IF all men were wiſe, I have ſaid enough, for perſons that were moſt of them reducible for their former actings in the late Apoſtacy, from the principles of a Common-wealth, upon groundleſs jealouſies and ſleight ſuſpitions; To throw off their Noble General under the Parliament, is doubtleſs an Action unwarrantable, unjuſtifiable, and vituperable, and there can be no better intention in it then the Jews had in crucifying of our Lord Jeſus, for Mother-wit will tell every man, that they ought to have obeyed him, until the Parliament had ſignified their pleaſure to the contrary, and that it is a frivolous allegation to ſay, That they will obey him upon ſignification of the Parliaments pleaſure, for, his Commiſſion gives him Poſſeſſion till it be ſuperceded, otherwiſe Servants may turn out their Maſters, and ſay, That upon order from the Juſtices they will reſtore his Poſſeſſion; And as it is a dreadful preſident, ſo it is a pretty invention of the firſt impreſſion (never any brave Commander being ſo unhanſomly ſerved before) thereby to blaſt any mans reputation upon a bare ſuſpition, as the Polititian adviſes, boldly to callumniate, that ſomething may be credited, though this worthy Patriot be like pure Marble that nothing can ſtick upon him, but the generallity being apt to contract Matrimony with the firſt Narrative, if it be my duty to relieve my Neighbours Ox when fallen, much more am I obliged in the abſence of this worthy Perſon as a friend to the publick, he having been ſo cordial a friend to all honeſt men, and one whom I have for many yeares honoured for his Vertues (or rather the gifts and graces of God in him) he not having the benefit of a Preſſe to vindicate him (if there were any need of it) leaſt ſilence ſhould give ſome credit to that which in it ſelfe hath not the weight of a Pin in the Ballance of right Reaſon, I am preſt in my Spirit (though unknowingly to him, ſo far as the notorietie of the Fact will comport to give it a ſudden anſwer, according to the beſt information I could get by letter and relation. The materials in the Letter reſponſible are,

1. That whereas Lt. Generall Ludlow writ to Lt. Collonell Puckle Governour of Roſse to preſerve his Garriſon for the Parliament, they ſay he had done it before he had any Orders from him, this is a miſtake, for Lt. Generall Ludlow left Lt. Colonell Puckle in poſſeſſion for the Parliament, whereof he was never diſpoſſeſt to this hour.

2. For what concernes Colonel Jones actings, I intend not to intermeddle, he has been a wiſe Counſellour, a faithfull man, and one that feared God above many, true to a Common-Wealths Principles in times of temptation, and therefore preſumably he has not declined when there was not the leaſt temptation to decline Parliamentary Authority in Ireland.

