THE ANTI-COVENANT Or a sad COMPLAINT Concerning The new Oath or Covenant Presented in a Letter to a dear and intimate Friend with earnest request for his advice and Prayers By a true loyall Subject and lover of the Parliament OXFORD Printed by Leonard Lychfield Printer to the University 1643. The Anti-Covenant Or A sad complaint concerning the new Oath c. DEare Friend and Brother it is not unknowne to the world as well as to those sober and pious Christians that are of our society and acquaintance what an honourable and reverend esteem the very name of Parliament hath alwayes carried with us two and how observant wee have beene of their commands without disputing their power or integrity When the Protestation was enjoyned we willingly and cheerfully tooke it hoping therby to give sufficient testimony both to the King and Parliament and to all others that should otherwise scruple it of our love and zeale to the true established Protestant Religion of our loyalty and obedience to our gracious Sovereigne of our honour and esteeme of both Houses of Parliament and their just power and priviledges and of our sense and care of the rights and liberties of the subject and this solemne Oath we have endeavoured to observe and keepe When the Poll-money and great Subsidy were granted both by King and Parliament we most readily paid both When the distressed condition of Ireland was recommended to us we cheerefully contributed Nay when the Propositions were made to us for plate money and horse to fetch our good King from his evill Counsellours it being declared to us by some of the Members of the House of Commons and others of their Commissioners that his Majesty was desirous to come from them and that those about him would flie from him upon the appearance of the Parliaments forces without striking one stroke wee were perswaded to lend liberally upon the Publike Faith towards that service And since that upon severall new suggestions we have given such credit to some Members of both Houses speeches and to some Preachers whom they have countenanced if not sent amongst us that we have not with-holden from the Parliament what we have beene able to spare Neither did we stop heere though our speed was by this time well taken off but often and often since partly out of feare and partly out of hope feare of being after all this reputed Malignants a name more odious then Turke Pagan or Papist and hope at last of an Accommodation a mercy too great for this sinfull Nation as yet to pertake of we have by our wives kindred or friends more then once subministred to the pressing necessities of the Parliaments forces But now deare Brother what shall we doe When all that we have done hitherto will keepe neither our houses from plundering nor our persons from imprisonment nor our names from being Malignant nor our wives and children from beggery and misery unlesse wee will wound our consciences and hazard our soules by horrid and palpable perjury Oh that we had but foreseen this imposing upon our soules and consciences when first the opening of our purses was called for but it was Gods just judgement upon us for our sinnes first to blinde us so long till we had made a rod for our selves and then to awe us with that rod till our severe masters have brought uâ— to that undoubted triall whether we feare God or them whether wee love our soules or our estates and liberties most But what is the matter Why read and the Lord give you understanding Whereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have declared That there hath beene and now is a Popish and traiterous plot c. as it followeth in the Introduction and Covenant to be taken by the Armies and Kingdome With one clause more added in the Lords and Commons Oath for their not laying downe Armes This is the new vow and covenant taken by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament and voted by them to be taken by the Armies and Kingdome together with the Introduction declaring the grounds and reasons inducing them thereunto I know it is not fit for private men to be too inquisitive into much lesse censorious of the decrees and ordinances of publike States unlesse it be where such decrees and ordinances concerne the soules and consciences of men and there every man is bound both diligently to examine and discreetly to judge whatsoever is injoyned him before he submit himselfe thereunto as also to counsell and advise his brethren Be pleased then deare Brother for so I have ever called and esteemed you to give me leave to acquaint you with my thoughts both of this Oath and its Introduction and wherein I erre as who is infallible not the Composers themselves much lesse any private man and least of all my selfe the weakest of ten thousand I beseech you be my gentle corrector and friendly instructor And first I begin with the Introduction The reasons and grounds of imposing and taking this new Oath heere alleadged are principally these three 1. For that the Lords and Commons have declared that there hath beene and now is a Popish and traiterous plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Reformed Religion and the liberty of the Subject and that in pursuance thereof a Popish army hath been raised and is now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome 2. That the Lords and Commons have further in a solemne maner declared vowed and covenanted That in order to the security and preservation of the true Protestant Religion and liberty of the Subject they will not consent to the laying downe of Arms so long as the Papists now in open warre against the Parliament shall by force of armes be protected against the justice thereof 3. For that the Lords and Commons have declared that there hath been a traiterous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God of divers persons to joyne themselves with the Armies raised by the King and to destroy the Forces raised by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs and by Armes to force the Parliament all which reasons are amplified with an assertion That the said Lords and Commons doe finde by constant experience That many wayes of force and treachery are continually attempted to bring to utter ruine and destruction the Parliament and Kingdome and that which is dearest the true Protestant Religion And then followes the inference or conclusion that for the preventing and withstanding the same they have thought fit that all c. should binde themselves each to other in a sacred Vow and Covenant in manner and forme as followeth I A.B. In humility and reverence c. The grounds and reasons in their order First we are told That the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have declared that there hath been and now is a popish and traiterous plot
