England's confusion, or, A true and impartial relation of the late traverses of state in England with the counsels leading thereunto : together with a description of the present power ruling there by the name of a Parliament, under the mask of The good old cause / written by one of the few English men that are left in England ...

England's confusion, or, A true and impartial relation of the late traverses of state in England with the counsels leading thereunto : together with a description of the present power ruling there by the name of a Parliament, under the mask of The good old cause / written by one of the few English men that are left in England ...

Table of contents

Title page

A True and Impartial Relation of the preſent Actings at Weſtminster; under the mask of The Good old Cauſe.

A True and Impartial Relation of the preſent Actings at Weſtminster; under the mask of The Good old Cauſe.

[Page]

[Page]

IT is not unknown to any that have not been wilfully blind, wi [...]h what a high hand of Arbitrary Power the late Protector Oliver Cromwell ſwayed the Scepter of theſe three Nations for the ſpace of five years, and laid the beſt foundations his ſhort and troubleſome Reign would give leave to have continued his poſterity in the ſame unlimited dominion; declaring, when death ſummoned him to account (if we may credit the greateſt of our preſent Rulers) h [...]s eldeſt Son Richard his Succeſſor in his uſurped dominion, and leaving his Son Henry Lord Lieutenant or Viceroy of Ireland, and his Daughter Fleetwood married to the Commander in chief under him of the Army, (which they had very far new modelled for their turn) and the moſt probable competitor for ſucceſſion in the Protectorſhip. Now that ſubtle Lambert was upon diſcovery, his active undermining ſpirit removed from all places of truſt and opportunities of doing miſchief.

In this poſture of affairs was England and the dominions thereof, when the Lyon was forced to quit his prey; of whom I will ſay no more, becauſe he is gone to his own place, and where I can ſpeak no good of the dead, I hold it almoſt a duty to ſay no evil.

The Protector being interred among the Kings and Queens at Weſtminster, (at a vaſter charge than had been uſed upon like occaſions in the richeſt times) death giving him that honour which he had aſpired to, but durſt not embrace in his life time, his Son Richard, an honeſt private Gentleman well beloved in Hampſhire, the Country where he lived, aſcended the throne by the invitation and incouragement of Fleetwood, D. ſhorough, Syd [...]nham, the two Jones's, Thurloe, and others the Relations and Confidents of his Father, and by the contrivance of the Court received congratulations (prepated at VVhite [...]all) from moſt of the Counties, Cities and chief Townes of England, and from the Armies of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with ingagements to live and die with him▪ Addreſſes from the Independent Churches [Page] by Doctor Goodwill and Nye their Metropolitans, and was indeed worſhipped by many as the riſing ſun in our Horizon.

This introduction being made to the transferring the Government of theſe Nations from the Stewarts to the Cromwells, it was conceived by thoſe who had proceeded thus far, that a General convention or [...] [...]iſely choſen by influences from Court; would eaſily ſwallow what had been ſo well prepared to their hands. And accordingly it [...] by the Junio before mentioned, that a Par [...]ment ſhould be called to meet the twenty ſeventh of January laſt, and (by pretence of reſto [...]ing the people to their ancient way of Elections, but really) that the Court might command the more votes, the Burroughs had Writs alſo ſent to them, and the Elections were all made in the antient way, only thirty members were called by W [...]i [...]s from Scotland, and as many from Ireland, according to the late combination of the three Nations into one Commonwealth.

This new kind of Parliament being met at the time and place appointed, God had ſo well ordered the Elections, notwithſtanding the practices of men, that their Engliſh Spirit quickly appeared both againſt Impoſitions from Court and Army. And though their Counſels were at firſt interrupted with an Act of Recognition of the Protector, prepared and brought in by the Court, which took up the firſt fortnight of their time upon the very point of Recognition, ye [...] they were at length extricated from that difficulty by the Expedient of an honeſt Gentleman, in paſſing theſe votes on Monday the fourteenth of February 16 [...]8. without any diviſion or negative.

Reſolved,

That it be part of this Bill to Recognize and declare his Higneſſe Richard Lord Protector and chief magiſtrate of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions and territories thereunto belonging.

Reſolved,

That before this Bill be committed, the Houſe do declare ſuch additional clauſes to be part of this Bill, as may bound the power of the Chief Magiſtrate; and fully ſecure the rights and privileges of Parliament, and the liberties and rights of the people: And that neither this, nor any other previous vote, that is, or ſhall be paſſed in order to this Bill, ſhall be of force or binding to the people, untill the whole Bill be paſſed.

Their next work was to appoint a Committee for Inſpection into the Accounts and revenue of the Commonwealth, which had been lamentably ſquandred and waſted ever ſince 1648, (when the major part of the Parliament, called in 17 Caroli, was forceably impriſoned and ſecluded by the Army and their follow-members) and twelve Members verſed in matters of Account, whereof Mr. Scowen was in the Chair, [Page] were ſelected for this work, and fully impowered for the work they had in hand, in order to the retrenching and leſſening the charge of the Common-wealth.

On Saturday the nineteenth of February they proceeded in the Act of Recognition, and reſolved,

That it ſhall be part of this Bill to declare the Parliament to conſiſt of Two Houſes.

And had afterwards ſeveral dayes debate by order concerning the bounding of the Chief Magiſtrates Power, and the Bounds and Powers of another Houſe in relation to the former votes, but could come to no reſolution thereupon, the Court Party ſtickling hard for the Powers given them by the Petition and Advice, and the honeſt Patriots of the Houſe (whoſe weighty reaſons then convinced the Common-wealth party now ruling to go along with them) denying it to be a Law, being obtained by force and excluſion of above a hundred Members in the year 1656, by which force alſo the purſe was taken from the Commons by ſetling a revenue of thirteen hundred thouſand pounds a year in perpetuity of the Command of the ſingle perſon, and the ruling Members of the Other Houſe being moſt of them Officers of the Army and Courtiers; which being allowed for Law, the people would have been abſolute ſlaves to their power, and purſe, ſtollen from the Commons as aforeſaid,

Whileſt the temper of the Houſe was thus tryed, and they appeared ſufficiently to be Engliſh men, divers of the Members of Scotland and Ireland joyning with them in the ſame reſolutions, by the joynt advice of the Court and Army party, the queſtion of Tranſacting with the perſons ſitting in the Other Houſe, as an Houſe of Parliament, was ſet before them, upon pretended grounds of Law and Neceſſity, and by arguments of Force and Interpoſition from the Army, and of Impoſſibility to proceed in any thing without the ſaid Other Houſe. This Attempt was as ſtoutly oppoſed for fourteen dayes by the moderate honeſt Patriots of the Houſe as the former; the undoubted Right of the antient Peers aſſerted, and all the ſaid grounds and arguments confuted, except that of Force, which was not to take place with any thing like a free Parliament of Engliſh men: But in the cloſe of the fourteen dayes debate, wherein much of the honeſty, ingenuity and courage of the Engliſh Nation did appear, (ſeeing all affairs at a ſtand till ſomething were reſolved in this point) they came in a very fall Houſe to this well qualified Reſolution.

