not pledg'd a health of the waters of forgetfulnesse to his Majesties successe in his Prerogative designes look back a little to former times surely it was not in the former age that you have or at least seem to forget how his majesty hath writ to his Parliament sometimes calling them his Parliament of England sitting at Westminster suddainly after in his printed Declarations the pretended Houses anon after his Parliament at Westminster within a while after Rebels Traitours men that seek the ruine of him and his and as for London is it not notoriously known how he hath call'd it that rebellious City prohibiting all trading with it throughout his quarters endeavouring the utter ruine and spoile of it how many times hath he offered the spoyles of London as the wages of those who would help him on in his designe which his soule so longs for How many stories to this purpose may you read in a late Book called Truth its Manifest which as some say calls a Scotch brother the father thereof which affirmes that once he viz. the King plotted with his Army which he raised against the Scots to come and destroy the Parliament of England and to take the spoyle of London for their reward p. 17. line ult and after that tempts the Scots to comply with him in his designed worke and offers unto them for recompence not only the spoyle of London but also the foure Counties neare adjacent unto their Countrey to be adjoyned hereafter to it c. pag. the eighteenth line 4. and can a Court Complement so strangely intoxicate the chief City of the Kingdome of England as now to be ensnared and entangled thereby But you will say we have now deeds as well as words his Majesty is come to our Parliaments Quarters hath committed himself to our own Armies is in safe Custody with our faithfull friends our Scotch Brethren This must be premised that we will not question the love and faithfulnesse truth and integrity of our Scotch Brethren for although First seldome ever any Nation came in to the help of this Kingdome in its necessity against the Enemies thereof that did willingly depart the same upon termes of love amity and friendship the milk and honey of this Land of Canaan I meane the riches and treasures thereof being a snare upon them and although Secondly we have been often upbraided by the malignant party formerly vext at the Scots forwardnesse to help the Parliament that we should boast of their love when they departed from us and that they would at last prove our deare Brethren indeed and although Thirdly further jealousies are still fomented by the common people from severall passages from our Scotch Brethren as the continuall rumour of their keeping our English garrisons in their own hands sore abuses of the English people by the Scotch souldiers the keeping back of Ashburnham and the escape of Hudson from the Scots hands the encreasing rumor of many Scots come into the Kingdom whether true or false we know not with severall notions of this nature although these are jealousies of the fearfull people yet can we hardly suppose that our deare Brethren after so many Protestations of their brotherly love such an obligation by so sacred and solemne a Covenant such a profession of piety and holinesse such zeale for a blessed reformation that after all this they should prove our enemies false deceitfull self-seekers making Religion and zeale of reformation a meere pretence for base designes no doubtlesse they very well know that that God which hath beaten the prophanenesse of this Kingdome with rods will scourge such hypocrisie with Scorpions that they will then prove the first-borne of abominations both to God and man the scorne and odium of all Nations wee are full of hopes that it cannot stand with many things wee have seene in them therefore this premised though we doe not question our Scots brethrens love and respects to the Parliament yet have wee the same reason to thinke so well of his Majesties love as of the Scots Let our reasons and judgements give an answer to this question Had his Majesty no fine designe in this was he as cordiall to the Kingdomes good as wee hope our Brethren are If so why then doth he not give present order to all his Garrisons in all the Kingdome for their present surrender unto the Parliaments Forces as he did to the enemy in Scotland without any conditions You will say He hath done so We answer Not so absolutely but upon honorable termes and what is this more then a delusion a casting a mist to amaze the the people What meanes he by honorable terms There is no doubt but that all the Garrisons in his Majesties quarters might long before this have been surrendred the warres concluded and all ended upon that which his Majesty calls honorable terms doe not his poore subjects still lie a bleeding If his Majesty be so cordiall to the Kingdomes peace how is it that the Malignants every where and our profest enemies in the Kings Garrisons rejoyce hereat wil not surrender stand upon their terms professing themselves in a better capacity to keep and maintain his Majesties cause against the Parliament then ever they were in since the New Modell began Can his Majesties going to the Scots all things considered be so full satisfaction to reasonable men of his reall intentions for the Parliaments cause Hath he not addrest himself by many attempts secret insinuations frequent tamperings to Danes Dutch French Irish English to Papists Prelats Protestants Independents Presbyterians to accomplish his designe What stone hath he left unturned what means unattempted to promote the same Doe not you think his coming to the Scotch Army was a new design a last cast one game more which if it miscarry all is lost Alas alas what security doth his Majesty give you more then his word And is this so forcing in Londons eyes Doe you hear of any reall remorse upon his heart any relentings for the innocent bloud that hath been spilt by his meanes Have you any hear-say of his personall reformations What 's become of Londons reason Had you not as good words concerning the bleeding condition of his distressed subjects and his hearty endeavours for the peace of the Kingdome in the midst of his hottest violence against the Parliament as he hath given you now Call to mind your former experiences the several transactions in the Scottish Irish and English warres have not the deepest designes and fairest words the most desperate and horrible actions and the most zealous professions deepest imprecations and strange protestations been alwayes discovered at the same time Shall London now be charm'd by these into its own misery perpetuall slavery and utter undoing as most undoubtedly the truth will be if Englands Parliament should now be discouraged Shall London that hath stood out so nobly been a speciall instrument in the Parliaments hands to save the Kingdome spent so much treasure
