The Grand Deſigne, OR A diſcovery of that forme of ſlavery entended, and in part brought upon the free People of England.

IN all Ages publique pretences have been made uſe of, for the advantaging and ſecuring of particular intereſts: Not to trace the foot-ſteps of our Anceſtors, I ſhall come a little nearer, and bring to memory only the actings of a great party in our preſent Parliament, and ſome, yea moſt mem­bers in power in the Army, for the proving my Aſſertion.

And now O ye free Commons of England, remember, at the beginning of this Parliament, what publique pretences were made uſe of to unite your affections in the management of their then deſigned undertakings? Was there any viſible ſuffrage, or indeed ſuppoſed grievance, depending as a conſequent upon the King, and his Parties deportment, that was not laid down, and de-painted in the moſt lively colours; to the end that the actors and contrivers might appeare odious; and the diſcoverers, and then oppoſers, famous; perſons deſerving both the love and aſſi­ſtance of that People, which they ſeemingly pretended to deli­ver from ſuch their then declared preſſures and grievances,

At the beginning of this Parliament the whole Repreſentative declared againſt thoſe illegall practiſes of the King and his Coun­cell, touching Pattens, Monopolies, illegall Taxes, as Ship-money, and the like, to the end they might the better catch the affections of the People, that groaned under thoſe unſupportable burthens: But it may be remembred, that after thoſe Declarations had net­led the Royall party therein concerned; and that ſelf-intereſt be­gan to run a conteſt with publique concernments; how ſoon (al­though before we had a full Parliament declaring) had we an empty Houſe owning or vindicating the juſtice of thoſe〈◊〉which they had before declared to be legall, and proſecuting the contrivers and abetters of thoſe things which were (as they had declared) illegal, nay rather how ſoon had we a great party (ſwaid by honour and intereſt) that (contrary to their own De­clarations) did joyne in the maintenance of thoſe things, which they had before ſo egerly declared againſt; viz. the now Lord Hop•on, the Lord Capell, Sir Edward Deering, and many others of the Repreſentative or Parliament: Which acting and diſſenting of theirs, how deſtructive it proved to the Kingdome ſince, I leave to all wiſe men to judge; but to proceed:

After many perſons had declined, and deviated from their firſt principles (whereby a bloudy War was occaſioned) a ſecond party remaining in power, and plauſibly pretending the pub­like ſafety (having by pretences of freedome beguiled the Nati­tion to a belief) took upon them (inſtead of executing juſtice and judgement without partiality, and imploying the Law, in a way of ſafety and preſervation) to oppreſſe the oppreſſed, and pervert juſtice, to exerciſe power, more then reaſon, and to make Law ſubject to their own inordinate wills; ſtraining their pri­viledges beyond their due limmits, making them altogether un­limmited: which being obſerved and diſcovered by ſome great men in the Army (who pretended) as in the field) ſo in all pla­ces) to endeavour the redemption of the Kingdome from ſlave­ry and oppreſſion) a deſigne was carried on in the Army, and engagements paſſed thereupon, without, yea, againſt the Parlia­mnts liking; in as much as the Parliament had not (by reaſon of a malignant party prevalent therein) done thoſe things which they had formerly ſworn to performe, & were in conſcience bound to do, in the diſcharge of their truſt to them by the free Commons commited, and for as much as there was a deſign to engage the Kingdome in another war, & enſlave the People of England un­der an Arbitrary power; carryed on by Mr. Hollis, Sir Philip Sta­pleton, and others, as was ſuppoſed, and as indeed afterwards did manifeſtly appear: The Army and Councell thereof did agree, and enter into an engagement, (againſt the Parliaments liking) to endeavour and employ all their force to breake and prevent that deſign of raiſing another Army, and to defend, maintaine, and vindicate the liberties, and Native Birth-rights of all the free Commons of England, againſt all the endeavours, or oppoſition that could he made againſt it. In purſuance whereof, it was by ſome perſons at L. Gen. Crumwels, he himſelfe being preſent, up­on monday at night before Whitſunday, 1647. reſolved, that for aſmuch as it was probable that the ſaid Hollis and his Party had a determination privately to remove the King to ſome place of ſtrength, or elſe to ſet him in the head of another Army; That therefore Cornet George Joyce, ſhould with as much ſpeed and ſecre­cy as might be, repaire to Oxford, to give inſtructions for the ſecu­ring the Garriſon, Magazine and Traine, therein, from the ſaid Par­ty then endeavouring to get the ſame, and then forthwith to gather ſuch a Party of Horſe as he could conveniently get to his aſſiſtance, and either ſecure the perſon of the King from being removed by any o­ther, or if occaſion were, to remove him to ſome place of better ſecurity, for the prevention of the deſign of the aforeſaid pretended traiterous Party: Which was accordingly done, both with the knowledge and approbation of L. G. Crumwell, although he af­terward (like a ſubtle Fox) would not be pleaſed to take notice of it.

