their afflictions, and in the end hee brought forth with honour in the eies of the People,
to the shame of their insulting Adversaries. A great deale more there was to that
purpose; but this was enough to make his Excellency scratch, and spoyle the devotion
of his Morning. Sacrifice.
The Mechanick-Counsell at White-Hall were at the Forge late this night with
their Representative. The Subject of their debate was Power Parliamentary, whose
activity they will have confined within the Spheare of the Law in matter of Judgment,
or Proceeding against Persons. Sure they meane the Law Martiall, which
they have made the Rule for this Parliament to walke by, and by which they square
all the present proceedings against the very Priviledges of Parliament, the Lives,
Liberties, Persons, and Estates of their Fellow-Subjects. After this they fell to consider
of binding them King in Chaines,and bringing him to a pretended Tryall. In
order whereunto, for the present (to make the World beleeve so) they voted hee
should bee called no longer King, but Charles Stuart, or Mr. Stuart; that all Ceremonies
of State (Cap as well as Knee) should bee forborne, and the Cloth of State
removed out of the Presence & his attendance & Allowance lessened, that they may
mortifie the Prerogative-humer & mold him (if possible) to their own; else, off goes
the Crowne, to be spurn'd at by that Rabble, and then all fellowes at foot-ball; And
if the Levellers carry the day (as they vow they will, in spight of King Cromwell)
then catch as tatch can; for, all will bee in common.
Thursday December 28. Harry Marten made a Speech against King Parliaments
(as they are at present constitnted) Lords, Clergy, Lawyers, and Propriety of
Lands and Goods. This is a notable Chain-shot indeed; but he might have added
one linke more against Matrimony; that women as well as Estates may all lie in
common.
In the Reare of this in came Tom Scot the Brewer's Clarke, and Belweather of
the King-killing Committee, who brought in the Ordinance for trying Capitall
offenders, but it is mounted principally against the King; for as much as it pretends
to impower a Committee of Coxcombes with impudence to bring him to a Tryall,
and act such a piece of Treason as never was heard before in the Christian world,
nor so much as dream't of by the most barbarous Infidels. This was the first time of
reading this damned Ordinance.
Friday December 29. This mad Ordinance of Attainder against his most sacred
Majesty came in Play again, and was red the second time. The rest of the day was
spent in consideration of the Navy, & hastning in the full Remainder of Delinquents
compositions, that it may bee hoorded up in the holy Treasuries of the Saints private
Pockets, before a new Turne be given to their Faction.
This day the Hors[unr]ches sacrificed the blood of one Major Pichard, a gallant
man, who by Order of the Mechanick Councell was shot to death at Pauls, on purpose
to terrifie and affront the City. Hee had been some daies after Sentence reprieved
and in a manner pardoned by the Generall, who was soundly rated for it by Cromwell.
The Crimes were his gallantry in the Kings service,formerly in Worcester, and
lately in Pembroke Castle; where having obtained termes to travell, and six weekes