c. Or is this In order to c. used heere for some evading reservation as the Iesuits have constantly used their In ordine ad spiritualia they being the only men that I can recall to mind for the present that ever used this kind of restriction or rather indeed this fast and loose knot of an oath that so they may evade some oathes formerly taken or the power of this in case they can get a faire glosse to bee made upon these termes charity and reverence command mee to take the best interpretation but an oath should bee framed in such plaine cleare tearmes as might be understood by all the takers therof without much difficulty of exposition but to leave that to themselves 2. Quar. Whom doe the Lords and Commons understand by Papists now in open warre against the Parliament whether legally convicted Papists only or all Papists at large If all Papists at large as I conceive they meane no lesse my 3. Quaere is Whether only knowne professed Papists properly so called or also all supposed suspected Papists commonly so termed If the former 4. Quaer Whether they have proceeded against all such that are now in the Kings army according to the established Law of this Kingdome and requiring justice to be done upon them they have beene by force of armes protected from the execution thereof 5. Quar. How or where doth it appeare that there have been or are any such so protected especially to such a number as that the protecting of them ought to move the great Actors and Contrivers for the Kingdomes peace for that cause to vowe and covenant to continue this unchristian unnaturall warre till they be delivered up to their justice 6. Quaer Whether the Queenes Majesty her selfe bee not one of those protected Papists chiefly aymed at 7. Quar. If by Papists they meane all that are supposed suspected and by divers termed Papists whether all those that are called Malignants or Delinquents or disaffected persons and so all that are eyther of the Kings army or have beene ayding and assisting to them are not by them reckoned in that number So that if the King would deliver up to their justice all that are Papists indeed even to his deare Queene within all his armies yet if hee will not with them deliver up also all his whole armies themselves or at least as many of them as they shall require they will not still thinke themselves bound by this vow and covenant not to lay downe their armes or to give their consent thereto 8. Quar. Whether the King be not bound in conscience by the Lawes of God and of this Kingdome by his owne solemn vows and protestations and by the common law of Nature too much pleaded by some in these dayes even against the law of Grace it selfe to defend and protect and that by force of armes need so requiring not only his owne deare Queene but all his faithfull and loyall Subjects both Papists and others such especially as repaire to him for his sacred persons defence and safety as well as for their owne protection and the preservation of their rights and liberties 9. Quaer Whether the King on the one part being so bound to defend and protect both his Queene and the rest now named and the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament having on the other part taken up Armes to force all those persons from the Kings defence and protection and bound themselves by a solemne new oath never to lay down their armes againe so long as â—ny such persons are so protected whether I say can there bee possibly any hope conceived of peace and accommodation either by way of Treaty or any other way whatsoever without the effusion of infinite streams of blood so much as will make any Christians heart to bleed but to think on it and his very joints to loose and his knees to knock one against another to have any hand in it knowing what the hand of God hath written against bloodshed 10. Quaer This being the true case of this Kingdome at this present whether is not this second reason of the Lords and Commons making such a new covenant as will if seconded by ours cost the expence of so much of our owne and fellow-brethrens blood rather a strong reason why we should abhorre this new oath by whomsoever it is taken then any the least inducement to perswade us to take it Before I part from this reason suffer me I beseech you to be sprinkle a few teares on it and to pant forth a few broken ejaculations concerning those that alleadge it Mourne on my soule Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountayne of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Jer. 9 1. How are thy mighty men O England fallen in the midst of the battell 2. Sam. 1.25 Yea how are they slaine from one end of the Land to the other How have the carkases of thy people beene made as dung upon the open field Oh thou sword of the Lord how long will it be ere thou be quiet put up thy selfe into thy scabbard rest and be still But how canst thou be quiet seeing the Lord hath given thee a charge against this Land O God of mercies as well as Lord of Hosts we acknowledge