The souldiers alarum bell to awaken all such who are lull'd asleep in the supposed security of a Parliamentary conventicle unlawfully sitting at Westminster / by B.C. B. C. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A31350 of text R1657 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing C15). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 14 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A31350 Wing C15 ESTC R1657 13070082 ocm 13070082 97110 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A31350) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 97110) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 409:20) The souldiers alarum bell to awaken all such who are lull'd asleep in the supposed security of a Parliamentary conventicle unlawfully sitting at Westminster / by B.C. B. C. 8 p. s.n.], [S.l. : 1659. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library. eng Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660. A31350 R1657 (Wing C15). civilwar no The sovldiers alarum bell, to awaken all such who are lull'd asleep in the supposed security of a Parliamentary conventicle unlawfully sitti [B. C.] 1659 2495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-09 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2006-09 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE SOVLDIERS Alarum Bell , To awaken all such Who are lull'd asleep in the supposed security of a Parliamentary Conventicle unlawfully sitting at Westminster . By B.C. Printed in the Year 1659. Dear Friends and Fellow-Souldiers , VVEE did believe and were fully perswaded that at our generall meeting in Shoe-lane , the first of July instant , you had clearly perceived and understood by our Timely Advice directed formerly to you , the sole intent and way layd out therein by our present Pseudo-Masters , wholly to destroy us from beeing what we are , and have deserved , by our former gallantry and stoutnesse upon all designes under the Conduct of a most Illustrious undaunted prosperous Generall , whom the great God of all victories owned , with our service , in every design ; we mean Oliver late Protector , who freed not onely this very nation of England from a long endured slavery , and yoak of Tyrannicall bondage : But also Ireland and Scotland , & of whom the worst of Sycophants cannot in truth speak evil . Now the scope of this our second writing is as well to rowse you up , and invest your selves with your former undauntednesse of spirit and resolution , that our intended work may take effect : As also to shew the truth unto you which is much endeavoured to be obscured from your and our knowledge ; ( but we have a faithfull Agitator ) as namely and formerly held forth unto you , the timely preventing of our own ruin , by our new usurped Masters , the present Pseudo-Parliament , who have no power but what they borrow from us , and have not we an equall birth-right in all ? especially by the many hazards of our dearest lives and fortunes : then let none of us all be faint-hearted , let us knit our selves together , and labour for our own preservations , while we have advantage , and the cause good let us strike ; least the world should have just Cause to say , we have sold our former magnanimous spirits , and undaunted resolutions for a dish of broth and a halfpenny loaf ; though many raw Souldiers who are lately crept into Regiments , never suffered the miseries or underwent the many dangers we have done in the first and latter warre , may peradventure serve without pay for bread and cheese . And doth not the intentions of this Parliamentary-Conventicle now appear , when their present resolves are first , to have us give them three moneths of our pay , not regarding the many necessities wee , our wives and children have been put unto , barely to live , and many of us much indebted to Sutlers and Landlords , who ( if wee should so childishly give away , what we have earned , with much penury , our pay ) would quickly bring the lash of a Sergeant , and stink of a prison upon us , to the absolute ruine , and destruction of most of us , our wives and children ; After which done according to their present resolves , to send some of us to Iamaica , others into remote Countreys at their pleasures , and disband the rest upon settling the Militia ; thus clandestinely under the notion of sugred dissembling promises , and smooth words from oyled tongues , we shall suddenly be betrayed and destroyed . Is it not also manifest unto you , what small provision they make for us , now they have gotten the Staffe into their own hands , endeavouring to make us despicable creatures , by bringing beggery upon us , the absolute scorne of a stout and valiant Soldier ; is not also the matter of that pretended Good Old Cause , now turned into a new cheat ? then as the case stands upon our present decaying Interest , is it not high time to relieve and restore our selvs to what of right we should be ? Soldiers not fearing the face of man , and in whom the power of this Common wealth , and change of Government shall rest , and if we truely love God and our Countrey , let us not suffer our own subversions , nor any thing that may tend to destruction of us , or our gained and dearly bought liberties . Was not Oliver late Protector , that ever undaunted Spirit of Magnanimity , That absolute Honour of Mars , That burning fiery flame to the great Turk , the great terrour of all Princes and Countreys , a second Solomon for wisedome , while our Generall , after all his hazards , expences , charges of a long , dangerous and doubtfull Warr , most passionately grieved , and troubled that this then sitting pseudo Parliament , who still strove ( as now ) to perpetuate themselves , would never labour the settlement of our long contended for liberties ; till by providence , our consents , and the advice of all the Judges of these Nations , the Government was settled in a single person , as most agreeable to the lawes and nature of Englishmen , and owned in him , sitting too few years at the stern with hand continually upon the helm , for the good government of these Nations , according to law and Justice : And where he found a good and just rule , he altered not , where he found none , or a broken , weak defective one , he was ever most strong and earnest for reformation thereof . Was not many abuses in the lawes by him regulated for the ease and relief of the people , was not many poor , despicable , starving creatures by him constantly relieved ; did not very many in these three Nations who had long suffered , under wrong , injustice and oppression , by him obtain relief ; did he not spend what he had in relieving the needy and oppressed ? did he not spend himselfe , his whole strength of nature in studying and endeavouring the preservation of these Nations in peace ; did he not alwayes take some reasonable care and time for paying us , did he not own us , and succour us . And can either you or we , any way discover the like care to be amongst the present pseudo Governours , doth not then those many undue Reflections , Calumnies , and