The first and second part of Gangræna, or, A catalogue and discovery of many of the errors, heresies, blasphemies and pernicious practices of the sectaries of this time, vented and acted in England in these four last years also a particular narration of divers stories, remarkable passages, letters : an extract of many letters, all concerning the present sects : together with some observations upon and corollaries from all the fore-named premisses / by Thomas Edwards ...

An Extract of a Letter sent me from a* 1.1 Commander now in the Parliament service, dated Decemb. 29. 1645.

SIR,

THe constant practise of many Officers and souldiers with them, was to ex∣claime against their Ministers wheresoever we marched, pressing them and their adherents more then any other; they did dscourage the people, gene∣rally affirming that the best of our Preachers were Popish, and that it was un∣lawfull to heare them, but did hope to see them all * 1.2 pact to Rome, and their superstitious Steeple-houses puld down to the ground; great variety of opinion was amongst our Officers and Souldiers, some affirming that they had had Revelations and seen Visions, al of them at liberty to argue and hold what phantasticall opinion they pleased, those were the men most countenanced, and soonest raised to prefer∣ment; some of them would take upon them to prophesie, ☞ saying, they should live to see all lording power laid aside in this Kingdom. In my distresse when the enemy was upon me, I sent to most parts adjacent for assistance, but could have none, only from one place came to me forty Volunteers, with some two or three Officers, professing thenselves all Independents, and they

told me they hoped to finde me so, and if I should continue still in my opinion for Presbytery, they thought their labour ill spent; they staid with me all night, and the next day there came to them a Leiutenant, a most dangerous fellow, maintaining most horrid opinions, as you may see by the information which is truth;* 1.3 this Lieutenant was to preach to them in a private house, which I had notice of, and did prevent him, which they took very ill of me, and immediatly they left me, and marched away with Lieutenant —Since, one of the chiefest of them sent me word by our Quarter-master, that I should have little or no pay, so long as I staid in —if I did not agree and side with—I finde the m••••sage too true, for I finde little pay or none. Sir, I could say much more of their practises a∣gainst me and others, but I should be too tedious; but this more I shall adde, I never marched where I heard more talk of godlynesse, and lesse practise of it in my observation, for they are cruell without mercy, covetous without ☞ measure, professing self-deniall, yet leave no stone un-turned to advance there estates and honours. The Lord prevent their wicked designes, and keep this Kingdom from being ruined by such a wicked people, Sir, I rest.

Your servant

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Commander is not in the service of the West, belong∣ing to any of the Regiments of that Army, under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, but his command is in another part of the Kingdom.
• * 1.2

  We see the liberty of conscience Se∣ctaries will give, if they had power.
• * 1.3

  The Relation followes after attest∣ed by the hands of witnesses.