that we have deserved it and we see to our terrour that they whom we too much relied on for the setling our peace have sworne themselves and would swear us into a perpetuall warre but we hope thou hast not yet passed such a decree against us Spare us therefore we humbly beseech thee oh spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and let not the sword be made drunke with blood any longer nor let drunkennesse of spirit we intreat thee sease upon our Princes and our wise men our Captaines and our Rulers and our mighty men to cause them to sleepe a perpetuall sleep but Lord doe thou awaken both them and us that we may yet at last in this our day of visitation see and seeke those things that concerne our peace And now I goe on to the third reason or ground The Lords and Commons have declared that there hath beene a treacherous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God of divers persons to joine themselves with the armies raysed by the King and to destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes and by armes to force the Parliament If there hath beene a treacherous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God we are all bound upon the knowledge thereof to magnifie Gods mercy and goodnesse and to extoll his power and providence for it and that man shall not want for a curse that shall slight or undervalue so great a blessing but I see no
reason why we should therupon or for that cause rush presently into a vow or covenant and run our Soules into a farre greater hazard then our Bodies were delivered from But it may be it was such a treacherous and horrid designe as may require a vow and covenant forthwith to bee made by us T is fit wee should throughly examine whether it be or not lest otherwise we be guilty of taking Gods name in vaine in the highest degree All that is made knowne to us concerning this treacherous and horrid design by the Introduction to this oath from which the takers thereof are to receive their surest information and by which principally they are to be induced to take it is only this There was a designe of divers persons for these fowre ends 1. To joyn themselves with the armies raysed by the King 2. To destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament 3. To surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes 4. To force the Parliament by armes Now let us looke upon this designe a while with a single cleare open eie neither squint nor blood-shot neither with a magnifying nor with a formidable-falsâ—-rendring glasse and discover if we can wherein the treacherousnesse and horridnesse of it lies For the first intent of the designe The joyning of divers persons with the armies raysed by the King t is so far from treachery and horridnesse that he that is an English man can scarce avoyd the being a Traytor and so most horrid that doth not so joine himselfe with those Armies in some way or other wherein he is best able to doe his Sovereigne service and for the discovery thereof t is well knowne not to be so lately as is pretended the Lords and Commons themselves having declared it often and often and that long since in sundry Declarations But that either those persons or those armies with whom they joine doe aime at or intend the destroying the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament or the surprising the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes or the forcing the Parliament by armes though they have all three beene a long time spoken of and two of them again and again insisted upon by the Lords and Commons in their Orders and Ordinances hath never to this day been prooved but on the contrary so deeply and solemnly have all these aimes beene protested and sworn against by the King himselfe and are ready if that would give any satisfaction to be disclaimed and renounced upon the oaths of those armies and the persons joyning with them that were all other reall but concealed jealousies and feares as easie to be removed as those three now pretended all such forces on both sides would bee soone disbanded and these unnaturall and unchristian warres speedily ended This indeed is to be expected and cannot well be avoyued if after so many and so gratious overtures of peace pardon and all sweet accommodation made by his Sacred Majesty the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons shall not only refuse to lay down their armes but use them as hitherto they have to the subversion both of the Discipline and Order as also of the Doctrine and Worship of God established in our Church to indangering the Kings person the consumption of his treasure and estate and to the damage and ruine of his whole Kingdome and if the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs thereof shall as formerly they have joine with them and ayd and assist them both with men mony armes and other warlike provision and if some of the Members of either or both Houses of Parliament shall countenance encourage justifie and maintaine all these ungodly actions against his Majesties Royall Person Crowne and Dignity Who can blame either those armies raysed by the King or those persons that joyne with them if they shall do their utmost to subdue or destroy those forces to surprise or bring into subjection those Cities and to force or some other way to reduce those Members to their duty and allegiance Nay what Christian or Heathen Subjects would not in such a case crie out against them now and rise up in judgement against them heereafter if they should doe otherwise And therefore if this bee the Designe so much talked of as for my part I believe it is what loyall subject can say he had no hand in it and who but hee that hath had no hand in it dare say it was eyther treacherous or horrid Oh but Mr. Pym hath declared it so to be in his speech at a Common-hall in London June 8. 