worse and more hopelesse and desperate condition then ever heretofore 7. That to prevent and frustrate these Laws and this security the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall party whilest they were in agitation indeavoured all they could by subtill practices slanders and private solicitations to raise jealousies and divisions between the Scottish Commissioners and Army and the Parliament to ingage the Scottish and English Armies each against other or to make the Scots stand neutrall to the Parliament that so they might bring up the English Army from the North to London to over-awe and suppresse them and hinder the Union between both Kingdomes which through the fidelity of the Scots and of some Officers in the English Army was timely discovered prevented and a firme Union between both Kingdomes setled by Acts of Parliament passed in the Parliaments of both Nations 8. That these Acts of Pacification and Union between both Kingdomes and the Religious party of both Nations the extirpation of Prelacy and the Popish Hierarchy and the establishing of a Presbyterian Government and Uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline in both Kingdoms were apprehended prosecuted and resolved upon by the most religious Protestant party and Parliaments of both Nations as the readiest probablest and most effectuall means under God to preserve and secure their Religion Lawes Liberties against all future invasions and to frustrate all Popish and Prelaticall Designâ—s against them and were accordingly esteemed and looked upon by the adveâ—se Popish and Prelaticall party who thereupon attempted with all their policy and power to uphold Prelacy and retard and prevent the establishment of â—resbytery as fatall to all their hopes and Designes and thereupon improved all their intâ—rest both at home and with forraigne â—rinces to raise what Forces they could to break this Dâ—signe and the â—arliament too before they should accomplish it 9. That when the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall party in England Ireland Scotland and forraigne parts had taken up Arms and raised great Forces to hinder the settlement of the Presbyterian Governmentâ— suppresse the late Parliament subvert the Protestant Religion introduce Popery and Tyranny extâ—rpate the Puritan and Religious party in England and Ireland and were grown very strong and pâ—evalent in both the Scottish Presbyterians now invaded and defeated out of their brotherly love and Christian affâ—ction in this extremity of danger for the preservation of our Religion Liberties Lawes Parliament and the godly party in England Ireland at both Housâ—s earnest solicitatioâ— did readily and chearfully assist us with their Forces in both Kingdoms and thereby through Gods bâ—essing were a great means of weakâ—ning and subduing our Enemies and preseâ—ving our Religion Lawes Liberties Lives from utter destruction which brotherly assistance with so powerfull an Aâ—my of above twenty thousand Hoâ—se and Foot in our greatest dangers was so welcome to us that the House of Commons on the second of February 1643. Ordered publike thanks should be given in all Churches for the aid and assiâ—tance come in by our Brethren of Scotland And when the malignant party there in their absence for our preservation had pâ—evâ—iled and routed only some few of their Forceâ— nothing considerable in comparison of those lately slain and defeated left behind for their defence both Houses were so sensible thereof that they appointed a speciall Dâ—y of Humiliation for the miseries of Scotland throughout all the Parliaments Qâ—arters by their Order of 2. September 1645. which was accordingly observed so much did they and we then condole thâ— least overthrow and misery of our Scottish Brethren in Covenant â—being members of the selfâ—same Body of Christ as if it had been our own Whereas now on the contrary we invade slay dâ—stroy and ruine these our brotherly Assistants rejoyce triumph at their misery appoint publike Daâ—es of Thanksgiving throughout the whole Nation for their grâ—at slaughter and overthrow and hang up the Ensignes taken from them in Westminster Hall as publike trophies and testimonies to succeeding ages of our gratitude and brotherly kindnesse towards them and of our religious observation of our solemne Nationall League and Covenant with them not long since made and entred into upon their coming in to our assistance 10. That in the extremity of our dangers by the prevailing Popish party the Parliaments Ministers and religious people both of Scotland and England did resolve it most necâ—ssary and essentiall for Gods glory and their sâ—fety to enter into a more sacred and stricter union then formerly for defence of their Religion King Parliament Lawes Liberties the extirpation of Popery of Prelacy and the bringing of all our Kingdoms to uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline by a solemne Nationall League and Covenant as the onely means under God to prevent all future differences and breaches between all the godly people of both Nations to preserve and secure Religion Lawes Liberties and priviledges of Parliament against all present and future attempts whatsoever and dash in pieces all the designes practices hopes of the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Faction in all our Kingdoms which League and Covenant was accordingly agreed upon by the Parliament and Assemblies of Divines in both Kingdomes and after that most chearfully and solemnly taken and subscribed not only by the Scottish Parliament Army Clergy and Generality of that Nation but by all the Members of both Houses of our Parliament the generaâ—ity of all the godly Ministers and people in England and