3. They proceed to doubtings, and to ſtrong ſuſpitions that Lt. Generall Ludlow hath not been a friend to the Parliament, that is, hath not been a friend to himſelfe, no man can ſecure himſelfe from ſuſpition, from guilt he may; I do not in the leaſt intend to beſpatter the ſubſcribers, but to wipe off that dirt which they would caſt upon the face of this honorable Patriot, onely preſumtive Objections may be ſatisfied by preſumptive Anſwers; I believe that neither he nor they have intended to ſet up for themſelves, ſo as to diſown the Parliament, but if ſuſpition ſhould ſtand for any proof, let but the perſons, their principles, former practiſes and actings, be ponderated, if ſufferance for the party beloved in Perſon & Eſtate, if declining and refuſing to act under the ſingle perſon, when others upon their earneſt ſeekings had warm imployment under him, be the beſt Arguments of Fidelity to the Parliament; Let the Impartial Reader judge, whether Lt. G. Ludlow or his Antagoniſts have manifeſted moſt conſtant, good affection to their juſt Authority; and for modern ſuſpition, what mean the Letters from Doublin, that many of the Officers there will have a Free Parliament? what means the impriſonment of the Parliaments conſtant Servants and Champions, Jones, Tomlinſon, Pretty, Wallis, Abbot, Brafield, Jones, Smith, Bennet, Lowe, Deniſon, Roberts and others, many whereof declared with the firſt, and yet might not be truſted with their commands? What means the ſelf conferring of two Regiments upon Sir Hardreſs Waller, two upon Sir Charles Coot, and three upon his brothers? ſo as upon the matter, two men have ſeven Regiments. What means the diſarming of the Anabaptiſts, and the Parliaments beſt friends, that they muſt not wear a Sword, ſaying they are Sectarians, and not fit to be truſted? And how do they prove one to be an Anabaptiſt or Sectarian? but becauſe he prayes in his Family, or ſuch a one prayes by the Spirit; What means the Liſting & taking in of Cavileers, Perſons diſaffected to the Parliament, and any that will but revile the Sectariſts? but onely to model and put the Army in ſuch a poſture and conſtitution to be in a prepared readineſſe to receive Charles Stuart at a weeks warning, though that muſt not be yet mentioned, the deſign muſt be firſt to bring in the Excluded Members in 1648. and then comes in ding dong bells, King, Lords and Commons: It would be leſs danger to call in the Spaniard, Turk, or the great Mogul. What means the impriſonment of Mr. Rogers at his landing, ſent thither to preach by Order from the Parliament? O Dublin, Dublin, Thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt or impriſoneſt them which are ſent unto thee, as that worthy Servant of Chriſt, who was caſt into the Common Priſon, wit out admitting him Bayl, or a hearing, with a high affront to the Parliaments Authority ſo unhumanely handled, and yet he is no Anabaptiſt; So that worthy Miniſter Mr. Enoch Grey being ſhut out by the Pariſh from Preaching, dare not ſtir abroad, being threatned by the Porters and Watermen to be ſtoned or thrown into the Water, and yet he is no Anabaptiſt: The like to Mr. Wotten another godly Miniſter, kept out of his Pulpit, confined to his own houſe, and yet no Anabaptiſt; Beſides ſuch uſage of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and the Parliaments choiſeſt Friends, who are far from being Factious, or giving the leaſt occaſion to ſuch cruelty. O what! What means the Parliament-like Convention to meet at Dublin the 24 of January, with other diſmal news from thence? as if the Intereſt of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Good Old Cauſe of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, were taking leave of poor Ireland! Yea, What means the Arming ſo many ill affected perſons! the diſarming and plundering the Parliaments beſt friends and well affected (that are no Anabaptiſts neither;) The impowering of the Native Iriſh (as the Mayor of Dublin is for one) with the Sword! And the caſting out the moſt Noble Engliſh, expoſing them as ſo many naked perſons to the moſt barbarous rage and revenge of their Enemies! with a 1000 more ſuch ſad ſymptoms of our Engliſh and the Parliaments Intereſt, groveling on the Ground, and gaſping for life in that Lamentable Nation! But they will ſay, that the ſtrongeſt preſumptions will not amount to the weakeſt proof, though ſomething may be inferred, if others ſhould deal with them as they have dealt with pretious Ludlow; for they made ſuſpition the only ground of his non-admiſſion and rejection, by a learned Vote of the Stratagem-makers and Surpriſers of Dublin Caſtle (when every ſoul within it, was for the Parliament, for ought I ever heard to the contrary) that Lt. G. Ludlow had given ſuſpition, to be no friend to the Parliament, and therefore ought not to be received into the head of the Army, when but very few dayes before by their Declaration December, 14. they had owned him for their lawful ſuperior.

4. But they confeſs they are ſo bold as to open his letters, wherein they miſtake one letter; for they would make that to be High Treaſon, which no doubt if it be well conſidered is pure reaſon, it is obſerved by a Learned Miniſter that ſnaching at Scripture, not wel weighing the Antecedent and Conſequent, is the ground of many Hereſies. Mat. 4. Was miſalleadged, to keep thee in all thy ways, omitted. One ſaid that Jeſus Chriſt was an Antinomian becauſe he ſaith, Mat. 22.40. hang all the Law and the Prophets, leaving out, on theſe two Commandments, who knowes what dependance or coherence the words charged have upon other parts of the Letter which are theſe, we ſeem to be neceſſitated to look towards the Old Parliament, tis to be feared they will be very high in caſe they ſhould be brought in without conditions, probably he expreſt other mens opinions and feares rather then his own, and that the words immediately preceding were, that it is the opinion of moſt, that we ſeem. &c. But take them as ſubſtantives, their genuine and candid conſtruction will ſoon appear.

