at the same Time, is willing to receive a Petition An. 18. Car. I. from the Rebels in Ireland.

We are no Rebels; but dutiful in all we do: They are Rebels and Traitors in the Judgment of all Men; and yet he will receive no Petition from us; but he will receive a Petition from them!'

Sir Henry Vane spoke to this Effect:

My Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and the rest of the
Gentlemen bere affembled,

1642.

November.

T is not unknown to you, with what Diffi-Sir Henry Vane's.

culties, with what Dangers, both Houses of Parliament have a long Time conflicted, for to bring the Liberties, and the Religion, and the Welfare, of this Kingdom into fuch a Posture as might give all the Inhabitants thereof full Satisfaction. It is not unknown likewise, how busy the Enemies of this great Work have been, to cast Scandals, to cast false Aspersions, upon the Proceedings, upon the Carriage of Parliament; they therefore thought fit, (that they might undeceive all Persons of the greatest Malice, and of the greatest Opposition to their Endeavours) not long since, to frame a Petition; a Petition full of Humility, a Petition full of Modesty, whereby they did defire his Majesty that they might apply themselves to make such Propositions to him, as might effect this great

Work.

• This Petition, that it might be delivered, they thought fit for to name (as this Noble Lord hath told you) fix Persons; two of the Lords House, and four of the House of Commons; Men that they thought altogether without the least Scruple, without the leaft Exception, knowing that nothing in the Carriage of these Persons could render them liable to Exception, but their Duty and Observance to the Commands of both Houses. When the Names of these Persons were sent to his Majesty, for to have a Safe-Conduct, immediately, I think the very Day before, there came out a Proclamation againft one of them, excepting him out of the Grace and VOL. XII, Fa

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An. 18. Car. I. Favour of his Majesty, as it is termed, and laying him in the Condition of a Rebel and of a Traitor November, against him, for his Obedience to, and Obfervance of, the Commands of Parliament.

1642.

This being brought to both Houses, they looked on it as a Business of such great Importance, that if they should fuffer any one Member, or any one Person, that, through his Dutifulness and Obfervance of their Commands, should lie under a Cloud with his Majesty, fo as not to be admitted to his Prefence, but be looked at in fuch a Condition, as this Proclamation put him in: They looked on it, I fay, as the greatest Indignity, and the greatest Calumny that could befall a Parliament; and the greatest Discouragement that should lie upon all Men to stand to a Parliament, if they should not be defended and protected: Hereupon they resolved to declare, That the Unwillingness lay not in them to make Peace; but it lay in that ill Counsel, and that defperate Counsel, that hath hemm'd in his Majefty; and will not fuffer such Points, will not fuffer fuch Propositions as these, to take Effect with him; but will labour to destroy all your Estates and Properties, and all that is near and dear to you in this Kingdom.

The House of Commons, therefore, have thought it fit to acquaint you with these Proceedings; to let you know how careful they are, by all good Ways, and by all good Means, to present their Loyalty and Duty to his Majesty, to take Care of themselves, and all that belongs to you: But, when they fee all will not take Effect, they doubt not but you will join cordially, and join resolutely, with your Purses, and with your Endeavours, and with all that lies in your Power, to acquit yourselves like Men; to defend yourselves; to defend them that have laboured in your Work, in your Cause, and who are willing to spend their Lives and Blood in your Service to the utmost Man: Therefore they defire this of you, that, since they have taken this Care, you will hearken to no Reports that shall tend to the Disparagement of their Proceedings; but but will unanimously concur to defend yourselves An. 18. Car. I. against that Violence and Oppreffion, that is now 1642.

almost at your Doors. -And this is that we have to November. recommend to you.'

Then the Lord Brooke spoke again.

Gentlemen,

Have but one Word more to trouble you with. Lord Brooke's
This Honourable Gentleman, Sir Henry Vane, second Speech.

hath express'd so fully all that was in the Message,
that, truly, I should wrong him and myself too, if
I should say any more; therefore I shall now speak
to you of another Thing. It is not fit any thing
that concerns you should be concealed from you.

