An Epiſtle to all ſorts of Men.

TO All Chriſtian Kings, Queenes, Princes, Prieſts, Rulers and governours; and to all that love the King; and to all that are in authority under Him, of what degree, or in what condition or ſtation ſoever: whether Papiſt, Proteſtant, Presbyterian, Antinomian, Independant, Anabaptiſt, Seeker &c. Both high and low, rich and poor, from the loweſt form to the higheſt; and ſo to all thoſe that have paſt through all formes, and are above them, that worſhip God, not on this mountain, nor at Jeru­ſalem, but in ſpirit and truth. Neither can they deſcend ſo low, as to look back, to ſee God in an ordinance, or in any of theſe formes, or in any other forme; but ſee him purely as he is, Jehovah Elo­him; who ſee him in the cloudes, and in the ſun, who ſee him in the heavens, and in the firmament, for the heavens declare his glo­ry &c. who ſee him in all things above and below, and in every thing that hath a being in the whole Creation. Theſe things I write unto you, concerning them that ſeduce you; but the anointing which you have received of him, abideth in you, and teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no ly &c. and as the Son of the bond-woman, perſecutes the Son of the free-woman, ſo every form is a perſecutor. And he that is under any of theſe forms, is ready to perſecute him that is above them, or below them, or contrary to him in judgement: But the ſon of the free-woman, is free from perſecuting any. And as there are diverſities of formes; and that every form is a perſecutor, ſo there are diverſities of degrees in every form, ſome high, ſome low, ſome rich, ſome poor, yet all in the Spirit. The higheſt degree of Papiſts, are almoſt Proteſtants, the higheſt degree of Proteſtants, are almoſt Presbyterians, the higheſt degree of Preſ­byterians, are almoſt Antinomians, the higheſt degree of Anti­nomians,2 are almoſt Independants, the higheſt degree of Inde­pendants, are almoſt Anabaptiſts, and the Anabaptiſts, are al­moſt Seekers, and the Seekers are at a ſtand: Although they are in the uppermoſt form, yet they know that there is ſomething a­bove all theſe formes, which they have not yet found, but are in a ſeeking condition, yet their ſtrength is to ſtand ſtill, till God drawes them up into himſelf; then ſhall they be of that rich fa­mily of love, they ſhall attain to that high pitch of perſection, as to be of Gods own familie, God dwelling in the midſt of them, and they living continually in and upon him. For he that dwels in love, dwels in God, and God in him. Now all thoſe that are of this rich family of love; are above all formes, types, and ſha­dowes; And are in reallitie, truth, ſubſtance: they need not that any man teach them; they are all taught of God, they are entred into their reſt, they ceaſe from their labors, as God did from his, and their works follow them; there is a continuall Sabbath to them; God is their Sabbath in them. All externall formes of ſelf-duties and performances, as of duties of faſting and humiliation, du­ties of prayer &c. all are turned into praiſes and thanksgivings, Halelujahs. Now there is nothing but mirth in them, there is a continual ſinging of birds in them, chirping ſweetly, in a ſweet harmony of ſoul-raviſhing delightful muſick.

Reader, I ſhall give thee to underſtand, that this enſuing Trea­tiſe, hath been almoſt ready for the preſſe a long time ſince, and caſt aſide, having no thoughts of publiſhing it. But ſeeing tis the Fathers pleaſure, I ſhould declare my judgement to the whole world, I could not but doe it; partly to vindicate the truth, and the rather, becauſe ſome members of the Armye (whom I con­ceive have not yet paſt through the third forme) have a prejudice againſt me, as if a child that hath not learn'd his primar: ſhould undertake to teach him that hath learned his Accidence or Gram­er, and is perfect in them. And as if the pooreſt Schollar in the loweſt forme, ſhould undertake to seach the beſt Schollar in the uppermoſt form in the School. And partly to diſcover the folly and weakneſſe of theſe mine accuſors. I ſhall therefore give you a breife marrative both of the manner, and ſubſtance of our diſ­courſe, for which they had a prejudice againſt me, which is as fol­loweth.