Ireland and by all or most Officers and Souldiers in the Parliaments Armies who many of them carried it in their hats hands and fixed to their pikes as they marched and amongst others it was taken and subscribed by Oliver Cromwell himself and Ireton and every man by Ordinances of both Houses was disabled to injoy or exercise any Civill or Military Office or place of Trust whatsoever in the State or Army who did not solemnly take and subscribe itâ— whereupon it was almost universallyâ— taken and subscribed in a most sacred and solemn manner throughout the Kingdome and followed with many glorious Victories and Successes till the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in England were totally subdued all Counties and Garrisons fully reduced to the Parliaments Command and a happy Peace and settlement of our Reliigion Laws Liberties upon most safe and honourable terms indeavoured expectedâ— and almost accomplished by a personall Treatyâ— with the KING in the Isle of Wight 11. That to prevent this Peace and Settlement the Officers of the Army who love to make a Trade of War thereby to gain and keep all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power in their own hands and to inrich themselves with our three Kingdoms spoils and ruine confederating with some few Members of the Commons House against their Trust duty Oaths Protestations the very Letter of this solemn League and Covenant and all the ends thereof forcibly seized condemned and beheaded the late King secured and secluded the greatest part
of the Commons House addicted to the Presbyterian Government suppressed the whole House of Lords disinherited the Kings Posterity of the Crown subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome usurped all Regall and Parliamentall Authority to themselves and by colour thereof now trample all Laws Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament under feet remove all or most zealous Presbyterians though never so eminent Actors and sufferers for Religion and the publique weal out of all Offices and places of power and Trust throughout thâ— Nation discourage and discountenance all or most Prâ—sbyterian Ministers especially the most pious banish some imprison others recall the Sequestrations and substract the Aâ—gmentations and Tithes of all or most of them to starve and ruine them withdraw themselves from their Ministery suborn or tolerate their monethly Prognosticators and Diurnalists to revile and rail openly against them in print without the least controul and to prognosticate their and their Presbyterian Gouernments downfall to incense the people against them and it invent and prescribe new Oaths Ingagements Publications Observations of Thanksgivings and Humiliations and other snares and engines thereby to insnare either their Consciences or indanger their Estatâ—s Liberties Ministery Persons in their plundring Committees and new Arbitary Judicatories declare against the solemn League and Covenant as expired abolished yea and dangerous and unlawfull to be kept set up and inforce an Anti-Covenant Engagement to frustrate null and abjure it debar all from all publike Offices Prefâ—rments Augmentations degrees of Learning the practise of the Law and the very benefit of the Laws of England for which we have so long contested with the Kings Party who will not out of conscience or Loyalty subscribe it oppose and traduce the Presbyterian Government as Papall Antichristian and Tyrannicall exempt all Sâ—ctaries whatsoever from all Penall Laws in not repairing to any publike Ordinances or Churches Authorize them freely to meet when and where they please in private Conventicles where running Priests and Jesuites may and wil easily seduce them without the least danger or disturbance and because their brethren of Scotland stick close to their Presbyterian Government and Covenant and have closed with their King at last according to their Covenant and Allegiance and will not disinherit him as they have done they thereupon have recalled Cromwell out of Ireland from prosecuting the Irish Papists and Royalists made him their Generall instead of the Lord Fâ—irfax and sent him in to Scotland without any real provocation on their part to invade them with an Army where he entred without the least resistance seized some of their Towns and Garrisons provoked them oft times to fight when they declined fighting and at last gave them battle in their own Countrey routed their whole Army and though he lost not forty men in the fightâ— yet he and his Forces out of their Christian charity cut down near 4000. of them in the pursuit maimed and wounded above 5000. more whereof many are since dead and more like to die took 10000. of them prisoners 5000. whereof are sent Captives into England since which he hath taken Edenborough and Leith prosecutes his Victory with all vigour sends up all the Scots Colours to Westminster where they are publiquely hung up in the Hall for triumph And for this great slaughter and overthrow of our Presbyterian Brethren a solemn publike day of Thanksgiving hath been prescribed to be strictly observed throughout the Nation and celebrated in many places accordingly to involve the whole Nation in a double guilt of their bloud First by their Contributions to pay the Army sent against them next by publike Thanksgiving to God for their destruction and that in those very Churches and places where we not long since lifted up our hands and subscribed our Names when we took the forementioned Leagaâ— and Covenant in the presence of God himself Angells and men sincerely really and constantly to preserve their Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government and with our Estates and lives mutually to preserve the