Reſolved,

That this Houſe will tranſact with the perſons now ſitting in the Other Houſe, as an Houſe of Parliament, during his preſent Parliament: And that it is not hereby intended to exclude ſuch Peers as have been faithful to the Parliament, from their privilege of being duely ſummoned to be Members of that Houſe.

[Page] The Houſe of Commons (between the Protector, the Other Houſe, and the General Council of Of [...]icers now ſummoned to meet at Wailingford houſe) may well be conceived at this time to have had a Wolf by the ears, and (having ſhewed themſelves Engliſh men and not Slaves) had reaſon to entertain wary counſels, having ſome of their own Members undermining them without dores; and foreſeeing a Diſolution, though not knowing whether they ſhould die a violent or natural death, or have a mint kind of deceaſe, as it fell out afterwards: And therefore they reſolved not to own them in the Other Houſe as Lords, but called them, The perſons now ſitting in the other Houſe as a Houſe of Parliament; Neither would they treat & confer with them, in the uſual way as with the Houſe of Peers, and therefore found out the new word of Tranſacting; and not intending to have to do with them, but for a tryal, they limited the time to be during this preſent Parliament, which they foreſaw would not be long; and to muzzle the new inconſiderable Upſtarts ſufficiently (if they ſhould take too much upon them) they aſſerted the Privilege of the antient Peers as a good reſerve, if the Parliament ſhould by the Protector and Army be ſuffered upon ſecond thoughts to ſit longer than was at firſt intended. And reſolved alſo, That they would receive no Meſſage from thoſe perſons ſitting in the Other Houſe, but by ſome of their own number.

The Houſe of Commons by this time had alſo by a Saving in a Vote concerning the Fleet aſſerted their intereſt in the Mil [...]tia, and had under conſideration an Act for taking away all Laws, Statutes and Ordinances concerning the Exciſe and New Impoſt, and concerning Cuſtomes, Tunnage and Poundage, after th [...]ee years. And had vindicated the Peoples Liberties, by ſetting Major General Overton and Mr. Portman, and divers others (illegally committed by the late Protector) at liberty without paying Fees, and declaring their impriſonments and detention illegal and unjuſt; and had their new Lord Jailor [...]arkſtead & others at their Bar under queſtion for the ſame. And had alſo a high reſentment of the illegal ſending freeborn Engliſh men againſt their wills to the Barbadoes and other forein Plantations, & to the Iſles of Guernſay and Jerſey, out of the reach of the Writ of Habeas corpus, and had appointed a ſtrict Bill to be prepared for remedy thereof. And had examined and diſcovered many other Grievances brought upon the People by the Officers and Farmers of Exciſe and others; And by Major Generals, amongſt which Butler was for his inſolent actings and high alfronts to the Law and Courts of Juſtice, put out of the Commiſſion of the Peace, and a Committee appointed to draw up an Impeachment againſt him. The Committee alſo for Inſpection, before mentioned, had brought in and reported to the Houſe the ſtate of the Accounts and Publick, and of the Martial and Civil Liſts in the three Nations, by which it did appear, That the yearly incomes of England, Scotland and Ireland, came to Eighteen hundred ſixty eight thouſand ſeven hundred [Page]and ſeventeen pounds: And the yearly Iſſues to, Two millions two hundred and one thouſand five hundred and forty pounds: So that Three hundred thirty two thouſand eight hundred twenty three pounds of debt incurred yearly by the ill management of double the Revenue that ever King of England enjoyed: And to maintain the unjuſt Conqueſt of Scotland, coſt us yearly One hundred ſixty three thouſand ſix hundred and nineteen pounds more than the Revenue it yields.

Many other particulars were under their conſideration, as to the Religion and Civil Rights of the People, too long now to be mentioned: but in ſhort, to give them their due, they did ſome good whileſt they ſate, both to the Publick and particulars, and intended much more, and did no hurt, gave no Offices nor Gratuities to themſelves out of the Publick Treaſure, nor granted any money from the People, which is more than can be ſaid of any Parliament in our memory.

Proceeding thus ſucceſsfully and hopefully to the general ſatisfaction of the People in the three Nations, who choſe them; the Protector and chief Officers of the Army, who were jealous of one another before, and Competitors for Government, grew now jealous of the Houſe of Commons alſo, who being the Repreſentatives of the People, were become alſo their M [...]nions and Favourites. It was therefore now thought ſeaſonable to contend among themſelves for the Power, before the People ſhould recover it from them both: In order to which, the General Council of Officers kept their conſtant Meetings at Wallingford-houſe, and the Protector with his party countermined them at Whitehall. The Reſult of the Officers aſſembling was a Repreſentation to the Pr [...]ctor, which was publiſhed by the Officers own order, the ſeventh of April; and the day after a Copy thereof ſent incloſed by the Protector in a Letter to the Speaker of the Houſe.

This Repreſentation was like Lightning before Thunder, both to the Protector and the Houſe; for though it hath ſome ſeeming fair Profeſſions intermixed, it is written in ſuch a canting aequivocating language, whereof the Sword was like to be Interpreter, that the ſting was eaſily viſible through the honey, and their former actions and ſuitable continuing honeſty better credited than their words.

Hereupon the Protector begins too late to think of ſecuring himſelf from being ſurprized with their complements, and ſtands upon his guard. And the Commons houſe, as became Engliſhmen, wiſely and couragiouſly reſolved to let the Officers know that they took them ſtill to be their Servants, though they had for too many years ill deſerved their wages, rebelling and uſurping the Government at their pleaſure; and intending to try what they meant by the Good Old Cauſe, which, as they ſeemed to repreſent it, ſmelt of Gunpowder and ball, and whether the repentance held forth in their ſaid Repreſentation were real or Military, paſſed theſe votes on Monday April the 18.

[Page] Reſolved.

That during the ſitting of the Parliament there ſhall be no General Council or Meeting of the Officers of the Army, without direction, leave, and Authority of his Higneſſe the Lord Protector, and both Houſes of Parliament.

Reſolved,

That no perſon ſhall have or continue any Command or Truſt in any of the Armies or Navies of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or any the dominions and territories thereto belonging, who ſhall refuſe to ſubſcribe, That he will not diſturb or interrupt the free-meetings in Parliament of any, the Members of either Houſe of Parliament, or their Freedom in their debates and counſels.