Firſt, I had ſome diſcourſe with Capt. Lieu. Leigh, and Cornet Friend, touching forms in the worſhip and ſervice of God, and touching ſeveral adminiſtrators or diſpenſations that the people were under; and my poſition was, that God might be ſeen in the loweſt form or miniſtration, and that I had now no prejudice a­gainſt the perſon of any man, that was above me, or below me, and that I ſaw God in all things and in every thing that had a be­ing in the whole creation: working in the creature, according to the ſeveral diſpenſations wherein he had placed them. Then the Cornet asked me, whether I ſaw God in the Table-board or in the Candle­ſtick? My anſwer was yea, I ſaw him in both. Then he went about to prove (in a Syllogiſticall way) that the Table-board was dead, the Candle-ſtick was dead, and God was a living God. Therefore I could not ſee him there in the Tableboard, but I might ſee him in the Work-man-ſhip of it; and with all demanded of me, whether I ſaw him eſſentially in the Table-board, my anſwer was I made no difference, or diſtinction betwixt his eſſence, and his being, for they were one, and that God was every where, and in all pla­ces, and in every thing. He was both omnipotent, omnipreſent, om­niſcient, and his eſſential will was himſelf, his power was himſelf, his wiſdome was himſelf. Then ſaid the Cornet, Capt. Freeman, you ſay that you have no prejudice againſt the perſon of any man, are all men alike with you? what do you think of drunkards? my anſwer was, yea, they were all one to me, although in time paſt, I had a prejudice againſt ſome, when I was under forms, yet now I had not; for a drunkard, or any other man that was addi­cted to any other ſin or vice (which all men are ſubject unto) could not leave it till God call'd them from it. Then we ſpake ſomething concerning the uſe of Ordinances; which I told them that I was not againſt the uſe of them, nor any man that was on ſuch a diſpenſation, for he was in the ſame ſtation wherein God had placed him, and ſo we brake of our diſcourſe for that time: but it ſeemed to me, that they were ſomewhat troubled at it.

Now the next time we met together, we had ſome farther diſ­courſe touching ordinances; and to my thinking (before we par­ted), they were very well ſatisfied, for we parted upon very faire terms, and I went up into my Chamber, where I was not long,4 before I had ſome thoughts of writing an Epiſtle to all ſorts of men, and ſo call'd for a Pen, Ioke and Paper, and began to write, but before I had wrote three lines, they came to me again, and I told them what I was about, and that I was writing an Epiſtle to all ſorts of men, that were under ſeverall diſpenſa­tions or Miniſtration, and ſo fell into Diſcourſe againe, ſpent ſome time in it; and all this time they were very merry and pleaſant with me, in ſo much that I could not conceive they had any prejudice againſt me, or any deſign to advance their own in­tereſt, which I ſhall referre to you to judge. And ſo we parted for that night, and went to bed, and the next morning I wrote the former part of this Epiſtle, and ſhewed it to them, but it did appear to me, that it was not well reſented by them; For, in a very ſhort time after, they made ſome complaint to Colonel Okey of ſome ſtrange points which I ſhould hold (as they ſaid) which occaſioned ſome diſpute amongſt us, in the preſence of one Capt. Smith and others,

Now the Colonel meeting me at Bedford (with ſome o­ther officers of his Regiment) told me that he had heard of ſome ſtrange opinions I ſhould hold, but never had any diſcourſe with me, as to know what they were; Therefore he deſired to propound ſome queſtions unto me. My anſwer was, that I ſhould be very free to anſwer to any queſtion that he ſhould propound unto me; ſo that it might be done in a way of love; which he promiſed it ſhould. So he propounded this queſtian firſt, what I thought of the uſe of ordinances? my anſwer was, that all thoſe that were un­der any of them, or in the uſe of any of them; that it was their duty to be obedient unto them, till God call'd them to a higher miniſtration. And that I liked them well, that were zealous in the performance thereof, for I did beleeve they had ſome comfort in the uſe of them.

The Second queſtion was, what I thought of the Scriptures, and whether I did acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God? my anſwer was, that it is the written word of God, the Prophets, and Apoſtle were the Penmen, and that it was my dai­ly practiſe, to make uſe of the Bible called the Scriptures, when opportunity ſerved; and I told them that every Scripture is a my­ſtery, untill it be made known to us, or revealed in us; and ſo it5 comes to be above that Scripture without us; for, it is ſaid to be a hidden myſtery, to them that periſh: but the power of God unto ſalvation to every one that beleeves.

