By a multitude under the pretence of PEACE.

IT is a sad thing, that such strange tumults should arise in such a well Governed City, especially from them whose pretence is altogether for Peace, but whose words and carriages doe declare the contrary, as may appeare in their [Page 2] cariage at Haberdashers Hall the ninth of December, and in those desperate speeches that came from them that night, as will ap­peare largely upon proofe, as doth more evidence it selfe upon the twelfth of De­cember, upon which day my Lord Major called a Court of Common Counsell, and being on serious debate, these men of seve­rall conditions, some Proctors, some Tap­sters, some Players, witnesse Cain the Clown at the Bull, and others came in great multi­tude, and filled the Hall and Yard, as full as if there had beene some extraordinary com­mon Hall. So they sent some of their com­pany up to the Court, at their comming in my Lord Major asked them what they would have one Master Osbinstone, Tole taker on the Bridge, being one of their cho­sen men, said, for Peace, and for the pe­tition, which would admit of no delay. Tis so, said he, the Kings Army and ours doe face one another, and much blood is like to be spilt, therefore there is speed of [Page 3] our Petition. My Lord spake of some passa­ges in the petition, and upon discourse they all seemed to be satisfied. Then my Lord and the Court told them they did as really desire peace as they, but they did not ap­prove of their way, and to that purpose he had called a Court to advise about it, who had chose seven Aldermen, and foureteene Commoners, to draw up a petition to the King and both Houses of Parliament, and they hoped it would be such, that it would give satisfaction to all.

In the meane time the Spirits of those men that were in the Hall and in the Yard, were so up, that they were ready to quarrell with every man that they had any suspition was not of their Society, insomuch that ma­ny men of civill quality went away for feare of danger; at length they grew to this re­solution, they would force out all they ap­prehended to be Souldiers out of the Hall.

Sergeant Major Skippons man passing through the Hall, speaking to no man, saith [Page 4] one there goeth Skippons dogge, upon that they jousled him, knockt him downe often, and robbed him of money and other things to the worth of six pounds. A few Soul­diers there were up and downe the Hall, waiting on their busines as at other times, out they must by head and shoulders where ever they found any, though they gave them very good words, and an account of their businesse. The Souldiers being thus dis­gracefully turned out, by what authority they knew not, resolved they would goe in againe, and some ten or twelve drew their swords and in they got, being in they wished them to cleare the Hall, offering no blow nor assault to any; the most that were in the Hall drove up to the Court of Hust­ings, others got behind the Souldiers, closed in upon them, and wrested their swords out of their hands, then presently the mul­titude cryed out shut the doores, shut the doores. So they did, and barracadoed them up with Formes & other things they found [Page 5] in the Hall, in the interim they most cruelly beate, cut, and wounded the Souldiers, 20. or 30. upon one, kicking them like dogges, after that they fell upon some Citizens, cal­ling them round head rogues, beate them blacke and blew, and abused them in most shamefull manner, multitudes on one, with their fists about his eares. The beaten, wounded men, cryed out murther murther, those without laboured to get open the doores, and by force got open a little crevice one of the Horsemen that were in the yard, shot in at the crevice to frighten them that so they might open the doore, but they shut it fast, and in a hubbub up staires they got, where my Lord Major and the Court sate, forced open the doores, Master Osbinstone told my Lord and the Court if they would send the Souldiers away that were in the yard and at the gates of the Hall, he would undertake that every man should goe home to their dwellings; This Osbinstone being in custody, and passing by the Conduit at the [Page 6] lower end of Cheape side, was by force drove into the Miter Taverne, no sooner was he in, but they shut the streete doores, presently he was creeping out of a window at the top of the house, getting on the leads of Mercers Chappell, to make an escape as is conceived, but being deserned by some on the other side-they discovered him and got him againe; Many were committed for speaking desperate words, and one with his head broke for beginning a Fray in the yard, the issue of such desperate carriages I hope will be carefully looked to in time, that they may not grow to such a head, that Religion, and Liberty, and all safety may be hazarded.