‘OH Brother Jamy Independent, whether are you walking so Melancholy? Why Jack Presbyter, what's the matter with you, you are walking in great hast, what a smoake you are in, from whence come you in such a sweat! Sure there's very hot businesses abroad; Iamy, Ile tell you though we differ in opinions, yet I love you, therefore shift for your selfe, (why whats the matter) I will tell you; I am now going to Saint Iamses's Fields, (came you not from thence,) you are all undone: For a new Army is a raising, and I will List my selfe, I have a Plume of Feathers already, and a very strong Buffe-Coat well lined with Queries, I shall make a gallant Reformado; We shall have mony, and good Horses, and I meane to have a touch or two for the good of my Brethren the Presbyterians, (I pray bee plaine Brother) Ha, Jamy I am sorry for thee, for in St Iamses, the new Artillery-Ground, and diverse other places, they are listing themselves under Major Generall Massey, Sir William Waller, Cor. [Page 2] Poynts, and diverse others that are brave Souldiers, are all Listing themselves by heapes, I heare say the Army meanes to doe what they please, but our Commanders doe intend to coole their courage, or else they will run for it: Heard you not what a shouting there was, when they met with a poore fellow of your own stamp, (an Independent) how they cryed out, a tub Preacher, a tub Preacher, downe with him; but the poore fellow at last was horst away) having receaved many a sore bastinado (from a gallant Reformado, but brother did hee get away without having any of his bones broken? yea brother, there were some that tooke pitty of him; and therefore now the tyde is turned, have a speciall care of your selfe, and lye close while I goe and enquire further what is done, and stirre not out of your lodging (but pray in your tub) till I call for you, and get you a Passe, to send you to your desired Haven Amsterdam, where you may professe what you please, and so for this time farewell Brother Jamy.’
Iack, and Iamy being parted, Iack jolly makes his repaire againe into Saint Iamses's Fields on Saturday the last of Iuly, where hee findes many of his old Comrades still about the old businesse Lysting themselves, but amongst the rest of the businesse, some would not Lyst themselves till the Citie had set out a Declaration, (which that evening was done) upon the Sunday following they met againe in the same place, still lysting, some under one Captaine, and some under another, shouting, and crying, some for Massey, some for Waller, and some for Poyns, and so continued all that day, and at night taking and seizing on all Horses, no Horse-Coursers stables excepted, where they had any intelligence.
Munday there meeting was in the New Artillery ground, drawing into Companies, and expecting to receave their monies, Horses and Armes, but were put off till the next day. [Page 3]The Common Counsell then sitting very close, and the Committee of the Militia; Certaine of Iamys friends comming with a Petition was much enterrupted, in so much that in the end, they fell foule one upon th' other; And Poyns like a Gallant Reformado, or a Commander in chiefe, did there acts of Chivaldry, killing one poore man, and hurting diverse others. (Tom. the Apothecaryes man had better been making of a Glister then looking on) Massey hearing of the cumbustion, came into the field, and crying out Col. Poyns was ingaged, and with that they came so thicke in Companies to Guield-Hall-Gate, shouting, hollowing; and crying for King, Parliament and City; (poore Iemy lay then in great feare expecting his Brother Iacks Passe, but none came) In the meane time, His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax had notice of it, and fearing that the Kingdome should bee imbroyled in a Warre, (the worthy Generall) sent his Letters to the Citie, with his Declarations to the Kingdome in generall, (all which you may reade at large) being unwilling that the City by the perswasions of some men should be in danger or damnified.
Tuesday, the Common Counsell sate close with other Counsells, and Messages past too and againe from them to Sir Thomas and his Counsell of Warre; then leaving off there heate of Lysting, gave them very good words, and promising faire, doubling all our guards with Trained bands and Auxilliaries.
