"

of the fundamentall Lowes of the Kingdome, together with the Liberty and my Property of the Subject: (Theames that did continually poffeffe both the Pulpit and the Preffe, which how true, though moft impudently affirmed, the World now fees :) each Day did produce a Difcovery of fome new Treafon, and to indeare the City the more, it must be fo contrived, that I in thefe monstrous Fictions you fhall continually find the Parliament and Cily fained to be involved in the fame Danger.

To poffeffe the Kingdom how mortally the Parliament and City (the two vital Parts of the Kingdome as Pym calls them) were threatned; in the Time of the Receffe they take Opportunity of the Petition delivered by the Troopers from the North, and by an Order from the Committee, they appoynt ftrong Watches to be kept in all High-Wayes, Villages, and Townes within twenty Miles of London, that Travellers into all Parts of the Kingdome, paffing through thefe Guards, might report when they came : Home, in how much Danger the Parliament and City were for their Sakes.

And that the credulous People might not think but that this was done on good Grounds, a Letter is written from the Parliament Commiffioners in: Scotland, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Fiennes, and the reft to Mr. Pym and the clofe Committee here, to inform them of a ftrange Confpiracy difcovered in Edenburgh, to feize on the Perfons of the Marqueffe Hamilton, and the Earles of Argyle, and Lavericke: the Committee wifely confidering that it was no ftrange Thing for Treafon to make a Step out of Scotland into England, inftantly provided against it, (at least fo they would be thought) by publifhing an Order, commanding the Juftices of Peace of Middlefex, Surrey, and Southwarke, to fecure the City, and the Places adjoyning, from all Danger, by ftrong Guards, well armed, and give this Reason for their Order, Because the mischievous Defignes and Conspiracies lately difcovered in Scotland against fome principall and great Men there, by fome of the Popish Faction, gives just Occafion to fufpect, that they may maintain Correspondency here and practife the like Mischiefe.

Prefently upon the Neck of this Mr. Pym's Life (to the great Detriment. of the Kingdom and Nation) is endangered by a contagious Plaifter of Plague Sore, wrapt up in a Letter, and directed to him: but God be thanked, the Infection did not take, though throwing away the Plaifter only, he put the Letter in his Pocket; he being referved for another Manner of Death (we hope) than to dye privately in his Bed, with a few Spectators to bear Witneffe of his End.

Then comes a Taylor out of a Ditch in Finsbury Fields, having miracu loufly efcaped, being runne nine Times befides the Body, (for like a wife Taylor, where foever he made Ilot-holes, he would be fure to make none in his 'own' Skinne, though to gain Credit to the Relation :) and he tells a strange Difcovery of a Treafon, which he overheard two Men talking of, a Confpiracy against the Life of the Lord Say, and fome of the chief Members of both Houfes: A Thing fo improbable, indeed fo ridiculous, that had they not thought that the World food prepared to receive any thing for Truth which came from them, 'twas a Wonder how they durft own it. And now I have

named

named a Taylor, it puts me in Mind of Perkins, my Lotd Say's Taylor, who at a Common-Councell produced a Copy of a Letter from an I know not what Irish Lord in Paris, to fuch another Irish Lord in London, intimating fome strange Defigne against the City, which took as paffionately with the People, as if it had been certified from Mr. Strickeland his Worship, himfelfe, Embaffador for the two Houfes unto the States-Generall of the United Provinces. But the most monstrous of all the reft, and that which if the People had not been accurfed to believe Lies, was the invifible Army quartered under Ground at Ragland Castle, difcovered by John Davis, Servant to Miftris Lewis an Inne-keeper at Roffe, to Alderman Alton's Coachman : except the blowing up the Thames with Gunpowder to drowne the City, one of the moft dangerous Plots that ever affrighted London.

And as by their own Fictions they endeavoured to poffeffe the People with Jealoufies, fo whatsoever the King did never wanted a finifter Interpretation, gloffed to the Multitude, to traduce His Actions, as if in them there were ever fome Evill intended to the City and Parliament. When the King removed Belfore from the Lieutenancy of the Tower, and placed Sir Thomas Lunsford in that Charge, the Citizens and their Wives could not fleep quietly in their Beds, for Feare of having their Houfes beaten down about their Eares. To fatisfy their Clamours, though nothing was objected against him, the King re-affumes the Truft, and prefently depofites it with Sir John Byron the Faction were as ill fatisfied in him, yet it was not easy what to object against him; nay, it was a Query that did not a little trouble them in what to quarrell him at laft Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavite Man, and Nicholfon the Chandler, complaine in the Common-Councell, that fince Sir John Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower, the Mint (to the great Prejudice and Difhonour of the Kingdome) ftood ftill. Thofe that knew what Trade thefe Men drove, by the poore Retaile of Broomes, Candles, and Mustard, their chief Merchandize, to improve braffe Farthings into Groats and Sixpences, accounted the Objection as inconfiderable as the Authors that alleadged it, yet as meane and falfe as it was, it ferved fome Men's Turnes to flander the King to his People, and raise a Clamour. The King out of the abundant Goodneffe of his Nature, hoping to winne them by fome Condefcendments, (which now the World fees is impoffible: Puritans being of another Manner of Temper than to be overcome with Kindneffe) removes Sir John Byron, and confers this great Truft on Sir John Coniers, a Man of whom the Faction it feems conceived better Hopes, and indeed hitherto, if you confider his Exaction upon the King's Friends in his Custody, or retaining the Name of Lieutenant, but refigning the Power contrary to his expreffe Oath, and that on his own Petition to the Train-bands of the City, he hath not given them any Occafion to repent them of their Acquiefcence in him.

