IF all men were wise, I have said enough, for persons that were most of them reducible for their former actings in the late Apostacy, from the prin­ciples of a Common-wealth, upon groundless jea­lousies and sleight suspitions; To throw off their Noble General under the Parliament, is doubtless an Action unwarrantable, unjustifiable, and vituperable, and there can be no better intention in it then the Jews had in crucifying of our Lord Jesus, for Mother-wit will tell every man, that they ought to have obeyed him, until the Parlia­ment had signified their pleasure to the contrary, and that it is a frivolous allegation to say, That they will obey him upon signifi­cation of the Parliaments pleasure, for, his Commission gives him Possession till it be superceded, otherwise Servants may turn out their Masters, and say, That upon order from the Justices they will restore his Possession; And as it is a dreadful president, so it is a pretty invention of the first impression (never any brave Com­mander being so unhansomly served before) thereby to blast any mans reputation upon a bare suspition, as the Polititian advises, boldly to callumniate, that something may be credi­ted, though this worthy Patriot be like pure Marble that no­thing can stick upon him, but the generallity being apt to contract Matrimony with the first Narrative, if it be my duty to relieve my Neighbours Ox when fallen, much more am I obliged in the absence of this worthy Person as a friend to the publick, he having been so cordial a friend to all honest men, and one whom I have for many yeares honoured for his Ver­tues (or rather the gifts and graces of God in him) he not having the benefit of a Presse to vindicate him (if there were any need of it) least silence should give some credit to that which in it selfe hath not the weight of a Pin in the Ballance of right Reason, I am prest in my Spirit (though unknowing­ly to him, so far as the notorietie of the Fact will comport to give it a sudden answer, according to the best information I could get by letter and relation. The materials in the Let­ter responsible are,

[Page 2]1. That whereas Lt. Generall Ludlow writ to Lt. Col­lonell Puckle Governour of Rosse to preserve his Garrison for the Parliament, they say he had done it before he had any Or­ders from him, this is a mistake, for Lt. Generall Ludlow left Lt. Colonell Puckle in possession for the Parliament, whereof he was never dispossest to this hour.

2. For what concernes Colonel Jones actings, I intend not to intermeddle, he has been a wise Counsellour, a faithfull man, and one that feared God above many, true to a Common-Wealths Principles in times of temptation, and therefore pre­sumably he has not declined when there was not the least temp­tation to decline Parliamentary Authority in Ireland.