Then by this time they all came about me like Bees (as the Pſal­miſt ſaith) they kept me up on every ſide, they kept me up I ſay on every ſide &c. one catcht at me, and another catcht at me, inſomuch that I ear­neſtly deſired them to forbear any further diſcourſe; for I ſaw that they lay in wait for me; and as it did appear to us afterwards, that they had laid a ſnare to entrap me, and katch me into their own Net, which they cunningly had laid. But I was very cautious and wary how to ſpeak to them, and for this reaſon which I gave them, that I might ſpeak ſomething in anſwer to their queſtions that they might not well bear; for; ſaid I, that which may be a truth to me, may not be a truth to you, and yet a truth in it ſelf. The Word of God, which is God in his Word, written in me, is more to me then the whole Book of the Scriptures, both of the old and new Teſtament; for what is it, without it be unſealed and the Book opened? and yet I can aſſure you, I priſe it, at as high a rate, as any of you all can doe; but if ſo be you ſhould ask a Child of ſeven years old, what booke it is, and lay it before him, he will ſay it is the Bible, or peradventure, he will tell you tis the Scripture, why? becauſe he hath been told ſo: but if ſo be, I know the word of God, which is, God in his word, be written in me; then I know aſſuredly, that is the word of God, becauſe it is ſo manifeſted unto me. But how ſhall we know this of a truth, ſaid Cornet Friend, how may this appear to us? My an­ſwer was, that the witneſſe of the ſpirit, did bear witneſſe with my ſpirit: and that I had certain evidences, and demonſtrations of the ſpirit of God working in my ſpirit; and that I ſaw a glorious change in me, ſince I had paſt through all theſe formes; or mini­ſteations, which I had formerly been under. I told them like­wiſe, That I had bin a Papiſt, Proteſtant, Presbyterian, Antino­mian, Independant, Anabaptiſt, Seeker &c. But I gave God thanks, I had paſt through them all; and that Scripture was ful­filled in me, which was a promiſe made by Chriſt, that he would put his laws in our minds, he would writ them in our hearts, and he would be to us a God, and we ſhould be to him a people. Which lawes are written in my heart, and have made me conformable in obedience6 to his will, and this law being written in my heart; is far above any law without me. As for example, the Scriptures containe in them divers precepts, as in the decalogue. Thou ſhall do no murder, Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery, Thou ſhalt not ſteale, Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe &c. We ſee this law, we reade it, and yet we break it, we cannot keep it, Why? becauſe we ſee and reade no more but the bare literal expreſſions, and is without us. But if God comes in in power, and commands me from within, either to doe or not to doe, then I cannot breake it, but I muſt keepe it, and that from a Principle of love from within.

Then came in Capt. Neale and one Mr. Easton, who being no ſooner in the Room, but Col. Okey (in a ſeeming merry way) took Captain Neale by the ſhoulder, and thruſt him to me; uſing theſe very expreſſions. That he would be on my ſide, for he was of my judgement. To which Capt. Neale anſwered, that he thought he ſhould, although we were the weaker ſide. Then Lieut. Cheeſe ſpake ſomething in reference to our former diſcourſe. Cap. Neal asked me, whether I would anſwer him, or whether he ſhould? So I deſired him to anſwer, (being willing to be quit of any far­ther diſcourſe) for thoſe reaſons before mentioned, in that I found them to lie in wait for me. Then Capt. Neale anſvvered clearly to the point, which he is very well able to give an account of. Then Leiut. Cheeſe replyed; (and all this while there ſeem­ed no prejudice outwardly againſt either of us) and Mr. Eaſton an­ſwered to his reply, and undertook the diſcourſe; but before he had done ſpeaking, Colonel Okey deſired him to make repetition of what he had ſaid, which he did; then the Colonel took firſt a preju­dice againſt him; and uſed him very uncivilly, and unſeemingly, in the preſence of all that were there; for he bad him go forth of the room for he was a dangerous fellow, and not ſit ſociety for any honeſt man, and this was for nothing, but declaring his opini­on. But Mr. Eaſton deſired to ſpeake farther to the point, and that there might be a right underſtanding betwixt them. No ſaid the Colonel, and bad him hold his tongue, and get him forth, for he had ſomething to ſpeake to ſome Officers of his Regiment; and ſo fell very foule upon Captain Neale, with bitter language, and then upon me and told us, he would roote us out of his Regiment, or elſe we ſhould root out him, and commanded us to be gone: which7 command was immediately obeyed.

