The compleat History of independencie Upon the Parliament begun 1640. By Clem. Walker, Esq; Continued till this present year 1660. which fourth part was never before published.

The Remonstrance and Declaration of the Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, and Freeholders in COLCHESTER.

PEtitions (the birth-right of Subjects) are by Law our addresses to our King, (Gods Vicegerent) by custom our approaches to the Houses of Parliament, (His Majesties great Council,) by them we used humbly to present our modest desires, and were wont to re∣ceive answers (as Gideons fleece the dew) without noise, yet satis∣factory; but that was denied our first Petition, and before our second could be ready, our brethren of Surrey by theirs ecchoed our prayer to both Houses of Parliament, but received their answer, (as the Jews their Law) in thunder and lightning, a two-edged sword the tongue, and the report of Muskets the voice, which spake nothing but wounds and death.

We therefore thus admonished, resolved thus to present our grie∣vances to the World, and our Petitions to Heaven, for a blessing upon our intended indeavours.

Our grievances are these:

1. First, the distraction and threatned ruine of our glorious Pro∣testant Church, the neglect and abuse of Religion, the destruction of our Universities (the springs of all Learning; Divine and Humane) occa∣sioned by the fierce and ignorant Separatists, set up and maintained as Rulers both in Church and State, by the prevalency and violence of a rebellious and destructive Army, under the command of the L. Fair∣fax, and countenanced by the seeming Authority of a pact, unfree, and over-awed House of Parliament.

2. Next, that contrary to the Oath and duty of Allegiance (from which no power can, nor yet hath pretended to absolve us) our Sove∣raign Lord the King is by the design of the said Army, drawn from His House at Hampton Court to the Isle of Wight, and there by the power of Col. Hammond and others of the Army Imprisoned, and detained from His Parliament; by which act the said Ham∣mond, and all adhering to him, are according to the Votes passed in both Houses, 16. March, 1641. Enemies to the peace of the King∣dom.

3. A third, is the violent and unchristian separation of the King, His Royal Consort and Children, at once depriving His Majesty of the two first blessings bestowed on Man.

4. The forcing the Queen and Prince of Wales, to seek in a forein Nation, what in their own they could not enjoy, liberty, safety, and support.

5. The exercise of Martial Law while the Courts of Justice are o∣pen, and sitting at Westminster, the obstructing justice in our Courts of Judicature, and by the privat Committee of Indemnity perverting judgment, and exercising arbitrary power, which is a subversion of our ancient Laws, and an introducing of a tyrannical government, as was resolved by both Houses in the Cases of the E. of Strafford, and Archb. of Canterbury, and writ in their bloud.

6. Sixtly, the present mischief and future danger to the whole Kingdom, by reason that the publique affairs of highest concern, are managed and carried on by a few particular men in a private Com∣mittee at Derby-house, wherein (contrary to the self-denying Ordi∣nance) the prime actors are chief Officers of the Army, and have by our unhappy differences, possest themselves of the most beneficial offi∣ces and imployments of the Kingdom; and the other Places of profit and commodity, are by their design conferred on others, Members of the Army and Houses of Parliament, to purchase their compliance and Votes in all matters agitated in the Houses of Parliament: by reason whereof all motions for His Majesties return to his Parliament (the first step to our desired Peace) have been either totally rejected, or by them politickly delayed, because Peace would determine both their power and profit.

7. The Estates of Delinquents, the Lands of Bishops, Deans and Chapters, (designed by several Ordinances for discharge of publique Debts) are by the Houses and power of the Army shared and divided amongst themselves, while the publique debts be unsatisfied, the common Souldier unpayed, the mained unrelieved, the Widdows and Children of the slain unprovided for, and all left burdens to the Com∣monwealth.

8. That the Army consisting of mean, ignorant and illiterate men, (only gilt with hypocrisie, divine and civil) under pretence of tender Consciences (the better to induce and tolerate all Heresies) have ex∣pelled and supprest all learned Orthodox Divines, and Church Go∣vernment, and crying Liberty, Liberty, have subjected our Persons and Estates to arbitrary Law and tyranny; and by Rape imbracing the Legislative power, cuckolds the body Politick, giving Laws to the whole Kingdom, and yet by Petitions and Remonstrances

make both Houses father (as their own) the adulterous issue.

9. That this Army assuming to themselves the modelling and set∣tlement both of Church and State, at Windsor in April last, in their Council did consult these 3. Questions.