lost so much bloud stood so fast in the libertie that God hath given them and would not be entangled with the yoke of bondage be now bewitch'd as it were into its own misery and utter undoing Shall the glory of your former fame be throwne in the dust your gallant resolutions and unparallel'd transactions be all buried in the grave of oblivion and at the last gasp as it were of our enemies hopes London should revive their fainting spirits and put life into their dying hearts Shall the whole Kingdome that was almost ready in all its quarters consulting of tokens of thankfulnesse to congratulate with London for all its love and care paines and purses and their generall safety through Gods blessings the fruit hereof throw by these thoughts and with sad hearts and pale faces wringing hands and running eyes tell their wives and children friends and neighbours Woe and alas London will ruine us London begins to decline the Parliament London begins to close with the King London is fild with the Malignants language London Remonstrates to the Parliaments prejudice Will not this prove the perpetuall language of succeeding ages that if London should now desert the Parliament and tyranny once get up in the throne by means hereof Londons Citie is Englands woe Fourthly You further acknowledge the particular assurance this honourable House hath again given the whole Land in their late Declaration to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well-grounded Peace in the three Kingdomes which you doubt not but this honourable House will pursue with all speedy dispatch of Propositions to His Majesty now whilst God doth so mercifully and miraculously goe along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome That Declaration that gave you this assurance assured you likewise whence it was the thing was not done but suppose that providence quite altering the state of affaires the Parliament judge Propositions for Peace are not now so sutable so seasonable as then they were when they promised the same must not they judge what is most meet to be done in such a case Propositions for Peace are to be tendred to enemies not to friends doth his Majesty continue the Parliaments enemy if so his comming to our Quarters is evidently then a designe of mischiefe and not of peace and the truth is an enemy will doe more mischiefe in his adversaries quarters then in his own but if he be our enemy and yet in our hands such Propositions as before were tendred may not consist with wisdome and policie to tender now the case is altered the Market is fallen men will not give for the commoditie thereof as they would before now you see his Majesty is in our own quarters and God doth mercifully and miraculously goe along with our Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome Fifthly You minde the Parliament of our brethren of Scotland how they were first invited to engage with this Kingdome in Gods cause when yet they were at peace at home in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them at what time in relation both to the weak condition of our Forces then and the season of the yeare they adventured upon an Enemy warmly lodged and well armed and prepared what they have since suffered for this Cause in their own Kingdome how succesfull ever since God hath made our Forces in suppressing the Common Enemies of both Nations and what present hopes wee have of a well-setled Peace while wee continue in this mutuall Amitie And then cannot but lament the many jealousies which the Enemies of our Peace Vnion and good Government doe now strive to beget between both Nations and tremble at the sad effects thereof if not timely prevented by the wisdome of the Parliament of both Kingdomes It is most true their love and kindnesse is never to be forgotten for although it is true First that both they and wee are embarqu'd in one and the selfe-same vessell and wee sinke and swim stand and fall together and Englands misery will be Scotlands woe so that what ever they have done for us it is virtually for themselves and although Secondly these miserable warres and bloudy blowes which fell upon us were first attempted for our Scotch brethren but Englands Parliament then in beeing would not consent to such unnaturall warres and by that means kept off the blows from our Scotch Brethren as all can witnesse and although Thirdly this Kingdome hath been likewise ready to helpe the Scots in a former case of their like necessitie against their enemies as is most apparent by authentick Histories and a forme of thanksgiving formerly appointed by the Church of Scotland for the good successe of their English ayde a Copie whereof is added at the end of this Book that wee may ever observe the due care both Kingdomes should have for the mutuall peace and prosperitie of both Kingdomes and although Lastly we must not look so much on our Brethrens successes as their good intentions measuring their love by their endeavours and not events yet let that mouth be for ever shut up and that hand wither which shall maliciously speak or write the least word to foment jealousies between both Kingdomes and confident I am that this heavie curse will fall upon none but that party who joyne issue with the old designe of promoting their personall Interests and base ends of Honour and greatnesse in the publick misery Sixthly you say you cannot but with reverence look upon this Honourable House as trusted with a great share of the supreme power of this Kingdome and as it is the representative of the whole Nation out of which and by whom the Members thereof are chosen doe fixe your hearts the more upon the same and doe by the mercy of God so long as this Kingdome doth adhere to our Covenant promise your selves now and in all future ages great blessings and assurances from the endeavours and labours of this Honourable House and in regard of this dignity of Trust you have and doe submit to all Priviledges of Parliament yet because it may now become a Tenure for life if this priviledge should be so made use of by such Members of Parliament as owe great summes of Money and protect divers under them as Servants Attendants Officers yea and their Servants if all these should be exempted from course of Law how many Citizens of London and other Subjects of this Kingdome may be undone you doe therefore with all Duty and Thankfulnesse put this Honourable House in minde that in a Remonstrance to the Kingdome 15. December 1642. you find this expression viz. That for the matter of Protections the Parliament is so sensibe of it that therein they intend to give whatsoever ease may stand with Honour and Justice and are in a way of passing a Bill to give satisfaction concerning the same Is it the great share this Honourable House hath of the supreme power of this Kingdome which makes you looke