And the ſame time to ſhew their care of the Army, and to prevent jealouſies, they paſſed the following votes.

Reſolved,

That the Houſe do preſently take into conſideration the wayes and means for ſatisfaction of the Arrears of the Armies, and providing preſent pay for them.

Reſolved,

That Serjeant Maynard the Attorney General, and Sollicitor General, do forthwith prepare an Act of Indemprity for all ſuch as have acted under the Parliament and Common-wealth.

Whileſt the Houſe ſpent the reſt of their time in conſidering how to Provide money, without laying new burthens on the people, great conteſts grew between the Protector and the oppoſite Officers of the Army, both ſides keeping guards night and day againſt one another, the Protector having in purſuance of the votes of the houſe forbidden the meetings of the Officers.

In this divided poſture, affairs continued till Friday the 22. of April, on which morning early, Fleetwood the Protectors Brother, Desborough his Uncle, and the reſt of the mutinous Officers, carrying the greater part of the Army after them, and the Protectors party flinching, the Conqueſt was made without one drop of blood, (which was ſtrange in ſo antient, hereditary, juſt, and undoubted a Title) and the Protector forced to conſent to a Commiſſion and Proclamation ready prepared, giving Desborough and others power to diſolve the Parliament, contrary to the beſt advice, and his own Intereſs and Promiſe. And accordingly the ſame day, The Black Rod was ſent twice to the Houſe of Commons (from Fi [...]nnes Speaker of the Other Houſe) for them to come thither, but they admitted him not in, and much ſcorned the motion, having ever looked upon that Muſhrum Houſe as the Lower Houſe and their own creature, the language being to ſend down to the Other Houſe, when they ſent the Declaration for a Faſt, for a trial of tranſacting with them: And therefore underſtanding there were guards of Horſe and Foot in the Pallaceyard, after ſome motions made by Mr. Knightly, Sir Arthur [Page]Haſlerigge and others, wherein Sir Arthur exceeding, That the Houſe ſhould firſt declare it Treaſon for any perſons whatſoever to put force upon any Members of the Houſe; and next, that all Votes, Acts, and Reſolutions, paſſed by any Members of Parliament, when the reſt were detained from, or taken out of the Houſe by force, ſhould be null and void, and other motions becoming Engliſhmen to that end, judging themſelves under a force; and finding they were very unanimous, though near four hundred in the Houſe, in the things propoſed, they reſolved no queſtion, but adjourned till Monday morning the twenty fifth of April, and attended the Speaker in order through Weſtminſter-Hall to his Coach in face of the Souldiery.

Now the Court (according to the guiſe of the world in like accidents) ſhrunk out of Whit [...]hall into Wallingford Houſe: And Fleetwood, D shorow, & the reſt of the Officers, great and ſmall, took the Government into their own hands, the Houſe of Commons being ſhut up, and entrance denied to the Members when they came on Monday (even to Sir Henry Vane and Sir Artbur Haſlerig themſelves) according to adjournment, the Court of Requeſts and all avenues being full of Souldiers, who told the Members they muſt ſit no more.

After the Officers had new model'd themſelves, caſhiering Whaley, Ingolsby, Goffe, and divers others of the Protectors party, and reſtoring Lambert, Haſlerig, Okey, and others diſplaced by Protector Oliver, and played with the Government for a few dayes, & grew weary of it (the inferior officers and the Pamphlets (that now flew about daily without controul) carrying things beyond the intention of the Chief Officers, who would have left the Protector a Duke of Venice, for his Fathers ſake who raiſed them, and their relation to him which they had forgotten till now they ſent to ſome of their old hackney drudges of the Long Parliament then in London, who they knew would do any thing ſo they might be ſuffered to ſit, and on the fifth and ſixth days of May had conference with them, the laſt of which was at their never failing Speaker, the Maſter of the Rolles Houſe in Chancery-Lane, where both Officers, viz. Lambert, who had already gotten his old place, and others with him, and Members, viz. Sir Henry Vane, Sir Arthur Haſlerigge, Ludlow, John Jones, Mr. Chaloner, Mr. Scot, and others, to the number of twenty, ſolicited William Lenthal Eſquire to ſit Speaker again, but be objected ſcruples in judgement and conſcience, (which are not yet anſwered, nor never will:) nevertheleſs Fifteen Articles between the Officers and ſome of the Members (who it ſeems over-confidently undertook for the reſt) being firſt agreed on at ſome of their meetings they reſolved to meet in the Houſe on Saturday the 7 of May; yet that they might do it by ſurpriſe, they gave out that they would not ſit till Tueſday the tenth of May: But the itch of ambition and Lording it over the people, giving them no quiet, on Saturday the ſeventh of May early they met, in the Painted Chamber at Weſtminſter, and to [Page] make up their number, ſent for the two chaſt Cock-Sparrows, the Lord Manſon, and Mr. Henry Martin out of Priſon, where they were in Execution for Debt, and honeſt Whitlock, and Liſle of the Chancery Bench, and with this addition being two and forty in number, the Chancery Mace for haſt being carried before them.

William L [...]nthall Eſquire, their tender conſcienced Speaker, together with the ſaid Lord Munſon.

Henry Martin.

Mr. Whitlock.

Mr. Liſle.

Temperate Mr. Chaloner.

Wiſe Alderman Atkin.

Rich Alderman Pennington.

Pedantick Thomas Scot.

Haſtily rich Cornelius Holland.

Single hearted, preaching Sir Henry Vane, now become old Sir Harry.

Prideaux Attorney General to all Governments.

Smiling Sir James Harrington.

Levelling Ludlow.

Pembrochian Oldſworth that made the Earl his Maſters wiſe ſpeeches

Vain-glorious, hair-brained Haſlerigge, with repentance like the Armies in his conſcience, and the Biſhoprick of Durham at his back.

Sir Thomas Middletons man Jones.

Doting Purefoy, without purity or faith.

Coll. White the Lord Fairfax's Secretary got before his Maſter.

Relig [...]ous Harry Nevil.

Mr. Say, the famous Lawyer.

Mr. Blagrave, better known at Reading then here.

Coll. Bennet, Sir. Henry Vane's little ſecond at preaching.

Mr. Brewſter, a Cypher to make up the number.

Serjeant Wilde, beſt known by the name of the Wilde Serjeant.

John Goodwin, alias Herbe John.

Mr. Lechmore, the Attorney Generals ſecond at all Governments.

Auguſtin Skinner, a Kentiſh Chriſtian.

Mr. Downes another cypher.

Mr. Dove, a Brewer of Salisbury, come to help in this new Brewing.

Mr. John Lenthal, William Lenthal's own Son.

Saloway, a ſmart prating Apprentice newly ſet up for himſelf.

