Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
being too strong But no sooner was the King gone than that the turbulent Spirits in the House of Commons set to work in framing a bitter Remonstrance of the general Grievances of the Kingdom to make his Majesties Government seem odious to his Subjects which was ordered to be brought into the House Whereupon grew great debates and disputes which lasted from three of the clock afternoon the whole night following and till ten of the Clock on the morrow But at length many who disliked and opposed it partly by reason of their age of infirmity of Body being wearied out and departing others through sloth or timorousness leaving the House it was voted by some few voices divers of the factious party being fetcht out of their Beds to assist This Remonstrance being a compendium of all the mistakes and misfortunes that had hapned since the beginning of his Majesties reign to that hour objected to him the Actions of some and the Thoughts of others reproacht him with such things of which he never knew and reviled him to his people complained also of the House of Peers and ascribed all the Acts of Grace already passed in that Parliament to their own wisdom in procuring with intimation of their despair in setling the distractions of the Kingdom by reason of the power of a malignant-party and want of concurrence by the House of Peers wherein so many Bishops and malignant Lords then sat This being done their next work was to get the whole command of the Militia which being had nothing afterwards could be difficult to them For the better effecting thereof they therefore had again recourse to those shadows of Conspiracies and Plots which had stood them in good stead before The first of them being a new pretended Treason by the Earl of Craford and others against the Marquess of Hamilton then in Scotland and other Peers of that Realm this being signified by Letters from their Committee in Scotland dated 14 Oct. Whereupon that the like here might be prevented orders were directed to the Sheriffs of London Middlesex and Surrey for setling strong Guards of armed-men in places of moment Likewise the whole Trayned-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and there attended all that day giving this reason for that order viz. Because the mischeivous designs and conspiracies lately discovered in Scotland against some principal and great men there by some of the Popish-faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maintain correspondency here and practise the like in this Realm In like manner the same Trayn-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and attended all that day until the Houses rose And the next day following Mr. Pym made a large Speech at a conference to lay open the Conspiracy Neither wanted they the Pulpits to advance their designs their Lecturers in several parts being men neither of learning nor conscience insinuating to the People all those falshoods and scandals which might work in them a dislike towards his Majesty depraving the conformable-Clergy charging them with Revolt from the Protestant Religion with purpose to introduce Popery one of them preaching to the Brotherhood in the Artillery-Garden expressing that for the defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church it was lawful to take up Arms against the King As a preparative whereunto a Bill was brought into the House for putting all the Forts and Castles and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into such hands as they might confide in CHAP. VIII IN this time the Rebellion in Ireland breaking forth it will not be improper to say somewhat thereof wherein though I shall not charge our grand Conspirators here with having any hand as to matter of council or contrivance with the Ring-leaders of that barbarous Insurrection yet can I not at all excuse them from giving great occasion for it and not without suspicion of Design if all be true that I have seen in a brief discourse thereof publish'd in print in an 1644. Which I shall leave to the better judgment of such as then lived and well observed the Actions of those times The substance of which Narrative is this viz. That the Irish being a people born and bred in the Romish Religion which they did glory to have derived from their Ancestors for no less than Thirteen hundred years and wherein they had connivence ever since the Reformation it could not be imagined when they saw such a Storm approach them by the harsh proceedings of the Parliament then sitting at Westminster against those of their profession in England who were daily cavill'd withall charg'd with sundry forged Conspiracies and Plots to render them odious and distastful to the world the wardship and education of their children voted to the disposal of others their votes as Peers in Parliament endangered and the large Progress made in England and Scotland towards the extirpation of the Protestant Religion as it then stood establish'd by Law in both Realms under which they had enjoyed their estates though upon certain penalties with the charge whereof they were well acquainted but they had cause enough to fear that their own misery was not far off especially discerning that the Insolency of the Scots did daily increase toward them whose large footing in their Kingdom having an inveterate hatred towards the Natives might endanger their shouldring them out Considering likewise the frequent Reports given out in that Kingdom to extirpate their Religion and Nation as also that Orders were made by the Houses of Parliament in England incroaching upon their priviledges of Parliament in Ireland and that their Committee after nine months attendance on his Majesty who was graciously pleased to hear their grievances being referr'd to the Houses of Parliament here upon his departure from London towards Scotland 10 Aug. 1641 was constrain'd to return without any redress through the prevalency of some leading Members who before had all they could misinterpreted to his Majesty the proceedings and Actions of the Parliament in Ireland It was therefore not a little fear'd by some that those provocations were purposely exercised to exasperate the Irish to take up Arms that so under colour of suppressing them as Rebels they might be utterly destroyed and eradicated Nor was it without suspicion by others considering how eagerly that Act for confiscation of their Lands was prosecuted by those Members at Westminiter at the very beginning of that Insurrection Also how his Majesties going over in person after the same brake out was hinder'd which in probability might have quencht that flame Moreover how they ingrossed that war into their own hands thereby to have the power to employ any forces raised or levied for it to assist in pursuance of their design upon this Kingdom as they should see cause as was evident by those under the command of the Lord Wharton and others which were in the Battel of
A SHORT VIEW OF THE Late Troubles IN ENGLAND Briefly setting forth Their RISE GROWTH and TRAGICAL CONCLUSION As also some Parallel thereof with the BARONS-WARS in the time of King HENRY III. But chiefly with that in France called the HOLY LEAGUE in the Reign of HENRY III. and HENRY IV. late Kings of that Realm To which is added A Perfect Narrative of the Treaty at Uxbridge in an 1644. OXFORD Printed at the THEATER for MOSES PITT at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-Yard London MDCLXXXI Carolus Primus D. G. Anglia Scotia Francia et Hibernia Rex F. D. THE PREFACE THat all Rebellions did ever begin with the fairest Pretences for Reforming of somewhat amiss in the Government is a Truth so clear that there needs no manifestation thereof from Examples Nor were they ever observed to have greater success than when the Colours for Religion did openly appear in the Van of their armed Forces most men being desirous to have it really thought how bad and vile soever their practises are that zeal to God's glory is no small part of their aim Which guilded bait hath been usually held forth to allure the Vulgar by those whose ends and designs were nothing else than to get into power and so to possess themselves of the Estates and Fortunes of their more opulent Neighbours Should I look far backwards for discovery of the first source and fountain whence that viperous brood which not long since hath so miserably infested these Kingdoms did spring of whose unparallel'd practises the ensuing Narrative doth specially take notice I must ascend to the times of Moses and Aaron the one the supreme Magistrate the other the chief Priest Corah Dathan and Abiran then rising up and taking upon themselves an authority equal with those chosen servants of God and saying that all the Congregation was Holy In like manner afterward when Absolom the rebellious son of David rose up against his father there was a demure face of Godliness put on of a solemn vow to be performed to God at Hebron and large promises of reformation of all abuses in Government were made by the unnatural usurper This sort of practice continued in the Iewish Church till the time of the Gospel as is conspicuous enough from the words of our blessed Saviour where he speaks of the Scribes and Pharisees that they did outwardly appear righteous unto men but within were full of Hypocrisy and Guile devouring Widows houses and for a pretence