Right and Priviledges of their Kingdome and Parliamâ—nt and to bring all to condigne punishment as Malignants Incendiaries and evill Instruments who should indeavour the dividing of one of the Kingdomes from another and each one of us according to our place and Interest to indeavour that both Kingdomes may remain conjoyned in a firm peace and Union to all posterity and that we shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed Union which so much concerns the glory of God and good of the Kingdomes but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever c. which how well and really we have performed let that Almighty God the searcher of all heartsâ— in whose presence and Name we made and subscribed this Covenant judge and our own consciences as we shall answer the contrary at that great day if we seriously repent not of it now whilest we have time and space of repentance given us 13. That upon the due consideration of all these Premises we shall not conclude as some rigid Presbyterians do perchance not without good grounds That this invasive Warre with our Brethren of Scotland is an apparent violation of every clause and branch of the solemn Brotherly League and Covenant and a very strange Act of Ingratitude and Injustice in invading their Kingdom because they will have a King according to their Ancient Constitution Government Laws Covenant and in indeavouring to deprive their King of the Kingdome of Scotland because they have injuriously and perâ—idiously dispossessed him of his two Kingdoms of Englâ—nd and Ireland against their National League and Covenant and other oaths for fear his possession of that his Hereditary Kingdom should be a means to regain the other two which is as unconscionable and unreasonable as if a great Statesman or Commander should wrongfully deprive his Neighbour of all his Lands and goods in a third Parish or County because he hath forcibly dispossessed him of all his Lands and Goods in two other Parishes or Counties that so he might never be able to recover them by suit of Law having no means left to maintain his suit against him but rather infer from thence First that this War with Scotland is not only exeâ—eding scandalous dishonourable and disadvantagious to all the Professors of the reformed Protestant Religion in both Kingdoms and throughout the Christian world to behold Protestant Brethren in Covenant thus invading slaughtering and destroying each other upon such slender unchristian carnall grounds but ungodly too Secondly That this invasive war and great slaughter of the most zealous Scottish Presbyters is a matter of greatest joy triumph and advantage to the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall party and tending much to the present promotion and future accomplishment of
Sad and serious Politicall CONSIDERATIONS Touching the invasive War against our Presbyterian Protestant Brethren in Scotland their late great Overthrow and the probable dangerous consequences thereof to both Nations and the Prorestant Religion Which may serve as a SATISFACTORY APOLOGY for such Ministers and People who out of Conscience did not observe the publike Thanksgiving against their Covenant for the great slaughter of those their Brethren in Covenant Printed in the Yeer 1650. Sad and Serious Politicall Considerations THE English Independents new invasive War against their Presbyterian Protestant Brethren of Scotland and late great rout and slaughter of their Army meeting with variety of censures and constructions according to the diveâ—sity of mens inclinations and interests some prudent Christians ingaged to no parties whose interest is onely the preservation propagation and safety of the reformed Protestant Religion against the common Enemies and Underminers thereof have these sad melancholy apprehensions thereof That it is a dolefull Prologue and tragicall Scene not onely to the approaching ruine and desolation of both Kingdoms for their manifold crying sins but likewise to the speedy subversion of the true Protestant Religion and extirpation of all zealous Professors thereof through our three Kingdoms and in forraigne parts upon these ensuing considerations 1. That the Kingdoms of England and Scotland make up the greatest Body of the Protestant Religion in Christendom being best able to defend themselves and succour other Reformed Churches when indangered and designed to ruine by Popish Enemies as the Lords and Commons declared long since in their Protestation to this Kingdom and the whole world 22. Octob. 1642. and in their Order of the seventh of October 1643. And therefore the ruine of the Protestant Party in these Kingdoms is the readiest way to indanger conquer ruine all other Reformed Churches in the world and extirpate the Protestant Religion in all other Countries as they there likewise Declare 2. That the Pope of Rome Jesuites Priests Papists and their Confederates upon this ground have for many years last past by open force and secret practices endeavoâ—red the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and most zealous Professors thereof throughout these Kingdoms and made it their chiefest designe to reduce them to their pristine obedience to the See of Rome which by the Popish Negotiations with Spain the Papisticall Match with France the Agency of the Popes Nuncio's the practices of Priests and Jesuites in England countenanced and protected against the force of Lawes and the confederacy of Popish Prelates Clergie-men and Courtiers with them in these Designes they had almost totally accomplished and brought to full perfection in all our Realms as the whole House of Commons in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom 15. Decemb. 