M. John Corbet, ſuch another Lawyer as Miles, and of his own colour

M. Valton, that will never forget his Son furniſhed Blacks for the Protectors Funeral.

Gilbert Millington, the Church ſnuffers, who deſires no better trade then Scandalous Miniſters.

Mr. Gold newly married to get more, the Common-wealth being poor.

[Page] Coll. Sydenham

a Dorſet ſhire couple in at all Governments, who rather talk then fight, & yet will venture to doc any thing, being backt with an Army, againſt the naked people.

Coll. Ayre, whoſe name fills his head.

Mr, Smith a Six Clerk, that wiſhes he could write and read.

Coll. Ing [...]lshy; that fought ſo well lately for the Protector againſt Fleetwood: And,

Fleetwood, that holy man, who ſo ſmoothly ſupplanted the Protector, that he perſwaded him three Crowns were not worthy a drawn ſword.

Stole on the ſudden into the Houſe, the Invitation of the Army for the ſitting of the Long Parliament (as they call it) being firſt publiſhed in VVeſtm. Hall.

Upon notice of their ſitting, there being double their number Members of the ſame Parliament in Town, and many of them in the Hall, to prevent the miſchiefs of a ſureptitious packt Parliament, they agreed among themſelves in the Hall (though they were doubtful that Parliament was diſloved) that about a dozen or fourteen of them ſhould immediately goe to the Houſe: And the perſons that did ſo were theſe, viz.

Mr. Anſley

Sir George Booth

Mr. Iames Harbert

Mr. Prynne

Mr. Geo. Monntague

Sir Iohn Eveling

Mr. Iohn Harbert

Mr. Gewen

Mr. Eveling

Mr. Knightley

Mr. Clive

Mr. Hungerford

Mr. Harley

Mr. Peck

VVho though with much ado, they got into the Lobby, they were not ſuffered by the Officers of the Army to go into the Houſe, though they diſputed their priviledge of ſitting (if the Parliament were yet in being;) but Reaſon, as well as the Laws, muſt be ſilent amongſt men of VVar; and therefore after they had fairly made their Claim, and found the Houſe under force, they retired, and reſolved by Letter to acquaint the Speaker, and thoſe Gentlemen aſſembled with him, what uſage they had received.

And according'y on Monday the 9. of May, they went to Weſtminſt. where underſtanding that there were no Guards upon the Houſe, Mr. Anſley, Mr. Prynne and Mr. Hungerford went up to the Houſe, and had free admittance, receiving the Declaration of the 7. of May at the door, which were publiſhed this day; but M. Anſley walking afterwards into the Hall (the Houſe not being ready to ſit) to let the Members know, that though they were repulſed by force on Saturday, the Houſe was open for honeſt men this day; at his return, Capt. Lewſon of [Page] Goffe's Regiment (as he confeſſed himſelf) and other Officers denied him entrance; he asking them whether they were a Committee to judge of Members without doors: they ſaid no; but they were commanded by their ſuperiour officers to let none in, that had not ſate till Apr. 1653. After ſome reaſoning the caſe with them, the Capt. told Mr. Anſley, that if he would give his Paroll to return without ſitting, he might go in and ſpeak with whom he pleaſed; ſo upon his paroll paſſed to the Captain, he was permitted to go in the ſecond time, and ſoon after returned, telling the Captain as he came out, that he had kept his Paroll, and wiſhed he and his ſouldiers would do the like. Mr. Prynne continued ſtill there, and reſolved ſo to do, ſince he ſaw there was force again upon the Houſe. The diſcourſe Mr. Prynne had within dores, and how he made them loſe that morning, and adjourn by reaſon of his preſence without the Speakers taking the chair, you may expect from another pen. And how he attempted to ſit again in the afternoon, but found there a troop of horſe, and two companies of red coats, Keepers of the liberties of England, and ſo bid them farrewel; immediately after which, to prevent further inturruption in their works of darkneſs from honeſt men, they barred the door againſt three parts of four of the Members of the Houſe by the following Votes.

Ordered,

That ſuch perſons heretofore members of this Parliament, as have not ſate in this Parliament ſince the year 1648. and have not ſubſcribed the Engagement in the Roll of engagement of this Houſe, ſhall not ſit in this Houſe till further order of the Parliament.

Whereupon, Sir George Booth, Mr. Anſley, Mr. Knightly, Mr. Prynne, and the reſt, who had agreed on a Letter to be ſent to them, finding them in their old temper of trampling the priviledges of Parliament under foot, and Judging without Hearing, reſolved to make no application to them.

But a coppy of a Letter coming to my hands, I judge it ſo worthy of the perſons that ſubſcribed it, and of the publick view, that I have here inſerted it.

It was directed

[Page]

To William Lenthall, Eſquire, Speaker to the Members of the Houſe of Commons now ſitting at Weſtminſter.

SIR,

WE the perſons ſubſcribing and others, Members of the Houſe, coming to Weſtminſter-Hall on Saturday the 7th of this moneth, underſtood that the Officers of the Army had by their Declaration dated the day before, invited the Members of Parliament to return to the exerciſe and diſcharge of their Truſt, by virtue of an Act of Parliament paſſed 17 Caroli, wherein are theſe words: And be it declared and Enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord with the aſſent of the Lords and Commons in this preſent Parliament aſſembled and by the authority of the ſame that this preſent Parliament now aſſembled ſhall not be diſſolved unleſs it be by Act of Parliament to be paſsed for that purpoſe nor ſhall be at any time or times during the continuance thereof, prorogued or adjourned, unleſs it be by Act of Parliament to be likewiſe paſſed for that purpoſe; and the Houſe of Peers shall not at any time or times during this preſent Parliament be adjourned, unleſs it be by themſelves or their own order. And in like manner, that the Houſe of Commons shall not at any time or times during this preſent Parliament be adjourned, unleſſe it be by themſelves or their own order: And that all and every thing or things whatſoever done or to be done for the adjournment prorog [...]ing or diſſolving of this preſent Parliament, contrary to this Act ſhall be utterly void and of none effect. [Page] And having caſual notice immediately after, that yourſelf together with the Lord Munſon, Mr. Henry Martin, Mr. Chaloner, Mr. Henningham, Sir Peter Wentworth, Alderman Arkin, Sir Arthur Haſelrig, Mr. Blagrave, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Purefoy, and others to the number of forty or thereabouts, were privily met together in the painted Chamber, and ſeen to paſs thence with a Mace before you into the Houſe, We did not only out of ſenſe of duty to our Countries, if that Parliament be not diſſolved, but by the perſwaſion of multitudes of honeſt faithful, & well-affected people, minding us of our truſt, & that you wanted number in the houſe for the publick ſervice, reſolve that (in regard of the great croud) only about fourteen of us (there being many more in the Hall) ſhould preſently go to the Houſe, where if they found free admittance, the reſt might follow; but getting with much difficulty up the ſtairs, we found the outward door ſhut, and ſtrictly kept, yet by degrees we got into the Lobby, where we found the Inner door of the Houſe guarded by Lieutenant Coll. Allen, and other unknown perſons, Officers as it was ſaid of the Army, who though we preſſed hard to get into the Houſe, and urged their incompetibility to judge of the Members without doors which by the priviledge of Parliament was proper onely for the Houſe, and how they were all oblieged to preſerve the Freedome, Rights, and Liberties of Parliament, the former interruption and forcing whereof they had ſeemingly repented & by your preſent ſitting by virtue of the ſaid Act of 17 Car. have publiſhed to the world the injuſtice of their late diſperſing us; yet by no earneſtneſs nor arguments could we prevail, but were forcibly hindred by them from going into the Houſe; and when ſome of us acquainted Major General Lambert, whom we met in the Lobby as we returned, of our uſage by the officers, though he give us civil words yet the force was not removed, whereupon we withdrew our ſelves, reſolving to give you this account thereof, that you may know that though to your ſelves you may ſeem to ſit free, there is the ſame force as we conceive [Page] continued at your doors, which excluded, interrupted, and forced the major part of the Houſe in 1648.