making long Prayers Our Lord in the xith and xvith Chapter of St. Luke making likewise a farther Description of them St. Paul also in his Epistle to Timothy plainly foretelling us that such should again spring up in the last times Men saith he who shall be Lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud c. Traiterous heady high-minded c. having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof Now that the offspring of these did more or less infest the world throughout all after-times would be no difficult thing to manifest were it here necessary or convenient In the time of heathen persecution of Christianity rose up Novatian the father of the Cathari or Puritans to whom may be added Donatus and his followers who confin'd Godliness to themselves and religion to Africa their country After the settlement of the Church in Christian Emperors appear'd Aerius the first inventor of Presbytery which tho it seem'd a long time dead has been of late raked out of its ashes and made to trouble and set on fire the Western Church As to the usual practises of the men of this sect there is nothing more clear than that Religion nay the Reformation thereof to its purity hath bin the thing which they have ever cryed up and that meekness sanctity and the power of Godliness are the Cloaks in which they have alway at first shew'd themselves by which plausible devices they have captivated thousands But it is no less evident that having by this means got power into their hands destruction of civil Government Rapine Spoil and the greatest mischeifs imaginable have bin the woful effects of those their Specious pretences whereby they have really verified that expression of our Saviour viz. that they were of their father the Devil and the Works of him they should do But to come nearer my present business That the Actions of our late times chiefly from the year 1637 till 1660 can be easily forgotten or that there is any need of reviving the memory of them to this present Age 't is not to be imagin'd Nevertheless for their sakes who are ignorant of the means and preparations made in order to those grand Exploits then done and that Posterity may have a short view thereof I have adventured upon the publishing of this Discourse which was long since compiled Wherein I first deduce our late Troubles in England and other his Majesties Realms from the principles of those persons who about an hundred and fifty years before under the same Hypocritical pretences did greivously infest Germany And having finished that Narrative as particularly and fully as I may afterwards manifest that the original project of our chief Contrivers here was to reduce the King to Necessities and thereby to expose him to the use of such extraordinary ways of Supply as might most conduce to the raising of discontent amongst all his good Subjects Which they did by engaging first his father in a war for the Palatinate and their failing to assist him notwithstanding their most solemn promises As also by planting Schismatical Lectures in most corporateTowns and populous places throughout the Realm so to poison the people with Antimonarchical principles In the next place I shall take notice of the rise and progress of the late troubles in Scotland which were the Prologue to these of ours Then of the Scottish Invasion which occasioned the unhappy long Parliament and likewise of some proceedings in that Parliament before the predominant party therein did put themselves in Arms. After this I shall point at the dissolution of the Presbyterian power and growth of the Independent whereupon ensued the nefarious murther of King Charles the first and after that such confusions as made way for the happy Restoration of our present Soveraign King Charles the second Which being done I shall make some observations upon their first fair and smooth pretences set forth in several Declarations and Remonstrances by which the too credulous people were miserably deluded and drawn from their due Allegiance And lastly give some brief Account of those Actings by the Rebellious Barons here in the time of King Henry the third which had most resemblance with the practises of these our pretended Reformers As also shew how exact a parallel these great Masters in mischief have held with those of the Holy League in France whose Rebellion terminated in some sort as ours did in the Murther of their King What falleth within my own cognisance I deliver with mine own words what is beyond
of England having not only been invaded by the Dutch but their bold usupation therein openly justifyed by certain public Writings the King with the advice of his Council-learned did about the same time issue out certain Writs directed as well to all the Inland Counties as to the respective Port-Towns according to the example of his Royal Progenitors to set out a certain number of Ships furnish'd with Mariners Amunition Victual and all other necessaries for defence of the Realm By which means he did not only assert and recover that dominion on the Sea which really belong'd to this Kingdom but much improved Trade and Commerce whereby the generality of his Subjects were not a little enrich'd But this just and rational practise some of the malevolent Members of his former Parliaments and others of that stamp under pretence of standing up for the Rights and Properties of the Subjects did stubbornly oppose though his Majesty had the clear and unanimous opinion of all the grave and learned Judges of his Courts in Westminster-Hall under their hands to justify those his Proceedings Nevertheless waving any arbitrary power he freely gave leave that the Case should be solemnly debated in the Exchequer-Chamber Which being publikly done after divers solid Arguments thereon no less then ten of those twelve Judges fully declared their opinion for the Legality thereof Sr. George Crook and Sr. Richard Hulton only dissenting though they had formerly subscribed thereto This as to the Civil Liberties and what as hath been before observed of the great noise made every where touching the fear of Popery was it whereof not only the factious people here took great advantage but those of that leven in Scotland who thereupon began to set on foot a contrivance whereby they might have the colour of Religion* to help on their work Whereunto the rise they took was a pretended apprehension that the Liturgy sent to them in an 1637 was a meer Popish Service-book and purposely design'd to introduce the Romish worship into both Kingdoms From the ground of which seeming jealousies they fell foul upon the Bishops under colour that they were the framers thereof and the chief Instruments for obtruding it upon them To clear them therefore of this most impious scandal I shall here breifly represent to the world what that so much defam'd Liturgy was and on what occasion it was sent into that Realm King Iames after he came to enjoy the Crown of England well observing the Decency and Uniformity of God's worship here and the Deformity thereof in his own native Kingdom where no set or public form of Prayer was used but oftimes seditious expressions girding at Sovereignty and Authority and stuft with false Reports upon his Progress into Scotland an 1616 an Assembly being then held at Aberdene he proposed to that Convention a public Liturgy to be used in that Realm Which pious motion being then and there well approved of a Liturgy was accordingly framed and in all points properly fitted for that Kirk and after his return into England convey'd to him where it was viewed by some of his Scottish Subjects yet not sent thither whilst that King lived Being thus composed his Son and Successor K. Charles after a review thereof finding it in substance the same with the English Liturgy which his Majesty in point of prudence declin'd to recommend unto them lest they might cavil thereat under colour that it would be look'd upon as a badge of Dependency upon the Church of England then sent it to the Lords of the Privy-Council of that Realm by their advice to be publicly read without the least suspition of any dislike thereof in regard it did so little differ from the English Liturgy wherewith his Scottish Subjects of all sorts were well acquainted by reason of their frequent resort to his Majesties own Chappel and many other Churches in this Realm where it was constantly used as also in his Royal Chappel at Haly-Rood-House whereunto the Nobility Bishops Judges Gentry and people of all degrees did usually come Cathedrals of Scotland and University of St. Andrews and not only so but commended in the Sermons of some of their after principal Covenanters especially Mr. Rollock But Rebellion being the close and underhand design of these great Pretenders to Godliness whereby in case they did prosper they might swallow up the Possessions of the Crown and Church with the Estates of all his Majesties loyal Subjects the contrivance was so laid that the Common people should be possess'd with an opinion that the King having married a Popish Queen did resolve to introduce the Romish Religion first into Scotland and afterwards into the rest of his dominions and to that end first to settle this Liturgy there it being privately whispered that it was the very Mass translated into their Language Which so far incensed the vulgar that upon the reading thereof in the great Church at Edenborough upon