Gods house were notwithstanding advanced to the highest grison of Church-Dignities And if this Narrative presents some Ecclesiasticks blame-worthy the inference is fallacious that therefore our times are worse than former or that the accrimination overspreadeth all No what St. Augustine said of some Enormitans in his time is no less true of ours That though our Church had cause to grieve for the blemishes of some yet might she glory in the Ornaments of more And so much shall serve for my present purpose as to the former part of this Authors Preface Et si constrista mur de aliquâ—bus Purgamentis tamen consolamu◠〈◊〉 pluribus Ornâ—mentis Aug Epist 137. wherein he doth endeavour to satisfie his Readers that he will carry an even hand between either side and steer his course aright and so far I shall endeavour as much as in me lyes to write after his Copy But yet where persons are blame-worthy I shall not be Meal-mouth'd but let them know their failings and embecillities until they give me better satisfaction than I have at present concerning their Reformation And now to transcribe some of this Authors Narrative concerning the Reign of King Charles the First so wise so vertuous so temperate so chaste so learned and so religious a Prince and a strong assertor of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England against the Old Gentleman at Rome and all his adherents yet that this Prince after his Death by the Pens-Militant instead of inserting this Parenthesis concerning him as they have done of many Princes after their decease of Ever blessed Memory should be constrained to counterchange their Dialect and say of Ever unfortunate and deplorable Memory I must confess is so profound a mystery unto me that I am not able to search and penetrate into the depth thereof and therefore must leave this I could wish I were not able to say so much by experience most unfortunate Prince though of Ever blessed Memory in some sense unto the searcher of all hearts and before whom all things are naked bare and open who worketh and wisely disposeth of all things both in Heaven and in Earth according to the infallible and most unerring Councel and Dictates of his own Will. But to proceed in my intended design to Transcribe from my Author some of the particular and most material Transactions as to matter of fact in those days and should I have transcribed the whole it would have been a new Edition of the said Narrative and would have swelled this small piece which was intended for no other in my primary cogitations unto a very large Bulk the which you may please to peruse in manner and form as followeth viz. King James surrendred his Soul to God and his Three Kingdoms to his Son at Theobalds Anno Domini March the 27th 1625. And now it will not be amiss saith the ingenious Historian nor vary from the usual ceremony ordained to the body of extinct Princes if I here represent in brief the pourtraicture of this Famous Monarch which I will do freely sincerely and with a spirit which equally disdains to libel or flatter him In the stile of the Court His Character he went for Great Britains Solomon nor is it any excursion beyond the Precincts of verity to say that neither Britain nor any other Kingdom whatsoever could ever since Solomon's days glory in a King for recondite learning and abstruse knowledge so near a match to Solomon as he And though he was a Universal Scholar yet did he make other Sciences their most proper imployment but drudges and servitors to Divinity wherein he became so transcendently eminent as he notoriously foil'd the greatest Clerks of the Roman See Nor did his Theological abilities more advantage the Cause of Religion abroad than at home they keeping the new-fangled Clergy aloof and at a distance as not daring to infuse into so solid a judgment their upstart and erroneous fancies no nor disquiet the Churches peace with Heterodox opinions by which it appears this Author and King James were both Calvinists as to their particular Sentiments in matters of Religion A stout adversary he was to the Arminians and Semi-Pelagians whom he called as Prosper before him and so doth the whole tribe of them ever since the Enemies of Gods grace And as slender a friend he was to the Presbytery here he intends in matters Ecclesiastical as to the form of Church-government and imposed Constitutions of whose Tyrannical and Antimonarchical principles he had from his cradle smart experience He was an excellent Speaker the Scheme of his Oratory being more stately than Pedantick and the Expressions argued him both a King and Scholar In his apparel and civil garb he seemed naturally to affect a Majestick carelesness which was so hectick and habitual in him as even in Religious exercises where the external demeanor is a grand part of that sacred homage he was somewhat too incurious and irreverent He was indulgent a little to his Palat and had a smack of the Epicure In pecuniary dispensations to his Favourites he was most excessive liberal yea though the exigence of his own wants pleaded retention Nor was Solomon himself more a Solomon according to the true notion of the word which imports a man of rest than he selecting for his Motto Beati Pacifici or the seventh Beatitude as most agreeable to his genius and natural constitution He was studious of peace somewhat over-much for a King in pursuit whereof Virtue flew to a lessening and in the opinion of many out of sight he incurring thereby the note of Pusillanimity very suspicious from his managing the Cause of the Palatinate for had not the thought of War been terrible unto him would he so long have endured his Son-in-law exterminated from his Patrimony while the Austrian Faction to his great dishonour cajol'd and kept him in delusory chat with specious fallacies Would he in those several Negotiations of Carlisle Bristow Belfast and Weston have spent so vast sums the moity whereof had they been disposed in Military-levies and preparations would have Modell'd an Army able when Hidleburgh Manhrein and Frankindale defended themselves to have totally dissipated all the forces of the Usurpers to have Master'd the imperious Eagle enforcing her to forego her Quary and reinstate the Paulsgrave Would he so tediously have courted the Alliance of Spain to the very great regret of his Subjects whom his Predecessor had so often baffled and whom England ever found a worse friend than enemy What stronger Evidence can be given in of a wonderful defect of courage As this faint-heartedness lost him the reputation and respects of his People so his heavy pressures upon them and undue Levies by Privy-Seals and the like alienated their affections especially considering how those Moneys were misemployed indeed rather thrown away partly in the two dishonourable Treaties of Spain and Germany and the consequential Entertainments and partly in Largesses upon his Minion Buckingham
