WEre there not a more then ordinary stupidity posses­sing the hearts of men, which God usually permits as the forerunner of heavy Judgements, after so many reall De­monstrations of damnable Jesuiticall Designes upon Religion and Liberty; it were very unnecessary to publish any thing of this Nature; but let this unhappy necessity be obeyed, and honest men be perswaded a little to withdraw their thoughts from their perplext reflections on the engagement and Tu­mults at Westminster with the City-Remonstrance, which are usually looked upon as the Grounds, but never were o­ther then Occasions and Advantages sought by Sectaries and Athiests, to throw us and the whole Kingdome into this Confusion; and unless▪ God (who casteth out the Coun­sells of the wicked, and taketh the Wise in their own crafti­nesse) prevent, is like to overwhelme both, and apply themselves to observe Affaires as they have beene managed by them, who will needs be the only Saints, and Men of the most uprightnesse, Fidelity and Integritie, the greatest Denyers of themselves, the greatest pretenders to the setting up of Christ in his Throne, the only Assertors of Peoples Libertie, taking off Taxes, Excise, calling of Mo­ney-Merchants to Accompt; Lastly the bringing of the whole Kingdome to a happy and Peaceable Condition.

Yet comparing things together, the diligent observer may easily discern [...] an evident conjuncture of Jesuits, Secta­ries, Polititians, Atheists, Profane and Ignorant Persons, for the Ruine of Religion, all Government, Order; con­founding all Distinctions of men, for the introducing of Atheism [...], Anarchie, Libertinisme, Prophanesse.

The Designe hatcht by Phillip Nye, Tom and John Good [...], and the rest of the Rabble, tooke the opportunity [Page 4]of Crumwell's being Lieutenant Generall to Manchester, who being theirs in Judgement, they have made great by father­ing upon him the issue of other mens Actions and valour: So that no great Action could be performed, though other men were as deserving as himselfe in it, but the whole glo­ry must be attributed to Crumwell, the Pamphletiers com­monly taking notice of nothing, unlesse Crumwell or some of his Party might handsomely be made to owne it. Thus at Marston-Moore, though Sir Thomas Fairfax, Lieutenant Generall Midleton, Major Generall Craford deserved farre above him; yet Crumwell must be bellowed abroad the Sa­viour of three Kingdomes, the Great Deliverer; 'Tis truth, if Craford had not whispered in his Eare, he had delivered himselfe out of the Field in the beginning of the day at Na [...]b [...]e, Val [...]ant Skippon, Butler, and some other stout Com­manders bl [...]ud must purchase Honour for Crumwell, and his Cowardly Sonne in Law Ireton. Basing (halfe taken by Dalbiere) must have the Honour of Crumwell. At Lang­port Massy's valour must make Crumwell great. In all their Military matters, they have fallowed Joabs counsell to Da­vid, when the Cities of Waters have been taken, the busi­nesse as good as finished, they must also downe, that it may be called after their names.

Thus Crumwell's fame being made great, the next worke is to fit him with fit followers; to this purpose, all the Se­ctaries in the Kingdome are invited together to the Army to be as a Reserve: All occasions taken to Cashiere and dis­misse all of what quality, valour, uprightnesse soever, who were not of their judgement. Sk [...]ppon sent to Beleagrue at Bristoll, since handsomely laid by from Acting as Major Generall and made Governour of Newcastle. Last of all, that also had his Regiment snatcht from him and given to Lil­burne: Himselfe like that valiant Roman, after he had sa­ved his Country from a desperate Enemie return'd to lead a private life in his owne Country.

Adjutant Generall Wray, for looking only on the City-Remonstrance, throwne out of all. It hath seem'd very strange to Men of their own Party, that so gallant valiant Gentlemen [Page 5]should be turn'd out of their Commands upon so triviall matters.