the 23 d of Iuly the same year 1637 they made such a tumult as that the Dean who read it and many other persons of note had much adoe to escape thence with their lives Which uproar was so barbarous that the day following the Lords of the Council there set forth a Proclamation* in dislike thereof And the Magistrates of Edenborough to make up the Pageant sent Letters into England to the Archbishop of Canterbury desiring him to recommend to the King's Majesty their zeal and forwardness for setling the peaceable practise thereof Neither would any man of note then seem to own that Tumult but attributed it to the Rogues and base multitude except the zealous Kirkmen who cryed it up in their Pulpits and magnifyed them for the most heroical Sparks that ever God inspired and raised up in this last age of the world and for their happy Mouths and Hands which God was pleas'd to honour that day with the beginning of their new Blessed Reformation and occasioning their celestial Covenant as they call'd it that their memorial should be eternal and all succeeding generations should call them blessed After this about the end of Harvest began a tumultuous conflux of the Nobility Gentry Ministers and others at Edenborough from all parts of the Kingdom howbeit as yet the principal persons in authority there seemed to stand right enough in their loyalty so that his Majesty the less feared the ensuing mischeifs the more to prevent any suspition thereof set forth three Proclamations First that nothing should be treated of at the Council-Table there about Church-business till they saw the times and meeting of his Majesties Subjects more quiet and peaceable The Second for removing the Session or Term from Edenborough to Lithgow for fear of present danger The third for burning a seditious Book dispersed in derogation of the Ecclesiastical Government in England But these Proclamations were for little else then shew the Tumults increasing so that the next day
designs The Marquess therefore shewing a dislike to those their sinister dealings departed from the Assembly at Glasgow Whereupon the Covenanters protested against all that he had said and done there as his Majesties Commissioner And at the same instant the Lord Areskyn and three other mean persons came and beg'd to be admitted into their blessed Covenant Which offer though of purpose contrived was made so good use of by the Moderator that he desired it might be admired as God's approbation and Sealing of their proceedings And it being put to the question whether they should adhere to their Protestation and continue the Assembly notwithstanding the King's Commissioners departure it was voted by most affirmatively Secondly whether the Assembly though dissolv'd by his Majesties Commissioner was competent judge against the Bishops and whether they would go on in their Tryal it passed also affirmatively nemine contradicente And now no sooner was the Marquess thus departed having caused his Majesties Proclamation to be publish'd by Heraulds at the Market-Cross in Glasgow for dissolving the Assembly but that Mr. Archibald Iohnston the then Clerk to the Assembly made a scandalous Protestation against it After which all things were transacted by some few pack'd Committees of the most fierce Covenanters which sate till the thirtieth of December following Which Committees amongst other of their Acts declared six general Assemblies to be Null and void whereof two were then in force by several Acts of Parliament and divers Acts of the other four confirm'd by Parliament They condemned likewise all the Arminian Tenets as they call'd them without defining what those Tenets were They also deprived all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of that Realm excommunicating many of them without examining any one witness to prove no nor offering to produce any to testify ought against them And next declared Episcopal Government to be inconsistent with the Laws of that Church and Kingdom abolishing it for ever though it then stood confirm'd by many Acts both of Parliament and Assemblies They also depriv'd divers Ministers for Arminianisme without ever questioning them for what Tenets or opinions they held Moreover towards the end of their Assembly they divided themselves into several Committees which after their rising should see all their Acts put in execution And at the conclusion of all the Moderator gave God thanks for their good success congratulating the Nobility for their great pains giving thanks also to the Earl of Argyle for his Presence and Council Which Earl in a long Speech then excused his late declaring himself yet protesting that he was always set that way though he delay'd to profess it so long as he found his close carriage might advantage their Cause but now he must openly adjoyn himself to their Society or prove a Knave as he said Hereupon the Marquess his Majesties Commissioner resolving to ask the King's leave to return for England came first to Edenborough where he found strong Guards put upon the Castle and the people much abused by false Reports viz. that his Majesty had made good nothing at all which was contained in his Declaration at Edenborough upon the two and twentieth of September last whereupon he caused a Proclamation to be published in his Majesties name at the Market-cross there containing the sum of his whole proceedings at Glasgow Which being encountered with a blustering and undutiful Protestation in the name of the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland and published at the same time and place he return'd into England Then the Faction proceeded to levy Soldiers impose Taxes and requiring obedience to their Acts menac'd the Refusers raised divers Fortifications in that Kingdom block'd up his Majesties Castles and Forts and took the Castle of Edenborough procuring their Preachers seditiously to teach the People that there was a Necessity of bearing Arms against his Majesty under pain of Perjury and Damnation and caused such an infamous Ballad to be sung up and down against the Bishops as that in hatred of them the people called a Dog with black and white spots a Bishop as he went in the Streets Moreover they procured divers Libels to be scattered in England for justification of their rebellious courses and defamation of Ecclesiastical Government inciting his Majesties Subjects in this Realm to attemt the like Rebellion here refusing to admit such to the Communion who had not subscribed their Covenant and preaching that the Non-subscribers were Atheists Nay one of them in his Sermon exhorted the people never to give over till they had the King in their power and then he should see what good Subjects they were Others preach'd that the Service-Book was fram'd at fome These and many other groundless scandals and falshoods to amuse the People they published in their Pulpits which they call'd the Chairs of truth And to hasten on the Peoples Insurrection endeavoured to perswade them that his Majesty intended an Invasion of that Kingdom and to make it a Province as also to despoil them of their Laws and Liberties and to give them new Laws as if they were a conquer'd Nation And having thus prepared the People and fitted themselves with all Provisions for war they put themselves in Armes and march'd to the Frontiers of England pretending they came as Petitioners The King therefore discerning the danger raised a gallant Army whereof he made Thomas Earl of Arundel his General and on the seven and twentieth of March set forwards towards Scotland having with him the flower of his English-Nobility and Gentry whose cheerfulness then to serve him was very great Yet was the Earl of Essex at that time his Lieutenant-General and the Earl of Holland General of the Horse so much was his Majesty then mistaken in their affections to him who did afterwards sufficiently discover themselves And advancing with his Army encamp'd four miles West from Barwick What correspondence was then held betwixt the Scots and divers of the great ones then in his Majesties Camp considering also who were of his Bed-chamber may easily be guest by the consequences Certain it is that divers of them grew cool in the business so that after the Scots had by a formal Petition expressed that they falling down at his Majesties feet did most humbly supplicate him to appoint some of the Kingdom of England to hear by some of them their humble desires his Majesty assented thereunto and after several meetings thereupon and their demands presented in writing professed that it was their greif that his Majesty had been provoked to wrath against them his most humble and loving Subjects and that it should be their delight upon his gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Laws to give example to all others of all civil and temporal obedience which could be required of loyal Subjects To which his Majesty answered that if their desires were only the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to
in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