This being done, and the two Polititians, Crumwell and Ireton, finding themſelves compleatly ſeated in the affections of the ſol­diery, having caught them by their plauſible pretences of Liber­ty, Freedome. Indempnity, ſecurity, and the like; and being ſure likewiſe (by reaſon of their many Creatures in the Army, which they had advanced to places of promotion, and brought into the Councell) being ſure I ſay, to carry any thing that they ſhould propound, though they might meet with ſome oppoſers; they caſt about firſt how to un-horſe that Faction that oppoſed them; which by a charge of Treaſon, and other miſdemeanours (which they never yet had leiſure to prove, nor ever will) they in a ſhort time accompliſhed; which being done they made an eſſay to do ſomething which ſeemed to tend to the eſtabliſhment of juſtice, ſecuring the freedomes of the People, and eaſing of the burthens of the Kingdome (that they might the better catch the affections of the People) which when they found to be ab­ſtructed, and that the ſame party and their adherents were ſtill prevalent in the Houſe,, and did vote againſt their proceedings, and by ſecret complotments did bring a tumult upon the Houſe, forcing all members that were not of that party to abſent them­ſelves, eſpecially the Speakers, who with many other members came to the Army for ſecurity; which members ſitting and aſ­ſuming a parliamentary power during the Speakers abſence, they declared to be illegall, and thereupon entred into a farther en­gagement at Hounſlo-heath, to march up to London, to purge the Houſe of thoſe uſurpers of the Parliamentary Power, and to ſetle the free Parliament with honour and ſafety.

In order whereunto the Army marched up to London, and being in a capacity to performe, what they had undertaken, and declared ſo neceſſary, & conducing to the peace of the Kingdom (by the ſubtill Sophiſtry of Crumwell and Ireton) the Generall was adviſed to leave it unto the Houſe to purge it ſelfe, which was accordingly done, and what the effect hath been ſince; and how well the Houſe hath been purged, I leave to all wiſe men to Judge; they all, or moſt of them ſtill remaining therein, and they ſince owned and declared a true Parliament.

But by the way you may take notice, that as a gratification the Houſe made the Generall High Conſtable of the Tower, and I am ſure the L. Generall loſt nothing by that, for he had an old ſervant or two to gratify, which he did ſuddenly after with pla­ces both of profit and concernment; beſides, another Creature of his, Col. Hamond was preſently advanced to be Governour of the Iſle of Wight.