They Object, That Lt. G. Ludlow, hearing of the force put upon the Parliament, at Conway, inſtead of returning back to his Command, wrote only a Letter to Colonel Jones, importing that he had received a letter from a factious party, that a ſtop for that preſent was put upon the Parliaments ſitting, and a door of hope opened to bring them to their duty: It is ſome ingenuity they will confeſſe, ſo much of Sir Hardreſs Waller and ſome other of the opponents, with whom Lt. G. L. held correſpondence, would publiſh what they know concerning his great diſſatisfactions and abominating of the Anti-Parliamentary tranſaction during their interruptions, which by virtue of the ninth Commandement they are obliged to do.

Speak out Gentle-men, you cannot equivocate with the Lord, his faithfulneſs to the Parliament would be as evident as Abrahams Servant was to his Maſter; Doth it not argue ſome deteſtation of the force, to ſay, it was done by a Factious Partie? And when he firſt heard of it at Bewmoris, ſome credible perſons that were with him ſay, that he took on extreamly, lookt paler upon it then ever he did when he met with an enemy, that it was Dagger news unto him; and at Cheſter, when ſome deſired him to put a favourable conſtruction upon it, as if there were ſome neceſſity for it, he ſaid, It was a neceſſity of the Devils making, and that there was no viſible means under Heaven to ſave the Nations, but by a ſudden reſtitution of the Parliament, or words to that effect; if then Lt. G.L. having experimented the force of Eloquence and perſwaſion to be great in bringing about the happy Reſtauration of the ſixth of May, he Repaired to London to be inſtrumental in another incruental Revolution, as ſome worthy Patriots call it, not doubting but that he had left Ireland in ſafe and truſty hands for the Parliament, and might be more uſeful by dealing with the underſtandings of the Interrupters; what better ſervice could he do for the Parliamentary Intereſt? The noble General at Portſmouth, and General Monk have done worthily and moſt honourably like true Common-wealths men, their Names ſhall be immortal, and I wiſh them golden Statues; but that derrogates nothing from the Wiſdom, Valour▪ and Honour of the noble Lt. G. L. The Parliaments Forces have alwayes done as much (precando, as praeliando) by praying as by fighting, God is the Creator of this Parliaments Re-introduction and Re-inveſtiture; but he has had his Oratours to plead for it with himſelf, and thoſe who oppoſed it: The Sword abroad doth beſt when there is good Counſel at home; I ſay, if Lt. G.L. or any other worthy Patriot did elect to ſuſtain the perſon of a Mediator, Arbitrator, Advocate, Orator hoſtia aut internuncius, to Reconcile 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 and make up that unhappy Breach, to compoſe the difference without blood: So as with Joſhua to make the Achanns to confeſſe their guilt, to plead the Law for the Parliament, whereof he is a Member, to mind them of their Covenants and ſolemne Engagements to be faithful to the beſt Maſters that ever Souldiers had (not as perſons Mercenary, but honourary ſo long as they are true to the Parliamentary truſt) to entreat them by their Tergiverſations not to open a door to the common Enemy, to be a faithful Referendary or Meſſenger to other worthy Members of Parliament how to ſteer for beſt publick advantage; and to be as a ſacrifice to expoſe his perſon to hazard, if they ſhould not hearken to ſound Advice, as well for their own good, as for the good of the Nations; and particularly if he did inculcate and preſs it upon them, that if they did ſpontaneouſly and ſuddenly remove the force, and take off the interruption of the Parliament, poſſibly they might have good Conditions, an Act of Indempnity, as much as ever could be expected; but if the Parliament were brought in by Force, they muſt expect to loſe all that was dear unto them, telling them that by the ſeries of Providence they ſeem neceſſitated ſo to do; and if thereupon Lt. G. L. did write to Colonel Jones in thoſe Expreſſions, what moderate judicious man can make any more of it, but that he had great hopes of the Parliaments Return, and was much afraid that the Officers at Wallingford Houſe ſhould perſiſt in their defection and revolt, until the Parliament would ſhew them no mercy; for what could be intended by other Conditions, but an Act of Indempnity; and what honeſt man would not have been grieved to the heart to ſee the great Officers, Fleetwood, Lambert, and others, that had been ſo eminently inſtrumental in breaking the powers of the common Enemy after all their good ſervices to have become themſelves objects of the Parliaments Severe ſtroak of Juſtice, who ſince (bleſſed be God) have taſted of their Mercy by another happy Act of Indempnity, whereby the Parliament have gained more Honour then by all their former Victories; and I am confident have more firmly engaged the hearts of all good men to live and die with them, then any tongue can expreſs: Caeſar dando ignoſcendo adeptus eſt gloriam; when Parliaments are ſo juſtly offended, they are both parties and Judges, and it is moſt Heroical to condonate what is done againſt ones ſelf, it ſhews that there is not one drop of revenge lodging in their noble breaſts; and for this Act of Oblivion of ſo great a prevarication, having forgiven the like offence before, our noble Senators ſhall be had in glorious and everlaſting remembrance, Arbor honoretur cujus nos umbra tuetur.

