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<DATE>2007-08-05</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Mona Logarbo</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B070710.tech.</ITEM>
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<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A89105">
<STC T="W">M1902</STC>
<STC T="T">669.f.23[46]</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99870288</BIBNO>
<VID>163702</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="letter">
<PB REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 24 -->
<HEAD>THE
MESSAGE
OF
John Lambert E&s;q,
In ANSWER to the
PROCLAMATION.</HEAD>
<P>I Have not been &s;o long ver&s;ed in the Intere&s;t and Concern of this State, (in who&s;e greate&s;t
Affairs (&s;ince a Commonwealth was imagined, and accordingly framed by an Army) I have
de&s;erved the name of a Second) as to &s;tartle at the &s;ound of a Proclamation, and quit my
hopes and de&s;igns, or &s;urrender at the fir&s;t Summons, which &s;cares none but Cowards and men un|provided:
I &s;ee 'tis oftentimes the fortune of Greatne&s;s and Ambition to be clouded and eclip&s;ed,
as 'tis likewi&s;e the more eximious and con&s;picuous lu&s;tre of &s;uch grandeur to redeem and recover its
&s;elf from its ruines and ob&s;curity. The great <HI>Marius</HI> ta&s;ted of this vici&s;&s;itude while he lurked in the
Fens of <HI>Minturnae,</HI> and yet a more popular per&s;on great <HI>Rome</HI> afforded not.</P>
<P>Shall I gratifie by the meanne&s;s of a never yet dejected Spirit, the impo&s;&s;ible intrigues of my Rival?
and mu&s;t I and my Fame be, pro&s;tituted to the plea&s;ure and <HI>Lubet</HI> of a Treaty victory? Shall I di&s;arm
my minde, and abandon my &s;elf and my Friends (who&s;e number and courage lackt but its proporti|on
of wi&s;dom,) and kneel at a Bar, that have pa&s;&s;ed the Pikes and defy'd Artillerie? Ra|ther
let as much reproach &s;tick on my Atchievements in the Camp, as on my wives Feats in the
Bed.</P>
<P>Of how much and great importance the very Name of a General is, this la&s;t half year hath am|ply
informed the Nation: and can it be rationally thought that I will forgo that Title, and become
a private per&s;on, further then this my pre&s;ent retirement? I know I am de&s;igned a Sacrifice to the
<HI>Peoples Liberty,</HI> whom the interruption and violation of this pre&s;ent Parliament mo&s;t highly di&s;plea&s;eth.
But am I thereforc onely to be blamed? why not <HI>Fleetwood, Whitlock?</HI> all the burthen mu&s;t (it &s;eems)
re&s;t upon my &s;houlders, that have more then I can well bear already on my head? or el&s;e is it but a
fetch, and a &s;pecious pretence, thereby utterly to di&s;able and weaken my intere&s;t in the Army, and &s;o
to make room for a new Game&s;ter.</P>
<P>Well, my Fates, (for I &s;corn to whine with my Friend <HI>Desborow)</HI> do you pardon me. I di&s;dain
mercy, 'tis a word not befitting a great minde; if I have betrayed or &s;lighted the good and common
benefit of three Kingdoms, I have undone my &s;elf, and &s;o may others, and thats &s;ome part of &s;atis|faction
to my Country. Yet, why may there not be a lucky re&s;erve, and a fortunate aftergame for
me, while I have the long <HI>Legs</HI> of the Anabapti&s;ts in&s;tead of Fortunes <HI>Forelock</HI> to hold by.</P>
<P>Sir <HI>George Booth</HI> and I are now in the &s;ame predicament (&s;aving my inviolable Liberty, that <HI>Noli|me
tangere,</HI> for all Generall <HI>Moncks</HI> fiercene&s;s) my comfort is the <HI>Ananias's</HI> will not purcha&s;e my e&s;tate,
no more then the Presbyters will Sir <HI>George</HI>'s, and I do not know who el&s;e will or can, for the
Cavaliers have no money, and be&s;ides are no &s;uch good <HI>State-Husbands:</HI> Well, adieu, Fare ye well,
if any one enquire after me, I am in the pur&s;uit of Sir <HI>Thomas Midleton.</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>John Lambert.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="colophon">
<P>LONDON <HI>Printed for</HI> Iames Duke&s;on. 1660.</P>
</DIV1>
</BACK>
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