1641. and other subsequent Declarations and they and the Scottish Commissioners in their Impeachments against the Archbishop of Canterbury largely remonstrate 3. That the most zealous Protestants then branded with the name of Puritans and Presbyterians in England and Scotland were the principall and only obstacles to the finishing of this their neare compleated Work Whereupon the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall prevailing Fâ—ction resolved to root them out of this Kingdom by force or drive them out with fear and rid them all out of the way For the better effecting whereof they thought it necessary to reduce Scotland to such Popish Superstitions and Innovations as might make them apt to joyn with England in that great change which was intended Whereupon new Popish Canons and a Liturgy reformed much after the modell of the Papists Misâ—alls were prest upon them and all the Arminian and Popish Doctrines broached maintained and new Popish Ceremonies practised in England were in deavoured to be planted and set up in Scotland 4. That this their dangerous ripened Designe finding no publike but onely private opposition in England by particular persons who were â—ined pillori'd stigmatized deprived of their ears close imprisoned banished and ruined by the Star-Chamber and High-Commission to the publike terror of all others thereupon the Scottish Puritans and Presbyters were the first visible Instruments raised by God to give a publique check to their successefull design beyond their or our expectations 5. That hereupon the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Popish Party raised two severall Armies successively to suppresse and extirpate the Puritan and Presbyterian Party in Scotland as the only remoâ—a's to their design and were most active and forwards in their leavies and contributions against them indeavouring to ingage the Protestant Party in both Nations in a bloudy civill Warâ—e to their mutuall ruine to which the Puritan and Religious party in England were most averse First privately murmuring and afterwards publiquely protesting against this Warre as dishonourable and dangerous to Religion and both Kingdomes in the Parliament in April 1640. purposely summoned to raise moneys to carry on that War which they refused to grant to so ill a purpose and did all they could to blast their malicious designs and warre against Scotland whereupon the Popish party caused that Parliament to be dissolved and did all they could by violent arbitrary courses and illegall Loanes and Taxes to raise Forces and moneys to maintain a warre against them imprisoning and prosecuting those who resisted or refused to assist them in this warre in the self-same manner as those in present power have done divers of their Christian Brethren for manifesting their dislike and backwardnesse to assist them in this ungodly invasive warre against their Protestant Brethren in Covenant against many publique Ingagâ—ments and not giving publique thanks to God for their late overthrow 6. That the Scottiâ—h Puritans and Presbyterians advance with their Army into England in the year 1640. of purpose to preserve the Religion and protect themselves and their English Brethren from slavery and ruine was the priâ—cicipall and only means under God of preventing their own and our thraldome to no pâ—ry and Tyranny of frustrating all the Jesuites Papists and Prelaâ—es designs of securing Religion Laws Liberties and conveâ—ing the last Parliament which through Gods blessing on their indeavours through the assistance of the Scottish Commissioners and countenance of their Army over-powered the Popish and Prelaticall Faction brake all their former Projects in pieces suppressed all their Popish Innovations Doctrinall and Ceremoniall reconciled the differences between both Nations setled a firm unity and amity between them by an Act of Oblivion and Pacification abolished the High-Commission Star-Chamber Extravagances of the Councell-Table the Bishops Courts and Votes in Parliament Ship-money Impositions and all other illegall Taxes quickned the Laws against Jesuites Priests and Popish Recusants passed a Law for Triennuall Parliaments and another against the untimely adjourning proroguing and dissolving of themselves at the Kings own pleasure and thereby put our Religion Laws Liberties and Propertiâ—s in a farre better condition of security and the Popish and Prelaticall party into a farre
been in Arms or any ways acted or contributed assistance of moneys against his Father or him and to make full reparations of all damages to such Papists who have left their estates and fortunes to assist his Father or him Upon these terms he may easily gain the joynt assistance of all Popish Kings Kingdoms and States in Europe through the Popes powerfull mediation And if hereupon through their aid he should so far prevail as to get into actuall possession of his Thrones and Kingdoms by the meer power of the sword without any terms or conditions by way of Treaty of which there will be little probability we can then expect nought else but these dismall consequences First a totall â—radication of our reformed Religion and of all zealous professors thereof especially such who have acted any waies against the King or his Father a full repeal of all penal Laws against Jesuites Priests Papists and a publike profession and practise of the Romish Religion and of that only throughout our Kingdoms Secondly a totall subversion of all our former Laws and Liberties and a full exercise of all arbitrary and tyrannicall power over our lives and estates Thirdly an absolute confiscation of all our Lands and Estates together with our lives to satisfie the Kings debts gratifie his Assistants and repair the losses of his faithfull