WIth what face can ye endure a smal Councel of war to controul and disobey the great Councel of state? Are ye weary of the Common Law, or rather wil­ling the Marshal Law should rule you? wil ye de­light rather to see Souldiers in Buff, then Nobles in their Parliament Robes? Had ye rather the Land should run down with tears and blood, then flow with milk and honey? wil ye be beguiled with the flattering words and plausible pretences of a Revolted Army? wil ye suffer the Army under pre­tence of justice to bring you under oppression, and under the no­tion of Liberty to bring you into bondage, and under the name of Saints of light to act the part of the Angels of darkness? That you might not be deluded for time to come, I shal breifly dispatch these 3. particulars. 1. Shew the Armies dangerous designs. 2. Unreasonable demands, together with some new Queries to their Consciences touching their refusal to disband at the Command of the two Houses of Parliament.

I begin with the first. viz. the dangerous designs driven on by the sectaries in the Army; why they refuse to disband. I shal re­duce to 7. heads, which I shal make appear by plain and Demon­strative Reasons.

[Page 8] The first grand design the Army drives at, is to new-mould the Honorable House of Commons; [...]. Design. to increase the numbers of Inde­pendent Members, that so they might carry the Votes of the House as it shal please themselves, that if it were possible they might pro­mote their wicked designs in a Parliamentary way. This design is so clear, that he that runs may read it; since the writs were Issu­ed forth for new elections to fil up the House; how Industriously have the Independent Party endeavoured to fil the House with In­dependent Members; using M. Peters by perswasion in the Pul­pit, and the Army by terror, to deceive and affright the people, forcing many places in the Country to chuse Souldiers, and others, men of no considerable interests in the Kingdom, to be Members of Parliament: yea their violence against the XI. Accused Members, manifests this to be the design, declaring to the Parliament in their Papers, See the Ar­mies humble Remonst. p. 14. that they must take some extraordinary courses, til the XI. Members be suspended the House, and some other of their de­mands satisfied: And not being content with this they vent their spleen also against other Members of the House of Commons, bran­ding them with the ignominious tearm of See the Armies hum­ble Remonst. P. 10. P. 14. a Party, men that drive their own interests, Accomplices to the Members accused, accusing all them to be disaffected to the publique good, who are not affe­cted to their own Party. Tis clear by this the new moulding the Parliament is the first and grand design.

To destroy the House of Lords; 2. Design. The Petition of Lambes Con­gregation to the House of Commons, See that seditious Peti­tion from Lambes Con­gregation. that none might have a ne­gative voyce; doth directly justle out the power of the House of Peeres. The Sectaries are not ashamed to say that the Lords of this Realm ought not to sit in Parliament, unless they do come in by Election as Members of the House of Commons do? this wil more evidently appear if ye read those seditious Pamphlets against the House of Lords, written by the Sectaries. It is said in one Secta­rian Pamphlet, See the just man in bonds. P. [...]. that the Lords are but painted puppies and Da­gons, that our superstition and ignorance, their own craft and impudence have erected; no natural Issues of Laws, but the [Page 9]mushromes of Prerogative, the wens of just government; putting the body of the people to pain, as wel as occasioning Deformity, sons of conquest they are and usurpation, not of choyce and Ele­ction; intruded upon us by power, not constituted by consent, not made by the people from whom all power, place, and office that is just in this Kingdom ought only to arise. And in another sediti­ous Pamphlet 'tis said thus; See Pearl in a dunghil. p. 3. why presume ye thus O ye Lords; set forth your merit before the people. Remember your selves, or shal we remember ye? which of you before this Parliament min­ded any thing so much as your pleasures, plaies, masks; feastings, buntings, gameings, dancings &c? For what other have you been but a meer clogg to the House of Commons in all their pro­ceedings? how many necessary things have ye obstructed? how many evil things have ye promoted? And in another Pestilent Pam­phlet 'tis affirmed; See Remon­strance of many thou­sands. p 7. that the Lords must stand to be chosen for Knights and Burgesses by the people, as other, the freemen and gentry of this nation are. Yea there is another seditious Book in­tituled An Al-arm to the House of Lords, which contains in every page of it, railing against the Peers of the Realm; See the book intituled an Al-arm to the House of Lords. the several passages would be too tedious for you to read or me to write, let this suffice to let you see the endeavours of the Sectaries, to over­throw and alter the very foundamentals of the government of the Kingdom; now least you should imagine that this spirit of dis-af­fection to the House of Lords should be confined, only within the breasts of the unknown Authors of these seditious books; it is meet I should let you know that this malignant humour runs as blood throughout the veines of all the Sectaries; when the Secta­ries, in and about London, Petition, 'tis only to their own House of Commons, they never take notice of the Lords House at all; witness that factious Petition from Lambes Congregation, and a­nother Petition from the Sectaries of London, delivered to the House of Commons, by that Turn-coate Samuel Warner, Tich­bourn and others, in opposition to the Renouned Remonstrance of the City, which was humbly presented to both Houses; but their seditious Petitions, but only to the House of Commons. By this it appears that destroying the Lords House, is the 2. Design driven on by the Sectaries.

