Paddington upon pretence of businesse of huge Importance but knew not what untill they were come thither and then went on like Geese with the flock Let the Kingdome but seriously consider the Barbarisme herein toward his Majesty and the misery wherein they involve this Nation thereby and I believe there will no more be found to tread in their Steps Imprisonment is the Buriall of a Man alive and that which Private persons hardly endure with patience no Creature will if it be possible to make any Escape And it was formerly a high Charge even in a Subjects case upon the Star-Chamber and other Courts But for a King to be so dealt withall our owne an Innocent and Pious Prince by his owne Subjects to be put under the custody of his desperate implacable Adversaries further to be depriv'd of all Accesse or Entercourse with his Wife Children friends sequestred from all the Comforts of life This is much more then ever was inflicted upon Lilburne Pryn or Bastwick whose hard usages have been thunderd by themselves throughout the Kingdome to be savage barbarous inhumane By the Law of this Land It is Treason to imprison the King though at large 25 Ed. 3. c. 2. What will these men be thought worthy of when that shall recover its own Channell and flow downe our Streets like a Stream when they shall come to their Accounts The Miseries wherein they involve this Nation hereby are obvious to every understanding The Parliament touching the Succession 1 Mariae cap. 1. acknowledgeth That the welfare profit and speciall benefit of the universall people is continu'd and maintain'd in the surety and preservation of the Prince Even in this Parl. in their Declarations they say That the very Safety and Being of both his Kingdomes depends upon His Majesties returne to London Since the King was in their power The very Army could acknowledge There can be no Peace in this Kingdome without a good agreement between the King and his Subjects Now is it possible there should be an Accommodation where there is no Entercourse no Addresses made or entertain'd Those who have felt the Burden of this War need no Admonitour to judge what will be the Burden of another As much as lies in them the Houses have laid a lasting foundation to entaile if not perpetuate the Discord to our Posterity with all the sad Consequences thereof A Collection of all the particular Objections against His Majesty before he came to the Crown Those Objections which are made against His Majesty before his Reign and belongs to the first Classis of his Charges are only soure 1. His Letter to the Pope which he writ in Spaine 2. The Articles of Marriage made with Spaine 3. The Articles of Marriage made with France 4. The Death of King James But because the three first doe relate to that Charge which are against his Majesty as being enclined to Popery we shall give them their answers under that The brief of their Calumny concerning K. James his death is this That when the Duke was charged by the House of Commons of high Misdemeanour and Presumption In that he did contrary to the advice of his Physitians cause a Plaister to be applied and a Drink to be given to K. Iames who was sick but of an Ague and that conceived to be in the Declination by his Physitians whereupon divers distempers and ill symptomes ensued and the King himself did attribute the cause thereof unto the Plaisters That his Majesty who now is took notice of this in the Lords House told them He could be a Witnesse to cleare the Duke in every particular and did interrupt them by frequent Messages in their proceeding afterwards Dissolv'd the Parliament and did imprison Sir I. Eliot and Sir Dudly Diggs and hereupon they desire every one to judge where the guilt lay An Answer to that Calumnie concerning K. James 1. It is known to all that K. James was an aged man and to all the Court that he kept an ill Diet particularly how he was addicted to Excesse of sweet Wines by reason whereof together with ease and want of exercise as also the forbearance of all Physick he grew full of humors corpulent and of an evill constitution For the sicknes he died of it was a kind of Ague mixt of a quotidian and a tertian call'd an Hemitritaea and so determin'd of by all his Physitians six or seven at least Now that Disease though stiled by the name of an Ague is known to be mortall in its owne nature and more to die of it then to recover But in such an Age Constitution and course of Diet as King James was of nothing more certain Especially considering he hated Medicines would conforme to no directions nay was so crosse that when one of his Doctors as the mouth of the rest had told him that he must bleed in a great Rage he ingeminated the Scandal of a Butcher upon him 2. As they agreed this was his Disease so they were convinc'd that his Death was the naturall and genuine effect thereof and they testified the same 3. His Body being opened was found faire and free from any ground of Suspition in the judgment both of his Chyrurgeons of whom Master Hayes is yet living and in the Kings-bench Apothecary's and Physitians There are three of those Physitians yet alive Doctor Hervy Doctor Lister and Doctor Craig all three honest and worthy men the two last resident in the Parliaments quarters about London and in this Breach between the King and them of their party Doctor Craig under a disgust at Court and discharg'd from his Attendance long afore and therefore not likely to be partial to the King Who all doe testifie the truth of this Narrative and I believe are so noble that they will readily give satisfaction to any man that shall but doe his Judgment that right as to informe it 2. Touching the Duke I shall first premise somewhat both about that he administred to K. James and also how far he was accus'd in Parliament then answer the Charge The Duke himselfe had been sick of an Ague and that not long before in which Disease he was attended by three able Physicians but after some wrestling with it by their help the Countesse of Buckingham his Mother shutting them out of dores gives the Duke a Vomit made with Tobacco which wrought violently but recover'd him from his Disease After which finding himself somewhat weak he retires to the Earle of Warwick's house in Essex where either upon change of Aire or some reliques of the disease or what cause soever he suffer'd a relapse and being perswaded by the E. of Warwick sent for one Remington a Physician living thereabout who by a Plaister applyed to his Stomack and Wrists and a Posset-drink taken inwardly recovered him from that Relapse After this K. James being sick his disease an Ague the Duke ignorant of the distinction between Agnes thinking all of the same Nature that
Crowns doe certainly under the same thought suppose him void of Common Reason without the use of his right Wits 3. There was never any Officer or man of quality not the Lord Mac-guire himself who was in the contrivement of the Rebellion that did ever in good earnest when he was in the power of the English and under sentence of Condemnation nay at the point of death which is no time to dissemble that ever did affirme the King any way privy thereunto Though Mac-guire was much importuned fairly promised threatned nay turned off the Cart and recovered again a fact too barbarous toward a very Rebell did acquit the King upon his death to use his owne words and any other man in England except one and he but a private Gentleman who came by chance as he said to the knowledge thereof from being guilty so much as of knowing it 4. In all His Majesties Declarations Messages Letters Speeches to the Parliament he doth not onely speak with much abhorrence and detestation of them but conjure and excite the Parliament to relieve his Protestant Subjects there and to revenge the Bloud that was shed offering his own Person and all other Concurrences therein 5. It may be added that most of the Soldiery imployed in that Action most of the Ministry expulsed by the Natives most of the English Gentry who had their abode in that place even Sir Hardres Waller was so before he came over and that so high that he told the Lord of Ormond though Sir W. Waller were his Kinsman he had learnt to spew such out as forgot their Allegiance to His Majesty and since that untill he saw this Side thrive best and last of all the Independents to whom for their successe sake he hath glew'd himself are but cold friends of the Parliaments and adhered to the King at least in their Opinions which they could not possibly have done if they had ground to suspect their Miseries to have been derived from him especially considering their Necessities and the hopes they might have from the Parliament of Subsistence if not of Preferment also Particular Answers to the particular Proofs Although by what hath been spoken His Majesties Innocence be as clear as the noon-day yet we will be at the pains to follow these men through every step of their Track 1. Of the Seale of Scotland to the Rebels Commissioners 1. It was a wonder the Scots could be ignorant of it by whom the King was sufficiently watched and onely we English at the distance of 300 miles and nothing interested therein should have such Intelligence 2. It is easily averred but untill we meet with better proof then their bare word we have but a poore deale of reason to believe them 3. Mac-guire upon his Death professed he never saw any who had as much reason to see it as any man having been a prime Agent in the very contrivement of that Rebellion 4. If a Commission under the Seale was shewed and boasted of it might easily be done What Difficulty was there for them to make one and afterward set it to what they pleased we know who did as much and issued out Commissions against the King in his Name What great labour was it to fasten an old labell to a new Parchment faire enough to deceive those who were willing to be deceived Nay how weak had they been if they had not done so and done what else was possible to ensure their owne side to amaze the English and cast Bones between us 5. It is of no more truth because affirmed by Sir Philem Oneale or by others of the Rebels The same Persons did withall if these Declarers had been pleased to quote the whole evidence affirme That they were sure of the Scots to be of their side Remonst p. 37. That they had the E. of Argyle's hand and most of the Nobility of Scotland ibid. That the King himself was in person among them These and many other of the same bran Sir J. Temple tells us ingenuously were the devices to delude others and to distract us The Copy of it and the Oaths may be called in question when there are no Particulars named but if true they may be suborn'd on purpose or be of that false Commission which was given them by their owne King Tyrone for so some of the Examinations doe testifie They cared not for King Charles and had a King of their own p. 54. of the Remonstrance 2. His giving 5 Counties and other Acts of Grace Answered For those Acts of Grace imply'd in the Letter by the L. Dillon giving up 5 Counties upon the private mediation of the Commissioners 1. It argues their ingratitude not the Kings concurrence in that they would after so much favour so far dishonour him and seek his mischief 2. They were granted at such a Conjuncture of time that the King had been taught more lessons then one against irritating of a Kingdome or exasperating of Waspes and was concerned to give them satisfaction rather then let them carve for themselves according to the Examples they had before their Eyes 3. These were granted by him not by private mediation of the Commissioners but by the Importunity of both Houses of Parliament see Sir Jo. Temple p. 13. by whom they were sent and under the notion of Redresse of Grievances in which it is worth your notice what our Author testifies That many of the Protestants in Parliament were made instrumentall to them under pretence of Ease and Redresse of Grievances 4. Those Acts were thought necessary by the Lords of the Counsell and further Grace and it is called by our Author An unbending themselves into a happy and just complyance with the seasonable desires of the people and mollifying the sharp Humours raised by the rigid Passages of former times 3. His not Disbanding the Irish Army Answered That the Irish Army was no sooner Disbanded was 1. upon point of Honour and Safety to this Kingdome whilst the Scots kept theirs on foot it was for neither to disband 2. for that Kingdome Had these men been sent into Spaine as was intended by the King and in good earnest sollicited by that Embassadour but opposed by the Parliament that place had been disburdened of so many Pests How doth it reflect upon the King if the Natives had another designe besides his I am sure the same Author confessed that the Natives were very unwilling that they should be sent into Spaine as much as the Parliament here 4. Their Pretences for the King Oaths c. Answered That they pretended to vindicate the King took an Oath of Allegiance to the King stiled themselves the Queens Army or in their Letters of Mart gave in charge to spare the Kings Ships 1. It is of no moment but to shew their cunning and care to maintain divisions among us under that Colour It is not long since we had such Protestations taken and enforced Our Armies at the beginning pretended to fight for
