A new found Stratagem framed in the old forge of Machivilisme, and put upon the Inhabitants of the County of Essex. To destroy the Army under his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and to inslave all the Free-born of England on a Sudden, manifested and laid down, in certain animadversions, upon a clandestine, illegall petition, contrived, made, and privatly printed, by a destructive party in London: and then by them sent down to the Ministers of the County of Essex, to publish as on the last Lord's day, 4. April, to the people, with directions to take their subscriptions in two sheets of paper; which being done: So many of the Subscribers as can, are to be desired to meet at Stratford Langton, the 18. instant Aprill, and so to come and present the same to both Houses, as the Petition and sense of the whole County: whereas it was never propounded to the County, not even heard of among them, before it came down ready in print, from London, to be published by their Ministers, in there severall Parishes. With certain Observations and Cautions on the same, conducing to the information, and publick good of the whole Kingdome. Published principally for the Meridian of the County of Essex, but may serve for all the Counties of England. 1647. A pamphlet of 15 pages, a copy of which exists in the British Museum Library. On April 23rd, 1647, the House of Commons referred the consideration of this paper, as also of the paper described in the next article, to a Committee, to examine and find out the "authors, inventors, contrivers, publishers, and dispersers" thereof, and how, and by what hands, and to what ends they were dispersed and sent down to the army.[126] 158. An Apollogie of the Souldiers to all their Commission Officers in Sir Thomas Fairfax his Armie. 1647. A sheet of two pages, quarto size, of which a copy exists in the British Museum Library. For its condemnation by the House of Commons see preceding article. 159. The unlawfulnesse of subjects taking up armes against their Soveraigne in what case so ever. Together with an answer to all objections scattered in their severall Bookes. And a proofe that notwithstanding such resistance as they plead for, were not damnable, yet the present warre made upon the King is so, because those cases, in which onely some men have dared to excuse it, are evidently not now; His Majesty fighting onely to preserve himselfe, and the rights of the subjects. Written by Dudley Diggs, Gentleman: late Fellow of All-Soules Colledge in Oxford. Printed in the yeare of our Lord, 1647, Since the 25. day of March. On May 11th, 1647, this book was referred by the House of Commons to the Committee of Complaints, and the printer and publisher were ordered to be tried at the King's Bench.[127] A copy exists in the British Museum Library. 160.