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these things that I have spoken to you, that you will hear the evidence of the proofs, and then we shall go on to those other things which we have in charge.

The proofs having been read, Mr. Pym proceeded thus: Gentlemen, we have held you long; you are now almost come to the end of your trouble. I am to deliver to you some short observations upon the whole matter, and then to acquaint you with the resolutions thereupon, taken in the house of commons; and to conclude with a few desires from them to you.

The observations are these: First, I am to observe to you the contrariety betwixt the pretences with which this designe hath beene mark'd, and the truth. One of the pretences was peace; the truth was blood and violence. Another of the pretences was, the preserving of propriety; the truth was, the introducing of tyranny and slavery, which leaves no man master of any thing he hath.

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A second observation is this: The unnaturall way by which they meant to compasse this wicked designe; that was to destroy the parliament, by the members of parliament; and then, by the carcasse and shadow of a parliament, to destroy the kingdome. What is a parliament but a carcasse when the freedome of it is suppressed? when those shall be taken away by violence, that can or will oppose, and stand in the way of their intentions ? The high court of parliament is the most certaine and constant guardian of liberty; but if it be deprived of its owne liberty, it is left without life or power to keep the liberty of others. If they should bring a parliament to be subject to the king's pleasure, to be correspondent (as they call it) to his will, in the middest of such evil counsells, which now are predominant, there would little or no cure be left; but all things that are most mischievous would then seem to be done by law and au thority.

The third observation is this: With what an evill conscience these men undertooke this worke. They that pretended to take armes to defend their own propriety, obtained a commission to violate the propriety of others; they would take the assertion of the laws of the land, but assumed to them such a power as was most contrary to that law- -to seize upon their

persons without due processe, to impose upon their estates without consent, to take away some lives by the law martiall; and besides all this, without any commission they intended to alter the government of the city, which is now governed by your own councel, and by a magistrate chosen by yourselves; then to be governed by violence.

The fourth observation is this: That the mischievous effect of this designe would not have ceased in the first night's worke. All the godly part in the kingdome, all faithfull ministers especially, would have beene left not onely to the scorn and reproach, but to the hatred, malice, and cruelty of the papists and malignants.

The fifth and last observation I shall make to you, is this: That this matter was prosecuted in part, and agitated and promoted by those that were sent from the king, and seemed to be messengers of peace; and while we should be amazed with pretences of gracious messages, to propose peace, this villainous project, which should have set you all in blood, was promoted by those messengers, and should have been put in execution very shortly after. This is all I shall trouble you with by way

of observation.

The matters resolved on in the house of commons are these things: First, that there be publique thanksgiving to God, both in the city, and throughout the kingdom, for this great deliverance; that a neere day be appointed for the city, the parliament, and the parts adjacent, and a convenient day for other parts of the kingdom. The next thing resolved on was, that the house of peeres, they should be made acquainted with these proofes, and with all this discovery, which hath been done accordingly. It was likewise resolved, that there should be a covenant made, whereby we should both testifie our detestation of this mischievous plot, and joyne ourselves more closely in the maintenance of the common interest of the church and common-wealth, in religion and liberty, which are still in great danger, and would have been utterly subverted, if this project had taken effect. It was resolved, in the fourth place, which is now partly executed, that this should be communicated to you of the city, that so, as you have a great part in the blessing, you may doe your part in the duty of thankfulnesse, together with

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It is further resolved, that it shall be communicated to army, that they likewise take notice of this great mercy of God, and joyne with us, both in the thanksgiving, and in the protestation and covenant, as we shall likewise desire you of the city to doe.

Then we are commanded to give thankes to my lord major, to the sheriffes, and to the rest of the officers of the city, for their great care in the apprehending of these persons, in guarding the peace and the quiet of the city.

We are likewise to give thanks to those gentlemen that have had the custody of these prisoners. We know it cannot but be a trouble to them; there was no meanes to keep them safe from messages one to another, and from speeches, but by such a way of putting them in honest men's hands. The house of commons have commanded us, to give them special thanks that they would undertake this care, and to assure them that they will see them fully recompensed for all the trouble and charge they shall undergoe by it.

And we are to give you thanks, which are the citizens of this city, for your good affections to the publique cause, and for your continuall bounty for the support of it.

Thus farre we are enjoyned by the resolution of the house. Now, we are further to intreate you, to heare both the cove nants you shall thereby knowe to what wee have bound ourselves, and to what we desire you should be bound. There are two covenants, that is, one proper for the houses of parliament, which hath been taken in the house of commons, by all the members, by those gentlemen that are named in those examinations to have been privy to this plot, which they all have disavowed; and the other covenant is to be taken by all the other part of the kingdome, by the citizens, by the army, and the rest of the people generally in all places.

The draught of these two covenants we shall communicate to you; the house of lords, they have had them already, and have taken them into consideration; and we hear, they doe resolve that which is appointed for them shall be taken by the members of that house.

We are further to desire you, that you would be serviceable to the divine providence, to God's great mercy to this city, and

the whole kingdome. God doth not only doe good, but thereby gives assurance that he will do good. His mercies, they are comforts for the present, they are pledges for the future; but yet our care must not cease.

We are to desire that you would keepe your guards, and look well to your city, and that you would find out these evill members that are among you, as neere as may be, that so for the time to come this plot may be prevented, as hitherto hath been stopped; for out of doubt all the malignity is not drawn out of them, though the present opportunity is hindered for the present of putting it in execution.

I am to tell you further, that in desire to win those that shall be taken with remorse for this wicked designe and conspiracy: It is resolved, that if any man shall come in before the 15th day of this present June, and freely confesse his fault, and what he knowes of this conspiracy, that he shall have a full and free and plenary pardon for the time to come, except those that are already or fled. I say, those that come in voluntarily shall be pardoned.

Your care, and our care, they will be all little enough; wee hope God's blessing will be so upon them both, that you shall be restored to a full peace, and that in the mean time you shall enjoy such a degree of safety and prosperity, as may make way to it.

B.

Some Extracts from THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE; or the Opinion of some Lords and Commons, concerning the Londoners' Petition for Peace. Oxford, printed by

the University Printer, Leonard Lichfield.

"Give ear, beloved landowners,

Fie! fie! you shame us all!
Your rising up for peace, will make
The Close Committee fall.
Wonder, you should ask for that

Which they must needs deny.

Here's thirty swears they 'll have no peace,
And bid me tell you why.".

A number of lords are then represented, giving reasons

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Their lordships disposed of, the leading members of the lower house follow with similar reasons:

"My venum swels,' quoth Hollis,

And that his majesty knowes,'

'And I,' quoth Hampden, 'fetch the Scots,
Whence all this mischiefe grows.'

'I am an asse,' quoth Hazelrigge,

But yet I'me deepe i'th' plot;

And I,' quoth Stroud, can lye as fast

As master Pym can trott.

But I,' quoth Pym, 'your hackney am,

And all your drudgery doe,

Have made good speeches for myselfe,

And privileges for you :

I sit, and can looke down on men,
Whilst others bleede and fight;
I eate their lordships' meate by day,
And give it their wives by might."

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