Between this disaffection and contempt in his People there was generated a general disposition to turbulent and boisterous darings and expostulations even against his darling Prerogative And though those dismal calamities which after befel his Son were ampliated doubtless by a superfetation of causes yet was their first and main existency derivative from those recited grounds Let Court-Pens extol the calmness of his Halcion Reign with all the artifice of Rhetorick Let them conclude the Parable and tell us God gave King James also as he did Solomon rest from all his enemies round about yet can they never truly deny but that admired severity had its set in a cloud and that he lest to his Successor a Crown of Thorns as being engaged to contend with two puissant Enemies First the mighty Monarch of the West the King of Spain Secondly the more invincible of the two an empty purse For that King who hath this Enemy to encounter shall never atchieve any thing of glorious production The death of this Famous Monarch caused no other interregnum than of joy his Son Charles being immediately by Sir Edward Zouch then Knight Marshal proclaimed at the Court-gate King of Great Britain France and Ireland His first Act of Regality was to dispatch Aviso's of his Fathers decease to Foreign Princes and States his Correspondents with whom he was in Amity Next he took into care the becoming Obsequies of the Royal Corps which removed from Theobalds to Denmark-house in London April the 23d was thence the 7th of May conveyed to Westminster and there inhum'd with the greatest Solemnities and most stately Ritualities could be devised Though grief had taken up the principal Lodgings of King Charles his heart yet did it not quite turn love out of doors but he had still an eye to France and held himself concern'd to let his Agents know he was mindful of the stock he had going there and to rear a firm assurance of his serious intentions He sent over Letters of Procuration for the Duke of Chevereux to espouse the Lady Henrietta Maria only he added this especial precaution That those Letters should not be resigned up until May the 8th when the Celebrities of his Fathers Funeral would be over for he would not that grief and joy things incompatible should justle But these instructions for what cause I know not were not in all points precisely observed for on May the 11th as others and the first as we compute six days before King James his Obsequies the Espousals were solemnized in the Church of Nostredame in Paris the Queen being given by her two Brothers the King and Monsieur the Nuptials past the Royal Bride prepared for England and to wait upon her with the greater splendor his Majesty dispatcheth over the Duke of Buckingham with the Earl of Montgomery and other Persons of Quality May the 24th they arrived at Paris and June the 2d the Queen after the iteration of most affectionate adieux reciprocated and interchanged between the King and her self set forward for Amiens where being attended with a most Princely retinue she was under the restraint of a Magnificent Entertainment till the 16 of that Month thence she dis-lodged for Bulloigne where she was to Embarque for England the Contagion then being much at Calais there she found ready to receive her 21 tall Ships sent from her dearest with a gallant Convoy of the Dutchess of Buckingham and other Ladies of Honour and Eminence to serve her June the 22d she set Sail for England and Landed safe at Dover after a turbulent and tempestuous passage His Majesty lay that night at Canterbury and next morning with joy incredible greeted his Royal Consort and conducted her to Canterbury where the Marriage was finally compleated the Duke of Chevereux his Majesties former Representative consigning up his precious charge to the King c. I have heard some who undertake to mate all events with their proper causes passionately ascribe Englands Calamities to those Internuptials and fetch that ireful stroke of Divine vengeance upon his late Majesty from his Marrying a Lady of mis-belief Grant I do that both England's and his Majesties Sufferings may in some sort be reductive to the casualty of that Match but that there was any intrinsick noxiousness in it either as French or Popish I am not yet convinced The same time while His Majesty was thus busied in his Amorous Negotiation abroad he plyed as well his Interest at home and while he Wooed his Royal Mistriss there he made Love to his People here by Summoning a Parliament that League being not more important to him as Man than this as King for as Man is without a female Consort so is a King without his Supreme Council an half-form'd steril thing the natural Extracts of the one procreated without a Wife are not more spurious than the Laws the politick Descendents of the other without the coition of a Representative The solemnity of this grand Match was commenced at VVestminster June the 18th At first interview it appeared under the scheme and fashion of a Money-Wedding and in truth the publick affairs did then implore no less Upon the opening the Parliament the King imparted his mind to the Lords and Commons to this effect My Lords and Centlemen YOV are not ignorant that at your earnest intreaty March 23. 1623 my Father of happy Memory first took up Arms for the recovery of the Palatinate for which purpose by your assistance he began to form a considerable Army and to prepare a goodly Armado and Navy-Royal But death intervening between him and the atchievement the War with the Crown is devolved upon me To the prosecution whereof as I am obliged both in Nature and Honour so I question not but the same necessity continuing you will cherish the action with the like affection and farther it with a ready contribution True it is you furnished my Father with affectionate supplies but they held no symmetry or proportion with the charge of so great an enterprize for those your Donatives are all disburs'd to a penny and I am enforced to summon you hither to tell you That neither can the Army advance nor the Fleet set forth without your aid Consider I pray you the Eyes of all Europe are defixt upon me to whom I shall appear ridiculous as though I were unable to out-go Muster and Ostentation if you now desert me it is my first attempt wherein if I sustain a foil it will blemish all my future Honour If mine cannot let your Reputations move deliver and expedite me fairly out of this War wherewith you have becumbred let it never be said whereininto you have betrayed me I desire therefore your speedy supply speedy I call it for else it will prove no supply The Sun you know is entring into his declining point so it will be soon too late to set forth when it will be rather not too soon to return Again I must mind you of the