But to proceed, Having now got almoſt what they aimed at (to wit) The Perſon of the King; a conſiderable party in the Parliament; the Militia of the City; and the name of ſaving the Kingdome; they then begin to caſt about how, to keep what they haye got, and that they find to be done but by two waies: the firſt, by cloſing with the Parliament, in making ſuch Propo­ſitions as may pleaſe the King, and thereby linke themſelves ſo to the Kings intereſt and power, that they may be thereby ſe­cured from the juſt Taxes of the People which they have ſo op­preſſed and betrayed; or elſe by bringing the Army to the obe­dience of the Parliament, that by their power, the Parliament might be ſtrengthened and enabled to hold both King and Kingdome to hard meate, and at laſt if the King would not aſ­ſent to what they declare to be fit and requiſite, then to depoſe him, and take the power into their own hands, and if the King­dome did not recent or reliſh the buſineſſe, then by the power of the Army to quell and curb them: In order whereunto they ſent Propoſitions to the King, which being not aſſented unto by him, it was put to the queſtion, whether they ſhould make any more addreſſes; which argues that they had a good mind to throw off the King, if they could any way keep their power, and ſecure themſelves without him: But Ireton declares that he could not promiſe the aſſiſtance of the Army in any ſuch matter; his Father in lawes pulſes now beating a Lord-like pace, ha­ving a little before kiſſed the Kings hand, and therefore ſince they are not likely to ſecure their power without him, they will by him; and to that end the Army muſt be taught a new leſſon, and whereas before, freedome, ſecurity, the purging of the Houſe, a peri­od ſet to the Parliament, and the like, was the only theame; now only ſecurity for Arreares, a little pay, &c. muſt be all that the Army deſires, and to what end think you, but that they might appear ſeekers of themſelves, and ſo by degrees be loſt in the af­fections of the People; thus have they in a full careere poſted from the Saving, to the Enſlaving the Kingdome: But by the way they met with a rub, for notwithſtanding that, they thought they had made all ſure, yet ſo it pleaſed God to order and diſ­poſe things, that their deſigne was made manifeſt, and ſome men of upright hearts, were carried out in the ſeeking of juſtice, and preventing the enſlaving of the Nation, and in order there­unto, did ſeverall times, not only oppoſe all their enſlaving practices, but alſo offer unto them in open Councel, ſome foun­dations of common freedome, abſolutely neceſſary to be inſiſted on, for the re-eſtating of the free Commoners of England in their antient birth-rights; which they, the ſaid Deſigners, (to wit) Crumwell and Ireton; and the reſt of that rayalized Faction could by no meanes relliſh; neither would their high aimes ever ad­mit them to debate the juſtneſſe thereof; it being altogether croſſe to the Pias of their Ambition: But contrarily they rayled and reviled againſt thoſe, which either propounded or owned any ſuch matter, branding them with the name of dividers of the Army, factious perſons, and the like: And being fearefull that after all their labour they ſhould now be fruſtrated of their expectations, and by ſome under-hand dealing be deprived of the darling of their hopes, the King, there muſt be a pretended deſigne againſt the Kings perſon, diſcovered by L. G. Crumwell to his Cozen Whaley, and immediately after, (the Guards being firſt doubled) there muſt be a pretended eſcape of the King to avoid that pretended danger; but by the way remember, the King affirmes he had withdrawn his promiſe made to Col. Wha­ley, long before this pretended diſcovery, which was in order to his departure at that time determined without queſtion, and the other but a pretence made uſe of to colour the buſineſſe.

It may be remembred that theſe manner of pretences are no new things; for when the King firſt diſcerted the Parliament, the pretence was Tumults, and the danger of his Perſon; and if you would know what thoſe tumults were, they were no o­ther but the approaches of his oppreſſed Subjects, with cryes for juſtice, which he unjuſtly denyed both his Parliament and Peo­ple which becauſe he would not grant, he abſented himſelfe, and made the danger of his Perſon by thoſe tumults as he called them, the ground of his departure; although it be notoriouſly apparent, that he was then privately providing to make warre with his Parliament and People, and in order thereunto, was ſending the jewels of the Crown to purchaſe Armes in Holland for the managing of the deſign aforeſaid.

