A DECLARATION of the LORD MAYOR, &c.
WEre it as lawfull to utter truth, as unlawfull to ſuffer for truth; to compare the neereſt of our thoughts with the moſt notorious of our actions, and preſent them as in a Mirrour to the publike eye, we might then Declare; That as we have engaged our ſelves in one ſacred tye of Covenant, ſo therein we have in all fidelity perſevered, declining neither Law, Religion, King, Parliament, nor Liberty, neceſſary in profeſſing Chriſtians properly naturall to true ſubjects.
The Covenant binds all (without exception) within the pale thereof, to an unite defence, and mutuall co-aſſiſtance of each other; but as in the Divine4 Law, the breach of one Commandment pleads the Offendor guilty of all; ſo we preſume in this humane Law (the Covenant) the forfeiture of one branch brings ſelf-guiltineſs on all the reſt. We pray for mercy on this National Sin.
And ſeeing (with too tranſparent eyes) both Nature and Religion turn'd Antipodes, acting themſelvs into a ſelf-Antipathy (as if Man above all ſublunary Creatures was an only compound of contrarities; ſeeing the foundation (on which next under heaven our hopes depend) of our Laws, our Religion our proper Rights and Priviledges (we ſay not Oaths and Proteſtations) blown up by the very roots, by ſuch a ſtrong tempeſtuous violence, which bears down all things before it, making the loftieſt Cedar level with the loweſt ſhrubs, untill it hath vented it ſelfe into an univerſal deſtruction; that the fearfully over awed and beguiled Multitude, may in the view of our preſent condition be ſenſible of their own ruine; thus unanimouſly we unboſome our ſelves unto the world; ſhewing,
That in all our enterpriſes, ſince theſe unnaturall and domeſtick Diviſions; we have endeavoured to keep a good Conſcience towards God and all men; and how unſavory the fruit of theſe laſt ſix years have reliſht with us, none, better then our own ſouls, can atteſt; what forwardneſs for the publick good; what backwardnes in the enbrewing our ſelves in unknown alarums, eſpecially of blood; what aſſiſtance both in our perſons and purſes, for the cuting off the neck of this unnatural War, and the cloſing up of all5 diſtractions in the armes of peace and unity, (not done in cloſets nor promov'd in ſecret corners) the whole City and Kingdom can bear witneſs.
And when we had exhauſted our ſelves for the General of the Kingdom abroad (the ſword being by divine mercy pluckt out of the hand of our enemies) hoping then we ſhould receive a ſweet and bleſſed iſſue of all our travels finding our own ſword ſtill drawn, yet no enemy to oppoſe, and too ſad probation of ſiniſter reaches; we could not but reflect upon our ſelves, and apply our endeavors to the ſafety of that wherewith God and the Laws had entruſted us at home. Wil any man ſuffer his eſtate and and livelyhood to be entrencht on by another that hath no right thereto, and be ſilent? Have not we through many generations, by the gracious influence of many glorious Kings been poſſeſſors of an honorable and free CHARTER, the very ſinew of the City and Fee ſimple of our being; wherein, beſides other priviledges, that of the Militia, which we account as chief, vi et armis to be wreſted from us; and yet be accounted enemies to others, whilſt we endeavor to preſerv our own? If ſuch things paſs for Law, who can be maſter of what he hath? What can the whole Kingdom expect when thoſe out of the very bowels of the City ſeeks her ruine?
Neither did we, by a ſelf-defence, ever harbor the leaſt thoughts of of an embroyling War, as by our dayly and inceſſant actings with the Parliament and Army did appear; ſtraining our ſelves to our utmoſt pow'r & the higheſt key of a pure conſcience to qualify6 all things into a right ſence by our Commiſſioners; but all in vain; the returns of our endeavours with our hopes, being but pills guilded over with ſpecious glozes and pretences; for we are not ignorant, that though the Army came with Olives in their mouthes, yet they had ſwords in their hands, and death and deſtruction in their hearts; the greateſt part of them threatning, at a diſtance, the Sack and Plunder of the City: and had we not cauſe then, not only to a Verbal, but a Virgal, a Martial defence? yet (bleſſed be the Lord) not a ſword was drawn, not a blow was given, and yet we ſuffer as Enemies, that had made a way to our own peace, through a deluge of the Armies blood. But (though a homely, yet) it is a true ſaying; He that is willing to hang his neighbours dog, must ſay he ſteals ſheep.
But yet that which we value above the richeſt price of Nature our Religion is made an O…um, become a laughing-ſtock unto many; who like tamping Lyons (rather then the Lamb of Chriſt) rend and tear down the pale of his fold, from a Chriſtian Conformity to a Platonical Community, and that unciviliz'd Liberty, the flood-gate to a perpetual Confuſion, and yet they and we are brethren: Do they ſtand up for a Liberty? Why not we? No, we deny our own Liberty, that we may be the the Lords Freemen. We ſay Religion character'd by the Laws of the Land, and the finger of Gods Spirit on our Souls, this indeed was a grand motive to our defence, (the cauſe ariſing not from our Superiour but fellow-Subjects;) But blame not us, lay the blame on Chriſt, under whoſe Command (alone in7 this) we are; and if for this we ſuffer, we ſuffer with him; and ſuffering with him, we know that we ſhal alſo reign with him.
The next Cauſe is his Majeſty; (oh we bleed within, when we think, how many ſouls in this Nation (excluding Scotland and Ireland) are ſhipwrackt on this rock; to whom (though never ſo tyrannicall) we ſtand bound by Nature, Equity, Religion, by Oath, Covenant, Conſcience, in all loyalty and allegiance; and ſha•thi•plead us guilty? Well, the Servant is not above his Lord, nor the Diſciple his Maſter; and when the head is ſick, it is injuſtice in the members not to condole.
So that now we call heaven and earth to witneſs, that we have not faild in any thing that may plead us innocent; we have been more then ſervants to the Parliament, more than votaries to the Army; leſſe we were not, more we could not be: we have procured the diſlike of our Prince for partaking with his people; we are ſleighted, for emptying our ſelves to make others full, and for others liberty we ſtand impriſoned.
Here O heavens, and judge O earth the cauſe of the diſtreſſed! and becauſe with man there is neither truth, nor mercy, may the divine arme of juſtice carry on theſe things unto a bleſſed iſſue; whilſt from the bottome of our hearts we unfeignedly do pray, That God would be pleaſed to pour Oyle and Wine into our Kingdomes wounds, to the everlaſting peace and conſolation of his People; that his Majeſty may with higheſt honour be enthrowned in his Kingdome, and remain as a fixed ſtar in the firmament8 of the Church: that the Parliament may judg Righteous Judgement, and ſettle our Diviſions into a peacefull poſture: that the Army (as hitherto) ſo they may ſtill be faithfull to their friends, victorious over their enemies: and that the whole Kingdome may enjoy that liberty which by Religion, Law, or Cuſtome, they can claim.