1643. wherein hee shewes the intentions of that Designe to be no lesse then these 1. To take into their custody the Kings Children that are in or about London 2. To lay hold on all those that they thought could stand in their way as the Lord Say and the Lord Wharton of the House of Lords and of the House of Commons besides the Lord Major Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Hampden Mr. Strode and which he acknowledgeth to be an honour to him to be named Mr. Pym. 3. To seise on the Committee of the Militia and the Magazines within London and Westminster 4. To release all the prisoners committed by the Parliament 5. To make a Declaration to satisfie the people Blessed be the Lord for it heer is no intention discovered of murthering or butchering any of the Kings children or of any of the Citizens or of any of the Members of either Houses of Parliament no not of the persons named neither is there heere any resolution intimated of blowing up any part of London or Westminster or of firing any house therein but only of taking the Kings Children into their custody of laying hold on certaine Lords and Commons and of seising the Militia c. and this it seemes in the sense of the contrivers of this Oath is to destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster and by armes to force the Parliament and all this a treacherous and horrid Design But how is that made good Surely the taking of the Kings Children into their custody if it were any part of the Designe is not thought by the Lords and Commons themselves to have much treachery or horridnes in it howsoever Mr. Pym to shew his superabundant care of those hopefull branches for their Royall Stemmes sake was pleased to make that the first branch of that treacherous and horrid Designe neither can the releasing of the prisoners committed by the Parliament if any such justice were purposed bee well judged to have much treachery or horridnesse in it for alas poore unarmed men all men abhorring treachery and all horrid designes so much that the greatest cause of most of their imprisonment is their declaming against and not contributing or consenting unto that Designe which they know to be both trayterous and horrid what could they have done had
they beene released It would be safest for them if there should be any combustion or mutiny in the City or Suburbs which God forbid not to come forth of their prisons though they were intreated Perhaps indeed the making of a Declaration to satisfie the people might have advanced the Designe not a little for it seemes by Mr. Pyms speech it was some notable faire well-compos'd peece carrying a most specious shew of much intended goodnesse viz. The preservation of Religion the preservation of the Kings Prerogative and the preservation of the Liberties of the Subject and the priviledges of Parliament and the composers thereof were very confident as Mr. Pym intimates of the peoples crediting and believing it for that a thousand of them were to be printed and they to be set upon Posts and Gates in the most considerable places of the City and to be dispersed as much as they could against the time that the Designe should be put in execution as if that would cleare all their intentions and convince the people of their integrity in undertaking that businesse And to tell you my judgement of it for so much as I can collect from Mr. Pym it was such a piece of a treacherous Designe that Mr. Pym was afraid that it would have gone neer to have betrayed the people into their wits againe perhaps into their Religion and loyalty if not into some of their Estates and Liberties and therefore he lets it not passe without passing this most observable Sentence on it ratified from his owne practise and experience There be no designes bee they never so ill but they doe put on a maske of some good for that which is absolutely and apparantly evill hath no congruity with the will of man and therefore the worst of evills are undertaken under a shew and shadow of goodnesse sound doctrine and an excellent caution I confesse would to God the people had beene better instructed in it and more mindfull of it in these times but yet with reverence to that great Speaker be it spoken If that intended Declaration which he speakes of were worthy of no other blame but its appearing so extraordinary faire and specious as were there any other reall exception against it doubtlesse that quick-sighted Gentleman would not have balked it I see no reason why because by often and late experience it hath beene found that some Declarations full of Treachery and Mischiefe have appeared faire in shew therefore this Declaration full of loyalty and goodnesse should be thought treacherous and mischievous only because it was faire in appearance But then for the other two parts of the designe viz. the laying hold on those persons named and the seising upon the Militia and Magazines of London and Westminster together with those that now are the prime managers and disposers thereof that these were the ready way to destroy the forces raysed by the Parliament to surprise those Cities and to force the Parliament seemes clearly to be demonstrated by the forenamed City Orator Take only the extract of his Arguments in the case The seising upon the Militia of London and Westminster must needs be a surprising of those Cities themselves the surprising of those Cities is a destroying of the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament if not by force yet by want of supply and maintenance observe by the way what maner of destruction intended against the Parliaments forces is heere acknowledged and if the forces raysed by the Parliament were once destroyed that is wanted supply and maintenance and then which is the most terrible if those named Members of both Houses and some few others of their temper and spirit together with their fast friends and sworne slaves of the City were once