now plainly see Eleven of those sixteen English Lords which were chosen on his Majesties part being afterwards Actors or Assisters in the late war against him The first demand there made by the Scots Commissioners being no less then forty thousand pounds a month for maintenanne of their Army during the Treaty Which tho not directly granted was so far yielded to as that the Assessment impos'd by them upon the Countie of Northumberland Bishopric of Durham and Town of Newcastle should stand good for the raising of Eight hundred and fifty pounds a day allowance for the space of two months to begin upon the sixteenth of that instant October And that there should be a cessation of Arms the Scots Army to be confin'd on the North part the River Tese and the English to the South thereof CHAP. VII WHich footing thus gotten by the Scots in the North gave no small encouragement to their well-wishers in the South especially in London who in contemplation also of the ensuing Parliament which by his Majesty was summon'd to meet upon the third of November following were not a little animated in divers bold Enterprizes for scandalous papers and Libels were frequently thrown in the streets against the Bishops Yea so bold were the multitude grown by the example of the Scots in an 1637 and through the incitation of many Citizens and others of note who would not then shew themselves that on the 22th of October a rabble of no less than Two thousand Brownists and the like Sectaries entred St. Paul's Cathedral where the high Commission Court then sat tore down all the Benches and cried out No Bishop No High Commission To the consideration of which Parliament begun on the third of November accordingly did the King represent the safety and security of this Realm earnestly desiring that care might be speedily taken for riddance of the Scots which had thus invaded the North and to satisfy their just Grievances promised his hearty concurrence desiring that his Army might not be suffer'd to disband for want of pay before the Rebels for so he then call'd the Scots were put out And that they would lay aside all suspicions to the end it might become a happy Parliament resolving to cast himself wholly upon the love and affection of his English Subjects But the house of Commons consisting of the same or persons worse affected then those in April before the prevalent party purging the House of divers persons whom they concieved would not comply with their destructive enterprises for such they either finding fault with their Elections or making them criminals as to some public Grievances though others of a deeper guilt were not touch'd whose offences might make them obnoxious to their power or obsequious to their designs went slowly on with what his Majesty had proposed to them for the busy-party who were the great Actors in the ensuing Tragedy then fell to contrivance about the accomplishment of their long desired work To which purpose the Treaty at Rippon was soon after remov'd to Westminster to the end that there they might have the Scots Commissioners at hand and the power of the Londoners to assist them for it had been impossible without the conjunction and help of the Prevalent and factious party in that City ever to have accomplish'd the ruine of the establish'd Government and destruction of the King as they afterwards did In order whereunto the first step they made was the entertaining Petitions of Grievances from all parts of the Realm which made such a noise as if the Subjects of England had suffered under the greatest slavery and oppression that had ever been heard of and being devised and framed by themselves were receiv'd with such great acceptance as that the People began to shew no small expressions of Joy in their new Reformers Who to win them the more besides the Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford which was within two days following whom they had made sufficiently odious by representing him to be one of the greatest causes of their oppressions and an especial Enemy to Parliaments expell'd divers Projectors and Monopolists out of the House of Commons impeach'd the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely and Lord Keeper Finch for Treason against the State having in order thereto by libellous Pamphlets and Pictures rendred them hateful to the People Damn'd that hideous Grievance of Ship-money by vote Pass'd a Bill for a Triennial Parliament as also impeach'd Justice Berkley of High Treason for his activeness in the business of Ship-money And to try how safely they might adventure to strike at the establish'd Government of the Church which might make the easier way for ruine of the State they brought Pryn Burton and Bastwick in triumph to London who had been censured in the Star-Chamber for Libels against the Hierarchy countenancing a Petition exhibited to them by Alderman Penington against Episcopacy and Church-Discipline Yet that there might be no doubt of their zeal and dutiful affection to the King they sent a Message to his Majesty to desire leave that they might advance and settle his Revenue offering to make him the richest King in Christendom And having thus gain'd a strong confidence with the people what blessed Patriots they were like to be that they might also seem as zealous for God's cause they exhibited a Remonstrance in the name of both Houses to his Majesty grounded upon divers Petitions which they had subtilly procured from all parts of the Realm of the increase of Popery Also that the danger thereof might the more amaze the world they then began to open their Cabinet of Plots and Conspiracies four of the House of Commons imparting to the Lords a a discovery of an horrid design by many thousands of Papists in England Ireland and Wales Moreover because of the great complaint of Innovation in Religion increase of Popery and growth of Superstition they appointed Commissioners for removing Rails from about all Communion-Tables throughout the Realm Likewise to the end that the Bishops might the better attend their Spiritual functions they voted that none of them should have voice in Parliament nor meddle in temporal affairs And to assure the Scots whose Army they as yet thought not fit to part with till their work was brought to more maturity they gave them three hundred thousand pounds towards a supply of their losses and Necessities Which signal favour got them the stile of Brethren and thanks from the Scotish-Commissioners who seem'd so tender of our good that they desired the Treaty might be accelerated and the Kingdom eased of the burthen of the two Armies by their returning home The next thing wherewith they went in hand was the Trial of the Earl of Strafford for 't was resolv'd he must be cut off being a person of such integrity to the King and known abilities To which purpose
having prepared Westminster Hall with Scaffolds they began his trial upon the two and twentieth of March where they charg'd him with subverting the Fundamental Laws of England and Ireland with threatning to root the Scotch Nation out of Ireland with procuring his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament as also with betraying Newcastle and the King's Army to the Scots And after many days labour to prove him guilty of Treason by the Law and failing thereof they brought in a special Bill to attaint him wherein they took care to insert a special Clause that it should not be drawn into President thereby to secure themselves from a return of that Injustice upon any of them which they acted on him Which Bill was twice read and voted in one day What course they took with those that concur'd not with them in passing thereof and other their practises I shall briefly mention when I come to their apparent violation of the Privileges of Parliament How multitudes out of the City were brought down to the Parliament-House to cry for Justice Also with what difficulty his Majesty passed that Bill though importun'd by the Earl's own Letter out of hope his death might have satisfied those blood-thirsty men I spare to mention but on the twelfth of May they cut off his Head on Tower Hill Which strange and unjust way of proceeding driven on by those who stood least affected to the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church caused many to fear that which afterwards came to pass Left therefore the People whom under the most specious pretences they were to captivate should have the least suspicion of hazard to the Service of God as it stood here establish'd they cunningly insinuated to the world that by means of a Jesuitical Party the Protestant Religion was in no small danger and therefore as zealous Champions for the same framed a formal Protestation for its sure defence as it then stood establish'd in the Church of England both in Doctrine and Discipline which for farther satisfaction they caused to be solemnly taken by every Member of Parliament and not only so but by a special Order made it public by the Press and sent it to several Counties of this Realm But their grand work being to get the Militia into their power by which means whatever else they had a mind to might be accomplish'd as an Introduction thereunto divers strange Plots and Conspiracies were talk'd of Which Plots not only stood them in stead to amuse and put fears into the people who by a most implicit faith did then believe that all they acted was for their good but to countenance those many unreasonable demands they made from his Majesty so that under the shadow of them they might go through with any thing And therefore it will not be amiss to view by what degrees they themselves with these devices proceeded towards the obtaining those their desired ends The first of these