more addreffes were re-affumed; the tranfactions

the army, and the admirers of the change which foon after happened. Befides thofe which may be collected from the petition in the foregoing note, the following bave been offered to the public.

1. Mr. Ludiow writes that Some of our commiffioners who had been with the King [at Newport] ⚫ pleaded in the house for a concurrence with him, as if they had been employed by him; though others with more ingenuity acknowledged that they would not advise an agreement upon those terms, were it not to prevent a greater evil that was like to enfue upon the refufal of them. But Sir Henry Vane fo truly ftated the matter of fact relating to the treaty, and fo ⚫ evidently discovered the defign and deceit of the King's anfwer, that he made it clear to us, that by it the jus ⚫tice of our caufe was not afferted, nor our rights fecured for the future; concluding that if they should accept of these terms without the concurrence of the 'army, it would prove but a feather in their caps: ⚫ notwithstanding which, the corrupt party in the house having bargained for their own and the nation's liberty, ⚫ refolved to break through all hazards and inconveniencies to make good their contract, and after twenty ⚫ four hours debate, refolved by the plurality of votes, that the King's conceffions were ground for a future fettlement. At which fome of us expreffing our diffatisfaction, defired that our proteftation might be entered; but that being denied, as against the orders of the houfe, I contented myfelf to declare publicly, that being convinced that they had deferted the common cause and intereft of the nation, I could no longer join with them; the rest of those who diffentedalfo, expreffing themfelves much to the fame purpose: The day following, fome of the principal officers of ⚫ the army came to London, with expectation that things would be brought to this iffue; and confulting with ⚫ fome members of parliament and others, it was con

*cluded,

(*) Vol. i. P. 269.

actions of the parliament with the King in

the

cluded, after a full and free debate, that the measures taken by the parliament were contrary to the truft repoled in them, and tending to contract the guilt of the blood that had been fhed upon themselves and the nation that it was therefore the duty of the army to endeavour to put a stop to fuch proceedings; having engaged in the war, not fimply as mercenaries, but out of judgment and confcience, being convinced that the cause in which they were engaged was juft, and that the good of the people was involved in it (x).'

2. In answer to the illegality of the act, and the incompetency of the actors, who affumed a jurifdiction to which they had no right, even from thofe for whose good and benefit they pretended to have done this: in answer to thefe and the like objections it was faid, That it was lawful for any man, even by violence, to wreft a fword out of the hand of a mad-man, though it be never fo legally his from whom it is wrefted ;— That there is no clyent that hath entertained a lawyer, or advocate to plead his caufo, but upon difcovery, yea or jealoufy, of prevarication, or falfe-heartedness to him in his caufe, may lawfully discharge him, his ⚫ entertainment notwithstanding;--That it was ridiculous to pretend a want of call from the people, against the lawfulness of such an act, which was of that fovercigne neceflity for their benefit and good, as the actions of the army were; efpecially at fuch a time when there was no poffibility of obtaining or receiving a formal call from the people, without running an eminent hazard of lofing the opportunity for doing that • excellent fervice to them. Mens confents unto all acts manifeftly tending to their relief, are fufficiently expreffed in their wants and neceffities. But the people do not judge the proceedings of the army againft the parliament-men as tending to their relief or wel¶ fare in any kind, but as contrary to both, nor do they give fo much as their fubfequent confents thereunto;

the ifle of Wight condemned; the general

was

-I answer that phyficians called to the care and cure of perfons under diftempers, need not much stand upon the confents of fuch patients, either fubfequent, or antecedent, about what they administer unto them. If the people be uncapable in themfelves, of the things of their peace, it is an act of so much the more goodnefs and mercy in thofe, who being fully capable of them, will engage themfelves accordingly to make • provifion for them. It is a deed of charity and.chrifti⚫anity, to fave the life of a lunatick or diftracted perfon, even against his will. Befides it is a ruled cafe amongst wile men, that if a people be depraved and 'corrupt, fo as to confer places of power and truft upon ⚫ wicked and undeferving men, they forfeit their power in this behalf unto thofe that are good, though but a few (y).-Aquinas is referred to in the margin for this Right and curicus doctrine, which perhaps will not be well relish- Might well ed by most of my readers. But to go on- That the met, p.12judgment or fentence of the army upon thefe men, Lond. 16,8. as meet to be difpoff:ffed of their parliamentary inter'eft, was not erroneous, but every way juft, and according to the truth, ftands clear upon this ground: viz. That they were become renegadoes from their truft, and acted by their counfels, debates, votes, and intereft, in a diametrical oppofition to the peace and fafety of the kingdom, and to publick good.

