1 By the generality, and incertainty of the Accuſers, the Charge againſt them being preſented in the name of the whole Army, without the hands of any perticular perſons to it, who will undertake (at their perills) to make it good. Here is a fine expreſſion of love to the Parliament is there not? mark this deſigne herein, which is to ſet the Parliament againſt the Army; And to draw a ſlighting of the Charge untill the whole Army come up. The Impeachment is drawen up by the whole Councell of Warre. The Generall, and Officers have choſen a Committee of their owne Members (whereof foure are Collonels, and the reſt officers of note, well knowen, and of good Eſtates who by order from them and in the name of the whole Army, delivered the Charge (ſigned by the Generalls owne Secretary) to the Houſe of Commons with their owne hands, undertaking to make it good againſt the ſaid Members. This Gentleman would have it thrown aſide, to provoke the Army to come to force juſtice. O brave Councellour!

2 By the uncertainty, and generality of the Charge it ſelfe, in meere generall and ambiguous termes; to which the parties accuſed, can give no anſwer, nor make any defence. This hee declareth, to make the Kingdome to have low thoughts of the Houſe of Commons; as if they were not able to deſcerue thoſe many perticulars expreſſed in this Charge, becauſe they voted the former to be inſufficient to ſuſpend their 〈◊〉 . Members by Law. As if that vote made the 25th June, ſhould judge what is brought in (in matter of ſo great concernment) July 6 following? And if this advice tend to the honour of the Parliament let any reaſonable man judge.

3 By the multitude, and quallity of the parties impeached, no leſſe then II. at once, all men of approoved integrity, fidelity, and abillityes, who have acted, and ſuffered much, for the Parliaments, and peoples Liberties: Yee may ſee what ſpirit this Gentleman is of (her • n,) grant him this allegation, and he will then reply upon the Parliament themſelves, for impeaching ſo many, and of ſuch quallity, (as are expreſt in their propoſitions to the King) all at once. And it is well knowen that the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, that dyed a Traytor, was once, an honeſt private Preacher, the Earle of Straford acted well when hee ſat in the Houſe of Commons in a former Parliament, and made divers excellent ſpeeches, which condemned his own actions afterwards: And Sir John Hotham, was voted by both Houſes of Parliament to act well at Hull, for which hee ſuffered the reproaches of the Kings Proclamation, to be called a Traytor, for the ſervice he did for the Parliament and Kingdome, and yet they all became (afterwards) ſo great enemies to the Parliament and peace of the Kingdome, that they all loſt their heads as Traytors againſt the Kingdome. And in that very Committee (where the Gentleman who wrot the Declaration is ſo eminent) many gallant men, (in divers Counties) who have done much good ſervice for the Parliament, have had very ſtrict uſage, and by their ſubcommittees, ſome caſt into priſon, others perſecuted to the great prejudice of their lives, though no Charge at all hath appeared againſt them, nay the very oath of the Committee is (ſometimes) ſtrangely put to exact a Charge againſt a mans ſelfe. Oh but to take ſo many out of the Houſe at once, he ſaith will weaken the Presbiterian party. A fine buſineſſe to have parties to carry on deſignes in the Houſe. Doth not this tend to their reputations.

4 By their violence to have them ſuſpended the Houſe before any reall, perticular Charge, or proofs, produced againſt them. Doth this give a good Character of the proceedings of Parliament to traduce them by anticipation of their proceedings, as if they were reſolved to doe nothing againſt their Members but what violence ſhall force; notwithſtanding the repreſentations of ſo many able, honeſt, faithfull Gentlemen, brought in as a Charge by way of impeachment from the whole Army againſt them. Though the crimes bee high, and witneſſes ready to make it good, were the matter put into a way of triall.