with reverence upon it or an opinion that it hath but a share of the supreme power of this Kingdome that you have no more reverence unto it will you not allow so much unto the representative Kingdome in reference to the whole Kingdome as the representative City will assume unto themselves in reference to London Is not the Parliament of England the representative Kingdome And doth not the whole Supreme power of this Kingdome reside therein And if so why say you they have a Share Unfold your Riddle and speak it out if our judgement deceive us we are willing to be informed Was the like insinuation and dividing principle ever suggested unto the common people except it was from his Majesties Declarations there is little doubt that however the City is blinded herein the rise of this businesse come from Court let the Author of a little book lately published entituled A full answer to the Plea for the Commonalty of London except he himsel is become enervatus in his judgement and reason stand up like a man of right Principles and true thereunto and plead the just power of the Parliament of England as he hath well done of the Commons of London and therby he wil shew himself the Parliaments friend as he hitherto hath done But what do you mean when you say the Parliaments priviledges may now become a tenure for life Surely had this passage been found from one of the old Declarations froÌ„ Oxfâ—rd against the Parliament it could not be judged any thing else but a malignant scorn a notorious jeer being of the same affinity with the like passages found therein viz. a perpetuall Parliament and an everlasting Parliament If any Members of that House doe owe great summes of Monies and protect divers under them as Servants whereby they plead exemption from the course of Law and so Citizens or others are undone or endammaged thereby let the parties agrieved frame their Petitions and complaine of the men and let not London remonstrate this to the Parliaments prejudice it is very true the intention of the Parliament is the good of all the butt of none every mans benefit no mans undoing yet remember your Covenant the preservation of the Parliaments Priviledges is a maine Article thereof if any priviledge proves prejudiciall to the Subjects benefit you your selves say they did anticipate your desires by that Remonstrance of the 15. of December 1642. Yea were then in a way of passing a Bill to give satisfaction concerning the same and have any Bills been past since that time and that neglected and is the case now with the faithfull Members of this present Parliament as it was then Is it not notoriously known that their faithfull sticking unto the Kingdomes Cause hath been the utter undoing of themselves and their Families whilst they have been here in the Kingdomes service the common enemy hath wasted spoyled burned plunder'd and ruin'd their Estates but the truth is this kind of Dialect concerning the Parliament in Print for the peoples view doth import no lesse then an evident charge that Parliament men are now mean men of broken Fortunes men that cannot or else which is worse men that will not pay their debts but live upon the people and make a trade of it and the same shall be a tenure for life Seventhly you proceed further and tell the people the Kingdome is almost reduced by which meanes the Revenues of the Kingdome will be unburthened and the Customes and Excise increase and the publike charge of the Kingdome decrease now that Delinquents doe daily come in and compound and now that the Enemy hath but few Holds left we hope that the great and extraordinary Taxes and burthens on this City and their Trade shall be in the future abated that the Debts owing to the City and Citizens of London either by particular Assurances of the Parliament or upon the publike faith of the Kingdome be taken care for and discharged as well as those assigned upon the Excise and may not be diverted from the uses appointed by former Acts and Ordinances If so have a little more patience your debts owing you are coming apace eight per. cent shall reward you for it you cannot but see extraordinary charges doe still appeare the payment of our Armies long in Arrears though sufficiently active in the Kingdomes service the vast summes paid to the Scotch Army the relief of Ireland and many wayes more so many Garrisons so many Parties so many Sieges doe pray your patience a little longer but must every particular have a charge in the bowels of it What summes of monies are by the Parliament diverted from the uses appointed by their Acts and Ordinances if none what is the ground of this particular thus remonstrated is it because of some few gratuities lately confer'd upon deserving men for their valiant painfull and faithfull services for the publick safety are not such sums employed in the uses appointed in their Acts and Ordinances must the Parliament of England advise with London about the disbursements of the publick stock Eightly you complaine of the Committees work at Haberdashers-Hall as a grievance to the City viz. that any more Malignants should be detected or further course taken to find out Delinquents which have not as becomes them assisted the Parliament surely they little thought the times would so face about as that London should turne Delinquents advocate we say no more to this but remember your Covenant Ninthly you further proceed and professe your zeale for our bleeding Brethren of distressed Ireland c. It is a good motion and for Gods sake doe not binder so good a work by weakning the Parliaments Party by any more such Remonstrances as these Tenthly in the last place you heap up your deserts and your grievances together to the first we confesse you did run well Suffer not your Crowne to be taken away by your discontinuance in your work begun but yet consider have you done more then the Law of God of nature of Nations engaged you Hath all this been for the Parliament or for your selves was not your Estates your Liberties your freedomes the grand price of your Enemies race the Crowne they strive for the spoyles they fight for Speake your Consciences what had become of you by this very day if the present Parliament had not stuck to you what of your Religion what of your Estates what of your Liberties Hath it not been in their power every day to ruine you yea and perhaps by their personall preferments to advance themselves Have not the Subjects Liberties been deare in their eyes have they not layen under many temptations many discouragements to continue constant under them all were all able to abide the same why then did many desert the House How often have they protested by word of mouth in your common Halls and many Declarations in the publick view of Heaven and Earth that they would live with you and dye with you
