Hersham, in the parish of Walton
upon Thames, in the county of Surrey, where I now live; intending by the
blessing of God, when I found it convenient, to retire into the country,
there to end my days in peace and tranquillity; for in London my
practice was such, I had none or very little time afforded me to serve
God, who had been so gracious unto me. The purchase of the house and
lands, and buildings, stood me in nine hundred and fifty pounds
sterling, which I have very much augmented.

The Parliament now grows odious unto all good men, the members whereof
became insufferable in their pride, covetousness, self-ends, laziness,
minding nothing but how to enrich themselves. Much heart-burning now
arose betwixt the Presbyterian and Independant, the latter siding with
the army, betwixt whose two judgments there was no medium. Now came up,
or first appeared, that monstrous people called Ranters: and many other
novel opinions, in themselves heretical and scandalous, were
countenanced by members of Parliament, many whereof were of the same
judgment. Justice was neglected, vice countenanced, and all care of the
common good laid aside. Every judgment almost groaned under the heavy
burthen they then suffered; the army neglected; the city of London
scorned; the ministry, especially those who were orthodox and serious,
honest or virtuous, had no countenance; my soul began to loath the very
name of a Parliament, or Parliament-men. There yet remained in the House
very able, judicious, and worthy patriots; but they, by their silence,
only served themselves: all was carried on by a rabble of dunces, who
being the greater number, voted what seemed best to their
non-intelligent fancies.

In this year I published _Annas Tenebrosus_, which book I did not so
entitle, because of the great obscurity of the solar eclipse, by so many
prattled of to no purpose, but because of those underhand and
clandestine counsels held in England by the soldiery, of which I would
never, but in generals, give any knowledge unto any Parliament man. I
had wrote publickly in 1650, that the Parliament should not continue,
but a new government should arise, &c.

In my next year's _Anglicus_, upon rational grounds in astrology, I was
so bold as to aver therein, that the Parliament stood upon a tottering
foundation, and that the commonalty and soldiery would join together
against them.

My _Anglicus_ was for a whole week every day in the Parliament House,
peeped