3. They proceed to doubtings, and to strong suspitions that Lt. Generall Ludlow hath not been a friend to the Par­liament, that is, hath not been a friend to himselfe, no man can secure himselfe from suspition, from guilt he may; I do not in the least intend to bespatter the subscribers, but to wipe off that dirt which they would cast upon the face of this ho­norable Patriot, onely presumtive Objections may be satisfied by presumptive Answers; I believe that neither he nor they have intended to set up for themselves, so as to disown the Par­liament, but if suspition should stand for any proof, let but the persons, their principles, former practises and actings, be ponderated, if sufferance for the party beloved in Person & Estate, if declining and refusing to act under the single person, when others upon their earnest seekings had warm imploy­ment under him, be the best Arguments of Fidelity to the Parliament; Let the Impartial Reader judge, whether Lt. G. Ludlow or his Antagonists have manifested most constant, good affection to their just Authority; and for modern suspition, what mean the Letters from Doublin, that many of the Officers there will have a Free Parliament? what means the imprisonment of the Parliaments constant Servants and Champions, Jones, Tom­linson, Pretty, Wallis, Abbot, Brafield, Jones, Smith, Bennet, Lowe, De­nison, Roberts and others, many whereof declared with the first, and yet might not be trusted with their commands? What means the self conferring of two Regiments upon Sir Hardress Waller, two upon Sir Charles Coot, and three upon his brothers? so as upon the matter, two men have seven Regiments. What [Page 3] means the disarming of the Anabaptists, and the Parliaments best friends, that they must not wear a Sword, saying they are Sectarians, and not fit to be trusted? And how do they prove one to be an Anabaptist or Sectarian? but because he prayes in his Family, or such a one prayes by the Spirit; What means the Listing & taking in of Cavileers, Persons disaffected to the Parliament, and any that will but revile the Sectarists? but onely to model and put the Army in such a posture and con­stitution to be in a prepared readinesse to receive Charles Stuart at a weeks warning, though that must not be yet mentioned, the design must be first to bring in the Excluded Members in 1648. and then comes in ding dong bells, King, Lords and Commons: It would be less danger to call in the Spaniard, Turk, or the great Mogul. What means the imprisonment of Mr. Rogers at his landing, sent thither to preach by Order from the Parliament? O Dublin, Dublin, Thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest or imprisonest them which are sent unto thee, as that worthy Servant of Christ, who was cast into the Common Prison, wit out admitting him Bayl, or a hearing, with a high affront to the Parliaments Authority so unhumanely handled, and yet he is no Anabaptist; So that worthy Minister Mr. Enoch Grey being shut out by the Parish from Preaching, dare not stir abroad, being threatned by the Porters and Watermen to be stoned or thrown into the Water, and yet he is no Anabap­tist: The like to Mr. Wotten another godly Minister, kept out of his Pulpit, confined to his own house, and yet no Anabap­tist; Besides such usage of the Ministers of the Gospel, and the Parliaments choisest Friends, who are far from being Factious, or giving the least occasion to such cruelty. O what! What means the Parliament-like Convention to meet at Dublin the 24 of January, with other dismal news from thence? as if the Interest of Jesus Christ, and the Good Old Cause of Holi­ness and Righteousness, were taking leave of poor Ireland! Yea, What means the Arming so many ill affected persons! the disarming and plundering the Parliaments best friends and well affected (that are no Anabaptists neither;) The impowering of the Native Irish (as the Mayor of Dublin is for one) with the Sword! And the casting out the most Noble English, exposing them as so many naked persons to the most barbarous rage and [Page 4] revenge of their Enemies! with a 1000 more such sad symp­toms of our English and the Parliaments Interest, groveling on the Ground, and gasping for life in that Lamentable Nation! But they will say, that the strongest presumptions will not a­mount to the weakest proof, though something may be in­ferred, if others should deal with them as they have dealt with pretious Ludlow; for they made suspition the only ground of his non-admission and rejection, by a learned Vote of the Stratagem-makers and Surprisers of Dublin Castle (when every soul within it, was for the Parliament, for ought I ever heard to the contrary) that Lt. G. Ludlow had given suspition, to be no friend to the Parliament, and therefore ought not to be re­ceived into the head of the Army, when but very few dayes before by their Declaration December, 14. they had owned him for their lawful superior.

4. But they confess they are so bold as to open his letters, wherein they mistake one letter; for they would make that to be High Treason, which no doubt if it be well considered is pure reason, it is observed by a Learned Minister that snaching at Scripture, not wel weighing the Antecedent and Consequent, is the ground of many Heresies. Mat. 4. Was misalleadged, to keep thee in all thy ways, omitted. One said that Jesus Christ was an Antinomian because he saith, Mat. 22.40. hang all the Law and the Prophets, leaving out, on these two Commandments, who knowes what dependance or coherence the words charged have upon other parts of the Letter which are these, we seem to be necessitated to look towards the Old Parliament, tis to be fear­ed they will be very high in case they should be brought in without conditions, probably he exprest other mens opinions and feares rather then his own, and that the words immedi­ately preceding were, that it is the opinion of most, that we seem. &c. But take them as substantives, their genuine and candid construction will soon appear.