layd hold on the rest of both those Honourable Houses being but the carkase and shadow of a Parliament as Mr. Pym in his Common-hall speech doth not only call but labour to prove them alas what would they doe certainly that carkase would move in no other motion then according as the returning soule the known Lawes of the Land and the just priviledges of Parliament would steere it and not according as every furious and factious spirit should thinke to hurry it and questionlesse that shadow would not follow any other then its owne full compleat representative Body not a close Committee or a few seditious rebellious Citizens And then t is likely there would be a sweet correspondence betwixt the King and them the King yeelding to them as much as they would in due observance be willing to propound to him and they granting to the King as much as he could with honour desire of them And heer truly would be such a forcing of the Parliament as this Kingdome hath not knowne these many yeeres and yet all this is farre enough from a treacherous and horrid designe Only thus much we humbly thanke him for it Mr. Pyms discovery renders visible to every eye that will not shut it selfe against the light That were but the Militia of the Cities of London and Westminster with their Magazines in some mens hands with whom as hath beene at large declared by able and sound Lawyers the King may of right intrust it and were but the maintenance and supply which those two Cities subminister to the Parliaments army withheld or stopt and then which would follow of it selfe unlesse they made the more haste to flie from it were but some few Members of both Houses together with some busie Citizens laid hold on and laid up in hold as there are prisons enough and to spare ready provided in and about London till they could be brought to a legall triall for that Treason whereof by Proclamation they stand charged by the King our Land would soone enjoy her glorious rest and peace again nay happily if the last were but acted we should speedily see the last Act of this bloody Tragedy wherein this miserable Kingdome is ingaged hist off and beaten off the Stage by its greatest Applauders And therefore were those few persons at whom the late strange treacherous horrid designe aymed men of that piety towards God and of that tender compassion and bowels towards their bleeding and perishing Country that they pretend to be they would Jonah-like now they see the Church and State wherein they are imbarqued ready to be overwhelmed or split by the boysterous waves and tempestuous windes of these raging times and principally for their sakes deliver themselves up to be cast forth or otherwise exposed even to death it selfe that there might be a calm and likewise they that have hitherto rowed them now they have shewne their love and affection to them in rowing so hard to set them safe on shore and see that they cannot the sea working and growing more and more tempestuous against them by the mighty coworking of him that commands both sea and wind and they obey him me thinks they should after prayers and cries to God to
for the subversion of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberty of the Subject And that in pursuance thereof c. This is the first Credendum set foorth to usher in our Jurandum this we must believe therefore thus and thus we must sweare But why must we believe this because the Lords and Common have Declared it I ow the Lords and Commons my obedience in a subordinate way next and immediatly under my King but I do not yet know that I owe them my Faith in that supreme way as to believe whatsoever they declare Nay I know the contrary and therfore I will be bold to examine the truth of this credendum so far as I am able before I give up my faith unto it That there hath been in this Kingdome a Popish and trayterous plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Reformed Religion is recorded to us and to our posterities with an Act of Parliament for an Anniversary commemoration of our deliverance from the same And I doubt not but there have beene many other plots since to the same purpose by the same faction though God of his mercy hath disappointed them ere they came to any visible maturity Neither will I altogether free the late potent Faction from intending some such mischiefe Nay further I am not very slow of heart to beleeve that there is now at this present in this Kingdome a traiterous plot for the same purpose which may as well be called a Popish as an Anabaptisticall Brownisticall or Separatisticall plot the Papists as well as the Anabaptists Brownists and other Separatists contriving and contributing what they can thereunto and all meeting and consenting in the same positions and doctrines for the effecting thereof For what Luther said of the Anabaptists and Papists we find by wofull experience true of them all Fratres sunt caudis conjuncta sunt vulpes sed capitibus diversa singunt sese foris magnos hostes esse cum tamen intus vere idem sentiant deceant ac defendant they are all brethren and they are crafty foxes linked together by the tales though their heads looke divers waies they outwardly feigne themselves to be great enemies each to other but inwardly they doe verily think teach and maintaine one and the same thing And all these though they pretend too much the liberty of the Subject yet the truth iâ— they intend only to inlarge their owne liberty and licentiousnesse and to destroy the just liberty and property as well as the duty and loyalty of all Subjects whatsoever Thus farre it is no difficult matter to beleeve that there hath been and now is a plot for the subversion of the true reformed Protestant Religion and the liberty of the Subject and to the lawfull defence of the same thus plotted against I conceive my selfe already sufficiently bound not only by my duty as I am a Protestant and a