E.31 (17)
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Anti-Aulicus: 6 February 1644
[Note: newsbook collector George Thomason has written a publication date on this first issue, but it is mostly illegible; only “Tuesday” and “February” are clear. However, Thomason has clearly dated issue no. 2 as Thursday 8 February, and Tuckey’s footnote at the end of no. 1 suggests a bi-weekly Tuesday/Thursday publication; suggesting this first pamphlet must have been published on Tuesday 6th.]
Discovering Weekly the Policies, Deceits, and Erroneous Maximes of the Court
It is sufficiently known, I suppose, as well as to those who are misled into the Court Faction, as to them who continue faithfull to their Countrey, that the Designe of the Court before the Parliament was, to doe what they listed in the Kingdome: As appeares by the experience of those times, and that Catalogue of exorbitant Actions summ’d up in the Parliaments first Remonstrance. This Designe uncontroulably went on for fifteen yeers till the Kings necessities urg’d him to convoke a Parliament for supply of moneys to maintain the War against the Scots: But that Parliament abominating to be made properties in procuring their own, and their Brethrens slavery (though they were tempted by all fair and foul means possible thereunto) were soone dissolved: And the Court supposing themselves to be again forced from all rule of Government, proceeded in their old wayes, adding some new and more lawlesse projections of raising money upon the People: But finding them too much to dis-relish these proceedings, and their necessities still urging, it was thought convenient the second time to have recourse to a Parliament; to pack with for the purpose besides the generall corruptions of most of the great Families of the Kingdome by being formerly drawn into Court Offices, and participating of the Tyranny of the times, more then ordinary paines, and more then palpable in justice was used in many Counties to which shufling we may justly attribute the relinquishing of the Peoples Service, by so many of the members now at Oxford.
Notwithstanding which under-hand dealing so heavy had been the Court oppressions upon the People, and by meanes also of the industry of Religious Ministers in most parts of the Kingdom, who preserved a godly and honest spirit in the hearts of most men uninterested in the Courts Faction: This Parliament likewise was so well chosen as that it could by no means be made serviceable to the Courts ends.
Whereupon it was conceived necessary for the present to appease the Scots, and prosecute this Parliament as the neerer enemy, which hath hitherto been done, we our selves may say, with no lesse craft and subtilty, then if the Politique Counsels of Spain and Rome, of all Achitophels and Machiavels had conspired in one, to bring an honest hearted People, with their own wills too, to a contented villanage and slavery.
Amongst other waies, the writing part hath especially been plied, to make good the claimes of the Court, and render the Parliament odious to the People, by which many good men otherwise well inclin’d have withdrawne their service and assistance from their Country: New poisons are every week vented from Oxford, wherin license is taken by all opprobrious and scurrilous waes to defame those Members and others, that remaine faithfull to the People, amongst which, that which goes under the Name of Mercurius Aulicus is not the least dangerous, for although the Man himselfe be but a Hireling in the businesse, and has undertaken the employment, in hope to be some Gay-thing or other, yet forasmuch as I deem the Court to furnish the materialls, and through him to distill what forgeries and errors they please, into the heads of the People: I have undertaken the Pamphlet, at least so much of it as is scandalous to the Parliament or seems to justifie the Courts proceedings, to disparage our Cause, to possesse the People with new, or confirm them in old Errors: leaving the Mercuriall part thereof to be contradicted by the known events of proceedings, or by such as have better and more constant Intelligence then myself.
The Court trick of spreading false news is the Bankrups Policy, and scorn’d of all, but such as are low in their fortunes, and forc’d to fly to such a base and contemptible refuge, to Boy themselves up again; which but that they are assured they have to doe with a devoted and credulous People would redound to their disadvantage.