Now I ſhall appeal to all godly conſcientious men, to judge whether this diſcourſe was in a way of love, or not, according to his promiſe and engagement; When as they did (as it were) force me to diſcourſe, and to anſwer to all their queſtions; yet I am ſure they have no advantage againſt me therby. But to proceed, the next morning I met with Capt. Smith, who told me, that he li­ked our diſcourſe very well: but ſhook his head, & ſaid, that he was very ſorry to hear, and ſee ſuch miſcarriages and claſhings againſt us. Now the ſame morning the Colonel ſent for Mr. Cloſe (Chaplian to his Regiment) and diſcharged him, becauſe (as he ſaid) he was of our judgement. Mr. Cloſe deſired to know what might be laid to his charge, to be ſo caſtoff, without a Councell of Warre, and that he might know his accuſers: The Colonel told him, that he had preacht dangerous doctrine, and held dangerous tenets: therefore he ſhould no longer continue in his Regiment. Then Capt. Neale and I deſired him, that we might all three be tryed at a Councel at Warre, for we conceived all our caſes were alike, but that would not be granted: but howſoever; The Colonel then told Mr. Cloſe that he might ride in any Troop of the Regiment, but not as Chaplain; to which he anſwered, that if he were not fit to be Chap­lain to the Regiment, he was not fit to ride in any Troop. Then I deſired to know of him, what he had againſt me, or what he could lay to my charge? His anſwer was, that I held dangerous tenets, that I denyed the Scriptures, and that I made God the author of ſin. Which I denyed, and withall did aske him, where ever he heard me ſay ſo in poſitive terms? He anſwered no, but that I did as good in effect. And thus you may ſee, he would draw concluſions according to his own fancy. Therefore give me leave to draw one concluſion according to their practiſe, which is this, that if God juſtifies their actions (which they believe he doth) then is God the Author of ſinne. But no more of this, for I am very Ioath to digreſſe; but to proceed. The Colonel did likewiſe rip up the old ſore at Taunton, and told me that I ſaid I was Chriſt, and that if it had not been for him, I had been ca­ſhier'd for it; which argues abundance of weakneſſe in him, or malice towards me, he knowing that I had clearly anſwered to their charge, and that Mr. Peters had moved the Generall for re­parations8 for the wrongs done unto me. Then Cornet Friend laid this to my charge; that I ſhould ſay that I had as live keep a Drunkard company as any other man, which I denyed, neither did I indeed ſpeak it at all upon any other tearmes, then as be­fore mentioned. You ſay you have no prejudice againſt the perſon of any man (ſaid he) then I pray tell us, wherefore you keep up your ſword? My anſwer was to maintain our juſt rights and priviledges which is our birth-right, & to relieve the oppreſſed, & not intentively to kill any man; and with all did demand this queſtion of him, wherefore he kept up his ſword? His anſwer was, to kill the Caveliers, then ſaid I, you are a man of blood, you kill all the day long, and I had as live keep a drunkard company, as keep you company: and with­all I told them, that they might ſee, that I was both ready and willing to do the States the beſt ſervice I could (as I had formerly done) and that I was willing, to go with my whole Troop, for the ſervice of Ireland, which if I had not been willing, then I had been disbanded upon that Account without any more a­doe.