As much Industry hath beene used to bring in Men of depraved Judgements and large Consciences: Lambert, (the Anabaptist) Overton, Baxter, (a Pedling Strand-Gold-Smith) whose greatest d [...]aling was in Thimbles and Bod­kins, made a Colonell: For the Profits of which place, I dare say, he shall walke in the broadest way Crumw [...]ll can chalke him out. Gravener▪ (a broken Citizen) Quarter-ma­ster-Generall. Staines a Quacking Mountebanck, Commissary Generall: Watson, who had beene hang'd for Embasing Mettalls if hee had his due, Scout-master-Generall: The whole Command of the Army in the hands of Sectaries, or broken beggerly fellowes, the Principles of the one and Necessitie of the other making them ready to act whatsoe­ver their Masters shall command them.

Hewson a Colonell, a Shoomaker, a very Knave in his Trade, as I am very credibly inform'd, from some that have beene upon search in his Shop, and very often taken away faulty Commodities.

Harrison (a Poore Clerke) now a Parliament-Man and Colonell of Horse, had his Wife by a figure call'd Pr [...]ocu­patio: But that's but Veniall with the Saints.

Pryde, a Dray-man, Colonell of Foot. Okey a Taylor, Co­lonell of Dragoon's. If the chiefe Officers be such, what then are the rabble? And truely, what will not such beg­gerly, base, dishonest fellowes doe, to keepe▪ themselves in a Condition, whereby they may enjoy the fat of the Land, the Pompe of the World; the Accoutrements of the best Gentlemen in the Kingdome, besides the Command they have over the poore Country-men where they Quarter?

Care is likewise taken that the Common-Souldiers may be instructed in their Erroneous Tenets: To this purpose, the chiefe Commanders get to their Chaplaines the most Haereticall, Schismaticall, Blasphemous men in the King­dome▪ Saltmarsh and Dell, Hugh Peters, Erbury. These tell the Souldiers, that they have and ought to have all [Page 6] P [...]er in their hands, and bid them not part with it; [...] have right to the goods of this Life, but the Saints. That the Saints are now stiled Independents, Sectaries, Anabap­tists, and the like: That they have conquered the Pro­pha [...]e-ones, but they must also trample upon the Necks of all Carnall Gospellers, that they the Saints may Reigne alone in the Earth. That Synods and Parliaments have nothing to doe to medle in ma [...]ters that concerns God's Worship. Thus Dell before Sir Thomas and Crumwell at Marst [...]-Church in Oxford-Leaguer; That the whole Scripture was not gi­ven by Inspiration of God: Walwin Ritur, at a Conference, a hundred being present; That Christ is not God, neither dyed to satisfie for Sinne; Erbury, Hewson, who saith, the whole Army generally beleeve the same: That the Soule is Mortall: That the Lawes of the Land are not binding to them, having Conquered their Conquerour. Thus having beat downe all Lawes, both Divine and Humane, they have got a fit rout for the Acting of any Wicked Designe whate­ver, and supposing they have but Two Parties in the King­dome able to give them any considerable Opposition: viz. the Kings Partie, and the Citie, from Killing the King, which they call exceeding Justice upon whomsoever, from Plundering the whole Kingdome, destroying the Nobility, and Levelling all Ranks and Distinctions of Men. They, have made it their Master-piece, first to divide them o [...] from another, then amongst themselves to lull the Kings Partie asleepe; they have pretended to re-inthrone His Majestie, settle Him in His Just Rights; case and bring downe the Compositions of Delinquents; and set up a Regulated Episcop [...] for His Majestie, if wee may conclude, any thing from the Expressions of their Darlings: They would not have them live by them, much lesse Reigne over them. Peters, in his Word to the Army, and Two to the Kingdome, calleth him a Dead Dog, and complaineth they are much troubled with him, and seemeth to request some Agit [...]r, or other, to remove the Wicked from the Throne. They generally require he [...]y be brought to Tryall, and re­ceive [Page 7] Punishment for all the bloud he hath beene the cause of shedding of; The second, and pulling downe Excise they fool'd the poore Country People with, when they advan­ced to London, shall be performed together, which for them will be at Doomes day in the Afternoon. The third may be done, but if in their way and manner, it had been better ne­ver have beene toucht. I had rather have a Pope and his Cardinalls governe, then have no Government at all. And I beleeve most Men are of my Opinion: But for the Citie, there they have played their Master-piece, and brought us to be the very hilling and by-word of the whole Kingdome, or rather wee have brought our selves to it; and truely it may seeme very strange to Men, how such a Citie should receive Check by such an Army. I shall give a very briefe account of the whole Businesse; and I shall take leave to be very plaine; let who will [...]ind themselves aggrieved.