pretended 2. The Time when when the Scots were hardly setled upon their lees againe and the Parliament of England high flowne already and advanced in their Contestation 3. Their Preparatives to Rebellion by invading new Priviledges as to determine in Cases Capitall and Criminal Charging of Publike Officers banding against Greivances c. and an Itch also to have procured a longer if not a Perpetual Parliament if Possible which is evident in Sir John Temples relation under the Authority whereof it is probable they designed to act afterwards rather then of a Supreame Councell which was done here even to the joynt prosecution of some particular Officers as the Earle of Strafford c. 4. Their Proceedings first to sequester and seize the Goods of those whom they declared Enemies to the State 5. The persons on whom they wreak'd their Malice most Clergy-men and Officers of State 6. The Copy they writ by or at least pretended to write by namely the Scots 7. The backwardnesse of our Parliament to send any reliefe thither which was evidenced by their disputes and Punctilio's with the King and indeed their denials to assist without his perfect resignation of himselfe to them seizing money to the summe of 100000. l. to their owne use though indeed they have paid it since out of the Kingdomes purse upon the Clamour of the people and notice given of it by the King imploying such forces as were raised under that notion here in England against His Majesty Particularly the Regiment of Colonell Bamfield of Chidley and others suspending the Journey of the Earle of Leicester first then of the Lord Lisle thither a man of their owne Election untill his Commission was almost expir'd Pretending to send over succours since but letting them lie upon the Countries untill they become intolerable and then disbanding them as super-numeraries The Miseries they expose their owne Army there to of which they were soundly told by Captaine Cope lately who charged them in the very House with the death of Thousands with the Ruine of more and with streames of Blood which cry'd for vengeance against them in that place To all which if you adde 8. The fierce prosecution of Strafford whose continuance in that place and strict discipline would have prevented that Insurrection or crushed it in the shell 9. Their withstanding the sending of that Army out of the Kingdome which had discharged it of so many instruments of rebellion 10. The Profession of divers of their Confidents especially in the Army That they cannot fight against the Irish with a good Conscience That their quarrel is but to enjoy their Religion and Liberty And 11. a speech which was uttered before this Rupture by a true friend of theirs at Manidowne in Hamp-shire when the Scots first came into England What if this Kingdome should rise for their Property and Liberty and Ireland take that Advantage what will he be King of then a shrewd speech though I beleeve the man had no fore-sight of this Combustion with many other Circumstances One would verily believe the Bustles in England and the Rebellion in Ireland were like Castor and Pollux ovo prognatus eodem hatch'd by a Common-Councell of Parliament Irish and that they were mutually engaged to promote each others Interest But we must be ingenuous and allow them better measure then any they have yet allowed unto their Soveraigne All we aime at is but to open to the world that there may be full as much or rather a great deale more charged on themselves as to that Businesse then upon His Majesty The Charge of Rochel We are now in sight of the shoare and shall conclude with the businesse of Rochel which Towne they say they can fully shew was betraied by the King and so was there a fatall Blow given to the Protestant Cause in France They tell us how he lent divers of the Navy and Merchants ships to the King of France to be imployed against those whom he was engaged to assist And when some Commanders disputed his Commands he gave order to Sir John Penington to put them into the service of that King or else to sinke them That Answered 1. Herein they impose a blinde beleife upon us we have little reason to take their bare word as we hinted before whose Interest is to deceive us and who have done it so oft We never yet could discover in them any such Tendernesse either in blasting the Kings Honour or in covering their owne shame as to conceale any thing which was to their owne Advantage or his disgrace 2. How could his Maj. betray those whom he had never taken into Protection as at that time he had not done by them Are they themselves treacherous too or have they betraied the Hollanders against whom they sent divers of the Kings Souldiers taken at Naseby to be imployed in the Spanish service 3. Though it be acknowledged that there were ships lent unto the King of France yet it was not to that purpose to employ them against the Protestants and the King of England was a stranger to the designe of the King of France therein Q. Elizabeth when that very Towne of Rochel was beseiged by the King of France and some of his Subjects with the Duke of Montgomery had releived it disclaimed the Act called them who did it Pirates professed she would not protect nor afford them any supply Camb. Eliz. 4. King James in his life time had in effect promised assistance unto the French King against any of his Subjects whatsoever were their Religion or their pretence 5. The same thing was done by the States of Holland at the same time who lent unto the King of France twenty saile of ships whereas ours were but seven under the Command of Hauthain their Admiral who did in the same manner demur at the Imployment being charm'd by some pittifull Letters from Rochel untill the Rochellers treacherously and unawares surpris'd and burnt his Vice-Admiral which rouz'd him up in good earnest and made him not onely set upon but wholly discomfit them by the helpe of our and other ships Now it is very improbable the Hollanders would have conspir'd against the Cause of Religion and their owne Church-discipline which the French held forth if there had not been some other just cause of that War 6. We might very well be tender in undertaking the Protection of those Protestants for it is not quite forgotten how Queen Elizabeth sent over a considerable Army to their Assistance and that upon Articles between them which Army of hers was set upon and beseiged by those very men whom they were come to defend and expuls'd out of that Kingdome and out of New-haven by the help of the Protestants who by meanes of their succours had gotten the better Composition with their own King as you may read in Mr. Cambden and others Anno 1563. 7. The King did what was possible toward their releife when he had the advantage of Hostility
severall and indeed irreconcileable designes therein unto themselves Nor can it be doubted that the supream sole Power and Authority was the Apple of contention as well between them now thus divided as formerly between the King and them conjoyned what gawdy Colours soever are cast over and specious Pretences made to stalke before it Truth is This is the generall Ground of most Quarrels every man inheriting that ambitious Humour of our first common Parents even from the Disciples in their Poverty who were projecting for the Right-hand and for the Left and in a kingdome too unto the greatest States-men Nay a wise Gentleman of our Age observ'd it to be the Itch even of kitchin-boyes who should be the greatest Now the Independents though inconsiderable at the first even to Contempt being not above six among fourscore in the Assembly nor double that number visible in both Houses have plaid their Cards so well and follow'd their businesse so close that they have got the Purse of the kingdom at their command the whole Strength of it at their devotion and now grasp at the Authority also and seek to establish their Iniquity by a Law But by what steps and Degrees they have climb'd thus high is very difficult to discover exactly the foundation being laid deep under ground and carried up with as much Art as ever Building of that nature was Nor is it much materiall The greatest and onely unquestionable Authority of this Kingdome is of the King and His two Houses of Parliament to this their Ambition did aspire But having strugled in vain in the Houses for a good while they found the wind to sit too strong in their faces there and an impossibility for them to begin that way as the Temper of the Houses stood If the King were but in their hands being stript of all strength and in some desperate apprehension of Himself then their Hopes would handsomely smile upon them In order to this therefore a Quarrell is pickt with the Parliament the King's Person seized on and soon after the Parliament is most shamefully despised abused disgraced made to double at pleasure to eat up their owne Ordinances and Decrees perfectly over-awed and even trampled on So farre that one of their owne Members in the House openly told them That he could not call them a House of Parliament but a company of Gentlemen met together to fulfill the Iust of an Army Yet were they so wise and commenced their quarrell so cunningly as that they might keep two strings to their Bow and as the Beast which hath two holes to his den can stop or open either as the weather sits even so were their Proposals and Declarations contrived and sent abroad that by changing or interpreting one word they might comply with the King to destroy the Parliament if they should find themselves unable to mould it after their own Humour Or if once it were under their Girdle then afterward to bring the King to their Bent or lay him quite aside and by binding his Hands to establish the whole Power and Authority of the Kingdome in their owne And either of these Cards they drew as they had Occasion and convers'd with men of different Interests In the meane time they handle the King with much Civility and shewes of Indulgence allowing him the service of his Chaplains and the free use of the Liturgy which was denyed him by the Houses bearing him in hand that they preferr'd Episcopacy before the Presbyterian way and tickling him with ambiguous Promises to mollifie his hard Conceits toward them or at least to harden him the more against the Presbyterians and make that breach wider They had likewise the wit for to humour and stroak the Royall party by a thousand pretty devises and Artifices entertaining some of them in their bosomes allowing them Seats even in their Councels of War carefully forbearing in their Declarations to stigmatize them with that so familiar brand of Malignancy and filling them with hopes and expectations of I know not what great favours which they meant to perform when two Sundayes met together Thus having well divided the Kings party from the Presbyterians they had then a smooth and easie way to victory The City opens the Gates The Parliament trembles The chiefe Leaders of both Houses either flie for 't or withdraw for a while and play least-in-sight Which was fore-seen when Cromwell stole privately to Newmarket from London and asking Whether they had the King in their hand Being assured of that told some of the Officers That then they had the Parliament in their pockets Those who are of private spirits and for their owne either safety or designes constantly swamme with the streame and Tyde began now to tack about and to do Journy-worke for the stronger side and Vote with the prevailing party of which I will give but one Instance by the way and that is of Colonell Hervy who three daies before would undertake to beate them three miles into the Ground but upon their admission into the City was their first Advocate When the House was thus brought in a great measure to be at their devotion the last Rub in their Alley was the King He persisted in his Obstinacy and would not yeild up the Bucklers into their hands nor the power to protect his people Wherefore to bring His Majesty under the more advantage by insinuations both of danger to His Person and of an impossibility in them to save Him from the Agitators whom yet they countenanced for that purpose and withall by secret promises of faire complyance he is juggled into the Isle of Wight After that Bills are provided with pretence of condescension lest they should seeme to invade the Throne per saltum but in very deed such as would have stript him bare of all Soveraignty and of power to protect His Subjects and established themselves by a Law in an absolute domination and Tyranny over us The King not more for his owne interest and safety then for the benefit of his Subjects refusing to comply with their desires herein is immediately confined and that in such a manner as it is hard to find a Parallel His Wife Children Friends Servants all the Comforts of life kept from Him a course formerly pronounced barbarous and inhumane even in a Subjects case By-and-by the prodigious Votes forbidding all intercourse of Letters to Him or from Him under the penalty of High-Treason so cutting off all possibility of Accommodation were carryed in the House Last of all to render Him as black as was possible and so utterly to alienate the affections of his people this goodly Declaration first set on foot in the Army and allowed the Agitators to please themselves withall so to divert them from more dangerous designes as the Chesse at the siege of Troy to keep Souldiers from mutiny is thought upon and taken up by the Grandees lick'd into a better forme so expos'd unto publick view that besides their aime