Bill propounded for the continuation of the Parliament 37. The Earl of Strafford Voted by the Lords House guilty of High Treason 38. Two Bills tendered to the King who is much perplext what Answer to return 39. The Earl himself by Letter desires the King to pass the Bill 40. Censures upon the Kings passing the Bill for the Parliaments continuation 41. The Kings Letter in behalf of the Earl to the House of Lords and their answer thereunto 42. The Earl brought to the Scaffold and his last Speech before his Execution 43. The Earls Character Here I must refer you at large to Sir Richard Baker p. 511. c. 44. The Earls Children restored to their Honour and Estates 45. The Earls of Hartford Essex Bedford Warwick Lord Say with some others made Privy-Councellors 46. The Lord Treasurer and other great Officers resign up their places 47. The Star-Chamber abolished and the high Commission Court put down 48. Ship-money relinquish'd by the King. 49. Five Judges for Ship-money Impeached of high Misdemenours and Berkly accused of high Treason 50. Several Laws passed by the King for regulating abuses and disclaiming Priviledges 51. The Treaty between the two Kingdoms confirmed 52. The Earl of Holland made General of the English Army and a Pole raised for the payment of them 53. Both Armies are Disbanded and the King takes a Journey into Scotland and there confers honours upon several persons of that Kingdom 54. A Bloody Rebellion breaks forth in Ireland 55. Owen O Conally an Irish Protestant discovers the Plot prevents the seizure of Dublin Castle 56. The Earl of Leicester chosen Deputy of Ireland 57. The Irish Rebellion occasioned by the insurrection in Scotland 58. The King receives Intelligence of what hapned in Ireland and sends Sir James Stuart with instructions thither and moves the Parliament of Scotland for Aid which they Excuse 59. The Irish pretend the Kings Commisson for what they did thereby to dishearten the English and also feigned Letters that the Parliament would compell them to Protestancy 60. The Irish Rebells possess themselves of all strong places in Vlster 61. They contrary to Articles of Surrender Massacre the poor English but save the Scots 62. The Parliament of England designs Money for Ireland 63. Forces raised to go against the Rebells 64. The Earl of Ormond made Lieutenant-General of the Forces there 65. A Regiment sent to Ireland under Sir Simon Hartcourt 66. The King returns out of Scotland and the Parliament present a Remonstrance to him at Hampton-Court as also a Petition with the Remonstrance 67. An Act published in Scotland against Levying Arms without the Kings Commission 68. The King receives the Parliaments Petition but desires them not to publish the Remonstrance 69 The Remonstrance is Ordered to be published in all parts of the Kingdom and the King answers the Petition and Vindicates himself from the Aspersions of the Remonstrance 70. The Commons pass a Bill for disabling all in Holy Orders to exercise temporal Jurisdiction 71. The tumult upon the Lords slighting the Bill comes to their House and clamour againg the Bishops and some of the Commons justifie those tumults 72. The Lords sends a Writ directed to the Sheriffs and Justices to suppress those tumults 73. Whereupon the Constables and Justices are sent for by the Commons 74. The Bishops Protestations against the actions of the Parliament and they are charged with high Treason and committed to the Tower where they continued about four Months 75. The Parliament Petition the King for a Guard. 76. The King denies the Petition and chargeth Kimbolton and five Members more of the Commons with high Treason 77. The Commons justifie the accused Members 78. The King comes to the House to demand the Delivery of the five Members and the Commons Vote this a breach of Priviledge 79. The King removes to Hampton-Court and sends a Message to the Parliament 80. The Commons Petition the King for the Militia to be put into their hands 81. The Queen accompanies the Princess Mary into Holland and the King removes to York and there issues out Commissions of Array And so Finis Coronat Opus I have proceeded to the last day of 1641. For I find March 28. 1642. The King and Parliament differ about who shall be chief Commander at Sea where I am willing to leave them and dare not launch out any farther as to the Merits of the Cause And now in the close of all if you will please to give me leave faith fully to examine and compare together the Transactions Principles and Practices of the Commons of England in particular as being Assembled in Parliament Anno Domini 1640 and 1641 as also Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. whose Transactions Debates and Speeches are all so lately Printed that I need not here insert the Particulars but refer you unto the Debates themselves And I do clearly find the same English Spirit so far as 1641. pray take notice I proceed no further in this Multum in Parvo runs almost exactly Parallel with the present years of 80 and 81. And when you have perused and seriously considered them within your selves I do presume and am very apt to conjecture that you who are of a sober mind and wish from your Heart and Soul all Peace Prosperity and Happiness to your King and Country That you will say with me That although they are not enough to satisfie and silence an high Tory and bloody Papist yet they are Arguments and Demonstrations strong enough in Conscience to convince any Atheist in his sober mind of the Reality and good Intentions against Popery and Slavery many times slily introduced by some unworthy Sycophants and corrupt Ministers of State of the before-mentioned precedent Parliaments And although we live at present in an Age of Wonders viz. of wonderful Signs wonderful and most prodigious Comets and Blazing Stars and wonderful Apparitions for a particular whereof viz. of such as have happened in the last year 1680 pray read Mr. Christopher Ness his late Book the Title whereof is Wonderful Signs for Wonderful Times yet I say the major part of us do turn all these things into perfect Ridicule and Scorn and are far from deterring us from the evil of our ways but do still run on Jehu-like and persist in our accustomed Sins and Dalilah-like Provocations against God and are all of us the Lord of Heaven knows in a very unprepared frame temper and disposition to meet him and to kiss the Rod in the ways of his Judgments when they shall come suddenly upon us like an armed Man and there shall be none to deliver us out of his avenging hand Him that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And among the many Wonders which we have already had I have made bold here to insert one more which for ought I know may suddenly come to pass in the midst of us and pray pardon my plainness and well-meaning and hearty wishes therein the which you may please