Wednesday morning about one of the Clock, that worthy Patron of the City Sir I.W. Knight, went to the Counsell of Warre to Treaty, on behalfe of the City, and within an houre after he was gone an Alarum was given at Hide-Parke corner, where the Officers and Souldiers were ready and diligent; But it hapned that about two houres after with hollowing and shouting, they made themselves Masters [Page 4]of Southwarke: Iamy hearing of that, being over-joyed ran forth to see his friends with much joy. and comming backe found his brother Iack Presbyter in a discontented manner, walking too and againe, whom clapping on the shoulders, crying, I arrest you; which made Presbyter Iack start, (fearing it had beene Trypes the Sarjeant) but seeing it otherwise tooke it patiently, shaking of his head, he asked what newes with you brother Jamy? Oh brother Jack, I have been with part of the Army, it is a gallant Army, but doth not love your Reformadoes; for they say you deserted the Army and endeavoured to make a new Warre; therefore I would have you take the same councell you gave me, looke to your selfe, for they are men not worse then their words (they are treating hard) you had best shift for your selfe, begone, either for France, or Scotland, and well you scape so. Yet brother Jack if you will stay till Saterday, you will blesse your selfe at the sight of a gallant Army; they have much Artillary, but will do no hurt unlesse you doe oppose them, (and that's in vaine Iack) for Friday Sir Thomas concludes of all things at Wistminster, where he will guard the House with his owne men; therefore Iack Presbytary tarry till Saterday, which is but a very short time, (all your chiefe Commanders are gone) and I will be your Protector. So leaving Iamy, and Iack, Iamy rejoycing, and Iack admiring at the well governed Army of that Renown-Generall marching through London to Black-Heath, whom God I beseech governe and protect, that by the two Honourable Houses mutable consent, and their strength, wee may have a true setlement of the Church, and a firme peace in the Kingdome.
To the disconsolate Reformado, OR Sad lookt PRESBYTER.
I Conceive that teares are fitter for this Theam then words; for I heare since this unexpected change of your side, you have both scratcht where it doth not itch, and the rather considering how you took upon you, till it pleased God to turne the tyde: It is a true saying, the reason that many men want their desires, is because their desires want reason, and honesty: You did mainly bestir your selves on a suddaine to flourish, [...]h like the Pa [...]tridge, that carryeth faire feathers, but [...] flesh▪ So [...]e h [...] not stuck to say, come we will take their Horses, and their [...] pay, and then let it goe on which side it will. Here Reformado I must tell thee, (if thou art guilty of this) thou dost break [...] thy Covenant with God▪ and man; and must now say to thee [...] Vlyss [...]s said to Aliax; Riches, Honours and Policy are pretious [...]els, but fortune ruleth the Roast, oftentimes taketh all from them that had much, and giveth to them that had little: I have read of a story of Hycurges two Dogges both of a Damme, the one ranne at a Hare, the other at a Poridge-Pot, my meaning is not to compare the two dogges to Christians, but accept of the Morall; I conceive the stout hearted Souldier will stand to that which he hath beene ever brought up in, when another of the same Traine, is good for nothing but to runne after the spoyle and ruinning of Cities and Townes. From which Massacry, (though it have many Enemies) [Page 6]I trust God will ever defend it; Well Reformado, I am sorry thou hast no better imployment, but to live by the sword (and I as am heartily glad thou art disappointed of such an imployment) thou mayst even now say by thy fortunes, as the Lord Keeper Finch said by his (BOTSON'T) who thought of a Parliament, so who thought of so peaceable a change, which change hath for the present put thee into a sad and lost condition; And now Reformado my last advice to thee shall bee, to eschew evill and doe good; And that thou maist, have more minde on good Bookes, then of Bagges, more desire of Godlinesse then of Gold; greater desire to dye well, then to live wanton [...]y, or idlely: So wishing thee no ill, I bid thee adew.
Lastly, My hearty Prayers to God for this whole Kingdome is, That the Lord would power out upon all sorts of persons in these Kingdomes a spirit of grace and supplication, that it may repent us of all our iniquities, and that wee may bee reconciled to the Lord; that so all the threatens of his wrath may be removed from amongst us, and hee may blesse us with the sweet fruits of truth and peace.