They Object, That Lt. G. Ludlow, hearing of the force put upon the Parliament, at Conway, instead of returning back to his Command, wrote only a Letter to Colonel Jones, importing that he had received a letter from a factious party, that a stop for that present was put upon the Parliaments sitting, and a door of hope opened to bring them to their duty: It is some ingenuity they will confesse, [Page 5] so much of Sir Hardress Waller and some other of the oppo­nents, with whom Lt. G. L. held correspondence, would pub­lish what they know concerning his great dissatisfactions and abominating of the Anti-Parliamentary transaction during their interruptions, which by virtue of the ninth Comman­dement they are obliged to do.

Speak out Gentle-men, you cannot equivocate with the Lord, his faithfulness to the Parliament would be as evident as Abrahams Servant was to his Master; Doth it not argue some detestation of the force, to say, it was done by a Factious Partie? And when he first heard of it at Bewmoris, some credible persons that were with him say, that he took on extreamly, lookt paler upon it then ever he did when he met with an enemy, that it was Dagger news unto him; and at Chester, when some desired him to put a favourable construction upon it, as if there were some necessity for it, he said, It was a necessity of the Devils ma­king, and that there was no visible means under Heaven to save the Nations, but by a sudden restitution of the Parliament, or words to that effect; if then Lt. G.L. having experimented the force of Eloquence and perswasion to be great in bringing about the happy Restauration of the sixth of May, he Repaired to London to be instrumental in another incruental Revolution, as some worthy Patriots call it, not doubting but that he had left Ireland in safe and trusty hands for the Parliament, and might be more useful by dealing with the understandings of the Interrupters; what better service could he do for the Par­liamentary Interest? The noble General at Portsmouth, and General Monk have done worthily and most honourably like true Common-wealths men, their Names shall be immortal, and I wish them golden Statues; but that derrogates nothing from the Wisdom, Valour▪ and Honour of the noble Lt. G. L. The Parliaments Forces have alwayes done as much ( precando, as praeliando) by praying as by fighting, God is the Creator of this Parliaments Re-introduction and Re-investiture; but he has had his Oratours to plead for it with himself, and those who opposed it: The Sword abroad doth best when there is good Counsel at home; I say, if Lt. G.L. or any other worthy Patriot did elect to sustain the person of a Mediator, Arbitra­tor, Advocate, Orator hostia aut internuncius, to Reconcile [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] and make up that unhappy Breach, to compose the difference without blood: So as with Joshua to make the Achanns to con­fesse their guilt, to plead the Law for the Parliament, whereof he is a Member, to mind them of their Covenants and so­lemne Engagements to be faithful to the best Masters that ever Souldiers had (not as persons Mercenary, but honourary so long as they are true to the Parliamentary trust) to entreat them by their Tergiversations not to open a door to the com­mon Enemy, to be a faithful Referendary or Messenger to other worthy Members of Parliament how to steer for best pub­lick advantage; and to be as a sacrifice to expose his person to hazard, if they should not hearken to sound Advice, as well for their own good, as for the good of the Nations; and par­ticularly if he did inculcate and press it upon them, that if they did spontaneously and suddenly remove the force, and take off the interruption of the Parliament, possibly they might have good Conditions, an Act of Indempnity, as much as ever could be expected; but if the Parliament were brought in by Force, they must expect to lose all that was dear unto them, telling them that by the series of Providence they seem necessi­tated so to do; and if thereupon Lt. G. L. did write to Co­lonel Jones in those Expressions, what moderate judicious man can make any more of it, but that he had great hopes of the Parliaments Return, and was much afraid that the Officers at Wallingford House should persist in their defection and revolt, until the Parliament would shew them no mercy; for what could be intended by other Conditions, but an Act of In­dempnity; and what honest man would not have been grieved to the heart to see the great Officers, Fleetwood, Lambert, and others, that had been so eminently instrumental in break­ing the powers of the common Enemy after all their good ser­vices to have become themselves objects of the Parliaments Se­vere stroak of Justice, who since (blessed be God) have tasted of their Mercy by another happy Act of Indempnity, whereby the Parliament have gained more Honour then by all their for­mer Victories; and I am confident have more firmly engaged the hearts of all good men to live and die with them, then any tongue can express: Caesar dando ignoscendo adeptus est gloriam; when Parliaments are so justly offended, they are both parties [Page 7] and Judges, and it is most Heroical to condonate what is done against ones self, it shews that there is not one drop of revenge lodging in their noble breasts; and for this Act of Oblivion of so great a prevarication, having forgiven the like offence be­fore, our noble Senators shall be had in glorious and ever­lasting remembrance, Arbor honoretur cujus nos umbra tuetur.