Subject but also by my late Oath or Protestation as I am thereby a new sworne Protestant and Subject And therefore if that be the true cause why I should take an oath I have very lately for the same cause already taken one and I humbly conceive that having made the former oath so lately for their satisfaction who require this they ought to rest satisfied with the former without urging any other it being a ruled case in Law Date jurejarundâ— non aliud quaritur quam an juratum sit remissa quastiom an debentur quast fatis probatum sit jurejurandâ— when once an oath is given no further question is to be made then whether the oath be taken or not all other questions of the proofe of what is controverted are to be remitted as being proved sufficiently by the very making oath thereof and you well know what the Apostles rule in that case is Heb. 6.16 an oath for confirmation is at least ought to be to them to those who require the oath an end of all strife And the multiplying of oaths is perillous as well to the imposers as to the takers But to goe on with the first reason That in pursuance of such oâ— such a Popish plot c. a Popish army hath been raised and is now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome here my faith so staggers that I cannot possibly keep it up to this assertion and that for these Reasons First because that an Army cannot truly be called a Popish Army wherein not five of an hundred are Papists unlesse we take Papists in that latitude as to involve all those that imbrace adhere to and maintain the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England And if five of an hundred in an Army being Papists may give the name of Popish to that Army what name can we thinke of for that Army wherein there are besides Papists Anabaptists Brownists Familists and other Sectaries an hundred for five true Reformed Protestants T is not denied but that there are now in the Kings Army too many that are Papists and yet there are no more Papists in that army then ought to be there for being Subjects as well as Papists they are bound both by the Lawes of God and of this Nation to assist their King in his warres both against forreign enemies and against native rebels and usurpers and the King is bound to protect them against spoile rapine and other oppression aswell as his other Subjects It is I solemnly professe a sore greefee to my soul and so I am confident t is to all really religious Protestant souls besides that ever our King who hath beene so long and still is so eminent a Defender of the true Protestant Religion should neede the assistance of Papists to defend his Royall person honour and estate as t is a shame to our Religion it self that Papists should shew their Loyalty and Allegiance to their King in such a defence when so many that would be reputed the onely true Protestants either take up or maintaine the taking up armes against him This scandall to the Protestant Religion would scarce ever bee wiped of were there not blessed bee God for it forty Protestants to one Papist that cheerefully and valiantly assist the King in these present warres with their lives and estates Secondly if the army raised by his Majesty and now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome bee a popish army it were worth the knowing when it became so or when at least it became to be so reputed For that magnanimous and royall army which hath ever attended his sacred person I find severall Declarations of both Houses of Parliament wherein they who levied those forces and they that were levied have beene called ill affected persons Cavaleers Delinquents Malignants and the like but scarce the name of Papists was for a long time mentioned in any of them Since that I finde Papists a Jesuiticall faction prelaticall Clergy and discontented persons added to the former and all called Assistants in and to the Forces prepared but as yet
they were not called a Popish Army and it seemes there was not the least cause why they should be so stiled for that no sooner was the Name of Papists or Jesuiticall faction mentioned by them as having ought to doe in that service for the King but presently his Sacred Majesty caused a Proclamation to issue forth given at his Court at Yorke August 10. 1642. expresly commanding that no person or persons whatsoever being Popish Recusants should come to His Court contrary to the Law in that case provided or take any office or place or list himselfe as a souldier in His Service And though the King at the time of that terrible batâ—ell at Edgehill had admitted some few Papists of eminent abilities in command and conduct into His Service yet He is graciously pleased to yeeld such a faire and reasonable account thereof in His Declaration to all His loving Subjects after His late victory against the Rebells on Sunday 23 of October 1642. as must needs be to all that will credit the word of a King most abundantly satisfactory And since that battell that maske of fighting for the King being then blowne off with their owne priming powder t is not to be endured in point of Honour by any Protestant that regards the honour of his Religion that any should say the Papists have so outstript the Protestants in loyalty as to win the denomination of the Kings Army to be Popish from their super increasing therein And blessed be the Lord for it they have not the least cause so to brag for what cause soever others have been pleased so to declare Then for the Kings Army in the West so long under the command of that valiant and successefull religious and pious Sir Ralph Hopton I doe not remember that amongst all the lyes and slanders all the calumnies and reproaches that have been preached or printed any have yet been so wickedly impudent as to call that Popish or to affirme that any knowne Papists are listed in it I am sure both Houses of Parliament in their Ordinances made against Sir Ralph and his Forces viz. that in June 27. 