And thus I have given you a plenarie deſcription (according to truth) both of the manner, and alſo the matter and ſubſtance of our diſcourſe; and if ſo be, it ſhould be denyed, I can prove it by Capt. Smith and others. And now I ſhall ſhew you, how they have ſhot their poyſoned arrows, even bitter words againſt me, and have ſpit their poyſon at me, to render me as odious, as they can poſſibly: and all to drive on their own deſignes, and ſet up their intereſts. For here you ſhall find (if it may come to a tryall) that the Cap. Leiut. gap'd after my command as much as ever any ungracious ſon did gape after his Fathers death, that he might inherit his poſſeſſions, as may appear by his often, and earneſt ſolicitations to the Col. that he would give him my Troop, if he could get Col. Rich his letter, and Col. Harriſons letter to him. Then Cornet Friend looked for preferment too; & Quartermaſter Gilmore gap'd after my Cornets place, who went for the Service of Ireland; and indeed I wrote my letter in his behalf to my Col: That he might have it; not­withſtanding (I knew) that he had done ſome good officers for me. And theſe are my accuſers, who (by their falſe and ſcandalous ac­cuſations) have cauſed the Col: (he being very apt to hear with other men ears, ſee with other mens eyes, and to ſpeak the lan­guage9 of other men) eſpecially to drive on their own deſignes according to their hearts deſire. And as for Quarter-maſter Gilmore, he let fall theſe very expreſſions to his Land-lady (where he quar­tred at Rowell in Northampton-ſhire) that there were but few officers in the Army of his Captains judgement, and that Crumwell was now gon into Ireland, therefore they could new model the Army at their pleaſure.

And truly for my part, this did evidently appear to me, that their intentions were no leſſe, but that they would root out all of­ficers, that were contrary to them in judgement; for I met with a Colonel of the Army in Weſtminster-Hall, who did (as good in effect) ſay ſo much to me; for he told me, that I countenanced blaſphemie, and if ſo be I had been a Captain in his Regiment, he would have done no leſſe then my Col. did: and that there would ſuddainly be a charge drawn up againſt me, but I (knowing my own innocency) told him, that I did not value a chip, any charge that could be brought in againſt me: and truly for my part (I con­ceived) his very countenance did import much wrath and bitter­neſſe of ſpirit againſt me, although he ſcarce ever knew me, or e­ver exchanged three words with me before. But what he had, (it ſeemed) he received it from Col. Okey; or from ſome ſcandalous papers which were ſpread abroad by him, which was ground e­nough for his anger towards me: for here you ſhall ſee, hand over head, without due examination; they will judge and condemn, and ſpeak purely one anothers language, and all to advance their own intereſts. But what they account blaſphemie, I know not; but I am ſure, I have caſhier'd many of my Souldiers for ſwearing and drunkenneſſe, and have ſharply reproved others, for any kind of vice whatſoever, that hath come within the compaſſe of my cogni­ſance, and that I ſhall appeal to theſe ſeveral places where we have bin quartered any time this fifteen moneths and upwards.

We were quartred eighteen weeks at Buckinghame and Brackly, three and twenty weeks at Saint Neots and Kimbolton, five weeks at Keter­ing and Rowel, fourteen weeks at Colebrooke and Ʋxbridge, and eight weeks more at S. Neots & Kimbelion, before our march into Scotland. All which time, the people in theſe ſeverall places have had ſuffici­ent experience of us: and are able and willing if occaſion ſhould ſerve, to give a very good teſtimony of our civil behaviour and10 carriage towards them, and I dare be bold to ſpeak it; that they are as willing and ready to give us entertainment, as any troope in the Army, and no diſparigement to any.

And now you ſhall ſee more of my Col. dealings towards me (my Cornet and three and twenty of my men, being gone for the ſervice of Ireland, under Capt. Barrington) how he took ad­vantage thereby, notwitſtanding he had given a verball order, not only to me, but to the reſt of the Officers in his regiment, that in caſe any of Capt. Barringtons men were not free to go for that ſer­vice, that we ſhould entertaine and lift them, in the roome of our men that were free. Whereupon eighteen of his men came to me, well mounted and well armed; and I had no ſooner entertain'd them, but the Col. ſent me an expreſſe order not to recrute; whereupon I diſcharged them, and they all marcht up to London, and were in a ſad condition, for when they came thither, they went to the Col. but could not prevaile with him to be enter­tained under my command, and ſo were fruſtrate of all imploy­ment: and continued ſo long (notwithſtanding they had often­times petitioned the Col. and divers friends had ſolicited in their behalfe) till they had ſpent their horſes and all that they could make ſhift for; yet afterwards, (upon my Engagement of laying down my Commiſſion, as you ſhall ſee by and by, he ſent them down to me afoot, to be liſted again, as may appear by divers letters under his own hand, which was a pure peece of ſer­vice, which I ſhall refer to the Reader to judge. But of this by the way.