The next Exception taken to the Letter, is to the title of Dear Friend given to Colonel Jones; but this is an Obſervation againſt the Laws of Friendſhip and Humanity, as if it came rather from a Quaker then from perſons of ſuch Quality: our Lord Chriſt ſaid to the man that wanted his wedding Garment, Friend, how cameſt thou in hither? And Abraham ſaid to Dives, Son, remember; Shall we argue from thence that Abraham was guilty of Dives covetouſneſs; and the Epithete Dear, is but (pro more loci) the Cuſtome of the Nation, not one Engliſhman of an hundred that uſeth any other compellation then Loving Friend, or Dear Friend; but how can theſe Gentlemen anſwer it, that in the beginning of their Letter ſay Lt. General Ludlow ſtands accuſed of High Treaſon; and in the cloſe of it ſay, We remain your humble Servants? Doth this argue their approbation of the Treaſon if there were any? It is well known here, and ſome of them cannot be ignorant of it, that as ſoon as L. G. L. heard of any ſuch intended Subſcription, he declared his abhorring thereof, and juſt indignation againſt ſuch as had a hand in it; and immediately, as he ſaid, ſent away Letters into Ireland to Colonel Jones, and others, ſome whereof I have ſeen to this effect; in general, admiring and bewailing the unfaithfulneſſe of men; and particularly, had the Subſcribers amongſt you, or rather thoſe that prompted thoſe Subſcriptions, contrived a way to render themſelves obnoxious to the reproaches of thoſe who watch to blaſt even Religion it ſelf, for the ſake of thoſe who profeſs it, I know not how they could have met with a more ready one then this, when there was not the leaſt temptation for them after a ſolemne Engagement to the contrary, to eſpouſe a perſonal. Intereſt, having been ſo lately betrayed by the like Confidence, and to do it in ſo under-hand a way, when all the Officers, who (when they were altogether declared againſt it) were gone to their reſpective Charges; & this to the trampling under foot, the Parliamentary Authority by whom they were intruſted & Commiſſionated: For my part I can as little ſee the prudence of it as the honeſty; for they have thereby, in the Judgement of all indifferent perſons ſacrificed their prudence, honour, and honeſty; And if in that Letter to Colonel Jones he mentioned any thing, of his fearing the Reſtoring of the Parliament; it was but (ſperare pro timere) Fear put for Hope; for I am confident there are above twenty Letters extant in Ireland, wherein he expreſſed his great Hopes of the Parliaments Re-ſitting, as I have often heard him moſt affectionately ſay, That this Parliament are the only leaves of the tree of life, which (under God) muſt be for the healing of the Nations; they are the only ligitimate ſpouſe, all other Conventions are but as Concubines, becauſe no power upon earth can legally ſummon a Parliament, nor any but this Parliament, ſave theſe Nations from ruine and confuſion; with many ſuch like paſſionate Expreſſions, arguing a reſtleſneſs and total diſſatisfaction till this happy Parliament, the joy of Saints, and honour of Jeſus Chriſt, were reſtored.

3. It is further obſerved that in the ſame Letter he writes, I hope er'e this the Commiſſions for ſetting Civil Juſtice on the wheels in Ireland are come unto your hands, which were ſent by the power of thoſe who had violated the Parliaments Authority: Theſe Objectors had either bad intelligence, or bad memories; for ſo ſoon as the Names of thoſe Commiſſioners were ſent from Ireland they were approved of; And in Auguſt laſt there was an Order of Parliament for the Holding of Aſſizes in Ireland by reaſon of the great want of Juſtice there; which Order being of force at the time of the unhappy interruption, whether it might not be as well obſerved for the Advancement of Juſtice as well as the Exciſe and Cuſtoms, are received in Ireland for ſome time by virtue of Parliamentary Order, is not for me to determine; however the Commiſſioners therein named, as I underſtand, did not think fit to act thereupon.

But there are Two Things whereof I perceive theſe Gentlemen are ignorant.