Brittain should be this Person of Quality here intimated and described in this most wonder ful and Antient Prophecy a Prediction I must needs Confess most proper for such wonderful times as we now live in would you not all unanimously and with loud Acclamations throw up your Caps and Beavers into the Air and cry Vive le Roy or Currat Lex vivat Rex And if so for my own part I should yet hope to see if it shall please my Gracious God to lend me a little longer time of health and strength many Halcyon and most happy days in the Land and Nation of my Nativity before I go away hence and shall be seen no more And that an happy union and good correspondence between his present Majesty and his future Parliaments without the least suspition or jealousie one of another may yet come to pass in our days I do most humbly beseech thy Divine Majesty who art the Lord God Almighty to grant for thy great names-sake and for thy Vicegerents sake and for his Peoples sake who are truly Loyal and obedient Subjects in and through thy most dear and well beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased and whom by thy free grace goodness and most stupendious mercy and compassion to thy poor creatures is the Lord and giver of everlasting Life to all those who shall most faithfully and most sincerely though but imperfectly obey him And now to him with thy eternal Majesty who art King Immortal Invisible and only wise God by the assistance of thy holy and for ever blessed Spirit of Grace I do most humbly desire to render give and ascribe all honour glory laud and praise might Majesty reverential fear and all humble adoration from this time forth and for evermore Amen And now in the close of all Whereas in my Title-Page I have there intimated how Magna Charta was most solemnly and most wonderfully even to the astonishment of the Spectators ratified pronounced and proclaimed and therefore must not now leave you in the dark as to that particular but refer you to the Packet of Advice from Rome Number 50. the which in my slender apprehension deserves to be written in Letters of Gold upon the Walls of both Houses of Parliament And for your present and I hope pleasant satisfaction I have here inserted and presented you with the same at large HAving presented the Reader with the most remarkable Transactions of Papal Tyranny in Foreign Parts down to the year 1254 't is time to look homewards and observe Ecclesiastic Occurrences in England our last Discourse of that kind terminating with the death of King John to whom succeeded his Son Henry the third of that name for though by reason of the Fewds between John and his Barons they had invited over Lewis the French King's Son and many had to him sworn Allegiance yet the Father being dead and his faults buried with him they did not think fit to yield up themselves to the French Man's Yoak who already began to exercise an insufferable Tyranny wherever he had Power And although the Pope had at first encourag'd the Barons in their Rebellion yet when once he had hector'd King John into a Resignation of his Crown he became his Patron and forbad Lewis from intermedling with the Kingdom as being then forsooth part of S. Peter's Patrimony and therefore excommunicated Lewis for the Invasion which engag'd most of the Clergy to oppose him And so Henry on the 28th of October 1216. was Crown'd being then in the 10th year of his Age and Lewis being routed at Lincoln was glad to come to a Treaty quit his Pretensions and most dishonourably retreat into France Yet 't is observable that the Clergy were then such fast Friends to their Head the Pope and so little regardful of the Descent in the Right Line that they would not accept Henry for their King without making him first do Homage to the Holy Church of Rome and Pope Innocent for his Kingdoms of England and Ireland and swearing to pay the 1000 Marks per Annum which his Father had promised to that See. Matth. Paris fol. 278. And besides to bring Grists to the Roman Mill the Pope's Legate at that time in England immediately on the Departure of Prince Lewis sent his Inquisitors all over the Realm and whomsoever they would discover to have sided with him Consensu etiam Levissimo Though in the least degree must atone the Crime with a large Sum insomuch as the Bishop of Lincoln before he could be restored to his Bishoprick was forc'd to pay 1000 Marks to the Pope's use and 1000 to the Legate for the little Rogue would have snips in the prey with the great One and many other Bishops and Religious Men were glad to empty their Pockets to him at the same rate Matth. Paris fol. 218. In the year 1220. the Pope was pleased to make Hugh formerly Bishop of Lincoln a Saint and since the manner of his Vn-Holiness's declaring the same may be Divertive to the common English Reader I shall give you the very words of his Letter Translated as I find it in Matth. Paris fol. 298. Honorius Servant of the Servants of God to all our well-beloved Sons the Faithful of Christ that shall inspect these Presents Greeting and Apostolick Benediction The worthiness of Divine Piety does make famous his Holy Ones and Elect placed in the Bliss of the Celestial Kingdom by the shining forth of their Miracles still upon Earth that the Devotion of the Faithful being thereby stirred up may with due Veneration implore their Aid and Suffrages since therefore we are fully satisfied that the Bounty of Heaven hath illustrated Hugh Bishop of Lincoln as well in his Life as after his Death with a multitude of Famous Miracles We have thought fit to Enroll him in the Catalogue of Saints and admonish and exhort you all in the Lord That you devoutly implore his Patronage and Intercession for you with Almighty God farther Commanding That the day of his Decease be henceforwards every year devoutly Celebrated as a Holyday Dated at Viterbium the 13th Calend of March in the fourth year of our Popedom But how much a Saint soever he was we meet with another Bishop as very a Devil for about this time a Quarrel happening between Richard Bishop of Durham and the Monks of the same Church they complain'd of him to the Pope who seem'd much concern'd at his many horrid Crimes and presently sent over a Letter in these Terms Honorius Bishop c. to the Bishops of Salisbury Ely c. Greeting and Aposlolick Benediction It is fit for us to be so delighted in the sweet Savour of a good opinion of our Brethren and Fellow-Labourers as not to connive at Vices in those that are Pestilent since it becomes not us for the Reverence of the Order to bear with Sinners whose Guilt renders them as worthy of as many Deaths as they transinit Examples of