The Kingdome and Citie extreamely groaning under the heavy burthen of an Everlasting-Parliament, the Unjust­nesse, Perfidiousnesse, Hypocrisie, Tyranny, Oppression, of whom will make their Names stinck in the Nosth [...]lls of all honest Men as long as they are remembred, were held in hopes they should be delivered from their Bondage under these Aegyptiant by this Army, according to their Pro­mise in private, and Engagement and Declaration in pub­lique: This tooke off many from Opposing them.

Secondly, This Army had wonne that Esteeme for Religion and Pietie, th [...] many would not beleeve that any thing, not the fruit of both could proceed from them.

Thirdly, They had a Partie of Lords and Commons basely and unworthily received Orders from them their Servants: this gave Reputation to the Businesse, and took off many, they Marching up with them.

Fourthly, The Seamen, Watermen, and Apprentices, after proffer of their Service, Cowardly deserted us.

Fifthly, many Commanders, Sectaries, and Cowards, [Page 8]layd downe their Commissions, or hid their Heads just upon the Enemies approach.

Six [...]hly, T [...]at Tr [...]cherous base Skellum Hardwicke of Southwarke, who after that he had vowed by the Ho­nour of a Souldier, the Faith of a Christian, the Repu­ta [...]on of a Man, that he would resist all A [...]med Men whatever, who would endeavour to enter the Lyne, to the losse of Life, and this severall times by the reason he was suspected: Nay, after he had plotted the betraying of it, and both by Letter and Personall Message, invited the Army too, and promised admission into So [...]thwarke: I say this Treacherous base defection of his, (for which I hope to see him hang'd) very much furthered the Enemies Designe.

Seventhly, The Party they had in our very Committee for the Militia, who by their long tedious Speeches, so much obstructed the businesse, that halfe an houres worke commonly tooke up a Nights debate.

Eightly; It was just, God should lay the Pride of this City in dust, who notwithstanding the Judgements abroad upon the whole Land, and our neighbour Nations, sate still like a Queane never providing for the day of her owne visitation.

Lastly, The many Promises the Army made of their faithfull Intentions to us and the whole Kingdome, that they would endeavour the present setling of all diffe­rences, the bringing the King to a Personall Treaty, and not to enter the City: All which they have unworthily broke.