1642. for the prevention of a most horrid wicked and unnaturall designe pursued by Sir Ralph Hopton and his adherents c. and that made the same day for the assessing of Malignants in the Counâ—y of Sommerset c. never call any of those that have assisted him or joyned with him Papists but only Rebells and Traitors So that we are forced to looke into the Northerne parts to finde out this Popish Army and for the Army in those parts though I finde some Diurnals and other such like lying and slanderous pamphlets wherein that Army was called Popish even at its first advancing into Yorkeshire yet I observed that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament did not themselves stile it so no not in their Declaration for the suppressing of divers Papists and other malignant persons in the Counties of Yorke Northumberland Westmerland Cumberland Lancashire Cheshire c. Novemb. 23. 1642. They therein declare that the Papists and other malignants and ill affected persons in those Counties had entred into an association and caused great Forces both of horse and foot to be raised to aid and assist the Popish and malignant party in those parts but for all this they doe not yet brand them with the name of a popish Army afterwards indeed when they had found that the name of popish army spread abroad as I but now said by Diurnalls and other lying and scandalous pamphlets the constant pressures to prepare the way for more auâ—hentick Declarations had somewhat startled and amazed the poore Country people then we heare the stile of an Army of Papists under the command of the Earle of New-castle made use of as in that Declaration of the House of Commons Decemb. 15. 1642. the Declaration of the Lords and Commons still retaining their former stile But passe by the originall of that army Did that army as yet ever merit the name of Popish That there were and are more Papists in that army then in all the Kings armies throughout the Kingdome I do verily beleeve those Counties out of which it was raised abounding with Papists more then other counties by far And yet we have been assured from such as deserve our credit that all the Papists in that army are not a handfull in comparison of the whole body not above one of fifty and in all not so many as to make up two Regiments But why five times so many Papists if there were so many in this Kingdome should not be admitted to take up armes for the defence of their Sovereigne and rights and libertie of the Subject I never yet heard any argument worth answering nay how the papists or any for them could answer their not taking up armes in such a case without incurring the guilt of high Treason is past my resolving And for the Protestant Religion which they so much hate and the power and priviledge of Parliament which they so much maligne whereas it is objected that it cannot be thought that they should fight for the defence of either of them I doe conceive that if they might be let alone quiet and secure without intermedling their love to either is not so great as to inflame their spirits to such a hazard of their lives for their sakes but the pressing necessities of the present times ingaging them in a War and they finding the quarrell to be betwixt the safety of the Kings person honour and estate and the ambitious seditious and rebellious designes and attempts of some of His Subjects betwixt Protestants and some Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries betwixt the enjoying the just power and priviledges of Parliament together with their owne lives goods and estates and the being spoyled robbed and deprived of all or the most of these by the arbitrary power and priviledges of a few Lords and Commons t is no wonder to see them to offer themselves willingly to defend and maintain the former rather then to endure suffer the latter Besides when the Protestants in a Kingdome are imbroyled in a civill war amongst themselves or with any factious and schismaticall persons it would not be wisdome in them to suffer the papists to sit quiet and still if they should desire it lest when they have weakned each other the papists prove too strong for both But for further satisfaction in this point I refer you to the Earle of New-castle his excellent Declaration to that purpose and to that witty and solid lettter of a Worthy whosoever it was to his friend in Leceistershire Now these things premised thus cleared I cannot but wonder what is meant by the popish army which hath been raised and is now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome had we been told that there is such an army flying in divers parts of this Kingdome if we could not have seen it it might happily have been
all such designes And for the further clearing of His intentions in that particular He desired all His Nobility and Councell then attending Him to witnesse with Him whether they did see any colour of preparations or counsells that might reasonably beget a beliefe of any such designe and whether they were not fully perswaded to the contrary c whereupon the Nobility and Councell then present at yorke being in number above forty made a Declaration and Profession in these words We whose names are under written in obedience to His Majesties desire and out of the duty which we owe to His Majesties Honour and to truth being here upon the place and witnesses of His Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of His abhorring all designes of making war upon His Parliament and not seeing any colour of preparations or counsels that might reasonably beget the beliefe of any such designe Do professe before God and testifie to all the world that we are fully perswaded that His Majesty hath no such intention but that all His indeavours tend to the firm and constant setlement of the true Protestant Religion the just priviledges of Parliament the liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdome This solemne Profession was made by the King and attested by His Nobility and Councell June 15. 