Index Expurgatorius Anglicanus / Or, a descriptive catalogue of the principal books printed or published in England, which have been suppressed, or burnt by the common hangman, or censured, or for which the authors, printers, or publishers have been prosecuted

by W. H. Hart

To your Tents, O Israel. By Henry Walker. 1642.

A seditious pamphlet, for which Walker was tried at the Old Bailey in July, 1642. On the trial the Queen's Attorney and two Serjeants at law after causing the indictment to be read "began to show and did make it plain how odious the matter was, and how it was a fact of a high nature; first against his Majesty, to make him as it were odious to his people: To your Tents, O Israel; as if the King were a Tyrant, bidding as it were every man to take his Sword and Armor; and oppose all Authority whatsoever, obeying no Law but that of their owne humour and will; what can there be more said, but that it was very plaine, but that this Walker did by those words labour to instigate and stir up the King's Subjects to a mutiny, and to cause tumults to arise in this Kingdome, nay, in the heart of this Kingdome, in the City of London too; not onely to teach these words, but to cause them at his owne charge to be printed, and to divulge the same through his Majestie's Kingdomes. Nor did this Walker rest himselfe therewith satisfied, but in an audacious way, and in a bold manner, as the King's Majesty passed through the City of London riding in his Coach, threw one of them into the very Coach itselfe, and in the very face of the King; what an affront was this? can any age paralell it, or any Chronicle make mention of the like, and in a Civill Commonwealth, and in a well governed City; I think not: nor is this all, for this Walker hath invented and writ divers Pamphlets and other scandalous Bookes, to the great disturbance of his Majesty, and of his Liege people; a meere sower of division, an upholder of a new Government, an inventer of a new Doctrine; nay, he is become a Preacher and a deliverer of this his humour even in the Church, and openly in the Pulpit too, and on the Sunday: drawing after him, and seducing poore ignorant people to the very ruine of their soules, if it were possible. This act of his, it was done with much venome, malice, bitternes, and rankor considering the time; because the King and his Parliament were then at some difference, who did as much as in him lay to set his Majesty and his Subjects together at discord; it was drawne with cunning, and at such a time published that if envy itself had plotted it, it could not have come forth in a more dangerous season. He confessed it was his owne worke, and done by night, and the next day by him exposed to sale. It was a foule misdemeanour, and it was published with an ill intent. Nay, what is this Walker not, what wrong hee hath done let his owne conscience, his severall Bookes and Pamphlets, which hee hath both written, made, and printed them himselfe witnesse. Well, the Jury heares the information, the severall pleadings, the severall Witnesses that this Walker was the onely framer, inventer, publisher, and disperser of that Booke, To your Tents, O Israel; upon which severall Evidences the Jury withdrawes themselves (being 12 honest men, and of a good rank and quality) to consider of the matter; which being truely weighed, and a long time debated and scanned, agreed all in one mind, calleth for Henry Walker to the Bar: who being come to deliver their Verdict, they all declared him by the voyce of their Foreman to be guilty both of the Trespasse and of the misdemenour. He was convicted, 1.—For writing of it. 2.—For the composing of it. 3.—For the publishing of it himselfe at the Printer's house, and receiving money for them. Which done, he had nothing to say for himselfe, nor his Counsell neither, but onely he did it not with an ill intent to doe any harme. And now he is heartily sorrowfull for it, and begs the King's mercy, and the charitable censure of all men for his rashnesse and over hot zeale, especially of his sacred Majesty, whom he hath most offended; and for his Majestie's clemency to him, he will ever be bound to pray for him; because his Majesty did give Command that his Inditement should not be put against him for Treason, but onely for a misdemenor, which if it had bin preferred for Treason it might have bin as well found and have cost him his life, as for this fact of misdemenour; and so I, H. Walker, am heartily sorry, and desire God, his Majesty, and all his Majestie's Subjects to forgive me, and by my example to forsake these private and secret meetings, or rather conventicles; and so with teares I submit myselfe to the Law and the punishments whensoever it shall be denounced and inflicted upon me."

This account of Walker's trial is taken from his life and recantation, collected and written by John Taylor, 1642.

97.

The Petition of Sir Philomy Oneale, Knight, Generall of the Rebels in Ireland, and of the Lords, Nobility, and Commanders of the Army of the Catholiques in that Kingdome. Presented to the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in the High Court of Parliament in England. London. Printed by T. F. for John Thomas.

On March 8th, 1641/2, the House of Commons ordered that the consideration of this pamphlet be referred to the Committee for printing, and that they take some speedy course for repairing the honour of the Earl of Ormond, much wounded by this pamphlet, and for the corporal punishment of the printer and the contriver.[70] A copy is in the British Museum Library. It is in quarto, and contains six pages.

98.

Message of the House of Commons, sent in reply to his Majesty's last message. 1642.

On March 28th, 1642, the House of Commons resolved that John Franc the printer should be forthwith sent for as a delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms for causing this message to be printed without any licence.[71]