1. They argue as if Lt. G.L. had been one of the confederates at Wallingford houſe againſt the Parliament, whereas it is well known in London, that though he was named by the Army to be of the Committee of Safety, and for nomination ſo called, he utterly refuſed to act in either; or in any ſort to own them or to make any Application to them as in any Civil capacity, reſolving to continue faithful to the Parliament, and endeavouring to the moſt what in him lay that they might return to the exerciſe of their juſt Authority without blood.

2. They are not willing to underſtand what great & faithful ſervice Lt G. L. and others performed at their meeting with the Officers at Wallingford houſe, by breaking and diſturbing their Councells and Reſolutious, making them like Penelopes Webb, reſolving and altering, ſhewing them the errour and vanity of all that they did, that they were like men building upon the Sand, that there was no firm Rock or foundation to build upon, no Power to maintain the Laws, and ſecure the Rights and Liberties of the People, but onely this Renowned Parliament, and when contrary to Reaſon they had reſolved ſomething about conſervators, (viz. violators or prevaricators) Senate and Parliament, it is well known that Lt. G. L. the next day made his Proteſtation againſt it, and ſaid they would be neceſſitated to reſtore the Parliament, and the ſooner they did it the better it would be for them, and not knowing what condition Ireland might be in, whether in Peace or blood, haſted thither ſo ſoon as poſſibly he could, Being adviſed ſo to do by ſome of the Honourable Members of Parliament, I confeſſe if it had ſo pleaſed God that he had not left Ireland, or had returned a Moneth ſooner, or might ſuddenly return, with others of his like, faithful and tender ſpirits, impowred, and all due incouragement to the Officers there, ſo far as they have owned and affected the Parliaments Intereſt, Ireland may get to live, to ſee happy dayes, and honeſt People have quiet habitations there; but if a ſpirit of perſecution and aſperitie ſhall Predominate and be uppermoſt, they muſt return for England, ſuch as know how to live here, or it would be a great favour if the Parliament would lend the poor Sectarians of that Nation, ſhipping to tranſport themſelves into America, to work there for their living, and to pray for the proſperity of the Parliament and this Common-wealth; but the reaſon of his going for Ireland, was not from any grain of fear that he had of the Parliaments diſpleaſure, 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 but upon the importunity of many good People from Ireland, who were full of fears and jealouſies, impatiently intreating and beſeeching him to haſt away, not knowing what the danger of a few dayes delay might be, for whoſe ſake he made ſuch expedition, thinking to have been the more welcome there for bringing ſo good news, as the re-ſitting of the Parliament, but was rejected at Dublin, and ſo went to Duncannon, which by the objectors favour, was a better courſe then to have returned at their Command, for not being conſcious to himſelf of the leaſt unfaithfulneſs to the Parliament, he had no reaſon to queſtion the legality or validity of his Commiſſion, being as good as ever it was, and how any Soldiers durſt in ſo preſumptuous a manner, upon ſuch ſlender and trivial ſuſpitions, draw their ſwords againſt their lawful General, whether they ought not to have received him, & then to have humbly remonſtrated to the Parliament what they had againſt him, or whether they did well to be their own Judges to condemn him unheard, and oppoſe him as an enemy, is humbly ſubmitted to the Parliaments great wiſdom, ſo that upon the whole matter I do not find all that is charged upon this worthy Perſon to be of ſo much weight, as the Feather that was in ſome bodies Cap in Dublin fields at the late Muſter, when the People made acclamations, for joy, that there ſhould not be an Anabaptiſt nor a Sectariſt left in Ireland. I have but three words to add.

Firſt, That this tranſaction againſt Lt. G.L. hath been commenced proſecuted, and the wheels drawn, by four unhandſome Steeds.

1. Falſitie. And 1. They gave it out to win the Souldiers, that Lt. G.L. had ſent letters over to ſome of them to ſecure Dublin Caſtle, and to impriſon the Anabaptiſts therein, for that the ſaid Anabaptiſts and Sectarians had reſolved to cut many of the old Proteſtants throats and to impriſon the reſt of them in the ſaid Caſtle, and that the time was agreed upon when it ſhould be done. 2. They told the Souldiers they had fix Moneths pay ready for them if they would caſt off their Sectarian Officers and take others, from them. 3. Within two or three dayes after the ſurprize of the Caſtle, it was reported that they had found great ſtore of Armes and Ammunition in the houſes of ſome of the Sectarians, which they had prepared, for the purpoſe aforeſaid, which were but a Birding piece, an old Piſtol, or ſuch like.