And now having laid before you the matter of fact, and not being conſcious to our ſelves of having done any thing in breach of our Truſt, or which may merit an excluſion from publick Counſels, and duly weighing the ſad condition of theſe three Nations, and that in the multitude of Counſellors there is ſafety & that of the ſaid Houſe there are yet living at leaſt three hundred Members, beſides thoſe that ſate that day, not being admitted to diſcharge our truſt, and to give our faithfull counſel for the good of theſe diſtracted and divided Nations in the Houſe, and to aſſert and vindicate our innocence and faithful adhering to the Good old Cauſe, as it was held forth by the Parliaments Votes, Declarations and Oaths, till we were forcibly excluded: We have thought it a duty incumbent on us for our ſelves; and the reſpective Counties, places, and all the people for which we ſerve in this way, to claim our own and the peoples right of having their Repreſentatives freed from force, and admitted to the Houſe, unleſſe it be legally diſſolved, and unleſs in a Parliamentary way (by a full and free Houſe and not by any without dores) any thing can be charged againſt them to diſable them, which we are ready as Members in our places to anſwer and quit our ſelves of. And having no more at preſent to ſay, but to deſire that this our Claim may be communicated to the Houſe, we remain

Weſtminſter May 9. 1659.

Your loving Friends.

Thus you ſee (to the grief of all that fear God) the ſame pretended Parliament was ſitting in 1653. (till [...]he Protector Oliver, by the be [...] act of his life; pull'd them out of the Houſe) ſitting again upon a Declaration of the Army (whoſe Slaves they are) to doe what they pleaſe, as time will diſcover: And that you may ſee they can truſt few but themſelves, and are not changed (for all their feigned repentance) they are already return'd into the Good old Cauſe of preferring one another, and their Friends to good Offices and Commands, and Counſellors [Page] places, as appears by their Vote of the 9. of May, viz.

The Parliament doth declare, That all ſuch as ſhall be imployed in any place of Truſt or power in the Common wealth, be able for the diſcharge of ſuch truſt, and that they be perſons fearing God and that have given teſtimony to all the people of God, of their faithfulneſs to this Common-wealth, according to the Declaration of Parliament of the 7. of May 1659.

And their proceedings thereupon, whereby they have choſen of their own members for a Councel of State, 21. viz.

Sir Arthur Haſelrig

Sir Henry Vane

Ludlow

Jo. Jones

Sydenham

Scot

Saloway

Fleetwood

Sir James Harrington

Coll. Wal [...]on

Nevil

Chaloner

Downes

Whitlock.

Whoſe ſeveral Characters you have before.

Hab. Morley Squib-maker of the County of Suſſex.

Sidney who hath nothing of Sir Phillip but the name.

Coll. Thompſon as wood a head as leg.

Coll. Dixwel better know in Kent then truſted.

Mr. Reynolds half Biſhop of Wincheſter, and whole ſolicitor to the Infant Common-wealth.

Oliver St. Johns, late Sollicitor to the King, now Sollicitor to the Common-wealth, to be chief Juſtice again; but they hold him to be ſanctus nomine non re, and too great a Patron of the Law.

Haſelrig remembers his and Collingwoods Caſe.

Mr. Wallop a ſilent Hampſhire Gentleman, much in debt, fit indeed to be Councellor, if he could adviſe the Common-wealth how to get out of debt.

Of perſons without the Houſe ten, viz.

Bradſhaw, Preſident at the formal murder of the King.

Lambert a York-ſhire Gentleman, not born to Wimbleton houſe, but too crafty for them all, now old Oliver is gone.

D [...]sborough, a country Clown, without fear or wit.

Lord Fairfax, an allay for Lamberts brittle mettle.

Berry the worſt of the Major Generals, except Butler.

Sir Anthony Aſhley Cooper, a Gentleman too wiſe and honeſt to ſit in ſuch company.

Sir Horatio Townſend, a Gentleman of too good an eſtate to be hazzarded with ſuch a crew.

Sir Robert Honnywood, Sir Henry Vane's brother in law.

Sir Archibald Johnſon, never advanced before the Marqueſs of Argile till he came for England.

Joſiah Barners fool of the play.

[Page] Their next work muſt be to vote money anſwerable to the dignities bewowed on themſelves; they diſcontinued the Term (to the great damage and diſcontent of the people) becauſe many Suits were depending againſt Vane and Hazilrig; and if they rule on as well as they did when Oliver turned them out of doors with the braod of Knaves, Whoremaſters and Drunkards, to the general rejoycing of the people, no doubt we ſhall be a happy Nation; And what eſteem the people had of them appears by the elections to the laſt Parliament, wherein though none but perſons well affected to Parliaments had Votes, and the perſons now ſitting laboured hard to be choſen, very few of them were elected, the people generally looking upon them as apoſtares from the Good Old Cauſe; and therefore no wonder they would have that Parliament to which only they were choſen never diſſolved. I have now little more to do at preſent (honeſt and learned Mr. Pryane having ſaved much of my labour) but to let the world ſee how they go about by the example of the Army, whoſe Apes they are, to cozen the people of their Religion, Laws, Liberties, Parliaments and Money, with a Ra [...]le, called the Good old Cauſe, which is a very cheat as you may ſee by the enſuing penitential Letter of one better skilled in their Cheats than I am.

