Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…

25. The Money sent Dolbier to buy German Horses, and other actions, and the Confessions of Sir Jacob Astley, Sir John Conniers, Sir Fulke Hawks (my Mother-in-laws Brother) Chidley, and the other Commanders of the English Army that were to have been drawn up to London, together with the King's putting a Guarding Regiment on them, did put me past all doubt that they were devoted to violence, had they not defended themselves: And no vain Talk to the contrary can make me doubt of it to this day. So that though I think they had done more prudently to avoid War, had they spared Strafford and Laud to please the King, yet I am fully satisfied that afterward they were necessitated to save themselves from designed Force.

25. The Money sent Dolbier to buy German Horses, and other actions, and the Confessions of Sir Jacob Astley, Sir John Conniers, Sir Fulke Haukes (my Mother-in-laws Brother) Chidley, and the other Commanders of the English Army that were to have been drawn up to London, together with the King's putting a Guarding Regiment on them, did put me past all doubt that they were devoted to violence, had they not defended themselves: And no vain Talk to the contrary can make me doubt of it to this day. So that though I think they had done more prudently to avoid War, had they spared Strafford and Laud to please the King, yet I am fully satisfied that afterward they were necessitated to save themselves from designed Force.

26. I am certain that two things filled the Parliaments Armies. And both of grand Importance. 1. That all over the Kingdom, save here and there a sober Gentleman, and a formal Clergyman, the Religious ⟨p. 19⟩Party and all that loved them, were generally for the Parliament (alienated from the Persecutors and Silencers): And the Profane Party in all Countries (Debauched Gentlemen, Malignant Haters of Piety, the Rabble of Drunkards, Blasphemers) were generally against the Parliament. And religious People were loth to herd with such: And could hardly believe that in so great a Cause God would reveal the Truth to all his Enemies, the sensual Rabble, and hide it from the generality of them that fear him: And especially that in most Countries the Malignants forced away the Religious, and either rose against them themselves, or set the King's Soldiers to Plunder and Destroy them. My own Father living 18 Miles from me was Plundered by the King's Soldiers, though he never scrupled Conformity, nor ever meddled against the King, and was thrice laid in Prison, and had still lain there, had not Sir Fulke Hawks his Brother in Law been by Prince Rupert made Governor of Shrewsbury, and this for nothing. And after laid in again till the Town was taken. This last was only because when they made him Collector for the King, he refused to distrain of those that paid not (fearing lest he should be put to repay it).