call mightily on the people for their plate a●d money for their Patrons and themselves? who, besides their daily Pulpit-treasons, vent such other Divinity, as if Luther were living, he would blush to call them Protestants: And if this be not cruelty, injustice, and tyranny, let God and posterity judge. Now for any looseness or incivility in our soldiers more than what is incident and common to great Armies, I wish they would not mention it, lest some impartial Readers, who know their courses, understand it to be meant by some of their great Reformers, who are that way as notoriously guilty as any: And for myself, I appeal to the consciences of those Lords and Gentlemen, who are my daily witnesses, and to those people mheresoever our Army hath been, what they know or have observed in my carriage, which might not become one of my quality, and the son of a King. And whereas they slander us for Popish Cavaliers, I wish there were no more Papists in their Army, than we have in ours; but to me 'tis no wonder with what face they can slander us for men disaffected to the Protestant Religion, when as their grand Reformers refuse to come to Church. For his sacred Majesty, I have been a frequent witness in England (and all the world knows he ever shown himself otherwise) and therefore hold it to be my part and duty to tell them, that His Majesty is the most faithful and best defender of the Protestant Religion of any Christian Prince in Europe, and is so accounted by all the Princes in Christendom. And what a gracious supporter hath he been in particular to the queen of Bohemiah (my virtuous Royal mother) and to the Prince Elector, my Royal brother, no man can be ignorant of: if therefore in common gratitude I do my utmost in defence of his Majesty, and that cause whereof he hath hitherto been so great and happy a patron; no ingenious man but must think it most reasonable. And for myself, the world knows how deeply I have smarted, and what perils I have undergone for the Protestant cause, what stately large promises were offered me would I consent; and what a wretched close imprisonment was threatened, if I refused to change my Religion, wh●n I was captive to the Emperor of Germany, enough to satisfy any man of moderation: But if it be not sufficient, I would to God all English men were at union amongst themselves, then with what alacrity would I venture my life to serve this Kingdom against those cruel Popish Rebels in Ireland: for though I will never fight in any unrighteous quarrel, yet to defend the King, Religion and Laws of a Kingdom against Subjects, who are up in Arms against their Lord and Sovereign, and such (all good wise men know this and that of Ireland to be) though the pretence look several ways; such a cause my conscience tells me is full of piety and justice: And if it please God to end my days in it, I shall think my last breath spent with as much honour and Religion, as if I were taken off my knees at my prayers. I think there is none that take me for a Coward; for sure I fear not the face of any man alive, yet I should repute it the greatest victory in the world, to see his Majesty enter London in peace, without shedding one drop of blood: where, I dare say (God and His Majesty are witnesses I lie not) no Citizen should be plundered of one penny or farthing, whereby that ancient and famous City would manifestly perceive how desperately it hath been abused by most strange, false and bottomless untruths, for which some body (without repentance) must be ashamed at the day of judgement, if they escape a condign legal punishment in this world. I therefore conclude with this open profession (and I am confident our whole Army will say Amen unto it) he that hath any design against the Paotestant Religion, the Laws of England, or hopes to enrich himself by pillaging the City of London, let him be accursed: And so, whether peace or war, the Lord prosper the work of their hands who stand for God and King Charles.  
RUPERT.   

The Parliaments Vindication, in ANSWER to Prince RUPERTS Declaration.  

Prince rupert's Declaration.  
IT will seem strange no doubt to see me in print; my known disposition being so contrary to this scribbling age, and sure I had not put myself upon a Declaration, if in common prudence I could have done otherwise.   

Answer.  
His Excellence it seems is more merciful to paper than men, he plunders the King's loving people, and spares the Press for publishing his Declarations, and then ascribes it to the goodness of his own disposition, discovered before his coming hither, and which the Commonwealth hath felt and known without any further Declaration, since the picture of his mind is truly drawn in his actions, and though resembling not new in Phisognomy, yet in firing and plundering of Towns, and therefore his Decla. penned in favour of himself, can no way right him in this not sembling but suffering age, as it will appear in this following answer, and vindication to Prince rupert's Declaration.  