"Yea the tenour of their parliamentary actings before "their removal from the house, in the known dialect of political prophecy, prefaged nothing but ruin and de'ftruction, to the liberties of the free-born fubjects of 'the kingdom in general, and to the lives and eftates of many thoufands in the kingdom, whom they flood 'bound in confcience in a special manner to protect. For what could that grand encouragement, which they 'adminiftred by their votes to a potent party of men in the kingdom, who had fo lately, and with fo high an hand, acted hoftility against the peace and liberties

(y) John Goodwin's

15. 4to.

(z) John Goodwin's Right, &c. . 13.

was ordered to keep the King in fafe cufto

dy,

of the people, and againft the lives of thofe who flood up to protect them, not having given the least overture of any relenting in their old principles, but were now through that extremity of pain which they lye under, having been fo often, and fo deeply bitten, and ftung by the fidelity and valour of the army, moreenraged in their spirits, than ever; what could, I fay, 'fuch encouragement, given by fuch hands unto fuch men, but portend, either a re-imbroyling of this al-ready miferably wafted nation, in wars and blood, or elfe the neceffity of a patient and quiet fubjection of the nation to the iron yoke of perpetual tyranny and bondage, together with the certain ruin of the lives and eftates of thofe, who had fhewed moft faithfulnefs and courage in the defence of the parliament and the kingdom's liberties, in oppofing the King and his party, if the army had not preventingly interpofed as they did? The by-paft actions of men, efpecially fuch, which they have for any confiderable space of time inured themselves unto, are prophetical of what their future actions are like to be, if opportunity paralleleth. The civil law faith, that he that hath injured one, bath threatned many and by the rule of proportion, he that hath injured many hath threatned • all (z).'

3. Milton obferves on this fubject, that Emulations are incident among military men, and are, if they exceed not, pardonable. But, adds he, fome of the former army, eminent enough for their own martial deeds, and prevalent in the house of commons, touch⚫ed with envy to be fo far out-done by a new model which they contemned, took advantage of Prefbyterian and Independent names, and the virulence of fome minifters, to raise disturbance. And the war being then ended, thought flightly to have difcarded them, who had faithfully done the work, without • their due pay, and the reward of their invincible va⚫lour.

dy, and take care that he

lour. But they who had the fword yet in their hands, difdaining to be made the firft objects of ingratitude and oppreffion, after all that expence of their blood for juftice and common liberty, feizing upon the King their prifoner, whom nothing but their matchlefs deeds had brought fo low as to furrender up his perfon: though he, to ftir up new difcord, chofe rather to give up himself a captive to his own countrymen who had (4) Profe lefs won him (a).'

Pro Po

This is taken from the Icon claftes. In his pulo Anglicano Defenfio,' after speaking in difpraise of the treaty in the isle of Wight, and of the members of the parliament who approved it, in terms of great feverity, he proceeds in the manner following: Quid illi interea qui integri tam peftifera agitari confilia videbant? An ideo deeffe patriæ, faluti fuorum non profpicere debuerant, eo quod iftius mali, contagio in ipforum ordi⚫ nem penetraverat? At quis iftos exclufit malè fanos? "Exercitus, inquis, Anglicanus,' id eft, non externorum, fed fortiffimorum & fidiffimorum civium; quorum tribuni plerique, Senatores ipfi erant, quos illi boni exclufi patria ipfa excludendos, & in Hiberniam procul ablegandos effe cenfuerant; dum Scoti interim dubiâ jam fide quatuor Angliæ provincias fuis finibus proximas magnis copiis infidebant, firmiffima earum regionum oppida præfidiis tenebant, regem ipfum in 'cuftodia habebant: dum ipfi etiam factiones fuorum • atque tumultus, parlamento plufquam minaces, & in urbe & in agris paffim fovebant, qui tumultus paulò pòft in bellum non civile folùm, fed. & Scoticum illud erupere. Quòd fiprivatis etiam confiliis aut armis ⚫ fubvenire reipublicæ laudatiffimum femper fuit, non eft certè cur exercitus reprehendi, poffit, qui parliamenti • authoritate ad urbem accerfitus imperata fecit, & regiorum factionem atque tumultum ipfi curiæ fæpiùs minitantem facilè compefcuit. In id autem difcrimen adducta res erat, ut aut nos ab illis, aut illos à nobis

Works, vol. i. p. 474.