To cut off the King if he sides not to the Independent party. 3. Design. 'Tis true, of late they seem to appear for him to gain Malignants on their side, but 'tis notoriously known how their Principles are di­rectly against Monarchy: What desperate speeches have some In­dependent Members uttered against the King! yea it wil never be forgotten how inraged the Independent Members of the House and Sectaries of London were against the City Remonstrance, chiefly because there was this passage in it; for the preservation of the Kings person according to the Covenant: Yea the Sectaries publish to the world in Print that the King for his mis-government must lose his life: See the just mans Iustification, P. 1. 'tis said in one Pamphlet [...] that You (meaning the House of Commons or else the rude multitude) should think of that great Murtherer of England (meaning the King) for by the impartial Law of God there is no exemption of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earls, &c. more then of Fishermen, Coblers, Tinkers or Chimney-sweepers: and elsewhere 'tis said See Argu­ments prov­ing that we ought not to part with the Mili­tia Arg. 10. that according to Pro­testations, Oathes, and Covenants He (meaning the King) ought to be brought to exemplary and condign punishment, he being the greatest and most notorious Delinquent in the whole Kingdom, &c. Yea they speak their minds more fully in another Pamphlet See the Remonst. of many thou­sands. p. 6. We do expect, according to reason, that ye should, in the first place, declare and set forth King CHARLS his wickedness openly before the world, and withal to shew the intolerable incoveniences of having a Kingly Government from the constant evil practices of those of this Nation; and so to declare King CHARLS an enemy, and to publish your resolution never to have any more. By all this it appears that the Sectaries intend, as the 32 Syrian Captains did (1 King. 22.31.) to fight neither with smal nor great but with the King of Israel. In laying down this Design I would have none of you conceive as if I were a Malignant Royalist (I hate Arbitrary power and Tyranny in Princes as much as any) I only mention this that Malignants might not be brought into fools paradise to joyn with the Army, conceiving them to be for the Kings honor and safety who are the greatest enemies of both.

To introduce an universal Liberty and Toleration for all sorts of false and heretical opinions. 4. Design. All the sectaries in the Kingdom labor with might and main to promote this; in one Pamphlet 'tis boldly asserted, See Williams Bloody Tenet of Persecution for the cause of Conscience in the preface to the Parlia­ment p. 2. that it is the wil and command of God, that since the coming of his son the Lord Jesus, a permission of the most Paga­nish, Jewish, Turkish or Antichrist an Consciences and Worships be granted to all men in all Nations and Countries: And elsewhere 'tis said, See Com­passionate Sa­maritan. p. 5. that Liberty of Conscience is to be allowed to every man or sort of men to worship God in that way or manner as shal appear to them most agreeable to Gods Word. Numerous Pamphlets there are abroad besides broacht by the seducing Chaplains of the Army and their accomplices as Mr D [...]lls Sermon before the Parliament; many smal and trivial Tracts of M. Saltmarshes, M. John Goodwin in his blasphemous book intituled Hagio m [...]stix &c. and in his im­pudent Queries against an Ordinance of Parliament for the Sup­pression of Heresies, with abundance of other Pamphlets which cry up this their Diana of Toleration; yea these Army-Chaplains have so corrupted their hearers and disciples from the simplicity of the Gospel that the whole Army now contends for Toleration by the sword in the Field, which their Teachers could never make good by Argument eit er in Press or Pulpit: Yea the whole Army declare this to be the design. Ile give you the Armies words See a Letter sent from Sir Tho Fairfax and the cheif Commanders in the Army to the Lord Mayor, Alder­men & Com­mon Councel of the City of London, Da­ted from Roy­ston, Jun. 10. We wish that every good Citizen and every man that walks peaceably in a blameless conversation, and is beneficial to the Common­wealth may have liberty and encouragement, it being according to the qust policy of all States even to justice it self. By this you may see the intendments of the Army if they prevail in this present un­dertaking.