Now it came to paſſe, that I (finding the Collonels deſigne a­gainſt me, partly through his malice towards me, and partly ſet­ting up his own intereſt) knew that offence may be taken, though not given: but wo to him by whome offences come, and I know that wrath is cruel, anger is outrageous, and that it is a hard matter to ſtand before envie. Therefore I took my journy to London, to ſee how the caſe ſtood be­twixt my Col. and I, but before I ſpake with him, I met with our Major, who told me that the Colonel did proſecute his for­mer deſigne againſt me, with all the force and ſtrength he had, and no perſwading him to the contrary, and that he told him that he had an order from the Generall to disband my whole troope, to disband me. Whereupon (having ſome farther diſcourſe with the11 Major and Capt. Neale, touching this matter, we all three concluded together, to meet at the Col. houſe, the next morning, to know what his reſolution was concerning me; but when we came, the Col. was upon exceeding high tearmes, in a rayling condi­tion againſt me, and ripping up the old ſores (of his own making) by thoſe poyſonous arrowes ſhot againſt me: but I earneſtly deſired him that I might have the benefit and priviledge of a Counſel at warre; knowing that it would have bin the onely way (if I might obtain it) to be­get a right underſtanding betwixt us, and the onely way to free me from ſuch aſperſions, which will not be removed, till truth be ma­nifeſted: but if ſo be I have either ſaid or done any thing worthy of puniſhment, (as I told him) I would aske no favour at any mans hands, but willingly ſubmit to the cenſure of the Court, either to ſtand or fall by it; and in caſe I were found guilty, I ſhould wil­lingly ſuffer, according to my demerits. Then the Major, and Capt. Neale both, did earneſtly deſire (in my behalfe) that a coun­ſel of warre might be had, whereupon the Col. (in a ſurious rage) burſt forth againſt Capt. Neale in bitter language, and told him that he was as bad as I, his turne was next, and that he might truſt to it, for he had a charge againſt him as well as againſt me, and put his hand in his pocket, pretending to produce both our charges; but did not, and truly for my part I do beleeve, that if he had drawn any charge againſt either of us, he was aſhamed to ſhew it, knowing that his own conſcience would accuſe him that he had nothing againſt either of us, that would hold water at a Counſel at warre, unleſſe he could get ſome knights of the poſt, to ſwear for him: and that I ſhall appeale to the reader to judge in that he would not admit of a Counſel at warre. And you may eaſi­ly render a reaſon, for it was becauſe he had lay'd ſuch ignominious and ſcandalous reproaches upon us that he was never able to prove one title of it. Yet notwithſtanding, he did continually ſpread abroad our names in all places where ere he came, both in City and Coun­try, and eſpecially my name, he made ring throughout the whole Army, both to the Generall and Officers, as if I had bin the vileſt Creature under the Sun, inſomuch (as I conceived and was part­ly confident) that he had ſo far prevailed with the Generall to diſ­band the whole troope, to disband me, according to what he had affirmed to us; and truly for my part, I tooke it to be truth what12 he had ſaid, and whether the Generall were abuſed in it I know not, but for my own particular, I did not care what could be pro­ved againſt me, for I had neither ſaid nor don any thing that I was aſhamed of, but rather then my whole Troope ſhould ſuffer for my ſake, I would lay down my Commiſſion, whereupon the Colonell preſently cloſed with me, and told me, that if I would engage to lay down my Commiſſion, he would ſpeak to the Generall that I might muſter two or three muſters, and continue my Command ſo long, that I might have my accompts ſtated, and ſetle my bu­ſineſſe, for, ſaid he, I conceive, you will go into Ireland to your bro­ther Col. Abbot, and I think it will be your beſt courſe you can take. Truly for my part (ſaid I) I know not how the Lord will diſpoſe of me, but you know that I was willing to go with my whole troop for that ſervice, when I was by you appointed to go, when Capt. Barrington went (all though you never intended it) therefore (I conceive) I have the more wrong, to have my com­mand wholly taken from me. Yet notwithſtanding, I will lay down my Commiſſion, upon thoſe tearmes, and I did engage, and ſo we parted; and I proteſt I really intended to perform my engagement, and ſo the next day I went to my troope: but for half an hour ſpace, or thereabouts, I was not without ſome ſmall trouble in my ſpirits, to think that ſuch arbitrarineſſe ſhould be exerciſed amongſt us, who had ſo zealouſly, fought againſt it in others, but my trouble was quickly over, and ſuddainly turned in to rejoycings with unſpeakable joy and comfort; in that I knew that it was the will and pleaſure of God it ſhould be ſo. And withall I had ſuch a kind of expreſſion of mirth within me, that I took my pen and inck, and wrote my caſe, (by way of indictment) as fol­loweth.

