lain to read it? befides, they say the reading of it would spoil my oaths, and I'll not leave one word of my oaths for all the word of God: but I am willing to be rid of the Scotch oath, because they fay 'tis taken out of the word of God, and it may be fo for ought I know. But yet I would fain keep the covenant, because it hath kept. many of us thefe hard times, and because it keeps the bishops away from us. I cannot abide bishops, they have fo much learning and antiquity: I hate furplices too, ever fince Mr Henderfon preached it up for the whore of Babylon's fmock. It feems he had taken it up often, for he had many a bout with her, (as Mr Sedgwick fays) now and anon too: but hang the whore of Babylon; fhe is an old whore, and I am an old man, (I thank God) but I cannot abide old whores, nor you neither, my lords, I hope. Therefore judge you whether his majefty ought not to fettle church-government prefently, that all old whores may be excommunicated. As for our third propofition, for the fettling of the militia, I know not well what to fay to it. This mi litia is a hard word, and fo is publick faith, but yet the citizens made a fhift to fwallow it: the devil's in their guts, they will down with any thing these hard times; and they will down with militia too, if we would let them. Sure it is a very hard word; for we have much ado to make his majesty part with it, and we are as loth to part with it as his majesty. But I think we have made him part with it in fpight of his teeth. What though he will not give it us, we have it already; and we are fools (I think) if we do not keep it. What, take away our arms? does he think to make the ftate cross the cudgels, and be popish again? the ftate fhall order Hammond to trip up his heels first, and if he cannot do it, Ralph fhall go and make him kick up his heels. He is a member of the ftate's militia; he may do it; d---e, he may; for no body that I fee dares queftion him. Judge you then, whether his majefty had not as good let us cut his throat with the militia, as without it. And fo, my lords, I think the three propofitions are very reasonable, and that you will never trouble the ftate with any more reasons against them. Now, my lords, for the city's petition here before us, I have but one word more to fay, I fay, their petition is worse than your reafons. They would have a treaty a treaty too, and no propofitions; but they are not half fo mannerly to the ftate as your lordships; for you give reafons, but they bring not a word of reason that I can understand; and yet they will have no nay to a treaty. Hang them rafcals, it is to fave their purfes; they had rather fave their purses, than themselves or the state: but d---e, their purfes and they are both reprobates, and therefore I fay the ftate muft d--n them both. It is poffible in time the state may hang them for all their fervices; I do not mean the aldermen in their own chains ; for, the troopers will find other ware for execution: and well they deserve it; for the poor army hath taken the pains to conquer the kingdom and them too; and yet the churls are fo miferable, they never could find in their hearts to give them fo much as one meal of thankf giving; therefore I think after their cold breakfast before Colchester, they had best come and fall aboard upon the city. I am fure they have fome friends here that will bid them welcome: Skippon hath a thousand horse for the purpose, and I think they will help pretty well to fetch recruits out of thefe dogged fellows of the city, and keep out a perfonal treaty. Then mark, my lords, they'll have this treaty to be in London; no other place will ferve them to have the king in but London: I thought they had kings enough at London already: but they'll have king Charles; that is a malignant word if you put but God to it; for, it is the cavaliers word, and I am neither. I hope, my lords, you will be fo too, and not turn cavaliers now at laft; for what should we do with king Charles? which of us can look him in the face? d--e, I think you have as little reafon to treat with him as I. Well, my lords, I have spoken my mind; I pray you do not order the printing of my fpeech; for, I would not have every body know my mind before myfelf. I fhould fpeak oftener if I might be lefs in print; for, a fpeech in print is near kin to learning, and I hate learning; I hate a king; I hate king Charles. Do you do fo too, and let us love one another, and be obedient to the state: for, d---e, fink me, and ram me nine miles into the bottom of a bedge, we are undone, if we do not make flaves of the city, and keep off a perfonal treaty. The M The Earl of PEMBROKE's Speech. Y lord mayor, and you gentlemen of the city, I am commanded, and the reason that makes me trouble you at this time with faying any thing, is by reafon of a letter I have received from the committee, which I think is a letter of fome confequence, and fitting for you to fee; otherwife I am fo ill a fpeaker, after fuch a declaration made to you, I have not the boldness to say any thing to you: but truly tho' I fay little, and have a bad tongue, yet I ever had fo good a heart to this bufinefs, that I fhall ever live and die it. Gentlemen, you have fhewed yourselves like brave and noble citizens; you have done it with that nobleness, with that alacrity, with that love to God, king, and parliament, that none of your ancestors before you never fhewed more love, nor care, nor zeal, nor performed that you have done better: I have only this to fay to you, if the times are fuch (not that I think there is any great peril in the king's army now, for they have told you nothing but truth) yet when you have seen this letter, you will find there is very good caufe for you to crown this work, which must be by following it, with the fame zeal, love, care, and nobleness, and alacrity; which if you do, you may well crown yourselves with the name of a glorious city: and none more. The LETTER. For his Excellency the Earl of Cumberland, Lord General of His Majefty's Forces in the North. M'r Y very good Lord. Your Lordship's of the 20th of this month I have received by Stockdale, and have read it to his majefty; who willed me to fignify to your lordship, that he is well pleafed with your lordship's continuing of the Sheriff in his place, albeit be fent a writ for his discharge; his majesty takes a special notice of your lord lordship's vigilancy and care, in the trust he hath reposed in your lord/hip; as he hath by many very gracious expreffions declared at feveral times openly, upon conference of your bufinefs in that county: your lordship's care of my lady duchess of Buckingham, is (I affure you) very well taken by his majefty. Sir Ralph Hopton, and other gentleman in the west, have raised ten thousand horfe and foot, with which they have already difarmed all perfons in Cornwall, that are difaffected to the king; they have taken Launceston, and are marching into Devonshire, to difarm the difaffected there; and fo intend to come to meet the king at London: here are alfo in Wales about 6 or 7 thousand men levied for the king, which are to he under marquefs Hartford, that will be ready upon all occafions to come to his majefty; but we hope he will not need their help, having given the Earl of Effex fuch a blow, as they will make no hafie again to adventure themfelves in that cause against God's anointed. I shall refer your lordship to the relation of the bearer, for the particulars. To morrow bis majefly marcheth, towards London, by Oxford, I am fo full of business, as I must crave your lordship's pardon that I write fo briefly but I am, nevertheless, The laft Will and Teftament of the Earl of PEMBROKE. Philip, late earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, now Knight for the county of Berks, being (as I am told) very weak in body, but of perfect memory; for I remember this time five years I gave the cafting voice to difpatch old Canterbury; and this time two years I voted no addrefs to be made to my mafter, and this |