THe bloody and inhumane murther of my late dread Ʋncle of ever renowned famous memory, hath ad­ministred to me fresh occasion (if I had no other motives which might further my indignation a­gainst the usurped power in England, to bee assistant both in councell and the best of my personall power, as bound by af­finity to my deare Cousen now Charles the second King of great Britaine, and all other his late Fathers Dominions) to take vengeance upon those Arch-Traytors, pretending the name of Parliament, and keeping a perpetuall Sessions, of blood-thirstinesse and murthering Massacre at Westminster. They being not in any capacity or have they the least colour of honesty, law, or reason, to give them, save onely a Libidi­nous lustfull will, maintained by the unjust Sword of usupa­tion, hem'd in with disloyalty, and skin'd over with an hipo­pocriticall pretended freedome of Religion, and Subjects li­berty, making shew of levelling equality, though no power of a King (which is most rightfull both by the written word of God, and fundamentall Lawes of England) whatever could e­ver be more tyranically, aspiringly ambitious, and barbarously impious then theirs. Who whatever Promises, Oathes, or Covenants were formerly, or now at present, are their Acti­ons manifest, their intentions to be cruelty, tyrannous, and their rule Arbitrary, every way illegall, and more extorting from [Page 3]the Subjects then the government of a moderate Monarch could in any wise bee, who is bounded and begirt both with Law and discret Councell; Nay, the greatest tyrant of a King cannot act such tragicall villanies, as a vast number of mis­chievous wretches which are bent to wickednesse may. Of which truth the Assembly of Traytors and rebels an westmin. have given sufficient testimonies, there never being heard on in all antiquity the like subversion that is now intended and with Rebellions force prosecuted in England, viz. First, To mur­ther their lawfull King. 2ly, Banish their now King, his Brother, with all those which love or adhere to him, exemp­ting them from mercy, and making them by meek Acts tray­tors to them, who are Rebels to their King. This me thinkes should move all men who are not destitute of understanding (and have common sence) to see how those audacious Rebels have woven their ends, and exploded Loyalty with acclamati­ons, that Rebellion (which is as the sin of Witchcraft) is be­come a vertue, and murther an Act of mercy. Moreover mee thinks it cannot chuse but be visible to all eyes (unlesse wil­fully blind) that the numerous Issue of my deceased Ʋncle will still procure meanes to keep the Kingdome in broyles, ei­ther with warres still in it, or threats and invasions, which will be altogether as terrible to the Subject as War it self can be; so long as my deare Cousen now CHARLES the second, the lawfull King of England, Scotland, and Jreland &c. or who­ever shall succeed him which have any allyance to the Crowne of England) are in beeing.

I hope therefore and for many reasons to be alledged on my part, that there is no honest loyall heart in all the Kingdome of England or else-where, that can with any Iustice or knowne truth lay any capitall crime to my charge, although it hath been the constant indeavours of some of the English Nation (who are naturally prone to hate Strangers) to seek with false [Page 4] Calumnies and scandalous accusations, to blast and blemish my integrity to my Ʋncle and his Royall family, by challenging me with trechery to him and his party, to the contrary of all which, his late Majesty was well satisfied that I was honestly reall and wholly his. Thus much I thought fit to speake in my own behalf hoping it will be taken from mine own mouth as a character of my fidelity, which hath been much scandaliz'd by black mouth [...], which never speakes well of any, and that I thank God is a thing which I have had my share of in England, for venturing so freely and often my life for their Libert es, as I take God to witness was ever my intention, ne­ver looking for any preferment at all to raise my fortunes a­bove ordinary by the English nation, which I am confident there are divers now living in England, which have had con­stant knowledge of my Actions can justifie. I having had ma­ny preferments proffered me which I have refused, desiring the advancement of my Vncles cause might be first promoted, and for my own particular I dedicated my life to his will, and did never intend, to make a greater price of my Service then his late Majesty and Councell might adjudge me to deserve. Nei­ther hath the abuse layd upon mee by my Vncles pretended friends been sufficient. But the grosse Lies and forgeries of that Rebell [...]e [...]t at Westminster, have branded me with the very worst of crimes that possible any man might be charged with. As that I was barbarously cruell and did tyrannically use not only Souldiers but likewise Country-people, by Plunder, rapes, thefts, &c. with many more exorbitances, as Ravishings of M [...]ydens, and destroying young Children, all which was to no other end then to wound my reputation, and make me abomi­nably odious to the vulgar, whose braines itched with a desire of novelty and were ever willing to imbrace any falsities. But to cleere my selfe from all these, I did it was well knowne to many ever detest and hate such proceedings, holding them to [Page 5]be the greatest and most inhumane barbarismes that could by any Christians possible be invented. But I finding the disposi­tion of the English Nation, both pretends friends and open e­nemies of my late Vncles, to strive nothing more then to cast a perpetuall odium upon me, and seeing my self unfortunate in most of my adventures, I doe seriously protest it was often my desires to have left that high imployment of Generall, and to serve my Vncle in a lesser and lower degree of Command. But it was ever the will of my dread deceased Vncle (of ever ho­noured and famous memory) whose love was still to me intire and whose affections I found ever inviolable (to his Subjects good) to have me continue in the Command which his Ma­jesty had been graciously pleased to confer upon me, which as I shall answer at the day of judgement, I did improve to the best of my power without any treachery, deceit, or dissimulati­on in what kind soever; and for my unfortunatenesse, I hope, it was excusable, it not only being incident where I had Com­mand and was Personally present, but in all other Places where my late Ʋncle had any power of souldiers. Yet notwithstan­ding I was the Butt whereat envie shot its Arrowes, and all my Ʋncles losses were generally layd to my charge. And I look't upon by many (who were not sensible of my integrity) as a trecherous and perfidious seller of my late Vncles Cities, Ca­stles, Townes, and Garisons, yes even his Armyes, when it was e­vident to all, that no man whatsoever either private Souldier, or Officer, did hazard more his life and further ingage his Per­son then my self; and how trecherous dealing and underhand compliance with my Vncles enemies could be attributed to my charge, for such Acts I know not, and doubt not all honest ra­tionall men will be satisfied, and their judgement confuted by these my reall expressions, which I call the Almighty Iudge of heaven and earth to witnesse is no other then truth.

