Peace to the nation

Peace to the nation

Table of contents

PEACE TO THE NATION.

[Page]

PEACE TO THE NATION.

My Dear and Honest Countrymen,

I Am to greetyou with an Evangelical Salutation; Joy, and Peace: and to tell you, that next to God himself, you are Indebted to General Monk, and the Gentlemen about him, for your Redemption. If you do not Acknowledge, and Emprove this Blessing, you are Ʋnworthy of it; but I need not prompt you, either to those Duties of Praise, and Adoration, which you owe to the Blessed Authour of this Mercy, or to that Gratitude, and Honour, which you will doubtlesse Pay to the worthy Instruments of it. That you may not buy your Satisfaction too dear, I bring you Good Tidings, in few words: and contenting my self with the Gr [...]sse of the story, I shall refer the nicer Particulars, to a better Hand or Leisure.

In Octob. last, when Lambert scattered the Committee of Westminster (or (more modestly) sent the Gentlemen to secure Portsmouth) his Ʋnluckie Excellency thought it then a fit time to set up for himself; and in the Head of a Phanatique Party, to bid Defiance to all the Sober Interests, and Judgements of the Nation. His Principal assistant in the work was Sr. Henry Vane, the Prophet of that Inspired Rabble. The Faction was grown Bold, and Formidable; when, to divert the Course, or meet the Fury of it, the General was Invited to draw a Force from Scotland into the North: and In he came, but to a Nobler purpose, than ever they Intended. They Called him in to save Themselves, he Came to save the Nation. Upon the first notice of his Advance, Lambert was sent with a considerable Army to meet him, and London left almost without a Publique Guard, (such was the Confederacy they had in the Anabaptistique Party, which was privatly Armed, and Listed in and about the Town.) In fine, after diverse Affronts upon, and Tumults in the City, the Souldiery Revolted; the Fugitive Members Returned; Lambert's Army Mouldered away; and his Excellency vanished. General Monk having proceeded thus far without a Blow; but the more difficult part was still behind, (for Treacherous friends, are much more dangerous than professed Enemies) The General, resolves next, for London: and makes it his design, both in his Passage, and after his Arrive, by all means possible, to avoid bloud-shed; His March speaks him a Souldier, and a Gentleman, for it was Regular, and Inossensive. The Country courted him upon the way, as their Deliverer, and he deserved it; For he hath proved himself no lesse. The strict reserve he used, was but what best became his Dignity and Prudence; he was too Generous, to betray Another, and too Wise to be betrayed, Himself; under this Guard of Honour, and of Caution, he past his Journy; not to trouble you with long stories, how the waies were thronged with Cries and Addresses of the Nation, for a Free Parliament; what Conference he had with the good Aldermen, what Complements were made him, by the Other men of Westminster, &c.—To come to the Point, upon Friday after noon, (the third of this Instant February) General Monk took up his Lodgings in Whitehall, on the Monday following, his Excellencie was conducted by Scot, and Robinson, (with the formality of a Mace carried before them,) into a place, commonly called the Parliament-House, where he deliver'd himself according to good Discretion, and soon after return'd to his Lodgings: Laden with the Thanks of the House; Tuesday and Wednesday, were the General's daies of rest: but not so to the City: for, upon Tuesday the 100000 l. Tax came out, which Netled the Citizens shrewdly; and the day following, they met in Common-Councel, to advice upon it. Where they resolved, to adhere to a former Vote of the Court in the Negative. At the same sitting was communicated a Declaration from Warwick-shire, for a Free Parliament; it was of a fair signification, and Authority; the Gentlemen that brought it, received the Thanks of the Court; (not to mention the peevishnesse of 2. or 3. Dissenters,) 'tis hoped they may be wiser and honester hereafter; This was a Day of Business in London, and produced a Busier Night at Westminster: for the Councel of State, after a tedious Puzzle and Debate, Issued out Orders to General Monk, for the Reducing of the City, directing him to proceed, in such a Method, as they had prescribed him. In pursuance thereof, his Excellencie marched early upon Thursday the Ninth current Horse and Foot, into the City; by that means frustrating a Respect which the Court had designed him, the Day before; Having appointed 4. Aldermen, and 8. Commoners to attend him the next Morning. His entrance into the Town, brought all the Horror and Satisfaction with it, Immaginable: nor did the People understand for a long while, whether they should Curse or Adore him: at last, in complyance with his Orders, he seized divers eminent Citizens, and sent them to the Tower, and took up his Quarters that Night in the City; By this time, the People, beyond all doubt, pronounced him the most execrable Creature that ever came within their Walls, not understanding that the Mischief he did them, was but Jest, and the Good he Intended them, was earnest. That in consideration of a weeks Imprisonment, he would reward them and their Posterity, with perpetual Liberty. This however, carried an appearance of severity, which was in effect, but a point of Miltary Honor; For his Inclination, and Duty in this Action, Led him several waies: as a Souldier he obeyed a Barbarous Order; as an Englishman he made it his care, to take off the edge on't; and he was bound to do That, this day, by Commission, Which he resolved to undo 2. daies after upon a Nobler Principle; upon Friday, (the 10th. of the Month, and the last of his Commission,) the General demanded the Cities last Resolve, from the Aldermen; who still adhered to their former Judgement. His Excellencie, hereupon gave command to demolish the City Gates, and so Returned to Whitehall. (Observe, that his Displeasure, and Commission died together,) For the next Morning, (Saturday,) he made the Town a large Amends: Declaring Solemnly to joyn with them, and their Associates for a Free Parliament; (but having fairly first discharged himself to those at Westminster, by a Letter in commune with his Officers; who have behaved themselves as men of Honour in the Businesse: The Truth is, had not the General been nimble with them, they had undermined him; for, contrary to Faith and Honesty, to their expresse Agreement: they had not only entred into a secret combination with the Secretarie, but publickly encouraged their Assemblings and Petitions; and more particularlie, contrived the direct Ruine of that Person, who had so lately preserved them. This is a Theam transports me; The Bloudie Votes were passed that Dismal Night: Let Nedham tell you; but never was a Joy so Universal; wise men grew mad upon't, but so were mad men sober. The Cryes, the Bonfires, and the fame of the Rosted Rumps, did quite take down the Legislative Stomack; 'Tis thought the thing at Westminster is vanished. In fine, the hand of God is in't, his Name be praysed.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Peace to the nation

Edition statement

1660

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A87897

ID [STC]

Wing L1284A

ID [STC]

Thomason 669.f.23[41]

ID [STC]

ESTC R211559

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99870275

ID [PROQUEST]

99870275

ID [VID]

163697

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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.

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A87897)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163697)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 247:669f23[41])

Source

— Peace to the nation, L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704, attributed name..

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.)

s.n.,. [London :: 1660]. (Anonymous. By Sir Roger L'Estrange.) (Imprint from Wing.) (An account of the proceedings of General Monck.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Feb: 14. 1659".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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