Petitions yet wee humbly desire this honourable House to passe by all provocations herein and to measure their respects to this famous City not according to some few weaknesses which through some powerfull insinuations may surprize the same but to the constant setled and resolved practises of the Inhabitants thereof of which wee are confident there are many thousands that are still ready to sacrifice themselves to the service of the Parliament the onely means under the Almighty to preserve both us and our posteritie from slavery and misery You have done with your Remonstrance but have you understood what you have done Let us propound two or three Queries First is it proper for one single Corporation to Remonstrate to the people their grievances or indeed rather complaints against the Parliament do you not know the nature the majesty the power of a Parliament do Londons Magistracy no better understand the Parliaments Authority are you become the primary pattern and popular example to all the Kingdome of an unparalleld Remonstrance are you the chiefe Magistracy of London and give such a president We say no more but make this use of it that wisdome and weaknesse may have their habitation yea sometimes the latter may be predominant even among wise and religious Rulers Secondly did the Commons of London give you authoritie in their name to do that which is not at all within their Charter if you act as Subjects you act for your own persons and you have liberty of your selves so to doe standing or falling to your own perill but if you act in the name of the Citie whom you represent know your bounds looke to your rule the Citie collective never gave you further authority then to act within your spheare the Citie Charter and if you doe otherwise upon your perill be it they 'l not stand by you Thirdly who were the chiefe promoters hereof doubtlesse Royalists to give it out in the softest language the stile the dialect the matter doe not these insinuate prerogatives advance not a word throughout for punishing Malignants for requiring justice against Delinquents a main article of our solemn League and Covenant men would think that doubtlesse some of the old Patentees or men that builds their houses by the subjects bondage were the chiefe framers of this Remonstrance Surely if that heart was right for the Parliament that framed this Remonstrance he hath an unhappy hand that transcrib'd his thoughts in so strange a dialect for the truth is if this Remonstrance had not been presented by the City of London our after-ages would ever have knowne it by the black Character of the Malignant Remonstrance it is not to be doubted but the Citie though well affected may be overtaken in an act unworthy for even Parliaments have slipt for they are but men and therefore it is this one act and not the persons are here found fault withall But now to come to the last generall head we desire this honorable City seriously to consider what are the dangerous tendencies and effects of such kinde of Remonstrances and that in few particulars very briefly for wee are unwilling to harpe too much upon this unpleasant string First it tends to the manifest grieving of the hearts of our faithfull Parliament who for our sakes have suffered more base affronts injuries and losses then ever any Parliament did before them Have we not often acknowledged them againe and againe to be the onely means under God of all the peace and liberties estates and comforts that we doe enjoy suppose their failings appear before us have we never a garment to cover their nakednesse but Ham-like wee call for the eyes of brethren and fellow-subjects to behold the same was it not of God that the Parliament and London were joyn'd together hand in hand and heart in heart and whence is it that this knot begins to be loosned have they not brought us through the mercy of God to the sight of our Inheritance our liberties and freedomes our Land flowing with milke and honey shall wee now begin to murmure against our deliverers is it not likely that God for this should bring us back againe into the troublesome wildernesse more warres and the bitter bitter effects thereof the clouds condense thicken again let us not grieve our God and our friends the Parliaments faithfulnesse God will not forget and our unthankfulnesse he will not put up Secondly Consider whether such kinde of Remonstrances as these doe not weaken the Parliaments strength coâ—fident wee are how ever London comes thus to be deluded which cannot but be the amazâ—ment of the Kingdome that the first originall of this Remonstrance must needs be bred in a Malignants brest such complaints for the peoples view such pâ—titions to suppresse the Parliaments friends to remove faithfull valiant untamperable and succesfull Officers from places of trust to take away those waies and means whereby monies are procured to maintain the warres against the common enemy to presse them in all haste to the payment of their debts what are all these but the direct desires of the Parliaments enemies and doe not all these things weaken the Parliaments strength Thirdly Consider how this doth rejoyce the Malignants hearts observe their faces their discourses look into the prisons where Malignants are what is their dialect all will be well the day is ours the times face about round-heads must fall this Parliament must down the City declines them their armies must presently be disbanded the Kings friends exalted their services rewarded all things work well the City Remonstrance speaks our minds it strikes at the root of the round heads prosperity wee see now how the game goes Fourthly consider the probable tendency of this Remonstrance in the opinion and judgement of the most considerable both of the Parliaments friends and enemies the feare of the one sort the expectation of the other and that is implaine termes the disbanding of our Armies the discouraging of our friends the utter disenabling of the Parliament against any adversaries either foreine or domestick that shall appear against them the advancing of prerogative and arbitrary power the exalting of all those bloudy oppressors that in all these wars have sought our ruine Do not say these are the irrationall notions of a melancholy minde the groundlesse conceits of a crazie brain no certainly that kind of reason that draws naturall conclusions from undoubted premises or which judgeth of the proper effects from proper causes steers the judgement in these assertions let your own reason decide the matter if the Parliament should be disabled in their Armies in their monies in their friends as the granting of your petition would quickly effect what would hinder the things wee affirme take away the Parliaments strength and then the promise of setling the Militia to your hearts desire would secure you from slavery as the setling of Presbytery would preserve you from Popery but the word of a King and the faith of a