To pull down the godly and orthodox Ministers of the Kingdom and to open a wide door (as in the days of Jeroboam) that the [...] of the people may take upon them the Priests office; 5. Design. He [Page 12]who in Jobs account, should not be worthy to set with the doggs of his flock, is judged meet by Sectaries, to be Pastor over the flock and sheep of Christ. The prophanest sort of men in the land, did never so grosly abuse godly Ministers, as all the Sectaries do at this day. See M Dels preface to his Sermon before the Parliament and in his reply after. They abuse them in their names, calling them the Preists of Baal: in their office, making them to be but the Props and Toes of Antichrist. Yea they account Ministers Calling to be Antichri­stian, their maintenance to be Jewish, their preaching to be legal, and their persons contemptible. And wil not they, think you, pul down them to set up phanatick and phantastick Teachers of their own? then poor Paul Hobson the Taylor, Quarterman the Mar­shals man, & Hughson the Shoo-maker, with multitudes of mean and illiterate fellows, wil serve to be the Armies Evangelists.

To keep off Independent Members (many wherof are guilty of capital crimes) from a due & legal tryal. 6. Design. Tis only the sound of the Trumpet, and noyse of the Drum, that makes the cries of the people cannot be heard against the Tyranny, Bribery, and injustice of the Indepen­dent party. were it so that the Army were disbanded, that the free-born Subjects of England should not be terrified by an Ar­my; there are thousands in this Kingdom who would fully prove many of them to be brought into the House upon undue and illegal Elections; that they have treasured up vast summs of money, ob­structed justice, retarded the Releif of Ireland, and acted many other intollerable injuries to the Common-wealth, which would make them an abhorring in the eyes of all the people; Fleet-wood, Harrison, and Ireton, with many others know, were the Army disbanded, their elections would be questioned; Seeing they cannot continue themselves Members by right, they wil do it by power; yea Leivtenant General Cromwel knows, there is some body in the world that can accuse him of that, and prove it clearly to his face, which would make him blush, and be Cromwels lascivious carriage. ashamed to enter within the House of Commons doors; very unbeseeming a man of his condition and profession. His own guiltiness in this and [Page 13]other things; as also the guiltiness of many others of his faction, makes them unwilling to disband.

If all these Designs take not; their last Design, is, 7. Design. to go over into Ireland under Cromwel, and the rest of the Independent Officers; if they cannot be Masters here, they would be Lords there; if can­not befool this Kingdom, they would inslave that: Ireland is but a Reserve, if cannot procure a Tolleration in England, they make no doubt to establish it in Ireland; field Marshal Skippon, and Major General Massey wil not serve their turn, therefore they re­fuse to go under their Command; if their Commanders be not Sectaries, they rather fear a suppression, then look for a Tolleration.

Thus I have endeavoured to lay open the dangerous designs dri­ven on in the Army; which I dare affirm with so much confi­dence, that I would have you beleeve nothing to be true, if you find not all to be true. If you ask me what are the likeliest means to prevent these dangerous Designs? I answer briefly.

1. All the Counties in the Kingdom should Petition Humbly the Parliament, for the speedy disbanding of the Army, they ha­ving as much from the state as they can expect; the Declaration a­gainst them revok't, the act of Indempnity inlarged, and most of their Arrears presently to be payd, and all to be unquestionably secured; what can they as Souldiers desire more?

[Page 14] 2 2. Those 5 Counties, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Buckingham, and Hertford, should declare humbly to the Parliament how they are abused, in that a seditious inconsiderable party of such County, should presume to present Petitions to Sir Thomas Fair­fax, under the name of the whole, which they wil not own; they likewise should represent how surreptitiously the Petitions were gotten, by whom fomented, contrived and subscribed, that they might come to condign punishment, for so high an affront against the Parliament. This would gain more Honor to those Counties then they have lost, in having such a factious party in the midst of them.

3 3. Those Sheirs and Burroughs for which the XI. Honorable (though accused) Members serve, should Petition the Parliament, that the Knights and Gentlemen legally and fairly chosen by them, should be Commanded to attend the service of the House, til the Charge can be proved against them.

4 4. All the Kingdom should Petition that none may be Members of Parliament, nor have any I ce in trust of this Kingdom, who either renounce or refuse to take the solemn league and Cove­nant.

5 5. We should Petition the Honorable Houses, they would be pleased to hold on their Resolutions in sending overfeild- Mar­shal Skippon, and Major General Massey, these two valiant Com­manders to be in supream Command for the business of Ireland.

6 6. Petition the Parliament, that they would suppress seducers and false teachers, who creep into comers perverting many from the truth and simplicity of the Gospel: as also that they would sup­press seditious pamphlets printed by Sectaries and malignants a­gainst the Parliament. Having finisht the first head, laying down the designs the Army Drives at, together with the Remedies to prevent them; I come now to the 2. head, To lay down where­in the unreasonableness (I had almost said Treasonableness) of the Armies demands doth consist.