bore the same Name perceiving the Physicians doubtfull other directions unsuccessfull the Kings disposition impatient of many Medicines declareth to the King his owne Cure proposeth to the Physicians to Vomit him with Tobacco But the danger thereof being suggested by reason of the violence of it and the speciall Antipathy of the King against it he forbeares that remedy yet upon the urgent desire of King James himselfe procures for him the aforesaid Plaister and Drinke the one being onely London-Treacle the other no more but Posset-drink boil'd with Harts-horne and Marigold-flowers then sweetned with syrrup of Gilly-flowers which were both discover'd to the Physicians afterwards and obtain'd before not without some assistance of the Earle of Warwick After the application of this whether by the naturall course of the disease or some other cause the King grew worse indeed the Physicians take it not well these Medicines are laid aside Yet the disease not abating upon intermission of the directions the King impatient both of his disease and of his Physicians prescripts importunes again for that Remedy which he had rejected Hereupon a Bed-chamber-man is presently dispatch'd unto the Apothecary Monsieur du Plure Treacle is sent for no tearm of Specification being added he thought it fit to send the best unto his Majesty and by that means sent him Venice-Treacle which as it was better in it selfe so was it worse for the Kings disease This being brought no body there present could order it but the Countesse of Buckingham It was applied again but being hotter then the former Plaister and the Kings hot fit approaching it might somewhat aggravate his Heate whereupon he cryed out That these had done him hurt and were the cause of his Extremity Upon this some one in the roome drank up the Posset-drinke and the Plaister was applied to another who took no manner of hurt but that he was cured of an Ague This is the whole truth concerning that Application and besides others it will be attested by Master Patrick Maule then of the Bed-chamber and in Attendance a Gentleman whom the Parliament hath imployed about the King ever since he hath bin in their hands and therefore one that in all probability would relate nothing to their disadvantage on set purpose For the Duke's Impeachment in Parliament this was the ground of it When that Parliament was summon'd and the Elections were made Sir John Eliot who much honoured the Duke and was reciprocally much esteemed of by him made an addresse unto the Duke in the name of many Members offered him many Arguments to bring him unto their Party made engagements unto him to establish him in all his Places by Parliament and to adde unto his Grandeur But the Duke rejecting these offers and replying with some Scorne according to the Height and perhaps vanity of his Spirit That the King should have that now by no leave of theirs which formerly he would have thanked them for and that the turbulent Spirits were so dasht that there could be no considerable Opposition in their House to his designes and indeed in sight more of the Members of that Election were at the Dukes devotion Whereupon Sir John Eliot like a good Patriot reply'd that he was mistaken in the Spirit of that House the very walls infusing Resolution into them who sate there and rather then the Duke should not be dasht that he himself would break the ice And hereupon was the E. of Bristol countenanced whom in former Parliaments they themselves had cast some frowns upon and threatned with some danger This Impeachment against the Duke is contrived in such a way as that the King must either engage against him or at least stand Neuter or which was worst of all beare the reflection of that Dirt which they would bestow upon the Duke This was the true ground of that Charge and this was the Man who carried it up and did chiefly manage it in the House of Commons and in their Committees 3. These things thus premised I answer First by way of Concession that indeed the Duke was guilty of Imprudence to meddle in an Art he was not Master of And more yet to exhibit any thing that way unto a King so that he was in some measure liable to the Charge against him Secondly by way of Exception 1. This was no cause of the Kings death and so much the very Charge implies which was but of Mis-demeanors and high Presumptions Had it been of his Death it could not have stood on this side High-Treason and therefore it was a malicious intimation to the Kingdome that his Majesty was guilty of what they themselves were ashamed to charge upon the Duke 2. It was done out of a good affection and an intent to recover the King Had he had other Ends he would never have owned the Action as he did He was not so weak a Politician as to doe such a businesse with his owne hands or by those of his Mother or so much above-boord 3. The Medicines of themselves were innocent and could not prejudice I have heard it from learned Physicians that London-Treacle is of a temperate nature and propulsive of Venome from the Heart a Cordial the decoction of Harts-horn with Marygold-flowers and Gilly-flowers is no other Nay this was attested by some of the Physicians upon their Examinations in that Parliament that those Medicines did him no hurt 4. There was a possibility to save the King thereby Experiment is the best Leg and Base of Physick and oftentimes when a learned Doctor hath strugled in vaine a Nurse or a Midwife hath wrought the Cure by an approved Receit How oft hath the Lady of Kent flatter'd her selfe in this kind and the Lady Brooks too or they have done Cures by a Medicine or two which have been blow'd at in vaine by good Physicians 5. It was done by K. James his earnest entreaty and we know how far the Importunity of a great Person a Prince may transport a man his servant even against Reason much more where there was Reason for it We can produce an example of a French K. in a Fever who being prohibited all Wine by his Physicians did so importune his Servants for that liquor as they gave him his fill and that of the strongest too whereby he was not only satisfied but his Fever cured 6. The chief Witnesses against the Duke were Ramsey and Eglisham the first to the Parliament the other to the Kingdome by his pen both of them of so bad a Reputation that their testimony was not to be taken against a private man the former being expell'd or enforced to relinquish the Colledge of London for his ill-behavior who will lie swear flatter do any villany the latter expell'd from his Vniversity a Papist or rather of no Religion and of as little honesty or learning a man of a crackt Braine too 8. For K. James his own Clamour his word that way was no Slander How often hath Treason been
THE REGALL APOLOGY OR The DECLARATION of the Commons Feb. 11. 1647. Canvassed WHEREIN Every Objection and their whole Charge against His Majesty is cleared and for the most part retorted Eccles 10.20 Curse not the King no not in thy thought Hosea 10.3 4. For now they shall say We have no King because we feared not the Lord what then should a King do to us They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant Prov. 28.2 For the iniquity of a land many are the Princes thereof Printed in the yeare 1648. The PREFACE THis hath been an Accusative age in England and the Prince of Darknesse was never more imitated by us in that Epither notwithstanding our new lights Yet for the most part our Accusations have been but like the crackling of thornes under a pot And our Accusers like the Mountaines which swelled into that bulke as it summon'd the expectation of the world and were delivered of a poore Mouse You cannot name us many Charges which either have not been quite withdrawn or sunk into a lower streame Pray what Delinquent as they terme them Abate us but the Tragedie of Strafford and Canterbury with the Hothams and a very few more who fell in a fit of Justice and were sacrificed to Revenge and Passion hath been brought to a Period commensurate to his Charge How did the Impeachment of the Judges eccho through the kingdome yet some of the chief were not only permitted to sit on those Chaires which it was pretended they dâ—d prostitute but offer'd Preferment also What a terrible Mouth was opened upon the twelve Protesting Bishops yet the turn being serv'd and the Votes against their whole Order passed in the House they were not onely acquitted of their Charge but also dismiss'd from Custody How high ran the Tyde once against the Monopolists what ease from other Burdens did not the People believe they should have by the squeezing of those swolne Spunges yet who among them hath received the measure of his Desert Nay which of them that would nimbly dance after the Pipe of his great Accusers hath not been even hugg'd in their Bosome protected from the lawfull Attempts of injur'd and oppressed Subjects What Haranges have been made against evill Counsellors How was the Kingdome born in hand with hopes of some exemplary Punishment upon or some severe Admonition at the least unto them And yet name but one single Privy-Counsellor ever questioned for ill advice formerly given to the King Of late what a Charge was entred against the 11. Members some of them Persons of eminent Integrity and Merit the Pillars of their respective Houses yet we hope well in their behalf It will not stand with the Justice of a Parliament to install one the Earle of Pembroke again upon the Bench and make him their Judge when his hand was to all the Warrants for Leavy's and bring them to the Bar condemn them for Traytors who signed but onely one whose fault was in comparison but looking over the Hedge while the Other Stole the Horse What hath been said against the late Lord Maior and the Aldermen Stars of the first Magnitude in their Orbe whose influences have strongly contributed unto the prosperity of the Parliament's Cause yet we despair not but that they also may be dismiss'd if they would but fairly sit downe themselves For we are not ignorant of the under-hand Offers which have been made them and the Devices which have been in Agitation to come off with them handsomly And it is a good Omen that Alderman Culham whose guilt if it were any was greater then any of his Brethrens is discharged upon his humble submission These are Instances enough to prove what I proposed and Both sufficient to convince any judgement That it was not Publique Justice nor Reliefe of the Kingdomes grievances which were the springs of these actions but sinister and private designes of their owne Something like that of Absalom Oh that I were made Judge or rather Tyrant in the Land that every man which hath a suit or a cause might come unto me and I would doe him justice But all these former Proceedings are but rude Essays in comparison