Englands Cordiall Physick.
To cure all her Diseases, recover her Lawes, Peace, Freedomes, and avoid all Assesments,
within the space of two Moneths.
THe great miserie of Warre raging in the Land (next unto fasting and prayer) martiall Policie is in season; which being ignorantly or willfully neglected by too many in authority, many extraordinary mischiefes have formerly come to the State, through the want of good orders, whereby they might timely have been prevented.
And because protraction or delay (the old Soldiers harvest, or the Kings game plai'd at Westminster) must needs be distructive to this languishing Kingdome.
Therefore, these following remedies may be very seasonable unto all the people of England, to stirre up their affections, to the prosecution of the good Ordinances of Parliament, prepared for their preservation; the neglect whereof makes them seeme dead letters, and faire promising delusions.
1. The Ordinance for Auxiliaries may without delay be put in execution, throughout all Counties under the Parliaments command, the well-affected Gentlemen, may repare to their severall Counties, to encourage the people and assist them in the worke.
Which done, those Forces joyning with the adjacent Garisons, being under the command of Populare, Intelligent, Valiant, Faithfull, and Active men, may without any impediment besiege all the Kings Garrisons, and forthwith settle the Kingdome into a peaceable condition.
The neglect whereof hath occasioned horrid Incursions, Plunders, and suddaine Recrutes as have been lately in the Associations, and will offer opportunitie of the like, unlesse this expeditious and substantiall course speedily prevent them.
2. To prevent an impertinent Objection, which Malignitie or willfull ignorance in Martiall Affaires make, money (which is the meanes of Warre) cannot be wanting; because Plunders and exacted contributions ceasing every where, the Counties will be inabled to pay ordinarie assesments. which will countervaile all Charges that can belong to the Sieges.
3. In the meane time, to prevent all incursions into the Associations, and to obstruct the Kings marches in all parts of the Kingdome, all Bridges over great Rivers in the Parliaments quarters, which are in the road of mischiefe, may within six dayes and nights, either be broken downe or blocked up with small teneble Forts, together with Disfoording all Foords betwixt them.
4. To encourage all well-affected people in their fidelitie; the High Court of Parliament may give a speciall order that all Committees, who are or have been intrusted with the Treasures of the Kingdome, may forthwith give a just account without Partialitie or Demurie. And that the Counties themselves (as by right they ought) may have power to nominate those of whose faithfull Integritie they have sufficient experience.
This Act would vindicate just mens aspersed honour, and in all reason bring in considerable summes to pay Souldiers withall, who equally with the people are much discontented.
5. A Declaration may be sent from the Parliament unto all the Kings Garrisons, forthwith to surrender them unto the Parliament, or else to give them no quarter; specifying the impossibility of the Kings relieving them; and the great mischiefes, they standing out, will doe the whole Kingdome; besides their owne ruine if they will not yeeld upon Honourable tearmes.
It such a Proposition be refused in this time of so great mercie to the State, and terrour to the Enemie, two or three of the Kings weakest Garrisons may be first seized upon and made exemplary: Which course being timely and wisely taken, would be an affectuall meanes to perswade all the rest willingly to submit, & so prevent much effusion of blood, & destruction of estate.
6. By very credible and probable Intelligence, it is certified that the King intends Newarke for his Winter quarter, which Garrison hath been a constant desperate mischiefe to the State.
The King hath had severall great retreats from thence▪ and cannot make a suddaine incursion into the Association but from Newarke.
It is the Center of six Counties, and a daily mischiefe to them all; many Armies hath been destroyed▪ and Garrisons taken by it, yet there hath been such neglect of the Kingdomes good in this as in many others) that the Scots whole Armie lay still the last Winter foure moneths, and had no Commission from the Parliament to blocke up this Garrison nor starve it.
Which since assisted Sir Marmaduke Langdal in defeating the Yorkeshire Army before Pontfrect, which no other way could have been done, Welbeck and Torsec two strong and convenient Garrisons have been taken by them from the Parliament, the Kings late recrute there, and the spacious County of Lincolne subjected to their tyrannie.
From Newarke the King may meet Montrosse at any time in the Malignant North, and raise a greater Armie then ever he had.
What need there is of unanimous joyning, both of hearts and hands to end these bloodie and unnaturall Warres, now in this bright Sun-shine day, before the night (or darkenesse) of some desperate storme, which the blacke clouds of our manifold abominations (chiefly in absolving the wicked and condemning the just) doe presage, I appeale to the judgement of the wel-affected and impartiall Reader.
If we continue in our guiltines, put the ill day farre of, neglect faire opportunities, yea, and shew no better signes of unfained repentance, then yet we have done (for all our Fast dayes, Isaiah 58.) we may expect that our adverse party in Scotland and Ireland, will joyne both with forraigne Nations and Enemies among our selves, either for our suddaine and utter ruine, or at least so to protract the Warres, that both the lives and estates of all poore oppressed and discontented people, may be wasted daily more and more, untill the Nation be quit depopulated & impoverished, & so be a derision & proverb toother nations.