Now for my judgement in this new war, in behalfe of my [Page 6]dearely beloved Cousen, I do protest and really speake it I did ever intend to do him any service & imploy my best indeavors for his inthroning as bound by Consangvinity, but more parti­cularly ingaged by reason of former favours received from his late Royall Father, my murthred vnckle, and though it was my intentions to serve him as I have heare spoake it: yet I doe in­geniously confesse it was never my desire to bee imployed in this great and waighty command of his Majesties Admirall, but should willingly have beene well satisfied with an inferior place where I might have had the freedome, in part to bring such great Traitors and Rebels to condigne punishment, who had a hand in the murther of my late Ʋnckle, and doe still per­sist in their peruerse wayes of Rebellion and Cruelty, and my reasons, why I did not wish so great a command were these; viz. I know and was ascertained, my self had been rendred odi­ous to many English who did not throughly understand my re­all intentions, but onely beleev'd lies and forged reports of my mortall Enemies framing. And I did likewise consider that my undertakeing the Admiralty, might bee a meanes to draw away the affections of his Majesties Subjects, by reason such rumours had been upon me. These and many other reasons, (which now I will omit) did moove me severall times to refuse what at length his Majesties Councell of Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, who are about him: did in a maner force it upon mee, which peradventure at first displeased some aspiring Spi­rits, who gapt for that imployment which now I have: and will by the grace of God, to my power manage as may be most pro­fitable for my Cosen, his now Majesty, and for the speediest set­tlement of him in his late Fathers Throne. I wil now desire your patience a litle longer and do intend (God willing) to give mine and the Gentlemens about me their Intensions and resolutions, both for present proceedings and future actings, so long as God shall enable us so to doe; and wee doe hereby declare and [Page 7]protest to all the whole Kingdome, what wee with our fortunes (and that which is most deare to us even our lives) will pro­secute, and to the vtmost of our power performe to a tittle, the particuler beads are as followes, viz.

1. Wee doe protest and declare, That wee will use all pos­sible meanes and imploy our interests for to inthrone King Charles the second in his Kingdome of England, and all other his Dominions, which were his late Fathers, and with all our force power & strength, his Royall Person will indeavor to defend maintaine and keepe. And will ever to the utmost of our pow­ers preserve him from the Treacherous attempts of usurping Rebbels, upholding and suporting so much as in us lyeth all his Regal authority, Kingly rights, priveledges, and prerogatives, which of due belong to him as successive King of England, and as have beene enioyed by his predecessors of our later ages, viz. Queene Elizabeth, King Iames, and his late Royall Father of famous memory.

2ly. That wee will ever bee carefull to preserve the anti­ent and Fundamentall Lawes, Statutes, Customes, immunities Priviledges, and Freedomes of each Subiect of this Kingdome of England. And will never yeild consent or assent to have them violated and broken, nor any Arbitrary rule introduced, save onely such wholesome Lawes as a Parliament freely e­lected by his Majesties writ: (and causisting of King, Lords and Commons) shall thinke fit to constitute.

3ly. That wee will ever bee ready with our lives and for­tunes, to defend the power of Parliament (when legally chosen) and its Iust rights and Priviledges, to the utmost of our power will preserve and keepe free from violation and never (as now there is over the Iunto at westminster) constituting any power of Sword upon them, whereby to make them act contrary to the Subjects good, for our private gaine: such constraining force being contrary to the knowne Lawes of this Land. And the most arbitrary and tiranicall act, that may bee invented: [Page 8]there being now no Law save such as a Rebellious Army of Sectarian Murtherers will please to have.

4ly. And for the City of London in particuler, wee doe declare and protest wee will not hinder their trading by See, for Wind, Coales, or any other necessaries, so long as the Cap­taines, and Masters, of such Marchants Shipps, shall pay unto us all such dues and Customes as doe belong to his Majesty, and likewise that they doe acknowledge him for their King, and lawfull heire to the Crowne of England: by striking sayle to his Admirall, and yeelding obedience to his commands, as one law­fully authorized by his said Majesty, Charles the second King of great Brittaine.

5ly. That wee have no intention to injure or hurt the person nor diminish, take away, confiscate, or make forseit the goods, estates, or lands, of any the inhabitants of England, who will leave their Rebellion, and ingagements of Treason, (now so earnestly agitated) submitting themselues to his Majesty as be­comes true Subjects, and as men boundby their severall oathes of alegeance to bee true to their King, his Heires and successors: nay further the Covenant hath the same influence of obligati­on upon all such who will not be perjvred.

6ly. And lastly, that if any Marriners, Water-men, or Souldiers, shall desert that Conventickle of Traytors at West­minster, and repayr to us, they shall bee rewarded according to their Qualities, and have imployment befitting them. Like­wise any Gentleman, or other of inferior Ranke, who are wil­ling to serve their King, if they will repayre to us, shall be en­tertained with much respect, tho they have formerly beene our Enemies, yet wee will procure an Act of Indemnity for them. All these things God-willing, wee doe intend to pro­secvte to the vtmost of our powers, and doubt not but that God and all good men will be assisting here in.

So God save King GHARLES, the Second.