The next Exception taken to the Letter, is to the title of Dear Friend given to Colonel Jones; but this is an Observation against the Laws of Friendship and Humanity, as if it came rather from a Quaker then from persons of such Quality: our Lord Christ said to the man that wanted his wedding Gar­ment, Friend, how camest thou in hither? And Abraham said to Dives, Son, remember; Shall we argue from thence that Abra­ham was guilty of Dives covetousness; and the Epithete Dear, is but (pro more loci) the Custome of the Nation, not one Eng­lishman of an hundred that useth any other compellation then Loving Friend, or Dear Friend; but how can these Gentlemen answer it, that in the beginning of their Letter say Lt. General Ludlow stands accused of High Treason; and in the close of it say, We remain your humble Servants? Doth this argue their ap­probation of the Treason if there were any? It is well known here, and some of them cannot be ignorant of it, that as soon as L. G. L. heard of any such intended Subscription, he de­clared his abhorring thereof, and just indignation against such as had a hand in it; and immediately, as he said, sent away Letters into Ireland to Colonel Jones, and others, some where­of I have seen to this effect; in general, admiring and bewail­ing the unfaithfulnesse of men; and particularly, had the Subscribers amongst you, or rather those that prompted those Subscriptions, contrived a way to render themselves obnoxious to the reproaches of those who watch to blast even Religion it self, for the sake of those who profess it, I know not how they could have met with a more ready one then this, when there was not the least temptation for them after a solemne Engage­ment to the contrary, to espouse a personal. Interest, having been so lately betrayed by the like Confidence, and to do it in so under-hand a way, when all the Officers, who (when they were altogether declared against it) were gone to their respe­ctive Charges; & this to the trampling under foot, the Parlia­mentary [Page 8] Authority by whom they were intrusted & Commissio­nated: For my part I can as little see the prudence of it as the honesty; for they have thereby, in the Judgement of all in­different persons sacrificed their prudence, honour, and ho­nesty; And if in that Letter to Colonel Jones he mentioned any thing, of his fearing the Restoring of the Parliament; it was but (sperare pro timere) Fear put for Hope; for I am confi­dent there are above twenty Letters extant in Ireland, wherein he expressed his great Hopes of the Parliaments Re-sitting, as I have often heard him most affectionately say, That this Parlia­ment are the only leaves of the tree of life, which (under God) must be for the healing of the Nations; they are the only ligitimate spouse, all other Conventions are but as Concubines, because no power upon earth can le­gally summon a Parliament, nor any but this Parliament, save these Na­tions from ruine and confusion; with many such like passionate Ex­pressions, arguing a restlesness and total dissatisfaction till this happy Parliament, the joy of Saints, and honour of Jesus Christ, were restored.

3. It is further observed that in the same Letter he writes, I hope er'e this the Commissions for setting Civil Justice on the wheels in Ireland are come unto your hands, which were sent by the power of those who had violated the Parliaments Authority: These Objectors had either bad intelligence, or bad memories; for so soon as the Names of those Commissioners were sent from Ireland they were approved of; And in August last there was an Order of Parliament for the Holding of Assizes in Ireland by reason of the great want of Justice there; which Order being of force at the time of the unhappy interruption, whether it might not be as well observed for the Advancement of Justice as well as the Excise and Customs, are received in Ireland for some time by virtue of Parliamentary Order, is not for me to determine; however the Commissioners therein named, as I understand, did not think fit to act thereupon.

But there are Two Things whereof I perceive these Gentle­men are ignorant.