1642. which was five dayes after that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament had made certaine propositions and orders for the bringing in of Money Plate or Horse c. for the maintaining an Army for their defence So that as I said before if feares and jealousies of the Kings intentions of raising and leavying War against His Parliament were a just cause or ground for his Parliament actually to raise or leavy forces against him and if we could also in our consciences believe that such feares and jealousies did really and truly possesse both Houses yet when it appeares by such evidence as greater and better could not be given that those feares and jealousies were not just it is strange to thinke what conscience or faith I might adde what hope or charity that man hath that can answer or declare in the presence of Almighty God that he beleeveth in his conscience that the forces raised by the Parliament upon that unjust ground or cause were raised for their just defence 3. Quar. How can any man sweare in Judgement and in Truth that he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament were raised and are continued for the defence of the true Protestant Religion when as first if by the true Protestant Religion be meant that Protestant Religion which is now established so far as ought can be said to be established in the Church of England as that must be meant or otherwise we know not what the true Protestant Religion is and so cannot take this oath in judgement it hath been found by lamentable experience that the true Protestant Religion hath been more invaded impugned and blasphemed by the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament and their assistants and adherents in those parts where they have had the power then ever it was since Queene Maries dayes witnesse the many uncivill unhumane unchristian attempts assaults and outrages that have been committed by Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries upon our established Doctrine upon our established worship and service of God upon Gods holy Ordinances and upon those sacred places wherein all these were wont to meet and present themselves to us in such beauty and excellencie to our unspeakable benefit and comfort I must not forget how the most pious painfull and orthodoxall Protestant Divines they that in former times when the Protestant Religion suffered most by another faction bare the heat and burden of the opposition and stood in the gap against Arminianisme and other innovations have been since the raising of forces by the Parliament and by the power thereof abused imprisoned and cruelly handled when others that then deserted their stations have been magnified and extolled nay when drunken debauched innovating drones that have contributed towards the maintenance of the Parliaments forces have been connived at and favoured and if by chance apprehended speedily dismissed and set at liberty He must have a strong faith and a stretching conscience that can beleeve in his conscience that these are markes or signes of defending the true Protestant Religion If this be their defending of it God send us our old Defendor thereof once againe restablished in His Throne and let these new defenders defend themselves Secondly the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament did no longer since then in March last declare and publish to the world in that Ordinance of theirs for the speedy raising and leavying of money for the maintainance of the Army raised by the Parliament that the only Causes for which they had raised and did then continue an Army and Forces were first for the necessary defence of themselves which may be somewhat more easily believed then for their just defence Seconly for the necessary defence of this Kingdome from forraigne invasions a defence not now mentioned And thirdly for the bringing of notorious offenders to condigne punishment a thing also as was before hinted altogether forgotten in this new oath And if the Lords and Commons themselves have so lately declared and acknowleded that these were the only causes for which they raised and then continued their army and forces they have no cause to take offence at any that shall not believe that the same forces were raised and continued for the defence of the true Protestant Religion I praise God I have no such Moon-faith 4. Quar. How can any man sweare in truth That he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the two Houses are raised and continued for the defence of the liberties of the Subject when by the raising and continuing of these Forces first the liberty of enjoying their owne goods chattells or lands Secondly the liberty of their trading and traffiquing Thirdly the liberty of their persons Fourthly the liberty their consciences towards God their King and their fellow-brethren Fifthly the liberty of their very lives is dayly and hourely either taken or endeavoured to be taken from the best of Subjects and all these contrary to the liberty of the established knowne Lawes of this Land Indeed to Bankrupts and Spendthrifts to Rogues Theeves Murtherers and such like there is such politick liberty of spoyling robbing plundering and killing yeelded to Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries such Ecclesiasticall liberty of Conventicle prating and printing permitted and to all sorts of factious seditious rebellious Miscreants such liberty of lying rayling and blaspheming indulged as the like was never heard of much lesse tollerated and countenanced in any Christian Common-wealth And though we had such faith as that we could beleeve that the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament were raised for the defence of