of this last Grand accusative Declaration against the KING which we are asham'd of already and after-Ages will condemne as the Top of malicious Villany and an unspeakable Scandall to our Religion And that which boils up the Iniquity to the height the King is debarr'd the Priviledge of His meanest Subject of the greatest Malefactor which is to Plead for Himselfe and to wipe off these black Aspersions whereby His Honour is so deeply wounded Nay to heare or know His Accusation Let me therefore be pardon'd the Presumption if in this case the unworthiest of millions of His people I become an Advocate for my oppressed Soveraigne and with a few sparkes which I shall strike as neere as is possible from the Rock of Truth afford some Evidence of His Innocencie untill the Searcher of all Truth shall bring forth his righteousnesse as the light and his judgement as the noone day The Method of the Apology In my discourse upon this Argument I shall proceed this way 1. I shall premise somewhat which may serve for a discovery of the Grounds and Designs of the Declaration 2. I shall give some generall Answers to the Declaration in grosse 3. A distinct particular Answer to each Article or part thereof In which last part I shall speak to the Title first The Votes after Then to the Particular Charges as they are reducible to certain Heads The first of what the King is pretended to have committed in relation to this Kingdome of England The second to what he did in relation to Forraigne Estates To the first I shall reduce all which were done 1. Before his Reigne untill he wore the Crowne 2. From His Coronation untill this Rupture between His Majesty and the Parliament whether they relate more immediately to His owne Person or to His Officers and Ministers as the Privie-Councel men His Councel at Law and Servants or to His Courts of Justice 3. All Passages since the Rupture To the second Head or Classis I shall reduce whatsoever is objected concerning 1. Scotland 2. Ireland 3. the Protestants in Rochel and all France In which if any particular relate to more heads then one we shall to avoid repetion treat upon it under that which it is most proper unto In the Discourse I shall first repeat the Charge then give an Answer and where it is their owne doing lay the charge before their owne doores The Ground and Designe of the Declaration discovered It is well knowne to all the world That from the beginning of our War to trace the pedigree of them no higher there have been two main parties in the Parliament to omit their sub-divisions commonly distinguished by the names of Presbyterians and Independents who though in the generall they concurr'd in beating down the power of the King yet had
therein against the King they might somewhat stroake the Levellers by taking up their Principles in a recompence for devesting them of their power and so pave their way as much as was possible to a perfect soveraignty for themselves THE REGALL APOLOGY The generall ANSWER to the DECLARATION in Grosse 1. THis Declaration imports very little or nothing but what hath been either by the Parliament in their Remonstrances Declarations and Messages or by their Instruments and Emissaries inculcated ad ravim usque and so often repeated that they do even nauseate the Reader And surely it yeilds a shrewd Suspition of Penury of Matter when they are faine so often to take up the Old and to harp thus continually upon the same Strings 2. Many of the Charges are not of his owne faults some being of the Courts of Justice his Judges and other Ministers of State for some of which there hath been satisfaction given either by a totall abolition of the Judicature as of the Star-chamber High Commission c. or by abridgement of their Jurisdiction as of the Privy Counsell or by exposing those Instruments to the rigour of the Law nay to the very will of their mortall Enemies the Parliament It would go but hard with his Accusers if they would take upon themselves all the Mis-carriages all the Cruelties and Oppressions of their Committes or of their Soldiers and yet have they many Eyes to see many Eares to hear withall nay if they would owne but the personall faults of their own Members which would fill up many Volumes if all were set in array against them If we will not admit of that old Law-maxime The King can do no wrong nor be so Court-like as the Persians whose fashion it was to beat the Cloaths onely of their young Princes and Noblemen when they had committed an offence me-thinks we might at least be so just as to lay the saddle upon the right Horse and charge every man but with his owne Crimes 3. Many of those against himselfe have been abundantly for to satisfie the people acknowledged and amended offered to be so at least With God Almighty Confession goes for good Satisfaction And what Patterne should we rather follow then that of our heavenly Father Be ye mercifull as your heavenly Father also is mercifull Mat. 5. Even in the Iudgment of a Heathen man Repentance is above half way to Innocence And surely when a King shall please to stoop so low to his own Subjects as upon their Admonition to recall himself and cry Peccavi his high Place sets a higher price upon his Repentance and he richly deserves to heare no more of his former Over-sights 4. The fowlest of these Charges is not backt with any proof but insinuated and that sometimes upon no manner of Ground at all as that of the Spanish Fleet sometimes upon lamentable weak Surmises bare Hear-say's flying Reports perhaps started on purpose against such a time But what Is this Iustice to a King to our own King By the mouth of two or three witnesses saith the word of God shall every word be established Not under two saith the Civil-law and those contemporary to the fact not successive Indeed by the Law of this land One single Witness for the King is enough But shall his Honour bleed his Authority be snatch'd away his very Life struck at upon Suggestions from one from none upon Surmises and Conjectures How miserable then beyond compare were the condition of a King How true was that saying of Demetrius That if men knew the Thornes it was beset withall they would not stoop to take up a Crown even from the Channell 5. Notwithstanding all this There is a strong Presumption that this is farced with whatsoever Malice could prompt or the Wit of Men and Devils could contrive Consider the multitude in both Houses their severall Relations and Dependences some of them being of the Bed-chamber to the King It is impossible any fault could escape them their Eyes being more then those of Argus for number of Lynceus for Perspicacity nothing so quick-sighted as Malice Againe do but take a Survey of the Committee entrusted with this Affaire Lisle Martin Mildmay Challoner c. Some of them covetous and cunning such as desired to keep the waters troubled still that they might fish the better for another Master-ship of St. Crosse's or some such like Advantage Others of them broken in their Estates and crackt in their Credit could wish the whole Kingdome like themselves All of them of an Anti-monarchicall spirit whose Hearts are brim-full of Gall and venome against the Crowne and whose Tongues drop continually with the poison of Aspes against the Person of the King It was the Boast of a French Promoter That he desired no other advantage to break any mans neck then that he might be imployed in an Office of State but for a twelve moneth So hard he deemed it for such a one to execute his place free from Exception fo easie for those that stand on Battlements and Pinacles to catch a fall And if the faults of Kings as Q. Elizabeth was wont to say who was much delighted in wearing of white were like spots in such Garments easily discovered and though small in themselves borrowed greatnesse of their great Authors Iudge you how it must fare with the King when so many slie Promoters crafty Lawyers malicious Enemies doe joyntly set their wits on the Tenter-hooks to find out matter of Accusation when they go nosing and smelling after faults and have done for seven years together throughout the Spacious field of his whole Reigne nay of his private life too and pry into every nook every Corner for an Imputation whereby they may with some Colour bespatter him and lay his Honour in the dust 6. These Articles were never presented to him that he might make his defence a Priviledge never yet denied any man save by the Parliament but thrust abroad into the world for to empoison the inconsiderate part of the people an everlasting Objection against this sinister way of proceeding Many things at Court appear but on the Dark-side It were no wisdome to lay open the Arcana Imperii The designe might be good though attended with ill Successe Things are not alwaies as they appeare some are worse some are better and therefore the Iudge of all forbids us to to judge after the appearance that being no righteous Judgement How easie is it this way to blast and pervert both words and deeds of a true Saints to make any Speech Treason any Action Villany 7. Divers of their owne Members such as have gone hand in hand with them and resigned up their judgments and understandings in a willing Captivity to their Sense have fail'd them in this Transaction Many of whom with-drew during the Debate and some doe cry Shame upon 't ever since We know more then one or two who were tutoured at their first Accesse unto the House never to desert their
and the Tower Answered Vnusuall Provision of Ammunition fire-workes c. about the Tower and White-Hall mounting Ordinance upon the White-Tower c. was made indeed but only in Order to security at that seditious and tumultuous time Would these good men think it a just Challenge against them Now that they have mann'd White-Hall with ten times the number and the Mewes to boote Now that they have raised Batteries in the Tower mounted Canon cleansed the ditches brought in a Garrison of strangers and laid aside or over-sized the ordinary Guard That therefore they intend to destroy the Presbyterians or the rest of the Kingdome 6. That of Commissions to Papists Answered Commissions were indeed given to the Papists but since the war was begun and I would faine learne what Priviledge the Papists have from being imployed in defence of their King and whether it had been wisdome in us to hazard our selves and that the Protestants should spend their Mettle one upon another while they sate still and looked on Yet I cannot compute upon the most severe survey that the hundredth Commission was issued unto Papists What danger could there be in that disproportion 7. The Charge against His Majesty of Tyranny The third Charge against His Person is of Tyranny and an Endeavour to enslave us which is proved 1. By His Principles in regard he holds forth to us in his Declarations That he is liable to Account for nothing he doth to any man and that nor one nor both Houses of Parliament can make or declare a Law 2. By his Practises as 1. In attempting to enslave us by the German-Horse 2. By the Spanish fleet That Charge Answered To the first The Principle which the King holds out was ever taken for Truth heretofore 1. All his Predecessors in this all Soveraigne Princes in other States have made claime hereto and for ought I have heard were never questioned before for it To passe by King James and all others which might admit exception Hear what Queen Elizabeth saith Although Kings and Princes Soveraigne owing their Homage and service only unto Almighty God the King of all Kings and in that respect not bound to yeild account or render a reason of their Actions to any other but God their Soveraigne yet though among the most ancient and Christian Monarchs the same Lord God hath committed unto us the Soveraignty of this Kingdome of England and other Dominions which we hold immediately of the same Almighty God and so thereby accompt only to his Divine Majesty We are notwithstanding this our Prerogative moved to declare c. In a Declaration of the causes moving her to give assistance to the Netherlands printed by her own Printer 1585. 