1. They argue as if Lt. G.L. had been one of the confederates at Wallingford house against the Parliament, whereas it is well known in London, that though he was named by the Army to be of the Committee of Safety, and for nomination so called, [Page 9] he utterly refused to act in either; or in any sort to own them or to make any Application to them as in any Civil ca­pacity, resolving to continue faithful to the Parliament, and endeavouring to the most what in him lay that they might return to the exercise of their just Authority without blood.

2. They are not willing to understand what great & faithful service Lt G. L. and others performed at their meeting with the Officers at Wallingford house, by breaking and disturbing their Councells and Resolutious, making them like Penelopes Webb, resolving and altering, shewing them the errour and vanity of all that they did, that they were like men build­ing upon the Sand, that there was no firm Rock or foun­dation to build upon, no Power to maintain the Laws, and secure the Rights and Liberties of the People, but onely this Renowned Parliament, and when contrary to Reason they had resolved something about conservators, ( viz. viola­tors or prevaricators) Senate and Parliament, it is well known that Lt. G. L. the next day made his Protestation against it, and said they would be necessitated to restore the Parliament, and the sooner they did it the better it would be for them, and not knowing what condition Ireland might be in, whether in Peace or blood, hasted thither so soon as possibly he could, Being advised so to do by some of the Honourable Members of Parliament, I confesse if it had so pleased God that he had not left Ireland, or had returned a Moneth sooner, or might suddenly return, with others of his like, faithful and tender spirits, impowred, and all due incouragement to the Officers there, so far as they have owned and affected the Parliaments Interest, Ireland may get to live, to see happy dayes, and honest People have quiet habitations there; but if a spirit of per­secution and asperitie shall Predominate and be uppermost, they must return for England, such as know how to live here, or it would be a great favour if the Parliament would lend the poor Sectarians of that Nation, shipping to transport them­selves into America, to work there for their living, and to pray for the prosperity of the Parliament and this Common-wealth; but the reason of his going for Ireland, was not from any grain of fear that he had of the Parliaments displeasure, [Page 8] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 10] but upon the importunity of many good People from Ireland, who were full of fears and jealousies, impatiently intreating and beseeching him to hast away, not knowing what the danger of a few dayes delay might be, for whose sake he made such expedition, thinking to have been the more welcome there for bringing so good news, as the re-sitting of the Parliament, but was rejected at Dublin, and so went to Duncannon, which by the objectors favour, was a better course then to have returned at their Command, for not being conscious to himself of the least unfaithfulness to the Parliament, he had no reason to questi­on the legality or validity of his Commission, being as good as ever it was, and how any Soldiers durst in so presumptuous a manner, upon such slender and trivial suspitions, draw their swords against their lawful General, whether they ought not to have received him, & then to have humbly remonstrated to the Parliament what they had against him, or whether they did well to be their own Judges to condemn him unheard, and op­pose him as an enemy, is humbly submitted to the Parliaments great wisdom, so that upon the whole matter I do not find all that is charged upon this worthy Person to be of so much weight, as the Feather that was in some bodies Cap in Dublin fields at the late Muster, when the People made acclamations, for joy, that there should not be an Anabaptist nor a Sectarist left in Ireland. I have but three words to add.

First, That this transaction against Lt. G.L. hath been com­menced prosecuted, and the wheels drawn, by four unhand­some Steeds.

1. Falsitie. And 1. They gave it out to win the Souldiers, that Lt. G.L. had sent letters over to some of them to secure Dublin Castle, and to imprison the Anabaptists therein, for that the said Anabaptists and Sectarians had resolved to cut many of the old Protestants throats and to imprison the rest of them in the said Castle, and that the time was agreed upon when it should be done. 2. They told the Souldiers they had fix Moneths pay ready for them if they would cast off their Secta­rian Officers and take others, from them. 3. Within two or three dayes after the surprize of the Castle, it was reported that they had found great store of Armes and Ammunition in the houses of some of the Sectarians, which they had pre­pared, [Page 11] for the purpose aforesaid, which were but a Birding piece, an old Pistol, or such like.