2. Hypocriſie. There being ſome heart-burnings, animoſities & Jealouſies about difference in opinions, ſome of the Profeſſors at Dublin (who judge, that union with the head, ought to be the ground of all Chriſtian Communion between the members) appointed a meeting for the propagation of brotherly love and affection, wherein ſome refuſed to joyn, becauſe Anabaptiſts frequented the meeting; but ſo ſoon as the plot was laid for ſurprizing Dublin Caſtle, ſome of thoſe refuſers deſired a conference in order to a Reconciliation, where Col. Tomlinſon, Dr. Winter, Juſtice Cooke, Col. Laurence, Lt. Colonel Jones Governour of the Caſtle, Major Warren, and others, were appointed to be preſent, when all perſons being ſecure and intent upon it, the Tueſday before the meeting, the Caſtle was ſurprized, the Sectarians all diſarmed, Bone-fires made, and other great ſolemnities, for joy that no Sectarian ſhould continue in the Army, and healths drunk to their confuſion, Mr. Madder diſcountenanced and diſcouraged, news brought to Mr. Blackwood that if he Preacht any more at Chicheſter houſe, his throat ſhould be cut, which Sir Hardreſs Waller hearing of, gave ſtrict order that no violence ſhould be done unto him, Doctor Harding and his friends driven from their meeting place, and all this pretended for the ſervice of the Parliament.

3. Treachery. For, ſo ſoon as notice was given that Dublin Caſtle was taken, they ſent to other gariſons for their concurrence therein, who very chearfully and unanminouſly all the Nation over declared for the Parliament, but deſired that all might reſt in peace and quiet till they could hear from them or Lt. G. L. but within few dayes after, they Voted his non-admiſſion, in caſe he ſhould attempt to come over, as ſuſpecting him to be no friend to the Parliament, and gave it out that the Gariſons could not be ſafe in the hands of Sectaries or ſuch as favoured them, which ſo ſudden a receſſion from their Declaration for the Parliament, wherein they had owned Lt. G. L. as Commander in chief, put ſome of the Commiſſioned Officers to a demurre, as Pretty, Phare, Wallis, Abbot, Brayfield, Smith, Bennet, Denniſon and others who cheerfully declared for the Parliament, but were not free to leave their Commands or to receive orders from any but from their lawful ſuperiors, whereupon Sir Hardreſs Waller wrote letters to diveres of them, deſiring their ſpeedy repair to Dublin for further ſatisfaction, promiſing them all Freedom & Civil uſage, where they were no ſooner arrived, but inſtantly guards were ſet upon them, or were clapt in priſon; ſoon after was ſent over, the Act of Indempnity, which inſtead of giving obediencee to it, they hurried away their priſoners to remote Caſtles, having impriſoned ſuch as never ſubſcribed either the letter to General Munck, or the Ingagement for a General, or in the leaſt acted againſt the Parliament, (and as I have been told, ſome of them, put in Irons,) and as the laſt letters from Ireland import, they are ſtill taking up and impriſoning honeſt men dayly, as if the Act of Indemnity did not extend to Ireland, hoping all ſhall be approved of, that they do, which if I know any thing in the world they have need of an Act of Indemnity themſelves; how unlike is this to Gallant General Munck who never impriſoned one man that promiſed to fight for the Parliament, and of the many hundreds which I hear are impriſoned in Ireland, there is not one of them, but promiſed, to be faithful to the Parliament againſt all oppoſers, and being told that they were Sectaries and not to be truſted, they proffered their Paroles to be quiet, or to give good ſecurity to attend the Parliaments pleaſure, yet nothing would ſerve but violence and diſgrace to their perſons; but the beſt jeſt is, that having incarcerated whom they pleaſe, and diſpoſed of, and given away their Commands and Places to others, they have publiſhed a Declaration, that notwithſtanding, before the firſt of March, any of them ſo caſheered, may have a Tryal at a Court Marſhal for their Places; I never thought that any, pretending to be Judges for the Parliament, would firſt have Condemned and Executed any man, and after take Adviſe whether Clergy be allowable in the Caſe: (quo te ambitio trahit) but who muſt be their Judges of the Court Marſhal? not the Perſon whoſe Command is in queſtion, but thoſe whoſe Title is no better, being both Parties and Judges, and ſo claw me and I'le claw thee.