It were endleffe, Brother Rufticus, to relate all the Meanes used to heighten the Fears of this miferable City, and by confequence of the Kingdome; efpecially after the Faction in Parliament had fhewen them the Way, by publish

ing that great Buggbeare to affright the People, the Remonftrance of the State of the Kingdome.

10

At last, to make Experiment what good Effect all thefe Arts 1641. had produced, the maine Engineers refolve on Twelfe-Night to fee what Party they had in the City, and what Affiftance they might expect (if Occafion ferved) by giving a falfe Allarme.. To this Purpose, in the Night, a Rumour is divulged, and fuddenly difperfed through the City, That the King and Cavaleers, with fifteene hundred Horfe, were coming to furprize the City: You would wonder to confider how this Report prevailed, infomuch that in an Inftant London was in Armes, no leffe than 50000 or 60000 Men, ready provided to encounter they knew not what; the Women (who as Mr. Peters did inftruct them in the Pulpit, have hugg'd their Hufbands into this Rebellion) provide hot Water (befides what they fprinkled for Feare) to throw` on the Cavaleers: Joynt ftooles, Foormes, and empty Tubbes are throwne into. the Streets, to intercept the Horfe. Had you been at the Lord Mayor's that Night, as I was, you might upon the Aldermens coming to him, to confult against the common Danger, eafily perceive which of the Aldermen were privy to this Defigne, and who were not thought fit to be trufted with fo great a Myfterie: fome of them (and when Time ferves I can tell you their Names) came fo neat, as if they had spent the whole Day to be trimme at Midnight, their Beards put into a Feafting Posture, not a Haire awry, a clear Demonftration that they had not confulted their Pillows that Night; their Ruffes fet as compleatly, as if they had beene to dine with the Masters of their Companies, or were prepared to beare a Part in my Lord Mayor's Shew: but the reft, that flept in the Simplicity of their Hearts, and went to Bed, fo farre from misconceiving their gracious Soveraigne to have any evill Intention against the City, that they thought themselves fafe under his Protection, these came in a farre different Garbe; one came in his Night-Cap and forgot his Hat, another had his Hat, but did not remember to take his Ruffe, one trots along in his Slippers, another for Hafte not staying to garter his Stockings, had loft them had not his Shooes been on; fo that it was eafy to diftinguish who were Confiding Aldermen, as they call them, and who Malignants.

And as by Degrees they wrought the People to this Height of Jealoufie, fo by Degrees too, proportionable to their Jealoufies, did they difarme the King, and arme themselves. At first they did only wreft the Sword out of the King's Hand, but as their Party grew ftronger, they turned the Point upon him. When their Feares were but young, the Faction of the City defired no more, but a ftrong Guard of the Train-Bands, and this they called The Safety of the City; when their Feares grew ftronger, then in a CommonCouncell they move for The Pofture of Defence; which was the Egge of which afterwards was hatched that Cockatrice of the Militia.

But because it was impoffible to difarme the King, as long as the Lord Mayor ftood firme in his Loyalty, and invested in his Power; their maine. Work therefore was, firft, to pack a Common-Councell of Men of their own Faction, and then by advancing the Power of their Common-Councell (by

the

the Affiftance of the House of Commons) above the Lord Mayors, to draw the Voting of all Queryes, and the Refolution of all Doubts, or Matters under Debate, under the Decifion of a major Part; and if any Obstacle lay in their Way to thefe Ends, which was not in their Power to remove, prefently at a dead Lift, Penington, or Ven, or Vaffels bring an Order from the House of Commons, which never failed to determine all Things, for their own Creatures. And because the Practices of thefe Men deferve not to be buried in Silence," I fhall give you a fhort Account, how the Power of the Militia of the City, came to be taken out of the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen's Hands, and feated in a major Part of the Commons; in which you fhall fee how a Faction in the City confpired with a Faction in the Parliament, and this Faction in the Parliament with that in the City, untill between both, the King was inforced, for Fear of their Tumults, and Infolencies, to withdraw himself into the Country.