To passe by those forgeries which are the buddings of Aulicus, Wit and Wine, though I confesse moving enough upon the looser and lesse discerning sort of people, to whom hee directs them: thinke it reasonable to put all People in mind only of this, that hee has followed the rules of those that practise the art of Lying and deceit. 1. That his Lies be pleasing and sportfull for his people, of which nature is his scurrilous report concerning the Maids of Norwich that rais’d a Troope for the Parliaments service; and his other fancy of Sir William Wallers buying of Arundel Castle. 2. That they be not discoverable, or at least either but to a few, or not till the season be over. And this rule is observed by Aulicus in his supposall, that Walloones, and other Forraigners are entertained; and in his Fiction, that they are now leaving the Parliaments service. 3. That they be wittily told, for wit oftentimes makes a lie passe for Truth. The consideration of these rules and how strictly they are observed by Aulicus, will prove I doubt not a speciall means to preserve each mans heart from that infection with which that Pamphlet every week goes big withall.
He tels a Story of one Mr. Beaple of Barnstable, who being neer his end did often (hee sayes) torment and curse himself for taking part with the Rebells (at Oxford sure hee meant for I know no other but them and their accomplices, with whom Mr. Beaple after his Apostasie from the Parliament made one) me thinks Aulicus should know the Fictions of this nature are too common and palpable to bee believed: such a Story wee had once of Mr. Marshall,<ref>Probably Stephen Marshall, a prominent member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines.</ref> from the same Youngster too, from whom we had this: How hee was made and in his Lunacy, cursed the Parliament, condemned their Cause, and I can’t tell what; how true it proved, Aulicus own Friends can tell him.
But what cares hee for abusing particular men, when hee stickes not to Father upon the two Counties of Cornwall and Devon a confederacy so monstrous, as if they entertain, it will render them the infamy of the English Nation; that what could not be thrust upon the Northern nor North-west Counties, though it was labour’d with all art and Policy: those two that have heretofore shewes themselves the Friends of their Countrey, especially Devon-shire, should be so farre blinded by such known Traytors too as those at Oxford, as to admit of it. But I hope the businesse is not gone so farre, but remaines still at the Oxford Forge; the projection of Impeached Digby,<ref>Lord George Digby</ref> or those more elderly Traytors, Cottington and Bristow. And has proceeded no further then did the gracious Letter of Violet, Brooke, and Rileys Majesties.<ref>This references a Royalist plot uncovered in London; see Mercurius Civicus, issues 33 and 34.</ref> I confesse much may bee done by force, where their Tyrany raignes, they may make each Man, or each County speake what they please; for where they are, they are Masters of Purse, Person, Voice, and all; but the hearts of people, which may throb and beat against their Breasts, but dare not be heard further then the inward Closet. I confesse they may by the helpe of some few Officious Gentlemen of the Counties; and others whole Interest depends upon the Court and Prerogative, make the World believe the Counties conspire, or (as they call it, Associate), through the generality of the People doe never so abominate the thought of such a Trayterous confederacy of such evill example, of such inevitable ruine to their Countrey; what though, be they never so averse and unwilling they shall be thank’t for their forwardnesse, as the York shire Men were for embracing that which they protested against.
The young Man has endeavoured of late Weeks, to raise disgusts betweene His Excellency and Sir William Waller; he has experience it seemes of the ill effects of the Divisions, Quarrellings and sideings at Oxford. ’Tis well known to all men that the grand Faction there is not unanimous; For though they doe all agree in procuring the Peoples bondage, yet they are made up of severall parties, that have their peculiar interests opposite one to another: amongst which the Popish or Spanish is fear’d even by their owne Friends to be most potent. For 1. They are observed to be of chief countenance and prevalency, not onely with the Queen. 2. ’Tis taken notice of, that those who are most opposite to the Popish Faction, are put upon the employments of greatest danger. 3. That though Cottingtons profest policy of inviting over the English and Protestant Irish first, was for the Peoples easier digestion, yet the Lords and other Gentlemen at Oxford doe at length begin to smell a further mischief in the businesse; that not only the Catholique Irish, but the supplies also of Papists from forraign parts, are purposely by the Popish Counsels detain’d till the Protestants as well of the Kings as the Parliaments Party bee more weakned. These things many at Oxford at a stand; especially since they see the Faction to have proceeded so far, and so boldly as to Imprison Marquesse Hamilton, and the Earle his Brother, whose pretended crimes they see through, and begin to feare that when the same Faction shall thinke it convenient to take some of them off, by the like Spanish stratagem (a pretence being alwayes at hand) they may receive the reward of their Apostacy against the Parliament, from the hands of their own confederates, at some such convenient place, as Pendennis or Ludlow Castle.