unchristian scoffes , cast upon the said late Protector , rather argue the ventositie of mens braines , the basenesse and vanity of their mindes , with their dunghil spirits then either the solidity of their Jugements or the gravity of their conditions and behaviour being well known by all knowing rationall men in the world , not any can justly Calumniate him . Doth not also those Counties , Cities , Towns corporate , magistrates , ministers , the Councell , the whole Army of the three nations , the Judges of the land who made their respective Addresses , & owned Richard the Protector as lawfull Successor to his late Father in the office of Protector according to an authentick Act of Parliament , desiring him to protect those that are good , to punish those that are bad , to maintain the just rights and priviledges of the people of God , and the whole nation , engaging to assist him with their lives and fortunes , and also imploring the assistance and blessing of God upon his endeavours herein , sufficiently declare him to be supreme Governour of these nations ? And he who took such speciall care with the late Parliament for paying us off , would also have been , and we are assured will still be as carefull of us , and our preservations , so soon as we shall have reestablshed him Protector , without whom wee are absolutely ruined & our posterities , being well assured , that this present Parliamentary Conventicle , who aym at nothing more then their own perpetuity , will be our destruction , nor indeed and in truth were it not a great unworthinesse in us who ought to have the greatest share of worthinesse , to own Richard Protector , as well for his owning our fellow-souldiers at Dunkirk and Mardike in procuring there full pay to be paid unto them , a perfect example of his future care over us and ours , having been so carefull for them , he can nor will be lesse mindfull of us ; who hath also been at that great charge in his own expences to give redcoats to us all , a pattern beyond example , and which our present usurped Masters will never do , but rather work our destruction for their own advantage and pepetuity . Now understand , that as it hath been alwayes resolved , by the Judges and lawes of this Nation , that the deposition , or death of a King , doth actually dissolve a Parliament , nor can the succeeding King , or successour whatsoever hold or continue the said Parliament , or prorogue it ; so by the same law was this pseudo Parliament dissolved , and made no Parliament , by the late Kings death , and not by us , or any part of the Army though falsely by many so asserted . Also , that this present Pseudo-Parliament was summoned particularly by the late King CHARLES in his naturall , as well as politick capacitie , but not for him , his heirs or successors ; for he ceased to be both Charles and a King of this Realm by his death , and the Councell by whose advise it was first summoned was his own , not his heirs and Successors , besides it was summoned by the King himself , to treat , consult , and give their advice with him personally which by his death was impossible , and so determined , expired , and dissolved ; even as a naturall ceases to be a living man , when the head is cut off ; or , as if a man should by his will or deed authorize any three persons , jointly to sell lands , give livery and seisin , and one of them dye , the other two joyntly or severally can do nothing , because their trust and authority was joynt , not severall ; and so joyntly not separately to be executed ; therefore no lawfull call for this Parliamentary Conventicle to sit , nor as they are not a house under the number of fortie , so they can make no lawfull Act under the number of one hundred and fiftie . Thus as it is evident that the present convened Parliamentary Conventicle at Westminster is no Parliament , by all the lawes of this Nation , as in part before mentioned ; nor ought of right to sit , being the onely men contriving our destruction , let us not boggle , or carry the hearts of women to dissolve and turn them out of dores , with greater scorne , infamy and derision , then they endeavour to bring us into : let you and us goe on together , in this work couragiously without fear or dispondencie ; let us not own them , nor their encroached Parliamentary power , acts , or impositions , least through our unworthy Cowardize and negligence in this kind , we suddenly become a prey , to these selfe ended perpetuateing Princes , nothing at all caring for us or the publick good , but likely to transform the City and Countrey into a place of scorn and beggery . And though the Lord Henry Cromwel hath very suddenly made his appearance at Westminster contrary to expectation ; yet let that be no cause for you to prevaricate or turn back from the work intended , for the old soldiers of the Army in Ireland , have assured us that he left them without consent , and they desire us to hold our resolutions and they will own and stand with us ; as also the City of London have many thousands well prepared to joyn with us , then what cause of fear , or whose commands shall wee break in performing the work of dissolving them , are not they under our power ? Thus have we again discovered unto you our fellow Soldiers , as to our selves , what of necessity requires a remedy with all speed : Before a disease hath brought the body low , it will endure heates and colds and many distempers , and alter little or nothing visibly , but the dregs remain and bring the disease by degrees to a height , and then every sleight offence is taken , and strong distempers appeare to danger and ruine ; And it may be rationally judged our Pseudo-Governors labour under a Criticall sign , the disease is grown so strong , it hath such a height , that we must all unanimously intervene for our own preservations , else danger is at hand ; And this thing now presented to you , is an evident Symptome , what will speedily be done against us , by those who have no power to Sit , but from us , and may we not then call home that which we have lent ? The sole way of all our preservations being in reestablshing Richard Protector ; For it is most necessary , one absolute head in any Government must be ; and who more right to it then Richard Protector ? both for his great care over us , for the preservation of all us , and ours , and his endeavours to have the Lawes and our Liberties performed and kept ; Therefore , we think most fit , and least without suspition , that upon Tuesday the _____ instant , when you are all met for the Church at Westminster , that you faithfully resolve like men to prepare your selves with us to dissolve and turn them out of dores , when , undoubtedly expect us , fully to compleat these our resolutions , which by Law , Reason and Equity , must speedily be acted , to make our selves safe under the Protector , which no where else is to be had . His Highness Regiment . Lieuten , Gen. Fleetwoods Regiment . Col. Goffs Regiment . Col. Hewsons Regiment . Col. Barksteads Regiment . Col. Mills Regiment . Col. Prides Regiment . All and All , &c. FINIS .