Dec. But since it hath pleased my L. Wharton to tell the whole City of London openly at Guild-Hall, and (since to tell it all the world in print, that one great cause of their preservation at Edge-hill, was the barbarousness and inhumanity of Prince Rupert and his Troopers, that we spared neither man women nor child, and that we aim at pillage and plundering, and would come by it by murdering and destroying, since such a charge as this comes from such a mouth, I hold myself bound in honour to tell that Lord, that as much of his Speech as concerns me, is no tr●er than the rest, which for the most part is all false.  
Ans It may be answered, that my Lord Wharton knew that the great advantage gotten at Edge-hill had many concurrent causes, and though God was the most supreme and immediate, yet there might be some mediate and adjacent causes, since the barbarous inhumanity of Prince rupert's troopers might give a sharp edge to the swords and courages of our men, that had deeply imprinted in their minds the cry and voice of the common people against them, every day bringing in sufficient proof of their pillaging and plundering of the Country, ask the men; and they do faithfully report that their beasts are driven away, their houses plundered, and themselves utterly undone, the women affirm the same, and therefore it is more safe to ground an argument from a general than a particular affirmation, and to believe (as it is) that the country hath been most cruelly wronged by Prince Rupert, rather than that Prince R. is innocent of these outrages which have been committed in the country, and therefore my Lord Wharton may be vindicated to have spoken nothing but truth as become a Noble man, and that his Lordship was so far from shunning the meeting with him at Keynton, that if he have no modesty (he dare tell him to his face that he is a plundering Prince, and will with his sword make proof that there is nothing but falsehood and forgery in his Declaration, published to deceive, who cannot be imposed on by his flattering vindication, which goes forward thus.  
Nor can I blame his Lordship, nor any other faint-heartedness in so bad a cause as theirs is; but that they slew as many of ours as we did of theirs, is as true; as that they beat us at Sherbourn Cast it and at Worcester.  
Prince Rupert would here made us believe that our men were faint-hearted, but how can that appear, for if action be● be the expressions of the heart, so many of their numerous great Army had not been cut off, if our men had not fought with undaunted resolution, having a great odds in number to discourage them, and therefore wherein did their faint-heartedness consist? or how could they be faint-hearted? for their cause that Prince Robert calls bad, was as good as right could make it, they fought for Religion, the King and Parl. and the liberties of the Subject; how could they then, having so great, so just, so general a cause be faint-hearted? they knew that the malignant party consisting of papists and such as belonged to their faction, Being the Popes and bishops soldiers rather than the Kings stood ready to play the bloody game of ware, where all must be gamesters, no spectators or lookers on, and all must presently handle arms. so that their forces and resolutions being united, how could they be faint-hearted? no, let Prince Rupert know that unless he will account it faintheartedness to charge upon the King's army with undaunted courage, to recover the day when it was almost lost by the treachery or cowards of some, to slay more men of theirs than we lost (for that is most certainly true) and at lest to make the Earl of Essex remain master of the field, Prince Rupert may blush to steal a victory by his own report, which the King's Army never obtained; and therefore it is evident that Prince Rupert doth unjustly charge our men with faintheartedness, and that he and his men were driven away, and forced to run from Sherburne Castle and Worcester, is most certainly known to all Soldiers, and therefore here doth speak an known untruth, that he may abuse us with false reports and slanders, as well as with pillaging and plundering us, which is the next matter he excuses and disavows, the contrary whereof shall be presently clearly eminiced and proved.  
I openly dare his Lordship and the most quick sighted of that lying faction, to name the time person or house, where any child or woman lost so mmch as a heir from their head by me, oer any of our Soldiers, I spoke not how wilfully barbarous their Soldiers were to the Countess Rivers, to the Lady Lucas in Essex, and likewise to the like persons of quality in Kent, and other places, and since they speak of plundering, whose money nay whose arms have we taken away? what house have we ranscaked, as they did the Earl of Northamptons'.  