Which acting and pretences then being compared with his preſent acting in relation to his departure from Hampton Court, and the now pretended cauſe thereof, will plainly appeare to be of the ſame ſtamp with the former; and in deed no other but a deſign, not only to make odious, but alſo if advantage be offered, to cut off, and deſtroy all the godly perſons in the Kingdome, that ſhall but in the leaſt endeavour to oppoſe the exerciſe of his, and their Prerogative enſlaving tiranni­call practiſes, in the ſecuring of the Peoples juſt Rights and Freedomes.

But if you ſhall conſider further, whether muſt the King fly, or rather be carried, to avoid the pretended danger, but to Hammond at the Iſle of Wight, one of Crumwels own crea­tures, there to remain, untill ſuch time as Propoſitions can be made ready ſutable to the Kings deſire, and an Act be paſ­ſed for the Parliaments indempnity; and then O you poore be­trayed Commons, where will you obtain juſtice or ſecurity, when your Truſtees that pretended to deliver you, ſhall have thus to advance themſelves, betraied you.

And now if you ſhall deſire a reaſon why theſe men ſhould now at laſt derogate from their former pretended Princi­ples; and ſhould not now, as heretofore, endeavour to ſe­cure the Peoples juſt freedomes.

I anſwer; the Parliament, (or at leaſt a great part of them) are now brought to ſuch an exigency, that they cannot act otherwiſe with ſecurity to themſelves.

It is eaſie to demonſtrate unto the world, that many of their actions have not, neither can they be warranted by Law, eſpecially their Arbitrary and illegall ſommoning, and committing perſons (contrary to Law) which all knowing men are reſolved for the future to proteſt againſt, and oppoſe, maugre the power of all that ſhall endeavour the execution or juſtification of thoſe unjuſt and tyrannicall practiſes:) And likewiſe, that by their continued, and redoubled oppreſſions brought up­on the Kingdome, they have not only loſt the friendſhip of the People, but in a great meaſure purchaſed their enmity; ſo that now their condition is ſuch, that either they muſt cloſe with the King, whoſe intereſt in the People is now greater then theirs, having got what they have loſt) that ſo, what they cannot promiſe themſelves by their own power, they can aſſure themſelves by his, (who without doubt hath ſo much policy as to promiſe both ſecurity & advancement to a part, that he may the eaſilyer get into a capacity of en­ſlaving the whole.

To be a little plainer; It cannot be immagined impro­bable, that the Parliament having loſt the love of the Peo­ple, doubting the aſſiſtance of the Army, and wanting means (though without queſtion they have wills) to enable them to throw off the King, and by force to maintain their actions legall; I ſay, can it by any that have ſence or reaſon be imagined, that they will not to ſecure themſelves from the taxes of the People, the laſh of the Law, and Levelling, as they tearme it; that is, from being made (as all other Subjects) accountable to the Law, and People for all their actions) take any advantage or oportunity? And what better ad­vantage can they have, then to joyn with the King? that by aſſenting unto his deſires, they may engratiate themſelves into his favour, and wrapping themſelves up in his Mantle of tirannicall Royalty, and Protection, in their own honour & ſecurity, leave all the free Commons of England, (by them animated, authorized, nay enforced to fight againſt, and ſubdue him) expoſed to the exaſperated rage of a conquered King, and incenſed Party, who will not faile, being once in power, to exalt themſelves in, and by the ruine of their op­poſers; and like legitimate Imps of their Tyrant-exalter, Lord it over the Kingdome.

And if you ſhall ask, wherein Crumwell, Ireton, and the reſt of that Faction, are concerned in the Parliaments acti­ons; I Anſwer, they are Parliament men, and ſo bound up in the Parliaments actings; and indeed ſo involved in the Parliaments intereſt, (joyned to their own ends) that I can thinke it no other then a difficult matter, for them to deny themſelves in this Particular; Honour and profit being very potent allurements in theſe our ſelf-loving dayes.