5 By their unjuſt, and unreaſonable demands, after the votes of the Houſe June 25 (againſt their II. Members ſuſpention, upon what had appeared in the papers then received from the Army. Here hee would (to the diſhonour of the Houſe) have the Members hound up to the ſame opinion which they had before the particulars came from the Army; that becauſe the major part of them thought well of theſe Members then, that therefore (let proofe be brought of never ſo high crimes and miſdemeanours againſt them yet) no legall tryall ſhould be now permitted againſt thoſe, of whom they have had ſo good an opinion, and from hence he makes a moſt dangerous motion to all Counties & Burroughes; (to the great hazard of the Parliaments ſitting in peace) to ſtirre them up to a violent petitioning of the Houſe againſt the Army, proteſting againſt them; Whereas hee cannot bee ignorant that many Counties make their addreſſes to the Parliament by the Army.

6 By their apparent falſe ſuggeſtions, wherewith they abuſe, both the accuſed Members, and the Houſe. Here is a great affront put upon the Army indeed; But where lyes this falſity, he ſaith that in their manifeſto June 27. They declared to have their particulars and proofes ready to deliver in; That the Houſe ordered them to bring it in Friday July 4. at which time, a longer day was craved. If this gentleman would but deale clearly herein, hee would bluſh at this folly of his. That although the officers of the Army had ſo much buſineſſe to doe, about the treaty, and yet they were able to diſpatch it, in two days after the time ſet, which was all the time deſired (the Lords day only excepted) by which time it was drawen up, and ingroſſed brought to London and delivered to the Houſe of Commons, and yet he is ſo impudent as to give them the lye, for ſaying that it was ready.

If he and other Lawyers would make ſo ſhort a worke of what they doe, after Papers delivered into their hands, it would ſave the Kingdome many thouſand pounds a year, nay, he may remember that himſelfe, (and the reſt) that proſecuted the Arch-Biſhops, had him ſuſpended the Houſe long before the particular Charge was brought in, nay to goe yet further, what particular Charge was there, either againſt him or Straford before an order was paſſed (after ſuſpention) for the bringing in of witneſſes, which took up much time, to compleat it.

And yet the Army hath ſent a particular one, and a home one too, againſt theſe Members, as plainly appeares to thoſe who have impartiall eares to heare it.

And although he would have the Houſe to endanger themſelves and the whole Kingdome, in oppoſing the Army in the protection of theſe Members, from Juſtice, and likewiſe engage the Counties and Burroughs, that choſe them herein. And the Charge againſt them, is for ſuch high and great crimes, as are therein expreſt, yet he ſaith all that is therein, is below expectation, And is this man (thinke you) a friend to the II Members, or doth he not rather throw in a bone among us.

And his finding fault with the want of hands; (it being ſigned by the Generalls Secretary; and delivered by thoſe Honourable Commiſſioners;) is all one as to claſh with an Order of Parliament, ſigned by John Bowne, or Henry Elſynge, Cleric. delivered by Commiſſioners from the Houſes.

7. Their Mercinary Pamphleters, for ſhame man peace; have not you, and your faction uſed this Trade ſo long, to cheriſh the Malignant humours of the Church and Kingdome, that ye are all ſick of the Gangrena, The Army never went about to make a Monopoly to themſelves of the Preſſes, as thoſe who ſought to deſtroy them did, The Army give not Penſions to 80. or 100. Clerkes to helpe them, They give not annuities to Mercenary Scribes, to ſpoile Inke and Paper, to abuſe the Kingdome; and bring faction, and Tyranny into the Church and Kingdome; But he ſaith that the Impeached Members are traduced groſſely, becauſe the Houſes have acquitted them by their Votes. But (under favour) they were not acquitted by both Houſes, neither hath any thing of it been preſented to the Lords, they being Members of the Houſe of Commons, nor have the Commons acquitted them upon the Particular Charge, or ſince it was preſented, or the Houſe knew what was therein contained. Nor did that acquitall go further then upon what appeared to their ſenſe then; way being ſtill left open to receive what is ſince or ſhall be delivered; and to judge according to the ſame.