Answ. Prince Ruport thinking to vindicate his own actions, hath by forged untruths rendered himself more odious io the common people. But let us ask him some questions whereby without question It will appear they murdered divers, pillaged and plundered many houses, and with a high hand every where committed many ourrages throughout the whole country who were they that compelled divers of our most eminent Captains to ride stark naked on horse bacl, while they followed them with reproachful and contumelous speeches, calling them Parliament rogues, and Parliament dogs, was it not Prince Rupert soldiers, and the Cavaliers, and who were they that drove our men like beasts before their army? they took a religious Gentleman, and having fastened a cord to his feet, dragged him about the town of Thistleworth, and being weary of their cruelty cried at last why do we trouble ourselves any longer with this Parliament dog, and so shot him at last with his Pistol, and for their plundering of houses, who hath made the Country look like a desolate wilderness, houses being pillaged and broken down, and the people fled away? was it their kindness? their merciful dealing, or rather their cruel and barbarous unmercifulness, and indeed by whom hath this Kingdom been brought to ruin and destruction but by Prince Rupert and the Cavaliers, it is no doubt also that our Soldiers dealt better with the Countess Rivers and the Lady Lucas, and other great personages, but it is well known that Prince Robert's Soldiers did most shamefully pillage my Lord Says house as the Lord Stamford's, and afterward not content therewith, they set it on fire and burned it to the ground, having as they alleged warrant voder the King's hand Seal for their so doing, moreover he remembers with much shame and horror of conscience, how when he came with his Army in a pillaging way to Kingston, all the behaviour of his soldiers there, was nothing else but a mixture of divers impieties, for they stole horses, broke open shops and took away their goods, and to make their wickedness more transcendent, they profaned the sacred Temple, converting the porch thereof into a stable for their horses, who ever hear of greater impieties than these, and yet forsooth Prince Rupert doth seek to vindicate himself from plundering or any other cruelty, both which are well known to be continually used in his Army.  
Dec. Whose pockets have we picked ever to the value of three pence, under pretence of searching for letters, as they lately did in Glocestershire? is it not their usual practice first to plunder a man's house of all plate and moneys, and then imprison him as a Delinquent.  
Ans. It is a shame that a Prince should so far overreach himself in affirming untruths, for I am of his opinion that they never took three pence out of any one's pocket, being a booty of too small a value for such Royal Robbers, but that they have took 2 or 3 hundred pound from divers men, as is manifestly known, nay even carriers coming up to London have been pillaged by them, and wagons loaden with cloth as they were carrying it up to London have been pillaged by them, nay, neither man woman nor child can pass upon the highway in any security, but either they are murdered or pillaged by them; and yet Prince Rupert would make us believe that their soldiers are of such an excellent temper, that they will do no wrong to any one, that is, if the booty be not of a considerable value, for than they will not stick to show the most inhuman barbarousness that can be used; and being not satisfied with that money which they bear about them, they have stripped men and women starken naked even to their shirts and smocks, and so left them to the mercy of a dark and cold night, to find the way home or else to perish in the fields, and if all this former proceed of theirs, be not cruelty, injustice and tyranny, let God and the world judge: It is well known that none have with the Parliaments consent been plundered at all, but that the soldiers in their marches hearing of some notorious delinquents house, have stepped out of the way and disarmed them of all Ammunition, because they knew that they were malignant enemies to the King, Church, State, and Commonwealth, who under pretence of standing for Ood and the King, are illaffected to the peace of this Land, and would feign if they could induce again Popery into this Kingdom: the other part of his accusation is only true when it is replied unto their Army, for they do daily plunder the houses of such as stand for the King and Parliament, and all such as are well-affected to them both, they include in the number of malignants, making them not only prisoners; but also to pay their lives down for affirming that they wish well to the King and Parliament, as if they could not love both together, when indeed he hath no greater friends than those that he would comply with his Parliament, which they so much hate, and to be revenged on them hath persuaded the King to make this civil War, and thus they will, murder, and pillage all that profess their true affection to the King and Parliament, and thus Prince Rupert would make us believe that he and his soldiers are just and merciful, which we may sooner believe of a Butcher that kills sheep for the goodness of the flesh, and so Prince Rupert kills and murders the King's subjects for their good affection to the King and Parliament.  
Declar. What have they seen in me that might not become one of my quality and a King's son? And whereas they slander us for popish Cavaliers, I wish there were no more Papists in their Army, than we have in ours.  