These things very much facilitated their enslaving of this great and populous City, but having us at com­mand, Machivilian like they breake all Promises; and being they cannot bring us to their Bow, they endeavour what possibly they can to make us weake Enemies; to that purpose, they Order the Parliament to take the Militia from us, which was given us by a full and free Parliament as a marke of Honour: So then a Committee of Parliament [Page 7]were pleased to call for our many great services done them and the Kingdome, and conferred it upon beggerly Fouke, and a company of Anabaptists and Sectaries, and least these men should have so much ingenuity left, as to be faithfull to the place that bred them, they have so divided the command of the Militia, into so many pieces, that neither of them can scarce stand on their owne legg [...], much lesse make any con­siderable defence in case of danger. They have likewise put that gallant and faithfull Coloneli, Colonell West out of the Tower, only because no Sectary, and the City placed him there; and in his roome that Thing Tichburne is put, a fellow much below the Command, fitter for a Possit and a warme Bed, then to keep a Cittadell, only a Peevish Sectary, for that must be Honoured; They have driven our friends out of the House of Commons, as Massy, Waller, and that much lamented deceased Stapleton, whose bloud cries loud for Vengeance, and will be heard in the day of Enquiry, when treacherous Manchester and Harvy, who were in the Counsell as deep as any, though they basely, now, act against us, shall not dare to hold up their heads: our ablest, most faithfull and honest Aldermen and Commons are charged with High Treason, a word as I have heard, that prudent and faithfull Alderman Adam (though his pockets were search'd when Lord Mayor to find a King) all the bloud in a man's body now scarce brings his into his face: so triviall a thing is High Treason now adayes. Can it be thought that Langham, Adams, Bunce, Bromfeild, Jones, should Act Trea­son against King or State. I do confidently averre, and thousands will make it good, there sits not six in the Houses of Lords and Commons nor resident in the Army that have served the State with more uprightnesse, faithfulnesse, constancy and courage, then these six gallant Men have done, where had these Commons and Parling Lords been, at the time when Glocester was besieged, and so bravely defended by gallant Massy, when that purple Je­suited Independent (vulgò dicto) Lord Say as once Melitia gave Benhadad advise to put Halters about our Necks and go aske Mercy; truly we had better have done it, then suffer him and his Crue to lay such fetters upon us. I say where had these brave Men been had not these very six Men, done beyond hu­manity. I speake like a Christian alwaies submitting to Provi­dence, [Page 8]I am able to make it out, if truth had but one single Pa­tron left, these very men then saved the Kingdome, were the most eminently instrumental in it, when these Fellows of West­minster sate peeking and voting basely and, cowardly left all, and certainly would have run away had they not been encou­raged by these very six men principally. I pray God give them Grace to bewaile the trouble they have put them to; but e­nough of this least they be hated because beloved, And let's see a little how our wise Committee for the Militia hath dis­posed their businesse, if we can with patience: I shall run over all I know of them, and I beleeve they would not be angry if they knew me, first of the first.

The Orange Regiment Colonell Wilson an Antinomian, a Man that hath more Mony then Wit or Valour, but he may serve: the next is Presto Colonell Lievetenant Colonell (what shall I call him) Camfield, a fellow that looks as if he had chan­ged his face, with his place; I met him lately going up Hol­borne, if he had been comming downe, I should have thought he had broke his Halter and run away, he looked so ghastly, but he did them good service at Westminster, that day they say the the House was forced, stood looking on like a cowardly base fellow, never offering to strike blow, though he had nigh two hundred armed men under his command, and might have de­fended the House against an Army; but that was in order to the designe, or else he had been hanged before this time.

Next him is Leivetenant Colonell Major, Captaine Petitoes, the sight of whom makes me remember my Aunt Basset Swill Tub; he may doe well to chuse the fat Cook in Py-Corner for his Colours, and Tripes for his Leivetenant, they will dead Bullets, if ever he be carried in a Tumbrell into Service, else he will never come where they are.

Then that Bartholemew Baby Major, Puny Captaine Russell. Surely this is one of the Shakers they talke of; a fellow that every Step he takes speakes him a Taylor.

After him Colonell Leivetenant Colonell Young Captain Hey day Boswell, a fellow lately put out for caning Train Band Souldiers, but it seems wee must come to it, and this Prick­louse employed to begin the worke. All these I dare say will never be guilty of High Treason, in raising a New Warr, nor [Page 9]except the last be angry to be kick'st, or affronted in any man­ner. For the Green, I know not what they have done, only they have turn'd out the discreet and faithfull Colonell Ship­heard, and put in the Bull Roe, as [...]lso honest and stout Lieute­nant Colonell Lane, and put that Swearing Phantastick Fool Juxon in his piace. I suppose the rest of the Commanders of that Regiment will not be commanded by a Knave and a Fool; for the White, Colonell Vaughan being guilty of High Trea­son, of City High Treason, that is for retaining so much courage and prudence as to defend the City that gave him his com­mand, as to maintain the Honour and Reputation of it: In­deed for obeying the Commands of the Committee for the Militia that were his Generall, must be put of, and Player, that Player that play'd the Cowards part so much at Cherriton, in his room. Lieutenant Col. Thomson a valiant and faithful Comman­der layd by, and unworthy base spirited Manby put in his Room, he that upon the routing of a forlorn Hope at Cher­riton cryed and wrung his hands, what shall he doe, what shall he doe, the day is lost, like a great Booby: Let them make the Puppy his Sonne Major, in the roome of valiant and reso­lute Major Milton, whom they have put out, and then I dare promise this Regiment shall never commit City High Treason neither. In the Red Regiment Colonell Hooker, a valiant prudent godly and faithfull Captain, is laid by; a man that stood up with the first and acted with the best, for the safety of King, Parliament, Kingdome, and City, but he indeavoured not to be a Slave to Slaves, had a sword in his hand, and being as­saulted by a company of Thieves and Rascalls, was loath to yeeld, but indeavoured to defend himselfe; this I say being Ci­ty high Treason, he must be laid by, and in his Roome unwor­thy peeking Hays is placed: Lieutenant Colonell Brett is turned out too, and truly I wonder at it, in my Conscience he is no Presbiterian, but I suppose he is too much a man, too much a Souldier to act in these base unworthy wayes now on foot; they say Cushen hath his Room, base spirited Cushen to be sate upon by Hays, whom he hath Commanded, I wish thou mayst be sate upon, by all the foot-boyes, Tapsters, Porters, Journey-men Tailors in the Town. This Act speaks the Tailor and the sonne of a Tailor to the tenth generation. For the rest of that Regiment I hear not of.