2. The Lawyers of the Kingdome have constantly taught us the same who call the King Caput Principium Parliamenti Pater Patriae the Head and beginning of his Parliament the father of his Country who also tell us expressely Omnis sub Rege Ipse sub nullo nisi Deo Non est inferior sibi subjectis and Rex non habet superiorem nisi Deum satis habet ad panam quòd Deum expectat ultorem The King hath no Peere in this Land and he cannot be judged The Regality of the Crown of England is immediately subject to God and to none other 3. This very Parliament hath made a tacite acknowledgment hereof as well as all others by taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance by making their Addresses to the King under the notion of his leige men and most humble subjects and by their very Petitions 4. It hath been the practise of all Ages and was of this present Parliament to decline the King even in those things which had been acted by his Commands and to fall upon the Ministers according to the sense of that Law Maxime The King can do no wrong It were strange now that the Children might call the Father to an account The Hee le lift it self against or the Members question the Head The Subject over-top the Soveraigne The Fable hath a good Morall and I doubt is verified in our times The Taile of the Dragon once made that pretence of Governing against the Head but having obtained the liberty to Lead after a great deale of toyle led all the Body into a ditch But this being granted and proved how will the consequence ensue It is not the exemption from Accompt which makes a Tyrant but owning no Law making his Will and Pleasure to be the standard of all his Actions There is no State wherein there is not an ultimate Judicature which is not to be Accomptable By this rule all Government should be Tyrannous 2. That both Houses can make no Law they themselves confesse I am sure the Lord Cooke in his fourth booke Printed by their own speciall Command doth often That they can declare a Law is against reason If the King be necessary to the making doubtlesse he is also to concur in the Interpretation otherwise to what purpose doth his Councell serve But to arrogate a Power to declare a Law contrary to the evident sense or interpretation received ever since it was made even though a hundred or a thousand years is a monstrous usurpation and the greatest evidence of a Tyrannicall spirit that is possible If they have a power to interpret only according to the evidence of the letter or former acceptation where then is the Priviledge and what need there be a quarrell That of the German Horse Answered 1. The Horse out of Germany was but in Proposall never resolved on much lesse put in execution Now an Embrio is no perfect man nor a Designe to be esteemed a Fact much lesse is a bare Proposall 2. It appears to be rather the Duke's doing who at that time took upon him the managery of most affaires in this Kingdome And why should they make the King black with the Dukes faults if that were one But 3. the true designe of those Horse was onely to discipline our English and make them more expert for forraigne Imployments as it may be remembred we had divers old Foot-soldiers and Officers out of Holland for a while to that purpose and how unskilfull our Nation was therein as also of what Consequence it was Our Army in the Isle of Ree was a fatall evidence and since that their owne Armies have felt at Worcester Edge-hill and other Fights untill by frequent Experience and the great pains of some Dutch and Scotch Officers they were made formidable 4. The Instruments whose Counsels were used in this great pretended Crime who made the first offer to raise and conduct those Horse have been harbour'd in the bosome of the Houses and imployed in Places of signall trust as Sir William Balfours Dalbiere c. That of the Spanish Fleet Answered Rather then they will want a Charge the Spanish fleet shall furnish them with one though brought into our Havens by meer necessity being pursued by the Hollanders and having
spent their Powder Poor King Charles How is he burdened and even pressed downe upon whom not his own Actions onely are charged but those of his Servants those of his Courts those of Strangers nay and those of meer fortune and Contingency If this expedition of the Spaniard were by the Kings contrivance or privity why did he sit still permitting them to be assaulted within his own Harbours why did he suffer his owne Ships to be idle Spectators of their Ruine How comes it that there never followed thereupon the least expostulation for so great a losse from the King of Spaine It is well knowne the Spaniards were wasted in Flanders the Natives began to know their owne strength and were in hand with a Machination to shake off the Spanish yoake from their necks in emulation of their Brethren of the Vnited Provinces There was but need then of a recruit which could not be compassed without sending a strong Fleet to convey men into Flanders And this was the Fleet which we quietly beheld beaten and scatterd Mean time what miserable shifts are these men at home put unto when they are glad to catch after such shadows thereby to bring an envy and hate upon their King The whole Charge of Tyrannicall Government made good upon Themselves 1. If it be exemption from Accompt which constitutes a Tyrannicall Government the two Houses cannot wash their hands of it by their owne Rules no men pretending to higher Priviledge therein no men seeking to fortifie themselves more against all possibility of being reckoned withall 2. If the Characters which Aristotle in the 4. of his Politicks chap. 10. assigneth and most other States-men unto Tyrannicall Rule be true the Parliament have out-done all Tyrants in all Ages The Badges are these First To acknowledge no Boundary of Law to their Actions besides their own will 2. To rule by violence over their Equals and Superiors 3. To regard mainly their owne private Vtility not the Publick Examine their Proceedings by these Marks and you shall find them sutable to a hairs breadth Is not much of this quarrell for the repeal of Lawes formerly established Doth not the King continually invite provoke them to this Touch-stone Nay what law that stood in their way have they not suspended or annulled Their whole Ecclesiasticall Government is besides nay against clear law Their Secular hath been altogether Arbitrary for what law warrants their Militia their dealing thus with His Majesty their Imprisonments Oppressions Extortions And what law had they for alienating the Bishops lands not only from the Bishops but from the whole Clergy for ever Lastly that I be not infinite what Law to cut off Canterbury's Head to murther Tomkins Challoner c. 2. How could they possibly maintaine their Power without an Army do they not trample and revel it over their Lords and Masters we will say nothing now of His Majesty their Soveraigne whom they insult upon Have not they set their feet upon the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome ruin'd and undone them whereas themselves for a great part are of the basest among the people Among whom except what they can reckon their Places at a hundred cannot make one thousand pounds by the yeare 3. What have they done for the Publick Though it be a bold I feare it is a true Challenge John Lilburne makes which I am tempted once more to observe I here challenge them to shew me one deed they have done from the beginning of their Convention for the benefit of the people We are sure they have not been wanting to themselves All Places of profit are distributed among their Members Our monies to the summe of 3 or 400000l are put up in their bags Our Persons are at their devotion Their Priviledges are what they list The truth is All the evidences of tyranny against all the Kings of England untill this present age could not amount unto so much as the two Houses have bin guilty of within these very few years Nay it was impossible for all the Kings of England ever to attaine unto it so true a Prophet was even Master Hampden who when some expressed much Impatience at the want of a Parliament wished them to pray for a good one for nothing could undoe England but a Parliament The fourth Personall Charge That he hated Parliaments That he was a Hater of Parliaments they do back with these Proofs 1. That he never called any in twelve years 2. Prohibited all speech of any 3. Dissolved them at his pleasure 4. Searched the Closets and Pockets of the Members after Dissolution 5. Imprisoned others which prov'd the occasion of their death 6. Even in Parliament charged 5 of their Members 7. Offered them violence in his owne Person attended by a Train of Papists and others 8. Endevoured to over-awe them by bringing the Northern Army to London and that when he had declared against it 9. Called a Mock-Parliament at Oxford 10. Raised War against this Parliament which never King did against any but He. 11. Vpbraided his owne at Oxford with the Name of a Mungrell-Parliament The Improbability of this Charge 1. This cannot be easily admitted for a truth That the King should hate a Parliament if you consider 1. That he was an Advocate for them in his Fathers time and by his Endevour procured many good Laws for them in his days which was confessed in the Parliament as you may find in the Journall thereof 2. That to give them satisfaction he pressed his Father against his Resolution and Reason to begin a War with the House of Austria and obtained it though King James like a Prophet told him That it was not their Hate toward the House of Austria nor their Zeale to the Protestant Cause which moved them to put him upon that suit But a designe to bring him into a Noose that being in distresse by reason of it they might desert him and then make their Markets of the Crowne And he did particularly acquaint him with the steps and Gradations which they would proceed in first question and strip him of his Tonnage and Poundage then bind his hands from making other Provision for himself afterwards bring him upon his knees to them 3. Since his Reigne never any King called more Parliaments then He for so short a space notwithstanding those twelve years Intermission 4. All the Kings of England never offered more compliance or performed more Acts of Grace then He did 5. Lastly few Kings have testified a greater desire of correspondence with or of condescention to a Parliament then His Majesty hath done by this 1. In resigning up his faithfull Servants to be disposed of according to their will even against his Conscience 2. In offering them as it were a Blanke Jan. 20. 1640. which is to be seen in their own Book of Declarations 3. In giving up so many Bishops whose Votes for the most part were at his devotion to be expelled the House of Lords 4. Lastly In
the establishment of this Parliament by a Law during their owne Arbitrement 1. The Charge from the dis-use of Parliament for twelve years Answered To the first particular I answer 1. By way of Concession that Parliaments were under long dis-use But 2. that it might be out of some fore-sight and sense of this tumultuous Spirit in its secret workings of which the King might think by abstinence and diet to correct their Luxuriancy It argues no hate to a Parliament to desire it might contain it self in the bounds of its ancient moderation and so a fair correspondence be maintained between the Crowne and the People And this Judge Hutton in his Argument could not chuse but touch upon if you please to peruse him 3. Notwithstanding this reason for it His Majesty had made an acknowledgement hereof as of an Errour engaging himself to redresse it for the future Nay 4. did apply himself to that particular way which themselves proposed a Trienniall Parliament 5. Further yet when that gave not satisfaction by a law confirmed this present Parliament to the length of their own desires 2.3 That for Breaking up of Parliaments and forbidding all Speech thereof Answered 1. Herein His Majesty did no more then all his Predecessors Look upward and you will find it practised If it were against the words of a law yet usage makes the law of the Kingdome and supersedes the Letter Suppose it an Errour why should it be a Charge upon the King and never objected unto His Father Qu. Elizabeth Qu. Mary K. Edward K. Henry 8. and so upward 2. The King did never Dissolve any but upon their own distempers and for mutinous deportment and then it was providence to cure an evill in the beginning and crush a serpent in the shell 3. This very House of Commons doth at this time entertaine within their walls one Instrument of the dissolution of the last before this I mean Sir Henry Vane whose false suggestions were the occasion of the Kings Breaking it up If you have not heard the story then take here the plain truth of it The Parliament was willing to give the King a summe in consideration of Ship-money and an offer was made so the King would relinquish his title thereunto of six Subsidies His Majesty was willing