Answ. It doth not become the son of a King to strain and stretch his words beyond belief, as he hath done in his late declaration, or to see a false gloss on his actions; He should endeavour being a stranger unto this Kingdom, to work a pacification between the King his Uncle and his Pa●liament; and not to engage him in a civil War against his loving subjects, he should not pillage and plunder towns and houses wheresoever he comes, as he did at Reading, where he took away the Major's plate, and at other places; he should not desire the effusion of blood, nor make his name odious to the common people as he hath done by his cruelty: and lastly, he should not have endeavoured to vindicate himself by a false vindication, accusing us and our soldiers for those faults whereof himself is guilty, neither let him object that we have more papist in our Army, than there be in theirs, for is well known, that their whole Army doth consist of men of desperate fortunes, papists, Damned Cavaliers, and many dangereous malignants.  
Declar. For though I will never fight in any unrighteous quarrel, yet to defend the King, Religion and Laws of a Kingdom against Subjects, who are up in arms against their Lord and Sovereign; and such (all good wise men know this and that c Ireland to be) though the pretence look several ways, such a cause my conscience tells me is full of piety and injustice.  
Answ. This indeed hath afair and specious protestation in outward appearrances, yet his actione contradict his words, or else his words are not full of that sense which they ought to be, since P. Rupert is but an abettor in this war, that doth unnaturaly put the King up on those violent courses, under colour and pretence of the same cause which we maintain: For doth not the Parliament & all his Ma: loving subject, aim at no other end in this war, but to defend the King's persons now environed with a company of dangerous malignants, who deserv● not the name of subjects, and also to the Religion pure and undefiled in its primitive essence, and to make Law the rule and square of all their actions, all which both the King, Religion, and Law they will defend with their lives and fortunes, and to this end (as the Parliaments many Meclarations do testify) they have raised an Army under the conduct of the E. of Essex, and therefore it is an unjust aspersion, which Pr. Rupert casts upon all his Majesty's loving subjects, challenging them that they are up in Arms against their Lord and Sovereign, whom they love and would willingly submit unto, in all christian obedience. A son may love his father, and yet not affect those servants who he is well assured hath done his father wrong, and it is manifest that the King's gracious disposition hath been much abused by wicked counsellors and malignants, and their true subjects may desire and seek their extirpation and rooting out, and yet retain a loyal love and reverence of their lawful Sovereign, and in this manner accursed be he that doth not stand for the King, as I am persuaded that all do even from the bottom of their heart: The cause of Ireland is far different from that of England, for they stand for their popish Religion against their King, we stand with the King and for the protestant Religion; and therefore it is piety in us to defend God's cause, and justice in us to see that the King and Kingdom be not wronged by the impartial carriages of some Delinquents, who would hold the balance of justice, and weigh out unto us the King's power and authority unto us as they please, to make it light or heavy to bear, and while the King governs us they will govern the King, that he shall do nothing but what is infused into them by their councillors, and thus it is we and not Pr. Rupert that do rightly stand for God rnd the King, and his great (though despised) Counsel the Parliament, whoses ruin he desires.  
Declar. I should repute it the greatest victory in the world, to see his Majesty enter London in peace, without shedding one drop of blood, where I dare say, no Citizen should be plundered of one penny or farthing, whereby that imminent and famous City would manifestly perceive how much they have been abused by most strange false and bottomless untruthe.  
Answ. How can any reasonable man give credit that Prince Robert doth so much desire that the King should come unto London in a peaceable manner who it is supposed hath been the chief agent to provoke the King first to keep such a distance in the north from the Parliament, and afterwards to raise an Army, in the conduct whereof he doth appear so forward, and in the prosecution of which war he hath committed so many outrages his love unto the City of London doth appear in nothing the King advanced his army so near unto it. and whatsoever is pretended to the contrary, Prince Rupert had a strong affection to the wealth and riches of this populous City, whose streets he and his Cavaliers had divided among themselves before their coming hither, it had been hard trusting to P. rupert's mercy if he could have entered into the gates of the City, all the money in my purse is sometimes not above a penny farthing, and yet if I had gone in the habit of a Round-head citizen as they call them, I do not think but they would pillaged me, for that suspecting that I had more money about me, for P. Rupert loves money no more theh the fox loved grapes, who despised them because they hung out of his reach, so because he could not get into London. Thus have I shall bacl those arrows which P. Rob. aimed at us, and yet I have not hit him so home as a bullet would have done at Keynton battle, for than he would never have turned Ne●ter to deceive the world as he intended to do by justifng of himself by a false invective bitter pamphlet entitled Prince rupert's Declaration, which is thus in every particular confuted by a brief answer.    
FINIS.