[Page 10] In the blew Regiment, Shake-rag Vnderwood may serve their turn well enough; he basely hid his head when he should have been at the head of his Regiment: but Cox & Gillibrand are out; the first guilty of City-high treason, & the second of too much honesty to serve any base designe, though never so fairly guil­ned over, both honest, tried, valiant souldiers, and so not fit to be ranked with fools, knaves, and cowards; and in their stead Rogers and Coe are brought, the one a Fool, the other a Broker. But in name of the Tower-ghost, what have the Commanders of the Yellow Regiment done? they are all turn'd out, all guilty of City-high-Treason: had ye not one Fool nor Knave among ye, nor Cuckold neither? that's a Miracle. Let's view you a little more narrowly, for the rarenesse of the businesse. First, Colonell Bromfield, a Gentleman of unquestionable faithfulnesse and integrity, upon whom God hath confer'd ex­traordinary parts and abilities, and a heart to improve all to the service of his Countrey; a fit man to transact any Military af­faire at that Councell of Warre where great Gustavus Adolphus sate President; a Gentleman that at the famous Battell of Newbury proved himselfe a valiant Souldier, and a discreet Commander; in the Committee for the Militia, and Court of Common-Councell discreetly, faithfully and stoutly muted those Apostates Fowks, Estwick, Player, and countermined their de­signes: This last I believe was his great crime: but he is outed, and that shadow of a Souldier, Harrison in his place; a silly weak old man (God knowes) fitter to eat Pie and Custard, then lead a Regiment; a man of no estate, and meerly for the profits, which he must raise indirectly and dishonestly too, takes it; a fellow that carried himselfe like a Fool and a Cow­ard at Cherriton, onely the Colonell Harrison (being forced to marrie his daughter, having That same before-hand) is his sonne in Law, that's desert enough.

Lievtenant-Colonell Leigh is the next; a man of Estate and Quality, an honest, godly, valiant man, a man that did as good service at Cherriton as any man in the Brigade, a man that from principles of Honesty and Piety leads the life of a Christi­an in sincerity: He is thrown out, and that proud, insolent, Schismaticall, beggerly Fenton in his place: this is he that would needs have a Committee of Aldermen and Common­ers [Page 11]to examine whether he were a Cuckold or not, when him­selfe, his wife, and the Schoolmaster of Dullidge had concluded on the Affirmative before. His father keeps a poor Countrey Ale-house, he bound him to a Tagger of Points; he married his wife from the Bell at Jslington; yet this proud Foole cries Want you any Buttons? in Scarlet and Plush: This is he that was shot in the Arse at Caversham-Bridge, he had so much Armour on's back he could not run away fast enough, that got that lit­tle he hath by being a Commitree-man under my Lord of Es­sex, that carried out a gallant Company of London Apprenti­ces into the Service, and used them like Doggs, ('tis their own expression,) that must be pleas'd in all the rest of the Comman­ders, and have power to present them, which our wise Com­mittee granted; that hath brought in a Company of Fooles, that he may be Dominus fac towm: But enough of this proud Thing.