When certaine Thievs (the residue of what are at Oxford) had stole the French Ambassadors Plate (for which some have led the way to Aulicus) the pitifully to seeke Aulicus blam’d the Parliament for not providing that the Ambassadour should not be rob’d; and aswell in this, as in other his Pamphlets, labors to thrust Prince Harcourt upon a quarrell with the Parliament; and to draw him to something advantageous to themselves, for which hee is Weekly laying a foundation: ’Tis a strange boldnesse in the Villaine, and a stranger under-valuing the Wisdome of an Ambassador, to thinke the jarrings and provocations of a loose witted Courtling should mislead him into a Faction. Forbeare such wil’d attempts, and use thy wits to seduce the ignorant and credulous of the People, and yet I need not bid thee. For,
Though you were never without your fine designes, yet you have of late set all wheeles a going, and all braines a working, being sensible of your probable declination by the comming in of the Scots.
1. Because you find Peace to be that which all men desire, and which your Party will admit upon any conditions; and that by pretence thereof the People have often beene cheated into Slavery; it was laid that the City should be drawne into a Treaty, not for peace. God knows, yet that was the pretence, but for these ends. 1. To make us fall out amongst our selves. Secondly, to affront the Parliament who were not to be acquainted therewith, or at least not till much people were made to it, and all Articles and Propositions privately prepar’d and agree’d upon. 3. To keep out the Scots, who you find so resolved to venter their lives in assistance of their English Brethren, that no endeavours of the Kings Agents in Scotland could scruple their Resolutions This Plot wee know hath beene happily discovered, and I hope prevented.
Then the King deales with the Independants, and by intimations of liberty of Conscience, and suggestions that they and other men of tender Consciences will find as hard usage from the Presbyterian Government, as ever they did from the Episcopal; hee fancied a certaine hope, either of giving them to his party, or of deriding us one amongst another: But ’tis so visible that such proffers are made for self-ends, and the integrity of the Independants to the Parliament is so reall, that that project too is 500l. worse then naught.
But a further progresse has been made by the well knowne Lord Lovelace, who by a secret Messenger, and Letter to Sir Henry Vane; did to this effect impart. That the King having taken notice of him, and others of his Judgment, and conceiving them to bee reall and hearty in their intentions, did promise unto them liberty of Conscience; and that all those Laws that have been made by the Parliament, and all other the Rights and Liberties of the People, should inviolably be preserved; of which hee would give what assurance could bee devised: Desiring likewise that either hee or some other by his appointment, would upon safe Convoy, treat further of the businesse at Henley, or what other place be thought fit.
Answer was made, That hee would advice of the matter with his intimate Friends, and returne a further Answer: The Friends advis’d withall, were Mr. Speaker, Mr. St. Johns, Mr. Browne,<ref>There were at least three MPs surnamed Browne; it is not clear which this was.</ref> and many other Gentlemen he met withall of the House of Commons, who conceal’d that an Answer of seeming Compliance should bee return’d and a Convoy sent for Mr. Wall, Chaplaine to my Lord of Warwicke, who finding that the utmost of the Designe was onely to entrap Sir Henry Vane, by first inviting him to the conference, and then discovering it under-hand, and to render him obnoxious to the mistake and ill opinion of good men: Mr. Wall was recal’d and a full Relation of the businesse made to the House of Commons; who gave thankes to Sir Henry, for his Wise and faithfull carriage of the matter; and so the Court was again frustrated, and Lovelace better inform’d, that his loose Lordship is fitter for a Potation then a Conspiracy.