The Time of Election of Common-Councell Men comming on, at St. Thomas's Day 1641. when thefe Feares and Jealoufies had distracted the City, it was no difficult Matter, for this active Faction, to inftill into their fellow Citizens how much it concerned them to make Choyce of godly Men (fo they miscall themselves) and fuch as would oppofe the Popish Party, under which, Notion, they comprehend all fuch as ftand well affected to the Government established, whether Ecclefiafticall, or Civill. They accufe the old CommonCouncell-Men, as Men not zelous for Religion, ready to comply with the Court for Loanes of Monies, and which was worfe, many had not only fet their Hands to, but were active in promoting the intended Petition, for Epif copacy, and the Booke of Common Prayer. Thefe Objections, (which duly confidered, had been fo many convincing Arguments for them) fo prevailed with these filly Men, (who thought all to be in Danger, unleffe the Govern ment were put into new Hands) that in moft Wards, the old CommonCouncel-Men were turned out, and new chofen in, wholy devoted to the Puritan Faction; efpecially in thofe Wards, where their Aldermen inclined that Way: [ amongst thefe, the moft remarkable were Atkins, Wollaftone, George Garrat the Draper, Wardner, and Towfe. Now outgoe all the grave, difcreet, wellaffected Citizens, as Sir George Benyon, Mr. Drake, Mr. Roger Clarke, Mr. Roger Gardner, Deputy Withers, Mr. Cartwright, and others, and in their Stead are chofen Fowke the Traytor, Ryley the fqueeking Bodyes-maker, Perkins the Taylor, Norminton the Cutler, young beardleffe Coulson the Dyer, Gill the Wine-Cooper, and Jupe the Laten-man in Crooked-Lane, Beadle of the Ward, in the Place of Deputy Withers. So that a Man would fwear, they meant to fulfill what a wife Lord Keeper once fpake to a Recorder of London, dyning with him, upon Occafion of a Wood-Cock Pye brought to the Table, with the Heads looking out of the Lid, Mr. Recorder, you are welcome to a Common Councell.

These new Men, though chofen on St. Thomas's Day, are never returned by the conftant Cuftome of the City, before the Munday after Twelfe-day: nor have Power to fit in the Common-Councell, or concurre in doing any Act, before the Indentures of their Election be returned from the Wardmote

Inqueft

Inquest to the Town-Clark, and a Warrant is fued forth from the Lora Mayor, to the Serjeant of the Chamber to fummon them. Yet in the Yeare 1641. the fmall Space of Time betweene St. Thomas's Day, and the Day of this Returne, was a very active Time: and that which laid the Groundwork, of that Revolt of this City, from their Loyalty to Rebellion, which prefently followed. Therefore impatient to stay the Time of their ordinary Calling, and knowing the Neceffity of their Prefence for the Advancement of the Work in Hand, when the King, gave Order to the Lord Mayor, for calling that Common-Councell held December 31, 1641. when the Lord Newburge was fent from the King, to give the City Notice of the late Tumults at Westminster, and Whitehall, and to recommend unto them the Care of preventing the like Disorders, for the Time to come. To this Common-Councell, comes Fowks, and with him, all the Tribe of this new Choice, and mingle with the old; which being an Intrusion without Prefident, was earnestly oppofed by them, that loved the ancient Order, and Honour of the City; and forefaw the Inundation breaking in upon them, yet out of Refpect to the King's Meffage, and that Lord that brought it, the Controverfie for the prefent was hufhed up, and generally, they applied themselves to give Difpatch to the Anfwer, which they were to returne to the King, which was accordingly done, and the Answer presently after published in

Print.

So, on the 5th of January, being the Day after the King went to the House of Commons to demand the Five Members, a Common-Councell being called by the King's Direction to the Lord Mayor, to which himselfe in Perfon came, to impart unto them, the Reasons that induced him to goe to the House the Day before, and to admonish them, not to harbour, or protect these Men in the City. Thither came Fowke and his new elected, but not admitted Brethren. Fowke having prepared a faucy, infolent Speech, to make unto the King, concerning Feares, and Jealoufies, touching the Members accufed, The Priviledges of Parliament, and that they might not be tried but in a Parliamentary Way; The King heard him with admired Patience, and whereas fo difloyall Expreffions, juftly deferved his royall Indignation, to have fent him to Newgate, or Bridewell (fpecially interpofing in that representative Body of which, as yet, he was no Member.) The King only returned this fhort gracious Anfwer, bidding him and the rest, to affure themfelves, That they should have a just Tryall, according to the Lawes of the Land; adding, That they were dangerous Men, and that neither he, nor they, could be in Safety, as long as thefe Men were permitted to go on in their Way.

It was observed by fome very wife Men there prefent, that the King at his Comming to the Common-Councell, was received with Joy and Acclamations; not much inferiour to thofe, at his Entrance into the City, on his Returne from Scotland. But after the Reafon of his Comming was knowne, and the Puritan Party had inftill'd into the People's Heads, that the great Patriots of the Kingdome were in Danger, to be called to a legall Triall, for Treason, at his Returne, there was a new Face on the Multitude, and in

ftead