4 Cruelty, when L. G. Ludlow came to an Anchor in the Bay of Dublin, he ſent a Letter by Mr. Alder, to theſe Officers at Dublin to give them notice of it, intending to have landed early the next morning, but Sr. Hardreſs Waller upon receit of the Letter, commits Mr. Alder into the Sheriffs houſe, keeps two of the Sea-men Priſoners, and ſent a party of Horſe to hinder his landing, who thereupon deſired a right underſtanding between them, and that he might have ſome Proviſion ſent by his ſervant, a Ship-board, which was refuſed, and not a bit of Bread or drop of freſh Water after the firſt day, might be ſent to him by any upon pain of impriſonment, and the high diſpleaſure of the Officers at Dublin; L. G. L. notwithſtanding (having waited their pleaſure three or four dayes, endeavours being uſed to make a Muttering among the Sea-men, & to fire the Frigot with Granado's, as is reported) ſet Sail from thence to Duncannon, where he was received at the fort, but was not permitted to have any Proviſions from Waterford for his moneys, for himſelf or the Sea-men, though he had payed for 1500 weight of Bisket, it was forcibly taken away and the Country People frighted, and forced to drive away their Cattel from about Duncannon, being told by the Souldiers that L. G. L. was a Traytor, and run away from the Parliament, with adulatory and minatory meſſages ſent into the Fort, that if the Souldiers would throw their General over the Walls, they ſhould be made Officers and have their Arrears; if otherwiſe, they ſhould be ſent to the Barbadoes, and ſerve ſeven years Apprentiſhip.

2ly, It is very neceſſary to conſider the riſe of theſe ſtrange Tranſactions, ſo far as any thing was really intended for the Parliaments ſervice it is highly to be honoured and commended, I hope all honeſt men will acquieſce and rejoyce in it; but L. G. L. and the Army in Ireland were generally for the Parliament, without any heſitation or warping; and thus it was, L. G. L. at his being in Ireland, made it his buſineſs to diſcriminate and diſtinguiſh ſuch Officers of the Army as had in any meaſure born their Teſtimony againſt the late Apoſtacy, and that were faithful to the Parliamentary Intereſt; from ſuch as had not been ſo cordial, & there was a liſt agreed upon to be preſented to the Parliament; thoſe that were omitted being left in the heads of their Commands, fearing a Reducement, began to conſult how to continue in their Places; in that interim the Officers of the Army from London ſent over an Engagement in Lt. G. Ludlows Abſence, to ſet up a General in oppoſition to the Parliament, which abominable thing was not ſo zealouſly proteſted againſt as it ſhould have been, but in order to keep the Peace of the Nation, with a good intention as was pretended, too many ſubſcribed it, who had alſo ſome of them ſent a diſcouraging Letter to Renowned General Monk, hereupon the children of this world being wiſer in their generation then the Children of Light, that which the Commiſſioned Officers ſhould have done, namely, to have fully declared for the Parliament againſt the factious Party in England who oppoſed them, the Non-commiſſioned Officers did, ingroſſing all the applauſe and glory of it to ſuch as probably had otherwiſe been reduced, refuſing the aſſiſtance of any that had Commiſſions from the Parliament, fearing there might not be honour enough for them all; but behold the falacy! for as I have credibly heard many, and ſome of thoſe who are now impriſoned, were then drawing up a Declaration for the Parliament, to be ſent to the Officers at Wallingford-houſe, which theſe Gentlemen hearing of, made the more haſte to prevent them; But bleſſed be God that it is done, if the Cauſe of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs may proceed and proſper, I hope the Sectarians will rejoyce whatever becomes of them. All this was done by the inſtigation and incitement of ſuch of the Clergy, as are implacable enemies to the Sectarians, and the true Reaſon of this diſſatisfaction and oppoſition, why they are ſo angry with L. G. L. is, becauſe they think he too much favours the Sectarians, though like a prudent Father, he manifeſts an equal affection to all honeſt men of different apprehenſions, and being one who I am confident was never angry with any man for being no wiſer then God had made him, but his delight is in the Saints, and in ſuch as excel in virtue; and it being obſerved that the Sectarian Officers, ſo called, keep a more vigilant eye, and hold a ſtricter hand upon the Souldiers, then others did, puniſhing them for ſwearing, drunkenneſs, abſence from Gods ſervice, or their duty, and the leaſt diſorders and unrulineſs, the Souldiers hoping for and being promiſed more freedom and liberty under other Commanders, were willing to ſhake off the yoak, and ſold their Officers, ſome upon promiſe of their Arrears, ſome for a Barrel of Beer, and others for Trifles: So as in effect the Victory ſo much boaſted of in Ireland is only over the poor Sectarians, who are cordial Friends and Servants to this Parliament.