Perdition to those that are under them who are too apt to imitate only the Depravaties of their Superiours Hence it is that since things too far dissonant from Episcopal Honesty have very often been suggested unto us concerning our Venerable Brother the Bishop of Durham being moved with such repeated Complaints we cannot suffer the said Bishop to continue in his Enormities to the Destruction of many for we are inform'd That since he was advanced to the Office of a Bishop he has been guilty of Blood and Simony and Adultery and Sacriledge and Rapine and Perjury A pretty parcel of Vertues for a Bishop and somewhat different from those 1 Tim. 3. That he hath oppress'd Clerks and Orphans obstructed the Testaments of the deceased that he observes not the Statutes of the Ceneral Council nor ever preaches tho Word of God to the People 'T is a wonder that small fault was mentioned hath often sworn before many that the Church of Durham shall never have Peace as long as he lives That a Monk complaining to him that his Servants had drawn him our of a Church and beat him till the Blood came He answered It had been well if they had beat out his Brains c. We therefore that we may not be guilty of the faults of others if we should wink at such Offences since the Clamour thereof has ascended so that we can dissemble it no longer think it agreeable to our Office to go down and see whether these things be so or no Therefore by these our Apostolical Writings we Command you our Brethren to examine and enquire into the premises and report the same to us under Seal that we may Decree therein as God shall order Dated at Viterb c. You see the Pope can Cant and pretend great Zeal to correct the Criminal but pray observe the end on 't These Bishops being met to examine the Business the Bishop of Durham presently Appeals to the Pope in Person and then they could proceed no farther but away both he and the Monks his Adversaries must trudge to Rome whither he privately sent beforehand two of his Clerks with a good Sum of Money which so sweeten'd the Pope that he receiv'd him very kindly Et post multas coram Papa Altercationes Immoderatis profusis Expensis c. And after many Wranglings before the Pope and vast Expences both Bishop and Monks were sent back as wise and honest as they were to agree together as well as they could But that which was most memorable in this Kings Reign was an Act which tho' respecting the temporal Good of the Kingdom yet it being Transacted chiefly by the Clergy and with Ecclesiastical Ceremonies it may not be improper to insert it into this Work. The Reader must note That when K. Hen. III. was become 16 years old the Pope took upon himself for a small Spill privately sent him by some corrupt Courtiers to declare him of Age to Govern himself and therefore all Castles were to be render'd up into the Kings hands This prov'd the Rock of Offence whilst some obey'd the Pope and oppos'd those as Rebels that put more confidence in their Castles than in the Kings good nature or rather in that of his upstart Counsellors Hence first sprang a Civil Broyl thence want of Money then a Parliament wherein the Grand Charter of England's Liberties once more was exchanged for a Sum of Money For only upon condition of renewing the same would the Estates allow Supplies many Promises the King makes and after that Oaths yet no performance but pretends Wars in France in Scotland and against Infidels But still his people finding them all but pretences and ill success to attend all his Enterprizes refuse to supply him for the Holy War Then he seems penitent and pours out new promises to observe Magna Charta and Seals it with the most solemn Execration that is to be found in the Womb of Story and so punctually Recorded as if God would have all Generations to remember it as the Seal of the Covenant between the King of England and his people It was done in Parliament where the Lords Temporal and Spiritual Clergy men Knights c. all standing with Tapers in their hands burning the King himself also standing with a chearful Countenance holding his open hand upon his Breast the Archbishop of Canterbury pronounc'd this Curse as it is verbatim Recorded by Matth. Paris fol. 839. By the Authority of God Omnipotent of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and of the Glorious Mother of God the Virgin Mary and of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of all other Apostles and of the Holy Martyr and Archbishop Thomas and of all the Martyrs and of the Blessed Edward King of England and of all Confessors and Virgins and of all the Saints of God We Excommunicate and Anathematize and Sequester from our our Holy Mother the Church all those which henceforth knowingly and Maliciously shall deprive or spoil the Church of her Right and all those that shall by any Art or Wit rashly violate diminish or change secretly or openly in Deed Word or Council by crossing in part or in whole those Ecclesiastical Liberties or ancient approved Customs of the Kingdom especially the Liberties and free Customs which are contained in the Charters of the Common Liberties of England and the Forrests granted by our Lord the King to the Archbishops Bishops Prelates Earls Barons Knights and Freeholders And all those who have published or being published have observed any Statutes Ordinances or thing against them or any thing therein contained or which have brought in any Customs to the contrary or observed them being brought in and all Writers of such Ordinances or Councils or Executioners and all such as shall presume to judge according to such Ordinances All and every such persons as are or at any time shall be knowingly guilty of any such matters shall ipso facto incur this Sentence and such as are ignorantly guilty shall inour the same if being admonish'd they within 15 days after amend not For everlasting Memory whereof we hereunto put our Seals Thus far the words of the Curse nor was the manner of pronouncing it less dreadful for immediately as soon as the Charters and this Sentence was read and sign'd they then all throwing down their Tapers extinguish'd and smoaking said So let all that go against this Curse be extinct and stink in Hell And the King having all the while continued in the posture before mentioned said So God me help I will observe all those things sincerely and faithfully as I am a man as I am a Christian as I am a Knight and as I am a King Crowned and Anointed Pare but away some few Superstitions and search the History of all Ages you will not find a parallel hereunto so seriously compos'd so solemnly pronounc'd with an Amen from the Representative Body of the whole Kingdom put in Writing under Seal preserv'd to Posterity and give me leave to add vindicated by God himself in the Ruine of so many Opposers for never has any Prince Favourite Councellor or corrupt Judge from that time to this endeavour'd to act contrary to the Essentials of the said great Charter but first or last it has crush'd them into Ruine or great Calamity Yet how little this King Henry regarded it I shall acquaint you in the very words of the Historian Soluto Concilio Rex Confestim pessimo usus Concilio omnia praedicta Cogitabat Infirmare c. The Grand Council or Parliament was no sooner broke up but the King following lewd and pernicious Council contrived how to weaken and undo it for 't was told him That he would not be King or at least not Lord and Master of England if all those Liberties should be observ'd as John his Father had experienc'd who rather chose to dye than thus to be shackled and trampled on by his Subjects And these Whisperers of the Devil Susurrones Satanae so honest Matth. calls them added