And you may goe and shake your eares, O brave common-counsell men, &c. You need not now to Westminster O brave common-counsell men, &c. And now what doe yee lack, fond men? Alas! you wanted knowledge! Who would have thought when you had been So long at Gotham Colledge,* *The "Merry Tales of the wise Men of Gotham" were remarkably popular at this period, and are frequently quoted in the songs and satires of the time. In one of Alexander Brome's poems, "On the demolishing the Forts," after the city had submitted to the army in 1647, one of these Gothamite stories is applied to the citizens' fortifications, You should not know to bargaine well, But so to maime your charter; The after-ages will you tell, O brave common-counsell men! O brave trained bands! When do you thinke to get againe Printed in the year 1647. THE CITIES THANKES TO SOUTHWARKE We thank you more than we will say, [Sept. 1. 1647.] THE army was first received into Southwark. The following account of its advance to the city is given by Sanderson, History of the Life and Raigne of King Charles." : "On Hounslow Heath they rendezvouz, twenty thousand men, horse and foot, with a great train of artillery to astonish the city and therefore such of the parliament as trusted to the soldiers were there present, the earls of Northumberland, Salisbury, and Kent, the lords Wark, Howard, Wharton, Say, and Moulgrave and others, fourteen in all, the speaker Mr. Lenthal of the Commons, and above a hundred more of their members. The city stand in a maze, unresolved and inconstant: The army in the meantime send a brigade under command of Rainsborough and Hewson over Kingstone bridge, and all night march to Southwark, being called thither in opposition to the city. Massey was busie, and knowing his own case desperate, sent out his scouts, and are met with and taken prisoners. Some of the train men would needs march out, and were worsted and lost their colours: for the general was now near Brainford. "And therefore the city meet him with humble messages: that finding that his desires of marching so near, is to settle the members of the Lords and Commons in their liberties of parliament, to which the city will contribute all their power and service, and pray with all submission that he will please to send such a guard of several regiments as may conduct them to the parliament in safety, and that the passes and ports shall be set open for them, and what else to his excellencies command. 3. Aug. "But on came the brigades into Southwark to encompass the city, and Rainsborough, Hewson, Pride, and Thistlewel marched without opposition, but rather heartily welcome, till they came to the Bridge-gate of the city, which was shut and the portcullis let down, and a guard within. They make a stand and plant two pieces and set a guard without: then Hewson marched into St. George's Fields, sends a summons to the great fort in the highway to Lambeth, which was suddenly surrendered by eight a clock that morning. "The Common Councel now sitting, post away messages to the general, who slowly comes on, and demands all the forts of the west side of the city to be commanded by him before six a clock at night. To which the city submit, professing how ready they are to comply with the army, and have given order to their militia for drawing of all forces and ordnance accordingly, and speedily to be effected. And that now next under Almighty God, we doe rely upon your excellencies honourable word for our safety and protection. 4 Aug. "But he comes on, and at Kensington is met by the city commissioners, by the members of both houses who had been driven away by tumult, and forthwith a declaration is published of the mutual joyning of the parliament and army, making null all acts passed by the members at Westminster, since the 26 of July last, and so all march together towards Westminster. "And by the way in Hide Park waits the Lord Mayor and his brethren to congratulate the good composure between the army and the city, and then to Westminster thus, 66 First Hamond's regiment of foot, and Rich his horse, next the Lord General Cromwels regiment of horse, and then the general on horseback with his life guard, the lords in coaches with the speaker of the commons and their members. Tomlinsons regiment of horse brought up the rear guard; and you must note that each soldier had a green branch in his hat, and at Charing Cross stood the common council, humbly ducking to his excellency, and so went on to the Parliament. And being sat in both houses, their first duty was to enact the general to be high constable of the Tower of London. The next was for a festival day on all sides, which the sorrowful city must nevertheless pay for. Then was the general sent for to receive the thanks of both houses for his preservation of their liberties. And to caress the army, a months pay is given to them as a largess for this great grace and favour. "And the next day the general with the whole army, horse and foot, marched in triumph through the city, from eleven a clock till eight at night, the generals quarters went to Croyden, and the army all about in Essex and Kent from this day, being Saturday till Monday." WE thanke you, neighbours, for your love, For sending for the army; Which cannot prejudiciall prove,— Alas! they'l never harme ye; Nor to the city will they doe But what is good and faire; They will help all the suburbes too, When frogs flie in the ayre. You clownes and fooles that nothing know, But are made for the slaughter, By you our feares doe dayly grow, Wee'l fit you for't hereafter. Did ever men before like you Send for their bane unto them; And court their presence, whom they knew Would but at best undoe them? And give possession of their workes To those whose undertakings Show they will force men, like the Turkes, To serve gods of their makings? You knaves and dolts that, &c. May those that on the Thames doe plow, Breake oares and armes, as they doe row, And may their sinnes still follow them, And, dead, no man deplore them! You skabs and varlets, nothing, &c. D'ee think the army will regard And not at length give you reward That shall be home and hideous? They wisely doe the treason love, And may you them to mercy move, You lumpish elves that, &c. |