Catholikes whom we have undone by adhering to his party Fourthly an absolute inslaving of our whole Nation to these forraign Conquerours if not a totall banishment and extirpation of them out of their native soil the case of the Ancient Britains when conquered and driven out of this their Countrey by Saxons and the extraordinary Pestilence and Famine sent amongst them for their sins and then a dieu both to our Religion and Nation But in case the King should not prevail to conquer us by their power the least we can expect is First a continuall long lasting Warre and open hostility by Land and Sea with all Romish Kings and States the very charge whereof now we are almost quite undone and beggered already which will utterly ruine and undo us Secondly losse of Trade and Commerce with all those Kingdoms and States with whom we are in hostility which will utterly break us in one year or two for want of venting our Native commodities our chiefest inablement to maintain the Wars Thirdly intolerable uncessant Taxes of all sorts which will every moneth grow heavier and greater then other which accompanied with want of Trade will cause a generall Insurrection at last both of poor and rich against those in power and put all into confusion to the enemies great advantage Fourthly a necessity of seizing and selling all Colledges Corporations Companies Hospitalls and Gleab-Lands throughout the Realm and of new Projects to make new Delinquents of purpose to raise moneys to defray the extraordinary expences of the Armies and Navies And what garboils this will produce all prudent persons may easily conjecture Fiftly a generall decay of Religion Piety Learning Law and all Arts Sciences Trades Sixthly an extraordinary new effusion of Christian bloud Seventhly an inundation of all kind of sin wickednesse Atheism Heresie Blasphemy Murders Rapes Robberies Oppressions Whoredome Drunkennesse Dissolutenesse Barbarousnesse and disobedience to Laws Magistrates Ministers Parents and other disorders Eighthly Free-quarter insolences of Souldiers spoiling plundring if not pestilence and famine the usuall Concomitants of Warre which will reduce us to a condition worse then nothing in conclusion If he cast himself upon Forraign Protestant Kings Princes and States alone the far better though unlikelier of the two yet this will certainly prove 1. A great dishonour to God and scandall to reformed Religion to see them so unnaturall and unchristian as to imbrue their hands in one anothers bloud 2. An extraordinary ground of joy and triumph to the Pope and his Confederates to behold their enemies thus murthering invading and destroying each other by their mutuall dissentions when they by all their power and policy were unable to accomplish their ruine and do them so great mischief 3. A great indangering of all the Protestant Churches and States in Europe by incouraging their Popish Adversaries to invade and ruine them whilest thus ingaged in an unbrotherly and unchristian Warre between themselves and weakening impoverishing and destroying each other 5. An effusion of much precious Protestant bloud which will cry for vengeance to heaven against the originall Authors and Occasioners of such a Warre 6. If the King shall inthrone himself and regain his Kingdomes by their assistance though the profession of the Protestant Religion may still be continued yet we may justly fear 1. That the purity and power of Religion will be much abated 2. That our Lawes and Liberties will be much indangered and Eclipsed 3. Our estates confiscated to make them reparations and satisfie the Kings Ingagements 4. Their removall hence will be disputable when once possessed of our Country as the history of the Danes invasions of this Island heretofore and the Saxons full possession thereof with the Britains expulsion will manifest 5. If the King and they be repulsed by us yet this will prove a seminary of lasting wars and breaches between us and most Protestant Kingdoms and States It will hinder all commerce between them and us to the destruction of Merchandize and Trade destroy the Protestants strength and interest impoverish us through Taxes fill us with dâ—scontents augment our divisions if not conclude in our beggery and ruine If he throw himself upon forraign Papists and Protestants joyntly then First the Wars are like to be more generall dangerous and costly to us and of longer continuance Secondly The divisions and dangers from at home are like to prove the greater since all discontented and oppressed Protestants and Papists will then be apt upon all occasions and advantages to joyn with that forraign party they best affect and from whom they may expect the most favour and the best conditions Thirdly If the King prevail then both Parties must be satisfied and his debts defrayed out of our estates both gratified with a free toleration and exercise of that Religion throughout his Realms as both sides professe and between them both all will be plundered impoverished ruined and perchance inforced to quit the whole Kingdom to one or both of them who will challenge an interest therein by conquest and the longest sword and hardly part with it when once possessed thereof Fourthly If the King and they should be foiled by us yet the wars and differences would survive all commerce and trading lost Armies and Navies must still be maintained and Garrisons in all our Kingdoms to secure us taxes oppressions and all publike grievances continued and mulâ—iplied and thereby new intestine commotions raised which of themselves alone will destroy us without any otheâ— enemy And suppose the King himself should miscarry in these Warres yet the Title and Right of the Crowns of our threâ— Kingdoms sâ—rviving to his Brothers