You need not value it if you do break your Vows and incur this Curse for the Pope for an hundred or two of Pounds will Absolve you 'T is well enough that by signing the Confirmation of these Characters you have got a Tenth which will amount to many thousand Marks and if you will but give the Pope a little portion of it he will Absolve you even though the Curse be ratified by himself for he that has Power to Bind can Loose Thus by the villany of ill Ministers and the knavery of the Pope this Prince was led into Deceit Perjury Injustice and Tyranny to his own continual Trouble and the unspeakable Damage of the Realm And if this honest and well-intended Narrative either in the whole or in part shall be deemed necessary and convenient at this juncture of time for the present and future satisfaction either of Prince or People or shall contribute any thing towards a firm and solid Foundation and Establishment upon the true Basis of Universal Love Charity and good will among the many contesting Parties at this day in the midst of us for sine procul dubio we shall never be happy till that time be accomplished I have my desire FINIS
THE HISTORY AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE ENGLISH NATION More especially by their Representatives Assembled in PARLIAMENT In the Reign of King CHARLES c. Most Faithfully and Impartially Examined Collected and Compared together for the present Seasonable Use Benefit and Information of the Publick ALSO The Wonderful and most Solemn Manner and Form of Ratitifying Confirming and Pronouncing of that most dreadful Curse and Execration against the Violaters and Infringers of MAGNA CHARTA In the Time of HENRY the Third King of England c By a Person of Quality and True Lover of his Countrey LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Richard Janeway in Queens-Head-Court in Pater-Noster-Row M.DC.LXXXIX Multum in Parvo AUT VOX VERITATIS c. THAT we are fallen into an Age wherein almost all sorts of Men amongst us are still setled upon their Lees there 's none of us all so happy as to be ignorant thereof and how that the Judgments and Sentiments of Men and more especially in this latter Age of the World are most strangely degenerated biassed enslaved and almost overwhelmed with pride vain-glory hypocrisie self-interest that great Diana and Goddess of this World ambition passion prejudice partiality faction rebellion the espousing of a party Et cum multis aliis c. And yet that which is most wonderful and matter of astonishment is this viz. That all these Parties in general or particular do declare and pretend That as to their several Transactions in the World wherein they are concerned and in opposition to the rest of their Neighbours is purely to manifest their great and fervent Zeal to the Honour and Glory of Almighty God and to promote as much as in them lyes a most firm exact and uniform Obedience not omitting at all times their specious pretences of their steady and untainted Loyalty to their Prince both in Church and State. But how these Gentlemen and specious Pretenders before mentioned will come off at the long run for as we usually say Finis coronat opus without a scratch't face and a blot in their scutcheons when-as their several Transactions shall be impartially examined and searched to the bottom is a kind of a pretty question to be started and indeed it would be a very ingenious and pleasant divertisement to any person that would make it his business to study the point and thoroughly and impartially to make an experiment thereof This small Treatise Courteous Readers peradventure may give you some small satisfaction in relation to the premises and it is more than probable that others hereafter of a more learned and more ingenious capacity may take example by this small and well-intended piece to enlarge thereupon and farther to explain what I have here succinctly intimated only for my own and for some others which I shall forbear to name present and seasonable satisfaction as to those grand Debates Councels and Transactions which are now in the midst of us upon the wheel and here I must beg that the Lord of his infinite Grace and Mercy would be pleased to send us at length a good issue upon them all both in Church and State. This I thought requisite to cite by way of Introduction and now will take leave to conduct you somewhat closer and nearer to our matter in hand Et honoi soit que mal y pense and herein we shall proceed in manner and form as followeth That we are fallen at present not only into a degenerate rebellious ambitious and stubborn Age but in particular into a very curious critical and obnoxious time in that age viz. Anno Domini 1680 and 1681 wherein as by experience is manifestly true a man is almost made though not in the edg of the Law but in the edg of some others who would be Law-makers a Capital offender for some words placing or speaking which peradventure may be very good orthodox and loyal in themselves until they come to be scanned weighed and interpreted by others in a quite different and contrary sense I know Courteous Readers you are most of you at least the best of you able and I hope willing to joyn issue with me herein as Attestators to the truth hereof But whether there be a fatality in these present years as there was about 40 years since which are by-past and gone and all things buried or at least ought to be forgotten in an Act of Oblivion as to the Transactions of those as we do usually call them rebellious times or whether this critical time doth portend good things to his Majesty of Great Britain's whom God of his infinite mercy long preserve for our peace and quietness sake affairs and concerns as to his present Government in particular or whether of any good consequence to the Subjects of his Three Kingdoms in general or whether this year the Lyon and the Lamb shall not lye down together according to an ancient Prophecy or whether His Majesties just Prerogative and his Subjects Priviledges shall go hand in hand together I am not able to determine although some pretend to give a shrewd guess thereunto as to future contingencies yet I will hope the best as being fully perswaded and convinced that the God and Father of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Author of Peace and Lover of Concord and of the Souls of them who are willing under their Magistrates whether Heathen or Christian to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty will be pleased at length to bring forth peace tranquillity and order out of all our disorders animosities and present confusions And herein let every true and Loyal-hearted Subject and English man say Amen But however this I am sure of as being able to attest that truth in particular viz. That humble Petitions and Addresses to His Majesty of Great Britain this year Anno Domini 1681 is A-la-mode and the very newest fashion and in my slender judgment and apprehension is a very comely decent and commendable fashion since the Dissolution of the late Parliament at Oxford and His Majesties late Declaration to all his Loving Subjects and Ordered to be read by the Reverend Clergy of the Land in all Churches and Chappels since which time Addresses and Humble Petitions have swarm'd in a main from all Points of the compass viz. from Cities Burroughs Towns-Corporate Lieutenancies Trained-Bands c. as if they were resolved to storm VVhitehall VVindsor-Castle Hampton-Court and His Majesty Himself God of Heaven preserve Him with no other weapons than steady and untainted Loyalty and with all dutiful and humble Allegiance unto His Majesties Government as it is now by Law established both in Church and State And for the which the Lord High Chancellor of England in the Person of His Majesty hath given them all his true and hearty Thanks for their so numerous and seasonable appearing at this present conjuncture in opposition to some others who it seems have not the good-hap with the rest of their