These things being well pondered and considered, is it not high time for wise men to have their eyes in their heads, awake, and bestirre themselves out of this dead sleep of careles security, by useing all these & the like active motions, wch may (through Gods grace) tend to his glory and the Kingdoms peace?
7. All Gentlemen and others in what precinct or place so ever, that have made any probable gaine of the States service, and will not sympathize the States urgent necessitie, for the whole Kingdomes and their owne safety, in this so great an extremitie, may be compelled to advance so much moneys upon good securitie as they are able, and the rather, since they have enjoyed peace and safety at home, whiles many have lost their lives, others want their pay▪ and multitudes are maimed, sick, hurt, and decrepped abroad.
8. To refine and purge all Committees, both by lessening of their numbers and changing of their members, whereof some through coveteousnesse and corruption, doe make great distractions and divisions, to the great distemper of the whole Kingdome, foure honest active and intelligent wel-bred gentlemen, may well dispatch more busines in one day (and for the halfe of the allowance now in the Kingdomes calamitie) then a whole bench full of undiscreet and rude fellowes (who seeke their owne, and not the Kingdomes good) doe usually in a weeke.
If it would please the Parliament to take these things and others hereafter specified, into their serious consideration, and withall▪ to put them speedily in agitation, doubtlesse God thereby would have glory, and they discharge singular duty to the Nation, according to the trust reposed in them.
9. If any good successe herein may be expected, let the businesse be begun with speed, the Souldiers and Workers every weeke precisely payed, and such Commanders as are not faithfull and carefull in their Offices, changed.
A Letter A Letter out of Cumberland to a Friend in London
THe wel-affected people with us doe begin to suspect, that they shall upon any occasion be betrayed into the Enemies hands, by these unjust and Malignant Committee men in Cumberland and Westmoreland, because they are so link't together, that they manifest all possible effects of favour one to another.
We sent Articles to the Parliament for discovering and preventing their unjust dealings, but wee feare that some of their Confederates there, (making use of these unnaturall distractions) have turned Iustice into Wormwood, and corrupted the Fountaine; for by wofull experience, we find, it sendeth forth bitter waters (like Marah) all over the Kingdome.
Wee heare that the Scots Horse are comming amongst us, who take such short marches, as though they intended to make England the seate of Warre. I beseech you perswade your zealous friends to solicite some Members of the House, that our Malignant Committees may be called to a speedy account, and that foure discreet Gentlemen of good report may be chosen in their places; who are able to doe more good to the Common Wealth, then twelve, Timeserving and Selfe seeking Malignants, who abuse the Well-affected, protect the Enemie, and imbezzell the Countreys treasure
It were very requisite (in my opinion) that all the Committees throughout the Kingdome were both reformed, and the number of their Members lessned; and none accepted, but those who are able and willing to give the State one yeares service Gratis, as also to render accounts of their proceedings and receipts every moneth.
The Malignants doe yet expect Montrosse with an Armie of Rebells out of Scotland, and wee feare that if the Scots foot retreat to relieve us, they will inrage the Malignants against them, by plundering. The King is resolved (we hear) to follow them in there are, if he be not prevented by a sufficient Armie of Horse.
In all likely hood the Kings great designe is now to destroy the Scots Armie first, and raise the Malignants who have made many woefull Insurrections. All the benefit you in the South are like to enjoy, is to be [last] destroyed.
I pray God we may all take these sad considerations to heart, and use some speedie and resolute course to prevent them, which doe perplex the thoughts of your assured friend.
A Letter out of Lincolnshire to a Friend in London.
SIr, Since Collonell Roscite marched away after the King, wee have been truely sensible of the want of Auxiliaries to serve the County in his absence. The Newarkers have plunderred and assessed most parts about them; taken away three or foure of the best men out of many townes, as Prisoners, untill they pay great sumes charged upon them: A little town scarcely worth 200 l. a yeare was charged with 40. l to be payed within 5 dayes, upon paine of plundering, fyring, and perpetuall imprisoning, by a warrant from this mercilesse Garrison of Newarke and ten Commissioners. Such menaces doe presage fire and sword to us speedily, unlesse God in his infinite mercy stur up the worthy City of London (who have constant provision from thence) to contribute some assistance in procuring 2000 Foot & 1000. Horse out of the associations, & a speciall order for raising the Auxiliaries in Lincolnshire with Coll. Keinsborrough (a man famous in our County both for policie, valour, and fidelitie) to command in cheife for the blocking up of Newarke, and that both to prevent the Kings great retreats there, and preserve the County from weekely plunders and intollerable taxations: Which being▪ one with strong Trenches and Forts (as it may be within ten dayes & nights) doubtles the Country about it (to avoid further oppression) would give more contribution, then wil pay both al the Forces to be imployed, and all the charges to be bestowed in the businesse▪ Therefore Sir if it would please you in the bowels of compassion, to relate our miserable condition at the Royall Exchange I am perswaded the [...]est sort of men would endeavour our speedy releife, and therein you will shew your zeale to the publique, and your kind respect unto your affectioned friend.