A MODERATE REPLY TO THE Citie-Remonstrance PRESENTED TO THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT the 26 of May 1646. Containing severall Reasons why many well affected CITIZENS cannot assent thereunto Published according to Order LONDON Printed for Matthew Simmons and Henry Overton in Popes-head Alley 1646. A MODERATE REPLY TO THE CITIE Remonstrance THE Citie Representative as it is made up and chosen by the Citie collective so should it act for the good of the same but it is more common then commendable for men betrusted with other mens good to behave themselves to their trustees hurt There are foure cases wherein the City collective is not bound to the City representative but ought in duty to dissent from it if not to protest against it 1. When the City representative acts in a direct evident and obvious manner against the expresse will and word of God 2. When in the like plaine and direct manner it acts against the apparent welfare peace and good of the Kingdome 3. When it acts after the same manner against the proper end of its own being the Cities welfare 4. When it acts beyond the bounds limits and extents appointed to the endangering of all its immunities and freedomes All which granted as cannot be denied the serious examination of the late Remonstrance and City Petition presented to the Parliament May 26. 1646. by the Citie representative yeelds matter reason sufficient for our utter dislike of if not protestation against the same that will appear if we consider First the Narrative and Remonstrative part of it Secondly the Prayer or Petitionary part of it Thirdly the probable tendency dangerous effects of both First for the Narative and Remonstrative part of it First we observe the Phrase Stile and Dialect thereof carrying a full compliance with his Majesties wonted Declarations against the Parliament and as if indeed drawn up by the same hand framed by the same head insinuating into the people that all manner of heresies schismes and blasphemies are tolerated and the fomentors thereof with all swarmes of Sectaries are encouraged emboldened yea admitted into places of profit and trust in Martiall and Civill affaires by the Parliament and that under a pretence of a Christian respect unto tender consciences evidenced in their late Declaration they designe a toleration for all these All which are dangerously insinuated page 2. Secondly a close but cleare intimation to the people that a sacred obligation lieth upon them from their solemn League and Covenant unto a down-right suppression of all those who cut either of weak or tender consciences cannot fully submit unto Presbyteriall government though it is notoriously known that the Parliament did promise in severall Declarations a gracious respect unto tender consciences did act accordingly in the beginning of this Parliament releasing many poore men of different judgements from their heavie pressures under the cruell tyranny of the late Prelats to the general contentment joy and acclamations of all the people for non-conformity unto their government though established by the Law of the Land and most evident it is that the end of the Covenant was not at all a rigid exaction of a forc'd uniformity unto Presbyterial government upon the subjects of England and the truth is all things considered it is a most putid and irrationall thing once to conceive that any such thing was ever intended by our present Parliament in the imposing therof For First could any suppose it could consist with the Parliaments wisdom to swear themselves enforce the people to covenant a subjection unto that Church government which they nor the people did not at that time understand Could it enter into their hearts at least to imagine that such a blind Sacrifice would ever atone the wrath of the Almighty for our former abuses in matters of Church government to lay the first stone of a blessed Reformation in blindnesse and ignorance and so to destroy Prelacy by Popery Secondly if they did understand this plat-form of Church-government to what end hath the Assembly been searching out the will of God about Church-government ever since the imposition hereof Was it to frame their Reformation according to the Word or the Word according to their resolutions Did they first resolve and then enquire First conclude and then debate If any reformed Church must be the exact pattern for us to walk by what need any further expence of toyle and time to find out the mind of God herein when the resolved pattern is before our eyes Thirdly it is notoriously known that the dissenting brethren in the Assembly Citie Countrey have taken this Covenant and were as forward in the promotion hereof by all due meanes as well as others knowing full well the true intent and meaning thereof and could we think they were so farre at variance with their own peace and future welfare as thus freely and voluntarily to contrive and promote the ruine hereof as it necessarily must follow upon the aforesaid interpretation Fourthly the Parliament did never yet give any such interpretation of the Covenant and who ought to explain the meaning but the makers thereof Is it not most absurd that they shall compose and enjoyn the Covenant and others shall put their sense upon it and endeavour the enforcement of their own sense both upon them and the whole Kingdome for no lesse is insinuated in this Remonstrance page the 3d. But you will say the very expresse letter declares the sense it is the very Text and not the interpretation which they plead being plain and obvious to every mans eye We reply The letter thereof doth not tye us to a perfect conformitie to Presbyteriall government already established in any reformed Church in the world for wee are tyed by our Covenant unto a sincere reall and constant endeavour in our severall places and callings the reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the best reformed Churches So that here is no positive determination of any thing but an engagement unto an inquisition after the best and the word of God to be our chiefe informer and directer herein and we are tyed likewise to the like endeavour of our nearest conjunction and uniformitie in Religion confession of faith forme of Church-Government Directory for worship and Catechizing viz. according to the word of God that possibly we can so that if our Brethren of Scotland have taken the same Covenant with us they are bound as well to hearken to what this Kingdome shall propound unto them as this Kingdome is to consider what is tendred from them to us and if they have not taken the same Covenant with us yet wee are bound by our Covenant in case this Kingdome finde out a more perfect way of Church-Government according to the word of God then that Kingdome of Scotland hath done wee are bound we say more to perswade and reason them over to