Mr. Hugh Peters Letter written to a chief Officer of the Army.

SIR,

VVHereas the late tranſactions of the Army, have very ſore afflicted me; and with Heman, Pſal. 88. ver. 15. have exceed ugly troubled me, becauſe of my love to my Native Countrey, and the concernments thereof, I thought it my duty, being under much bodily weakneſſe, to deſire you to take and give notice unto others, of theſe my apprehenſions enſuing.

1. Though call'd to ſpeak to the Officers, I knew not their further intentions.

2. When I heard of his Highneſſe diſtaſting their meetings, I went to Three of the Chief, and beg'd as for a penny, that they would not proceed in any meeting, and did the ſame to other Officers I met withall.

The dangers I conceive are theſe, becauſe the Protector and the two Houſes as they were Set, was the hopefullest way in the whole world to ſettle theſe Nations, and the croſſing thereof [Page]moſt dangerous, as now it appears both in the ſin and ſorrow of it, As

1. All the Armies addreſſes to his Highneſs to live and die with him, are broken, and their proclaiming of him everywhere ſlighted.

2. His Family, Himſelf and Lady, being truly godly; yea, ſuch a Family of godlineſſe and ſobriety, not known in the Chriſtian world, now broken, and the ſon of Jerubaal not regarded.

3. The Authority of the beſt Parliament, and most freely choſen; trampled upon; yea, ſuch a ſort of men gathered together as would have been a Defence and eſtabliſhment againſt all evils.

4. Nothing ſet up in their place, an Enemy at the door, a pe [...]u [...]ious ſouldiery, thouſands of poor periſhing, that by this time might have been paid, Widows and Orphants already dying in the ſtreets.

Trade gone, Private ſouldiers grown Maſters, Law and Gospel dying, the whole Proteſtant cauſe in the whole world over [...]ottering, how much animoſity, diſcontent, and ſelf ends have prevailed herein I know not; but if the least encouragement was taken, by any word of mine, who was a ſtranger to any deſign, I do here profeſſe my ſorrow and grief for the leaſt occaſion of it, and look upon the whole buſineſſe as very ſinful, and ruining, of which the Child unborn and after Ages will be ſenſible; and this I write from the ſaddeſt ſpirit of a ſick man, and

Your Loving friend, Hugh Peters.

I know but one expedient, which is, That his Highneſſe may be in the ſame condition with his Houſe and Family; and that he be deſired to call in as many of the late Parliament as are at hand to make up a Houſe, and Councel, and Indemp [...]ity to paſſe, and ſo forthwith to ſettle things. And for that which they call the Good Old Cauſe, (I look upon it as a Cheat by the Jeſuits put upon the Army,) the which we enjoyed, it being Liberty and Peace.

VVhitehall May 10. 1659.

Thus far

Mr. Peters.

[Page] But for a further diſcovery of the Cheat ob [...]uled upon the people by putting of the Good old Cauſe, I ſhall to avoid large recicals of Remonſtrances, Votes and Declarations of Parliament, ſtate the true Good old Cauſe in the Houſe of Commons own words briefly out of their Declaration of the 17th. of April 1646. At the end of the War when they were full and free which they cauſed to be affixed in all the Churches of England, to call God and Man to witneſſe their ſincerity therein. And becauſe the title of it is very ſignificant and comprehenſive take that at large. viz.

Die veneris April 17. 1646.

A Declaration of the Commons of England aſſembled in Parliament of their true intentions concerning the Antient and Fundamental Government of the Realm; the Goverment of the Church, The preſent peace, ſecuring the people againſt all arbitrary Government, and maintaining a right underſtanding between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, according to the Covenant and Treaties.

The Preamble recites how their good intentions had been miſrepreſented by divers Declarations and Suggeſtions of the King, and thereby and by other practices the minds of many poſſeſſed with a belief that there was no juſt Cauſe of the War, And that now they had ſucceeded in the War they deſired to exceed or ſwarve from their firſt Aims and Principles in the undertaking the War, and to recede from the ſolemn League and Covenant and treaties between the two Kingdoms, and that they would prolong theſe uncomfortable troubles and bleeding diſtractions in order to alter the fundamental conſtitution and frame of this Kingdom, To leave all Government in the Church looſe and unſetled, and themſelves to exerciſe the ſame arbitrary power over the perſons and eſtates of the ſubjects which that Parliament had thought fit to aboliſh by taking away The Star Chamber, High Commiſſion, and other arbitrary Courts, and the exorbitant power of the Councel Table.

Then they declare in General that they will ſettle Religion in purity, according to the Covenant maintain the antient and fundamental Government of this Kingdom, preſerve the rights and liberties of the ſubject, lay hold on the firſt opportunity of procuring a ſafe and well grounded peace in the three Kingdomes, and to keep a good underſtanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland according to the Covenant and Treaties.

Then to give fuller ſatisfaction they declare particularly concerning Church Government, that they are for the Presbiterial Government with a due regard that tender conſciences which differ not in any fundamentals of Religion may be ſo provided for, as may ſtand with the word of God and the peace of the Kingdom.

Then they declare, that there was nothing they had more earneſtly deſired, nor more conſtantly laboured after, than a ſafe and good peace (with the King) which is the juſt end of a juſt War, and [...]here they [Page] aſſert the fundamental conſtitution and Government of this Kingdome to be by King, Lords and Commons, which they will not alter.

Then they conclude that the firſt and chiefeſt grounds of the Parliaments taking up Armes in this cauſe was to ſuppreſs attempts of introducing an arbitrary Government over this Nation, and Protecting Delinquents, enemies of our Religion and liberties, by force from the Juſtice of Parliament, and declare that they will not interrupt the ordinary courſe of Juſtice in the ſeveral Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdome.

This is the good old Cauſe the Parliament owned.

And therefore let all that fear God in the three Nations conſider whence they are fallen, even from the Good old Cauſe held forth in the Votes▪ Remonſtrances▪ Declarations, Proteſtations, Vows and oaths of the Parliament publiſhed in maintenance of our Ancient and well tempered ſetled Government by King, Lords and Commons, to a ſneaking Oligarchical Tyranny under the bare name of The Good Old Cauſe, which is as changeable as the addle heads that contrive it, as oppreſſive as the corrupt w [...]ls of licentious men can make it, muſt be as arbitrary as the Army will have it, and ſhall be more fully deciphered if they perſiſt in it, which they never dare do, if the people who yet ſeem to be in a Lethargy remember their firſt works, and be as reſolute to aſſert their Religion, Lawes and Liberties, as theſe deſpera [...]e men of loſt fortunes and reputations are bold to trample them under foot, and make this great people (once famous is through the world for valour, wiſdom and Religion) a ſcorn and deriſion to all that are round about us, and themſelves Monſters of men by their A [...]heiſm, Apoſtacy and Inconſtancy.