Captain Freeman, thou art accuſed and indicted by the name of Captain Francis Freemen, for that thou haſt felloniouſly denyed the Scriptures, and made God the Author of ſin. Thou haſt ſaid thou art Chriſt, and thou haſt countenanced blaſphemy; all which is againſt our Soveraign Lords the people, if we could but prove it. Therefore what canſt thou ſay for thy ſelf? art thou guilty; or not guilty? not guilty, by whom wilt thou be tried? I'le be tried by a generall Counſell13 at Warre; no; thou canſt not, thou muſt be tryed by Colonel Okey, how? muſt I be tryed by Col. Okey? why, he hath condemned me already; what though he hath? thou canſt not be admitted to any other Tryall, Therefore ſtand up and heare thy Sentence.

Thy Troop ſhall be disbanded for thy ſake, for that thou holdeſt dangerous? Tenets; how? ſhall my Troop be disbanded for my ſake? ſhall ſeventy men ſuffer for one? if I have either ſaid or done any thing worthy of puniſhment; then let me ſuffer according to my demerits. Well, tis the Generals pleaſure to disband thy whole Troop, to disband thee: nay, rather then let my whole Troop ſuffer I will lay down my commiſſion. If thou wilt engage to lay down thy commiſſion; I will ſpeak to the Generall to ſave thy Troop. And thus I have ſtated my caſe truly, by way of Indict­ment.

Now when I came down to my Troop, I told them what was done, who were exceedingly troubled at it, when they heard it; and did earneſtly deſire me to give way to them, to petition the Generall in my behalfe, that I might have a Councel at Warre: but I adviſed them not to doe it, and for this reaſon which I gave them, that they might ſuffer as deeply as Cap. Barringtons men did, which the Colonel had not cared a ſtraw, ſo that he might have had his will. And withall I told them, that I had engaged to lay down my commiſſion rather then they ſhould ſuffer, which cauſed no ſmall trouble of mind to them, being very loath to part from me; but you ſhall ſee how it came to paſſe upon my engagement of laying down my commiſſion: the Colonel ſent down Capt. Barringtons men to me, with an order to be liſted, and to pay them but half pay, & reſerve the reſt to buy them horſes, which I did, and truly for my part I received them into the liſt as a recrute for him that ſhould ſucceed me. And afterwards I went to London, to have my accompts ſtated, and to ſettle my buſineſſe, but whileſt I was at London, it ſo fell out that my Troop concluded together, to peti­tion the Generall in my behalf. And I Profeſſe ingenuouſly, I ne­ver heard of it till that very day that it was exhibited, which peti­tion was granted, and I was taken off from my former engage­ment, being it was the Generals pleaſure to grant me a fair hearing, in caſe my accuſers did proſecute the buſineſſe, in the mean time I ſhould continue my command, which I have done14 upon that account, but ſince my command hath bin taken from me neer the borders of Scotland; and without a Counſell at warre. But I ſhall omit that till it come to its proper place; and ſhall proceed where I left.