2. Hypocrisie. There being some heart-burnings, animosities & Jealousies about difference in opinions, some of the Profes­sors at Dublin (who judge, that union with the head, ought to be the ground of all Christian Communion between the mem­bers) appointed a meeting for the propagation of brotherly love and affection, wherein some refused to joyn, because Ana­baptists frequented the meeting; but so soon as the plot was laid for surprizing Dublin Castle, some of those refusers de­sired a conference in order to a Reconciliation, where Col. Tomlinson, Dr. Winter, Justice Cooke, Col. Laurence, Lt. Colonel Jones Governour of the Castle, Major Warren, and others, were appointed to be present, when all persons being secure and in­tent upon it, the Tuesday before the meeting, the Castle was surprized, the Sectarians all disarmed, Bone-fires made, and other great solemnities, for joy that no Sectarian should con­tinue in the Army, and healths drunk to their confusion, Mr. Madder discountenanced and discouraged, news brought to Mr. Blackwood that if he Preacht any more at Chichester house, his throat should be cut, which Sir Hardress Waller hearing of, gave strict order that no violence should be done unto him, Doctor Harding and his friends driven from their meeting place, and all this pretended for the service of the Parliament.

3. Treachery. For, so soon as notice was given that Dublin Castle was taken, they sent to other garisons for their con­currence therein, who very chearfully and unanminously all the Nation over declared for the Parliament, but desired that all might rest in peace and quiet till they could hear from them or Lt. G. L. but within few dayes after, they Voted his non-admission, in case he should attempt to come over, as suspecting him to be no friend to the Parliament, and gave it out that the Garisons could not be safe in the hands of Sectaries or such as favoured them, which so sudden a recession from their Declaration for the Parliament, wherein they had owned Lt. G. L. as Commander in chief, put some of the Commissioned Officers to a demurre, as Pretty, Phare, Wallis, Abbot, Brayfield, Smith, Bennet, Dennison and others who cheerfully declared for the Parliament, but were not free to leave their Commands or to receive orders from any [Page 12] but from their lawful superiors, whereupon Sir Hardress Waller wrote letters to diveres of them, desiring their speedy repair to Dublin for further satisfaction, promising them all Freedom & Civil usage, where they were no sooner arrived, but instant­ly guards were set upon them, or were clapt in prison; soon after was sent over, the Act of Indempnity, which instead of gi­ving obediencee to it, they hurried away their prisoners to re­mote Castles, having imprisoned such as never subscribed ei­ther the letter to General Munck, or the Ingagement for a General, or in the least acted against the Parliament, (and as I have been told, some of them, put in Irons,) and as the last letters from Ireland import, they are still taking up and impri­soning honest men dayly, as if the Act of Indemnity did not extend to Ireland, hoping all shall be approved of, that they do, which if I know any thing in the world they have need of an Act of Indemnity themselves; how unlike is this to Gallant General Munck who never imprisoned one man that promised to fight for the Parliament, and of the many hundreds which I hear are imprisoned in Ireland, there is not one of them, but promised, to be faithful to the Parliament against all opposers, and being told that they were Secta­ries and not to be trusted, they proffered their Paroles to be quiet, or to give good security to attend the Parlia­ments pleasure, yet nothing would serve but violence and disgrace to their persons; but the best jest is, that having in­carcerated whom they please, and disposed of, and given away their Commands and Places to others, they have published a Declaration, that notwithstanding, before the first of March, any of them so casheered, may have a Tryal at a Court Mar­shal for their Places; I never thought that any, pretending to be Judges for the Parliament, would first have Condemned and Executed any man, and after take Advise whether Cler­gy be allowable in the Case: (quo te ambitio trahit) but who must be their Judges of the Court Marshal? not the Person whose Command is in question, but those whose Title is no better, being both Parties and Judges, and so claw me and I'le claw thee.