I ſhall conclude with ſome advice (now it's ſeaſonable) To the Army, To the people of all ſorts and degrees, and to the members ſitting at Weſtminſter.

1. Faithful aduice to the Army.

Firſt, remember the ends for which you were raiſed, for defence of king, Parliament, Religion and Liberties, that you were ſervants to them and received their wages, and were [...] by oathes to them.

2. Remember how in 1647 you were fi [...]ſt by ſome of your ambitious Officers, moſt whereof are ſince dead, ſeduced to Rebel againſt and betray your maſters (whom you accuſed falſely) and to refuſe to disband when the War was ended, whereby you are become Oppreſſers and Robbers ever ſince, And meer [...].

3. Remember how in December 1648. you rebelled the ſecond time againſt your maſters, and forceably and trait [...]rouſly as well as perjuriouſly b [...]oak the Parliament, impriſoning and driving away moſt of the faithful members, keeping only a few that proſtituted themſelves and the rights and liberties of the Kingdome with the lives of the King, Nobles and Commons to their own ambition, and to your luſts and wills, as your pentioners in the houſe till April 1643. when you rebelled againſt [Page] them and for their ſelf ſeeking and notorious crimes and miſcarriages (printed then at large in your Declaration) you abſolutely diſſolved them to the general ſatisfaction of the people.

4. Remember how giddily and impiouſly your ambitious wicked Officers have lead you through horrid Murders, Treaſons, and breach of Oathes from a happy ſettled Government under a King and Parliament. Firſt to a Ridiculous Commonwealth, thence to a new kind of Protector, thence To Prayſe God Bare-bones little Parliament, thence to a Protector with an inſtrument of Lamberts making, but never in tune, thence to Tyrannical Major Generals, thence to a new Crochet called The Petition and Advice, thence to a New Protector and two Houſes of Parliament, whereof one was ſtill-born, thence To build up the things which you deſtroyed, whereby you have made your ſelves tranſgreſſors. Gal. 2. 18.

Thus have you marched ſo faſt from one Government to another' that the poor people wearied out, are ſain to return home and ſit ſtill in a maze, abhorring your unſtable ungodly ways, and crying to God in ſecret that he will at length reſtore unto England Our Kings and Nobles as at the firſt, and our Judges as at the beginning, making it a quiet habitation, which by your ungodly courſes hath been ſo long a howling wilderneſſe full of birds of prey and beaſts that do devoure.

I have no mo [...]e to ſay to you, but that if your miſt [...]ading Officers can reconcile your actings ſince 1646, to the Scripture rule, which you find Luke 3. 14. By which all Chriſtian ſouldiers much more then Heathen are to walk, viz. Do violence to no man, neither accuſe any falſly and be content with your wages; then le [...] them go for honeſt men and count me miſtaken. But if this diſcourſe of mine by God's bleſſing becomes inſtrumental for the awakening your Drowzie conſciences to ſee your Long courſe of Sins and Provocations, and to repent, Then let me tell you your Work is ſhort to make your Selves and the Kingdome happy; for as you have lately gone Six yeares backward at one Step, viz. from this time to April 1653. So if your Officers and You will but make one Step more, viz. from April 1653, to December 1648, to our Ancient Long-experienced and fundamental Conſtitution of Government by KING, LORDS and COMMONS, you will juſtifie your Repentance to be ſincere, and render it famous to all the World, and deſerve and have Rewards from your Countrey inſtead of Indempnity which you now beg from every Power that Sits.

2. Adviſe to the People of all ſorts and degrees.

Delirant Reges plectuntur Achivi, your rulers do [...]e and go aſtray but you ſuffer by it as well as they. Therefore ſtrive to ſet them right; & though they forget their Oaths and Promiſes, do you remember yours: Have you ever ſeen quiet or ſettlement ſince the King was inhumanely murd [...]ed this own Gate, and our ancient Government by King, Lords and Commons[Page]changed? ſince our Covenant was counted an Almenack out of date? this was one in 1648. ſhall I perſwade you to return whence you are fallen? I need not, I know you are ready for it, and watch your opportunity.

Let me only tell you the time is now come; for having tryed all other ways, inſomuch that we are going round again where we firſt turned aſide; you ſee no Foundation to build upon but our Ancient one, ſtrive therefore for the reſtoring of King, Lords and Commons, that you may enjoy them and be happy: Remember how the Miniſters and others of London, Eſſex, Suffolk, Northamptonſhire, Lancaſhire, and other Counties gave their Teſtimony againſt the King's death in 1648: and repent for that Bloud with which the land is defiled: Let thoſe who ſo boldly in their late mutinous Repreſentation to the Protector moved for a Juſtification of the Kings death and all acts done in purſuance thereof know, that they may as ſoon pull the Stars out of God's right hand, as make thoſe that fear his name in England juſtifie ſuch a horrid impiety for which God hath made us an unſetled people ever ſince, and hath given them and the Kingdome no reſt ever ſince; nor will till they repent and do their firſt works, and call all the Members of the Long-Parliament together to ſit free, that they or a new Parliament called by their advice may upon the ſecure Terms offered at the iſle of wight by the KING, and ſuch further reaſonable Additions as the Times may require, reſtore us to our Antient Government, and put an End to our Giddineſſe and Confuſion, which deſtroys Trade, encreaſeth Poor, and threatens ruine to our Religion and Laws.

And let none be any longer deluded with the Baſtard Good Old Cauſe now cryed up by ſome, which is but the ſetting a ſelf-ſeeking Generation of Unſtable Bloody men in ſupreme Authority; who as zealous as ſome of them ſeemed lately in the new diſſolved Parliament for the Liberties of the People, think, now that by their Hypocriſie and Falſhood as well as Force they have advanced themſelves upon the Ruine of their Countrey, that the work is done: And though they have cryed down a ſingle Perſon, and another Houſe, think you ſuch Fools or Slaves that you will not take Notice that an armed General is a worſe single Perſon, and ſuch a Coordinate Senate as they intend by the Propoſals of the Army (which now are come to the Houſe by way of Petition as if they had not been agreed on before) a worſe other Houſe than the laſt, which was the worſt that England ever ſaw: And this Rump of a caſhiered Houſe of Commons, taken into ſervice again at Mercy, and new dreſſed by Sir Henry Vane (another ſingle perſon amongſt them) worſe than the late Houſe of Commons which was full and free; or than the Long Parliament reſtored to its Freedom, or than any other that may be choſen by the free Votes of your ſelves and Legally ſummoned to Sit and Decree our Settlement.

