339 power, and 'invented a 'tliousand tricks ·of government, which, when nobody oppos'd, they themselves fell to dislike and vary every day. First he calls a parliament out of his owne pockett, himselfe naming a sort of godly men for every county, who meeting and not agreeing, a part of them, in the name 0f the peoplE', give up the sovereignty to him . Shortly after he makes up severall sorts of mock parliaments, but not finding one of them absolutely for his turne, turn'd them off againe. He soone quitted himselfe of hi s triumvirs, and first thrust out Harrison, then tookeaway Lamben's commission, and would have bene king but for fcare of quitting his generallship. He weeded, in a few months time, abo1•e a hundred and fifty godly officers out of the armie, with whom many 9f the reJi,.ious souldiers went off; and in their roome abundance of the 0 • king's dissolute soulcliers were entertain'd, and the armie was almost chang'd fi·om that godly religious armie, whose vallour God had crown'd with triumph, into the dissolute armic they bad beaten, bearing yett a better name. His wife and children were setting up for principallity, which suited no better with any of them then scarlett on the ape; only to speak the truth of· himselfe, he had much natural! greatnesse, and well became the place he had usurp'd. His daughter Fleetewood was humbled, and not exalted with these things, bnt the rest were insolent fooles . Cleypoole, who married his daughter, and his son Henry, were two debauch'd ungodly cavaliers. Richard was a peasant in his nature, yet gentle and vertuous, but became not greatnesse. His court was full of sinne and vanity, and the more abominable, because they had not ye tt quite cast away the name of God, but prophan'd it by tak ing it in ~· aine upon them. True religion was now alrnost lost, even among the religious party, and hipocrisie became an cpidemicall disease, to the sad griefe of Coli. Hutchinson, and all true-hearted Christians and Englishmen. Allmosl a ll the ministers e;·cry where fell in and worshipt this beast, and comted and niade addresses to him. So did the city of London, and many' of the degenerate lord s of the land, with the poore-
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