4 Cruelty, when L. G. Ludlow came to an Anchor in the Bay of Dublin, he sent a Letter by Mr. Alder, to these Officers at [Page 13] Dublin to give them notice of it, intending to have landed early the next morning, but Sr. Hardress Waller upon receit of the Letter, commits Mr. Alder into the Sheriffs house, keeps two of the Sea-men Prisoners, and sent a party of Horse to hinder his landing, who thereupon desired a right understan­ding between them, and that he might have some Provision sent by his servant, a Ship-board, which was refused, and not a bit of Bread or drop of fresh Water after the first day, might be sent to him by any upon pain of imprisonment, and the high displeasure of the Officers at Dublin; L. G. L. notwith­standing (having waited their pleasure three or four dayes, en­deavours being used to make a Muttering among the Sea-men, & to fire the Frigot with Granado's, as is reported) set Sail from thence to Duncannon, where he was received at the fort, but was not permitted to have any Provisions from Waterford for his moneys, for himself or the Sea-men, though he had payed for 1500 weight of Bisket, it was forcibly taken away and the Country People frighted, and forced to drive away their Cat­tel from about Duncannon, being told by the Souldiers that L. G. L. was a Traytor, and run away from the Parliament, with adulatory and minatory messages sent into the Fort, that if the Souldiers would throw their General over the Walls, they should be made Officers and have their Arrears; if o­therwise, they should be sent to the Barbadoes, and serve seven years Apprentiship.

2ly, It is very necessary to consider the rise of these strange Transactions, so far as any thing was really intended for the Parliaments service it is highly to be honoured and com­mended, I hope all honest men will acquiesce and rejoyce in it; but L. G. L. and the Army in Ireland were generally for the Parliament, without any hesitation or warping; and thus it was, L. G. L. at his being in Ireland, made it his business to discriminate and distinguish such Officers of the Army as had in any measure born their Testimony against the late A­postacy, and that were faithful to the Parliamentary Interest; from such as had not been so cordial, & there was a list agreed upon to be presented to the Parliament; those that were omit­ted being left in the heads of their Commands, fearing a Re­ducement, began to consult how to continue in their Places; [Page 14] in that interim the Officers of the Army from London sent over an Engagement in Lt. G. Ludlows Absence, to set up a Gene­ral in opposition to the Parliament, which abominable thing was not so zealously protested against as it should have been, but in order to keep the Peace of the Nation, with a good in­tention as was pretended, too many subscribed it, who had also some of them sent a discouraging Letter to Renowned General Monk, hereupon the children of this world being wiser in their generation then the Children of Light, that which the Commissioned Officers should have done, namely, to have fully declared for the Parliament against the factious Party in England who opposed them, the Non-commissioned Officers did, ingrossing all the applause and glory of it to such as probably had otherwise been reduced, refusing the assistance of any that had Commissions from the Parliament, fearing there might not be honour enough for them all; but be­hold the falacy! for as I have credibly heard many, and some of those who are now imprisoned, were then draw­ing up a Declaration for the Parliament, to be sent to the Offi­cers at Wallingford-house, which these Gentlemen hearing of, made the more haste to prevent them; But blessed be God that it is done, if the Cause of Holiness and Righteousness may proceed and prosper, I hope the Sectarians will rejoyce whatever becomes of them. All this was done by the instiga­tion and incitement of such of the Clergy, as are implacable enemies to the Sectarians, and the true Reason of this dissa­tisfaction and opposition, why they are so angry with L. G. L. is, because they think he too much favours the Sectarians, though like a prudent Father, he manifests an equal affection to all honest men of different apprehensions, and being one who I am confident was never angry with any man for being no wiser then God had made him, but his delight is in the Saints, and in such as excel in virtue; and it being observed that the Sectarian Officers, so called, keep a more vigilant eye, and hold a stricter hand upon the Souldiers, then others did, punishing them for swearing, drunkenness, absence from Gods service, or their duty, and the least disorders and unru­liness, the Souldiers hoping for and being promised more freedom and liberty under other Commanders, were willing [Page 15] to shake off the yoak, and sold their Officers, some upon pro­mise of their Arrears, some for a Barrel of Beer, and others for Trifles: So as in effect the Victory so much boasted of in Ireland is only over the poor Sectarians, who are cordial Friends and Servants to this Parliament.

