"Run to and fro thorough the streetes in Jerusalem, (as it may be truly said of Westminster and London) and see now, and know, and seeke in the broad places thereof, if ye can finde a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh the Truth, and I will pardon it.
"And though they say the Lord liveth, surely they sweare falsly.
"HOSEA. 10. 4.
"They have spoken words swearing falsly, in making a Covenant.
"Wee the free Commons of England, have been (for the general part) like Marchant Adventurers, who according to the Poet, per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum, &c., through many great difficulties and dangers do saile into farr Countries, with great costs and charges to fetch home rich Treasures, the which when they have gotten, they do returne therewith joyfully: & yet upon their own Coasts, or in the very harbour at home, through the negligence, or ambition, pride, covetousnesse, falshood, or contention of the Ships-Master, or his Mariners, do suffer wrack, and loose the fruit of all their Costs, Adventures, and travells."
157.
A new found Stratagem framed in the old forge of Machivilisme, and put upon the Inhabitants of the County of Essex. To destroy the Army under his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and to inslave all the Free-born of England on a Sudden, manifested and laid down, in certain animadversions, upon a clandestine, illegall petition, contrived, made, and privatly printed, by a destructive party in London: and then by them sent down to the Ministers of the County of Essex, to publish as on the last Lord's day, 4. April, to the people, with directions to take their subscriptions in two sheets of paper; which being done: So many of the Subscribers as can, are to be desired to meet at Stratford Langton, the 18. instant Aprill, and so to come and present the same to both Houses, as the Petition and sense of the whole County: whereas it was never propounded to the County, not even heard of among them, before it came down ready in print, from London, to be published by their Ministers, in there severall Parishes. With certain Observations and Cautions on the same, conducing to the information, and publick good of the whole Kingdome. Published principally for the Meridian of the County of Essex, but may serve for all the Counties of England. 1647.
A pamphlet of 15 pages, a copy of which exists in the British Museum Library. On April 23rd, 1647, the House of Commons referred the consideration of this paper, as also of the paper described in the next article, to a Committee, to examine and find out the "authors, inventors, contrivers, publishers, and dispersers" thereof, and how, and by what hands, and to what ends they were dispersed and sent down to the army.[126]
158.
An Apollogie of the Souldiers to all their Commission Officers in Sir Thomas Fairfax his Armie. 1647.