THe Sheriff of the County having proclaimed the Writ from his Highness the Lord Protector for summoning a Parliament to meet at West­minster the third of September next, Mr. Frewen the Maior of Reading appointed Wednesday the 28 of June last, at ten of the clock, for the inhabitants of the said Town to meet in the Town-Hall, in order to the choice of a Burgess to serve in Parliament; and that at the day and hour aforesaid, the Writ for choice should be read. The people met accordingly.

Between nine and ten of the clock, the Maior and Aldermen withdrew themselves in private (as did appear) to chuse [Page] [Page 2] a Parliament-man: For as soon as the Clock had stricken ten, his Worship with all his retinue came into open Court; which being full of the inhabitants, the Cryer proclaimed Silence; and then the Town-Clerk with an audible voice did read the Writ for choice of a Burgess as aforesaid. Which being done, the Maior made a Speech to the people, such a one as it was; however, it was not much unlike his actions. Which Speech (for the singu­larity thereof) I have here inserted; and it is as followeth.

Why d'yee hear me? here is a Writ directed to me, to chuse a Burgess to serve in Parliament; and we have chosen Col. Hammond, and him we will have; and I will return the Writ for him.

What, right or wrong Mr. Maior? said a Gentleman that stood by. I, (said Mr. Maior) we have chosen him, and will return the Writ for him; and therefore you may go home a­gain, (said he to the inhabitants.) Is not the Writ directed to us? (said he meaning himself and Aldermen) and we have chosen Colonel Hammond, and we will have him.

But Mr. Maior (said a Gentleman) the most considerable part of the Electors except against Colonel Hammond, and are here present, ready to publish to the world whom they have made choice of to serve them in Parliament, viz. Captain Castle, a man of conscience, wisdom and valour.

Whereupon, there was a cry amongst the chusers, four or five several times, A Castle, a Castle; insomuch that the oddes did clearly appear (to the impartial and indifferent standers by) to be five for one for Captain Castle against Colonel Hammond.

But the Maior still stood it out, that the inhabitants had no power to chuse a Burgess, and that the power did lie in himself and his Brethren the Aldermen. Whereupon the Electors of Captain Castle demanded, of the Maior to go to the pole; but [Page 3] he refused; and presently drew forth the inhabitants into a Field called the Forbury, (without any adjornment of the Court, which signified a disolution thereof) and in the said Field the difference remained for matter of number as before, on Captain Castle's side, and the Electors again demanded of the Maior to go to the pole, and took witness thereof; but he refused again, saying, He would do as he pleased, he would return the Writ for Colonel Hammond; and so return'd into the Town-hall again with the people following of him, and then sent forth the Bell-man (his common call or crier) to go about the streets with his bell, cry­ing, All you that are for Colonel Hammond (to be a Parliament­man) must presently appear at the Town-Hall. (For Mr. Maior is now sitting to take your names.) The Maiors Officer (also) John Bartlet most industriously run about the stree [...]s, searching the corners thereof, and Ale-houses, crying out, Who are you for, hoe! For Colonel Hammond, would some answer; but alas, we dare not, neither must we vote, because we are not worth 200 l. That's false, (would the Maior Officers reply) you may vote for all that.

And then demanding of another, Whom he was for, who said, For Captain Castle; are you? (said the Maiors Officer) you had best have a care what you do; for if you are not worth 200 l. you are not capable to vote.

Thus did the Maiors Officers run about the streets, two hours after the Writ for the choyce of a Burgess was read, and a clear election thereupon passed, as by the testimony of sufficient witness may appear.

In the mean time the Maior (who ought to have been Judge of the truth of election) with some of his Brethren sate in the Town-Hall to take the names of such which his Bell-man and other Offi­cers sent in out of the streets and ale-houses; and withal, Parson Fowler standing up above the people, in the Maiors presence, vaunting as in a stage-play, and perswading such so sent in, as a­foresaid to subscribe for Colonel Hammond. And when they had acted their part, the Maior departed the Town Hall, being neer two of the clock in the afternoon; whereas a clear choice had passed for Captain Castle, at ten in the morning.

Thus far have If declared the truth of things as acted by the Maior, and his brethren the Aldermen, with some few other Priest-ridden men, who in­deed have been ridden so hard, that even their under­standings have been weakned thereby; so that any ingenious man may behold the face of folly (and envie) upon their actions, as by this Relation may appear.

Further, consider the Maiors bold attempt upon the Liberties of the people, in going about to intro­duce that which must needs render the people of England as absolute slaves as any under the Turks dominion, by denying them the choice of their Law­makers, directly contrary to the minde of his High­ness the Lord Protector and his Councel, who have so far testified their tenderness of the Peoples Liber­ty in that respect, that they have enlarged the num­ber of chusers in Counties, by making many capa­ble of choice, that were incapable heretofore.

What colour can the Maior shew for such his pra­ctices, in running so great a hazard as the Fine of above 1000l. to force the inhabitants of the said Town out of their Liberties? Or how could he conceive, that such irregular, foolish, and ridiculous ways and practices for the chusing of a Burgess, should be either honourable to himself, or acceptable to any wise man?

But certainly (as I said before) the mindes and spi­rits of these men being ridden so much by the Priests, they are become barren and empty of all reason and understanding.

He who by the Instrument of Government was bound [Page 5] to see the choice orderly and peaceably made, in stead thereof, made factions and sidings amongst the people, as if he had purposed to set them together by the ears: and the Priests, who would be counted the Ministers of the Gospel of peace, are commonly found to be the fomenters of strifes and divisions; and did so shew themselves in this Election of a Bur­gess.

Munday June 26. Parson Ford publikely in his Pulpit (in a base disgraceful manner) said, that he heard that the inhabitants of the Town did intent to chuse a man on the other side of the water, (mean­ing Captain Castle:) it's true, (said Ford) he is fit to make up differences between men about hogs break­ing over, or to mend up the hedge or ditch: but if you chuse such, (said he) then it will be Good­man Parliament-man, and Goodman Justice. Now if the pride and insolencie of this Priest Ford be such, that he dares publikely speak in such scorn and contempt of one of his Highness the Lord Pro­tectors Justices of the Peace, what would he not do, had he power?

Correspondent whereunto, was the carriage of Priest Fowler, who in a disgraceful manner called the Tradesmen (inhabitants of the Town of Rea­ding) The Ragged Regiment, because many of them came in Wastcoats, and with their Aprons before them. Which language, how well it becomes a Messenger of Christ (as he and his brethren call themselves) any sober Christian can judge. And indeed, 'twas a mercy, (if not a marvel) that such lan­guage, at such a time, from such a man, amidst a mul­titude, had not caused bloodshed.

But these are they that have in all Ages embraced all opportunities of sowing discord amongst bre­thren, and who have been the incendiares, and even the bellows, to blow up such sparks, as have set whole Nations in a combustion. And it is to be feared, that they have some such designe now, as when they would have disbanded the Army: And therefore (my dear Brethren and Country-men) have I penned this sheet, to give thee warning of such designes and designers, in the like case.

There are (as I hear) six Gentlemen of Reading (viz. Mr. Dean, Captain Curtis, Mr. Goad, Mr. Write, Captain Goddard, and Mr. Stockwel) employed by the inhabitants to represent the Case to his Highness the Lord Protector.