My Prayers are that God would make this Parliament wise as Angels of light, to discover the depth of this profound my­stery, a greater Riddle, then when it was for the King and Parliament, against the King, for here all Persons are for the Parliament, L. G. L. the lawful Commander under the Parlia­ment, yet all Persons that went to see him must be clapt up, and all that were suspected to be for him, used like Traytors, (and himself worse, not being allowed a bit of Bread) for if any one spake for an honest man at Dublin, that bond might be taken for his appearance, the Officers and Souldiers know the Law so well, that they say, it is High Treason, and no Bail must be taken for him; and some of the Lawyers in Dublin are so learned, that they say, that notwithstanding the Act of In­demnity, they may keep any man in Prison whom they suspect.

Thirdly & Lastly, I wish it may be seriously considered, that though the Anabaptists, Independents and Presbyterians in Ireland, have been pecking one at another, yet the true ground of the Contest, is not between them, but betwixt the Common Enemy and them, the Prelatical, Episcopal Common-prayer-book Party (which are the most numerous) will gladly joyn with the Presbyterians, to crush and trample upon the Independents; but that being done, they must fall upon the Presbyterians, for they hate the very Name of Pastors, Teachers, Elders or Dea­cons, they must have Bishops, Parsons, and Church-wardens, and such poor Over-seers as formerly they had, they will not endure to be Examined or to give any Reason of their Faith before they come to the Sacrament, they will not endure any Minister that shall endeavour to make a separation between the precious and the vile, onely the Presbyterian shall be reserved for the last morsel, as Polyphemus said of Ʋlysses; And as some of them said of an honest Alderman of that City, that this is all the favour he should have, to be one of the last that should be banished the City; And as they have already shut the door against Mr. Wells at Cork, Mr. Grey, Mr. [Page 16] Wootton, Mr. Aspinal which are no Anabaptists, but able and godly Ministers of the New Testament, so it is reported that they have turned out Mr. Gilbert, and are putting out Mr. Chambers, and then one or two more stars being set, Dr. Winter and Mr. Baynes, the light of the Gospel will be extinct at Du­blin, and what remains but gross Egyptian darkness? If these powers at Dublin be such real friends to the Parliament, why are these things suffered, that any godly Minister or other Persons, who are the faithfullest friends of the Parliament there should be turned out of their Places and Imployments, either of the Military or Civil list? and many of them I hear which brought Horses to mount themselves casheered without any Pay, and exposed to a begging or starving condition, un­der pretence of an Order from Sr. Hardress Waller, that none who were listed by L. G. L. shall receive any Pay as the rest of the Souldiers until further Order; these are High Oppres­sions, which I trust the Parliament will never give them any thanks for, being as unlike to Parliamentary pro­ceedings as light to darkness.

They conclude with a supposition that if Lt. G. L's. actings, have not incapacited him to sit in Parliament, and I say if their actings have not merited to be left liable to a multitude of actions of Trespass and battery and false imprisonment, it is well for them; for it is not enough to do ( bonum but bene) a good thing but by lawful meanes, and I find it now the Cave­liers master-peece (yea there) to asperse the precious Members o Parliament calling them the Rump, and crying up a Free Par­liament, there being so very few that are faithful to the Com­monwealth (we had need be the more earnest in praying and acting for them) hoping thereby to bring in Charles Stuart, but I trust they are so wise as to observe these things, and that Gods Blessing and Presence shall continue among them by the Multiplication of all his Benedictions and Graces upon them and theirs, I onely crave leave to conceal my Name and to subscribe,