stand or fall with you that they would never leave you till they had made you free and have they not been faithfull in their promise herein Is not their preservation your security their glory your Crowne their freedomes your Liberties As for your grievances we consider them as they lye First you complaine that the Letter sent you from the Parliament of Scotland should still be detained though petitioned for as if this Honourable House were doubtfull of your fidelity We suppose the House is not bound to be accountable to you though you are obleiged to account to them in this particular and whether they be doubtfull of your fidelity or no we cannot tell onely we wish they may have no cause Your next complaint is that in the last Propositions to his Majesty at Uxbridge the power of the Militia of this City was fully represented that it should now be reassumed and endeavoured to be altered to the endangering of this City and parts adjacent as if you now deserved lesse trust from this Honourable House then a twelvemoneth agoe We think it not safe to taxe the Parliaments wisdome in their ordering and disposing the power of the Militia of City or Kingdome as they shall see cause and it cannot be asserted that their reassuming the Militia of London into their owne hands is matter of danger to the City of London and parts adjacent without an unworthy aspersion upon that Honourable House such that will say so give just cause to think that they deserve lesse trust from that Honourable House then a twelvemoneth agoe when they were better affected then so to affirme Thirdly you complaine and remonstrate that some late Petitions of this Citie presented to this Honourable House should lie yet unanswered If the Parliament were bound to answer all your Petitions and that forthwith even in your owne time why did not you rather enjoyn then petition and if all your Petitions should be answered to your owne content we well perceive how the case would stand with this poore Kingdome the Parliaments love both to City and Kingdome may cause them to deny the Petitions of the City as the case may stand Your fourth complaint that Quarterman a notorious Sectary one whom the City not long since cast out for his misdemeanors should presume in the contempt of the priviledges and Government thereof to enter the City and to make Proclamation with Trumpet without acquainting the Lord Major therewith the like of which to our best knowledge in no age when the City was most neglected was ever so much as attempted What Quatermain doe you meane there are many in the Kingdome for all that we know but we presume you intend Roger Quatermain late Marshall to the City That this Quaterman is a Sectary lies upon you to prove and him to defend and herein you will befriend our intellects and helpe us to understand what you mean by your Sectaries against whom you so much stickle in this Remonstrance That the Citie cast him our viz. from his Marshallship for so wee presume your meaning is though you speake as disturbed that the Reader must study to finde out your meaning will be denied by one of the chiefe promoters of this Remonstrance except he hath changed his judgement in the Government of the Citie as sometimes it falls out men continue not their judgement especially in matters of government both civill and ecclesiasticall for it was neither the Citie representative or collective but the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen that put him out of the place and surely they are no more the Citie in that act except the Common Counsell gave them power herein as wee cannot understand they have then any other Citie Justices or Officers in the Citie are so As for his misdemeanors none were urged as the causes hereof except this was his crime that one Marshall should serve the Citie And though it is a crime circumstantiable to a great aggravation for one man to wrong a whole Citie yet it is more strange because lesse usuall that a representative Citie should wrong a poore man by taking away his good name and so his livelihood in his present employment As for his great transgression herein specified wee dare presume the poore man is ignorant of the Citie priviledges iâ— this be one that the Parliament of England cannot make Proclamation in the Citie of London with Trumpet or otherwise without licence given by the Lord Major of London If the case be thus well may you say that the Parliament of England is betrusted but with a share of the supreame power Custome is one thing priviledge another that it is a custome to acquaint the Lord Major in such cases is quickly granted and if he did willingly and wilfully in contempt of the Major or customes of the Citie performe that worke he is blame-worthy and not to he pleaded for but when such customes of single Corporations shall entrench upon the power of Parliaments and change their names and call them Priviledges it is high time to change those customes Many customes in former times had almost undone the Kingdome wee would not now meet with any that raze our foundation and strike at the Parliament And lastly You complain that after the present Lord Major had so faithfully behaved himself in his Office and with the testimony of the Citie so carefully discharged the same that yet he should be suspected and questioned upon generall informations which it may well be doubted might be designed to divide between the Parliament and the Citie If generall informations that doe greatly concerne the publique danger of the Citie or Kingdome should be so far neglected as not so much as to make an enquiry according thereto how could they to whom they doe come discharge their consciences and Covenant to God or the people The Lord Majors faithfulnesse can never hurt him and a faithfull man may lie under suspition but will take no offence at a through purgation as we heare his Lordship himselfe is sufficiently satisfied and if former faithfulnesse should for ever discharge all future jealousies though but generall informations be given of danger the two Hothams and many more might have now lived and by this time seen the Parliament and Citie weltering in their own bloud More you could adde but you have done enough if not too much of this nature and more I presume then was ever expected from this Citie You presently slide from your remonstrative part into the prayer or petitionary part and so shall wee and give you to understand wherein wee can and wherein we cannot joyn with you in your desires to the Parliament with the reasons thereof which is the second generall head of our present method you resolve your complaints into prayers 1. That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing all private and separate Congregations Wee know not your meaning by private and separate Congregations if your meaning be the