to comply and in order thereunto gave Sir Hen. Vane and others a command to signifie so much unto the House But Sir Henry contrary to the directions demands and insists on Twelve Whereupon the House is put into some distemper which Sir Henry represents unto His Majesty with the utmost Aggravation and some Addition too whereupon His Majesty Dissolves it Searching of Pockets and afterwards Imprisoning Answered To this we give this accompt 1. That it was no Breach of Priviledge when the Parliament was dissolv'd The Elements are but of ordinary use extra rationem Sacramenti by that time they were reduced to their proper sphear and why may not the King upon reasons of State send to search the Pockets and Closets of any private man when he found the correspondence between his Kingdom and himself to be shaken who could blame him to search the cause of it to the bottome that he might prevent it for the future Though the King did imprison them it was in an Honourable way he made them such an Allowance that Master Long hath professed he spent the King 1500l there after which rate perhaps it might be of a Surfet that those died who are objected 3. Themselves never made dainty of it to imprison their own Members during their Session without any cause exprest in their Warrants and without any Allowance for their subsistance What was Commissary General Coply imprison'd for these six months Some say for nothing but telling what a clock it was at a Committee Others have been for as long a time and for as little reason The Kings charging of the 5 Members answered and retorted 1. This is true indeed that the King did charge or impeach so many of the House but then 2. His Majesty had some reason sure Whosoever reads the Articles and compares the Consequences will find them high enough and be convinced of their truth 3. If you consider the Kings proceedings thereupon his Retractation of his own way and error in the processe if it justled with any unknown Priviledge his desire of their direction and when nothing else would give Content his utter with-drawing of the Charge and if you reflect withall upon what other Princes have done what the Law gives out to wit There is no Protection for Treason you cannot chuse but admire his lenity 4. This is no more then they have suffered if not encouraged the Army their own Servants to doe unto double that number of their Houses and some of the same Members that had been charged by the King and this too upon lesse ground if any at all 5. I could tell them of Doct. Parry a Member of that House in Q. Elizab. time who was not onely charged but taken thence condemned at the Kings-bench for Treason against the Queens Person drawn and hanged before Westminster-Hall-gate at the very time the Members repaired to the House I could tell them of more then this but I passe it over The Kings going to the House answered and retorted 1. Though His Majesty went unto the House there was no assault made or intended by him as far as can appear without their Comment It had been a desperate attempt with so few to set upon so many and those backt by so great a power and had seru'd themselves so far into the affections of the City If any wild expression fell from the mouth of one or two of his retinue why were they not seized on and questioned 2. This hath been so often acknowledged for an Errour by him yet still objected by them that me-thinks they might blush at this mention of it 3. What did he doe therein which themselves had not been guilty of before it and much out-done since We remember the robustious Petition of the Porters and we know at what rates some of them were hired by what devices others were cheated thereinto it being told them it was a Petition that Water-men should be prohibited to carry Burdens The Poasting of Names exposing the Members of different judgment to the fury of the madding Multitude was a kind of Force sure So were the Shoals of Citizens who came upon their Invitation and encouragement to cry for Justice If those were not we are certaine the Reformado's were for many of them smelt ill then and Horrour was seen in the faces of most which the Army taxeth some Members withall And the Petitions Remonstrances Declarations Advance of this Army with their Interposition since are a violence beyond dispute Bringing the Army to London answered and retorted 1. None of those Examinations which we have read over all of them doe hold out clearly that the King did intend to bring them up to London
onely to put them in a posture for his Service 2. This was limited according to the Fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome and the Liberty of the Subject 3. It amounted but to a Petition which is printed and may be read in the first Vol. of the Decl 4. This came from the Officers unto the King and those Members of Parliament Now in that conjuncture of Affaires wherein was the King too blame when the Soldiers were discontented the Parliament grew high there were visible Symptomes of an intention to model the State anew to cast out the Government of the Church If the King did so far comply with them as to allow nay to countenance them by an humble Petition to represent their sense of the Innovations they feared and of a Breach of the Laws of the Land How happy had it been for us if it had proceeded and taken place Is it not the same which this Army hath accomplished to the destruction of the Law and dissolution of all legall Authority The Raising of War against them Answered The raising of the War will be Answered in another place As for the Aggravation a thing never done but by King Charls it is no wonder since never King needed before to deale with a Parliament by Armes One Breath of his mouth was enough to dissolve them The Mock-Parl at Oxford Answerd and retorted The Mock-Parliament was not to be so slightly thought of Themselves and their owne men the Army appeale to the equitable construction of the Law And if so pray what equity would justifie this Parliament about That The King is confessedly one Estate The Lords with him were two for one twenty or more Earles as many Barous when two Lords made up a House here often and Ten were thought a goodly number Nay the House of Commons there were neer upon the number with those that staied here Did the wals at Westminster make a Parliament surely in the equitable construction those Gentlemen made it much rather who were called together by the Kings Writ and sent by their respective Counties and Burroughs But why do we dispute that Did not many of these men that talke thus flee themselves Did they not eat up an Engagement with the Army Was there not an intention at least of another Mock-Parliament If their Returne to Westminster had not been so quick and easie we cannot forbear to thinke they would actually have done the selfe-same thing themselves which they thus condemn in others The Mungrell Parliament Answered The King hath sufficiently explained himself for that matter that he used that Expression in reference to the Earle of Sussex and his faction who had made a breach in that fair Correspondence that was maintained between them formerly The Charge of Crimes done by his Ministers We proceed from the pretended faults which relate immediately to the Kings owne person before this Rupture with the Parliament unto those done by his Ministers and those especially under this Classis concerne Oppression of us in our Estates Of which sort are the Enforced leaues Privy-Seales Coat-and-Conduct-money Enlarging Forests Enclosing Commons Ingrossing Patents Monopolies c. The Answer to these in generall To these in generall 1. That they were put in execution in times of great necessity The King was engaged in a bloody war and by the incitement encouragement and promise of this faction of men and deserted as soone as he was well entered the best Revenue of the Crown questioned if not with-held The King of Denmarke beaten for want of supply Germany over-run the Protestant cause all over Christendome in a precipice great Preparations made round about Hanibal ad portas What Irregularities might not be excused in such exigencies by that Supreame Law of Necessity which bears out all transgressions 2. None of these were contrived by Himself many of them were by his Counsell at Law many were suggested by Mr. Noy in particular his Attorney a man well versed in the Laws and ancient Records of the Kingdome one who could have given a good accompt of his Actions and was once thought a great Champion of the Laws against Arbitrary Incroachments 3. There was a Redresse offered upon the first Complaint and the Subject fenced by wholsome Laws against any such future Attempts 4. The Instruments who first contrived or abetted and put then in execution are many of them in both Houses more of them in Places of eminent trust None of them all ever punished upon this score but for some other fault In Particular The Privy-Seales Answered His Majesty was so carefull to satisfie his Subjects for what they had lent him this way that he sold unto the City of London Land at 12000. l. rent of Assise and out of the money due thereupon left and secured in the Chamberlain of Londons hand the summe of 216000. l. 15. s. 4. d. to the end that out of this such might be paid as had formerly lent unto the King either by Privy-Seale or otherwise which the City made this advantage of not contented with such a bargain though they paid for the purchase by the very Wood and Timber upon the ground as the King was informed They sent their Emissaries into all Countries where they knew there were any of the Kings Creditors who were ignorant of this Assignment and agreed with them at under-rates nay for little or nothing for the debt they accounted as desperate and by that meanes at once deceived the people of their repayment and the King of the reputation of his Justice Forrests Answered 1. The King herein used and followed the advice of his Counsell at Law and of the Lord of Holland yet was his Lordship their Confident untill this quarrell divided them 2. What was done herein was upon Oath and by due process at Law 3. His Majesty remitted his clear Right where the people were troubled for instance a great part of the County of Essex 4. He allowed them to be bounded by the Countries themselves Enclosing of Commons Answered and retorted 1. It was done by vertue of Law which investeth him with that power 2. It might have been for the benefit not of the Kingdome onely but of the very particular Inhabitants of those respective places if Instruments had done their duty 3. The Parliament keeps those in their possessions still without refunding any Compensation to those they pretend were injured 4. Nay at this time they set upon a worke of Enclosure of more then all the Commons in England which have been enclosed these 100. years I mean the Draining of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire whereby thousands of poor people are bereft of their subsistence The adjacent parts are endammaged by the Torrent of the waters turned upon them to their vast prejudice Engrossing of Patents and Monopolies Answered That I may Answer these I shall lay for a Ground That all Graunts and Letters-Patents of the King of England are not Monopolies though concerning Trade or Manufacture or the labour of the