Now the next time the Colonell and I met together, was at Bedford, where he challenged me upon my engagement: and told me that every boneſt man would be as good as his word: my anſwer was, that the caſe was now altered, and my engagement made void in regard the Generall had granted me a fair tryall, which (I concei­ved) was not unknown to him, although he would not take no­tice of it, whereupon he burſt forth in his old wonted paſſion; and told me, that I was abaſe fellow, a diſhoneſt man, and he had ra­ther have a drunkard or a whore-maſter in his regiment then ſuch a one as I was; with ſuch like expreſſions, but I ſeeing him in ſuch a paſſion (being unwilling to multiply words) I told him; that I ſhould be very ready and willing at any time, to anſwer for any thing, that he or any one elſe could lay to my charge, and would aske no favour at their hands, and ſo I parted from him and left him in a rayling condition againſt me, and told the Companie that were with him (as I underſtood afterwards) that I never preſt him to have a Counſel at warre, till ſuch time, his witneſſes were gone into Irelend; pretending that ſome of my Souldiers, (who went for that ſervice) were his witneſſes, when as his own con­ſcience could witneſſe againſt him, and my innocency clear me, and I dare be bold to ſay, that there was not a ſoul­dier that went but loved me ſo well, that he was as ten­der of my good as of his own: but howſoever, this was a notable plea of his, to make people beleeve ſtrange things of me, as if I had bin as baſe as he reported me to be, and all to make his owne matter good.

Now the next newes I heard, was an order from the Major to recrute my Troope, and to raiſe them up to a hundred, beſides Officers, which I endeavoured to doe; and in the mean time, the Col. had an order to raiſe two new Troopes, in the room of thoſe two that went for the ſervice of Ireland, and his own Troop and the Majors to be made Troops of horſe: where you ſhall ſee, that his intereſtwas partly ſatisfied; yet notwithſtanding, he did not leave his deſigne ſo naked and without hopes, but he15 would fullfill his own will, and (for the accompliſhment thereof, you ſhall ſee how he hath given the ſelf-denying ordinance a totall rout that it cannot be able to rally again, for he got a Commiſſion, for his brother to be Captain to one Troop, his Son-in-law, to be Capt. of the other, and his brother in law to be his Lie ut. but as for his Son-in-law, he is a meer ſtranger to me, but I have heard a very good report of him, that he is a deſerving man, and truly (for my part) I know nothing to the contrary, out for the other two, I ſhall appeale to all that know them, whether or no they are fit for any ſuch imployment, unleſſe it be to receive the States money (if they can tell how to tell it) but howſoever here you may ſee a Rout, a Rout, a Rout, a totall Rout. Therefore gentle­men, look about ye, have a care, how you make any more ſuch ſelf-denying ordinances, for God will not be mocked. But no more of this, I ſhall now proceed to the next.

The next order I received, was to ſend ten of my Troop, to­wards the raiſing of theſe two new Troopes, which was done ac­cording to my order, and the like number or more was ſent out of each Troop, inſomuch that our Troopes that marcht into Scot­land were much weakened, and thoſe left behind, we having or­ders to march with all ſpeed into the North. Now the firſt randeſ­vouz we had together (except the Colonels own Troop) was be­yond Swarſon-Bridge, over the river Trent, where we received or­ders for our ſeverall Troopes to quarter in Darbiſhire, till far­ther orders, and my quarters were at a place called Morley, three miles from Darby Town; where we continued eight daies, and then according to order, we removed to a place called Tibſelfe, and quartered there till my Colonel came to Darby, who ſent for me thither to ſpeak with me, in the mean time, our Major took occaſi­on to talk with him, concerning me, and told him, that (if he could with patience hear me) he did beleeve that I would give him very good ſatisfaction in all things (eſpecially if a right un­derſtanding might be had between us) and aboured much with him, to diſcourſe with me, in a milde way; laying aſide all anger and bitterneſſe of ſpirit; which was granted by him, and he did proteſt (as the Major told me) that he had no malice, nor preju­dice againſt me, but ſeemed to him, to be much inclinable to a milde diſcourſe; ſo when we came together, we had a ſhort re­petition16 of ſome of the old points (which were miſapprehended before) and truly for my part, I thought before we parted, he had bin fully ſatisfied, and his wrath appeaſed, for we parted upon very fair termes; and the Major did much rejoyce at it, who afterwards told the reſt of the Officers, that he did beleeve, that the buſineſſe was quite over between my Colonel and I, and that we would be very good friends for future: which cauſed them to rejoyce like­wiſe, and were exceeding glad to hear of it.