Declaration In Answer to a Scandalous Pamphlet, Text
A DECLARATION OF THE Earle of VVarwick, Lord High Admirall OF ENGLAND: In Anſwer of a ſcandalous Pamphlet, falſly reflecting upon his Lordſhips Honour and Proceedings.
Publiſhed by ſpeciall Command.
Nouemb: 17th London printed for Iohn Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey. 1648.
A Declaration of the Earle of Warwick, Lord High Admirall of England, in Anſwer of a ſcandalous Pamphlet, falſly reflecting upon his Lordſhips Honor and Proceedings.
HAving this day ſeene a Letter from LONDON, dated the third of this inſtant November, importing, That there is a Pamphlet printed intituled; A Declaration of the Earle of Warwick, ſhewing a Reſolution to joyne with the Prince if the Treaty take not effect. I thought my ſelfe bound to take notice of it, having ſo horrid a reflection upon my Honour, and wickedly aſperſing mee with a ſuppoſed Reſolution ſo repugnant to the Truſt, which I hold under the PARLIAMENT. And therefore I doe hereby declare, That as both Houſes of Parliament have been pleaſed to intruſt me with the Charge of the Fleet, ſo I have endeavoured to improve that Authority committed to me, with a faithfull, and inviolable reſpect unto my duty.
When I firſt undertooke this great Charge, I was really ſenſible how much the Cauſe, Truth, and glory of God, the ſettlement of my Countries Peace, and the preventing of the bloody, & deſperate deſignes of the Enemies thereof, depended upon the management of this Expedition, and how much I was obliged in Conſcience and Honour to omit nothing that might have a tendency to thoſe ends. That Obligation I have (according to my beſt Reaſon and Judgement) faithfully diſcharged, and by the bleſſing of Heaven have received this fruit (notwithſtanding the many obſtructions and difficulties that intervened) that the Honour of the Parliament by Sea is cleared, the Fleet commited to my charge preſerved in a condition of Honour and ſafety; The affections of the Sea-men ſetled; the deſigne of thoſe wicked Revolters, that perfidiouſly betrayed ſo conſiderable a part of the Kingdomes Navie broken, and ſuch as aſſociated with them either rendered or reduced (other then thoſe few that for a while have baſely ſheltered themſelves within the Sluce at Helver, and one that was out of this Harbour when I came into it.) And as to the pretended Reſolution of my joyning with the Prince, in caſe the Treaty ſhould not take effect, falſly charged upon me, by that Phamphlet, I doe profeſſe, in the preſence of God, who knowes my heart, and waies, that it never entred into my thoughts, and that my ſoule abhors it, as inconſiſtent with my Duty, prejudiciall to the Parliament, deſtructive to the Kingdomes Peace, and unworthy of a free borne Engliſh man; being confident that the Parliament will omit nothing on their part, to make the iſſue of the Treaty (by Gods bleſſing) ſucceſſefull, and happie. And therefore, as I have hitherto beene faithfull to the Kingdome, and to the Parliament, where I have the Honour to ſit as a Peere, ſo I do and ſhall ſcorne to ſacrifice my conſcience, and thoſe publique and deare concernments of my Country, wherein I have a portion, to the miſ-led fancie of any perſon of what ranke, quality, or condition ſoever; And while I have a heart, and a hand, I ſhall not faile (by Gods aſſiſtance) to have them, on all occaſions, lifted up, for the Service of the Parliament; and common Intereſts of England, with my uttermoſt integrity, and to my higheſt hazard; And my actions ſhall confute the lyes and jealouſies as well of that falſe Author, as of any other who (either from an ignorance of my proceedings, or perhaps from a ſenſe, of their owne guilt) dare take the freedome (in theſe times, wherein the Tongue and Preſſe aſſume ſo luxurious a latitude) ſo unjuſtly to beſpatter my Honour and Intentions; To vindicate the ſincerity whereof I ſhall commit my ſelfe to him that judgeth righteouſly.
Warwick. A Board the St. George in Helver Sluce, 11. Novemb. 1648.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Rich, Declaration In Answer to a Scandalous Pamphlet (1648)