' I came this Day to this Place, to this House, about another Business, which I have already communicated to my Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Committee. I think it will not be unfit you should know it. I have the Consent of fome, that understand this Business very well, to what I now shall do. Gentlemen, the Message was this, it was a Message from his Excellency; it is to let you know how near the Danger is at Hand, that fo you may gird up the Loins of your Resolution, and act like Men of Courage. Gentlemen, Citizens of London, (better than whom no Man did in that Army we had lately in the Field) the Enemy's Foot, as we understand, are very near Staines, their Horse are about Kingston. We cannot say that all are there; but that there are both Horse and Foot, and it is certain our Foot are going to them: So that the Question is now, What is to be done? This is a certain Truth among all Soldiers, That you must keep Evil as far off you as you can; you must not let it come near your Doors: You must not think to fight in the Sighs, and Tears, and Eyes, and Distractions of your Wives and Children; but to go out, and meet it valiantly as you have done.

God hath shewed himself a God of Love and Mercy, and truly we must give him all the Honour of that Day; certainly it is the greatest Victory that

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1642.

November.

An. 18. Car. I.ever was gotten; near 2000 (I love to speak with the least) on their Side slain; and, I am confident, not 100 on our Side, unless you will take in Women and Children, Carmen, and Dogs, for they flew the very Dogs and all. If you take in Women, Children, Carmen, and Dogs, then they flew about 200. But that 100 should be flain on one Side, and 2000 on the other Side, is a very miraculous Thing.

'God that dealt so wonderfully heretofore, it were to distrust him, if we did not think he would do so again. Truly he hath a People among us exceedingly beloved.

What is it we fight for? It is for our Religion, and for our God, and for our Liberty, and all. And what is it they fight for? For their Luft, for their Will, and for their Tyranny; to make us Slaves, and to overthrow all.

Gentlemen, methinks I see your Courage by your Faces. I spy you ready to do any thing; and the General's Resolution is, to go out To-morrow, and do as a Man of Courage and Resolution; and never Man did like him; for he was not only General, but Common Soldier; for he led up his own Regiment, he led up his own Troop in his own Person; and when the Left Troops of Horse deceived him, he brought up the Right Troops. He himfelf will go out again, and do again as much as he hath done: All this is for your Sakes, for he can be a Freeman, he can be a Gentleman, he can be a great Man, he can go where he will; therefore it is only for your Sakes he is refolved to go out Tomorrow. His Forces are weary, his Forces are spent, some came but last Night into Town, fome marched above twenty Miles, which is a great March, as some that know what it is can tell; but, as weary as they are, he is resolved to go out; and if you will affect the Cause, and join with him Hand, and Heart, and Sword, he will take it as a Favour; but if you will not, he doubts not but Gidean's Sword will do the Work alone.

would refolve, that when you hear the Drums beat, (for it is refolved that the Drums shall beat To morrow; our Drums shall beat to lead out our Men, and the Committee's Drums shall beat to lead out their Men) say not, I beseech you, I am not of the Trained-Band, nor this, nor that, nor t'other; but doubt not to go out to the Work, and fight courageoufly, and this shall be the Day of your Deliverance.'

'I speak not this that I doubt you, but that you An. 18. Car. I.

1642.

November.

:

Nov. 9. Notwithstanding the foregoing Speeches to the Citizens of London seem to breathe nothing but War, yet the House of Commons thought fit to foften the Harshness of their Vote of the 7th; for, this Day, Mr. Pymme brought up a different Refolution, to which he defired their Lordships Concurrence, viz.

'Resolved, That the Petition shall be fent to his The Commons Majesty; and the Reasons which induced the Com- refolve, again, mons to make this Vote, he said, were these;

to fend their Petition to the

First, The great Advantage which should be King;

gained by a fettled Peace; for, thereby, they should better attend to the War in Ireland; and it would unite the King and Kingdom more closely, and prevent the Lofs of our Religion and the Liberties of the Subject; for Peace, upon other Terms than these, they refolve never to accept: That,

Secondly, The House of Commons did, also, confider the Danger the King's Person was in at the last Battle; and the great Mischiefs that War had already brought upon the Commonwealth, which would be increased if it should be continued; fo much Blood being already spilt and many of great Quality flain; and that Sir John Evelin should be left to his Liberty to go along with the rest if he think fit.' f

To this pacific Vote the Lords readily agreed; but which the Lords as though the Commons designed to shew the King agree to : the Olive Branch in one Hand and the Sword in the other,

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