The next is Major Neele; he hath two faults, he's an honest man, and no Sectary; in his room is one Doyle Tichburnes Creature and once Lievtenant; neither Man nor Souldier: This is he that was at Cherriton, and may say as the great Iuli­us Caesar did, Veni, Vidi; an excellent fellow to bring up a File of Dragooners, fit to hold their horses while they fight, or to be an Ensigne, he loves to shelter himselfe amongst the Pikes so well: a man that will never be guilty of breaking the sixth Commandement, nor raising a New Warre.

The fourth was Captaine Elaine, a Gentleman as fit for Command as any in the City, a very knowing experienc'd Soul­dier, one who hath made as great proficiencie in the Art Milita­rie as any, and been very instrumentall in making many Souldi­ers; a man of very good parts, honest and conscientious, he is out, and in his place that Kickshaw Blackwell, a fellow infinite­ly below the place as man, never capable of it as a Souldier, of his Colonells complexion, taketh it meerly for profit. This is he that cried he was undone when turned out last; that put Fines for Delinquency and his Officers Pay in his own pocker, (get it out when they can) a cowardly Fop, a silly Goose, that if he had a will, hath not parts to acquire any thing in the Art Militarie.

The next was Captain Widmerpoole, a Gentleman of good [Page 12]Account and Quality, a very stout and valiant man, an able and knowing Souldier; one that hath been very active for the Par­liament from the beginning of these troubles, was at Cherri­ton fight, did as good service as any in his Command there. In brief, hath given ample testimony of his faithfulnesse, resolution and courage in his place. One Stone is put in his place; truly the man may be honest, but as fit to command a Company as to build PAULS, and so not very wise. Surely these Fellowes think the Office of a Captain is nothing but onely to walk be­fore a company to Westminster. The Schollars are like to be well taught when the Master cannot read.

The next was Captain Potter, an honest fellow and a Souldi­er, so much I may say, yet be modest; I know him faithfull to the Parliaments Cause; he took up a Commission just when the Regiment went out to fight for it. I hope his heart is up­right to God too. I am confident he desires it should be so. He was at Cherriton, and did service in the hottest worke there; Gods good providence assisting he came not away, nor shrunk from any imployments he was commanded upon: nay, he went upon some and of some danger too, when waved by o­thers, but he cannot be yoaked with Fenton: Exit. In his place is one White, a fellow for whom I cannot meet with a fit Cha­racter, the most unworthy sniveling foole that I have heard of to be a Captaine. This is he that commenced an Action of Trespasse against his man, and lay him in the Compter for cut­ting his thin cheese, and like a Knave would have had his maid sworne strange matters against him; that turned off his maid for being no better house-wife in her Kitchenstuffe: that will be a Souldier when Habedeboody his Lievtenant is one; and truly, let simple Robin have his Colours, and it would trouble a man to judge who were the better Souldier.

The next is Captain Hynde, a man that hath done the Par­liament very eminent service at the beginning of these troubles, as a Commissary of Horse, and Gratis too, a very dis­creet, prudent and stout man, and a good Souldier, that tru­ly feares God, and walkes close with him, but will not bee coupled with Oxes and Asses, so laid by. In his roome is one Sherburne, a young fellow and no souldier. I know little of him, but it's like he is one that will be ruled by Lievtenant-Co­lonell Tap.

[Page 13] Thus behold your walls and Bulworkes, ye men of Lacede­monia, in this we may see their drift and designe plaine; but go on you Saviours, that while some of you are (seemingly at least) lifting up your hands to heaven, others are confulting with Hell it selfe, digging and designing the overthrow both of Church and State: if they can make the City pay Taxes wil­lingly, the worke is done, we are slaves to eternity, the Coun­trey must find meat and drinke, and the City spending-money and cloathes, for these Lord-Danes; for quartering among us is dangerous, then let Fooles worke, we will live by play, but remember Nebuchadnezars hand-writing.