harken to Propositions sent unto him at Hampton-Court nor signe so much as four Bills which were only in order to their Security during a Treaty since he was in the Isle of Wight though those made way to a Personall Treaty upon the rest To all which I shal answer The Generall Answer That the King did not begin the War may first be concluded from the improbability thereof 1. Themselves assoile the King from that fiercenesse of disposition and inclination to war when they make that Comment upon the Lord Digby's Letter who writing to the Queen among other Passages hath this for one I have taken the hardinesse to write unto His Majesty according as his Affairs and Complexion requires which they interpret to be a Mildnesse of Spirit 2. There was a very vast disproportion between his strength and theirs for 1. The Affections of the people and the wealth of the Kingdome were all at their devotion the King being looked on but a-squint though causlesly by his Subjects 2. The Ammunition and Armes of the Kingdome in their power 3. The Navy at their dispose What King said our Saviour going to war against another sits not downe first and considers whether he be able with his ten thousand to meet him that commeth against him with his twenty thousand It could not have stood on this side madnesse for our King to harbour such a Resolution to meet them or set on them rather that had I will not say 20000. but 200000. against his One. Secondly granting their proofs all true by what Logick doth it follow that all this was done by the King with an intention to leavy war against the Parliament A Preparation may be for Defence as well as for Assault We have not forgotten that it was one of their own Arguments whereby they pressed for putting the Kingdom into a Posture of the Militia under their command because they heard of great preparations in Spaine France Denmarke and God knows where At this time they themselves doe fortifie Newcastle have farced thereinto a Garrison of 3000 men into Tinmouth-Castle 600. c. But would they be well pleased with that inference Therefore they intend to make war against the Scots If a Ship at Sea discover a Man-of-War it is no Defiance to clear her Guns open her Port-holes let down her Wast-cloaths c. In Spaine if one man draw his Sword all the Company draw theirs also presently whatsoever the Occasion be I have heard of a Gentleman who never sees another take up a Sword in his hand to look on to shew to buy but streight he draws his owne and gives this reason Doe I know what the Devill may tempt him to When His Majesty perceived such unusuall and unseemly Expressions High and insolent Demands No satisfaction he could give accepted Words uttered in his face that he was not worthy to Reigne and those by Apprentices and by the scum of the people The power of the Parliament to Depose Kings His indeserts for that high Place liberally in all Companies made the discourse of their Confidents yea of their own Members The Militia not only demanded but wrung out of his hands His own Ammunition seized on Towns fortified against him The Navy disposed of contrary to his desires Was it not then high time for him to look about him to project his own Safety to prepare against the Storm thus hanging over his head which if he had failed to do he must have cast himself down at their feet and so had he made good what at the beginning of these Troubles for want of other Accusation they spar'd not to bespatter him withall That he was but a degree from an Ideot As for the Proofs in particular they are so frivolous and yet have had such frequent effectuall Answers in His Majesties Declarations which are to be seen in print published by Husbands their owne Printer and are so very well known among us that I will spare both my self and the Reader the paines to insert them in this place This Charge made good upon themselves But to lay the Childe at the right fathers doore The truth is though this War were the Hand of God upon us all for our Crying sins and the first Rise of it were almost as unsearchable as the Head of the Nile yet are there some Tracks that infallibly fasten it upon the Houses If you will allow the first defiance to begin the War it was the Parliaments Remonstrance piget meminisse sent unto the King at Hampton-Court which some of the wisest contested against and among others upon this Ground for one That it must be presented upon the point of a sword If you make it to relate unto the first Guard The Parliament raised that when the King was in Scotland If to the first violence It came from the Tumults at Westminster for justice on the Earle of Strafford and for expulsion of the Bishops acted by the Citizens but incited and incouraged by Members of their owne House Besides the Conducting of the five Members by a just Army to the House by land and besieging as well as shooting at White-Hall by water If the first manning of the Garrisons it was by the Parliament at Hull If the first Army it was begun by the Parliament under the Earle of Essex who had an Army of 15000 and upward when the King had not one thousand If the first Blow between them did not their Army at Edge-hill first give fire to the Cannon Indeed we must acknowledge the King trod in their steps sometimes foote-hot and most an end wrought by the Pattern they had cut out for him The same thing may further be cleared by the Confidence and Assurance of their friends that there could be no war that it was enough for the Parliament to raise an Army the King would never be able to do it or at least so as to ballance theirs and then he must lie at their Mercy Thus ran their discourse among themselves this was the Presumption of their Junto then Nay such assurance had they hereof that Mr. Hamden himself as quick-sighted as the best behind him offered to lay an hundred pound to a shilling thereon Let Mr. Lilburn speak if still you are to be convinc'd an Agitator at that time and one who knew the secrets of their Cabinet They have engaged the Kingdome in a bloody War under pretence of Vindicating the Laws and Liberties of the Subject but never intended God knows any such thing but meerly by the Blood and Treasure of the people to make themselves Lords and Masters over them Oppressed mans Oppres p. 34. The Kings refusing Petitions for Peace Answered Now to clear His Majesty from the Charge of refusing Petitions for Peace or Overtures to that purpose 1. It can hardly obtaine credence with a prudent man that the King should turne the deaf eare toward a just Peace because it was for his own Interest Both sides fought upon his score
at Brainceford while they were in Treaty our Answer is 1. That there was no provision made for the suspension of all Hostility during that space 2. That Propositions were but pretended to be framing which have often taken up many moneths in Parliament not sent unto the King 3. That they did not accept of the Kings motion to allow him his own House at Windsor for his use 4. That even the day before there were divers men drawne out of London into Kingston with Ordnance and Ammunition sent towards the Kings quarters the Earle of Essex and Waller and the Earle of Warwick were in earnest preparation to advance the Countries round about were summon'd and in preparation to march Upon which let any reasonable man judge whether it were fit the King should be meerely passive and permit them either to surround and shut him in or to creepe into such Advantages over him that if he had over-slipt but that nick of time he could not have redeemed himselfe and his Forces out of their hands And since that impertinent passage is foisted into their Declaration that he was forced to retire with shame and losse after so much Cruelty committed in Brainceford agreeable to a false relation published at that time by their Command Let all the world know divers of this City being witnesses of it the very next day after That there was left in that Towne after the Royall Armies retreat both abundance of Bread Drinke and Wine and also Provinder for Horse nor was there any but here and there a disaffected person sustain'd any considerable losse which thing border'd upon a Miracle being very rarely practised by any Army especially so ill paid To lie there 15000 of them together for a whole day and night in an Enemies Country a Towne which was defended against them and taken by assault and follwed in the reare by a potent Army yet to commit no more outrage I am sure These men can produce no such instance on their own side Now the Parliaments party when they afterwards came into the Towne I know the men that saw these things killed divers of the Kings Souldiers who were left drunke in the streets and taking that honest Italian revenge to send their drunken soules to the Devil as much as in them lay together with their Bodies to the Grave Also their Souldiers pull'd down divers houses to the ground under pretence that their Owners were of the Conspiracy to bring the Kings Army to the Towne plundered the houses and shops of others nay of one who was in service in their owne Army drag'd poor wounded men by cords tied about their necks pricking them behind with pikes and swords twitching some up at a Carts-taile by Roaps about their necks then letting them down again under pretence that they were Irish and to make them confesse whereas they were poor Welch and could not speake our language Moreover they forced Women into the Thames there pricking them with their Pikes and striking them under water to put them to many deaths at once under the notion of Irish women and all this Inhumanity without any check from their Commanders The Commission under pretence of a Treaty Answered For the Commission to murder them under pretence of a renewing the Treaty as they are pleased to style the Commission of Aray 1. It was onely to Arme some of the well-affected loyal Citizens that they might vindicate their Liberty 2. There was small probability that much Blood if any at all should have been spilt had the designe taken place 3. It was no more then themselves have done and sped better in as at Shrewsbury Hereford Eccleshal Castle c. Prosperum faelix scelus Virtus vocatur 4. Stratagems were never lesse lawfull then open force against an Enemy The Propositions at Hampton-Court Answered As for the Propositions they sent unto the King at Hampton-Court 1. They were the same as formerly and though here and there a word was mollified yet in substance they were more unreasonably rigid then the former 2. They were huddl'd up here the Scots being not warned of them but the very night afore yet appointed to be present at the delivery 3. They were never intended by themselves for the Kings condescention onely sent in a formality and out of a meer purpose to encrease the number of their Addresses Which was the more apparant in regard Master Peters with divers of the Army came to quicken the Parliament by this false asseveration that they were very sure the King would grant them whatsoever they were The Sollicitor pressed in the House of Commons for a Complyance in one Proposall giving this for a reason That they might gaine the greater Advantage upon the Kings refusall as he was assured that he would refuse but in case the King should yeild he had a way to frustrate the Advantage which the Malignants might expect 4. That the King might be encouraged to wave them The Army had presented him with Proposals which were much lower and might better be digested by him some say and those of their own House too on purpose to indispose him toward the Parliaments Propositions and so render him the more obnoxious to what they projected against him The 4 Bills presented at the Isle of Wight Answered As to the 4 Bills sent to the Isle of Wight 1. They were protested against by the Commissioners of Scotland and who would not look upon it as a strong dilemma either to dis-oblige and irritate that Nation with the Presbyterian currant here by his Assent or the Army's Faction and Independents by his Assent who would not judge it better to take in the Interest of both Parties and so cut off the danger of further embroyling the Kingdome which His Majesty most wisely and Christianly for the prevention of further Bloud-shed offered 2. Those 4 Bills were Voted by many against their Conscience who did ingenuously professe as much and that they wished they might not be yeilded to giving this reason why they had so passed them contrary to their Minds If they should have given their Vote against them they must incur the Imputation of being Enemies to Peace If for them a Tyranny would be established in the Army and Independent Party over the Kingdome 3. The matter of them was utterly to enslave us all and put us under the Arbitrary power of a Faction for ever for by them a Power should have been granted the Parliament which I pray what is it now in effect but the Army and that Faction of Pressing any men without limitation and of raising what Sums they pleased from whom they pleased toward the Charge and also of disposing this strength according to their will 4. The King had not onely destroyed the Liberty and Property of all his Subjects hereby but put Himself also under a Power to compell him not onely to grant the rest of their Propositions in a Personall Treaty but what else soever their boundlesse
