A Happy Handful, Statement 5 – Statement 6
A NARRATIVE Of the meeting of ſome Gentlemen, Miniſters and Citizens at the Town-Hall in Canterbury.
Together with their Declaration preſented to the Mayor at the common Burghmoote.
UNderſtanding that the late procedure of ſome of the principal Gentlemen and Citizens, Inhabitants of the City of Canterbury hath been repreſented above as a Malignant Deſign, tending to Tumult and Sedition; We thought fit to publiſh to the World a brief Narrative of the ſame, together with the Declaration it ſelf, that both the one and the other being cleared from the malicious aſperſions and calumnies of our Adverſaries; the whole Nation may judge between them and us, and ſo give ſentence according to the merit of the cauſe.
Whereas ſome peaceable and well-minded Gentlemen with ſome godly and ſober Miniſters, perceiving the people generally bent for a free Parliament (as in the following Declaration is expreſſed) and hearing that the Cities of London and Exeter had lately declared for the ſame, thought it neither unmeet to follow ſo leading Preſidents, not unſeaſonable to joyn their Votes with the general deſires of the whole Nation; to which end it was reſolved to preſent this following draught to the Common Burghmoote, and to deſire their concurrence therein. Thus in an orderly manner, without tumult or noiſe, without Arms in their hands or thoughts, or without Anger or Threats in their looks; divers Gentlemen, Miniſters and Citizens went to the Town-hall on Jan. 24. the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Councel then ſitting, and preſented the Declaration at the door, deſiring that after a ſerious peruſal thereof, they would be pleaſed to joyn with them, in a buſineſs which they judged agreeable, not only to the ſenſe of that Court, but alſo of the whole County and Nation: But when it was mentioned to be put to the Vote, whether the paper ſhould be read or not; ſome of the Bench proteſted againſt it, although they knew nothing of its contents; and in concluſion (having a long time rather wrangled than debated) the Diſſenters (being but ſeven of twenty four) quitted the Court, not leaving enough to make a Burghmoote Quorum; whereupon, the Gentlemen (who though rudely treated, had quietly attended) withdrew Re infecta, and returned home with as little tumult as at firſt they came: Thus was there nothing done to ſurpriſe or diſturb the Court, nothing to raiſe a tumult, nothing to cauſe a ſecond Kentiſh Inſurrection, as our Adverſaries give it out: No, the deſign was not Arms, but Peace; not tumult, but ſettlement; not to ſurprize and diſturb the Court, but to deſire an amiable correſpondence with the ſame, to the end that the intended Declaration might be made the more authentick by the formal intervention and aſſent in open Court, of the Magiſtracy of ſo conſiderable a Corporation; and that the Declarers themſelves might not be thought to tread in any oblique Paths, or to proceed in a Clandeſtine manner: But being diſappointed (as you ſee), herein, it was thought fit to ſtrengthen and confirm our Declaration, and to make good the Title it bears, by private ſubſcriptions, as well through the whole County as this City; wherein we had, in three dayes time, proceeded ſo far, that many thouſands were then collected; whereupon, ſome Gentlemen (from the ſlie inſinuations and falſe repreſentations of our Averſaries) were ſecured in ſeveral priſons, to the diſcouragement of well-begun, and well-meant undertaking; neither can the Gentlemen underſtand wherein they have offended, or how they ſhould merit impriſonment, ſince there was no order, nor prohibition to the contrary: Although they conceive, that had they proceeded therein, they had not trangreſſed any known Laws of the Land; it being the Subjects Birth-right modeſtly to repreſent their grievances by way of Petition, Remonſtrance or Declaration. Wherefore leſt (through our ſilence, and the preſent ſuppreſſion of our Declaration) the aſperſions of our Adverſaries might be thought deſervedly caſt upon us; we thought fit to publiſh the ſame, together with this Narrative, deeming that as we have done nothing herein worthy the preſent ſeverity, ſo the impartial Reader will in his private judgement, abſolve us from all guilt or demerit. Neither ſhall we anſwer our Adverſaries by way of recrimination, nor (although we can by undoubted teſtimonies ſufficiently prove it) ſay, that the ſame men who now appear ſo zealous aſſertors of the Parliaments intereſts and proceedings, did as eagerly joyn with the Army, crying them up as much, with whom they would live and dye, as they decryed this preſent Power in their late interruption, as not conſiſting with the intereſt of the Nation. No, though this might ſerve to invalidate their Teſtimony, we ſhall enlarge no further, but refer to the Declaration it ſelf.
To the Right Honourable WILL LENTHAL Speaker to the PARLIAMENT.
By him to be Communicated to the MEMBERS ſitting at Weſtminſter.
WHereas We the Gentlemen and Freeholders of this County of Berks, were generally met together at Abingdon, upon ſome intimation of an Election of a Knight of the Shire, in purſuance of your Order, for the filling up of this Parliament; and that ſome ſolicitations were uſed throughout the County for Voyces, and being jealous to be ſurpriſed therein by any Clandeſtine carriage of the Writ: And whereas at this Meeting it was further taken into conſideration, that this County have with the reſt of this Nation been deeply ſenſible of many inſupportable grievances and oppreſſions of late dayes, occaſioned through the want of a real, ſetled, and regular Government; and in particular, that the Commiſſioners for the Militia having formerly charged the Country to provide Arms, which was done accordingly, the ſaid Commiſſiooners do yet direct their Warrants for the bringing in of Twenty ſhillings for every Foot Arms; which we are very confident is beſides the intent of the Act which impowers them, and are ignorant otherwiſe by what Authority they proceed therein; That therefore having ſeriouſly conſulted the Remedies which might be proper for theſe and the like Inconveniences for the future, and by Gods bleſſing reduce us unto a firm, free, and legal ſettlement of our Rights, Civil and Religious: Wee conceived it to be our duty towards God and our Country, without any private ends whatſoever, to declare our ſelves in this ſenſe, That we take it the most ſatisfactory expedient for it, will be the recalling of all thoſe members that were ſecluded in 1648. And that before the firſt force upon the Parliament. And, that in the Elections which ſhall bee of any other Members in the vacant places, ſuch due courſe may be taken, as that the Country may not any way be ſurpriſed, or over-awed therein: And that the ſecluded Members may be admitted to Sit without any Oath or Engagement to reſtrain their Freedome in the leaſt; Wherein we ſhall be ready to defend You and Them with whatſoever is deareſt unto us, againſt all oppoſition: And pray unto Almighty God for his aſſiſtance to the happy accompliſhment of what may beſt conduce to the Peace and Safety of this Nation.
[This is ſubſcribed by moſt of the chief Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Berks.]