A second admonition to Mr. Edward Bagshaw written to call him to repentance for…

R. B. This also is notoriously false,¹ as my Writings which have no such word, and as those that I conversed with know. Indeed Oliver Cromwells first Troop did under their Officers hands invite me to be their Pastor, which I refused as dissenting from the way into which I saw them entering, and not willing to leave my peaceable habitation at Coventry, where I had the society of very many worthy Ministers, and leisure for my Studies, and was out of the heats of War: And after he expostulated with me himself for refusing his desires: But the very first hour that I went to his Army, which was after Naseby fight, he having notice of my words and intentions, from a friend of his of the Coventry Committee, I was entertained by the jeers of his most intimate friends, as one that came forsooth to Reclaim the Army, and save the Kingdom, &c. And in a year and half's time while I stayed among them, he would never once speak to me; nor was I ever at his Quarters, but kept at a distance as one of their adversaries, and those that I had interest in were discountenanced for my sake. And had not a sudden bleeding brought me very near to death, and separated me from the Army, about the very day that they had their first open Consultation, for the following Treasonable Changes which they made, I had hazarded my life upon their displeasure, in the contradicting them, and drawing off as many from them as I could, at the time when many did desert ⟨p. 42⟩them: For by the advice of a second meeting of the Ministers at Coventry, I stayed with them for that very end, when I had peaceable opportunity to have returned to my former auditors; And I did openly and boldly from that day until Cromwells death, declare to those that I conversed with, that I took him and his Army to be guilty of most perfidious Treason and Rebellion, and himself for an unquestionable Usurper. And I never spake one word to the contrary. And being once before his death (being at London) invited to speak with him, I expostulated with him, by what Right our Government was changed, and how he could prove that all the people of England had lost their own Right to their ancient Government, and laboured to convince him that this change of his, and Instrument of Government (which you charge me to approve) was an unjust depriving the Kingdom of their ancient and never forfeited right;