ambition might have tempted them to demand without any provision for His owne Honour or His owne and his peoples safety For every man can tell himself this plain truth That who so wears the Sword by right Investiture needs no other Law or Logick and as the Wiseman answered Craesus He that brings the better Steel will quickly be Master of the Gold and Silver 5. The Treaty was not promised to be Personall but by Commissioners and that at the Isle of Wight who should have been coopt up within such Rules and Instructions that they should not dare transgresse in a word or tittle without recourse to their Masters at Westminster and His Majesty treated withall as in a Prison which must have invalidated the Conclusions between them and given his Posterity an advantage which the King himself was not willing to that he might establish the peace of the Kingdome upon the surer Basis and foundation 6. The Persons most likely to have been designed for this Imployment were engaged perhaps to represent the worst sense of the Transactions to make it their chief work to incense the Parliament and to infuse into them a new Quarrell against the King as those did who being to account for the Passages at the delivery of the Propositions at Hampton-Court the King having importuned them to intercede for a Personall Treaty and in his earnestnesse letting fall this Expression If I may obtain that with my Parliament all the Devils in Hell shal not hinder a good Agreement did thus mis-report his words If I cannot obtain a Personall Treaty with my Parliament all the Devils in Hell shall not defeat me of my Resolutions I forbear to tell how the Passages were clipt and the worst part only related in the House of Commons by the major part of those to whom that charge was given from the Isle of Wight The Charge in reference to the Scots Their Charge against the King in reference to the Scots is the first of those that relate to foraine Estates and this is it 1. That there was a new book of Common-Prayer and Canons imposed on them 2. An Army was raised to force them to receive these Innovations 3. The Articles of Pacification were broken and burnt by the hand of the Hang-man 4. A new War was leavied c. The Answer to that Our Answer is 1. This was ever before the Impeachment of Strafford and Canterbury and others esteemed the Action of Evill Counsellours about His Majesty 2. If it were a crime those men have expiated it by their death it being a great part of that burden that sunk them even to the Block 3. The Scots themselves are satisfied and why we in England should be so officious as to take up their Quarrell when they sit down themselves I know not 4. These Passages are buried by an Act of Oblivion which although these men break thus for their own ends we shall better observe And though the King might be acquitted from what they tax him with herein yet we had rather suffer those sparks to die of themselves then kindle the flame a-new or blow abroad the ashes The Charge concerning Ireland In their Charge concerning Ireland we find they are Industrious omitting nothing that can be imagined whereby to fasten on His Majesty an Allowance at least if not a positive command of the Rebellion there and because they set so much of their Rest upon that you shall have most of it and in their own words It is well known 1. what Letters the King sent into Ireland by the Lord Dillon immediately before the Rebellion 2. Where the Great Seal of Scotland was and in whose hands when that Commission was sealed at Edenburgh to the Irish Rebels who dispersed Copies thereof with Letters and Proclamations And we have a Copy thereof attested by Oath with Depositions of those who have seen it under the Seal 3. Which was promised by the confession of some of the chiefest of the Rebels to the Irish Committee at London being most part Papists which was thought a good Omen and since most active Rebels 4. Vpon whose private mediation the King gave away more then 5 Counties saying he expected they should recompence him This answered To wipe off this Calumny 1. It is clear by their own Testimonies and by the confession of divers among the Rebels That this Rebellion hath been upon the Anvill these many years some of their Priests acknowledging themselves had travailed therein above seven years others six c. which you may learn from Sir Jo. Temple in his discourse of the Irish Rebellion p. 67. which Book I shall often and the more chearfully urge because he was a Privy-Counsellour in Ireland present there at the time of the Insurrection and long after a person dis-obliged by the King a Parliament-man here and one that hath given up his name to their Faction that run most at randome Now how can this be admitted by any prudent man that the King should be so infatuated as to conjure up such Devils to disturbe his Kingdome when it was in peace to destroy his Subjects who had no thought of Dis-loyalty toward him of whom those that are yet left for the greatest part continue firm still to ruinate the wealth of that people which afforded him a considerable Revenue which also was to be improved 2. The same Author is confident that though their Intentions in Ireland might be to set up the Popish Government yet their prime Aime in this Rebellion was to shake off the English yoake to settle the power wholly in the hands of the Natives the other they made use of only to draw in poor ignorant people to sacrifice their lives for them p. 83. 66. And he gives one reason for their Encouragement hereunto That the Scots had by their Armes and wise management drawn His Majesty to condescend unto their entire satisfaction both in Discipline of the Church and the Liberties of the Kingdome And these things are attested on Oath by divers As in the Examination of one Cooke who deposed that Tirlogh Brady should say All the Irish were risen against the King and the Counsell That the Irish would within a fortnight have a King of their own the Examination of Alice Tibbs p. 50. The same deposed by Avis Bradshaw that they had a new King by R. Bartar p. 51. Of the like nature were many other Examinations taken That they had the Scots for a president They would have the Kingdome in their own hands Laws of their own Deputy of their own without molestation from another Nation this was sworn by J. Bigar that he heard one Eustace a Commander professe p. 19. with many other of like importment in a Book called a Remonstrance of Passages in Ireland presented to the Commons of England and recommended by the Justices and Councell of that Kingdome Now they that can think the King should concur in a design to devest himself of one of his own
against the King of France which he could not otherwise have done with any Colour either of Justice or Policy by sending an Army to the Isle of Ree by sending two several Fleets to their reliefe If all succeeded not that ought not to be laid in his dish For the Meanes onely are in mans power God keeping events and Successes in his owne The Horse is prepared against the day of Battell but safety is from the Lord. It is very certaine he did his utmost endeavour I know those who will testifie he gave the most earnest Injunction possible for their Reliefe though it should prove to the endangering of his whole Fleet. And it is observable The grudge hereof hath not yet been forgotten by the Crowne of France which in a slye Revenge hath probably helped to raise this Devill of Intestine War in our Nation and denied all considerable Supplies to the King of England in these daies of his distresse yea though a Daughter of the Crowne and her numerous Issue be involved in the same Calamity 8. But to give you the best last The truth Ground of the whole Businesse will be made very cleare and beyond all scruple by this following Narrative which I have delivered from honest and understanding States-men The Palatinate being wrested from the Palsgrave The Protestants in Germany almost ruinated Our King unable at that time by his own strength to relieve them there was a League proposed and agitated between the Crowns of France England Denmark the States of Holland and Venice against the House of Austria and this in good measure was brought toward perfection especially by the managery of the Duke of Buckingham The wise Cardinall of France making advantage of those Traverses and taking Time by the fore-top deals with the Duke for supply of these above-mentioned Ships The Duke being Admiral and presuming high upon his Masters allowance commands the Ld. Conway then Secretary of State to write to Penington his Vice-Admirall to put the Ships under the French service and Seales this Letter with the Signet But Penington refusing to do it upon such Authority the Duke himself as Admirall seconds the first Letter with his Command which being likewise disputed a Letter was sent with the Kings Name subscribed and signed with the Privy-signet yet without His Majesties knowledge which was no difficulty considering the Signet is usually kept by the Secretary and that many Blanks are usually and must of necessity be left in trust with great Officers especially so great as the Duke then was Nay I have been informed that the King being at Woodstock when the Newes hereof was first imparted to him and that by Sir John Penington himself was in a great rage at it and not without some difficulty reconciled unto the Duke about it Is it now a rationall and just Inference to lay the Miscarriage of Rochel upon His Majesties score Have they so much Compassion toward Strangers and so little Justice toward their own rightful Soveraign Are they so deeply affected with the wounds given to the Protestant Religion through the sides of Rochel Would God they themselves did not stab it ten times more desperately by these their un-Protestant un-Christian unparalell'd Proceedings to the dishonour of God the Grief and Anguish of every good Soule the Joy and unspeakable Advantage of our common Adversary of Rome Hoc Ithacus velit magno lucrentur Atridae The Settlement which they intend and the Conclusion ANd thus have we examined the truth of their Declaration against His Majesty before we conclude It will be worth while to examine a little the truth of what they declare for Themselves We shall use our utmost endevour to settle the present Government as it may stand with the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom I ask How can they settle the Peace of the Kingdome without a King If their Hornes should prove as long as themselves are curst and God permit them to fill up the measure of their Iniquities by the accession of the Murder of this King which we do even tremble to mention yet have some reason to believe they do designe One of their Members having professed as much and offered himself a Felton for that fact yet never so much as question'd And one Hall being a Suitor for the Command of a Ship in their Navy unto their Committee of Admiralty was accused for having said The Parliament were foolish that they had not hired somebody to kill the King whilst he was in the hands of the Scots It was thereupon replied by Sir A. Haslerigg Have you no more against him let him go to chuse We must have such men as will be faithfull against him and since that they gave him the Command of a very good Ship Allow I say they should be able to compasse this How will they trust the Children of a Father in whose bloud they have imbrued their hands And how will they be able to alienate the Crowne from that Royall Line which so many Millions of this Nation and the best for Estate the ablest for Judgment wil sacrifice their dearest Bloud for being obliged thereunto by many both Sacred and Civil Bonds which is incorporated into so many Kingdoms and States abroad Scotland Denmark France Holland c. But grant they may arrive at this Impossibility What Peace or Settlement therein can this Kingdome expect from their hands who have used us or rather abused us thus whiles as yet they stood but upon their Good Behaviour while they were no more then Probationers or Candidates of Soveraignty Our Peace must be to lie down quietly under their Pawes while they like Harpyes do snatch away the meat out of our Mouths like Vultures feed upon our live bodies whilst as a wise man said such Statists use to do they tosse our heads our very lives like Tenis-balls to make them sport withall Our Settlement is like to be firm indeed which must depend upon their Ordinances a Lawyer of their own at an Assize could handsomely call it Jus Vagum Incognitum one of them justling the other daily out of fashion according as the vane of their Humour sits In a word It is impossible there should be either Peace or Settlement whilst His Majesty is a Prisoner till there be mutuall Condescendencies and Provision made for all considerable Interests on foot which His Majesty hath gratiously offered and by a Personall Treaty managed with due Christian temper on all hands may through Gods blessing be yet accomplished The End