I conceive it will not be unacceptable unto your Lordships if setting aside all Rhetorical affectations I only in plain Countrey language humbly pray your Lordships favour to include many excuses necessary to my many infirmities In this one word I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House to present unto your Lordships their most affectionate Thanks for your ready condescending to this Conference which out of confidence in your great Wisdoms and approved Justice for the service of his Majesty and the welfare of this Realm they desired upon this occasion The House of Commons by a fatal and universal concurrence of Complaints from all the Seabordering parts of this Kingdom did find a great and grievous interruption and stop of Trade and Traffick The base Pirates of Sally ignominiously infesting our Coasts taking our Ships and Goods and leading away the Subjects of this Kingdom into Barbarous Captivity while to our shame and hinderance of Commerce our Enemies did as it were Besiege our Ports and Block up our best Rivers Mouths our Friends on slight pretences made Embargoes of our Merchants Goods and every Nation upon the least occasion was ready to contemn and slight us So great was the apparent diminution of the ancient Honour of this Crown and once strong reputation of our Nation wherewith the Commons were more troubled calling to remembrance how formerly in France in Spain in Holland and everywhere by Sea and Land the Valours of this Kingdom had been better valued and even in latter times within remembrance when we had no Alliance with France none in Denmark none in Germany no Friend in Italy in Scotland to say no more united Ireland not setled in peace and much less security at home when Spain was as ambitious as it is now under a King Philip the Second they called their Wifest the House of Austria as great and Potent and both strengthned with a Malicious League in France of persons ill-affected when the Low-Countries had no being yet by constant Councels and Old English ways even then that Spanish pride was cool'd that greatness of the House of Austria so formidable to us now was well resisted and to the United Provinces of the Low-Countries such a beginning growth and strength was given as gave us Honour over all the Christian World. The Commons therefore wondring at the evils which they suffered debating of the causes of them found they were many drawn like one Line to one Circumference of Decay of Trade and Strength of Honour and Reputation in this Kingdom which as in one Centre met in one great man the cause of all whom I am here to name the Duke of Buckingham Here Sir Dudley Diggs made a stand as wondring to see the Duke present yet he took the Roll and read the Preamble to the Charge with the Duke's Titles which I shall here for the Readers Satisfaction insert and so proceed For the speedy Redress of the great evils and mischiefs The Preamble to the Impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the honour and safety of our Soveraign Lord the King and of his Crown and Diguities and to the good and welfare of his People The Commons in this present Parliament by the Authority of our Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Great Admiral of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and of the Principality of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoin and Guyen General Governor of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant-General Admiral Captain-General and Governor of his Majesties Royal Fleet and Armado lately set forth Master of the Horse of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Warden Chancellor and Admiral of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover-Castle Justice in Eyre of all Forests and Chases on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Steward and Bayliff of Westminster Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprized in the Articles following And him the said Duke do Accuse and Impeach of the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes And now my Lords This lofty Title of this mighty man methinks doth raise my Spirits to speak with a Paulo majora canamus and let it not displease your Lordships if for Foundation I compare the beautiful Structure and fair Composition of this Monarchy wherein we live to the great work of God viz. the World it self in which the solid Body of incorporated Earth and Sea as I conceive in regard of our Husbandry Manufactures and Commerce by Land and Sea may well resemble us the Commons and as it is encompassed with Air and Fire and Spheres Celestial of Planets and a Firmament of fixed Stars all which receive their heat light and life from one great glorious Sun even like the King our Soveraign so that Firmament of fixed Stars I take to be your Lordships those Planets the great Officers of the Kingdom that pure Element of Fire the most Religious Zealous and Pious Clergy and the Reverend Judges Magistrates and Ministers of Law and Justice the Air wherein we breathe all which encompast round with cherishing comfort this Body of the Commons who truly labour for them all and though they be the Footstool and the lowest yet may well be said to be the setled Centre of the State. Now my Lords if that glorious Sun by his powerful Beams of Grace and Favour shall draw from the bowels of this Earth an Exhalation that shall fire and burn and shine out like a Star it needs not be marvell'd at if the poor Commons gaze and wonder at the Comet when they feel the effects and impute all to the corruptible matter thereof But if such an imperfect Meteor appear like that in the last Age in the Chair of Casiopea among the fixed Stars themselves where Aristotle and the old Philosophers conceived there was no place for such corruption The Meteor in 1680. is worth your observation upon this very account then as the learned Mathematicians were troubled to observe the irregular motions the prodigious magnitude and the ominous Prognosticks of that Meteor so the Commons when they see such a Blazing-Star in course so exorbitant in the affairs of this Common-wealth cannot but look up upon it and for want of Perspectives commend the nearer examination to your Lordships who may behold it
