40 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D., 1655. 



Yet they rise in the West, &c. 



That this designe was framed, brought to a ripeness, could not be but with a i| 

 correspondency betwixt the bulke and body of this party. The pretended kinge \ 

 would not have put himself in the face, &c, nor those he sent hither 



They kept their meetings aparte. 



The tyme when this attempt was made well with forein states. The de- ! 

 signes of the army broken, and those at the helme awake and aware. These 

 things must be the fruit of a generall consent. 



These thinges which were in fact, wee had as good proofe as thinges of this 

 nature will permitt ; and after all this and this rebellion supprest, wee had new 

 evidence that they were at worke againe. 



This was the matter of fact ; these were some of those grounds, which made I 

 his highness believe, that the whole party were infected. 



He saw by this, what measure to take of their affections, and what was to be 

 expected from them. 



Some in the last Parliament did thinke them a very inconsderabla number or 

 company of people, without armes, that were scarce need of any army. Tt ap- I 

 peared otherwise. His highness saw a necessity of raising more force, and in 

 every county, who might be ready upon all occasion, unlesse he would give up 

 his cause to the enemy, and leave us all and the whole kingdom exposed to their s 

 rage and malice. 



This additional strength must draw with it an additional charge. Who must 

 bear this ? must the well affected ? what soe just as to put the charge upon 

 those whoe are the occasion of it ? This is the ground of the decimation. 



The question is not, whether they shall be confiscated, or their lands taken, 

 but whether they shall not be made to pay for the support of that force, which 

 is raised to keep them quiet. And I think the act of oblivion is nothing to the 

 question. 



Just jealousie and suspition is enough to a state to do more than this ; or I 

 otherwise they were without the means of their own safetie. 



That there hath beene a just ground of jealousie it's more than evident. 

 Why to be continued to the future ? 

 Upon the same grounds it was set. 



They discovered by their last insurrection, and what hath been sayd about it, 

 what their intentions are, they are implacable in their malice ; that noe act 

 of grace or moderation will winne them ; that they are men of another interest, 

 which they can noe more cease to promote then to live. 



Besides, they are now joyned in with a foreigne prince, and thereby the 

 dangers from them is enereased. 



The pretended kinge hath undertaken with the Spaniard, that his whole partye 

 shall rise upon the first appearance ; and they are now preparing themselves 

 with horse and foot for that attempt — this is serteyne. 



I think it is necessary for you not only to continue what you have, but to 

 raise more ; and I hope wee are not come hither to take of the charge from the 

 kinge's partie, and lay it upon our friends." 



It cannot be said after perusing the two last documents, penned 

 by two men probably of all others the best informed— the one in the 