that they broach'd was a conspiracy by divers in the House of Commons to bring in a French Army unto which the Irish and English should be joyned Whereupon a vote was passed that new Fortifications should be rais'd at Portsmouth and the Cinqueports and order taken that one Lord and two of the Commons viz. the Lord Kymbolton Sir Walter Earle and Sir Philip Stapleton should be forthwith dispatch'd thither About the same time also they sent some of their Members to Lambeth House to search for Amunition and Arms as also about the Parliament-House for fear of any Plot. Which pretended fear was much countenanced by a Letter directed to the Lady Shelley and produced by Mr. Pym discovering a design to destroy Then was there a Report in the House of what a Jesuit should say of some great design against this Kingdom As also of a Letter from Calais of many Frenchmen coming for England and of another Jesuits speech of firing the Parliament-House Again of French intended to land here And within a short space after Mr. Nathaniel Fienes made report to the Houses that a Plot to seize the Tower was newly discovered as also to send over the Irish Army and for delivery of Portsmouth to the French and Papists for assistance wherein the Bishops were to raise a thousand Horse And shortly after Mr. Henry Percie Mr. Iermyn Sir Iohn Sucklyn and Mr. Davenant were voted guilty of another Plot to bring up the Army and force the Parliament which wrought to purpose by putting terrible Fears and Iealousies into the People And to make up all a Letter from the Earl of Holland was read of new practises against the State Whereupon at a conference of both Houses a select Committee was appointed to advise of putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence Which being done the next artifice they used was to perpetuate the Parliament to the end that the name of that might the more plausibly carry them through in this grand work To effect this therefore they pretended that the great Sums of Money which the Scots were to have could not suddenly be rais'd and that being to be borrow'd for their present riddance Lenders would hardly be found unless they saw a certain way to secure their moneys which the danger of dissolving this Parliament would hazard Whereupon they brought in a Bill to prevent the adjourning or dissolving there of without the consent of both Houses And to carry on the people with all assurance of their future happiness and freedom from oppression by Courts of Arbitrary Jurisdiction they voted and sent up certain Bills for suppressing the Courts of High Commission and Star-Chamber and regulating the Council Table as also for bounding the Forests preventing vexatious proceedings concerning Knighthood and regulating the Clerk of the Market besides that of Tonnage and Poundage All which his Majesty out of his abundant goodness expecting that these unparallel'd Acts of grace would have oblig'd them in a stronger bond of dutiful Allegiance was pleased to pass before his going into Scotland And as a witness to the candor of his intentions admitted divers Lords then most popular but since great Actors in this woful Tragedy to be of his Privy-Council conferring on three of them great Offices of Honour Trust and Benefit And now supposing that he had given them as great a measure of content as their hearts could desire he took his journey into Scotland on the tenth of August there to establish the peace of that Realm in setling whatsoever should be thought meet for the happiness thereof About which time the Armies were disbanded that had been so long delay'd though the continuance of them was no less charge than 80000 l. a month their work before being not brought forward enough Some of the leading-members in plain terms declaring that yet they could not spare them the sons of Zerviah
the Parliament House crying No Bishops and calling them the limbs of Antichrist And on the same day to accompany so good a work they presented to the King by the hands of the Earl of Holland their grand Remonstrance of the Grievances of the Kingdom which had been ordered to be brought into the House the twelfth of August past thereby to blast all those gracious condescentions which they had obtained from him before Whereunto his Majesty soon after made a full and clear Answer and publish'd his Royal Declaration thereupon for the satisfaction of all his good Subjects to the end they might not be deluded by those undutiful false and scandalous aspersions cast upon his Government by that malicious Libel And soon after for the better prevention of any more such dangerous tumults and uproars at or near the Houses of Parliament he directed his special Writ according to the Statute unto the Sheriffs of London to place a Guard at Westminster But the House of Commons deeming this Guard thus legally placed by the King no way conducing to their Design presently voted it to be a breach of their priviledges and an offence of an high nature and thereupon not only order'd that the said Watch should be discharg'd but that the Justices of Middlesex for their obedience to his Majesties commands herein should be question'd whereupon Justice Long was committed to the Tower That there was a most factious party in the City of London which were great Instruments in raising the ensuing Rebellion is plain enough Nor is it less observable that they acted their parts therein by colour of Authority viz. by outing all the Common-Council which were men of worth and bringing men of desperate fortunes in their rooms Wherein they had such furtherance by the help of the multitude who aim'd at their own advantage by any change of Government that they then introduced Fowkes Ryley the Boddies-maker Perkins the Lord Say's Taylor Normington the Cutler Mills the Brick-layer and divers other such mean fellows instead of Mr. Drake Mr. Roger Clarke Sir George Bynion Mr. Roger Gardner and several other worthy Citizens whose loyalty they well knew could not be corrupted These being the principal agents in all the Tumults which stood them in much stead for accomplishing of their chiefest aims And therefore plain it was to be seen what design they had when they urged the passing of the Bill for not Adjourning or Dissolving of that Parliament without their own consents having such a party in the City to back them upon all occasions Having thus dissolv'd the Guard so appointed by his Majesty there came another Tumult of the Citizens to Westminster Whereupon some Members of the House of Commons making complaint of the danger whereunto they were subject by those riotous people and how that already they had been assaulted and evil intreated by them at the very door of the House desired that some course might be taken for restraining and punishing them for the same But instead thereof divers spoke in justification of them and commended their affections saying they must not discourage their friends this being a time to make use of them all And Mr. Pym added God forbid that the House of Commons should proceed in any sort to dishearten the people for obtaining their just desires in such a way And accordingly there was a paper delivered by some or other to the Minister that preach'd at Christ-Church the Sunday following desiring that Prayer might be made to God to assist the Apprentices with strength to root out Superstition and to extirpate the Innovations of the Bishops and Clergy After which matters were every day carried with a more high hand than before the Tumultuous people having as apparent countenance from the House as before they had private encouragement Insomuch as the Lord Mayor of London came to Whitehall and acquainted the King that he discerned if Sir Thomas Lunsford whom he had newly made Lieutenant of the Tower were not removed the Apprentices would rise and pull him out So that his Majesty to prevent such an insurrection took the Keys from Sir Thomas Lunsford and constituted Sir Thomas Byron in his room with whom the factious Spirits were as ill satisfied tho they knew not well what to object against him till at last Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavitae-man and Nicholson the Chandler complained in the Common-Council that since Sir Iohn Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower the Mint to the great prejudice and dishonour of the Kingdom stood still Yea so insolent were these tumultuous people grown that upon the Kings Proclamation grounded upon a Penal Law to dissipate them in contempt thereof they came early the next morning in greater numbers than ever divers of them being arm'd with Swords and Halberts and towards the evening assaulted the great Church at Westminster threatning to pull it down So that the Bishops thenceforth thought it not safe for themselves to come any more to the House The News whereof so pleased those unruly people that on the morrow they came again crying No Bishops notwithstanding another Proclamation issued out by the King to restrain them And in their return making a stand before Whitehall said that they would have no more Porter's Lodge there but would speak with the King when they pleased Which rebellious uproar caused his Majesty forthwith to place a Guard for his own safety at the Court-gates But the main cry of danger was by the House of Commons as if they themselves had been the only men in peril of their lives and therefore to make the greater shew of their own fears they order'd that Halberts should be brought into their House for defence of the Members and then they made a noise of new discoveries of farther dangerous conspiracies one by a Letter from France intimating great intelligence held betwixt England and Rome and no small likelihood of dreadful plots in agitation against this Kingdom Also of another Letter at the same time found in a Jesuit's Study of great troubles which should befall this Realm And the more to amuse the people they adjourn'd to sit in a Committee at Guild-Hall to draw up a Remonstrance of the many dangers this Kingdom had undergone within the space of three years Where being met another Letter pretended to be brought from Italy was read discovering divers Plots by the Papists here Whereupon they consider'd about drawing up of another Remonstrance laying open the peril of the Spanish Fleet the coming over of the Queen-Mother the Pope's Nuncio as also several other Plots in agitation by the Jesuits and a Romish-party Which subtil practices being set on foot by some particular persons of both Houses through whose influence chiefly others were guided caused his Majesty out of a desire to prevent the ensuing calamities which he clearly foresaw must by these means inevitably follow to demand the persons of the Lord
