8o4 2 üe HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. XII: K.Charles I. private centinels were f Idiers of fortune, and not having their regular pay, lived for the molt part upon free plunder : when they took poffeflïon of a town they rifled the houles of all who were called puritans, and turned Baxter's/1/4, their families out of doors. Mr. Baxter lays, " that when he lived at P. 44. " Coventry after the battle of Edgehill, there were above thirty worthy " minifters in that city who had fled thither for refuge from the foldiers " and popular fury, as he himfelf alto had done, though they had never " meddled in the wars ; among thefe were the reverend Mr. Vines, Mr. Anthony Burgess, Mr. Burdal, Mr, Bromfhil, Dr. Bryan, Grew, Crad- " dock, and others. And here (lays he) I mutt repeat the great caufe of " the parliament's ftrength, and of the king's ruin ; the debauched rabble, " encouraged by the gentry, and fecondéd by the common foldiers of his " army, took all that were calledpuritans for their enemies ; fo that if any " man was noted for a ftriä and famous preacher, or for a man of pre- " cite and pious life, he was plundered, abufed, and put in danger of " big life ; if a man prayed in his family, or was heard to repeat a fermon, " or fing a pfalm, they prefently cried out REBELS, ROUNDHEADS, " and all their money and goods proved guilty, however innocent they " were 'themfelves. Upon my certain knowledge it was this that filled the armies and garrifons of the parliament with lober and pi- " ous men. Thoufands had no mind to meddle in the wars, but to live " peaceably at home, if the rage of the foldiers and drunkards would " have fuffered them. Some flayed at home till they had been imprifon- " ed; Come till they had been plundered twice or thrice over, and had " nothing left ; others were quite tired out with the infolence of their " neighbours, with being quartered upon, and put in continual danger " of their lives, and fo they fought refuge in the parliament garri- " Ions." ling': pro- This was fo notorious, that at length it came to the king's ear, who donationfor out of meer compàßion to his diftref d fubjeéts, iffned out a proclama- Comment of tion, bearing date Nov.. 25. 1642. for the better government of his ar- bit army. my ; the preamble of which Pets forth, "" That his majefly having taken into his princely confideration, the great mifery and ruin of his fub- " jells, by the plundering, robbing, and fpoiling of their houles, and tak- " ing from them their money, plate, houfhold -fluff, cattle, and other ° goods, under pretence of their being difaffeCed to us and our fervice, " and thefe unlawful and unjuft a&ions done by divers foldiers of our " army, and others fheltering themfelves under that title ; his majefly " detefting fuch barbarous proceedings, forbids his officers and foldiers to " make any fuch feizures for the future, without his warrant. And if " they go on to plunder and fpoil the people, by taking away their nao " nay,
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