from the Kings great affection to the Duke I find him charged with deep imprudence and high oversight to hazard the Love of Millions for him only On Monday before this doleful disaster there happened a terrible and prodigious spectacle upon the Thames The Water near Lambeth-Marsh began about Three of the Clock in the afternoon to be very turbulent and after a while arising like a Mist it appeared in a Circular form about Ten yards Diameter and about Ten foot elevated from the River This Cataract or Spout of Waters was carried impetuously cross the River and made a very furious Assault upon the Garden-Walls of Tâ—â—â— house where the Duke was then building his new Water-Stain at length after a fierce attempt it brake asunder sending up a 〈◊〉 and dusky smoak like that issuing out of a Brewers Chimney which ascended as high as was well discernable and so vanisht and at the very same instant there was in the City of London so dreadful a storm of Rain and Hail with Thunder and Lightning as a great part of the Church-Yard Wall of St. Andrews Church in Holbourn fell down and divers Craves being thereby discovered many Coffins tumbled into the middle of the Channel Not long after this there fell out a difference between England and France and his Majesty in process of time being on every side on the â—â—â—ing hand he was much distressed in mind what course to take to discharge himself of those impendent Calamities should he call a Parliament the time whose every moment was precious unto him would not permit to stay for their Convention and when met The King in great want should they prove as it was odds they would as Dilatory and disgustful as the former he were in a worse condition than before In this perplexed difficulty at 〈◊〉 his Council agreed to set that great Engine his Prerogative at work Many projects were hammered on that forge but they came all to small effect First they moved for a Contribution by way of Benevolence but this was soon dasht Then a resolution was taken to advance the value of Coyn Two shillings in the pound but this also was soon argued down by Sir Robert Cotton But that which the Council stuck closest to was the issuing of a Commission dated October the 13th Raiseth money by Loan for raising almost Two hundred thousand younds by way of Loan and the more to expedite and facilitate this Levy the Commissioners were instructed to represent to the Subject the deplorable estate of Rochel then closely beleaguer'd by the Duke of Guise and if not speedily relieved would fall irrecoverably into the hands of the Enemies of the Protestant Religion These were plausible insinuations For Rochel though scituated in another Countrey yet was looked upon as in the same parallel Belief with us And what will nor men suffer for others of the same perswasion especially when Fame reports them sufferers because of the same perswasion But all would not smooth the asperity of this most Illegal Tax Rochel and all other Foreign Considerations must stand by and aloof off when homebred Liberty is disputed so thought the almost Majority of the Kingdom who opposed it to Durance Upon this account of refusal Many refuse Prisoners some of the Nobility and most of the prime Gentry were daily brought in by scores I might almost say by Counties so that the Council Table had almost as much work to provide Prisons as to supply the Kings necessities This year Learning lost two Luminaries of the greatest Magnitude that ever this Nation enjoyed viz. Dr. Andrews Bishop of VVinchester and Sir Francis Bacon Vicount St. Albans Lord High Chancellor of England The Commission of Loan not answering in its product his Majesties expectation the Papists began now to plot their own advantage from the Kings wants and under pretence of Loyalty they of Ireland propounded to him That upon consideration of a Toleration of their Religion they would at their own charge furnish him with a constant Army of five thousand Foot and five hundred Horse But this project to their great regret proved Dow-baked the Protestants countermining them For in the next Spring Doctor Downham Bishop of London-Derry Preaching before the Lord Deputy and the whole State April 22. 1627. taking for his Text Luke 1. 74. That we being delivered from the hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation subscribed by the Archbishops and all the Bishops of that Kingdom 1. That the Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous 2. Their Faith and Doctrine Erroneous and Heretical 3. Their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration is to make our selves accessary to their abominations and to the perdition of their Souls But to sell them a Toleration is to set Religion to sale and with that their Souls which Christ hath redeemed with his most precious blood The Bishop having ended this Protestation added And let all the People say Amen which they did so as the Church almost shook with the noise The Deputy required of the Bishop a Copy of both his Sermon and Protestation who answered he would most willingly justifie it before his Majesty and feared not to read it And now although moneys came in but slowly yet was the Naval Force completed for expedition about Midsummer whereof the Duke appeared Admiral as ambitious of some meritorious service to earn a better gust or to correct the universal odium against him June the 27th he set Sail from Pertsmouth with about six thousand Horse and Foot and July the eleventh he published a Manifesto declaring the impulsive causes of his Majesties present Arming But the Duke had very ill success in this expedition for the English were routed at the Isle of Rhe The English routed at the Isle of Rhe. the sum of their loss were about fifty Officers but the greatest loss was that gallant man Sir John Burroughs who was slain by a Musquet Bullet from the Citadel while he was viewing the English works of Common Soldiers few less than two thousand Prisoners of Note thirty five Colours taken forty four hung up as Anthems at Paris in the Church of Nostredame our Honour lost The Prisoners Lewis graciously dismist home as an affectionate offertory to his Sister the Queen of England which made up another Victory superadded to the former and a conquest over us as well in the exercise of civilities as in feat of Arms only the Lord Montjoy was ransomed for the which he offering to the French King a round sum No my Lord. it is said the King replied your Redemption shall be only two couple of Hounds from England Some interpreted this a slender value of that Lord to be exchanged for a couple of Dogs but it was only in the King a modest estimate of his courtesie The Rechellers being besieged by the French King The Rochelers