was it will not be amiss to consider that Letter written by the Commissioners of Scotland unto the two Houses at Westminster dated the sixth of November then past in reference to the King together with that Answer of the Commissioners of the general Assembly of the Kirk unto certain Proposals made to them anno 1646. touching the King's coming into that Realm upon his exclusion from the Government in England in case of his leaving them without taking the Covenant he being then at Newcastle in custody of the dear Brethren of that Realm Being thus got away from Hampton Court he arrived in the Isle of Wiht upon the thirteenth of November whence incessantly desiring a safe and well-grounded Peace to these Kingdoms he soon sent another Message to the Members at Westminster wherein to shorten that Work he expressed his mind to this effect viz. That conceiving himself to be at much more freedom and security than formerly he thought it necessary to offer such Grounds to the two Houses for that purpose which upon due examination of all Interests might best conduce thereto And therefore as to the abolishing of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. he could not consent to it as he was a Christian and a King first being satisfied in his Iudgment that this Order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and that ever since that time it had continued in all Christian Churches throughout the World till this last Century of years And in this Church in all times of Change and Reformation it had been upheld by the wisedom of his Ancestors as the great Preserver of Doctrine Discipline and Order in the Service of God Next as a King at his Coronation that he had not onely taken a solemn Oath but that himself and his predecessors in their confirmation of the great Charter had inseperably woven the Right of the Church into the Liberties of the rest of the Subjects Nevertheless was willing that it should be provided that the particular Bishops might perform the several Duties of their Callings both by their personal Residence and frequent Preaching in their Diocese as also that they should exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent of the Presbyters and to limit their powers that they might not be grievous to tender Consciences Moreover that he could not consent to the Alienation of the Church-lands it being a Sin of the highest Sacrilege conceiving it also to be a prejudice to the publick good many of his Subjects having the benefit of renewing Leases at much easier rates than if those Possessions were in the hands of private men besides the discouragement that it would be to all Learning and Industry when such eminent Rewards shall be taken away yet considering the great distemper concerning Church-Discipline and that the Presbyterean-Government was then in practice to eschew confusion as much as might be and for satisfaction of the two Houses of Parliament was content that the said Government should be legally permitted to stand in the same condition it then was for three years Provided that himself and those of his Iudgement or any other who could not in Conscience submit thereto might not be obliged to comply therewith but have free practice of their own profession And that a free Consultation and Debate might be had with their Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majestie 's nomination being added to them whereby it might be determined by his said Majesty and the two Houses how the Church-Government after that time should be setled or sooner if differences might be agreed as should be most agreeable to the Word of God with full Liberty to all those who should differ upon consciencious grounds from that settlement Provided that it might not be understood to tolerate those of the Popish-profession nor to exempt those from the penalty of the Laws or tolerate Atheism or Blasphemy 2. As to the Militia though it was undoubtedly the inherent right of the Crown yet to evidence his desire to secure the performance of such Agreement as should be made in order to a Peace his Majesty was content that during his whole reign it should be disposed of by his two Houses of Parliament 3. As to the Arrears of the Army that he should concur in any thing that might be done without violation of his Conscience and Honour 4. As to the Disposal of the great Offices of State and Naming of Privy-Councillers he offered the disposing of them for the whole time of his reign by the two Houses of Parliament 5. For the Court of Wards and Liveries that it should be taken away so as a full recompence might be setled on his Majesty his Heirs and Successors in perpetuity 6. That he would consent to the making of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament null and void So likewise of all Indictments and other proceedings against any person for adhering unto them And that he would pass a general Act of Oblivion 7. That for Ireland he would give satisfaction to them 8. That as to such Acts and Grants passed under his great Seal since the 22th of May 1642. and confirming such as had been passed under that made by the two Houses he would give satisfaction in what might reasonably be desired 9. That for confirmation of all these and whatsoever else might be proposed by the two Houses and also of what he should propose on his own part he did earnestly desire a personal Treaty at London with Honour Freedom and Safety 10. And that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due Elections should be taken into consideration 11. So likewise that as to what concern'd the Kingdom of Scotland he would apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction After the sending of this Message by his Majesty the next thing observable that hapned was a Petition through the influence of the Presbytereans presented to the two Houses at Westminster by the Common-Council of the City of London acknowledging the Parliament for by that Title they then call'd those Members sitting at Westminster to be the Supream Power in this Kingdom and inter alia praying that the Covenant might be duly observed No wonder then that his Majestie 's gracious Message of November the xvjth was so little regarded as that he had no Answer at all thereto upon the sixth of December following he therefore put them in mind of it still pressing for a personal Treaty Whereunto insted of an Answer they sent him four Bills to be assented unto by him as preparatory to a Treaty These were those four Dethroning Bills which if passed into Acts as they required might have saved the labour of a Treaty Unto which for Answer his Majesty made these most prudent and rational Observations 1. That the Commissioners of Scotiand had openly protested against them 2. To allow of that great Seal made by them without his