1. Their first unreasonable Demand is (which they call reaso­nable) See the Armies hum­ble Remonst. p. 10. that the Army may be payd up equal with those that have deserted it though invited by the Parliament to do it. Is this a rea­sonable Demand, that they that have deserted the Army out of conscience and obedience should have no more of their Arrears then [Page 15]they that stand out still in disobedience against the Parliament?

2. Their second Demand is more unreasonable See the Ar­mies humble Remonst. p. [...]1. l. 1.2 We have ground to claim more then they or rather that they or some of them should forfeit their Arrears. that they that deserted the Army (though out of obedience to the Parliament) should forfeit their Arrears; or at least that the Army should have more of their Arrears payd them then the deserters of it shal; were not this to justifie the wicked and condemn the righteous; to punish the one for obedience and reward the other for disobedience, which would be a provocation in the eyes of God, neither consisting with equity and conscience in the Army to demand, nor with the justice and honor of the Parliament to grant, to punish one for obedience and reward another for disobedience.

3. Their third unreasonable Demand is to require more security for their arrears then any in the Kingdom ever yet desired; See the Ar­mies humble Representa­tion, p. 15. l. 3. the credit of the Excise and the profits arising out of Delinquents Estates, and Or­dinance of Parliament wil not content them; though millions of mo­ney have been lent upon this security: Were these terms offered to all other Officers and Souldiers in the Kingdom they would thankfully accept it as a due and safe recompence for their service.

4. Their fourth unreasonable Demand is to limit the Parliament to a very day to grant their desires, else to threaten them to their faces; which is such an affront to a Parliament that never was of­fered in this world. In one of their Papers they prescribe the very day when they must have a moneths pay; See Humble Remonstrance p. 14. l. 15. in another paper they declare that it they receive not security and assurance to themselves and the Kingdom of a safe and hopeful proceeding and that by Thursday night they must be forced to take extraordinary courses. 'Tis worthy your notice that this Demand of theirs was presented to the Commissioners at S. Albans Iune the 23. being Wednesday, and yet were so impudent to terrifie the Parliament, that if they did not gratifie their desires the very next day following they must be forc'd to extraordinary courses; they would allow but a day to the Parliament to consider of their Demands; which is such a high breach of the priviledg of Parliament that I cannot but stand a­mazed and wonder with what conscience we can suffer, or with what face they can indeavor the subverting of the indubitable pri­viledges of Parliament.

5. Their fifth unreasonable Demand is See the Ar­mies humble, Remonst. [...] 2. l. 6. that there be no listing of new forces in or about London, when themselves do gather [Page 16]together the most notorious Sectaries in the Kingdom to their Ar­my; yea draw their Train of Artillery from Oxford; take many loades of new arms out of Windsor Castle; seize upon powder coming from Northampton to London, fortifying some Garrisons, and do all things in preparation to a new war: yet the Parliament and City must sit stil, look on, and all lie at their mercy; whether this be reasonable, I leave to all indifferent men to judg.

6. Their sixth unreasonable Demand is that See humble Remonst. p. 15. l. 12. the Members ac­cused be forthwith suspended or sequestred the House, and that be­fore any particular Charge or Proofs were brought in against them. Is it reasonable that those honorable persons who are but Mem­bers accused should be suspended the House, and yet Na­thaniel Fines a condemned Member should sit still in the House? Is he fit to sit as judg to condemn others, that is a condem­ned man himself? Behold, O ye people, the justice of the Army! Is it reason that Colonel Long, who is only charged (but not proved) by the Army to be a Coward, should be suspended the House, and yet poor Nat. Fines, who is a Coward upon Record, adjudged by a Councel of WAR to dye for Cowar­dize, must still sit in the House?

7. Their seventh unreasonable Demand is in the behalf of the King and Malignants, for whom the ARMY is now become dissembling Mediators: they desire that See humble Remonst. p. 12. l. 26. provision be made for the rights, quiet, and immunity of his MA­JESTIES Royal Family and his late partakers, &c. How far they will extend this comprehensive term, Immuni­ty for the KINGS Family and his late partakers, none but themselves know: in part we may know what they mean: so much Immunity hath the KING and his late partakers already from the ARMY: viz. His Chaplains about him, and Cringings and Common prayers in use be­fore him: which how agreeable this is to the Directions of PARLIAMENT which have been given, or the Co­venant which hath been taken, I leave to wise men to con­sider.