wasted and discouraged This is our Petition and prayer to God wee joyn with you here with all our hearts XIII That the Originall Letter of the Parliament of Scotland to this Citie may be returned Wee leave this to the Parliaments wisdome and shall not at all intermeddle therewith XIV That the City may enjoy the Militia fully as it was presented at the last Treaty at Uxbridge Wee leave that unto the Parliaments wisdome and God direct them what to doe therein we neither joyne with you nor against you in this particular but onely wave it XV. That Quarterman may be brought to some exemplary punishment for the affront done by him to the Priviledges and Government of this Citie When wee are convinced of Quatermains affront to the priviledges and Government of this Citie wee shall desire with you his exemplary punishments to condemne the innocent is a great abomination wee judge Quatermain so till the contrary appeare wee cannot joyn with you in this Petition XVI That the Lord Major of this City may be fully vindicated When wee once understand how wherein and by whom his Lordship was wronged we would Petition with you for his vindication in the mean while wee wave this Petition XVII And lastly and above all That this honorable House will please not to looke upon any expressions of this our Remonstrance and Petition as charging any thing upon this Honorable House or as intended to intrench upon any priviledge thereof but favourably to accept thereof and so to interpret the same as from a single and humble heart it is sincerely and without any by-ends or to comply with any Party whatsoever intended and breathed forth from the sad heart of the Petitioners who are overwhelmed with many feares on all sides And who call God the Searcher of all hearts to witnesse that according to their Covenant and duty their zeale devotion and obedience is as fervent and prostrate as ever to serve the Parliament with their Lives and Estates against all the Enemies of our Peace to conjoyne the Citie more and more to the Parliament and to maintaine the Vnion of both Nations against all opposers whatsoever This is an Apologie for the whole businesse and the truth is you have cause sufficient and we verily believe the like Remon-pray that wisdome may be given to them from God to direct their studies to so good a work VII That this Honourable House will please to consider of some meanes whereby the priviledge which its Members their Servants and others enjoy by being protected and exempted from being proceeded against for their Debts may be so qualified as that the Subject may be able to recover his owne in some due time This Petition implies a charge we will not at all intermeddle herein VIII That all publike Revenues and Receipts may be employed to publike uses that so the Taxes of the City may be abated We know no publike Revenues imployed at all by the Parliament of England for any other then publike uses and if this Petition may be altogether cleare from secret aspersions of our worthy Parliament we can fully joyn with you in this particular IX That the Estates and Compositions of Delinquents may according to the engagements by Ordinances of Parliament be applyed to discharge the great summes owing to this City and Citizens The publike Faith for the publique debts will be valid we doubt not and in due season will so appeare we hope they minde the main what ever becomes of particular cases due time will be time enough we durst not engage as the case stands with this Petition X. That the Plymouth Duty may be taken off the Trade especially now the West is reduced That poore Garrison is still to be encouraged Surely these are the last times when mercy and charity waxeth cold we utterly wave this Petition XI That the Committee at Haberdashers-hall may be presently dissolved or at least so limited and regulated at that the City may have no cause of complaint This Petition seems in the first part of it to favour Malignants we remember our Covenant wee cannot close with you in this the later is ours as well as yours XII That the reducing of the Kingdome of Ireland may be taken into consideration before the good party there be too farre wasted and discouraged This is our Petition and prayer to God wee joyn with you here with all our hearts XIII That the Originall Letter of the Parliament of Scotland to this Citie may be returned Wee leave this to the Parliaments wisdome and shall not at all intermeddle therewith XIV That the City may enjoy the Militia fully as it was presented at the last Treaty at Uxbridge Wee leave that unto the Parliaments wisdome and God direct them what to doe therein we neither joyne with you nor against you in this particular but onely wave it XV. That Quarterman may be brought to some exemplary punishment for the affront done by him to the Priviledges and Government of this Citie When wee are convinced of Quatermains affront to the priviledges and Government of this Citie wee shall desire with you his exemplary punishments to condemne the innocent is a great abomination wee judge Quatermain so till the contrary appeare wee cannot joyn with you in this Petition XVI That the Lord Major of this City may be fully vindicated When wee once understand how wherein and by whom his Lordship was wronged we would Petition with you for his vindication in the mean while wee wave this Petition XVII And lastly and above all That this honorable House will please not to looke upon any expressions of this our Remonstrance and Petition as charging any thing upon this Honorable House or as intended to intrench upon any priviledge thereof but favourably to accept thereof and so to interpret the same as from a single and humble heart it is sincerely and without any by-ends or to comply with any Party whatsoever intended and breathed forth from the sad heart of the Petitioners who are overwhelmed with many feares on all sides And who call God the Searcher of all hearts to witnesse that according to their Covenant and duty their zeale devotion and obedience is as fervent and prostrate as ever to serve the Parliament with their Lives and Estates against all the Enemies of our Peace to conjoyne the Citie more and more to the Parliament and to maintaine the Vnion of both Nations against all opposers whatsoever This is an Apologie for the whole businesse and the truth is you have cause sufficient and we verily believe the like Remonstrance was never known from the City of London to the Parliament of England You would not have them look upon any expressions in this Remonstrance and Petition as charging any thing upon the honourable House that is you desire them to throw by their understanding when they read your Remonstrance Though wee cannot joyn with you in this Petition to accept your Remonstrance and grant your