Government CHAP. XXXVI ALL things being accordingly ready in order thereto upon the Sixteenth of December and about One of the Clock that day Five Regiments of Foot and Three of Horse were drawn out as a Guard from White-Hall to Westminster-Hall whereof one viz. Colonel Goffs was placed within the Precincts of the Hall This being done Cromwel with the Captain of his Guard and some few others passed through these Bands of Souldiers to the Door of Westminster-Hall Where alighting from his Coach there proceeded First the City Marshals Then the Aldermen of London in Scarlet After them the Judges all except their Chief-Justice Rolls Next the Two Keepers of their Great Seal Keble and L'isle Then Four Serjeants at Armes with Maces viz. the Parliament Mace the City Mace the Council of State 's Mace and the Lord Keeper's Mace After thses the Lord Mayor's Sword-bearer with the Cap of Maintenance and Sword but the Sword not Erected Then the Lord Mayor And next to him Cromwel himself in a Black Sute and Cloak Lined with Velvet Boots and a Gold Hatband all bare headed And after him the Principal Officers of the Army and Council of State In which manner they proceeded to the Chancery-Court where a Rich Chair of State was set with a large Cusheon and Carpets on the Floor Being ascended into the court Cromwel standing before the Chair with the Two Keepers and Judges on each hand of him Major General Lambert declaring to him the Dissolution of the Parliament and exigency of the times did in the name of the Army and of the Three Nations desire him to accept of the Protectorship of them Whereunto he assenting a large Instrument extending to a whole skin of Velome was read to him which contained the form of his Government and somewhat called an Oath at which he lifted up his Right Hand and Eyes and assented thereto Then did the Lord Mayor present the Sword to him and the Keepers the Seal Both which he delivered back to them respectively This being done a Common Souldier Seconded with about Twenty more cryed aloud God Bless the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland After which there was a General shout made by the Souldiers throughout the Hall and after a little pause the like twice more Then he went back to White-Hall the Lord Mayor carrying the Sword upright before him the Protector having his Hat on After which in the Evening were several Vollies of small shot and some great with Ringing of Bells The Tenor of which Instrument was as followeth viz. That the Supream Legislative Authority should be in a Single Person and the People in Parliament but the Administration thereof to be left to the Lord Protector and to his Council whereof the number was not to be above Twenty and One. That all Charters Patents Writs and Commissions should be passed by the Protector All Power of Magistracy Honours and Titles to be derived from him Likewise the Pardon of all Offences excepting Treason and Murther He also to have the Administration of all things with the Advice of his Council and according to the Tenor of this Instrument That the Militia Sitting the Parliament should be in the disposal of the Protector and the Parliament but in the Intervals in the Protector and his Council The Power also of making Peace and War with Forreign Princes to be in the Protector and his Council but he to have no Authority of Repealing or making any Laws without the consent of Parliament That the Parliament should be called before the end of Six Months then next ensuing and afterwards once in Three Years or oftner if need require and that it should not be in the Protector 's Power to Dissolve the same for the First Five Months without the consent of the House That the Number of Members for England should consist of full Four hundred Elected according to an equal distribution For Scotland Thirty and for Ireland the like Number the number for each County and City to be also assgned That the Calling of such Parliament should be under the Seal of the Common-wealth by Writs to the Sheriff in the Protector 's Name But if the Protector should not call the same within the times limited the Chancellor then to do it under the Penalty of High Treason and if he should fail therein then that the Sheriffs should perform it And after such Election should be made to be transmitted by the Chief Magistrate by Indenture to the Chancellor Signel with his Hand Twenty days before the Sitting of the same Parliament Also if the Sheriff or Mayor should make a false Return that he be Fined in Two thousand Marks That none should be capable to Elect who had ever born Armes against the Parliament or been Actors in the Irish Rebellion Nor that any Papist should ever be capable to give his Voice And that all Elections against these Rules should be void and the transgressors Fined at Two Years value of their Revenues and third part of their Goods That no Person under the Age of One and twenty years should be capable of being Elected nor any other than of known credit fearing God and of good behaviour No man likewise to have power of Electing whose Estate should not be worth Twenty Pound per annum Sterling That the Return of the Persons Elected should be transmitted by the Prothonotary in Chancery unto the Council of State within two days after they should come to his hands to the end that judgment might be made of the Persons if any question should arise touching the lawfulness of the choice That Sixty Members should be accounted a Parliament in case the rest be absent Nevertheless that it should be lawful to the Protector to call a Parliament when he should see cause That the Bills agreed on in Parliament should be presented to the Protector for his assent thereto and if he should not give his assent to them within twenty days that then they should have the force of Laws without it That if any Councellor of State should dye or be outed of his place for corruption in the Intervals of Parliament the Protector with the rest of the Councel to substitute another in his stead That a certain annual Tax shouldbe made throughout the There Common-wealths for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and Fifteen thousand Foot which Tax should also supply the charge of the Navy and that this rate should not be lessened or altered by the Parliament without the consent of the Protector and his Council But if it should not be thought necessary hereafter that any Army should be maintained then whatsoever surplusage of this Tax should be to be kept in the Treasury for sudden Emergencies That if there might happen to be occasion of making extraordinary choices and to Raise new Forces it should not be done without consent of Parliament but that in the Intervals of Parliament it should be lawful for the
to posterity he should sooner be willing to be rolled to his Grave in blood and buryed with Infamy than to give consent to the throwing it away And therefore that he had caused a stop to their entrance into the House till such time as they should subscribe a Recognition thereof and did submit thereto And that if things were not satisfied as were then reasonably demanded he for his part should do that which becom'd him seeking his Council from God The truth is that which principally emboldened him to be thus peremptory with them was the strength of the Souldiery which were generally of his side and which the adverse party knew full well So that of the whole number of those Members though there was not above sixty that did at first subscribe the Recognition yet the greatest part of the rest after private consultations together being well aware that by taking their best advantages upon all occasions within the House they might do him more mischief than they could any way to otherwise came in by degrees and formally signed the same But as those who were his chief Confidents did strive all they could to carry on affairs for his peculiar Interest according to the frame of that Government whereby he was so advanced to that place and Title sure it is that the rest by those rubs and obstructions which they cast in his way did make all their endeavours totally fruitless So that after well near five Months expectance and nothing at all done he was necessitated to dissolve that his first and once hopeful Parliament I should here have concluded this years Transactions but that I cannot omit to relate a very pregnant Instance how timely our now gracious Soveraign King Charles the second did adhere to the Protestant Religion professed in the Church of England even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored the Rebels in this Realm being then so prosperous that the greatest Potentates courted their alliance but even then so fervent was his Majesties zeal thereto that by his great and effectual care he prevented the perverting of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester to that of the Church of Rome In the relation of which there are so many considerable circumstances whereof very little publick notice hath been taken that contrary to the designed brevity of this History I shall give a full account of the same partly taken from a Relation Printed at London in an 1655 and partly from the certain information of persons of undoubted credit yet living who were present at the transacting thereof His Majesty understanding that there was a firm League very far advanced betwixt the French King and Oliver Cromwell withdrew himself this year into Germany out of France where till then he had ever resided since his happy and miraculous escape from Worâ—ester and designing to take the Duke of Gloucester with him was prevailed with by the Queen his Mother to leave him with her at Paris upon promise she would not permit any force to be put upon him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant-Servants himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel in Sir Richard Brown's House then his Majesties Resident at Paris But about the beginning of November in this year the Duke under pretence of weaning himself from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Accademie were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's House at his Abby near Potoiso And after a few days Mr. Lovel his Tutor going to Paris for one day only on business designedly contrived as was suspected by Abbot Mountagu during his absence was most vehemently pressed by the Abbot to turn Roman-Catholick with all the motives spiritual or temporal he thought might prevail upon him having at that time no Protestant near him to advise with but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a young Gentleman since