I ſhall ſay no more to you, but deſire you to conſider what I have [Page] ſaid to the Army, with hearts ready to forgive them and pay them their Arrears with additional Rewards, if now at length they Repent and Reſtore our violated Government, and obediently ſubmit to what They and the KING ſhall Ordain for the Settlement of theſe Diſtracted, and no otherways to be cured Nations: for we ſee by Experience than one FACTION devoures another, and will at length devoure the People and their Liberties in the ways of Sin and Guilt that we are in. Let all of you therefore inſiſt on this, That the Members of the Long Parliament who have been unjustly impriſoned and ſecluded, may be Reſtored to Diſcharge the Truſt you have put in them, and then we may hope for Settlement, which we have tryed almoſt Eleven yeares that we cannot have without them. And if the Army ſhall again interpoſe and interrupt you in your Sober and honeſt Endeavours for Settlement, Let them find by your vigorous Appearing againſt them, that you know them to be the Meaneſt of the People; and ſo Few in Number that they are not One in every Pariſh in England, and many ſingle Pariſhes have Ten times their Number of PEOPLE.

3. Advice to the Members ſitting at westminster.

Firſt remember the volumes of Remonſtrances, Declarations, Votes, Ordinances, Proteſtations, Oa hs and Covenants wherein you as members of that houſe with others, have held forth to God and the world The good old Cauſe you ingaged in to be for the defence of the King, Parliament, Proteſtant Religion, priviledges and liberties of the people, and that you renounced all other Cauſes wherewith you were aſperſed and never owned any other till that in March 1649. after you had injuriouſly joyned with the Army in forcing away the majority of the Houſe of Commons and the whole houſe of Lords, you perjuriouſly apoſtatized from the Good old Cauſe and ſet up another of A Common wealth or free State oppoſite to it, and which you had ever formerly diſowned as a ſcandal caſt on you when you were charged but with an intention that way.

2. Remember and be aſhamed that you have ſtuck at no oaths but have taken the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, The Proteſtation, The vow and Covenant, The ſolemn league and Covenant, The engagement, The Recognition of Protector Oliver, The oath to be true and faithful to Protector Richard, and have kept theſe contrary oaths and engagements all alike, and now do ſet men of the ſame ſtamp in offices and places of truſt inſtead of men of courage fearing God and hating covetouſneſſe. But do not think all is well when you have advanced your ſelves and friends, rather believe that though returning to what you have ſo often ſworn to maintain, you cannot ſo many of you be Councellers of ſtate Iudges and Officers military or civil, yet you may become honeſt men and Chriſtians which will better become you, and bring you more comfort and peace at the laſt.

3. Remember that though by lyes & ſubterfuges men may be deceived and abuſed for a while, God is not mocked, Gal. 6, 7. but will though [Page] he bear long, at length wound the hairy ſcalp of ſuch as go on ſtill in their wickedneſſe, Pſal. 28. 21. and pierce you thorow with many forrows.

4. Conſider how God hath emptied us from veſſel to veſſel and led us through a wilderneſſe of changes theſe eleven yeares of Apoſtacy, and gives no ſettlement, return therefore to December 1648. where you forſook ſettlement when it was offered by the King and accepted by the Parliament, and in doing your firſt works for King and Parliament in a full and free houſe, God will bleſſe you and this Kingdome as at the firſt, and the preſent Protector cannot but rejoyce alſo to part with his power upon thoſe termes which both he and his brother the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland muſt needs grudge to have wreſted from him by you and his treacherous relations.

I intended a word alſo of juſtification of Mr. Prynne, but that his Learned and ſeaſonable writings praiſe him in the gates, and carry ſuch evidence of undeniable truth with them, and ſo clear a teſtimony (from A Martyr for the People) againſt the abominable iniquity and horrid impieties of this iron Age, that the Railing Rabſh kahs of the time in what they belch out againſt him do but as dogs that bark againſt the Moon, and therefore I ſhall leave him to the cure preſcribed by God himſelf for ſuch tongues in the 120 Pſal. v. 3. 4. What ſhall be given unto thee? or what ſhall be done unto thee thou falſe tongue? ſharp arrowes of the mighty with coals of Juniper. And do depend as I believe Mr. Prynne do [...]h alſo upon that Scripture word, that in due time the mouth of al [...] iniquity ſhall be ſtopt.

FINIS.

§

[Page]

ENGLANDS CONFƲSION: OR A True and Impartial Relation of the late Traverſes of the State in England; With the Counſels leading thereunto.

TOGETHER WITH A Deſcription of the preſent Power ruling there by the name of a Parliament, under the Mask of The Good old Cauſe.

Written by One of the Few Engliſh men that are left in ENGLAND.

Judg. 19. 30. And it was ſo, that all that ſaw it ſaid, There was no ſuch deed done nor ſeen from the day that the children of Iſrael came up out of the Land of Egypt unto this day: Conſider of i [...], take advice, and ſpeak your mind.

Rom. 2. 1, &c. Therefore thou art inexcuſable, O man! whoſoever thou art that judgeſt, for wherein thou judgeſt another, thou condemneſt thy ſelf: for thou that judgest doſt the ſame things.

2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This know alſo, that in the laſt dayes perillous times ſhall come. For men ſhall be lovers of their own ſelves, covetous, boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, diſobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, truce-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, fierce, deſpiſers of thoſe that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleaſures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godlineſs, but denying the power thereof; from ſuch turn away.

Gal. 2. 18. If I build again the things which I deſtroyed, I make my ſelf a tranſgreſſor.

The third Impreſſion with new Additions.

London, Printed in the Year of our Lord, 1659.

Information about this book

Title statement

England's confusion, or, A true and impartial relation of the late traverses of state in England with the counsels leading thereunto : together with a description of the present power ruling there by the name of a Parliament, under the mask of The good old cause / written by one of the few English men that are left in England ...

Anglesey, Arthur Annesley, Earl of, 1614-1686.

Edition statement

1659

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69468

ID [STC]

Wing A3168A

ID [STC]

ESTC R59

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

36272827

ID [OCLC]

ocm 36272827

ID [VID]

110792

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69468)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 110792)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 972:11 or 2224:13)

Source

— England's confusion, or, A true and impartial relation of the late traverses of state in England with the counsels leading thereunto : together with a description of the present power ruling there by the name of a Parliament, under the mask of The good old cause / written by one of the few English men that are left in England ..., Anglesey, Arthur Annesley, Earl of, 1614-1686.. The third impression with new additions..

Extent

24 p. ; 18 cm.

[s.n.],. London :: Printed in the Year of our Lord, 1659.. (This item appears at reel 972:11 incorrectly identified as Wing A3168.) (Imperfect: cropped, stained and with print show-through.) (Reproduction of originals in Union Theological Seminary Library (New York), and William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.