My Prayers are that God would make this Parliament wiſe as Angels of light, to diſcover the depth of this profound myſtery, a greater Riddle, then when it was for the King and Parliament, againſt the King, for here all Perſons are for the Parliament, L. G. L. the lawful Commander under the Parliament, yet all Perſons that went to ſee him muſt be clapt up, and all that were ſuſpected to be for him, uſed like Traytors, (and himſelf worſe, not being allowed a bit of Bread) for if any one ſpake for an honeſt man at Dublin, that bond might be taken for his appearance, the Officers and Souldiers know the Law ſo well, that they ſay, it is High Treaſon, and no Bail muſt be taken for him; and ſome of the Lawyers in Dublin are ſo learned, that they ſay, that notwithſtanding the Act of Indemnity, they may keep any man in Priſon whom they ſuſpect.

Thirdly & Laſtly, I wiſh it may be ſeriouſly conſidered, that though the Anabaptiſts, Independents and Presbyterians in Ireland, have been pecking one at another, yet the true ground of the Conteſt, is not between them, but betwixt the Common Enemy and them, the Prelatical, Epiſcopal Common-prayer-book Party (which are the moſt numerous) will gladly joyn with the Presbyterians, to cruſh and trample upon the Independents; but that being done, they muſt fall upon the Presbyterians, for they hate the very Name of Paſtors, Teachers, Elders or Deacons, they muſt have Biſhops, Parſons, and Church-wardens, and ſuch poor Over-ſeers as formerly they had, they will not endure to be Examined or to give any Reaſon of their Faith before they come to the Sacrament, they will not endure any Miniſter that ſhall endeavour to make a ſeparation between the precious and the vile, onely the Presbyterian ſhall be reſerved for the laſt morſel, as Polyphemus ſaid of Ʋlyſſes; And as ſome of them ſaid of an honeſt Alderman of that City, that this is all the favour he ſhould have, to be one of the laſt that ſhould be baniſhed the City; And as they have already ſhut the door againſt Mr. Wells at Cork, Mr. Grey, Mr. Wootton, Mr. Aſpinal which are no Anabaptiſts, but able and godly Miniſters of the New Teſtament, ſo it is reported that they have turned out Mr. Gilbert, and are putting out Mr. Chambers, and then one or two more ſtars being ſet, Dr. Winter and Mr. Baynes, the light of the Goſpel will be extinct at Dublin, and what remains but groſs Egyptian darkneſs? If theſe powers at Dublin be ſuch real friends to the Parliament, why are theſe things ſuffered, that any godly Miniſter or other Perſons, who are the faithfulleſt friends of the Parliament there ſhould be turned out of their Places and Imployments, either of the Military or Civil liſt? and many of them I hear which brought Horſes to mount themſelves caſheered without any Pay, and expoſed to a begging or ſtarving condition, under pretence of an Order from Sr. Hardreſs Waller, that none who were liſted by L. G. L. ſhall receive any Pay as the reſt of the Souldiers until further Order; theſe are High Oppreſſions, which I truſt the Parliament will never give them any thanks for, being as unlike to Parliamentary proceedings as light to darkneſs.

They conclude with a ſuppoſition that if Lt. G. L's. actings, have not incapacited him to ſit in Parliament, and I ſay if their actings have not merited to be left liable to a multitude of actions of Treſpaſs and battery and falſe impriſonment, it is well for them; for it is not enough to do (bonum but bene) a good thing but by lawful meanes, and I find it now the Caveliers maſter-peece (yea there) to aſperſe the precious Members o Parliament calling them the Rump, and crying up a Free Parliament, there being ſo very few that are faithful to the Commonwealth (we had need be the more earneſt in praying and acting for them) hoping thereby to bring in Charles Stuart, but I truſt they are ſo wiſe as to obſerve theſe things, and that Gods Bleſſing and Preſence ſhall continue among them by the Multiplication of all his Benedictions and Graces upon them and theirs, I onely crave leave to conceal my Name and to ſubſcribe,