dead but his Fame for his servent zeal to the Protestant Religion and faithful service to his Master yet living who deported himself with greater prudence than could with reason have been expected for one of so tender years assisted only by so young a second for both their ages did but some few years exceed thirty replying to their Arguments with great ingenuity evidencing no little zeal for his Religion For he told the Abbot he admired how he durst make this attempt upon him knowing how the Queen his Mother had engaged to the King his Brother that no change in his Religion should be endeavoured Also that for his own part he was resoly'd not to incur the Kings displeasure by neglecting the observance of his command which was not to listen to any Argument for change of his Religion Likewise that as to the specious proposals of making him a Cardinal and promising to advance him to be King of England he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal how disingeniously he was dealt with to be thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he doubted not could easily refute all their Arguments which in truth at his return to Ponroise he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back thence to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the Kings Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion though not long For after some little time the Queen his Mother did own the attempt made on him to have been done with her approbation and declared she could not but labour to have her Son shew'd the right way to Heaven and though she had promised he should not be forced by her yet to have that way proposed to him she thought requisite And that he might the easier be prevail'd upon his Protestant Tutor was put from him and he himself hurryed out of Paris in such hast that he might be deprived of the Assistance and Advice of any Protestant that he could not though he earnestly beg'd it prevail to stay till he might get some warmer Cloaths and convey'd to Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Croft's his House but under the direction of Abbut Mountagu none of his Servants but young Mr. Gryffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply afflict all the loyal-Protestant Exiles then in Paris but no man was more passionately concern'd than that Eminent sufferer for his loyalty to the Royal Family and Zeal to the Protestant Religion the late Lord Hatton Who as soon as he understood how violently this young Prince was Persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confesfor for the Church of England Dr. Iohn Cosens late Bishop of Durham but at that time Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty then residing in Paris and drew up what Arguments and
then sequestring himself from any diversion for a while to ponder seriously what she and he had said to him and that night either send or bring her a full and final answer The Duke upon the first appearance of this intended privacy of his Mother with him in the little interim of clearing the Room he took opportunity of sending Mr. Gryffin to find out the Marquess of Ormond and to desire him to come to him as soon as he returned from the Queen that he might be advised by him how to deport himself as occasion should serve And as soon as he came from her according to her command retired to his Chamber Whereunto the Abbot coming before the Marquess of Ormond could be found after he had at large expatiated on what the Queen had but briefly hinted to him he pressed him for his final Answer Which the Duke refused to give till he had first consulted with the Marquess Whereupon the Abbot withdrew desiring to be sent for when the Marquess should come which if not in an hours time he would return again though not sent for As soon as the Marquess came the Duke quickly resolved what answer to make but having been so long harassed was desirous to take a little breath so that he neglected sending to the Abbot and went out of his Lodging into the Court to divert himself No sooner was he gone but the Abbot came and missing him sought up and down At last finding him he severely rebuk't him for neglecting his Mothers Commands and his Instructions which were seriously to Ponderate on what he had said and for having not sent for him Well Sir says the Duke I have seriously considered on all hath been said to me and my final answer is I am resolved to continue firm in my Religion Then replyed the Abbot I am Commanded from the Queen your Mother to tell you that she charges you to see her Face no more At which dismal expression the Duke being not a little moved with great earnestness intreated that he might at least begher parting Blessing till he could prevail for her Pardon but could not obtain it though he endeavoured it again the next Morning being Sunday before her Majesty went to her Devotions by the Intercession of his Brother the Duke of York who did with great tenderness compassionate his condition and with much earnestness moved on his behalf But the Queen was inexorable to all that spoke in favour of him nor would she intimate her pleasure to him by any Person but Abbot Mountague who again sollicited him aggravating the Peril of his Mother's displeasure advising him at that instant being the most proper time as she was going to Mass at her Monastery to apply himself to her For she had proposals to make to him which would set his heart at rest though he could not then name them To which the Duke replyed if so I can For my heart can have no rest but in the free exercise of my Religion but I fear her Propositions will not I am sure yours never tended to give me any ease or quiet At which Instant the Queen passed by in her Coach going to her Nunnery Whereupon the Duke approached towards her attempting to beg her Blessing but was with great Indignation rejected Whereat being much discomposed the Abbot came up to him and askt him what it was her Majesty had said to him which put him into so great disorder To which he briefly replyed what she said I may thank you for Sir and it is but reason What my Mother therefore said to me I shall say to you Be sure I see your Face no more and so turn'd away from him Whereupon the Abbot calling after him said Whither are you going good Sir To whom the Duke looking over his shoulder answered to Church and so went with a sad and dejected Countenance which did much abate the joy of the Congregation who were much pleased to see him accompany his Brother the Duke of York thither But they partook with him in his sorrow when they understood that after Sermon he was to seek where to get a Dinner for which he must send to the Cooks or Fast for there was a very strict Prohibition given to all the Officers in his Mothers Court that they should not furnish him with any Provisions or Necessaries That Night after Evening Prayer he had hopes to enjoy one moment of satisfaction by conversing with his Sister the Princess Henrietta afterwards Dutchess of Orleans during his Mothers absence But as soon as the young Princess heard the news of his designed Adventure she was so frighted into shrieks and tears that she cryed out Oh God my Brother Oh me my Mother I am undone for ever what shall I do Which as soon as the Duke heard he retyred not being willing his dear Sister should by her kindness to him purchase her Mothers displeasure In this disconsolate condition he went to his Lodging Where at nine of the Clock at night his Groom came to know what he should do with his Horses For the Queens Comptroller was come to him with a charge to remove them instantly Whereupon the Groom Pleaded it was then too late and that on the morrow it would be time enough But the Comptroller replyed he should then be put out of his place ere Morning The next day the Sheets were taken off his Bed Finding therefore that he could not be permitted to stay at the Pallace-Royal he thought until he could provide Necessaries for his Journey into Germany to retire to the House of Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Crofts near Paris whereof the Queen hearing she chekt Mr. Crofts for being willing to receive him with which he acquainted the Duke but submits however to his pleasure In this straight the Duke betook himself to the advise of that faithful Servant to his Family and zealous Protestant the Lord Hatton by whose judicious Instructions he had received much satisfaction in this his distressed Condition who so soon as the Duke had made known to him that he was not only turn'd out of his Mothers House but that all persons that had any dependency on her were forbidden to receive or assist him His Lordship told him if his Highness would please to honour his House with his Presence he should there be received with all the dutiful regard that could be payed to him by so antient and faithfully devoted a Servant to his Royal Family and with an entertainment as suitable to his Quality as the remains of that Fortune he had spent in his Fathers Service would afford But this the Duke out of great modesty seemed to decline alledging the hazard his Lordship might run to having his Estate again sequestred in England and likewise incurring the displeasure of the French Court as well as of the Queen his Mother to be exiled that Realm for his Kindness to him as he had been England for his Service to his Father and perhaps be endangered in