First, Whether shall we joyn with the Levellers, and new mo∣del both Church and State?

Next, Whether with the moderate Party, Treat, and receive the KING with more qualified and limited Power?

Thirdly, Whether Depose the KING, Dis-inherit the PRINCE, Crown the DUKE of YORK, and appoint a Protector?

The first was held to promise most of liberty and profit; but threatned greatest danger in effecting, and difficulty in continu∣ing.

The second was said to be easiest obtained and continued, because nighest to the present frame and constitution already setled; but would bring them little of profit, and less of Soveraignty.

The third (like Benjamin, last in birth, but first in the Parents af∣fections) was held not difficult to be acted, but to be maintained; for it would require both the expence of much blood and money, and the Kingdom to re-act York and Lancaster, under the names of Wales and York.

To this Lieut. Gen. Cromwel answered, It was the better, for that would necessitate the continuance of our Army, which secures our persons, will enforce our reasons, make just our demands, and faci∣litate their grant; For the bloud, that will flow from the cheapveins of Common Souldiers, whereof England hath plenty, and we will not want; For the money, London is our bank, and from their Purses it shall drain to our Coffers.

Commissary Ireton, L. Gen. Cromwel's Son-in-law, said, The work was half done; for we have already Voted no Addresses to be made to the King, and Him guilty of crimes enough to De∣pose Him, and by Imprisoning His Person, have fitted Him for a private life, and by it taught the people that He is subject to the dispose of both Houses of Parliament, whole Ordinances are only powerful by our Swords, and therefore our Actions shall be legal by their Vote. Further, the Prince (said he) is link'd with his Father in crime, and therefore cannot be severed in pu∣nishment, he hath been General in a Western Army, warring

(as his Father) against the Parliament, a crime that as it rendred the Father fit to be Deposed, so doth it the Son unfit to succeed in the Government. And that the descent of the Crown purge not him, (as it did Hen. 7.) let us in the Fathers life time Crown the Duke of York, now in our power, whose tender years have preserved him innocent, and presents him fitter for protection and our design, and should any blame our severity towards the King and Prince, others will commend our clemency towards the Duke of York.

Upon the result of this Council, L. Gen. Cromwel in the House of Commons, tels Mr. Speaker, That it was time to set on foot our great design, and that such as should not concur in Votes with us, be not continued of us.

The motion being mis-timed, and divers of his party absent, it was only wondred at by Master Knightly, and died with the words. The Scene now alters from Westminster to Carisbrook-Castle, and the King that could not be removed by Votes, must now by Poyson, the Actor Col. Hammond, Major Rolf, &c. all Members of the Ar∣my: yet must we by cursed Excise that insensibly devours the poor, by insupportable Monthly Taxes that impoverish the rich, con∣trary to Law and our Allegiance, contrary to our Protestation and Covenant (inforced upon us) we must traiterously maintain and pay this Army that traiterously contrive and endeavour the deposal and murder of our Soveraign Lord the King, the subversion of our Pro∣testant Church, our Fundamental and known Laws.

We therefore declare to the World, that God blessing us, we will with hazard of our lives and fortunes, disband and dissipate this Ar∣my, the Suppressors of the pure Protestant Religion, the Imprisoners, and would be the Murtherers of their Soveraign Lord the King, and grand Oppressors of the Common-wealth; then free from Im∣prisonment our said Soveraign, and him (God-willing) restore to his lawfull Government, just Rights, and Throne in Parliament; this done, we shall joyfully and readily, deposite our justly assumed Arms, and on our knees beg what his Majesty hath often most graciously offered, and will undoubtedly grant, his most Royal and gracious par∣don to all his mis-led Subjects, will return to their Allegiance, and forward to bring the King back to his own house.

We therefore hereby earnestly desire and request all loyal and wel-affected Subjects as well Members of both Houses of Parliament as

others, to be herein aiding and assisting to us. First, by not recrui∣ting the Forces of the Lord Fairfax. Next, by withdrawing all aid and assistance from his Army, by with-holding Excise and Month∣ly Taxes allotted for their pay and support, and to give us with their prayers such assistance as their Allegiance and opportunity shall ad∣vise; and we trust that the God that judgeth rightly will crown our loyal action with happy successe, and our successe with a glorious peace, which is heartily prayed for, and shall (God willing) be reso∣lutely fought for by us, His Majecties loyal and faithfull Subjects in Colchester.