It is obſervable that theſe two Polititians Crumwell, and Ireton, at firſt were eager againſt all perſons that viſibly op­poſed them in the Parliament, but would never yeeld to the purging of the Houſe,, only they would never be quiet till they had got out all thoſe that any way oppoſed them; wit­nes the late charge againſt the eleven Members, where (al­though Crumwel himſelfe confeſſed at Colbrooke, that he had nothing againſt Sir John Mainard; yet he muſt be put in a­mong the reſt, and only becauſe he was a buſie man againſt him and his faction: Having removed them he remaines ſatisfyed, untill he finds another party of Pellamites which endeavour to throw him out of the Sadle; and then he comes in with (I am perſwaded) a hearty ſorrow, confeſſing, and praying God to forgive him, becauſe he had hindered the purging of the Houſe: And why is the Lievtenant Generall ſo penitent thinke you? but only becauſe he feared they would be ſome hinderance to his high aimes.

And here I ſhall inſert this Quere, Whether, conſidering that there are two Parties acting for particular intereſt, and each of them endeavouring to bring in the King, for the advancement of their own party, whether, I ſay, it be not probable that the King was removed by deſign, and enduced by engagement, to alter his former reſolution of not being removed; leſt the Pellamites ſhould have ſerved Crumwell at Hampton, as he ſerved them at Holdenby? For my part if it were not ſo, it is to me a Ridle, which none I believe can unfold but honeſt Oliver,

But to proceed, It may be demanded, ſeing that Crumwell is ſo active for his own parties intereſt, why the other party being as yet moſt powerfull in the Houſe have not outed him of his power?

I anſwer, could they but bring the King in upon their own intereſt, and thereby ſecure themſelves in the attempt; I am confident they would tread him and his adherents low e­nough: and that the Lievtenant General knowes well; o­therwiſe Hammond had never been Lord Chamberlaine; nor the King removed to the Iſle of Wight; though I believe he never dreamt of the conſequences that have happened, and and are like to ſucceed therupon; that by the way; but to proceed, the King being gone, the City diſtaſting them, or in­deed over-awed, not daring by reaſon of their own diviſions, to appeare with, or for them; the Country wearied, and ra­ther enclinable to endeavour the diſſolution of their power, then any way to aſſiſt them in the maintenance or ſupport thereof; and which is worſt of all, the Army, (which ſhould by their power make their commands authentique) utterly rejecting their authority, and rendering them a trayterous Party, and perſons endeavouring the deſtruction of the juſt rights and freedomes of the People; theſe things being duely conſidered, you may plainly ſee, that it is more for feare, then favour, that they cloſe with him, he being both politicke and powerfull, by reaſon of his adherents in the Houſe, and creatures in the Army, in reſpect of which alſo they could not make uſe of a fitter inſtrument, to draw the Army to their aſſiſtance, if it might be; for the Father and the Sonne, with the reſt of their Family, from generation to generation, have the command of halfe the Army, all which having received their promotion and Principle from Crumwell, and looking ſtill to riſe with him, will not move a foot beyond his inſtruction, nor as neare as they can, fall ſhort of it; and as the King is his Idoll, ſo he is theirs, hang­ing altogether in the executing what their own honour and intereſt dictates unto them.

It is a commendable thing in the Lievetenant Generall to advance his kindred, and ſervants, ſo it be done by good wayes, and for juſt ends; not to advance lawleſſe ambition, & ſtrengthen irregular attempts, if ſo; he may chance in the midſt of his Golden hopes meet with Buckinghams Fate, or Straffords doome, and in ſtead of honour inherit infamy.

Thus having in ſome meaſure diſcovered unto you their actings in relation to the betraying the free People of England to an Arbitrary power, contrary to the Protestations of Parlia­ment, and engagements of the Army.

I will now, in oppoſition to this their practice, lay you down the heads of that foundation of freedome prop•unded, and by them oppoſed, and to the Kingdome rendered odi­ous, under the notion of Parity, Community, Levelling, de­ſtroying Magiſtracy, and the like, to the end that you may plainly judge betwixt us and them, and ſee who they be that indeed labour to inveſt you with your juſt rights and liberties.