The Ordinance of Parliament providing that the Houses of Delinquents & ilaffected persons, shall not be pul’d down or destroied, but reserv’d for the benefit and use of the Common Wealth, does very much afflict Mr. Aulicus: Hee would it seemes have all confiscations go not to the publike bank but to your Kings private purse, & be emploid not for supply of publike necessities as the Parliament intends them, but for the maintenance of Court Revels to bestow on this Dancing Mounsieur, or that gamesome stripling. No Aulicus wee shall teach you Common wealth language, that the Houses of Delinquents to the State, are no longer theirs but the States or Common-wealths, and are to be employ’d for the benefit thereof. And but that your Rebellion enforces the Parliament to convert the money into Armes and Ammunition, they could more comfortably employ it, to raise again those many honest families, the Court oppressions and your necessitating us to continue this war, have well nigh beggered: to clear the prisons of such honest men as their casuall wants brought thither, and to many other publike and pious uses.
He is very angry at somebody, that supposed the Ships not to be the Kings Ships, and would be told whose they be. Why they are the Comon-wealths ships: No he saies the King built them with Ship-money, and the Ships are his Ships, just as Shipmoney is his money: the People they cannot but remember disbursed the money, and the King layed some of it out upon Ships, and therefore the Ships are his Ships. The East Indian Factors may as well say, that the Commodities imported are theirs, because they bought them; wee must distinguish between trust and property, whatsoever is the Kings as he is King, is his of trust, not by way of propriety, whereof the true Owner is the Comon-wealth.
As the Rebels at Oxford have endeavoured to keep out the Scots, by atempting to make us odious to them, and them odious to us; to Divide us by fomenting dissentions in the City, and mutinies in the Army, to ensnare our firmest friends, &c. so are they likewise providing for their own encrease of strength, by framing a pestilent Association for the Counties of Devon and Cornewall, by drawing over the Irish, and inviting other Forraigne Forces; and because they find the bare Authority of the King not to be sufficient to engage other States, who cannot but know the Parliaments of England to be the Supreame Power therof; as including by Deputation the whole People of England and that all leagues and treaties by which States are engag’d to assistance, can of right only be made and so are only valid, when made by Parliament: that only the Parliament can conclude the People, and that whatever league the King makes, is no longer permanent then he holds a strong hand over the People: That therefore in all likelyhood no State will, regarding the Common interest of States enter league with a few ambitious persons in open Rebellion against the Parliament or Common wealth of England: they are hereby necessitated at Oxford to the poore refuge of making a mocke Parliament there: vainely thinking to engage the people by them who are Runawaies and Fugitives from the service of the People, and as vainely imagining that States will be deluded by such an Impostor. The confidence of their Wit and Sophistry (by which they find they can mislead the People into a liking of things how unjust soever in themselves) is the principall motive I suppose to the production of that new Monster, they meane to Name a Parliament: But Delusions are not lasting; Couzenage may thrive for a while, till a full discovery be made, and then the Trade falls. What I can doe towards the unmasking of the Traytors, and sewing them to the World, without their Painted Vizors, in their own deformity, the People shall have Weekly; who was this time I bid Farewell.
Had not some hinderance interveen’d, this had come forth the last Weeke; but now look for a second upon Thursday, and a third upon Tuesday next; and so weekly every Tuesday one.
Printed according to order, for H.T.<ref>Humphrey Tuckey, stationer at the Black Spread Eagle in Fleet Street.</ref>
Source: British Library, E.31(17)
Search tags: Barnstaple (Barnstable), Cornwall (Cornewall), Earl of Bristol (Bristow), Earl of Warwick (my Lord of Warwicke), Lord George Digby (Digby), Marquess of Hamilton (Marquesse Hamilton), Oliver St John (Mr. St. Johns), Pendennis Castle (Pendennis), Prince d'Harcourt French Ambassador (Prince Harcourt), Stephen Marshall (Mr. Marshall), Thomas Violet (Violet), William Lenthall (Mr. Speaker)
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