conformitie with us then in such a case to conforme to them But Lastly It 's as cleare as the Sunne that the true intent of the solemne League and Covenant was a more plaine discovery of the Parliaments enemies and not for a snare to the Parliaments friends and as touching reformation in matters spirituall and ecclesiasticall to root out Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme and prophanenesse and God forbid but that all these in a due and Christian way should be endeavoured against But are wee bound by this to ruine the Parliaments friends who loveth not their lives unto death in the Parliaments cause Men cordiall to the State conscientious in Religion yea holy godly learned and that by the testimony of their hottest adversaries and for no other reason but their non-resolution to sweare subjection to what they know not as if the tender conscience was the troubler of Israel when the want hereof is the onely plague of this wicked world the naming whereof is an evident offence yea no lesse then a provocation unto these angry Remonstrants who can hardly beare it even from the pen of the Parliament of England This is the second ground of our utter dislike of the narrative part of this Petition Thirdly You tell the people in print as well as the Parliament by your written Remonstrance what Vowes you have made in the Covenant as well as in former Protestations to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that the world may beare witnesse with your Consciences of your Loyalty and that you have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and greatnesse and doe humbly rest in the assurances you have received in the many former Declarations of both Houses concerning their intentions towards his Majesty his Royall Posteritie and the Peace of this Kingdome But to what end is all this is it to call for the popular testimony of your constant care you ever have had of the Parliaments Priviledges if it was meet for us to remember what the Parliament have forgotten to unvaile for detection what in love they have buried in oblivion you very well know what truth can say to this particular Is it to call for a popular observation of the Parliaments neglect of their obliged care not to diminish his Majesties just power and greatnesse As for the Parliament let envie her selfe disgorge her poyson and speake her worst nay in this case speak Malignants speak the Oxfordian Aulicus but first consider a word or two what an unnaturall warre hath been raised amongst us how managed on the Kings side how maintained how much innocent bloud split in the three Kingdomes what slanders have been cast upon the Parliament of England how they have been written remonstrated and declared again and again Traytors Rebells a pretended Parliament and what not how the * The Author of Truth it 's manifest positively affirmes that his Majestie himselfe sent a Commission from Scotland sealed with the Sâ—ots broad Seale unto the Irish Rebells to authorize them in that bloudy work Page the 20. Irish Scottish and English warres did rise what murtherings killing and slaughtering the poore subjects what tearings rendings and crippling the poor people what burning wasting and plundering mens estates how many poore distressed and afflicted fatherlesse and widows are made what wofull bitter and sad complaints and showers of teares are shed in corners and secret closets by many men whose former quality with the remembrance thereof makes them wipe their eyes and counterfeit cheerfulnesse in the sight of men What tamperings with forein Nations for the utter ruine and perpetuall enslaving of the three Kingdomes to an arbitrary power what evident plaine and palpable detections to the perfect discharge of all doubts and scruples from whom and whence all this hath been the relating whereof will fill volumes and will be the affecting subject of the Readers heart in another age and yet how tender hath the Parliament been still to maintaine his Majesties honour by charging all upon his evill Counsellors making him meerly passive and onely seduc'd as if altogether innocent notwithstanding all this almost to the very regret of charity it selfe And as for their care of his Majesties royall posterity bloud and family how carefull have they been for the princely education of his Majesties children within their quarters their bountifull provision and noble respects for and to his Majesties Sister and her royall family All this considered and many things more which may be asserted I challenge againe the desperatest Malignant in Citie or Kingdome on this side the grave to let his tongue articulate his Consciences thoughts and give an answer whether the Parliament hath not had a tender care to his Majesties honour his bloud and family Doe you rest in the assurance you have concerning the Parliaments intentions about the peace of the Kingdome why are they then interrupted in their worke are not they in the fairest way to a happy peace that ever they were in since the warres began and will you now obstruct them herein doth this course of yours promote in the least the publicke peace what now to discourage the Parliament now to presse them in all haste unto a suddaine enfeebling their strength by crushing a considerable party of as cordiall friends as ever they had since the warres began and that because they will not sweare a submission unto that Church Government which neither they nor your selves yet understand Presbyteriall Government the Modell whereof is yet unseen Is this your requitall for their winters worke have not you lived shall I say by the sweat of their browes nay by the expence of their blood is this in lieu of their promised arrears what have they been walls and Bulwarks to you and will you prove briers and thornes to them have they watch'd whilst you sleep hazarded danger for your peace undergone such separations from their wives and children friends and Families such hardships of hunger and thirst cold and nakednesse lived in the valley and shadow of death for yours and the Kingdomes sake and shall London be the unworthy pattern of inhumane unthankfulnesse to the whole Kingdome You rest satisfied in the assurance of the Parliaments respects to the King but doe you rest so satisfied in the like assurance of the Kings respects unto the Parliament Let your Consciences speak are you so satisfied if so what is the ground of this perswasion is it because of his late good words fair sweet and pleasant lines he hath written to his Parliament of England sitting at Westminster or to his right trusty and well beloved the Lord Major Aldermen and common-Counsell of London how can London be thus deluded is the word of a King now so taking in Londons thoughts If you have